Covered in dust and grime, Lena lay crumpled on the ground, her knee feeling as though it had shattered into a million pieces.
With great effort, she lifted her head and caught sight of Josefina nestled in Oliver's embrace, both sharing the saddle of a single horse. The image of their affection was like a dagger to her heart, causing her to choke on her own blood. But the blood, she realized, was mostly due to the impact that had left her insides aching.
Alma, Nola, and Sylvie witnessed the scene and quickly dismounted to rush to Lena's side. As for the horse that had gone berserk, it had been sedated and was now calm.
Nola was about to scold Josefina when George arrived on horseback, asking with concern, "Mr. Oliver, Ms. Josefina, are you both alright?"
Of the three, only Sylvie had met Oliver before. She also knew that Oliver was the man Lena had quietly pined for, but how had he chosen Josefina over her?
Without so much as a glance at the disheveled Lena on the ground, Oliver addressed George, "Josie's been frightened. I need to take her to the hospital for a check-up. If anything's wrong, you'll all be held accountable!"
With Josefina in tow, Oliver rode away from the chaos. George glanced at Lena without a hint of sympathy. He had been at Oliver's side for years, and he knew the score. Well-trained horses didn't just lose their minds for no reason.
As George turned to leave, Nola blocked his path, asking with deference, "May I ask who exactly is Josefina? Is she Oliver's date?"
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