Back home, and under strict orders from her parents, Ally does her best to behave, but still can't get Daniel off her mind. Here she meets Ryan Henderson, an 8-second rodeo cowboy, and before she could consider the consequences, she goes on one wild rodeo ride after another, of her own.

In between their secret meetings, she is forced to deal with the painful loss of her brother, and her parents' heartache and anger at not only his death, but her lifestyle.

On the last night of the festival, Ally Bradshaw's indiscretions with Ryan is exposed for all the townsfolk to see. Shocked by her parents' reaction, Ally sees them in a new light, but is forced to return home when the museum where she works, almost burns down.

Here, she meets Detective Mark Warren, and runs into Daniel again, who has another woman at his side.