Heartbreak Bronco by Terri Farley

Author:Terri Farley
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Publisher: HarperCollins
Published: 2004-09-27T04:00:00+00:00

Chapter Eleven

Sam straightened in the saddle. When she tightened her reins and legs, Jinx backed without question—two steps, three, four.

“Good boy.” Sam patted Jinx’s neck. Then she leaned down to talk to the horse, quietly, but loud enough for Jake to hear. “We had to back up so you could get a good look at this horseman, who actually believes you’re bringing him bad luck.”

Jake’s angry expression faded.

“It doesn’t put me in a good mood,” Jake admitted, “to know the best thing that can happen is I have to pay a ton of money to keep my car insurance, so I can drive.”

“What did your mom say about her car?” Sam asked carefully. Mrs. Ely had been Sam’s history teacher during the school year. She made class fun, but Mrs. Ely was tough. She never accepted late homework or excuses.

“Not much, but I have to pay for my insurance now,” Jake said. “That means getting a real job this summer.”

As the youngest of six brothers on Three Ponies Ranch, Jake did his chores, of course, but he also worked with Sam’s dad. Together, they trained and conditioned horses that seemed to have potential, then sold them at a profit. They’d planned to do the same this summer and fall.

“Just train horses with Dad like you planned,” Sam suggested.

“Not a dependable income,” Jake said. “My dad said I can’t count on someone wantin’ to buy a horse just ’cause I have one to sell.”

“I guess he’s right,” Sam said. “But I still don’t think it was your fault.”

“Yeah, well, I don’t think so, either.” Jake looked down and scuffed his boot toe in the dirt. “But no one’s real interested in my opinion.”

With his head bent, Jake’s black hair, bound with a strip of soft leather at the nape of his neck, fell neatly against his ironed shirt collar. His shoulders might be as broad as Dad’s, but right now, Jake looked like a disappointed kid.

“I am,” she told him. Then, when he didn’t look up, she added, “I want your opinion, but you have to bite your tongue and not give it to me until I finish asking.”

“Yeah?”

Only someone who knew him well would recognize the raised corner of Jake’s mouth as the beginning of a smile.

“I want to take Jinx to War Drum Flats and run him. He was fast yesterday, but I want to try him with a rider this time. Me. Now,” she rushed on, when Jake took a breath, “because Jinx is tired, and easier to handle.”

Jinx blew through his lips as if to prove her point.

“Crystal, Amelia, and Brynna could follow in the truck,” Sam said. Then, half because it was true and half to tease Jake, she added, “Crystal might think it was exciting. Although, you’re the only thing that’s really piqued Crystal’s interest since she—”

“Don’t,” Jake cautioned.

Sam stopped. She was out of smart arguments for taking Jinx off the ranch, but she hadn’t mentioned her best reason.

Jake watched her from beneath his hat brim.

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