Water Lily by Terri Farley Read Free Book Online

be roan or buckskin or bay like his father, when he grew up. She hoped she had the opportunity to find out.
    â€œPoor baby,” Darby crooned to the foal.
    â€œHe’s doing better,” Cade said. “We just need to keep him moving.”
    â€œDo you think it’s colic?” Darby asked.
    â€œI’m not so—hey, great. Here comes Kit.”
    The buckaroo rode in from the direction of the cattle herds, black Stetson pulled low over his eyes. He rode a half-trained grulla named Conch, and the broodmares were anything but happy to see the gelding’s excitement.
    â€œNo ground-tying for you,” Kit said. He balanced in his left stirrup, accustoming the gelding to the fact that he was dismounting before climbing down.
    The considerate and experienced move made Darby feel better already, though her arms trembled from the foal’s weight.
    The mares fretted as Kit led Conch closer, but they trusted the cowboy and allowed him and the gelding through.
    People often mistook Kit for a native Hawaiian because of his straight black hair, but he was really half Shoshone, a Native American from Nevada. He was a former rodeo rider who had smashed up one wrist in a rodeo fall. It was enough to end his rodeo career, although he was still amazing with horses. One of his rodeo pals, a guy named Pani, had helped Kit get the foreman’s job at the ranch.
    Darby couldn’t have explained why she thought Kit was worried. He wasn’t frowning and he didn’t really look ill at ease, but she could tell something was wrong.
    â€œHaven’t seen Kimo, I s’pose,” he said as he squatted to look the foal over without touching him.
    â€œNo,” Darby and Cade said together.
    Kit kept one rein in his hand. His other hand touched the turquoise rock on his leather string necklace.
    â€œYou think it’s colic?” he asked Cade, just as Darby had minutes ago.
    Cade shrugged.
    â€œA lot of bacteria’s gotten into the main reservoir near Hapuna. We should be fine, but ARC’s got an agriculture and health department team comin’ to check out the well. If they see him like this, they could shut us down. Cricket’s goin’ to come with them if she can get away from the store.”
    Cricket Pukai was an Animal Rescue Society volunteer and Kit’s girlfriend. Darby admired everything about her, but what did she have to do with the water situation? Was Kit implying she could help them face down the ARC team?
    â€œEyes’re a little glassy,” Kit observed as he turned toward her. “How’s his belly feel?”
    How would I know? Darby wondered, but when Cade answered, “Tight, but not puffed up,” she understood Kit’s question.
    She concentrated on the feel of the foal’s body against her arms.
    â€œNot drum-skin tight,” she said, “more like he’s had a little too much to eat.”
    Kit’s gaze shifted between Darby and Cade.
    â€œHard to know what to hope for,” he said. “Bacteria could hurt ’em all, but colic kills ’em when pressurefrom gas causes heart failure.”
    â€œNot always!” Darby exclaimed, but she heard the question in her voice.
    â€œNot even usually,” Kit assured her. “He’s not over-fed. I can’t figure him getting spoiled grain anywhere.” Looking thoughtful, as though he’d gone down a mental list of what caused the condition, he considered the wide, green pastures. “Any poisonous weeds I haven’t come across yet?”
    Cade shook his head.
    â€œHe been rolling or biting at his flanks?”
    â€œNo.”
    By now the foal had grown so heavy in Darby’s arms, she wasn’t surprised to see his long eyelashes were closed.
    Noticing her baby was asleep, Blue Ginger stepped closer. She took breaths so deep, they lifted strands of Darby’s hair.
    â€œWhat are we going to do with him?” Darby whispered.
    Jonah