Contents
7. Emmy
Overview
Emmy spends a week avoiding Luke after their near-kiss but can’t shake her attraction. Teddy shows up with comfort gifts and hears Emmy’s confession. Gus returns, assigns Emmy to cover a vacant ranch-hand role alongside Luke, and brings her to Amos for a late breakfast. Emmy reunites with her dad, sidesteps riding, and ends on renewed tension with Luke at the table.
Summary
After nearly kissing Luke Brooks during her move-in, Emmy spends a week secluded in her cabin, unsettled by lingering desire despite telling herself to avoid romance after her recent breakup. Thoughts of her ex, Stockton, underscore why she’s wary: his controlling behavior and disregard for her boundaries.
Teddy bursts in with gifts—soft bedding, coffee supplies, snacks, and leggings—intuiting Emmy’s poor sleep and sensory needs. Feeling safe, Emmy admits she wanted to kiss Luke. Teddy is shocked but empathetic, framing it as rebound temptation even as Emmy denies deeper interest.
Gus arrives, sparring with Teddy before she leaves. Emmy welcomes her brother home, hears about his and Amos’s Idaho conference, and notes Gus’s openness to a guest ranch and horse rescue. On their walk to the Big House, Gus confirms he’ll put Emmy to work and announces she and Luke will jointly cover a missing ranch-hand role.
Inside, Emmy collides with Luke and trades cool greetings, their unresolved chemistry crackling. Amos calls her in; Emmy embraces her dad, feeling truly home. They discuss Maple and Moonshine’s safe return and a possible trail ride, which Emmy pointedly avoids committing to, revealing her ongoing riding anxiety.
Wes arrives for lunch, and Emmy takes her usual seat—directly across from Luke—leaving the chapter with sustained tension between them and the new complication of working side by side.
Who Appears
- Emmy RyderProtagonist; conflicted over attraction to Luke, confides in Teddy, agrees to ranch work, avoids riding despite father’s suggestion.
- Luke BrooksObject of Emmy’s attraction; maintains cool distance during brief collisions; assigned to share ranch duties with Emmy.
- August "Gus" RyderEmmy’s brother; returns from Idaho, pushes ranch work, pairs Emmy with Luke, considers guest ranch and rescue ideas.
- Teddy AndersenEmmy’s best friend; arrives with thoughtful gifts, hears Emmy’s confession about Luke, spars with Gus, checks on Maverick.
- Amos RyderEmmy’s father; welcomes her home with a meal, discusses horses, suggests a trail ride, grounding family presence.
- WesFamily friend and ranch hand; arrives for lunch, previously supportive of Emmy’s return and routine.