Read Online The Golden Stranger by Karen Wood - Free Book Online

just stayed at Harry’s place with Luke. His parents, both lawyers, worked non-stop.
    Tom shrugged. ‘I’d rather stay in Coachwood Crossing, but them’s the breaks.’
    â€˜Mr Hickling came into the bakery this morning – he told me about Goldie eating all his lychees,’ said Jess as they splashed through the water. ‘Wasn’t real impressed.’
    Shara was shocked that news about the colt’s antics had got out so quickly. It couldn’t have been much more than an hour since she’d caught Goldie in the lychee orchard.
    â€˜The whole town is talking about him,’ said Jess. ‘Anna Paget was too.’
    Shara groaned. ‘Maybe he’s just more trouble than he’s worth.’
    â€˜Don’t give up on him yet. He’s a beautiful horse.’
    They turned away from the drovers’ yard and continued up along the creek through the dappled light.
    â€˜That horse has the bloodlines to be something really special,’ Luke said. ‘That black stallion of the Connemans’ is a smart horse, and the mare is a tablelands brumby. She’d be super hardy.’
    â€˜Yeah, well, we don’t really know if they’re Goldie’s parents,’ said Shara, feeling suddenly disheartened. ‘He might just be some rogue horse.’
    â€˜Don’t get down about him, Sharsy,’ said Jess. ‘He’s just never been given a chance. With the right training and good care, he’ll be fine.’
    â€˜Easy for you to say.’
    â€˜Hey, I saw those contractors at the Brisbane Ekka a few days ago,’ said Tom. ‘I was checking out a cattle show and they were there setting up for the Queensland roping finals.’
    â€˜What, the Conneman brothers?’ asked Shara.
    â€˜Yeah. It was definitely their truck. Had their name written all over it.’
    â€˜Did they have any horses there, or just cattle?’
    â€˜Heaps of cattle and a few rough-looking horses,’ said Tom. ‘They looked like brumbies.’
    â€˜Was there a red taffy?’
    Tom looked thoughtful, then nodded. ‘Yeah, I think there was.’
    â€˜If only we could prove that she’s Goldie’s mother. That would show that the Connemans are Goldie’s owners and should be charged with neglect, and then the RSPCA would be free to re-home him. I could just get on with owning him and taking care of him.’
    Jess flashed a scheming grin. ‘Well, why don’t we pay the Connemans a quick visit in Brisbane? Get the proof we need?’

    When Shara rode Rocko down the driveway that afternoon, she found both parents waiting for her at the top of the steps.
    â€˜Hi, guys. What’s up?’ Two parents usually meant things were serious.
    â€˜I want you to come inside and have a chat,’ said Barry in a stern voice. He turned and walked through the door.
    When Shara followed, he motioned for her to sit down at the kitchen table. Then he stood with his back to her, looking out the window. ‘I was cleaning out the feed shed today, and I found some empty spray cans in the rubbish.’
    â€˜What sort of spray cans?’ Shara tried her best to stay calm and sound innocent.
    â€˜Coloured hairspray cans, the sort used on those wild horses at the rodeo.’ Both parents stared at Shara with cold, unmoving faces.
    â€˜Oh, them.’ Shara shrugged nonchalantly. ‘Jess and I used those for a fancy dress ages ago.’
    Her father was unswayed. ‘Stop talking rubbish, Shara, and tell me how they really got there.’
    Shara sighed. ‘Okay, it was us. Me and Jess.’ She saw no reason to dob in Rosie and Grace.
    She watched two pairs of shoulders slump. Her mother gave an exasperated sigh.
    â€˜But those Connemans deserved it.’
    Barry planted his hands on his hips, the way he always did when he was about to begin a lecture. ‘You can’t just go around breaking the law every time you