A breeze blew by as I stood beside you, pinning up clothes to dry in the sun. Your hair blew around your face so beautifully that I hadn’t noticed the distant sound of hooves.

After suffering from heat exhaustion in the desert, I had been found by a gang of men, fainted, dehydrated, and on the brink of death. They brought me to a small ranch where you doted on me for days until I was better. When I first woke up, I couldn’t remember anything. I didn’t know what had happened or where I was. But you had been so gentle with me the whole time. For a week, you helped me get back on my feet until the gang returned from a week’s long cattle drive.

I wasn’t afraid to admit that things had gotten out of hand.

It started with subtle touches, your fingers in my hair and your hand in mine, all while claiming you were “just checking for a fever.” Then it turned into casual flirting. A small remark here and there that left both of us flustered. With just us two on the ranch, it only escalated from there. A stolen kiss at dinner. Sharing a bed. Waking up bare in each other’s arms.

I had fallen so easily. How could I not? In a world that only gave outlaws trouble, you were the comforting nurturer I didn’t know I needed.

As the sound of hooves neared, my hands froze on the clothesline, my expression hardening when I recognized the man in the front.

Jesse Evans.

An old friend of mine. Of course he had found me in that desert and looked out for me. With a thankful grin, I began to approach him, but then you ran past me.

I blinked, and suddenly you had leaped into his arms, twirling around in the air. Then he kissed you.

It was clear that you and Jesse were in a relationship. You hadn’t even told me. Part of me felt betrayed, bitter, even angry at you. Another part of me tried to push that away, longing for you to run back to me, longing for you to choose me.

Had all this time with you meant nothing?

Struggling to hide my emotions, I forced a smile as you and Jesse neared, his arm still around you.