Characters Lost and Lassoed Lyla Sage

Brooks Ryder Character Analysis: The Heart Behind the Devil’s Boot

Overview

Brooks Ryder—often called Luke by the narrative—is Emmy’s fiancé and Gus’s best friend. In Lost and Lassoed, he appears as the steady, self-made owner of the Devil’s Boot, a Wyoming bar he inherited from his father, Jimmy. More than a backdrop owner, Brooks acts as a quiet pillar for the Ryder family, especially during moments of tension between Gus and Teddy. The text shows a man who is both confident in his work and vulnerable about his past. He represents a version of masculinity that blends toughness with emotional honesty—a contrast to Gus’s earlier closed-off nature.

Plot Role

Brooks’s main plot contributions are:

  • He opens the second floor of the Devil’s Boot and installs a mechanical bull named Sue (Evidence chapter 35). This event becomes the stage for Teddy’s public bull ride and Gus’s public claim over her.
  • He serves as a confidant for Gus, offering advice on fatherhood and relationships (Evidence chapter 18).
  • He and Emmy provide a stable home environment that contrasts with the earlier dysfunction of Jimmy Brooks. Their house deep in the holler becomes a gathering place for family dinners and honest conversation (Evidence chapter 18).
  • He helps push Gus and Teddy together, both by teasing them when they’re locked in a closet (Evidence chapter 2) and by supporting their relationship once it becomes public.

Brooks’s role is secondary to the central romance, but he functions as a catalyst for Gus’s emotional growth and as a symbol of a future that Gus begins to want for himself.

Motivations and Traits Shown Through Actions

Self‑reliance and pride in his work: Brooks transforms the dilapidated house and bar left by his father. The text shows him building the back deck, hanging twinkle lights, and renovating the space until it “felt like mine” (Evidence chapter 25). His motivation is to create something that belongs to him, not to his abusive father.

Loyalty and protectiveness: He watches over Emmy and Gus. When Gus is locked in the closet with Teddy, Brooks teases them but also frees them quickly (Evidence chapter 2). He asks Gus, “Do you think I’d be good at it? Being a dad?” revealing that he cares deeply about being a good partner and potential father (Evidence chapter 18).

Fear of repeating his father’s mistakes: Brooks admits he’s “fucking terrified” of having children because he’s “scared of ending up like him”—Jimmy Brooks (Evidence chapter 18). This fear drives his careful approach to commitment and his emotional conversations with Gus.

Humour and warmth: Despite his tough exterior, Brooks has a playful side. He names the bull Sue “a bull named Sue, get it?” referencing Johnny Cash (Evidence chapter 35). He wears worn jeans and backward baseball caps; the narrator notes that Emmy once found his muscle tees douchey but that “Brooks wasn’t such a good guy” (Evidence chapter 25)—a line that implies he won people over with his character.

Chronological Arc

Brooks’s arc in Lost and Lassoed is subtle but present:

  • Early chapters: He is mostly off-stage, but his presence is felt through his bar and his relationship with Emmy. When Gus and Teddy get locked in the closet, Brooks finds them and jokingly considers leaving them there (Evidence chapter 2). This shows his comfort with playful manipulation.
  • Middle chapters: Brooks hosts family dinners and engages in deeper conversations. He admits his fear of fatherhood to Gus, and Gus reassures him, “You’re not your dad, Brooks” (Evidence chapter 18). This moment strengthens their friendship and shows Brooks’s vulnerability.
  • Climax: On opening night of the mechanical bull, Brooks introduces Teddy as the first rider. His decision to spotlight Teddy—and his choice to let Gus take her home—solidifies his support for their relationship (Evidence chapter 35). He is not threatened by Gus’s public kiss; instead, the text implies he is amused (“Brooks looked at me questioningly” but doesn’t interfere).
  • Resolution: In the epilogue, Brooks is present at Cam’s wedding, part of the family unit Gus has envied. He has taken a step toward the family life he discussed with Gus.

Relationships

Emmy Ryder

Brooks and Emmy are a settled couple. She is the sweetheart of Meadowlark, and their engagement is treated as a “royal wedding” (Evidence chapter 35). The text shows Brooks letting her add “little touches” to the bar, like a neon sign. Their relationship provides a model of healthy partnership that Gus observes with “a weird ache” (Evidence chapter 18).

Gus Ryder

Brooks is Gus’s best friend and brother-in-law. They talk candidly about fatherhood, fear, and Teddy. Brooks defends Teddy to Gus, saying, “I’ve never had an issue with Teddy. I’ve always liked her” (Evidence chapter 18). He is a safe sounding board, and Gus confides in him in ways he rarely does with others.

Teddy Andersen

Brooks appears to genuinely like Teddy. He gives her a tequila soda on his tab, introduces her as “fearless” and “loud as fuck” (Evidence chapter 35), and supports her relationship with Gus. He does not act as a gatekeeper; instead, he facilitates their connection.

Riley Ryder (Gus’s daughter)

Though not shown much, Brooks interacts with Riley at the family dinner, letting her help make pasta (Evidence chapter 18). His ease with children suggests his readiness for fatherhood.

Key Decisions and Consequences

  1. Installing the mechanical bull and opening the second floor: This decision transforms the Devil’s Boot from a one-note bar into a multifaceted venue. It also creates the setting for Teddy’s iconic ride, which publicly marks her relationship with Gus.

  2. Consequence: Gus makes a possessive, public claim on Teddy, which signals their relationship is serious and brings Teddy into the family circle.

  3. Introducing Teddy as the first rider: Brooks chooses Teddy over any other candidate. This elevates her status in the community and aligns him with her as family.

  4. Consequence: It deepens the trust between Teddy and Brooks, and Emmy sees that her best friend and fiancé support each other.

  5. Inviting Gus and Riley to dinner (Evidence chapter 18): Brooks and Emmy host a meal where Gus and Brooks have a pivotal conversation about fatherhood.

  6. Consequence: Gus admits his jealousy of Brooks’s life, which forces him to confront his own desires for partnership and family.

Theme/Symbol Connections

  • Found family: Brooks rebuilds the house and bar that his biological father destroyed. He creates a home with Emmy and treats Gus like a brother. This echoes the novel’s broader theme of choosing family over blood (see found family).
  • Vulnerability: Brooks shows vulnerability by admitting his fear of being a bad father. This aligns with Gus’s own journey of opening up (see vulnerability).
  • Letting go of control: Brooks hands over the microphone to Teddy and later lets Gus take her without resistance. He learns that building a successful business and relationship means sharing the spotlight (see letting go of control).
  • Love and commitment: Brooks’s commitment to Emmy is unwavering; he wants to be a good partner and father, which inspires Gus to reconsider his own romantic prospects (see love and commitment).
  • Single parenthood: Brooks’s fear of repeating his father’s neglect is a direct comment on the legacy of poor parenting. He works to become a different kind of man (see single-parenthood).

The mechanical bull Sue can be seen as a symbol: something wild that must be tamed—much like Teddy and Gus’s relationship, and much like Brooks’s own past. He names the bull after a Johnny Cash song, grounding it in country storytelling.

5 Book‑Specific Questions and Answers

1. Why does Brooks name the mechanical bull Sue?
He references the Johnny Cash song “A Boy Named Sue,” as he tells Gus (Evidence chapter 35). The name is playful and reinforces his humorous personality.

2. What fear does Brooks share with Gus during the pasta dinner?
Brooks admits he is “fucking terrified” of becoming a father because he’s afraid of ending up like his own father, Jimmy Brooks, who was abusive and neglectful (Evidence chapter 18).

3. How does Brooks react when he finds Gus and Teddy locked in a closet?
He teases them, saying he might earn points with Emmy if he leaves them in there, but then he opens the door (Evidence chapter 2). His reaction shows he is amused by their tension and supportive of whatever might develop.

4. What role does Brooks play in Teddy’s public bull ride?
He introduces her as “incomparable” and “fearless,” and the band plays “Strutter” by Kiss as she rides. After she succeeds, Brooks does not interfere when Gus kisses her in front of the crowd (Evidence chapter 35). He effectively gives his blessing.

5. How does Brooks’s character help develop the theme of letting go of control?
By letting Teddy take center stage and by trusting Gus with her, Brooks demonstrates that he doesn’t need to micromanage events or relationships. He allows the night—and his friendship—to unfold naturally, which contrasts with Gus’s need to control everything (see letting go of control).

For a deeper discussion of the novel’s ending and additional plot questions, see the ending explained and questions and answers pages.