Read Online Mistwalker by Terri Farley - Free Book Online Page B

came with them, filling in the gaps, then added, “Did you know my stubborn brother finally agreed to take the cremellos?”
    â€œI heard him say something that made me think so,” Darby said wonderingly.
    Ellen gazed at the herd of ivory horses up ahead.
    â€œHe didn’t want them.” Ellen’s tone was flat, but one corner of her mouth quirked up as if she weren’t surprised.
    â€œIt’s not that he didn’t want them,” Darby spoke up. “He’s just not too crazy about having tourists on the place. At least, that’s what I think.”
    â€œYou’re right,” Aunt Babe agreed. “And Jonah’s doing me a favor by taking them.”
    â€œNo piling on,” Ellen said, holding up her hands. Her tone was amused, but her lips tightened and it was clear she felt her daughter and aunt were defending Jonah.
    â€œExcept for these two,” Aunt Babe said. Ignoring her niece’s remark to talk about her horses, she rubbed the poll Flight offered for attention. “Flight and Stormbird will have a home here as long as I live.”
    All at once Darby remembered the sugar cubes. She dug into her pocket and had barely flattened her palm with the cube in the center of it when the cremellos moved like a flock of gulls in her direction.
    â€œNow what?” Darby yelped.
    Her mother and great-aunt laughed and helped her share all but two of the cubes with the horses. As Darby lectured one especially pushy horse about rudeness, her mother shook her head and said, “I wish your father could be here, baby. He told me to tell you he’s proud.”
    â€œAbout what?” Darby asked.
    â€œEverything! You have taken some big stepstoward growing up.” Ellen sniffed, sighed, and patted Darby’s cheek before she added, “This is no time to get sentimental.”
    Ellen looked across the corral and Darby saw her shiver.
    Jonah shaded his eyes as if looking into the sun, but the sun was behind him. He squinted, then strode toward them from around the corral, looking proud of his daughter, too.
    It’s going to be okay, Darby thought.
    Jonah and Ellen mirrored each other. Their smiles were shaky. Their arms reached out. Darby saw how they’d missed each other.
    But then, pride interfered. Darby saw it happen.
    Pride reminded Ellen her acting career would have gotten off to an earlier start, if not for her father.
    Pride took Jonah back to the lonely years after his wife died, after his daughter was gone. And pride reminded him that Ellen had run away. She’d abandoned him on purpose.
    Father and daughter looked stiff, and there was hesitation as they kissed each other’s cheeks. But when they hugged, their hands pressed and patted each other’s backs, and Darby’s hope flickered back to life.
    Love was hard to snuff out.
    â€œIt’s good to see you,” Ellen said.
    â€œAnd you,” Jonah replied, then cleared his throat and rushed his words. “You’ll— will you come to the house for a late lunch, and maybe a ride?”
    He’d changed his demand into a request. Darby hoped her mother had noticed.
    â€œPlease, Mom!” Darby bounced up and down, then tugged at her mother’s arm. Acting like a three-year-old didn’t fit with the advice she’d gotten from her friends, but she couldn’t help it. “You have to see Hoku. Please?”
    â€œYes, to the lunch—Cathy already invited me—and maybe to the ride,” Ellen said.
    â€œLet’s go,” Darby said. She couldn’t give her mother time to change her mind, so she turned politely to Aunt Babe. “Thanks so much for everything….”
    â€œNot just this minute,” Ellen cautioned Darby. Then she glanced to Jonah.
    Why? Darby wondered. Was her mother asking for Jonah to help?
    â€œYou two work it out,” Jonah said, then turned away and headed for the parking lot.
    â€œYou know I’m