A Photo Finish

In a flashback, a message from Violet makes Cole hopeful that she has reconsidered his offer. Instead, she asks about his history of soliciting sexual relationships online; he contends that past partners have found immense sexual pleasure from the arrangement. She claims that she can sexually satisfy herself without his help, an idea that he finds arousing.

In the narrative present, Cole exercises, trying to manage his frustration about Violet’s proximity. On a run through the beautiful landscape of Gold Rush Ranch, he admits that he isn’t pining for the city. He recognizes that Violet likely feels “trapped by her injury” and criticizes himself for not being more understanding (71). He wonders how he can rebuild a friendship with her, reflecting that he can’t think of the last time he had a friend. Even his relationship with his former fiancée, Hilary, didn’t involve friendship.

Cole sees his rejection of Violet during their online relationship as a necessity, as he didn’t feel comfortable enough with himself to be physically vulnerable over video chat. Even so, he understands that he hurts her feelings and wishes to make amends. He forces himself to keep running despite his fatigue until his worries fade from his mind.

When he returns to the farmhouse, Violet complains about the lack of coffee. Cole considers coffee “a crutch” but offers to take her to purchase some. Though she struggles with her injuries, he resists helping her, recalling her stubbornness. He encourages her to stay at the farmhouse while she recovers, though both proclaim their intent to avoid one another.

When Violet asks about his screen name from their online exchanges, Cole hopes to avoid the pain that still arises with those memories. When Violet persists, however, he explains that he chose it because he runs a mining company. Talking about their past makes them both recall suggestive comments; Cole feels aroused by the memories.

The coffee shop owner greets Violet familiarly, which Cole dislikes, being a private person. Violet scolds him for rudely ignoring the woman; he protests that he doesn’t greet strangers. When he agrees to her demands to greet the woman, however, she smiles at him approvingly, which he enjoys.

In a flashback, Violet grows more curious about Cole’s offer. She asks him about it, despite asserting that she won’t accept it. When she pushes back about his condition of anonymity, he sends a photo that shows his chest and half his face, leaving him unidentifiable. Violet finds him attractive, despite seeing only some of his features.

In the narrative present, Billie teases Violet about “living with the beast” (88), teasing her about Beauty and the Beast parallels. Violet privately muses over her embarrassment that she revealed so much of herself online to Cole, assuming herself important to him (something she now considers untrue). Billie asks about the clear tension between Violet and Cole, and Violet admits that she and Cole met on an online platform for naked photos. Billie is shocked; realizing that Vaughn overheard her admission, Violet is embarrassed. Billie teases Violet but doesn’t judge her.

Violet clarifies that she posted only one photo but that this led her and Cole to converse for a year. The conversation was mostly platonic, but the trust between them grew until Violet agreed, on video chat, to get naked and masturbate, assuming that Cole would reciprocate. She was hurt when he refused to do so. She deleted the app and ceased conversing with him.

Violet decides to walk home, which she swiftly regrets as her leg begins to ache less than halfway into the walk. Cold rain pelts her, and she begins to cry just as Cole drives past, offering a ride, which she gratefully accepts. He criticizes her for walking on her injured leg, and when they get home, he demands that she accept his help inside. They banter as he helps her, but he leaves as soon as she’s safely on the couch.

In a flashback, Violet’s messages make Cole laugh, which he hasn’t done in a long time. When he makes a flirtatious comment back, Violet says that, without reciprocation, their relationship can be platonic but not sexual.

In the narrative present, Violet’s lack of care around her healing leg and her tendency to be messy annoy Cole. He brings her ice, arguing that without proper care, she won’t be a successful jockey again. He senses something amiss and prods her to reveal that she told Billie (and Vaughn, albeit inadvertently) about their past. Cole feels creeping panic at the realization that his sex life is no longer secret.

When Cole tells Trixie about living with Violet, Trixie laughs and praises Violet’s honesty, both with Billie and with Cole. Cole hangs up abruptly when he sees a horse outside his window. He finds a note from Billie indicating that the horse, Pipsqueak, was born premature but has thrived enough to potentially become racehorse; Billie wants Violet to start Pipsqueak’s training so that she has something to do while she recovers. Though Cole recognizes the thoughtfulness of this gesture, he’s unwilling to live with a horse. However, Violet is visibly soothed by the prospect of helping Pipsqueak, so he relents, though he’s acutely reminded of the pain of “being stuck in a rut” (112). He says he won’t help with Pipsqueak, citing his dislike of horses; Violet plans to change his attitude.

In the flashback timeline, Violet and Cole have grown closer after months of daily conversation. She has begun working at Gold Rush Ranch and likes that she’s the “grunt worker” as the newest hire. Cole’s chronic insomnia reminds Violet of her veteran brother’s similar problems. They joke about Violet rejecting Cole’s initial sexual offer.

In the narrative present, Violet admires Pipsqueak and tries to disregard how she enjoyed being carried by Cole. Her attraction to him in person conflicts with their emotional intimacy during their time as digital friends. Violet thrills at caring for Pipsqueak, which she finds therapeutic. She grooms the horse, getting lost in the routine. She’s startled when Hank arrives. The older, protective groom asks her about cohabitating with Cole, whom Hank attests is like Dermot, the Harding brothers’ grandfather and Hank’s late best friend. Hank reflects that Cole might struggle to live in the place where his deceased father grew up. He hopes that Violet’s presence will help Cole.

Violet throws herself into caring for Pipsqueak to avoid confronting her attraction to Cole. When he goes out for repeated runs in a single day, she realizes that he’s avoiding the horse and cajoles him into joining her for a drink instead. They head to a nearby pub, which Violet, frustrated at being trapped on the farm due to her leg, finds exciting.

In the flashback timeline, Cole scolds himself for being awkward at conversation; he worries that Violet will tire of him if he doesn’t bring more to their friendship. He struggles between his desire to know more about her, his sense that he doesn’t deserve her friendship, his fear of prying, and his disinterest in sharing anything about himself. Violet confides that her mother died in childbirth but that she nevertheless had a happy childhood. He’s tempted to share about losing his father, but decides that “nobody wants to hear [his] shit” (133).

In the narrative present, Cole finds Neighbor’s Pub grungy and disgusting, but Violet adores it. Cole accidentally reveals that his therapist would like the pub too and is surprised when Violet doesn’t question or judge him for being in therapy. When he’s anxious about taking a seat without a clear view of the door (an aftereffect of the PTSD he experiences due to his military service), she offers to switch spots with him without fanfare. He’s surprised she noticed; she credits it to her brother’s military service. They joke, and Violet comments that this is the first time she’s heard him laugh.

Violet teases Cole for being oblivious to their waitress’ flirtations. The attention makes him uncomfortable. Violet, by contrast, is more comfortable around Cole than anyone he knows. She comments that she’s confident that he’ll succeed in improving the new company acquisition where he has been working, as she doesn’t see him as “a quitter.” This reminds Cole of messages he left for her after she stopped replying to him. (He later reveals that he kept messaging her daily.)

Violet confesses her own professional tension: She’s happy about her previous season’s successes as a freshman jockey but doesn’t feel that she truly “earned” her wins. She worries about her decreased fitness due to her injury and how this will affect her return to the sport; Cole offers to help her train. She accepts.

They leave hours later. Cole is surprised by his good mood. He reflects on his limited relationship with his mother, who struggled with alcohol use after her husband’s death. Cole witnessed little of this, as he was overseas for his military service. He vaguely alludes to something happening at the end of his final tour. (The novel later reveals that he has an amputated leg because of an injury he sustained during his military service.)

Cole jealously comments on the flowers someone gave Violet, regretting the comment when she reveals that they were from Hank. She thanks him for going out with her, since she’s certain that he doesn’t like her, given their history. He finds this ridiculous.