Snowfire

by Terri Farley

  “Thank you,” Darby said.

  “Don’t expect an overnight miracle,” Cricket cautioned. “Between the earthquakes and the tsunami, this guy is busy. He doesn’t always return my calls right away.”

  What if it’s too late? Darby thought.

  Black Lava had only a few mares and one foal left. Snowfire wasn’t the only danger to them. Wasting time could mean wasting the wild horses’ lives.

  But none of this was Cricket’s fault, so Darby stayed quiet.

  “I’ll do my best, Darby,” Cricket promised. “And just to prepare you—if they test the water and it’s still bad…”

  “I know.”

  “I’m glad no one—two-or four-footed—was hurt. I’ll call the conservancy as soon as I hang up, and get back to you the minute I hear anything. I have the phone numbers for two landlines and three cell phones on that ranch,” Cricket joked.

  “Thank you,” Darby replied. “Bye.”

  She sat like a zombie through dinner. Why wouldn’t her brain give her a solution?

  She needed evidence to sway the conservancy’s biologist.

  The best way to get that would be to observe the stallion and his herd in the new home that they were so stubbornly refusing to settle into.

  Dessert was almost on the table when Jonah waved a hand in front of Darby’s face.

  “Cathy told me what happened. You’re okay, yeah?”

  She nodded. “I’m fine.”

  “Good.”

  “Could I go camping on Sky Mountain?” she blurted, surprising herself as well as Jonah. “That way I could see what the problem is, figure out why Black Lava doesn’t want to keep his herd up there.”

  “No—”

  “I wouldn’t go alone. I’d get…Ann. Yes, Ann would go with me, I bet.”

  “Darby Leilani, think. If you got into trouble, what would Ann do? You’ve got two warring stallions up there, and even if you resisted trying to help them—which you would not!—” He broke off, shaking his head, and added, “Wasn’t seeing Medusa enough to show you the wild horses you love can be dangerous?”

  “I know!” Darby yelped. “You could go with us! You could take us camping up there and show us all the cool stuff! I bet you haven’t been up there in years; am I right? It would be fun!”

  Jonah scowled. He was on the verge of refusing, she was sure of it, but then his face softened. “It might be fun,” he conceded. “I haven’t been camping in a while.”

  “You’ll really do it?” Darby jumped out of her chair so quickly it fell over backward, and both Aunty Cathy and Megan looked in from the kitchen to see what was happening. “Jonah’s going to take me camping on Sky Mountain!”

  She hugged Megan around the neck.

  “Don’t practice your bulldogging on me,” Megan protested, but she was smiling as she pushed Darby away.

  “I can’t guarantee you we’ll see any horses,” Jonah cautioned. “And I’m not going on a wild-goose chase searching for them, either.”

  “No goose chases—or even wild-horse chases. Promise.” Darby had never made such a devout cross over her heart.

  “We can only go for one night,” he added. “I can’t abandon this place, yeah?”

  “One night would be awesome,” she assured him, not wanting anything to make him change his mind.

  “So, you’re clear. We might not even see wild horses?”

  “Completely clear. Crystal clear!” Darby barely kept herself from dancing.

  “And that’s okay?”

  “If we don’t see horses, we don’t see them. At least we’ll have tried, and we’ll have some fun, anyway. I’ve never been camping with my grandpa.”

  He pointed his index finger at her in a way that seemed to say, Don’t start, so Darby put both hands over her mouth.

  “Okay then,” he agreed. “You can look at the trip as a little end-of-the-school-year reward, a break before those tourists descend on us to ride all Babe’s pretty horses.”

  “I know we’ll have a wonderful time,” Darby said, wrapping her grandfather in a quick hug. Despite all his warnings and disclaimers, she had confidence in Jonah’s skills in tracking wild horses. She knew they’d discover why Black Lava was so set on returning to Crimson Vale. “Can I call Ann and tell her? And Mom, too?”

  Thursday was another shortened school day because of finals, and, despite the two-hour tests—Creative Writing and Algebra—Darby felt great.

  She was determined to spend part of her day with Hoku. Kit had carved some time out of his schedule to help her before Ann—who hadn’t made it over to ‘Iolani Ranch yesterday because they hadn’t trapped Sugarfoot until after dark—came over to practice tomorrow’s presentation.

  Never before had Darby thrown off her school outfit and jumped into riding clothes so fast. She swept her hair up into a fresh ponytail, ready to signal Hoku that they were partners again.

  She located Kit in the tack room, putting the lid on an unlabeled jar.

  “Tutu’s favorite herb poultice goo,” he said, holding it up. “I rode over to talk to her, and she mixed it up for Medusa’s cuts.”

  “How’s she doing?” Darby asked.

  Kit shook his head. “Still loco to get outta here.”

  “Do you want to release her?” Darby asked.

  “Do I want to, or am I gonna?” he asked her back. “Right now she wouldn’t make it. She’d die trying.” Kit cleared his throat. “Just have to wait ’n’ see.”

  He pulled Hoku’s halter and orange-striped lead rope down from a hook and handed them to her. “You go catch your horse. I’ll be down after my own private rodeo.”

  Darby didn’t stay to watch him doctor Medusa. She hurried down the dirt road to the pasture. Her left shoulder hurt from the quick grab of the seat belt yesterday, but the pain was nothing compared to the way her heart sang at the sight of her sorrel mustang grazing out in the field, not far from Pastel and Judge.

  The afternoon sun shone on Hoku’s glistening, golden coat. Darby had never seen anything more beautiful than her horse.

  She climbed over the fence, leaving the halter and lead rope draped over it.

  “Hoku!” she called.

  The mustang filly lifted her head. Her ears pricked forward with interest.

  Then, she deliberately turned in a half circle so that her hindquarters faced Darby, and went back to eating grass.

  Wha…? Darby wondered.

  Her horse had seen her and recognized her. So, what had that been about?

  “Hoku,” she called again.

  This time the filly gave no sign she’d even heard Darby, but she must have.

  “Come on, pretty girl,” Darby coaxed, and Hoku walked several steps farther away.

  All right. Not a problem, Darby thought.

  Sometimes Hoku liked to tease, but there was one method that always worked when Darby needed to summon her. Darby had stumbled upon it completely by accident one day when she was tightening her ponytail. As soon as she’d lifted her arms and tightened the elastic, Hoku—who had been playing hard to get—came straight over.

  Darby had been so amazed that she had tested it several times, and each time she tightened the ponytail, Hoku came to her.

  The signal had never failed.

  Darby clucked her tongue to get Hoku’s attention. As the filly glanced back over her shoulder, Darby reached up and pretended to fuss with the elastic holding her ponytail.

  Hoku gave a lovely, floating neigh, and for a moment Darby knew it was for her.

  But she was wrong. Hoku was staring toward the ridge, where she’d seen Snowfire chasing Black Lava.

  “You’re not making sense, baby girl,” Darby told her horse, and she strode closer, until she was almost near enough to touch Hoku.

  With a disdainful snort, Hoku moved a few more long steps away.

  Why hadn’t it worked? Had Hoku even been watching when Darby made the ponytail signal?

  “This is crazy,” Darby murmured.


  She walked to a nearby boulder, climbed onto it, and then, after another whistle, brought her arms up and pulled at her ponytail yet again.

  Hoku kept grazing.

  Sliding down from the boulder, she set off walking toward Hoku.

  “Nothing in my hands,” she said. “No halter and no rope.”

  No hay, either, she thought regretfully. But she couldn’t help that now.

  When she was within three yards of her horse, Hoku trotted another five or six yards away.

  “Very funny,” Darby muttered, hands on hips. “Hoku, come here, girl. Right this minute,” she added, trying to sound stern.

  If Darby’s feelings were hurt—and they were headed in that direction—she couldn’t let Hoku know it. Darby was the boss. Hoku was the horse.

  “Nooo,” Darby moaned quietly, because the horse had just broken into a lope and put the length of a football field between them.

  Think like a horse, Darby ordered herself. She took a deep breath. As she slowly let it out, she tried to sink into Hoku’s mind. Was the filly sad? Disappointed? Angry?

  The last time I was with Hoku… Darby frowned, because it had been four days ago. Then Hoku had been happy to see her. She’d frolicked like a foal, and they’d leaned together like buddies.

  Then Hoku had been heroic, facing down Black Lava to defend Darby. They’d seemed closer, more bonded than ever. What could have changed?

  Okay, think, Darby, she urged herself. What had happened after Hoku drove off Black Lava? Darby realized that the stallion was trying to capture ‘Iolani Ranch mares, and she’d run up the path in order to tell everyone at Sun House.

  And how was that different from other times Hoku had stayed loyally beside her?

  Dummy! Darby scolded herself. Every one of those other times, Darby had petted and sweet-talked her horse, rewarding her loyalty, showering her with affection and gratitude.

  This time Darby had run away and been gone for days!

  “I messed up big-time, didn’t I, girl?” Darby said, but she was talking to herself.

  By the time Kit reached the pasture riding Biscuit, Darby was surrounded by horses munching grass, but none of them was Hoku.

  The mustang had moved as far away as she could get, and looked attentively into Pearl Pasture, as if she could see other horses.

  “She won’t come to ya?” Kit guessed as he halted Biscuit alongside Darby.

  Darby shook her head. “I’m not exactly sure what’s wrong, but I have an idea.”

  Kit didn’t ask for the reason. He bumped back the brim of his Stetson and studied Hoku. “She’s mad at you, that’s sure. And I could ride out, rope her, and drag her back, but that’ll only make things worse. Don’t ya think?”

  “Yes,” Darby admitted.

  “Better call off training for today.”

  “What about letting her know who’s boss and all that?” Darby questioned.

  “That’ll wait until you two are friends again.”

  “How do I make that happen?” Darby asked, trying not to sound as upset as she felt.

  “I reckon she’ll come around once she’s shown you she’s mad.”

  “How long do you think it will take?” Darby asked.

  Kit shrugged. “Depends on the two of you. Does she want to be stubborn? You willin’ to change her mind? It’s just like with people.”

  “Should I bring her a treat?” Darby asked, trying to think of ways to make up with Hoku. “Jonah hates it when I give treats to the horses. He says I spoil them.”

  “I don’t think an apple or carrot will hurt, but I’m not sure it will help, either.”

  Darby kept staring at Hoku until Kit asked, “Want to jump on behind and I’ll take you back up?”

  “Thanks, but I’ll walk.”

  “That’s a good plan,” Kit said.

  “It is? Why?”

  “You’re walking away from her this time, letting her miss you and regret her stubbornness. See ya back up there,” Kit said, and Biscuit carried him away.

  One more try, Darby thought as Kit trotted off.

  She peered over the heads and backs of the other horses until she found Hoku again. Just turn, Darby silently willed the filly. Then you’ll see me tighten my ponytail and you’ll come over and I’ll show you how much I love you and appreciate that you defended me against Black Lava.

  But Hoku didn’t turn.

  With a lump in her throat, Darby left the pasture.

  Ann was just climbing out of her mother’s car when Darby arrived at Sun House.

  “Mal-a-sadas! “Ann shouted, pumping a fist toward the sky.

  In the kitchen, Aunty Cathy had already plugged in her electric frying pan and poured vegetable oil into it.

  “Be careful with the hot oil,” she told them. “If this stuff splatters, it can give you a nasty burn. In class, don’t let anyone sit too close to it.”

  “Not even Tyson,” Ann promised, but Darby noticed her friend’s fingers were crossed.

  “Not even him,” said Aunty Cathy, who had heard plenty of Darby’s complaints about Tyson.

  While the oil heated, Aunty Cathy set out milk, sugar, salt, eggs, butter, and yeast. They mixed the ingredients into a simple dough.

  “Now, being very careful, get some dough on a wooden spoon and plop a lump into the hot oil. Not plop,” she amended. “Ease it into the oil. Here, I’ll show you how to do the first one, and you can do the rest.”

  Darby and Ann were both afraid of the sizzling oil, but they teased each other into trying it.

  Slowly and carefully, Ann laid a ball of dough into the oil, then jumped back as it spit and hissed. She handed Darby the big spoon.

  “Your turn.”

  “Do I have to?”

  “Yep, the presentation’s tomorrow. I think we’ve cut it about as close to our deadline as we can.”

  Darby scooped a ball of dough onto the spoon and stared at the bubbling oil.

  “Just lay it down,” Ann encouraged her.

  “I’m just waiting for the right moment,” Darby insisted.

  “This isn’t like catching a wave in bodysurfing. There is no right moment,” Aunty Cathy said.

  Darby hovered over the crackling oil, then dropped the dough ball in. Oil splattered up, burning her thumb, but she survived, and the next time her technique was better.

  After the malasadas were cooked, they had to cool, and then they were rolled in sugar. After cleaning up, Darby and Ann took a plate of the warm, sweet treats to the living room for Jonah, Megan, and Aunty Cathy.

  The girls dished a second plate for themselves and took it out to the lanai.

  There they ate and planned their presentation, and once, while Ann was writing and Darby was staring off the lanai, Darby heard the strumming of a guitar.

  Two guitars, she corrected herself. Cade and Kit were singing to Medusa, and Darby sighed. She remembered her first hours with Hoku and the days that followed. She’d sung Christmas carols to the filly.

  Even before she’d adopted the sorrel mustang, Hoku had been hers.

  But that seemed like a long time ago.

  Chapter Eight

  On Friday afternoon, Darby spotted Aunty Cathy waiting by the ‘Iolani Ranch truck in the Lehua High parking lot.

  “C’mon,” she said, dragging Ann by the arm.

  Finals were over. It was the last day of the school year. In celebration, Aunty Cathy had brought wonderful orchid leis for all three girls.

  She placed the delicate strands of flowers around their necks and kissed their cheeks. By the time Ann saw that her camping gear was already stashed in the back of the truck, brought earlier by her mother, and she and Darby had climbed up into the backseat, Megan was already in the front seat talking about a beach party.

  As Aunty Cathy pulled away from the school, she asked, “So? Were the malasadas a hit?”

  “They were great!” Darby said.

  “And the presentation was great,” Ann said.

  “And
, of course, Ann was great,” Darby joked.

  “And Darby, well, there must be a word for her performance,” Ann said, tapping her fingertip against her lips. “Oh, yeah, great!”

  “So, Darby, was it great?” Megan teased.

  “Yeah, it was okay,” Darby played along. “We didn’t spill anything or splash anyone with scalding oil.”

  “Even those who deserved it,” Ann added.

  “My voice didn’t shake at all, and I was concentrating so hard on explaining, I forgot to be nervous.” Darby slumped back against the seat, smiling.

  “You look smug,” Ann said as she leaned back against her curly red hair.

  “Well, just to prove to you that I could have done that other presentation if we’d really had to, I’m going to sing you a song.”

  “Nuh-uh,” Megan said, looking back at the younger girls.

  Darby sang, “School’s out, school’s out, teacher let the mules out!”

  She had no idea where the rhyme had come from, but it made everyone in the truck laugh, so who cared?

  They weren’t leaving on the camping trip until five o’clock, Jonah said, so the girls raced through lunch. They wanted to get in their very first practice for the keiki rodeo.

  “Jonah is counting on the rodeo to bring a lot of attention to the ranch,” Darby said as she and Ann led Navigator and Baxter to the round pen.

  Navigator walked behind Darby, never hanging back against the reins or surging ahead. She patted his shoulder in appreciation. She loved the trusty brown-black Quarter Horse.

  “Attention’s nice, but a little bit of money wouldn’t hurt,” Aunty Cathy joked as she joined them with Biscuit and one of the cremellos. “Isn’t that right, Cash?”

  “Mom, that’s Pastel,” Megan corrected as she came up alongside with Conch. The grulla was so excited, he trotted on tiptoe as she led him.

  “Well, they should all be named for money,” Aunty Cathy said. “You’d be just as happy as Peso, wouldn’t you?” she asked the horse. “Because these free cremellos Babe gave us are costing us a fortune.”

  “Because they eat so much?” Megan asked.