page11 (1/2)

Nora’s s a little in disbelief, and I can actually see I’ve hurt her feelings deep within her eyes

I have a flash of guilt, but I push it aside

Noraa step backward, she says, “I’ll see you Friday Three PM”

Then she pivots on her heel and walks out of the barn, leaving uilt and disgust

“I’ive you a pass on that one,” I hear a voice say from the stall It’s a heavy Latino accent, the words coarse and gruff I’d forgotten about the old man in there with the horse

He steps out, eyes hard from under the briain, and I’ to whip your ass, muchacho”

“Won’t be an issue if she keeps that hippie love and sunshine shit to herself,” I htest by his threat

“Be honest with yourself,” he answers, stepping fully out of the stall and latching the door closed “That’s not really what you object to”

“Pardon?” I ask, slightly offended he’s trying to shrink me

“You don’t like her offering you any hope of a better future because you don’t think anyone could possibly understand what you’ve been through”

I grit et she has education and experience in handling people like hter spot without knowing a fucking thing about my pain and misery

It’s going to be hard to trust her now for just that reason

“Trust o,” the old man says as he ambles toward me When we’re a few feet apart, he tips his head and pushes the brim of his hat back a bit I can now see his eyes clearly “Nora has suffered horrors you can’t even iine I don’t knohat your issues are, but don’t think that woman doesn’t understand pain She’s lostshould be made to and suffered more than anyone deserves, and she’s coive her the benefit of the doubt”

I have to widen ht of what he just said He hadn’t divulged one da about Nora, yet I can tell by the tone of his voice that so horrific has happened to her

It’s not so I’d considered