Read Online The Torn Wing by Kiki Hamilton - Free Book Online Page A

Toots sitting on a stool near a large wooden table with Clara. Mrs. Bosworth stood at a nearby counter. He was waving his hands about the bright orange locks of his head, talking as fast as he could, telling a story that had his audience enraptured.
    “Toots!” Tiki cried. “You’re home!”
    At the sound of her voice, Toots paused and glanced over his shoulder. Tiki and Fiona both rushed to hug the boy.
    “I was so worried about you,” Tiki whispered in his ear, trying not to cry. “Are you all right?”
    “Yeah, Teek.” He wiggled out of her grasp, his face lit up with excitement. “I’m fine. I thought I was only gone a coupl’a hours, but they’re telling me I’ve been gone for two days.” His voice held a note of wonder.
    Tiki held Toots at arm’s length, her hands braced on his shoulders as she searched his face. “Where were you?”
    “I don’ know exactly, but I had the time of my life!” He laughed with glee. “There was a whole field of horses—” his eyes were round with wonder— “their manes sparkled and glittered like the stars and they ran so fast their feet didn’t touch the ground. An’ Teek—I rode one! You should have seen me. She was beautiful— white as snow—and her mane and tail swept the ground they were so long! It was like we were flyin’.”
    He spoke so fast Tiki had a hard time following what he was saying. “Her mane was braided with bells that jingled as we rode an’ I swear the bridle—that’s the part that goes in their mouth—was made of pure gold and sparkled like it was covered with the Crown jewels.”
    Toots grinned and cast a quick glance over at Mrs. Bosworth as he spoke out of the corner of his mouth. “I thought about trying to nick it and bring it home but I wasn’t sure how to get it out of the horse’s mouth.” His eyes got wide. “Have you ever seen the size of their teeth?”
    “That’s wonderful, Toots, but where were you?” Tiki asked again.
    The little boy sobered then, a guilty expression twisting his features. “I don’t know exactly. But it was sunny and there was lots of green grass for the horses an’—”
    Now Tiki wasn’t smiling. “Who took you there, Toots?”
    “Dain brought him home.” Clara spoke up. She stood on one side of Toots, clutching Doggie to her chest and listening with an enraptured expression. She wore a little blue dress with shoulder straps over a white blouse. “An’ I got to see him too.”
    At Tiki’s questioning look Mrs. Bosworth shook her head. “I didn’t see nothin’—not the horse nor the chap who brought ‘im home.” She stood at the counter, her large hips wrapped in her familiar white apron, kneading bread dough. “But I knew he’d come back sooner or later. Off on a lark, just like I said.”
    “Tell her, Toots.” Clara fisted her little fingers and planted a hand on each hip. “I’m not making it up. Dain was here and I got to see the pretty horse too. Just like Toots said. She was all white and grand with red ribbons in her mane—just like the horse that Tam Lin rides in the story you tell us, Teek.” Her young voice had a stubborn ring to it.
    “It’s fine, I believe you, Clara,” Tiki said. “The important thing is that Toots is home safe.” Her brows pulled down in a frown. “But who is Dain?”
    “Why, he’s the boy who comes ‘round sometimes,” Clara replied innocently. “Haven’t you seen him, Teek? He’s tall with blond hair. He’s a friendly sort. Doggie likes him.”
    Tiki returned her focus to Toots. “What about a blond girl? Did you see anyone like that? Her name’s Larkin?”
    Toots’s freckled brow wrinkled with thought. “Nope, I didn’t see any girls, Teek.”
    Clara lifted her head from petting Doggie, her little voice sweet and pure. “I can call Larkin if you want to talk to her.”
    Tiki and Fiona swung their heads to look at the child. Tiki had never openly discussed the time Larkin had stolen the little girl for fear of