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Isobel watched in terror as Murphy's Law exploded out of the chute, spinning wildly before stumbling to his knees. She gasped, but Ryder held firm. The bull regained its footing and launched into the air, unable to unseat Ryder. It bucked and twisted frantically as Ryder displayed the flawless technique every bull rider dreams of. The buzzer blared, and Ryder released his grip, flying off and landing flat on his back in the dirt. Just as he scrambled to get up and run for cover, the bull's hoof grazed his arm before spinning away. Ryder rolled clear, sprang to his feet, and sprinted towards the gate, clutching his arm.
The bull darted through the exit gate while Ryder returned to the arena, anticipating his score.
"Ryder Hayes takes the lead with an astounding 95!" the announcer proclaimed.
The crowd erupted in cheers and applause. Ryder scanned the sea of faces until he found Isobel, smiling as he placed a hand over his heart.
"Let's find the guys," Rose said as she stood.
The two women made their way down to the tunnel leading behind the chutes. They quickly located the men and ran up to them, leaping into their arms.
Ryder winced as he caught Isobel and spun her around.
"Oh, Ryder. Is your arm alright?"
"I think so. I haven't checked it yet."
"Let me see," Isobel insisted, gesturing towards his arm.
Ryder carefully unzipped his vest and slipped it off with minimal arm movement. He tried unbuttoning his shirt but winced in pain when he attempted to use his injured arm. Grinning at Isobel, he gave up.
She gently finished unbuttoning his shirt and eased it off his arm. The bull had only pinched the skin, leaving a dark bruise stretching six inches across his upper arm.
"Ryder, that looks awful," Wren remarked upon seeing it.
"It'll heal," Ryder shrugged as he slipped his shirt back on gingerly.
They patiently awaited the conclusion of the final riders and the tallying of scores. None could surpass Ryder and Wren's impressive marks, securing them first and second place once more. After the rankings were announced and the trophy buckles awarded, they retreated to their trailers to celebrate.
Isobel was admiring the buckle when Ryder re-entered the trailer.
"This is quite hefty," she remarked, examining it.
"Yes, some of them are," he replied.
"Do you want to put it in one of your display cases?" She gestured towards the glass cabinets near the couch.
"Sure. Would you like to do it?"
She walked over to one of the empty cases and opened the door. Once she had securely placed the buckle inside, she closed the door and stood back to admire it.
Turning towards Ryder, she noticed him by the sink without his shirt, inspecting a bruise on his left arm. For the first time, she noticed his right arm: it bore a tattoo of a bull rider on a bucking bull from shoulder to upper arm. His right shoulder blade featured a stone cross with angel wings and the word "dad."
Isobel approached him, tracing her fingers over the lettering. Ryder straightened at her touch and turned to face her.
She ran her fingers along the tattoo of the bull rider. "Is this for your dad?"
"Yes," he replied, his voice thick with emotion. Her touch sent sparks down his arm, making it difficult for him not to react. He slowly turned towards her, taking her hand in his. He lifted it to his lips and kissed it softly. "I need you to know that when you touch me like that, it's hard for me to stay composed. So maybe it's best if you don't," he said with a grin before kissing her hand again.
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Isobel blushed deeply, "I'm sorry."
Ryder laughed lightly, "It's okay. Someday, you'll be able to." He smiled shyly.
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Ryder woke up early, his mind buzzing with anticipation for the day ahead. It was the second day of the PBR series, and today's performance would determine his final standing for the weekend. Stepping outside to breathe in some fresh air, he settled on the top step of his trailer.
Isobel appeared from around Rose's trailer, spotting Ryder and heading his way.
"Morning, Isobel." Ryder greeted her with a smile. "Seeing your face first thing is a real treat."
Isobel leaned in, kissing him softly as she cradled his face in her hands. "The feeling is mutual," she replied before turning and sitting on the step below him, her arms resting on his knees.
"I love your outfit. Is that one of Rose's shirts?"
"Nope. She decided my wardrobe needed an upgrade, so we went shopping recently." She stuck out a leg to showcase her new boots. "And I got myself these awesome boots."
"Those are some seriously nice boots, ma'am," Ryder teased, planting a kiss on her cheek.
Ryder wrapped an arm around Isobel, draping it across her collarbone with his hand resting on her shoulder. She leaned back into his chest, and they stayed like that, enjoying each other's warmth until Wren attempted to open the door behind them, nudging Ryder in the back.
"What's up, buddy? Trying to keep me from checking out today's competition?" Wren joked, peering out through the crack of the door.
Ryder and Isobel burst into laughter as they stood up, freeing Wren from the trailer.
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Isobel and Rose secured their group seats as Ryder and Wren ventured off to gather drinks and snacks. On their way back, a girl from Ryder's past intercepted him, clutching his arm.
"Hey, handsome. Last night was amazing. Got any plans for tonight?"
Ryder gently withdrew his arm from her grasp. "Yes, Polly, my nights are fully booked," he replied, tipping his hat to her and saying, "Ma'am," before catching up with Wren to find their seats.
Polly's eyes followed them as they walked away.
"What are you staring at?" Polly's friend Lisa asked, sidling up beside her and peering in the same direction. "Is that Ryder?"
"Yes," Polly snapped.
"Who's he with?"
"I don't know, but he ditched me for her."
"He just kissed her in front of everyone. Did he ever do that with you?"
"No. He never did that with anyone."
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The rodeo had started, and Ryder and Wren watched with keen eyes, analyzing their competitors and tracking scores. They pointed out certain riders, noting their techniques, and observed the bulls' movements, making comments as well. As the final few riders approached, Ryder and Wren's hearts pounded; no one had yet come close to matching either of their scores.
"Let's head down there; regardless of the outcome, we're in the top five," Wren said as he stood up.
Ryder and Wren navigated through the tunnel to watch the last two rides from the chutes. One rider was bucked off within two seconds, while another scored an 87 by staying on. Ryder and Wren claimed first and second place for the entire weekend.
Rose and Isobel erupted in cheers from their seats as they watched Ryder and Wren walk into the arena with three other men. Ryder received a plaque and a check for $19,800. Wren also received a plaque and a check for $12,000.
As they returned to their seats, Bella Rose and Isobel met them with enthusiastic kisses. Back at their trailers, Ryder and Wren chatted excitedly, fueled by pure adrenaline. Bella Rose and Isobel walked arm in arm behind them, laughing at their animated conversation.
Once they reached the trailers, Ryder turned to Isobel, enveloping her in his arms before lifting her up and spinning her around. As soon as her feet touched the ground, his lips met hers passionately. He pulled back to brush her hair away from her face, his eyes locking onto hers—seeing his future gazing back at him.
He swallowed hard; the lump in his throat refused to move. "Isobel."
"Yes?"
"I...um...I...am so glad I can share this moment with you."
"I'm proud of you too, Ryder. This is special."
They celebrated at their trailers, the guys grilling steaks outside while the gals were inside Ryder's trailer, frying potatoes and preparing a salad.
"This trailer is fantastic," Rose exclaimed as she opened the fridge. "This fridge is almost as big as mine back home."
"I know. It's incredible."
"Wren told me that Ryder bought this for you, you know."
"What? No way. They just needed a place to stay."
"Isobel, they've been sleeping in their trucks for years. Suddenly, they have this fancy trailer? He got it for you."
Isobel glanced around, taking in everything, her eyes resting on all the details. "There's a whole side of his life I don't know about."
"You'll learn."
Isobel turned to Rose and smiled, "I hope so."
Ryder stepped into the trailer with a platter full of steaks. "You hope so, what?" He set the plate on the counter and walked over to Isobel, gently rubbing her arms.
"I hope to learn about this part of your life."
"You've already learned a lot, Isobel. The rest will come with time." He kissed her on the forehead and returned to the steaks. "Dinner is served."