Castaway Colt Read Online Free

through the plush rooms and lavish gardens of her resort, which then dissolved into a shot of her as a flower-bedecked parade rider.
    â€œâ€¦is also known for her love of horses. ‘My mare Flight foaled while she was on Maui for training,’” Babe said on-screen. “‘When Stormbird, her colt, was ready to travel, they started for home….’” Babe’s voice trailed off and Darby heard the breaking of waves in the background. “‘Rough water came out of nowhere. My grandson brought the horses up on deck so that they’d be safer in case the storm turned worse.’”
    The reporter’s dramatic voice picked up the story, saying, “The storm did turn worse. The boat cap-sized. And though Flight was saved due to what Borden describes as Yawn’s heroic actions—”
    â€œOh, gag me,” Megan muttered.
    Darby caught just a glimpse of a Nordic-looking guy with blond hair, blue eyes, in openmouthed laughter as he hauled on ropes in what might be a sailboat race. He must be about college age, Darby thought, and he sure didn’t look worthy of Megan’s scorn. Or the name Yawn.
    â€œâ€”little Stormbird jumped into the rough seas between Maui and Moku Lio Hihiu, and is presumed lost.”
    When the camera returned to Babe, she held up a photograph.
    Darby’s heart beat faster. She squinted, trying to see better, but the camera lens was dazzled by star flashes that came from Babe’s diamond rings as she went on. “He didn’t drown,” Babe insisted. She faced the camera with a determination that made Darby glance at Jonah. Chic clothes and elegant manners couldn’t hide the family stubbornness. “He’s come ashore somewhere, and I’m counting on your viewers’ spirit of aloha to help find him.”
    As the reporter came back on, he joked, “The aloha spirit is not all the Bordens are counting on. The family has offered a substantial reward for the safe return of little Stormbird.”
    In khaki pants and Hawaiian shirt, the reporter stood next to a palm tree on Sugar Sands Cove’s grounds.
    He held up a poster of a check showing a figure with more zeroes than Darby could make sense of right away, but she heard the reporter ask, “Isn’t that a lot to pay for such a young horse of unproven worth?”
    â€œHis worth is proven to me,” Babe said, crossing her arms.
    â€œYou can see more photographs of Sugar Sands Cove Resort and learn the details of this amazing offer on our website…”
    Darby didn’t hear another word, because the camera zoomed in on a color photograph of Flight and Stormbird.
    Small and pale, the colt would have been hard to make out, standing next to his snow-white mother, except for one spot of color.
    The colt looked out of the television with turquoise eyes.

Chapter 3
    â€œT hat’s him!” she gasped.
    â€œShh!” Megan, Aunty Cathy, and Jonah all said, still staring at the television, but Darby couldn’t hold in her excitement any longer.
    â€œNo, you’ve got to listen. That colt I told you about—he’s Stormbird. I found him!”
    â€œDarby, honey, when exactly did you tell us about this colt?” Aunty Cathy asked.
    â€œNow.” Darby took a deep breath. “Since I came in, I’ve been trying to!”
    â€œSpeak up, then,” Jonah said.
    â€œWe found him on Night Digger Point Beach, and then he followed us—”
    â€œâ€˜We’?” Megan asked.
    â€œMe and Navigator. And Kimo’s still out looking for him.”
    â€œAnd he looked like that colt?” Megan gestured toward the television. She was as excited as Darby.
    â€œHe is that colt,” Darby insisted, but her words became giggles as Megan jumped to her feet, keeping her arms wrapped around her ribs as if she was trying to contain her delight.
    Darby could see that if it was up to Megan, the two of them would be