Read Online Mistwalker by Terri Farley - Free Book Online

the earthquake. Definitely wrong places, but you usually managed to make something good out of ’em.”
    â€œThanks, Sis!” Darby said, surprised. Megan rarely sounded so thoughtful.
    Brushing the compliment aside, Megan said,“Introduce us to your mom.”
    â€œThat might take a while.” Ann nodded at the throng of people.
    â€œThis happen a lot?” Cade grimaced.
    â€œMaybe it’s because she hasn’t been home in like fifteen years,” Darby suggested.
    â€œHer outfit…” Megan began, considering the stylish dress with slashes of black and white and the red hibiscus in her hair.
    For the first time in hours, Darby thought of the black-and-white horse that had been hidden in the fold, but she put her equine questions aside as her mother laughed at something Aunt Babe had said.
    â€œIt’s not the dress. It’s my mom,” Darby explained. “She’d wear those earrings and her hair loose like that to the grocery store,” Darby said. Totally un-Hollywood, she thought. “And even those red shoes—”
    â€œThe heels aren’t that high,” Ann finished.
    â€œThey’re hot,” Megan judged as she edged closer to Ellen. Then, as if she had the peripheral vision of a horse, Megan snagged Cade’s sleeve before he could escape the introduction to a celebrity. “Stop. I know Darby’s mom wants to meet the paniolo who rescued her daughter.”
    Rescued me. Darby glared at Megan. Oh yeah, let’s take my happy mother and tell her stories about me risking my life all over the place .
    Her mom spun around, having overheard Megan.“I certainly do!” she said.
    Cade had just shaken off Megan’s grip when the circle of people parted to include the teenagers.
    â€œMom, this is Cade. He…” Darby paused, not sure how to explain that Cade was sort of her hanai’d brother or cousin or something.
    â€œI work on ‘Iolani Ranch,” Cade said quietly. “Aloha.”
    To Darby’s amazement, Cade kissed Mom’s cheeks in traditional welcome and she returned the gesture.
    â€œYou saved my daughter from drowning. I’ll remember that always. Mahalo , Cade.” Ellen’s voice was as sincere as it was dramatic, so Darby didn’t know why she felt compelled to break the silence that followed.
    â€œOh, heh, heh, you saw that? On television?” Darby asked. She heard the cartoon silliness in her laugh, but she couldn’t help it.
    â€œOh, yes,” her mom confirmed. She made her eyes feline narrow, as if to say, You’re in for it, now, and added, “Tahiti does have television, you see.”
    But Darby could tell her mom wasn’t playing. “It wasn’t nearly as dangerous as it looked. I promise.”
    Ellen wasn’t buying her casual attitude.
    â€œDarby, dear, we’ll talk about it later.”
    Darby, dear? She’d never heard those words paired before.
    The entire news report unreeled in Darby’s mind. So, she’d taken a risk riding into the floodwaters. Onan untamed horse. To confront a villain like Manny. After a tsunami.
    Darby drew a deep breath, but she didn’t know what to say.
    It had been worse than it had looked in a sixty-second news clip. Her mom would know that, and she’d know who to blame. Not just Darby, but Jonah.
    With a silken voice and a glance toward Mark Larson, this time it was Aunt Babe who came to Darby’s rescue. And she did it by changing the subject.
    â€œEllen, do tell us all about the new film that brought you to our part of the world.”
    â€œBrought her home,” Darby corrected, but her mom pretended not to hear.
    Darby stepped backward and bumped into Stormbird, Megan, and Ann. Both girls looked at her askance, but Stormbird just snuffled her pocket, and Cade considered the ground, hands in his own pockets, doing his best to disappear.
    â€œWhat’s wrong?” Darby