The Only Way I Know
The Triple R Ranch welcomed home Wyatt Ray, son of Colt and Hedli, a man weathered by service but still holding the steady gaze of his rodeo-legend parents. Fresh back from another long military deployment, the quiet of the ranch felt both familiar and strangely new. His cousin, Logan, had just headed off to college with his fiancée, leaving a different kind of void. At twenty-five, Wyatt found himself drawn to the thunder of hooves, to the scent of dust and leather. The rodeo circuit, the world his parents had conquered, called to him now with a renewed purpose. He was thinking of finally stepping into the arena himself, not just as a spectator, but as a competitor, ready to forge his own legacy.
Meanwhile, the rodeo circuit was home to Cassidy Smith, daughter of Nathaniel and Izzy Smith. She'd practically been born in the grandstands and raised in the livestock pens, knowing the circuit like the back of her hand. For Cassidy, the rodeo wasn't just a sport; it was a way of life, a demanding mistress that required constant dedication. She knew the drill for earning money, from the painstaking travel with her horses to ensuring their peak health and taking meticulous care of herself. She was a formidable competitor, excelling in roping, barrel racing, and the raw courage of bareback bronc riding. Then, a new rider appeared, a retired military officer whose style in the arena stirred something deep within her, reminding her of a legend she'd only ever heard tales about: Colt Ray.
How do Wyatt and Cassidy first encounter each other on the rodeo circuit? Is it a chance meeting, a competitive clash, or perhaps a moment where their shared passion brings them together?
