Free Emmerson's Heart by Diana Fisher Page A

saddlebag and slung it over his shoulder. “Let’s go, Tyke.”
    “I can help….clean the barn.” Why not? I didn’t want to go home. Not tonight anyway.
    “Sure. But if I let you do that, you wouldn’t want to come around here anymore.” Chuckling, he went to where the broken barbed wire had snapped and was coiled up in the brush. Taking the bag from him, I watched at what he was doing and handed him what he needed. He could have done this all himself, but maybe he just wanted someone to ride out with him. And I appreciated it. I loved the ride.
    Getting the fence fixed and riding back to the house, I was sad that the time had gone by too fast. I wanted to ride again. I wanted to learn everything. I wanted to be there working more, but after our project was done, I knew I wouldn’t be back there. I would be back under my father’s roof , hiding the best I could.
    After h elping Paul put the horses away and turning them out into the small pasture south of the barn, I followed him around as we put the tack away. Biting my lip, I came around the corner to see an older version of Paul waiting there for us. His dark eyes were housed by some wrinkles and silvers were poking through the dark head of hair and showing his age. I had seen him a few times, but I stayed clear from him, from Will’s dad.
    “Where in the hell were you?” His deep voice vibrated through him as he put his hands on his hips while staring down his oldest son, the one who was a younger version.
    “Out fixing that fence because no one else did. Damn herd was sniffing around there and Anderson called to tell me that he had a few already at his place.” Paul reached over , taking the saddle from me and putting it on a saw horse in the small room with the others. “Emmy rode out with me because Will and Rob neglected to do their chores.”
    “That’s just great! I have things to do and I need to count on you three!” Stomping his foot, the man turned so fast, I jumped out of his way and waited for the anger to come at me. Instead, the corners of his mouth twitched as he looked me over. “Little girl, did you like the ride?”
    “Dad, that’s Will’s friend, Emmerson.” Smiling, Paul hung the bridle on the hook on the wall above the saddle I used.
    “Best get your hide in the house for some chow. I can’t let you work and not feed you.” His hand came down on my shoulder, giving me a little squeeze right where my dad had punched me over the weekend before I slipped out to be “unseen”. The pain ripped through my arm and tears burst into my eyes. It hurt so bad, but what could I do? I had to pull it back and hide it. I was used to it, but then again, I didn’t have people touching me like that before now. This was all different. Very different than what I had experienced before and I liked it. I liked the way these people made me feel. I felt good for a change, comfortable, safe. “I have some business to finish up after dinner so you will be alone for the rest of the night.”
    “I had Emmer offer to shovel stalls. Pretty sure I can get this done with earlier than expected.” Looking over at me, Paul winked playfully. “I’m sure she would go running for the hills after that.”
    “Don’t go scaring her off too soon, Paul. We can always use a scooper.”
    “This weekend, I need to check through the herd again. I think there might be something going around. Emmer offered to help out because Rob has his basketball games this weekend.”
    Will’s dad nodded as he looked me over. “You think you can handle that? It’s a lot of riding and sleeping on the ground. You wouldn’t be able to be here to eat. You would eat your meals out there and sit by a campfire. I don’t know….It’s a boy thing.”
    “I can do it. I can help. Please?” A weekend away from the wrath of my father, sleeping out under the broken porch, not eating…..Um, this would be far better than what my weekends were , anyway. Besides, my dad wouldn’t