The next day, Colt reflects furiously on Henrik Pierson’s visit. He knows that Henrik and his brother, Alton Pierson, will find an excuse to come back to the ranch; Colt is convinced the two men are responsible for secretly damaging the property. However, the two men are deeply embedded in the smalltown community, and no one would believe Colt’s claims, especially since he is reclusive. He alludes to a complicated history involving his grandfather.

Suddenly, he hears Layla shout for help. He finds her by the barn, her hands bloody; she explains that several cattle in the herd are injured. They take the truck to a paddock where three heifers have gashes on their flanks. Layla uses her veterinary training to treat the first two animals’ wounds. The third heifer, however, has a deeper laceration that requires stitches. Overwhelmed by the dark and cold conditions, Layla panics, confessing she has never performed sutures outside of a proper clinical setting. Colt restrains the animal and calms her, holding her shaking hands and telling her he trusts her to do the job. Reassured by his steady presence, Layla successfully stitches the wound.

Back at the house, Layla and Colt share a dinner he prepared. The two of them talk and Layla reveals that she had a difficult child with a neglectful mother. Layla’s aunt, Evaline, was her main source of love and support; she now has early-onset dementia and Layla pays for her care. In turn, Colt shares that he was orphaned as a child and then raised by his abusive grandfather on the ranch. When Colt was a teenager (and had just become a father himself), his grandfather died by suicide and Colt inherited the ranch. He knocked down the old farmhouse and spent nearly thirty years rebuilding the ranch to erase the older man’s legacy.

The shared vulnerability creates intense physical tension between them, and they almost kiss by the kitchen sink. They are interrupted by a radio call from Kayce. Colt takes the call in his office, and Layla overhears the tense conversation. When Kayce learns Layla is there, he angrily accuses his father of sleeping with her. Colt vehemently denies it, calling Layla a “kid” (104) and “your girl” (104) to placate his son. Layla retreats to her room, resolved not to come between father and son and not to be a distraction.

Another week passes, during which Layla has successfully avoided Colt by spending her time in the barn. The weather has improved and they anticipate that the road will reopen the following day. Colt and Layly ride out to a remote part of the property, and he insists that she learn to shoot a rifle. Layla struggles with the lesson and his attempts to teach her lead them into close physical proximity, which arouses both of them. That night, Layla masturbates while fantasizing about Colt.

The next day, the roads reopen and Colt and Layla prepare to drive into town. He tows her car so they can drop it off at mechanic; he is worried about getting into town and back before another storm strikes. In town, he impulsively places his black cowboy hat on her head without explanation, knowing it will signal to other men that she is unavailable. When they finish their errands more quickly than anticipated, Colt suggests they have dinner at the local bar. He worries that she has been isolated on the ranch and might enjoy socializing. Layla hesitantly agrees, admitting that she doesn’t actually enjoy partying and drinking. 

After dinner, as they prepare to leave, an attractive woman approaches Colt and greets him familiarly.

Layla watches as the tall, beautiful woman flirts with Colt. Immediately jealous, Layla wonders if Colt had planned the visit to the bar specifically to meet a woman. When a young man asks Layla to dance, she agrees. As they dance, Layla feels Colt’s possessive stare from across the room. She finds that her dance partner’s touch does nothing for her, only intensifying her longing for Colt. At the end of the song, the man asks her for a drink, but before she can answer Colt storms over. Furious, he grabs Layla by the hip, curtly ends the dance, and hauls her out of the bar without another word.

Layla and Colt drive back to the ranch silent and seething. Although they had assumed Kayce would be back at the ranch now that the roads are clear, Colt tells Layla that Kayce has sent a message and is not planning on returning anytime soon. Colt goads her, implying that she will want to stay in town and be with Kayce. Layla furiously confronts him, reiterating that she is not Kayce’s property and is focused on fulfilling her 8-week contract to meet the requirements of her job. They clash over their mutual jealousy at the bar and the argument escalates until Colt confesses that he is in constant turmoil over his desire for her, admitting he fights the urge to go to her room every night to “see how she tastes.” (135)

His confession breaks the tension, and they kiss passionately. They kiss and caress but stop at Colt’s insistence. Calling her “perfect and beautiful” (137) he says he needs her to obey him and go straight to bed. Heartbroken, Layla complies.