Mystery of the Wild Ponies Read Free

cobbler with ice cream, they drove back to Gullwing Cottage.
    “It’s still early,” Benny said. “Can we take a walk?”
    “Good idea,” said Grandfather, though he decided to stay behind to read. “Why don’t you go see the landward part of the island,” he suggested.
    “The landward part?” asked Benny. “What is that?”
    Grandfather smiled. “This island is long and narrow. Our cottage is on the seaward side, which faces the open ocean, where the waves are big. The landward side of the island faces the Carolina coast. The bridge we drove over earlier today connects North Carolina to the landward side. The water is much calmer on that side and there are docks full of fishing boats.”
    “Docks? Boats?” said Benny. “Let’s go!”
    The main road was busy, but the children crossed safely. They found a wooden walk that led to the docks.
    Violet caught her breath when she saw the orange sun resting on the horizon. What a great spot to paint!
    “Look!” Benny cried. He pointed to a large brown bird perched on one of the pilings near an older man.
    The man sat on an upturned bait bucket at the end of the dock. He was untangling fishing line. The Aldens walked out to him.
    “Excuse me,” said Jessie. “Is that your pelican?”
    The older man laughed. “He thinks he’s mine. Out here every day, rain or shine, hopin’ to grab my catch.”
    “Are you a fisherman?” asked Violet. With his gray hair, bright blue eyes, and fisherman’s cap, the man looked as at home on the pier as the pelican.
    “I do a little fishin’. I catch a few crabs.” The crinkles around his eyes deepened. “You young folks on vacation?”
    “Yes, sir.” Henry introduced the others and explained that they were staying a week at Gullwing Cottage. “You’re from here, aren’t you?” he guessed.

    “Born and raised here. Name’s Shad Toler.”
    “Shad?” asked Benny. “Is that a name?”
    Jessie nudged her brother. “Benny!”
    “It’s a nickname,” said Shad. “Shad is a kind of fish. My real name is Rupert. I was never fond of it, though. Shad suits me just fine.”
    “Have you always lived on the island?” asked Violet.
    Shad nodded. “Yes. I never saw a reason to leave. Got a piece of land here. People been after me for years to sell. I could make a lot of money if I sold it. But I won’t sell. I don’t need a lot of money. Long as I can fish a little, I’m happy.”
    Henry looked along the shoreline. There were lots of houses on this side of the island.
    “I bet this place has changed since you were a boy,” he observed.
    “Yeah. Can’t stand in the way of progress,” said Shad. “I remember when we didn’t have telephones here. I still don’t have one hooked up. And I went to school in a one-room schoolhouse.”
    “Everybody in just one room?” Benny asked. It sounded very crowded.
    Shad grinned. “At recess, we’d all run up on the dune. It was bigger then. We’d play catch or five-oh. I think you call it hide-and-seek.”
    Jessie imagined growing up on an island. It must have been so much fun!
    “But best of all,” Shad said, “were the wild horses.”
    “Wild horses!” Benny exclaimed. “Are there wild horses here?”
    Shad laughed at Benny’s expression. “Haven’t you seen them? Guess not. The herd pretty much stays north of here, in that new pony pen.” He shook his head. “A shame. Wild animals ought to be free, not locked up.”
    “Why are they in a pen?” Jessie asked, shocked.
    Shad shrugged. “Safer, so they say. The horses like to roam. But they cross that road. In the last few years, some have been hit by cars.”
    “How sad!” said Violet. She hated the idea of any animal being hurt.
    “They built this pen to keep the horses from runnin’ around. I don’t like the idea myself, but it’s supposed to be best for the horses,” said Shad.
    “Can we go see the horses?” Benny wanted to know.
    “You can drive up there,” Shad replied. “Sometimes you get