The Girl with the Broken Heart

by Lurlene McDaniel

  “It’s just a lightning bug. Try not to hurt it.”

  She offered the nape of her neck to him and he unclasped the gold barrette and let her hair fall free. Gently his thick fingers pulled aside the strands to untangle the insect’s trapped wings. He relived that day in the stable when he’d unwoven her braid. Then it had been an act of kindness. Now all he wanted to do was bury his face in the silky strawberry-scented mass and kiss her neck. “Almost got him,” he whispered, unsure if he was freeing the firefly or holding himself together. “There.” He nestled the exhausted creature in his palm for Kenzie to see.

  “Can he fly?”

  “Let’s give him a head start.” Austin tossed his hand up and the bug shot skyward, its glow merging with others of its kind. “Free,” he said.

  He took her hand and together they hurried up the slope.

  * * *

  —

  By the time Kenzie and Austin hustled into the banquet room, the receiving line was short and guests were filling plates from the buffet table. The two of them smiled and nodded their way cordially along the string of attendants and family members. When they reached the bride and groom, Lani’s eyes lit up. “You look so pretty in that dress! Doesn’t she, Dawson?”

  Dawson had shed his coat, vest, and tie, and rolled up the sleeves of his black silk shirt. He shook Austin’s hand. “I believe we’re with the two best-looking women here.”

  “Can’t argue against that.”

  Lani gave Kenzie air kisses on both cheeks. “I’ve got some duties to perform right now, but I’d love to chat with you before you leave tonight.”

  “How ’bout we grab a table on the patio?” Austin asked.

  “Perfect, I’ll get out there before the cake cutting.”

  Kenzie nodded and moved out of the way.

  Austin pointed to the buffet table. “I’m starving. How about you?”

  The line had dwindled, and the caterers had replenished the food supply, so they fixed their plates, grabbed sodas, and made their way to the patio, to the far side of the dance floor, away from the music and noisy chatter. They found a café table sheltered by a short wall with a climbing clematis vine. A floating candle in the table’s center flickered in a glass bowl.

  She nibbled on a bite-sized meatball, swept the patio with a gaze. “I haven’t seen Jon and Ciana, and I know they were coming to the wedding.”

  Austin washed down an eggroll with a swig of cola. “Yeah, when I was at the bunkhouse getting ready for the wedding, one of the guys said Jon had a mare having a difficult labor. Her foal was breech. Anyway, Doc Perry was on his way. They might have missed the ceremony altogether, depending on how the delivery was playing out.”

  “When I was growing up, Daddy lost many a night’s sleep over mares with problems giving birth.” A corner of Austin’s mouth quirked. “What?” she asked, seeing his expression.

  “I’m trying to remember if I’ve heard you call him Daddy. It’s usually ‘my father.’ ” He deepened his voice as he spoke.

  She felt her cheeks grow warm. “All right, my father.”

  “The Cold War still going on between you two?”

  Before she could snap out a comeback, the music abruptly stopped and the DJ announced, “Family and friends! I introduce Lani and Dawson Berke.” There was a flurry of activity as people crowded around the floor’s perimeter.

  Austin grabbed Kenzie and joined the well-wishers. After the applause died, the DJ played a slow, sweet song that begged for the closeness of lovers. Dawson took his bride in his arms, and the two of them drifted around the patio. Crystals on Lani’s white dress caught the lights, and her hundred-watt smile lit up the night. “If you ever need a measuring stick for ‘happy,’ remember their faces,” Austin told Kenzie.

  When the song ended, the two turned to more applause, and Dawson shouted, “Now it’s your turn, people!”

  Couples poured onto the dance floor. Lani crossed over to Kenzie and Austin. “Where’s your table? I’d love to sit for a minute.”

  As soon as Lani and Kenzie were seated, Austin asked, “Can I get you something to drink?”

  “Not right now. I don’t have long, but I wanted to thank you for delivering Oro to the Taylor house. Martha texted to say how wonderful you two are and sent along photos of Jamey with her Christmas present. She looked so happy on Oro. I’ll forward the photos when we’re back from our honeymoon.”

  “Where are you going?” Kenzie wanted to know.

  “Aruba. Ten days at some resort, then home to hang and put away wedding gifts. Just the two of us—no phone, no work, no social media. We have a honeymoon suite at a downtown hotel, and our plane leaves tomorrow afternoon.” Lani rotated the glass candleholder with both hands, her smile fading. “I…I have a request. Please don’t tell me when Jamey passes, if it’s during our honeymoon. I’d rather find it out after we return.”

  “You won’t hear it from us,” Austin promised.

  “Just bring Oro home for me.” A shadow passed over Lani’s eyes. Kenzie understood the new bride’s regrets for a girl she’d cared for deeply, one that medicine couldn’t heal. The shadow passed and Lani brightened. “How are your horses?”

  “Fine. If Dr. Perry gives them a good report in early August, Sparkle and Blue Bayou go up for adoption. They’re fine walking horses and new owners will love them.”

  Lani snapped her fingers. “Before I forget, Kenzie, I had hoped to begin the Trailblazers program before you returned to college, but I can’t start until mid-September. Please promise you’ll come over some weekend in the fall for a visit?”

  Kenzie didn’t question the postponement but saw that Lani was disappointed to have to move her start date. “I will. Besides, you still have a story to tell me about you and Dawson. Oh, and just so you know, I’ve decided to get a new phone, and I’ll send you my first text.” A quick smile. “I’d like us to keep in touch.”

  Lani reached over, squeezed Kenzie’s hand. “I’d like that too.”

  She said goodbye, and while Kenzie watched Lani stroll from table to table, Austin studied Kenzie in profile—the curve of her cheekbone, the hollow beneath, the flutter of eyelashes, the perfect pout of her lips. He itched to put his arms around her. But how? He’d made promises to himself to keep away. And yet, he couldn’t let go of her heart-wrenching story. Music in the night intruded. Mental head slap. Surely a wedding celebration gave him permission to break the rules. He stood, held out his hand. “Let’s dance.”

  She hesitated. The dance floor was crowded. The dancers moved wildly to fast music. “Oh, I don’t know…”

  “Trust me.” He guided her up from the chair as she protested, led her to the DJ’s table, and pulled out a five. “Can you play something a little slower?”

  The DJ glanced between Austin and Kenzie, flashed a knowing grin, and waved off the money. “I’m here all night, and it’s on the house, buddy.”

  When a tender love song flowed from the speakers, Austin gentled her into an embrace, cupping her chin with his hand. She stiffened at first, but the music, the feel of him, the warmth of his hand holding hers, his arm around her waist, the scent of his skin—pine trees and leather—softened her resolve. Friends. Just friends. She closed the distance, melted into the moment.

  Too soon, the song ended and he reluctantly stepped away. At the same time, the DJ announced, “Hey, people, time to cut the cake!”

  Austin tamped down emotions from the dance floor and reminded himself that his obligation, his job, would soon be over. He simply had to hang on a little while longer.

  * * *

  —

  During the drive home to Bellmeade over empty rural roads bathed in moonlight, Austin berated himself. Tonight he’d lost his balance on the tightrope and hit the ground headfirst. Why hadn’t he stopped with that single dance with Kenzie? Or after the
cake-cutting ceremony, why did he pass on a second chance to leave? Or when Lani and Dawson fled to Nashville in a cascade of birdseed? Instead, he and Kenzie stayed along with a few die-hard party couples and danced to every slow song until the DJ shut down the party and sent everyone home.

  On the radio, a weatherman droned on about the coming week of intense summer heat—temps in the low hundreds, heat indexes much higher. Scorchers. And Kenzie was giving Austin a rundown on how they should handle the horses during the coming heat. When he didn’t respond, she said, “Hello? Calling my teammate. You okay with the plan?”

  He forced a quick smile her way. “Got it,” he said, and again turned inward.

  He didn’t seem inclined to talk shop, so Kenzie’s thoughts slipped back to the wedding reception and the good time she’d had tonight. In Austin’s arms, she’d felt a sense of belonging. Silly, she told herself. Their time together—the hours, days, weeks—were almost over. She imagined not seeing him every day and found it unsettling. She told herself that what she’d felt tonight as they danced was simply a holdover from the afterglow of the wedding, a spell cast by the sultry Southern summer night dappled with stars. Things would return to normal in daylight.

  Arriving at Bellmeade, Austin parked beside the old barn. Soldier emerged from inside. “Hey, buddy.” Austin reached into the backseat for his dress jacket, fished out a wadded napkin, crouched, and offered the white shepherd a cocktail wiener from the wedding.

  “He’s going to miss those nighttime snacks,” Kenzie said, coming around the back of the car. She stood in the moonlight, the straps of her sandals dangling from two fingers in her left hand.

  “I’ll miss him too. He’s a great dog.” Austin stood. “I’ll walk you home.”

  They ambled toward her bungalow, Kenzie barefoot in the dry, scratchy grass. “I had a great time tonight.”

  “Me too, and if you want to sleep in this morning, I’ll let the horses out to graze.”

  She yawned. “Maybe I will. I’ve always been a morning person, but sleeping in sounds pretty good right now.”

  In his mind’s eye, he imagined waking up beside her, then shook his head to displace the forbidden picture.

  At her doorstep, she found her key in the wristlet purse and unlocked the door, but instead of going inside, turned to him. “I hope what you told me tonight comes true. That somewhere, down the road of life, Dylan will get payback.”

  “I’ve seen it happen.”

  “You…you’re a good friend, Austin.”

  Feeling the familiar tingle up his spine, Austin told himself to make a quick getaway. After blurting “Good night,” he whipped around and made it halfway to the bunkhouse when he heard her call, “Wait!” He turned as she ran up to him, halting so close to him that he caught her strawberry scent in the breathless night air. She placed both hands against his chest, rose up on her toes, and brushed her lips over his. Pulling away with a saucy smile, she whispered, “Tag, you’re it,” and ran back to the house.

  Austin stood like a statue, watching her sprint, sprite-like hair flowing after her in a moonlit silvery stream, while the lighter-than-air feel of her mouth lingered on his skin.

  “The weatherman didn’t lie. This is one of the hottest weeks in Tennessee history.” Doc Perry removed his yellow straw cowboy hat and mopped his forehead. He was in the stable with Kenzie and Austin, finished with his checkup of the three rescue horses. Fans on either end of the pass-through doorways were spinning wide open but had only succeeded in moving around the hot morning air. “But the good news is that you have three healthy horses here, ready to be adopted.”

  Kenzie and Austin traded high fives. “Mamie’s staying,” Kenzie reminded him.

  “Well, you two have done an amazing job. Especially with Blue. The first time I examined him, we had to blindfold him.”

  “Austin gets credit for Blue. He worked out Blue’s man-phobia.”

  “Not totally,” Austin jumped in. “Blue can get antsy around strange men.”

  “Aren’t all men strange?” Kenzie mused.

  “Ow! Right through the heart.” Austin clutched his chest and staggered backward.

  Perry grinned and started packing up his medical gear.

  “Before you go,” Kenzie said, “will you take a look at the vetting form I’ve created? I’d like to get our horses’ photos and profiles posted on some horse adoption websites as soon as possible.”

  “Be glad to,” Perry said. She brought paperwork from the tack room on a clipboard. Perry read the form, made a few suggestions, handed it back to her. “When do you head back to college?”

  She gave him the end of August start date for upperclassmen, adding, “But I plan to roll out sooner. I owe my mom a long visit.”

  Perry looked at Austin. “And you?”

  “Around the same time.”

  “And if the horses aren’t adopted before you go?” Perry looked again at Kenzie.

  “Ciana said she’d handle it.” Kenzie scratched Blue’s forehead beneath his heat-damp forelock. “He’ll be an excellent saddle horse for the right owner.”

  Perry nodded. “You think you’ll do this again next year? You’ve given these three excellent care, and many horses need help.”

  “I’d love to, but Jon and Ciana may have other plans for this space.” She felt a pang as she said the words. She’d love to do the job again.

  Austin shook his head. “Don’t count on me.”

  Kenzie experienced a letdown but gave him a nod of understanding. No regrets. She would simply remain a one-summer memory to him.

  He didn’t meet her eyes. His cell phone chimed from his shirt pocket, and he stepped to one side to take the call. While he talked, Kenzie thanked Perry and waved goodbye. She stood in front of the fan, relishing the cool air. The heat was making her a little light-headed. Where was her tumbler of ice water? She started for the tack room, where she’d left it, then turned to see Austin coming toward her, his expression troubled. “What’s up?”

  “The call was from Jim Taylor. He…um…he said we can come pick up Oro this afternoon.”

  * * *

  —

  “Jamey died three days ago. Our relatives came for her funeral but didn’t clear out until yesterday, so that’s why we didn’t call sooner.” Martha dabbed her eyes while she talked to Kenzie and Austin on the porch. She wore her housecoat, its lone pocket stuffed with tissues.

  Kenzie shook her head. “Please, you don’t have to explain.” A quick calculation told Kenzie that Lani and Dawson would be home from their honeymoon tomorrow and hear the sad news.

  Jim put his arm around his wife’s shoulders. “I took care of the horse, though, so don’t worry that we forgot about him. Oro sure brought our little girl a lot of happiness.”

  Sweat trickled between Austin’s shoulder blades. “We’re really sorry about Jamey. We’ll get Oro out of here quickly.” Despite his words, no one moved.

  Martha dabbed her cheeks with a tissue. “Toward the end, when Jamey couldn’t sit up, she lay in her bed looking out at him. She sure loved that horse.”

  “We’ll be sure and let Lani know. That’s what she wanted, for Jamey to love the horse.” Kenzie felt the sadness of the couple in vivid detail as memories of her parents on the day of Caroline’s funeral rushed back. The pallor of February’s light coming through the window above the foyer’s grand staircase, the heavy floral aromas hanging in a silence that announced death had paid a visit.

  Martha stared vacantly at the horse trailer, borrowed again from Jon and hooked to the hitch mounted on Kenzie’s now-repaired SUV. She tapped her forehead. “Where are my manners? It’s hot as blue blazes out here. Come inside where it’s cool. I made fresh sweet tea this morning, and I’ll fix you a couple of ice-cold glasses.” She stepped aside.

  “That’s kind of you, but we should loa
d up. We have other horses at Bellmeade to care for.”

  Martha looked ready to crumble, and Austin quickly intervened. “Why don’t the two of you go inside where it’s cool? We’ve got this.”

  With arms around each other, the couple left the porch. Kenzie sighed. “I’ll get Oro.”

  “Sounds good. I want to check the trailer connection. It felt a little loosey-goosey while I was driving. There was some sway, and we don’t need any trouble with a trailer filled with a horse on a hot day.”

  “I’ll round him up.” Kenzie jogged around to the backyard, saw Oro at the far end of the pasture, under the branches of a tree hanging over the fence. Oro was swishing away flies with his tail. She called, whistled, but he ignored her. “Come on, Oro. Don’t be stubborn. Time to go home.” She unlatched the gate, entered the pasture. “Don’t give me a hard time. Come here.” The horse refused to move.

  Kenzie glanced around for the lead line, saw it hanging in the lean-to. Once the line was attached, Oro would follow. She jogged to the lean-to, stopped to catch a breath, grabbed the line, and walked toward the obstinate horse. She’d left her hat on the car seat, and the sun beat down like a furnace. She began to feel woozy with every step and remembered they’d left before eating lunch.

  She crossed the wide field, breathing hard, and snapped the rope onto Oro’s halter. “Come on, big boy. Cooler…in trailer.” She staggered a bit, turned, and started toward the gate that now looked a mile away. The heat felt suffocating, but in spite of it, she began to shiver. Her heart pounded, feeling as if it might jump from her chest. In the center of the pasture, holding the line, she bent, pushed her palms against her thighs, and gasped for air that strangled in her throat. She saw the ground rise up beneath her feet, the bright light of day beginning to blur and fade. She folded sideways and dropped to the grass.

  * * *

  —

  Austin leaned against the side of the trailer, feeling the heat of the metal through the denim of his jeans, his arms crossed, and wondered why it was taking Kenzie so long to round up Oro.