Hằng is an 18-year-old Vietnamese refugee who has recently arrived in the United States after a harrowing physical and emotional journey. She carries the heavy responsibility of finding her younger brother, who was taken to America six years prior during Operation Babylift. Despite knowing very little English, she exhibits immense determination and resourcefulness, traveling through an unfamiliar country with single-minded focus.

LeeRoy is an 18-year-old aspiring cowboy from Austin who decides to pursue his dream of training under his idol, Bruce Ford. Raised in a comfortable household by university professors, he possesses brand-new gear and a highly romanticized view of ranching. He is talkative and perceptive, reluctantly becoming Hằng's driver after an encounter at a rest stop.

Linh is Hằng's younger brother who was brought to the United States at age five during Operation Babylift. Now going by the name David, he is fully adapted to his life in Texas and retains no conscious memory of his Vietnamese heritage or biological family. He feels a deep sense of belonging around horses and views the sudden appearance of his birth relatives as a frightening disruption.

Bà is Hằng and Linh's grandmother, a strong and intelligent woman who kept her family together during and after the Vietnam War. Although she passes away before Hằng arrives in America, her practical wisdom and meticulous planning continuously guide her granddaughter. She demonstrates profound resilience, bartering goods to feed her family and secretly saving money to secure their escape.

Chú Quốc is Hằng and Linh's uncle who works as a doctor in Dallas. Having lived comfortably in the United States while his family suffered in Vietnam, he carries a deep guilt that drives his rigid and intense attempts to control his niece and nephew. He insists on taking aggressive legal action to bring Linh back into their family fold.

Cora is David's unofficial adoptive mother who took him in after her brother passed away in a car accident. She is highly protective of her son and initially views Hằng and Chú Quốc with intense mistrust, worrying they will legally take David away from her. She provides the boy with a stable, loving home and fiercely defends their life together.

Mr. Morgan is an elderly cowboy who owns the property neighboring Cora's ranch. As the grandson of the first Black landowner in the area, he takes immense pride in his land and manages his agricultural operations with a firm, demanding hand. He watches over Cora like a daughter and provides Hằng and LeeRoy with backbreaking chores and a place to stay.

Angie is Chú Quốc's daughter and Hằng's cousin. She understands her father's intense guilt but possesses a calmer, more grounded perspective. Recognizing Hằng's determination, she helps bypass her father's strict rules by driving Hằng to the bus station and packing travel supplies.

Mrs. Brown is an elderly woman who lives near the former site of the South Baptist church. She kindly tends to a distressed Hằng, feeds her, and provides crucial information that directs the young woman toward her brother's new location.

Brother Grady was an American volunteer who worked at the church in Amarillo. He brought Linh from Vietnam to the United States during Operation Babylift before passing away in a car accident, leaving the boy in his sister's care.

Hằng and Linh's mother, Ðỗ thị Mỹ Thu, attempts to flee Vietnam with Hằng by binding her chest and disguising herself in robes. Her desperate efforts to protect her daughter during the perilous sea crossing define Hằng's deeply buried traumatic memories.

Hằng and Linh's father died working as a translator near a battlefield before the end of the Vietnam War. He never knew of Linh's birth, but his deep love for Westerns leaves a lasting impression on his daughter's view of America.

Lan is a young Vietnamese girl who survives a catastrophic boat crossing and island pirate attacks alongside Hằng. She experiences horrific physical trauma during their time on the island before eventually being evacuated to a refugee camp.

Jack is a delivery man who regularly visits Mr. Morgan's property. He provides LeeRoy with information about a local midnight rodeo and later steps in to prevent further physical conflict when the outing goes terribly wrong.