Lost and Lassoed

Gus is eight years older than Teddy and has known her since she was a baby. He admits that she’s beautiful but dangerous, and he’s uncomfortable being so close to her, trapped in the closet. Teddy and Gus volley insults while they wait for Brooks or Emmy to rescue them. They rarely agree—though Gus notes that they once agreed on something, which is a secret they share—but in this moment, they both agree that they’re desperate to get out of the cramped, dark closet. After Brooks frees them, Gus blames it on “Hurricane Theodora” before she tricks him with the “what’s on your shirt” gag and flicks him on the nose. Teddy rips a hole in her favorite suede jacket on the door handle.

Teddy wrestles with her vintage sewing machine, trying to repair the hole in her jacket and holding back tears. Her sewing machine needs work, but the only repair shop is in Jackson. She’s had the jacket since she was 16, when she found it in a thrift store while shopping with Emmy. The jacket isn’t particularly valuable but reminds her of a happier time when she and Emmy were young and it was just the two of them “against the world” (21). Emmy now spends most of her time with Brooks and rarely calls Teddy when she needs something. Teddy is 28, and though she’s always considered herself a leader in her small town, watching everyone get married and have children increasingly makes her feel like she’s falling behind.

Teddy’s father, Hank, comes downstairs with his cane. Hank has Teddy’s name tattooed on his knuckles and, despite his advanced age, is still a “badass.” Hank and Teddy share a love of music, and noticing her low mood, he offers to watch a music documentary together to cheer her up, though Aggie is coming for dinner—a neighbor who’s recently been cooking for Hank and spending time with him. Teddy feels happy that her father is discovering love late in life, but Aggie’s presence makes her father less dependent on her, and Teddy thrives on others needing her. Teddy calls Emmy and invites her to watch the documentary with them, but she has plans with Brooks. Teddy tries not to cry as she hangs up.

Riley’s mother, Camille (“Cam”), currently lives in Jackson Hole with her fiancé, Graham, while she prepares to retake the bar exam. This means that Riley is with Gus all summer at Rebel Blue Ranch. He speaks with Cam on the phone and tries to hide his anxiety over single parenting alone. He and Cam have a good co-parenting relationship, and Gus loves Riley, but he’s not used to being her sole caregiver for long periods. Cam reminds Gus about Riley’s soccer practice that afternoon, and Gus assures her that he is on top of everything. Internally, Gus worries about managing his ranch duties and caring for Riley, especially since the ranch will host city guests over the summer.

Later, Gus takes his horse, Scout, out on the ranch to check the rain tanks. Since it’s typically dry in the summer, they must carefully monitor the water levels. Riley’s soccer coach calls, and Gus realizes that he forgot about soccer practice. Knowing that it will be at least an hour before he can get to her, he calls Emmy for help. She and Brooks are 30 minutes outside town, but she says she’ll get Riley.

When Teddy graduated from college with a fashion merchandising degree, she returned home to Meadowlark and began working for Cloma at the Lace and Lavender Western wear boutique. Though most of the boutique’s revenue comes from online sales, Teddy appreciates that Cloma displays some “Teddy Andersen originals.” The job flexibility allows her to spend time at the ranch with her father. Cloma surprises Teddy by announcing that she has sold the boutique’s name to an online retailer and will be closing the brick-and-mortar store next week, which means that Teddy is out of a job. Cloma apologizes for the bad news but wants to seek new adventures and spend more time with her grandchild. She pays Teddy six months’ severance and gifts her a vintage Coach bag that she found at a consignment store years ago. Teddy leaves the store in tears, wondering what she’ll do without a job, especially with Hank’s medical bills. Emmy calls and asks her to pick up Riley from soccer practice. Teddy argues that Gus won’t like it, but Emmy is desperate for help, and Teddy loves Riley, so she agrees.

Teddy arrives at the soccer field, and the soccer coach, Nicole, appears disappointed that Gus isn’t there to pick up Riley. Nicole says that she must check with Cam if it’s okay for Riley to leave with Teddy, but Teddy can sense that Nicole has a crush on Gus. Over the phone, Cam reminds Nicole that Teddy is on Riley’s approved check-out list and gives her permission to send Riley home. On the drive to the ranch, Teddy can tell that Riley misses her mother. While they wait for Gus to return, Teddy makes Riley dinner, and Cam calls to talk to Riley. Teddy jokes with Cam about Nicole and how she and Gus would be a good fit, but she remembers that Gus hasn’t dated anyone recently. Teddy waits outside while Riley talks to Cam, and when Gus returns, he’s angry that Teddy is there. She snaps back, criticizing him for forgetting his kid, but he instantly regrets the words. Gus is visibly upset with himself and asks Teddy if he’s a lousy father. Teddy consolingly rubs his back and admits that he’s not her favorite person but is a good father.

Gus and Riley live in a smaller house on Blue Rebel Ranch. Gus’s widowed father, Amos, lives alone in the main house. Gus’s brother, Wes, and his girlfriend, Ada, live on the property in a home they are remodeling. Everyone, including Emmy and Brooks, meets at the main house for breakfast. Gus is still adjusting to Emmy and Brooks being a couple. Brooks was Gus’s best friend growing up, and when he and Emmy got together, they hid it from Gus. Gus punched Brooks when he found out, but they have since repaired their relationship. Over breakfast, Brooks and Emmy give an update on the bar renovation and share the story of Teddy and Gus getting locked in the closet.

After the meal, Ada takes Riley to see her horse, Sweetwater, while Wes, Emmy, Brooks, and Amos meet with Gus. They are worried that with Cam away, he’s shouldering too much with his ranch work and caring for Riley. They suggest that he hire someone to help around the house and care for Riley. Gus feels attacked and bites back defensively, claiming that he’s got it all together, but inside, he keeps thinking about the forgotten soccer practice, and he knows they’re right. He also can’t stop thinking about Teddy consolingly rubbing his back on the porch afterward. Emmy suggests that they ask Teddy to help since the boutique is closing, but Gus vehemently opposes. He always thought that Teddy was a bad influence on Emmy and doesn’t want her around Riley. Wes, Gus, and Teddy begin arguing, and Brooks shouts at Gus for speaking rudely to Emmy. Amos intervenes, warning them all to calm down. He tells Gus that he will remove some of his ranch responsibilities if he doesn’t find help. Gus reluctantly agrees to talk with Teddy.

Teddy and Emmy take Cloma up on her offer to shop the boutique’s remaining inventory. Emmy tries on a leather vest that Teddy made and praises her for her talent. Teddy loves making clothing, but her sewing machine is broken, and she’s unsure where to get it repaired. Emmy can tell that something is off with Teddy, but Teddy doesn’t share because she’s too afraid to tell her that it’s because of the growing distance between them since Emmy got engaged. Emmy tells Teddy about the opportunity to help Gus. Teddy refuses, citing her long-standing feud with him. Emmy pleads with her, explaining that Cam contacted their father after the soccer practice incident and that she fears Cam might leave Jackson Hole to return home. Teddy agrees, but only because she knows she’d feel guilty if Cam had to give up her dream of pursuing law school and she didn’t try to help.

Gus meets with Teddy to discuss the terms of their arrangement. Teddy will stay with Riley Monday through Wednesday to maintain a similar schedule to what he had with Cam. He doesn’t need her help on the weekend because he wants that time with Riley. Gus suggests that Teddy stay in his guest room since the commute is too long. They argue over compensation as Teddy demands almost double what Gus is willing to pay. They land on $500 a week just as Riley is waking up. As much as Gus hates to admit it, Riley loves Teddy. As he leaves them for their first day together, he hears Teddy joking about Riley getting arrested and wonders if he’s made a mistake.