BrokenHearted Read Online Free Page A

cream and two scoops of sugar. The exact same way I have taken it since I was old enough to drink it, which was when my father made me get up at dawn and help around the stables. Shoveling horse shit and cleaning out any stalls that needed it. To say I got the hired hand work was an understatement.
    “You look exhausted, dear.”
    “Yeah … I don’t get much sleep. My shifts are complete crap at the hospital, but honestly, I don’t sleep much anyway. Maybe five hours a night? On a good night.”
    “You, as a doctor, should know that isn’t good for you. You are going to age yourself.”
    “Probably,” I agree and know she is right. I just don’t care. I live to work, and that was about it.
    “Margaret.” I hear Dad calling for Mom.
    “Coming, dear,” Mom responds with a bit of frustration.
    “Do you want me to go help him?” I ask hesitating.
    “No, Trev, but can you run out to the stables and make sure Jackie doesn’t need any more coffee? I always try to at least give her coffee and some food. She works for free around here.”
    “Who is Jackie?”
    “She helps with the horses right now. Hank has had to go into Austin more in the mornings and on the weekends, so Jackie has been coming over to help cover his work since your father …”
    “Margaret!”
    “I am coming!” She responds.
    I shake my head with frustration and walk out to see if I can get Jackie anything.
    I walk across the green lawn to the wooden stalls that have been there for as long as I can remember. I used to walk through there and stand in the middle looking at the horses with confusion. I never really connected with them. Why? Because when I was younger, it felt like my father loved them more than he loved me.
    I round the corner of the stalls and hear two ladies’ voices arguing.
    “For all that is holy, Ry, grab the bastard and don’t let him go. Show him he doesn’t have a choice.”
    “Does it not look like I am trying?” The younger woman snaps back.
    I stand watching an older lady taking hold of a stubborn old horse while the younger one watches in frustration.
    “You don’t let him take control and lead you.  YOU are the boss. You take him, and you show him you are the boss.” This must be Jackie.
    “Yes, ma’am,” the younger one responds deflated.
    I watch the younger one start to talk to the horse trying to be stern.
    “Ladies …”
    They both turn to me and look frustrated that I interrupted.
    “What do you need?” Jackie grumbles.
    “My mother sent me out to see if you need anything.”
    She huffs as if my statement was an unwelcome interruption.
    “Yeah, for my niece to stop pussy footin’ around and show Henry here who is boss.”
    “Enough, Jackie,” the younger one responds.
    She smirks.
    “Some coffee would be great,” she relents.
    “You?” I ask the younger one.
    “Trevor?” I hear her ask. Good God.
    “Do I know you?”
    “Yeah … I met you at Smith’s. You were with Mr. Cocky.”
    “What are you talking about?”
    “Shit … Maxfield? I think his name was?”
    “Maxwell. And he is Mr. Cocky?”
    “He isn’t?” she asks, holding on to the horse’s reins.
    I walk a little closer and see it is the woman from the bar last night. I didn’t recognize her since she had a baseball cap on that covered her face. Her eyes are determined and sparkling at the same time. And yes, I noticed how her tank top barely covered her breasts. Her legs are a dark tan as if she has worked her days in the summer heat. I follow her legs down to her boots that have seen better days.
    “That’s a good one,” I respond. She could tell that just by that little bit of time that night? Of course, she could. She works at a bar. She probably sees all kinds of losers nightly.
    “Could you take your rear into the house and get that coffee, son? I don’t have all day, and we have to get these horses out of here and to the far pasture so we can finish what we have to do before it gets too hot.”
    “Yes,