Page 13 of For the Love of the Broken Man

It gave Jase chills to think of the barbaric acts Dan had described. It confirmed to Jase that he was lucky to be out of Texas before something similar happened to him. In that moment, he supposed other people had it a lot worse than he had.

“Whatever happened to Teddy? Did you two keep in touch?” Jase checked to see Kayley was still engrossed in Taylor Swift.

Dan chuckled, but Jase could tell it was without humor. “He stayed in, but he ended up eatin’ his gun a few years later. I guess we all have our demons.”

“Did you report the guys who did it to you?”

Again, Dan chuckled. “Kid, Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell didn’t just apply to bein’ queer. I didn’t know the guys who did it, and if I’da admitted how I broke my leg, I’da been dishonorably discharged. At least most people think I was some kinda hero. Nobody alive knows the truth but the guys who did it, you, and me.”

It was an important secret the man had shared with him, and Jase felt the need to reassure him. “I’d never tell, Dan.”

“Thanks.” Dan slowed the truck and turned on a left-turn signal. Jase stared through the front windshield to see they were at a driveway with an entrance arch made of iron mounted atop two rock and mortar pillars on either side. The fence surrounding the property was made of rock as well, and Jase was sure, based on the view from the drive, the house would be damn incredible.

“Seems the lovebirds are doin’ some renovations. Good Lord, that musta cost a fortune.” Dan gave a little whistle as he stared at the rock fencing.

Dan turned into the driveway and slowly drove up a long, paved lane with lots of trees on both sides. It was all well-manicured, and suddenly, Jase wished he was back at the Katydid. The house he was seeing in the distance was definitely unlike anything he’d ever seen.

“Oh! We’re here!” Kayley gasped from the back seat. Jase heard her unbuckle her booster and step into the space between the front seats, leaning on the console between him and Dan.

“Think Meggie and Jonny are home yet?” she asked.

Dan glanced in the rearview and grinned. “Don’t know, Sweet Pea. Mick told Miss Katie that Terry has one more week of school because they had a lot of snow days this past school year, so Meg was going to stay in her school in Richmond until he’s out. They’re both goin’ to some summer camps. Terry for football and some science camp, and Meg for… Well, I’m not sure, but you can ask Mick.”

Dan honked the horn as he drove up the road and took the right fork which led to a large brick barn with a green tin roof. The house they passed looked like an English manor Jase had seen in a movie he had to watch for literature class during his junior year of high school. He wasn’t a Jane Austin fan, but the movie, Persuasion, was pretty good. The lead actor was a hot blond who made the movie much more enjoyable—or at least kept him from falling asleep.

When they stopped outside the barn, a good-looking cowboy with a straw hat tipped back on his head stood next to a woman with brown hair and some sort of coveralls. She was wearing rubber boots, much like the ones Jase had with him, and the two seemed to be in adamant conversation.

The woman walked outside to a truck with lots of metal cabinets on the side of the tall panels situated on the bed. She opened what appeared to be a large compartment, pulling out lots of things Jase couldn’t identify before she opened another door and pulled out more things, including what looked to be silver duct tape. Jase was intrigued.

Danny opened his door, so Jase followed suit, closing it before he went to the back and helped Kayley out. As she started to take off, Dan grabbed the back of her little T-shirt. “How do we behave around horses?”

She stopped in her tracks and turned around. “Calm and quiet,” she whispered loudly, bringing a grin to Jase’s face. She was an amazing little girl, and he looked forward to getting to spend time with her, finally admitting to himself he was probably in love with—or had a mad crush on—her uncle for one stupid reason or another. If the warm feeling in his chest and stomach every time he was near Danny Johnson wasn’t some sort of newly developed heart condition, then he was guessing it was love.

Dan took the girl’s hand and motioned his head for Jase to follow him. When they walked up to the truck, the tall bronze-haired man smiled brightly before he pulled Dan into a hug. “You crusty ba… horse’s behind. How the heck are ya?”

The man looked down at Kayley and picked her up, giving her a smacking kiss on her cheek which elicited a giggle from the girl. “How are ya, pretty girl? We couldn’t tell Meggie you were coming because she’d have thrown a fit to stay home today, and they were going on a field trip she’s been looking forward to for a month.” The man returned her to the ground before he turned to smile at Jase.

He was damn good looking, and Jase decided the man was older than him but younger than Dan. He had a crooked grin and eyes the color of fresh, green grass. He seemed to smile with his whole body. “You must be Jason. Miss Katie talked my ear off about ya. It’s a pleasure to meet you, and welcome to Wonderland Farm. I look forward to getting to know ya.”

Dan laughed. “This fine-spoken gentleman is Mickey Warren. He’s in college now, which seems to be makin’ a proper gentleman outta him.”

“I’ll call ya a few names a proper gentleman won’t use in the presence of a lady, ya old fart. Come on down so I can introduce ya to Doc McCarren. Josie has an abscess on her hoof. I say it’s the way the new farrier is shoeing her, but we’re dealing with it. I’m sure Josie will be happy to see you, Kayley.” Mickey took the giggling girl’s hand and led all of them forward into the barn.

Jase looked around, admiring how clean the barn appeared to be. It reminded him of the barns at the Circle C and the Katydid, though he was fairly certain all barns weren’t so immaculate.

They walked up to a small horse tied to a ring in the hallway. Its enormous ears were shoulder-height to Jase, and it struck him as funny.

”Hello, Josie.” Kayley greeted the little animal with a bright smile as she patted it on the nose. Jase watched the horse sniff at her and then lower its head so the girl could rub its forehead and ears.

Dan scratched its back. “What’s wrong with her? I brought the trailer in case I need to take her back to Holloway.”

Jase saw the vet doing something to the horse’s foot, so he walked around the animal, touching her flank as he walked behind her, as he’d been taught to do. The woman was pouring something into a bucket with a few inches of water. She glanced up at him and smiled.

“I’m Mary McCarren. I’m gonna soak her foot in some Epsom salt. I just excised the infection, which is a nasty job, and after she soaks for a little while, I’ll apply a poultice and wrap her hoof. She’ll be good as new in a few days.”

“I’m Jase. I’ll be working here.” He started to extend his hand but saw hers were gloved.

Doctor McCarren nodded a greeting and walked out of the barn toward her truck. “She your usual vet?” Dan asked Mickey.

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