Emmy is still somewhat nervous around horses but is able to get back on Maple regularly. Luke wakes up early one morning to surprise Emmy, and she is shocked to see that he has set up a regulation barrel racing course for her to practice on in one of the ranch’s arenas. Emmy is nervous, and Luke notices, but she is impressed that he would go out of his way to do something like this because he believes in her.

Emmy practices barrel racing the following week, and Luke is often there to be with her. He gets more nervous about telling the Ryders about their relationship as time goes on. They are interrupted by a phone call Luke receives, and he is shocked to have a call from his mother, telling him that her husband has gone missing.

Emmy goes with Luke to his childhood home, and she wants to be there for him even when Luke tells her she doesn’t have to come in. When they arrive, Luke’s mom, Lydia, tells them about how her husband, John, a truck driver who was often gone for several days, hadn’t been heard from in a while either by her or the trucking company.