Free Water Lily by Terri Farley

couldn’t see Jonah from where she stood, she heard him moan, “Enough!”
    Darby had latched the last cremello back into the round pen when Aunty Cathy pulled up and got out of the Land Rover, arms full of grocery bags and a big flat box.
    â€œLet me help,” Darby said, jogging over as Aunty Cathy managed to slam the truck door with her hip.
    â€œJust take the box.” Aunty Cathy blew her bangs out of her eyes, then added, “It’s for you.”
    â€œWhat did your doctor say?” Darby asked as she maneuvered the box out of Aunty Cathy’s grasp.
    â€œMy concussion’s a thing of the past. I’m cleared for duty,” Aunty Cathy said.
    â€œOh, good—hey! This is the saddle blanket I ordered for Hoku!” Darby whooped, finally recognizing the return address on the package.
    She’d used a little of her reward money from finding Stormbird, the lost cremello colt, to buy Hoku a saddle blanket she’d been admiring in a horse gear catalog.
    Although Hoku wasn’t ready for a saddle yet, Darby couldn’t resist.
    She stopped right in the middle of the ranch yard to open the cardboard box. As she struggled to rip loose the tape, Darby realized Cade had come to watch.
    â€œShow us,” Aunty Cathy said and then, as Darbypulled the blanket free of its wrappings, she added, “Oh, Darby, it will look perfect on her.”
    â€œTotally,” said Megan, who’d just jogged down the stairs to take a grocery bag from her mother.
    â€œYeah,” Darby said. She gave the blanket a flip, admiring it.
    Bright with sun colors—from yellow-gold to flame-orange—it was worth every penny she’d spent.
    When the filly gave a lonesome neigh, Aunty Cathy took pity on her and said, “I guess you should show her what she got.”
    Just then, Darby realized Megan was looking past her at Cade.
    Cade had drawn himself up to his full height. His arms were locked gunfighter-ready at his sides. He hadn’t come to watch her open the parcel. He waited to learn if Aunty Cathy had learned anything about his mother.
    â€œCade, I don’t have much news for you.” Aunty Cathy’s voice was matter-of-fact. “But Peg at the grocery store saw her yesterday, so she’s definitely—safe.”
    Cade nodded.
    With three pairs of eyes watching, he showed no reaction except that his fingers closed against his palms.
    â€œMahalo,” he managed. “Really, thanks a lot.”
    â€œOf course.” Aunty Cathy sounded sweet and motherly and maybe that was more than he could take, because Cade turned and walked away.
    â€œJust great,” Megan snapped, but she waited until Cade was out of earshot to say more. “All this time, he’s been imagining the worst, thinking she’s drowned or trapped or—and she hasn’t come to see if he’s okay. If I had a mother like her, I wouldn’t be searching for her. I’d hide!”
    With that, Megan gave Aunty Cathy’s cheek a quick kiss. Then, she ran after Cade.
    Darby’s jolt of surprise was seconded by Aunty Cathy as she said, “I wish I’d seen that coming.”
    â€œWhat do you think she’ll say to him?” Darby asked.
    â€œI don’t imagine there’s anything he wants to hear from anyone,” Aunty Cathy said. Shaking her head, Aunty Cathy gave Darby a half smile, then headed for Sun House.
    Darby folded the blanket back into its box and carried it under one arm.
    Chain links jingled across the grass as Francie the goat came as far as she could toward Darby. Francie’s bleat of greeting made Darby stop.
    â€œHow are you, little girl?” she asked. She kneaded the bony top of the goat’s head and looked after Megan, though she’d disappeared near the bunkhouse. “I hope Megan knows what she’s doing, don’t you?”
    Francie nuzzled the front of Darby’s shirt, then tasted