Read Online Emmerson's Heart by Diana Fisher - Free Book Online Page A

emerged out to the porch where Paul was standing next to a brown horse with spots on his butt.
    “This is Foxy. She’s gentle and my mom’s horse.” Paul pulled me over to him and patted the saddle. “We have to get going.”
    “You mean….” Reaching out, I brushed my hand against the horse’s soft fur , feeling the warmth of her body. “I get to ride this one?”
    “Sure do. I thought you would like this more than stacking hay.” Reaching down, he cupped my left foot and lifted up as fast as he could. Following the instructions on how to get on, I swung my leg over the horse ’s back feeling my body being jolted. Catching myself, I looked over at the wide brown eyes of Paul. “Sorry. You were a lot lighter than I thought. Get settled in.”
    As he talked while he mounted the huge black horse with the four white socks, I listened to everything he said. Paul wasn’t as bad as I thought. Hanging onto every word he said, I let the mare follow him heading around the house. Once we came to the wide open field and the last fence, he turned to look at me, his eyes softening.
    “We are going to pick it up a little or we will miss dinner. Keep your heels down and let your body go with the horse.” Waving his arm, he slowed his horse and let me catch up. “If you feel scared or something is wrong, don’t be afraid to tell me.”
    If he only knew. If he knew why I had to steal his brother’s lunches and that I was too scared to go home, he would regret that statement. My life wasn’t something anyone wanted to get involved in. I didn’t want anyone to get involved. Not with knowing what my dad was really capable of. I had to do my best not to get that man riled up. I had a few years left with him and then I could be on my own to get away from him. It was just a few more years. That was all.
    Following his lead, we picked up speed and headed out into the wide open fast and I loved it. That was the best feeling I ever had. It was, for once in my pathetic and miserable life, I felt free. I enjoyed the cold air nipping at my face, my body rocking with the power that I was riding, and the freedom of the vast open land. That was, until I heard that deep chuckle.
    “You’re a natural, Tyke!” Paul moved along with his large horse as if he were born there, like the guys in the movies that just fit right into the saddle. “You’re doing damn good for being a first timer.”
    “I love it!” Letting myself relax, I closed my eyes and took in the scent of the fresh air. It was like heaven was wrapping her arms around me, embracing me, letting me just think about something more than the pain that came from my own father.
    “We are going to keep going for a while and when the forest starts, that’s where we are heading.”
    “How can anyone not love this?” Opening my eyes, I looked over at him with the big and bright smile on his face, those dark eyes dancing with happiness, more happiness I had ever seen in anyone before.
    “Some don’t. My brother, Marc —he’s a year younger than me—decided that he was staying at school now. He doesn’t really care to ride anymore.”
    “He’s missing out.” Laughing, I reached up and caught my hat before it blew off. Just taking it off, I held it in my free hand as the wind went through my hair. It felt so good with the tugging that wasn’t caused by a man’s hand, my father’s hand. If I could have this every day, I would kiss the ground each and every morning. But that would never happen. Once this project was done, I would be nothing again and living in a world of misery behind my father’s walls. No friends. Nothing. Again. “There are just four of you?”
    “Yeah. And still not enough to get work done.”
    “I can help….With anything.” I have no idea why I said something. I should have thought about it before opening my mouth. If he had figured anything out and talked to his parents, people would be crawling around our house and my dad would pick us up