Shattered Hearts ePub Read Online Free PDF

anger in Nate’s voice.  It caused my chest to tighten until it became difficult to breathe.  I could hardly stand the sound of an angry man’s voice – it awoke a fear deep inside me that I couldn’t shake off.  Involuntarily, I clenched my hands at my side as I struggled to keep my fight or flight instinct in check.
    Despite his temper, Maggie didn’t seem to be afraid of her brother in the least.  Even when he’d grabbed her shirt sleeve, she’d shown no fear whatsoever, apparently trusting that no matter how agitated he got, Nate wouldn’t hurt her.  I hoped that was true.  I didn’t think I had it in me to deal with another abusive man’s rage.
    “Penny’s lucky to have you,” I said, trying to soothe Nate’s fury before it worsened.  “You’re very good with her, and I can tell you care about her a lot.”  My stomach was in knots, but thankfully my voice sounded relatively normal.
    “Not as good as my mother was,” he said, dismissing my compliment.  To my relief, his anger seemed to be fading.  “Like Maggie said, we’ve tried to pick up where our mother left off but it’s been slow going.  We grew up around animals our entire lives, but our mother had...I don’t know, it’s hard to explain.  It’s like she had a sixth sense, where she could almost speak to the animals.  Maggie calls it the magic.”
    Nate’s hard demeanor softened when he spoke about his little sister.  Between that and the kindness in his interactions with Penny, it seemed his bark really was worse than his bite.  In fact, I hadn’t seen any “bite” yet whatsoever...just a lot of hot air.  I felt my body begin to relax.  Nate certainly had a rough exterior, but it was clear that beneath all that was a good heart.
    “Maggie told me about your parents’ accident,” I said quietly.  “I’m really sorry.”
    Just like that, Nate’s walls went back up.  “What are you doing here, anyway?” he demanded, ignoring what I’d said.  “I mean, it’s no surprise my sister hired you of all people.  You’re probably about the same age as her, yeah?  What are you, nineteen?  Twenty?”
    “I’m twenty-three.”
    “Oh, so you’re almost my age.  You look younger.”
    “Everyone tells me that,” I replied with a shrug.  “Why is it no surprise Maggie hired me?”
    “Most of her friends went off to college last year.  She was supposed to go with them, but stayed back to help with the farm after...well, after.  I know she misses her friends and I’m sure she’s thrilled to have a hired man – woman – around to do girl stuff with...but what’s your story?”
    “What do you mean?”
    “You said you have no prior experience with farms,” he pointed out.
    “I don’t.”
    “And you’re not from around here.”
    “No, I spent my whole life in California,” I replied, feeling like Nate was cross examining me.
    “So what are you doing here?  No offence, but you don’t exactly look like you’ve spent much time outdoors,” he told me, his eyes roaming over me in a way that made me simultaneously uncomfortable and tingly.  “You have the whitest skin I’ve ever seen and your hands aren’t even calloused.  I doubt you’re used to hard physical labor, which is essentially what life on the farm is all about.”
    “I guess I’m not used to it,” I conceded.  “But I’m willing to learn.”
    “Yeah, but that’s not what I’m asking,” he pressed on.  “What I’m asking is why do you want this so badly?  Are you planning to rob us blind or something?” he asked, crossing his arms.  His tone suggested he was just playing around, but I wasn’t stupid.  There was an implicit threat there as well.  He wanted me to know I’d better not cause trouble because if I did, I’d be sorry.
    “Of course not,” I retorted indignantly.  Nate was simply trying to protect his territory and his family, but I nevertheless didn’t take kindly to his accusations – or his threats.