Moon Shadow Read Online Free

the horses up here,” Callie said, pointing to a heavy clump of sage. “We’ve got to crawl to the edge of the rocks. If any mustangs down below see us, they’ll bolt.” Callie tied Celah off, then got down on her hands and knees and clambered onto the outcrop, reminding herself not to wreck another one of her mom’s handmade shirts.
    Billie edged up beside Callie on the flat rock outcropping. “Are they there?” she asked. “What about Moonbeam? You’ve told me so much, I can’t wait to see her. I bet she’s beautiful.”
    Callie brought a finger to her lips to silence her friend, then pointed to the band of wild horses below. There were eight mares of varying colors. Cloud Dancer seemed to prefer lighter colored mares, like Moonbeam, but there was at least one black in the herd, and one bay. Several of the mares had last season’s yearlings tagging along, while a couple of the younger mares nursed new foals.
    Callie pointed a finger at the palomino. “That’s her,” she said. “I call her Moonbeam because she’s such a pale shade of yellow. Look how big her belly is. I bet she doesn’t have too much longer to wait before she foals.”
    â€œShe is beautiful.” Billie’s voice held a note of awe.
    â€œI wish she were mine,” Callie said wistfully.
    A loud snort from Cloud Dancer jolted the silence. Callie wondered if the stallion had sensed they were there. But a moment later, a loud human shout sounded from the bottom of the valley about a half-mile away.
    Cloud Dancer urged the herd into a run. He wanted to get his new foals and pregnant mare away from the danger. After the herd was safely on its way, the stallion turned to face the intruder, assessing the danger. Experience had taught him that it was better to avoid the challenge of a screaming human on horseback. The stallion spun on his heels and galloped after his harem.
    â€œWh…what’s going on?” Billie sputtered as the rider galloped across the valley below. “Isn’t that Luke Thompson? What’s he doing out here?”
    Callie stared in disbelief as she shaded her eyes and watched her young neighbor give chase to the mustang herd. She stood and planted clenched fists on her hips. “Darn his ignorant hide! What does he think he’s doing?”
    The boy spotted them standing on the hill and pulled his blue-roan quarter horse to a sliding stop, forcing the gelding into a practiced rear. He tipped his hat in the girls’ direction before he cantered up the hill toward them.
    Billie dusted off her jeans and frowned at the approaching rider. “How’d he know we were here?”
    Callie shrugged. “I had a feeling someone was following us, ever since we left the house. It must have been him.”
    Luke stopped his horse beside the two mares. He swept his hat from his head and mock-bowed low over his gelding’s withers. “Mustanger Luke at your service, ladies.”
    â€œOf all the stupid things…” Callie picked up a handful of pebbles, intending to bounce a few off the boy’s thick skull, but she thought better of it. She didn’t want to have to haul the fool back to her house if she hurt him. “What do you think you’re doing?” she demanded angrily.
    Luke opened his mouth to speak, but his answer was lost on the wind as a loud chop, chop, chop echoed through the hills. A second later, a small black-and-white helicopter broke over the rise, raising dust and creating a racket.
    Luke’s gelding jumped out from under him, tossing the arrogant boy into the brush. Callie would have laughed if she hadn’t been so busy trying to get hold of Celah. Billie ran to get Star, but the two mares broke their tie ropes at the same time. They turned and cantered toward home with their manes and tails flying on the wind.
    The helicopter passed out of range. Luke groaned as he untangled his long