Olé Oje

A horse trailer with Spanish plates was parked in the yard. Jamie was already there when I arrived. A woman stepped out.

Woman: “Hola, Jamie. I heard I’d find you here. I’ve come because of Majestic. I need your help.”

Gillian: “You know each other?”

Jamie: “Hola, Sofia. You were looking for me? Gillian, this is Sofia. I stayed at her hacienda in Spain for a while. That’s where I got Epico. Sofia, this is Gillian.”

When she tried to unload Majestic, he reared and refused to step out.

Sofia: “See? That’s why I’m here. I want to start him under saddle, but he resists. You always had a special connection with him.”

Jamie: “Sofia, careful! Let me try.”

Jamie stepped into the trailer and spoke calmly to Majestic. Slowly, the stallion relaxed. Jamie managed to unload him.

Jamie: “There we go. Easy, boy. Let’s get you settled in the outdoor stable first.”

Sofia: “He reacts so differently with you. He’s calm. He trusts you.”

Jamie put the young stallion into one of the stalls. Then Sofia looked at him differently.

Sofia: “I’m not only here because of Majestic. I’m here because of you. You left so suddenly. You didn’t just live on my hacienda, Jamie. You lived with me. I loved you. And I still do.”

Jamie: “It wasn’t right of me to leave like that. But you knew I wouldn’t stay. We were two lost souls who found each other at a certain point in our lives. But it wasn’t enough for a whole future together.”

Jamie had never told me much about Spain. He had been searching for a new purpose after show jumping, trying to reorganize his life. Sofia had been lonely too. What started as a few days became weeks. Later, Jamie came to me.

Jamie: “Gillian, do you think Sofia could stay in one of the rooms above the stable while she’s here? They’re empty anyway.”

Gillian: “What is — or was — between you? I saw you earlier. Her looks, her gestures… Jamie, I’m not naive. She can have a room. But please be honest with me.”

He didn’t answer. Wesley came rushing in, urgently needing him. The next morning Jamie began working with Majestic in the round pen. Sofia and I watched.

Sofia: “You know, this man is incredible. He makes me laugh. He’s gentle. He understands my feelings. I feel safe with him. I won’t just give him up.”

Gillian: “Yes… I know exactly what you mean, Sofia.”

She didn’t know we were a couple. And her words could just as easily have been mine. Jamie had never told her about us. That frightened me. This woman loved him. And now I had a rival. I could have thrown her out. But would that have been right? And Jamie… did he still have feelings for her? That evening, he came to me first.

Jamie: “We should talk.”

Gillian: “Yes. We should.”

He told me everything. Sofia had sold him Epico — that’s how they met. She invited him to stay a few days at her hacienda. Both of them were lonely. A few days turned into weeks. They sought comfort in each other. But, he said, it was never love. They both knew they would eventually go their separate ways. Still, I couldn’t sleep that night. He said it wasn’t love. Just loneliness. A phase. I believe him. But I saw the way she looks at him. The way he stands beside her so naturally. It’s not the past that scares me. It’s that she doesn’t know about us. Not because he wants to hide it — but because he hasn’t clearly said it. As long as she doesn’t know… a door remains open. Tomorrow, he has to tell her. The next morning I was preparing Foxy for a ride when Sofia and Jamie entered the stable. They hadn’t noticed me.

Jamie: “…she gave my life meaning again. I finally feel like I’ve arrived. You’re a wonderful woman. You’ll find someone who loves you as much as you love him.”

Sofia: “But Jamie, I love you. And I know you loved me too. If I asked you to come back with me… would you?”