Janey had had a gruelling morning.
She had risen before dawn to labour on her ranch, tending to the livestock and harvesting the crops, sweltering in the summer heat which, at times, made her feel faint. Even as she worked, her thoughts were focused on a single thing: returning home to be in the arms of her beloved.
Midday came; the sun was shining across the sky like honeydew, the rays emitting a burning radiance. Janey dragged her aching feet across the fields. She would normally have eaten her lunch in the shade of the huge Chestnut tree in the top field but today she wanted to give Adam a surprise. He would be in the workshop, mending the wagon.
In the distance she could see her cabin, a view as welcoming as an embrace.
She couldn't help running up to the workshop door, expecting to receive a warm greeting from her love, but he wasn't there. Janey mounted the verandah steps and pushed open the front door. She was welcomed with nothing but the sounds of the fire, crackling away in the small iron range.
She pushed a strand of hair behind her ear as she scanned the empty room.

"Where's my love?" she whispered.

Janey became aware of unfamiliar noises coming from the bedroom, intruding into the silence. She grew anxious as she considered what the noises might be.
She approached the door and turned the handle.
What she saw in the next moment would change her life, forevermore: her husband, with his arms wrapped around the waist of a maiden. Their lips, locked. The shock was like an ice shard piercing her heart. She couldn't believe what she was witnessing.
This man, who had always professed his love for her, was caressing another. The maiden grabbed her boots and ran past Janey, without taking a second glance.

"How... How could you?" she asked as the colour drained from his cheeks.

"Darling, I can explain to you..." Adam uttered, holding a hand out, attempting to pacify her. She turned and left the bedroom, with Adam following closely behind. She almost made it to the front door before he firmly grabbed her wrist and pinned her against the wall.

"Janey. You have to let me explain," he said, struggling to keep her still. She pushed him out the way and rushed across to the wall on which was hanging the hunting rifle, gleaming menacingly. She grabbed it and pointed it directly at him.

"I beg you, please... spare my life," Adam pleaded.

"You! You have ruined me! I would have died for you!" Janey screamed, tears trickling down her face.

"As I would for you, my love!" Adam choked as he fell to his knees.

"You're a liar! A rat!" she retorted.

"P-Please... I apologize from the bottom of my heart," he whispered, tears welling in his eyes.

Her hands were shaking as she aimed the gun at his head and her heart was beating rapidly in her chest. A million thoughts raced through her mind but she abruptly lowered the gun and let it fall to the ground. She ran her fingers through her golden locks as Adam wept in despair.

"J-Janey..."

He grabbed her hand as she tried to push past him.
She froze and stared at him with a blank, emotionless expression; her hair cascaded across her face like a waterfall.

"Janey... I love you."

This was the one sentence that would always make her melt into his arms at any time. Her heart was now numb, for she knew that not only was it insincere, but this was the last time she would hear him say those words. She pulled away from him and said quietly but firmly,

"No... You don't. You never did."

She turned around, opened the front door and left him, curled up on the floor in his own tears as he cried out her name.

"The door to my heart was wide open for Adam, since the moment I met him. He owned the key to its lock. I adored that man with my entire soul. But now, the door slammed shut, never to be opened again."