Free Heartbreak Bronco by Terri Farley Page A

cowboys.
    Sam’s knees and shoulder joints felt like they were filled with sand. They cracked and popped, though she couldn’t remember doing anything especially strenuous yesterday. Maybe sleeping in a strange bed was enough.
    Get used to it , she told herself.
    Then, as she walked across the ranch yard, she noticed the horses in the ten-acre pasture seemed to have divided into two herds. Most were at the far end, grazing, but Popcorn and Ace watched her from the fence line closest to Jinx.
    Ace’s nicker floated through the morning. When she clucked a greeting back, he stamped a front hoof, but stayed where he was.
    By the time Sam reached the kitchen, she waswide awake and bursting with the news that the three mustangs might have banded together.
    â€œGood morning, dear,” Gram said. She held her hands, sticky with bits of bread dough, clear of Sam as she kissed her cheek.
    â€œMornin’,” Dad said as he came into the kitchen. “Got you a head start on wakin’ up.” He nodded toward the cup of hot chocolate waiting on the kitchen table.
    Sam blew curls of steam from the surface of her hot chocolate, waiting for it to cool while Dad poured coffee for himself and Brynna.
    â€œI don’t know why I’m so sleepy,” Brynna said as she padded into the kitchen in jeans and a long-sleeved white shirt. She was barefooted and still braiding her hair.
    Sam laughed. Brynna got up early every morning, but she never seemed to get used to it. Sam watched her stepmother take an experimental sip of coffee, then sigh.
    â€œSo, how did it go last night?” Brynna asked.
    â€œNot bad.” Sam explained how Crystal kept acting bossy and Amelia kept giving in.
    â€œIt’s really only the first day,” Brynna said.
    â€œOh, but I found out something cool.” Sam took a quick swallow of her hot chocolate. “Amelia took riding lessons about a year ago.”
    â€œGreat,” Brynna agreed. “That fits perfectly with what I’ve been thinking….”
    â€œIs that why you were tossing your covers off and thrashing around all night?” Dad joked.
    â€œAfraid so,” Brynna conceded. “And I’ve about decided I want Crystal to ride Popcorn.”
    â€œI thought you wanted the grulla to teach her a lesson,” Dad said.
    â€œThat was before I knew she was afraid of animals,” Brynna said.
    â€œEven the pigeons in the barn rafters,” Sam added.
    â€œI didn’t think usin’ a horse to bring her down a peg was a good idea to begin with,” Dad said.
    â€œYou were probably right,” Brynna agreed. “But we won’t know for sure until Sam’s finished riding him today.”
    Dad rubbed his fingertips over his brow. It was a gesture Sam usually saw him make at the end of a long day, not first thing in the morning.
    He was afraid she couldn’t ride Jinx.
    â€œDallas said Jinx was fine,” Sam told him.
    â€œHe was fine for Dallas ,” Dad pointed out.
    â€œI won’t let her do anything risky,” Brynna promised.
    â€œIt’s your call,” Dad said.
    Sam felt a little sorry for Brynna. Dad had a way of making you take responsibility that sounded downright scary. “I’m going out brush-poppin’ with Ross and Pepper, but I don’t want to come home to any surprises.”
    Brush-poppin’ meant riding through ravines clogged with sagebrush, searching out cattle that might have hidden during the recent roundup.
    Sam felt a little envious, but Dallas’ story about Jinx had made her eager to lavish attention on the misunderstood horse.
    As she walked away from the ranch house, Sam imagined how beautiful the curried and cared-for Jinx would look.
    The sun had risen and it was almost too warm when she stepped inside the new bunkhouse.
    â€œMy hair’s going to turn orange,” Crystal accused, grabbing Sam’s arm to drag her into the bathroom.
    Crystal