Long Paddock. Alissa Callen. 2021.

Country girl Cressida Knight fills her days with her farm, a mischievous pet bull called Reggie and her volunteer emergency services work. The busier she keeps, the less she thinks about the cowboy who left her behind. She’s convinced the small-town Woodlea grapevine that she’s moved on, but now it’s time to move on for real. 

Champion bull riders Denham Rigby shares Cressy’s deep love for the land and all he’s ever wanted is to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with Cressy through life. But three years ago a dark family secret left him no choice but to run. Now family duty ves him no choice but to return to the bush. 

What Denham hasn’t come home to do is hurt Cressy by rekindling their relationship. He’s nothing but a liability and the beautiful, self-reliant cowgirl has to stay off limits. But when faced Cressy’s desperation to save her drought-stricken farm, he can’t keep his distance. He joins her out driving on the long paddock. Then when Woodlea is hit by more than just rodeo fever, they are further thrown together and Denham loses the battle to lock down his emotion. 

But has he left it too late to stop running? And will the woman he’s always loved be prepared to risk her heart for a second time?