The Shining Stallion by Terri Farley Page B

gone riding past on Biscuit this morning?
    â€œHow would I have noticed?” Digging her fingernails into the board behind her, Darby tried to tough out this encounter, but bravado wasn’t her strength and she knew it.
    Jonah flung out the dregs of his coffee as if he couldn’t discuss this while slaking his own thirst.
    â€œHe drank his trough dry.”
    Darby closed her eyes for an instant, wishing she could escape.
    â€œIs he okay?” she asked.
    â€œLuna? Sure. He took care of himself by jumping the fence into the weanling pen and drank their water.”
    Darby imagined the big bay shouldering hismotherless offspring aside. To them, he’d look like a monster.
    â€œAre they safe?”
    â€œHe didn’t hurt ’em, but they’re dehydrated. Little guys were scared to go for water while he was guarding it.”
    Darby didn’t see how she could make so many mistakes, but she refused to let her dream life turn into a nightmare for the horses of ‘Iolani Ranch.
    In two weeks, she’d put three horses—Hoku, Navigator, and Luna—in danger. Multiply that by two, Darby corrected herself. Kona and Joker had been ridden very hard, searching for Hoku. And so had Biscuit.
    And now the weanlings…
    â€œMaybe…,” Darby began, biting her bottom lip hard, hoping the sting would distract her from what she needed to say. But it turned out she couldn’t bite that hard. “Maybe I don’t belong here.”
    â€œI was thinking that you loved the place.” Jonah raised his black eyebrows.
    â€œI do!”
    â€œYou give up awful easy for someone in love.” Jonah cleared his throat.
    â€œI don’t want to hurt any more horses,” Darby protested. “I’m just not catching on fast enough.”
    â€œNeed any help packing your bags?” Jonah offered.
    Then he smiled.
    â€œWhy aren’t you mad at me? Or are you?” Darby had never felt so confused. “Why do you want me to stay when I’ve done nothing but mess up since I got here?” she asked him.
    â€œDon’t fish, Darby.” Jonah gave a disapproving scowl.
    â€œDon’t—?”
    â€œYou’re fishing for compliments. And here’s what I have to say about your ‘messing up’: I know where you went into the water, and I know where you came out. You have what it takes.”
    Darby almost quit breathing, she was so surprised. No one was supposed to know she had risked her life to save Hoku. She hadn’t meant to do anything but swim her to the beach around the point. Since she was a strong swimmer, it hadn’t seemed at all heroic. But she hadn’t known about the powerful riptide.
    Physical bravery? To her, it was a terrible accident that she’d barely survived. If anything, Jonah should admire Hoku for saving his granddaughter’s life.
    â€œAnd I am mad.” He pointed his finger at her. “Ask Cathy. I was roaring when I came to the house looking for you. If you’d hurt that stallion or his babies…” Jonah grappled for control, but his rational approach collapsed and he was shouting again. “When I ask you to do something, it must be done, and not two or three days later, either!
    â€œIt’s fine that you work Hoku and go riding onNavigator, but there’s never enough time to do what must be done to keep this place running. Never has been and probably never will be. Why do you think—?” Jonah broke off with a dismissive gesture.
    Had her grandfather been about to mention her mother? Or maybe her aunt Babe, who’d opened a fancy resort instead of working on ‘Iolani Ranch?
    Jonah lay the flat of his hand on Kona’s neck, calming the nervous horse.
    â€œWe take these animals from places where they care for themselves. We make them helpless, in a way, but they do their best to work with us. They shouldn’t suffer for their loyalty.”
    â€œThey