Free Mistwalker by Terri Farley

staying here with Aunty Babe,” her mom said gently.
    â€œI—no, I didn’t.” Darby drew the words out, trying to overrule her panic with logic.
    She reviewed beds and bedrooms at the ranch. Unless she and Mom shared her bed or they made up the couch with sheets and blankets, there was no obvious place for Ellen to sleep.
    Could Ellen remember how much she loved the ranch if she only came for lunch?
    â€œI’d love to have Darby stay here, too,” Aunt Babe urged.
    Darby couldn’t think of anything to say that wouldn’t make her sound ungrateful.
    â€œWe’ll see about that, but right now Hoku needs you. Am I right?” Ellen asked. “And Aunt Babe has some people she’d like me to meet, so we’ll just split up for an hour or so. It’s the least I can do, since I took a loan from Aunty and never paid her back.” Ellen turned to Aunt Babe. “Don’t think I’ve forgotten.”
    â€œAnd you, don’t be silly! The first time I saw your face on my television screen, I was repaid. And when I saw your wedding pictures. And that adorable Mamma Mia photograph!”
    Her mom laughed, then turned toward Darby. But Ellen didn’t have to explain it.
    â€œI know which picture she means,” Darby said. “That old one from the newspaper? Where you and Dad are standing in front of a big oven and Dad’s holding a pizza and you’re wearing a checked apron with, uh, me pooching it out?”
    â€œThat’s the one!” Aunt Babe said.
    â€œIt’s still on the restaurant wall,” Darby said, and suddenly she smelled the yeasty dough, thick red sauce, and gooey cheese of her father’s Italian restaurant back in California.
    â€œI miss Dad,” Darby said.
    â€œYou miss pizza,” her mom corrected her.
    â€œ And Dad,” Darby said. “Do you think they’d come over to visit?”
    Skepticism glittered in her mom’s dark eyes. Darby didn’t know what it meant until Ellen asked, “Would you travel with five children under ten years old?”
    Before anyone answered with more than a smile, Ellen gave Darby a gentle swat on the seat of her jeans. “Your grandfather’s waiting for you,” she said, pointing toward the truck.
    Darby leaned her head against her mother’s shoulder and closed her eyes. Her mind knew she was only leaving for an hour or two, but her heart hurt at the thought of going away.
    Ellen’s arms closed around Darby in a hug before she kissed the top of her hair and said, “I’ll be along soon.”
    At last, Darby left. It was a good thing, too, since everyone else was already in the truck. Jonah and Aunty Cathy sat up front. Darby climbed into the backseat with Cade and Megan.
    Aunty Cathy had plenty of compliments for Cade, Darby, and Megan on the ride home, and some for Ellen, too, but Darby hardly listened.
    â€œIt’s cool that she’s coming for lunch,” Megan said.
    Darby was so preoccupied with planning a persuasive afternoon with her mother, she didn’t hear what was on the menu.
    But when they reached the ranch, Aunty Cathy touched Darby’s arm to get her attention. “Why don’tyou go ahead and change into riding clothes and grab a quick snack.”
    â€œBut—”
    â€œYour aunt Babe might hang on to your mother for a while, now that she’s got her hands on her.”
    Darby changed into an everyday T-shirt—a newish yellow one her mom had never seen—but she left on her good jeans and boots and headed for Hoku’s corral. Maybe she’d get Cade or Kit to show her that bronc stop that Jonah had mentioned. Maybe she’d be riding Hoku when her mom arrived. Mane, tail, and ponytail flowing, they’d be rocking in Hoku’s smooth lope, looking so perfect together that her mom would give up dreams of city apartments.
    But Kit couldn’t show her the bronc stop.
    He’d ridden out