Read Online Water Lily by Terri Farley - Free Book Online

hadn’t moved out of his way. And there were the TV helicopters overhead. If he associated them with that day…” Darby took a deep breath, “No. I don’t think it would work.”
    Cricket added, “That stallion knows his business.”
    But it wasn’t Cricket that Mr. Klaus chuckled at. “You’re quite the horse expert, aren’t you, honey?”
    There was no good answer. If she said yes, she sounded stuck-up. If she said no, why should they listen to her? Darby turned to her grandfather for help.
    â€œMr. Nomi, he asked my granddaughter’s opinion, yeah?” Jonah gave an intense smile. “She’s a polite girl, so she answered.”
    Mr. Klaus got her grandfather’s point. The official had trespassed on tender territory and he knew it. He took a step backward before offering a sort of praise. “I guess you’ve been riding all your life.”
    If only he’d said, “I guess you’ve loved horses all your life,” or “I guess horses have fascinated you all your life,” Darby would have been proud to answer. But he hadn’t, and Darby blushed so hard, her face hurt. She didn’t want to admit that she’d just recently learned to ride.
    â€œShe’s a natural. She has horses in her blood!”
    When had Megan come down from the house? Darby had been so wrapped up in the conversation, she had no clue. But Megan had barged into the conversation just in time and she wanted to give her the world’s biggest hug.
    â€œHow about this?” Cricket said suddenly. “Why not use the ‘Iolani Ranch paniolos to herd mustangs the old-fashioned way, on horseback?”
    â€œThat’s crazy talk,” Jonah said with a bark of laughter.
    â€œIt might work,” Kit said.
    Anyone within a mile could have recognized theexcitement in Kit’s and Jonah’s expressions. They were both up for the challenge.
    â€œDon’t count on Kimo,” Megan put in. “That’s what I came down to tell you. He called to say he and his dad have ‘a bug.’ I don’t know what kind,” Megan said before anyone could ask, “but he sounded awful.”
    â€œSo, that would mean Kit, Cade, me,” Cricket said, “and Jonah?”
    â€œI’ll chance ’em,” Jonah said. “But if you don’t need me right now—” His quick glance took in Darby as well as Kit and Cricket. “I want to go look at that colt.”
    As Mr. Klaus and Mr. Nomi shook hands with Jonah and promised to stay in touch, Megan offered, “Darby and I can help.”
    â€œWe’ll talk about that,” Cricket said, glancing after Jonah.
    â€œAnd maybe my mom,” Megan volunteered. “She’s recovered from her concussion, and that’s almost one of us for each wild horse.”
    â€œThat’s what we’d need,” Cricket said, but she looked dubious.
    The two officials didn’t notice. They were consulting a spiral-bound notebook and a map.
    Cricket edged closer to Kit and whispered, “Do you think Darby’s ready?”
    In that moment, Kit’s eyes showed all his misgivings.
    Darby knew wild horses were unpredictable. They’dspread out, then stick together: they’d gallop over hills, then veer around them. And the terrain might require jumping, quick decisions, and just plain luck to stick in the saddle.
    But Kit only said, “That’s hard riding.”
    â€œIf she’s not up to it, we won’t take chances.”
    Mr. Klaus could have at least looked up from the map, Darby thought.
    He didn’t even glance at her as he said, “If we used an inexperienced rider in a government-sponsored wildlife relocation we’d be leaving ourselves open to a lawsuit.”
    Is he refusing to let me ride because I disagreed with him over the helicopters? Darby thought so, but she couldn’t brag that she’d ridden Hoku, a barely