Wild Eyes

Weston (West) Belmont is another of the novel’s protagonists and first-person narrators. The chapters titled with his first name are written from his first-person point of view. West is 33 years old and lives on a ranch in Rose Hill, where he raises and trains horses. He is recently divorced, and he shares custody of his children, Emmy and Oliver, with his ex-wife, Mia. Although he only has his kids every other week, West devotes the majority of his energy and time to their care. The way he structures his life is inspired by Emmy and Oliver’s needs and West’s devotion to them. As a single father, he is a loving, gentle, caring, and empathetic figure. Skylar immediately notices how positive a role model he is for Emmy and Oliver. When she contrasts his parenting style to her father’s, she begins to understand the abusive aspects of her own upbringing.

When Skylar first meets West, she notices his hands his “warm and gentle” (19) hands, which can also be rough, strong, and comforting. When she sees him working with his horses, she becomes physically attracted to him, noticing “all his muscles rippling and bunching as he reaches up to carefully wet the horse’s mane” (38). His physicality is immediately compelling to Skylar because she is accustomed to the softer, slimmer men in LA. However, Skylar’s attraction to West is not purely physical; she is also drawn to his vibrancy, his empathy, and his generosity. West welcomes Skylar onto his property and into his life, but he never treats her like a public figure. Instead, he engages with her authentic humanity, creating a vibrant interpersonal dynamic that she is unaccustomed to, given her celebrity lifestyle in the city.

West’s love for Skylar fuels his Pursuit of Happiness. Although West is a positive, happy individual by nature, since his divorce, he has longed for an equal partnership. He often feels lonely and aimless when his kids are with his ex and wishes that he had more than the horses for company. Skylar illuminates his life. She shows interest in West’s passions and invests in his kids. Over time, she becomes his constant companion, infusing his life with meaning, purpose, love, and excitement. While Skylar’s character growth is more overt than West’s, West is also a dynamic character. He changes drastically in the weeks after Skylar arrives in Rose Hill because he has found someone whom he can truly care about and invest in. He pursues Skylar after she returns to LA because he doesn’t want to lose her. This decision is new for West, as he is used to dismissing his desires for the sake of his family.

Emmy and Oliver Belmont are West’s children. Their mother, Mia, is West’s ex-wife, and Emmy and Oliver split their time between Mia’s home and West’s. Emmy is six years old, and Oliver is eight. When Skylar first comes to the ranch, she immediately falls in love with them. Whereas Oliver is quiet, bookish, and thoughtful, Emmy is outgoing, talkative, and assertive. Oliver normally doesn’t talk to people, but he immediately opens up to Skylar. Emmy also grows readily attached to Skylar when she arrives at the bunkhouse.

West is moved when he notices his kids’ attachment to Skylar because he does not often introduce them to the women that he dates. He is also taken by Skylar’s genuine investment in Emmy and Oliver. She engages them in conversation, spends time with them one-on-one, and welcomes their company. West therefore sees Skylar as a perfect addition to his family because she doesn’t compete with the children for his attention.

Emmy and Oliver teach Skylar how to reconnect with her youthful nature. Their honesty and authenticity remind her of the power of being true to herself. Skylar is particularly impressed with Emmy, whose “philosophy is so simple. So elementary in its logic” (85). Emmy encourages Skylar when she is disheartened, reminding her to try again whenever she feels like she has failed. Emmy’s confident, uninhibited nature makes Skylar realize “what a pushover [she’s] been” (85) and inspires her to take more risks in life. Furthermore, the children’s presence adds levity and nuance to Skylar’s and West’s romance.

Ford Grant is the owner and operator of Wild Rose Records. He is more down-to-earth than anyone Skylar has known in LA, and he treats her respectfully and immediately agrees to work with her on her new album. Skylar notices that “a flicker of compassion appears on his handsome face” (29) when they first meet, and she remarks on how eager he is to help her settle into Rose Hill. Ford is essential to Skylar’s personal growth journey, acting as a foil for exploitative characters like Skylar’s dad and her agent, Jerry. Unlike everyone else Skylar has worked with, Ford wants to produce an album that is true to Skylar. He asks her questions, encourages her, and fights for her rights as an artist. Their working relationship encourages Skylar to express herself authentically, helping her to rediscover the joy of making music.