Heartbreak Bronco Read online

  The door jerked inward and Sam staggered back a step, laughing in relief.

  “What?” Crystal snapped.

  Sam covered her mouth against the inappropriate laughter bubbling up in her. She pointed toward the path, and Amelia and Crystal looked.

  “A rattlesnake was right there.”

  “Oh, sure.” Crystal’s surliness hadn’t cured itself overnight.

  “I don’t care if you believe me. I need to tell my Dad.” Sam started toward the ranch house. “And if I were you, I’d stay in the middle of the path.”

  Dubious but unsure, the girls looked around them.

  To Sam, their ankles looked vulnerable above their sneakers.

  “And you’re idiots if you don’t put on boots!”

  Sam broke into a jog, suddenly desperate to tell Dad before he left the ranch.

  “You can’t talk to us like that!” Crystal shouted after her, but Sam kept running.

  Brush-poppin’ was put off for a few hours.

  Wearing thick leather gloves, Dad and the cowboys searched out openings around every exterior door of the house and both bunkhouses and blocked them. They cut down brush that bordered paths, so that snakes wouldn’t rest in their shade during the heat of the day.

  After a nervous breakfast, Sam sat on the front porch, listening as Brynna gave Amelia and Crystal an impromptu lecture on rattlesnakes. Dad’s voice carried as he and the cowboys worked around the barn.

  “If the gap’s big enough to stick a pencil through, a snake can slip in,” he was explaining.

  Sam rubbed the gooseflesh from her arms.

  “Most of the time we’ll be working in the corrals, but when we’re not, stay on the paths,” Brynna cautioned the girls. “Don’t put your hands or feet where you can’t see. If you’re working with a horse and it snorts, shies, or backs away from what seems to be nothing, pay attention. And for heaven’s sake, if you see a snake, don’t try to move, touch, or kill it. Go around it. At least six feet around it.”

  “But they’re going to kill them, right?” Amelia’s face was paler than before as she gestured toward the cowboys.

  “No,” Brynna said. “At least, I don’t think so.”

  Sam would bet this was a subject Brynna and Dad might disagree over. Because she was a biologist, Brynna would focus on the balance of nature. But Dad…

  Clearly Brynna and Dad hadn’t yet discussed this topic during their short marriage.

  “No?” Crystal said. “If you’re not going to kill them, why have this whole snake hunt?”

  “To keep us safe,” Sam said. “So we don’t come upon one accidentally.”

  Sam kept her voice level, but she couldn’t stop thinking that she’d actually sat on that boulder this morning.

  The snake had done the same thing she had, picking out a warm place on a cool morning.

  “I’m trying to remember everything I know about rattlesnakes, but I’m a little rusty,” Brynna said. “I know most snakes around here are harmless. We’ve got gopher snakes, garter snakes, and king snakes in the mountains, but rattlesnakes are pretty distinctive. Their heads are more triangular and their tails are rounded at the tip—not like our other snakes, which have long, pointy tails.”

  “Won’t your dog chase them away?” Amelia asked.

  Brynna glanced toward the house. Blaze stood on the other side of the screen door, panting. He wagged his tail, eager to come out, but Brynna shook her head.

  “Snakes are more dangerous to Blaze than to you. Dogs bark until they’ve got the snake good and worried, then they stick their noses down where they can be bitten.

  “Coiling and rattling are defensive behaviors. Rattlesnakes don’t have very good eyesight, but if you’re too big to be a tasty mouse, they’re scared. They’re telling you to go away and sometimes they’ll even bite.”

  “What makes you think they’re scared, not mean?” Crystal asked.

  “Sometimes they don’t even inject venom,” Brynna said. “You can’t count on that, of course, but once in a while they give what’s called a dry bite.”

  Sam had never heard of a dry bite, but she’d seen those fangs in action on a nature show. Poison or no poison, a snake’s bite would hurt.

  “Lecture over,” Brynna said. She stood and slapped her palms on her jeans. “Sam, while I get the brushes and combs for grooming, why don’t you walk over and let Jinx know we’re coming.”

  Brynna took off toward the barn. Sam found herself a few steps ahead of Amelia and Crystal as they walked toward the metal pen, but she could hear them talking.

  “I don’t think there was any snake,” Crystal said. “They’re doing this to keep us from sneaking out.”

  “I don’t know,” Amelia answered. “Sam said—”

  “Of course she did. Do you think she wants to be up all night listening for us?”

  “No, but—”

  “Besides, even if there was one, I wouldn’t be afraid of it,” Crystal bragged. “Think of the stories you could tell if you got one of those dry bites.”

  “But it would hurt,” Amelia protested.

  “I bet it would be just like getting a slap,” Crystal said. “And I’m not afraid of a little pain.”

  Crystal’s showing off could ruin everything. If she was bitten, the HARP program might hold her injury against everyone at River Bend Ranch.

  “Hey Amelia,” Sam said over her shoulder. “Could you run back to the kitchen and get a carrot for Jinx?”

  Amelia’s arms crossed at her waist. “Why don’t you do it?”

  “Just go ask my grandmother for one,” Sam insisted.

  “Go ahead.” Crystal gave Amelia’s shoulder a push.

  Looking scared and embarrassed, Amelia went.

  “What?” Crystal said to Sam. Her feet were set apart and her hands perched on her hips. “You obviously wanted to get me alone to yell at me.”

  Crystal focused her pale eyes on Sam.

  “There was a rattlesnake,” Sam insisted. “It’s no trick to keep you here.”

  “Whatever,” Crystal said, rolling her eyes.

  “Why did you even sign up for HARP?” Sam asked the question that had been brewing in her mind since she’d met the girl. “You don’t want to be here. You don’t even like animals.”

  “That’s driving you crazy, isn’t it?” Crystal said in a low voice. “Well, I have my own reason for being here, and there’s nothing you can do about it.”

  An hour of brushing and currying transformed Jinx. His roached mane looked cocky rather than disreputable, and his glossy tail flowed like black water. His smoky silver-blue coat shone in the June sun. His ears were tipped and edged with dark-chocolate brown, and so were his face and shoulders.

  The screen door slammed. Though Gram had been watching from the window, now she came out to the hitching rail and applauded.

  “He looks wonderful, Sam,” Gram said. “Like sterling silver with a little tarnish in places. Trust you to see his possibilities.”

  Gram walked closer while Brynna described the horse’s markings to Amelia and Crystal.

  “That’s called leg barring and that’s a dorsal stripe,” Brynna said, pointing out the shadows on Jinx’s hocks and the dark stripe that ran along his spine.

  “Like sterling silver,” Gram repeated to Jinx as he nuzzled her hand. “When it hasn’t been used for a while.” She reached up to rub his poll, then added, “Just polish a little and it shines like new.”

  Sam stood holding the brush while Gram talked to the horse. Finally, Gram gave him a pet good-bye.

  “Just a beauty,” Gram was still muttering as she went back inside the house.

  As if he’d follow, Jinx pulled back against the halter rope tethering him.

  “I guess it’s time to saddle up,” Brynna said at last.

  Saddling was the easy part. Mounting turned out to be impossible.

  As Sam poised to swing into the saddle, Jinx began breathing hard. He flicked his ears front, back, and s
ideways.

  “What’s wrong, boy?” Sam crooned.

  Jinx wasn’t acting like a lazy horse. He was scared.

  After Sam realized that, Brynna’s voice faded to a drone.

  Sam was pretty sure Brynna was describing each step she took in coping with the anxious horse, but Sam’s mind was locked on Jinx.

  “Let’s try this slowly,” Sam told the gelding.

  She took her time gathering her reins, arranging the loose ends over Jinx’s right shoulder and placing her left hand at the base of his Mohawk mane. She clucked to him and prepared to bounce up into the stirrup.

  Ears pricked toward Sam, Jinx swung his hindquarters away. He snorted and danced in place.

  Five minutes later, when the gelding’s flanks and neck had darkened with sweat and she was still trying to mount, Sam asked, “What’s scaring you, boy? You are such a good horse,” Sam told him. “You’re not bucking, kicking, or biting to make your point, but you sure don’t want me up there.”

  Ten minutes later, Jinx was lathered white and Sam’s legs shook from her failed attempts to swing into the saddle.

  “This isn’t normal.” Brynna’s voice cut through Sam’s concentration. “Girls, this happens sometimes, when a horse has been mistreated. You have to read his mind, guess what went wrong in his past and convince him it won’t happen again.

  “Sam, try taking him into the barn, then put his right side up against the wall and mount him there.”

  “I can do that,” Sam said, nodding. She heard her own breathlessness and she was glad for Brynna’s suggestion.

  With one side against the barn wall, Jinx couldn’t sidestep away from her.

  “Once you’re up, ride on out and we’ll have the gate open to the barn corral. I’ve already locked Dark Sunshine and Tempest in their stall, so you and Jinx will have the corral to yourselves.”

  “Good idea,” Sam said. Then, with pretend confidence, she led Jinx toward the barn. Whatever bad experiences he’d had must have come from a rider. He’d liked her fine until she’d tried to mount.

  As they clopped past the ten-acre pasture, Ace neighed longingly. When Jinx answered, Ace swished his tail and bared his teeth.

  “You’re still my best boy, Ace,” Sam called. She heard Crystal’s derisive laughter, but she didn’t care.

  These horses were more important to her than Crystal.

  Despite Ace’s glare, Jinx tried to swing toward the pasture. Sam didn’t let him.

  “Yes, I know you’re a herd animal,” she said, forcing him to walk beside her. “And I know you want to stay with your new friends, but we’re only going across the ranch yard. You’ll like the barn. It smells like food and there are horses in there, too.”

  Jinx allowed himself to be led the rest of the way.

  Dark Sunshine’s buckskin head bobbed above the side of her stall as Sam and Jinx entered.

  Tempest’s hooves pattered and jumped. She squealed and shoved her mother, trying to see what was going on.

  “That’s right,” Sam encouraged the mare and foal, “you girls cheer him on. See, Jinx? They know you can do this.”

  Sam positioned Jinx next to the barn wall, petted him in slow, understanding motions, then exhaled.

  “One more time, boy,” she said. Then, before Jinx could move away, Sam touched her boot to the stirrup, and vaulted aboard.

  Sam crossed her fingers as she settled in the saddle.

  Jinx trembled beneath her, but he didn’t bolt or buck. Everything was going to be okay.

  Chapter Ten

  Jinx relaxed.

  So did Sam. It didn’t matter that Brynna and the girls were outside waiting, wondering what was going on inside the barn. If she didn’t hear bucking and banging, Brynna wouldn’t worry.

  Jinx sniffed noses with Dark Sunshine. He stared at a pigeon coasting through the air from one rafter to the next. He whuffled his lips along the barn floor and munched a piece of straw.

  “Bad manners,” Sam whispered. Dad said a horse that ate with someone in the saddle was showing disrespect for his rider. Sam rubbed the grulla’s withers. “But I’ll pretend I didn’t see, okay?”

  Sam’s mind buzzed with possible explanations for the gelding’s reluctance to be ridden. She’d like to phone the cowboy who’d sold this horse to Clara and ask some questions. Right now.

  Jinx yawned. Sam felt his hindquarters shift as he cocked a rear hoof on its point. Jinx’s resistance had tired him out. And, Sam thought as she brushed at her dusty jeans, they could both use some grooming. But now was not the time to relax.

  Sam tightened her legs and eased her weight forward. Jinx shook his roached mane, but he understood her signal to leave the barn. Slowly, he did as she asked.

  Sam blinked against the sunlight as they emerged from the barn. The gate to the pasture was on her left. Amelia held it open.

  “Thanks,” Sam said.

  Amelia had the good sense not to make any movements or sounds that would startle Jinx as he passed her.

  “Just circle the pasture at a walk,” Brynna suggested.

  So they were going to play horse show, Sam thought. It was a good idea and just what she’d expected. If all went well, Amelia and Crystal would be doing the same by Friday.

  Jinx’s long, smooth strides carried her around the pasture while Brynna, Crystal, and Amelia watched. Sam felt proud of the horse.

  “Try moving into a jog,” Brynna called.

  As Jinx changed gaits, his muscles stiffened.

  Uh-oh. Sam tried not to react. Her tension would telegraph itself to the gelding and make him edgy again.

  She rode out Jinx’s uneven jog, but she could barely keep her seat.

  Jinx gave a longing neigh, as if calling to another horse. Had Dad and the cowboys ridden out? Or had someone else come in? Maybe Jinx was just asking Ace and the other horses for support.

  None of those questions or answers mattered.

  Jinx had begun mouthing the bit when Brynna—who must see what was going on, Sam thought—told her to lope.

  When Sam leaned forward, gently urging him into a faster gait, Jinx refused.

  “What’s wrong, boy?” Sam asked as the horse slowed his choppy trot.

  Jinx couldn’t answer, and Sam wished Jake were here. Brynna knew a lot and she was good with horses, but the HARP girls were her first priority and she’d be explaining all this to them.

  Jake was an instinctive horseman. He’d like helping her figure out what Jinx was thinking.

  “Huh, boy?” she clucked her tongue. “What is it?”

  In answer, Jinx stopped completely.

  He halted so suddenly, Sam caught herself against the grulla’s chopped mane. The saddle horn poked her in the stomach.

  It hurt, but this was no time to whine.

  Quickly, Sam readjusted her position in the saddle and asked the horse to walk.

  Legs braced like a four-poster bed, Jinx refused to go on. He didn’t buck, kick, or act like he wanted to be the boss. He just stopped.

  When nothing else worked, Sam used her reins to pull the gelding’s head to one side. The sweat-stiff hair on his neck prickled up as she moved his head farther, a little farther, there! Jinx stepped after his head. Sam used her legs to keep him moving in that direction.

  “Good boy,” she crowed. “See? Nothing scary about walking around the pasture.”

  Jinx swished his tail so that it lashed her leg, stinging even through her jeans, but that was his only sign of impatience.

  “He’s stubborn as a mule. Don’t give him to me.”

  Sam recognized Crystal’s voice and wasn’t surprised that the girl was too self-centered to see that the grulla was not stubborn, but scared.

  When Sam’s attention wandered to Crystal, Jinx noticed.

  I should have known! The words flashed through Sam’s mind as Jinx burst into a gallop.

  “Frightening speed.” Isn’t that how the cowboy had described Jinx’s talent to Clara?

  Wi
nd tore at Sam’s hair as Jinx sped around the pasture. The fact that she wasn’t frightened astonished her.

  Jinx’s gait was smooth and natural. For the first time, the horse beneath her felt happy.

  Sam and Jinx circled the pasture twice. Colors smeared as if she rode the world’s fastest carousel horse. When she felt a faint hesitation in Jinx’s gait, she knew it was time to ask him to stop. Would he do it?

  Sam sucked in a breath, held it, then barely moved her fingers to make contact with the bit.

  Jinx sat back on his heels and slid like a roping horse. With dust still billowing around them, he backed up so fast, his rump slammed into the pasture fence. Then he turned, hooves slamming against the fence as if he’d climb over.

  Panic gripped Sam.

  But Jinx needed someone to be in control, to tell him what to do. Sam knew it had to be her.

  “Jinx, you’re okay. You’re fine, boy. No one’s going to hurt you. Hey Jinxy, you’re safe….”

  Sam babbled sweet nonsense to the gelding. Finally, he listened. He quieted and stood with hanging head, breath huffing through his lips.

  Sweat dripped stinging into Sam’s eyes. Her wet bangs stuck to her forehead. She couldn’t believe she was still in the saddle.

  “And that’s how it’s done.” Brynna’s voice wove pride and concern with sarcasm.

  Sam glanced at her stepmother. Brynna formed her fingers into an “okay” sign, then gave Sam a smile of disbelief.

  In the same glance, Sam took in the fact that Crystal wasn’t watching.

  That figures, Sam thought, but then she craned her neck to see what the dark-haired girl had noticed.

  A black horse nearly hid the male figure.

  Suddenly Sam remembered Jinx’s neigh. She’d assumed he was calling to the saddle horses, but maybe he’d been greeting Witch.

  Witch was Jake’s high-spirited Quarter Horse. She stood sideways to the pasture, and Jake sighted over the saddle as if he’d been watching Jinx’s one-horse race.

  But what was Jake doing here?

  “Do you want to dismount and talk about what happened?” Brynna’s voice called Sam back to the HARP program.