Neil Logan, recently graduated equine veterinarian, always felt he’d know when he found the man he wanted to spend the rest of his life with. Unfortunately, though Neil cares deeply for him, his college roommate Jordan is not that man. Neil takes a summer position far from home, foolishly thinking time and distance will cool Jordan’s feelings for him, and they can both move on.<br><br>Neil’s job is on an island attractive to tourists. There, horses are the sole mode of transportation, and Rolf Gundersen is the head farrier. Neil is immediately attracted to the handsome, mature man, and starts to believe Rolf might be the one for him. Frustratingly, despite Neil’s best efforts, Rolf seems determined to avoid him.<br><br>When Neil discovers the reason for Rolf’s aloofness, he’s able to forge a relationship with the farrier. Can Rolf and Neil find happiness in their newfound love, or will Jordan continue to be a factor in Neil’s life, possibly undermining Neil’s efforts to win Rolf over?

Once Upon an Island

Neil wanted to tell Rolf that he had so much more to offer beyond his being able to influence the other trainers on this young guy’s behalf. But before he could speak, Rolf was going on.


“I then asked Hans about the other rider, the one from Sweden that I had been told he was seeing. He first seemed shocked that I had heard such a thing, and he denied it. Then he acted angry and said that I was just being jealous, that he and the man were just friends. But when I told him what I had overheard from the grooms and farriers when I was in the stall, he admitted he was in love with this other man. He said he was sorry, but that he now wanted to be with him not me. He walked away, and we never spoke again.”


Rolf hesitated. He raised his head and looked up into the sky, blinking several times. Neil thought he saw Rolf’s eyes fill with tears. With all his heart he wanted to do something to ease the man’s pain, but he didn’t know how.


Chapter 29