50 pages • 1 hour read
Lost and Lassoed
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Character Analysis
Theodora “Teddy” Andersen
Content Warning: This section of the guide includes discussion of death.
Teddy begins her arc at a personal and professional crossroads. Though she feels like the only person in her small town who isn’t yet partnered or having children, Teddy has carved out a meaningful life working in Cloma’s boutique; caring for her father, Hank; and spending time with her best friend, Emmy. However, Emmy increasingly spends more time with her fiancé, Brooks, causing Teddy to fear that their friendship will change forever. When Cloma closes the boutique, Teddy finds herself suddenly unemployed and feeling alone and directionless—she “want[s] to keep moving, but [doesn’t] know which direction to go” (143). Fiercely independent and creative, Teddy wrestles with Finding a Sense of Belonging and determining her next move when everything she’s known is changing.
Accepting the job as Riley’s caretaker catalyzes the new phase of Teddy’s life, providing her with income and stability while she determines her next steps. Although she initially sees the job as a practical solution, it opens doors to emotional growth that she doesn’t anticipate. Teddy has a strong sense of responsibility, evidenced by her care for Hank. When Gus asks her to take care of Riley, she feels a tug of obligation since she already loves Riley. Despite her hesitation, Teddy’s innate kindness compels her to step into the role, even if she’s uncertain how she’ll navigate living with Gus, highlighting the forced-proximity trope of classic romance fiction. Internally, Teddy struggles with a sense of failure and a loss of direction. The boutique’s closure and Emmy’s perceived distance have left her questioning her identity and self-worth. Caring for Riley gives her a new purpose and a way to focus her energy and contribute to something meaningful. Though it’s a temporary arrangement, it becomes an avenue for Teddy to reconnect with herself and her creativity and discover a new path forward.
Living at Rebel Blue Ranch allows Teddy to build relationships with Gus and Riley and brings out her nurturing instincts. It reawakens her sense of purpose as she finds fulfillment in being someone whom Riley and Gus can rely on, highlighting the novel’s thematic interest in Redemption Through Responsibility. On the days she’s not there, Gus notices, “There [is] a Teddy-shaped hole in the house” (219). This newfound connection with Riley makes Teddy feel valued in ways she hasn’t before. Living with Gus deepens their relationship, as sharing space helps them overcome their misunderstandings, and their growing attraction forces them to address how they’ve misjudged one another, emphasizing the enemies-to-lovers arc of their relationship. Gus’s steady presence and willingness to share his vulnerabilities encourage Teddy to trust him. This ever-increasing bond also pushes Teddy to reevaluate her assumptions about getting married and becoming a parent, which she wasn’t sure she wanted until she fell for Gus. In the end, Teddy emerges with a fresh sense of purpose and confidence in chasing her dream to become a designer, a renewed relationship with Emmy, and the comfort of the love of Gus and Riley to face the next season of her life.
August “Gus” Ryder
Gus is a brooding, big-hearted rancher struggling to balance familial duty and personal life. Sage depicts him as an archetypal rugged man of the land who is tough and resilient yet deeply connected to his family and legacy. His connection to his family’s ranch, Rebel Blue, represents tradition and steadfastness—something Teddy admires in him. She notes, “Gus was a working man, and who didn’t love a working man?” (107). Though Gus is defined by his unwavering sense of duty toward the ranch, his true love is his daughter, Riley. With Cam away, Gus shoulders the burden of raising Riley alone while ensuring that the ranch thrives. This responsibility weighs heavily on him, often making him prioritize work over personal fulfillment. Accepting help from Teddy humbles Gus and teaches him that it’s healthy to ask for help.
As a devoted, caring father despite his demanding workload, Gus never neglects his role, making time for small, meaningful moments with Riley that reveal his love and devotion. At first, he reluctantly accepts Teddy’s help out of desperation and his father’s insistence. However, the longer she is with them, the more he realizes her positive presence in Riley’s life. Through both Teddy and Amos, Gus learns that to be a good father, partner, and ranch owner, he must be willing to admit when he needs help and that trying to do everything on his own will drain all the joy from his life. By the end, Gus transforms from a man constrained by obligation and anxiety into one who allows love and connection to lead him to a better future.
Gus’s dedication to the ranch stems from obligation and a deep-seated desire to honor his family legacy, but, as Sage suggests, his commitment is also isolating. As a character, Gus embodies the tension between duty and desire; he puts on a stoic face, but inside, he feels lonely and longs for a life partner. Gus’s internal struggle reveals the tension between the life he feels he must lead and the life he secretly wants. At first, he views Rebel Blue as an all-encompassing legacy that restricts his freedom and defines who he is. Gus eventually learns to balance his sense of obligation and happiness as he invites Teddy into his home and, eventually, his heart. With Teddy by his side, Gus can see a future filled with fulfillment and joy on the ranch where work, life, and love come together, creating a nurturing environment that brings happiness and connection to everyone.
Emmeline “Emmy” Ryder
Emmy is Gus’s little sister, Teddy’s best friend, and the protagonist of the first book in Sage’s Rebel Blue Ranch series, Done and Dusted. She’s engaged to Luke Brooks, who’s renovating the local bar, the Devil’s Boot. Emmy and Teddy have been joined at the hip since Teddy and her father moved to Rebel Blue Ranch when Teddy was a baby. Most of Teddy’s childhood memories include shared adventures with Emmy in the beauty of Rebel Blue’s landscape. They bond over their motherless experience and support one another through difficult times. Teddy recalls helping Emmy home after spraining her ankle, noting that they’ve “been leaning on each other ever since” (3)—a metaphor for their friendship. Since Emmy’s engagement, however, Teddy perceives that Emmy leans more on Brooks for support than on her, which causes distance in their friendship. Teddy fears irrevocable change in their friendship but refrains from telling Emmy because she doesn’t want to appear unhappy that Emmy has found love.
The climactic conflict in Emmy and Teddy’s relationship arc comes when Emmy learns that Teddy and Gus have become a couple. When Teddy reveals the truth to Emmy, Emmy’s shocked reaction hurts Teddy’s feelings, causing a misunderstanding. Emmy has always seen Teddy and Gus as rivals, and her response stems from shock, not disapproval. Once she and Teddy have an open discussion about their feelings, they repair their relationship and learn that friendships must evolve and change through the seasons of life. Emmy affirms their bond, saying, “Luke is my fiancé, my partner, my everything. But you’re my soulmate, Teddy Andersen, and I’m the luckiest girl in the world because of it” (283). Emmy and Teddy’s relationship symbolizes the Evolution of Relationships in Adulthood and underscores the importance of lifelong friendship, especially during seasons of change and growth.
Amos Ryder
Amos is the hardworking, responsible patriarch of the Ryder family. His pragmatic approach to life comes from years of experience managing the ranch and caring for his family alone after the death of his wife. He has a strong sense of duty to his land and his loved ones, particularly Gus, whom he has raised to take over the responsibilities of the ranch. Amos encourages Gus to live up to his potential and take ownership of his future, which Gus internalizes. Gus explains their dynamic, saying, “[Amos’s] relationship with each of us was unique. Mine was just informed by more responsibility and expectation than my siblings” (275). Throughout the story, Amos becomes a source of wisdom for Gus, as his advice is rooted in the realities of life on the ranch and the emotional intricacies of family relationships. His experience with loss, love, and sacrifice gives him a grounded perspective, which he passes on to Gus, especially when he struggles to balance his work and personal life.
Amos represents a bridge between generations, offering Gus the lesson that he must learn to manage the ranch and his own life. As a father, Amos desires to protect his family. His dedication to the ranch and his legacy reflects his commitment to ensuring that the next generation can succeed. Gus describes his father as “a river, as grounded as a deep-rooted tree, and as calm as a pond on a sunny day” (200). His motivation to provide for and protect his family means that Amos makes difficult decisions, such as threatening to remove some of Gus’s responsibilities if he doesn’t get help. Sage indicates that Amos’s selflessness is driven by a long-term vision for the ranch’s success and his family’s well-being. He serves as a pillar for his family and others, as evidenced by his support of Hank and his practice of adopting aging horses and allowing them to live out their lives in peace and health at Rebel Blue. At the same time, Amos is strong, dependable, and often reserved. He might not always express his emotions outwardly, but his actions speak louder than words, and though he rarely shows emotion, his “nose scrunch” reveals his softer side. As Gus’s father and mentor, Amos is crucial to Gus’s character development, as he reshapes his eldest son’s definition of relationships and responsibility and teaches him the key to leading a fulfilled life.
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