Konkurrenten

I was in the stable, saddling Steel, when Josh walked in.

Josh: “How are you, Gillian? You’ve changed quite a bit around here. Looks good. I missed you so much. Why didn’t you ever write to me? Are you mad at me?”

Gillian: “Am I mad at you? Josh, you left for Wyoming because of your father. Apart from one stupid postcard to your colleagues — and me — I never heard from you again. How could I not be mad?”

He claimed he had written countless emails. I hadn’t received a single one. Did he seriously think he could just come back and I’d throw myself into his arms? That we’d simply continue where we’d stopped months ago? Yes, my heart had skipped a beat when I saw him. But head over heart. Jamie was here. And we were much further along than Josh and I had ever been. Jamie… What was going through his mind right now? He knew about Josh. Would he leave? I couldn’t lose him. I had to fix things with him — urgently. As soon as I got back to the house, I checked my emails. Josh had told the truth. All 74 of his emails had landed in my spam folder. I read every single one. He had kept me updated. Explained everything. Things we hadn’t been able to say before he left — he had written them all down. His last email read: ________________________________________

Subject: I love you

Dear Gillian, Again I haven’t heard from you. It makes me so sad. I can’t stand it here anymore. I’ve imagined so many times what it would feel like to hold you in my arms. We hired a foreman for the ranch. He’s doing well. That means I can finally come back. I miss you terribly. But in a few days we’ll be together again — and I’ll never leave you alone. I’m unbelievably excited to see you. Josh ________________________________________ Oh my God. So many honest, beautiful emails. Some days even several. In the last one, he had announced his return. He hadn’t forgotten anything. And certainly not me. I had judged him so unfairly. What was I supposed to do now? My heart beat for both of them — Jamie and Josh.

My head said: run.

I needed air. I asked Claire to go riding with me and told her everything. Patiently, she listened. Of course she sided with Jamie. He was her friend. But part of me stood with him too. Still… how could I just push Josh aside, when he had tried all this time to stay in contact? When he had written so openly about us?

Claire: “Wow… you’ve really gotten yourself into a mess. You need to decide quickly. Jamie’s my friend. I don’t want to see him get hurt.”

Gillian: “I don’t know what to do. I’ll leave for a few days. I need a clear head.”

So I chose the coward’s way out. Under a pretext, I disappeared for a few days.

Gillian: “Guys, I have to go to Munich for a few days — something about my tenants. Jamie… Josh… you’re both foremen now. You know what to do. If there are any questions, talk to Claire.”

Claire (thinking): If only they knew she’s actually hiding at Moorland Riding Camp… Jamie (thinking): Tenants… sure. Of all times — now that Josh is back? I don’t believe that for a second. After I left, Josh approached Jamie.

Josh: “Heard you’ve settled in well. Gillian can be quite a pain sometimes — but she’s sweet. Did she talk about me much? I really missed her.”

Jamie: “At first she talked about how you ran off and never contacted her again. But I think she’s over you now. She’s even dating again.”

That hit hard. Both men were tense. Both wanted clarity. And they hoped to get it from Claire. She was in the arena, working with Hyacinth.

Claire: “Good girl, Hyacinth. That’s perfect.”

Josh (thinking): I need to get on Claire’s good side. She’ll know who Gillian’s dating. And Gillian will appreciate hearing how supportive I’ve been. Jamie (thinking): Claire’s my best friend. She’ll tell me how Gillian feels about Josh now. I’ll help her out — that’ll get us talking. Back in the stable while unsaddling—

Jamie: “I’ll put your saddle away, Claire.”

Josh: “No, I’ll put the saddle away. You can shovel the manure.”

Claire (thinking): What on earth is happening here?! Later, Claire sat in the lounge.

Josh: “I made you a coffee, Claire. It’ll warm you up.”

Jamie: “Claire, I brought your favorite soda. I’ll gladly take the coffee.”

Claire (thinking): Oh no. I can’t take this anymore. I’m calling Rowan. He needs to come here and knock some sense into these lovesick rivals!