âDonât ever let your thumb get in the ropeâs path. Even an experienced rider can be surprised, and when a one-ton horse hits the end of that rope wrapped around your soft little thumb, itâll pop right off.â
Darby was listening, but she snatched a quick look back at Hoku. The filly prowled her fence like an angry cat, glaring after the stallion.
When Jonah turned to see why Darby was so quiet, he must have thought she looked skeptical. He gave a short bark of a laugh.
âYou donât believe me? Sometime ask Kimo how many fingers his dad has, that old scoundrel. Heâs the one tricked me into taking Francie.â
They rode a few steps together before Jonah added, âI tell you, that will sure change your vacation in Hawaii, takinâ off a thumb.â
âYes,â Darby agreed, âI bet it would.â
Â
By eleven oâclock, Jonah had been teaching Darby to pony for almost an hour.
Sitting on the grass while Kona cropped nearby, Darby decided it was a skill she wasnât likely to master soon. There was so much to keep track of at once.
Two horses, one lead rope, a handful of reins, and her inexperienced riding all had to come together in a kind of synchronized smoothness that made patting your head while rubbing your stomach look easy. And Darby had never been able to do that for more than ten seconds at a time.
Luna had only broken his perfect pace three timesâby the candlenut tree, by Hokuâs corral, and once in the dip between the hills that Jonah called the fold.
The stallion would probably behave when she took over, Darby thought, if he wasnât provoked.
âOkay, now, before you try it, go up to the house and get yourself some gloves,â Jonah told Darby. âTheyâre hanging on a rack in the laundry room.â
Darby didnât bother arguing. She started walking, thinking sheâd grab a protein bar or something while she was in the house.
âHey,â Jonah asked, âwhy walk when you can take a horse?â
This time when Darby approached, Konaâs gray ears waggled in welcome. Darby still hadnât taken upthe stirrups, so she didnât need the sidehill to remount. She smiled when Kona let her settle into the saddle as if they were old friends.
âWeâll get you some gloves of your own later,â Jonah said, watching her. âBoots, too.â
âThatâs okay,â Darby said, gathering her reins.
âWhat do you mean, âthatâs okayâ?â Jonah asked.
âI mean, you donât have to do that. Arenât they expensive?â
âDo you want to do this right?â Jonah gestured at the ranch around them.
âYes, butââ
âAnd is it possible I know how to outfit you, so that you can grip your reins and ropes and keep your feet from slipping through the stirrups so you wonât get dragged to death?â
âI just donât want to cost you a bunch of money.â She squeezed her legs against Kona and aimed him toward Sun House.
The gray moved into a long walk, just as sheâd hoped, but Darby was still close enough to hear Jonah grumble, âSave me money somewhere elseâlike on doctor bills.â
Chapter 11
âN obodyâs eating my pineapple-orange muffins,â Auntie Cathy complained as Darby came through the front door of Sun House.
âI am,â Darby said, snagging one. As she headed for the laundry room to look for gloves, Darby peeled off the crunchy muffin-topâher favorite partâand munched.
Warmth flooded from the laundry room and Darby heard the ker-thump ing of a loaded dryer. She eased inside and closed the door behind her.
It was hot in here, but she set her muffin aside and grabbed the chance to push up her shirtsleeves and fan the hem of her T-shirt.
She should just show everyone the good-luckcharm and dress normally. Or she could take it off. For some reason, she didnât want
Ned Vizzini
Stephen Kozeniewski
Dawn Ryder
Rosie Harris
Elizabeth D. Michaels
Nancy Barone Wythe
Jani Kay
Danielle Steel
Elle Harper
Joss Stirling