The fire crackled between them, sending golden sparks curling up into the dusky sky. Wren leaned back on his elbows, boots scraping the gravel, while Bella Rose traced the rim of her cup with a finger, eyes bright with scheming energy. Ryder sat close enough to Isobel for her warmth to brush his thigh, Harley tethered nearby, nostrils twitching in the smoke-scented air.
They went over the weekend rodeo plans, voices low but animated, the kind of conversation seasoned cowhands and city-bred riders alike would recognize. Oklahoma was calling, and each detail mattered. Ryder would drive his truck, trailer in tow, sleeping quarters arranged for himself and Wren—rugged but efficient, as he liked it. Bella Rose would haul her own trailer, outfitted comfortably for herself and Isobel, their hors
