Snowfire by Terri Farley Read Free Book Online Page B

from her lips, and for a single instant her eyes rolled until they showed a bit of red rim.
    Darby stepped back so quickly her boot crunched down on Jonah’s.
    â€œRemember that,” he said quietly. He pointed, butthe mare’s eyes had already returned to normal.
    â€œCan we tranquilize her?” Cade asked.
    Darby looked at Kit, then Cricket and Jonah. None of them answered him, but Darby guessed they didn’t want to traumatize the mare any further.
    â€œI have some of Tutu’s concoction left,” Cade said. “The stuff she made up for Honi.”
    â€œSounds good,” Kit said, but his voice was so quiet Darby didn’t know whether Cade heard.
    â€œIs it still in your poncho?” Megan asked, and when Cade nodded, she darted for the bunkhouse.
    Medusa couldn’t maintain her rearing balance much longer. The mare’s back legs trembled. One hoof stepped forward. Finally she stood on all fours again, front legs spread wide. Her head hung low, and her forelock veiled her face, down to her nostrils.
    Just as Megan returned, Aunty Cathy came out of the office. Face flushed with exertion, she carried a bucket that sloshed water over its sides.
    â€œI couldn’t stay away,” Aunty Cathy said. “Look at her. She’s exhausted.”
    Medusa stumbled backward a step, and though her head still hung low, she moved it up slowly, watching all the humans staring at her.
    Looking sweaty and spent, Cade sighted across the horse’s back. He raised his eyebrows at Megan. She held up a packet wrapped in waxed paper. It must be the herbs Tutu had left for Honi.
    Cade nodded, and Megan sprinkled the herbs overthe surface of the water in the bucket.
    â€œI thought you were supposed to let her eat it, or rub it on her gums or something,” Darby whispered to Megan.
    Megan looked up. Her mocking smile wrinkled her nose a little as she said, “You go first.”
    Darby laughed at herself. “Yeah, I guess that’s not going to happen.”
    Even though the mare was exhausted, Darby doubted anyone could get close enough to touch her mouth, and the steeldust wasn’t trusting enough to take food from their hands.
    As Megan finished stirring the herbs around with her fingers, Cricket crouched beside her.
    â€œWe’ll let it steep a few minutes, like tea. Then, since she’s most familiar with me, I’ll bring her the bucket. She must be thirsty, and even if it doesn’t sedate her much—” Cricket broke off and turned to Darby and asked, “Body weight?”
    â€œUhh…”
    â€œCompare Honi the pony and Medusa,” Cricket explained. “I haven’t seen Honi for a while, and we need to be cautious. Medusa was hard bodied and lean when she came into the rescue barn, and she’s even thinner now. Dosage, even with herbal remedies, is based on body weight. So, what do you think?”
    â€œI’d say they’re close to the same,” Darby ventured. “Honi’s fit, but a little, you know, round.”
    Cricket nodded and stared into the bucket carefully.She might have been reading tea leaves.
    Jonah, Aunty Cathy, and Megan were standing right there. Why hadn’t she asked one of them? Darby wondered. Still, she felt proud knowing Cricket trusted her skills of observation.
    Darby’s gaze was on Kit as Cricket approached with the bucket. Kit’s hands didn’t tighten on the rope. He didn’t dig in his boots for more traction, and he didn’t caution the young woman as she set the bucket near enough to Medusa that she could drink. Or bite. Or kick.
    Kit’s face was the only part of him that showed his tension, and his relief as Cricket backed away.
    Medusa tried to ignore the bucket. She took a few steps past it until the ropes were taut once more. She stood at the apex of a triangle, with the ropes leading back to Cade on one side and Kit on the other.
    But she was thirsty. Her mouth