Heartbreak Bronco by Terri Farley Read Free Book Online Page A

arranged on a vegetable platter.
    â€œI heard some discussion of chores,” Brynna said. “Since Sam is assisting me in teaching you about horses, you’ll help her with chores. Just about anything you’re asked to do”—Brynna made eye contactwith each girl—“like feeding and watering the animals, helping with the laundry or kitchen work, Sam would do alone if you weren’t here.
    â€œNow, I’d like you to wash your hands before you help Grace with the—?” Brynna looked at Gram.
    â€œGravy and bread,” Gram supplied as she mounded black olives in the center of the vegetable plate.
    Crystal looked ready to make another protest. Instead, she sighed, “Whatever.”
    But that implied she was agreeing to the plan, and Sam could tell Crystal was not being agreeable. Brynna and Dad weren’t fooled. And neither was Gram.
    The minute the girls had come into the kitchen, Gram had told Crystal she’d stand at the stove to whisk gravy instead of trusting her with the bread knife.
    Gram had sized up Crystal right away.
    Â 
    After the dinner dishes were washed and dried, Gram and Dad stayed in the kitchen to go over the ranch accounts, while Brynna, Sam, Amelia, and Crystal sat in the quiet living room.
    â€œLeave the television off, please,” Brynna said when Crystal paused in front of it.
    Sam sat at one end of the couch, nearly squirming in the quiet. If it had been winter, at least they’d have had the crackle of a fire in the fireplace to fill the silence.
    Crystal sat in the room’s largest armchair, icy-blueeyes staring at Brynna. Amelia sat on the armchair’s ottoman, chewing her already short fingernails.
    Brynna sat cross-legged at the opposite end of the couch, stockinged feet pulled up as she flipped through a thick file folder.
    Her ease in this awkward situation reminded Sam of how smoothly Brynna dealt with her duties as manager of the Willow Springs Wild Horse Center. Even though she had employees, adopters, a budget, government regulations, and all the controversy swirling around Nevada’s wild horses to handle, Brynna loved her job.
    Her casual authority said, loud and clear, that a couple of cranky eighth graders weren’t going to get her down.
    â€œHere’s what’s happening this week,” Brynna said. “It will deviate a little from what you’ve been led to expect, but the success of the HARP program depends on making it fit the individuals involved.”
    â€œIn other words,” Crystal said, tossing a lock of black hair back over her shoulder, “now that you’ve met us, you’re changing everything.”
    â€œA few things,” Brynna said. “But you’re not the only factor I’m considering. We’ve got a new horse.”
    Sam sat up straighter. They would be using Jinx, then. Great! Despite the gelding’s fearsome speed, Sam wanted to ride him.
    â€œDuring the six days you’re here, you’ll get to know your horse, learn to groom him,” Brynnanumbered the first two tasks on her fingers: “Halter, lead, and tie on day three, saddle and bridle, and then on days five and six, we’ll have you riding.”
    â€œWhich horses are we getting?” Amelia asked.
    Brynna smiled. “I haven’t quite decided, but let me tell you a little about each one.”
    Sam snuggled back into the couch and listened. Crystal crossed one leg tightly over the other and jiggled her foot. Amelia interlocked her fingers and rocked a little.
    â€œFirst, you know all these horses are here because they need a second chance, right? They were wild, then captured, then adopted by people who…” Brynna’s voice trailed off.
    â€œGot sick of them?” Crystal interrupted.
    â€œNot exactly,” Brynna said. “They just weren’t up to the challenge of a mustang.”
    Crystal snorted. “Yeah, like we are.”
    Sam ached to remind