Free Castaway Colt by Terri Farley

pretty important,” Darby told Navigator.
    After all, Aunty Cathy had been the one to tell her and Megan they should avoid Jonah.
    Still watching the two adults, Darby eased back the leather from the buckle’s tongue and released Navigator’s cinch.
    Darby stood on tiptoe, grabbed the saddle front and back, and hauled it off. The saddle blankets came with it and dropped over her boots. Darby tripped, but didn’t fall.
    She lost track of her grandfather and Cathy as she remembered how she’d almost fallen earlier today, going into the Lehua High gym.
    â€œI don’t like being clumsy,” she whispered to Navigator.
    Maybe she was still learning to walk in boots, Darby thought, looking down at the scuffed reddish pair she’d decided to wear for chores.
    She wanted to keep her new boots clean and smooth.
    For a few seconds, Darby weighed the possibility of not wearing her boots to school tomorrow. Mosteveryone wore slippers—what she’d called flip-flops back in California—or sneakers.
    Then, thinking of Ann, Darby felt stubborn. In a good way.
    Darby loved her new boots, and since they were part of who she was in Hawaii, she was absolutely going to wear them whenever she felt like it.
    â€œAnd I’ll get used to walking in them,” Darby said, brushing the sweat marks from Navigator’s black-coffee coat.
    When she’d finished, she realized Aunty Cathy was still beside the truck.
    Curiosity may have killed the cat, but Darby couldn’t not investigate. She approached on tiptoe, but Aunty Cathy noticed her.
    As Aunty Cathy pushed her messy brown-blond hair away from her eyes, Darby realized that Jonah must still be on the phone, under the truck.
    Cathy held her index finger against her lips in a shushing motion before she mouthed the name, Babe.
    Darby was surprised, but she was pretty sure she hadn’t made a sound when Jonah yelled, “What!”
    It sounded as if he sat up, or tried to, and hit his head on the underside of the truck.
    Darby winced.
    Aunty Cathy stood. She made a “he’s all yours” gesture and rushed away, but Peach took her place next to Darby for just seconds before he crawled under the car and Darby heard him licking hergrandfather again.
    â€œNot my neck,” Jonah moaned. “Can’t you just let me die in peace?”
    Darby smothered her giggle, but Jonah shouted, “I’m talking to you!”
    â€œMe?”
    In response, Jonah threw the phone out from under the truck.
    â€œPut that in the trough, will you?”
    Guessing that she’d misunderstood, Darby leaned over and peered under the truck.
    â€œWhat?” she asked her grandfather.
    The space in which he was wedged looked tight and dark as a coffin.
    â€œWhat happened to you?” he yelled.
    â€œMe? Nothing.”
    â€œYou didn’t hear when I told you to throw that blasted phone in the horses’ trough.”
    Darby walked away, but she decided to carry the phone back into the house instead of following Jonah’s orders.
    She struggled out of her boots and headed to the kitchen, where Aunty Cathy waited with raised eyebrows.
    Darby hung up the phone.
    â€œHe told me to throw it into the horse trough.”
    â€œWhen he’s talking to Babe, he’s not always…” Aunty Cathy hesitated.
    â€œRational?” Darby suggested.
    â€œLevelheaded,” Cathy substituted.
    Just then, Jonah came into the house. He shucked off his boots. Clothes dirty and hands greasy, he frowned at them.
    No one likes to be gossiped about, Darby thought. Not even a grandfather.
    Still, when Aunty Cathy spoke, she didn’t sound apologetic.
    â€œI know going along with one of Babe’s ideas grates on your nerves.”
    â€œDown to the bone,” Jonah agreed.
    â€œEven if it is a good idea.”
    â€œIt’s not. Think of the cost.”
    â€œShe’d pay for guest insurance and provide their transportation