Snowfire Read Free Page A

head, and the swishing of his tail. She felt for tension beneath the saddle. Even though Baxter had shown no signs of bucking today, she reminded herself that his nickname was Buckin’ Baxter.
    According to Jonah, a horse couldn’t buck if he was moving forward with his head up, so Darby kept her reins in straight lines to the snaffle rings in order to keep the thin metal bars in place, assuring the gelding that she was paying attention.
    When the path widened, she moved Baxter forward so that she could talk to Cade. “Jack and Jill really handled that cow.”
    â€œJonah’s an amazing trainer. He’s got all the dogs thinking they’re caretakers.”
    Darby raised her eyebrows, and Cade went on.
    â€œThey don’t take any nonsense from cattle, but they don’t run them or bark a lot. A scared cow uses more calories and runs off fat.”
    â€œBecause they earn their keep, uh, by the pound, right?” Darby said.
    Cade nodded, but his brown eyes met Darby’s, checking to see whether she understood.
    â€œI get it,” she told him. “I know they’re sold for meat. Kimo said each cow’s worth about a thousand dollars.”
    Cade nodded once more, but he didn’t look satisfied.
    Cade drove her crazy when he expected her to read his mind, but if she demanded he tell her what was wrong, he’d clam up and quit talking altogether.
    She knew Jonah’s cattle business barely broke even. She knew the market for beef that was grass fed—rather than stuffed with grain and chemicals—wasgrowing, but slowly. She also knew the ranch lived by its horses. Was that what Cade was getting at?
    â€œAnd Jonah wants us to use the keiki ranch rodeo to show off the horses, to bring in more money,” Darby said.
    â€œWell, uh, yeah.”
    â€œBecause the rodeo attracts tourists and horse people,” Darby added. She wished she hadn’t ended the sentence with a sigh. Just because she was attached to every animal on the ranch didn’t mean she didn’t understand business.
    As Darby stroked Baxter’s neck, his jog turned lighter. He liked to be appreciated and he liked her touch.
    Guilt panged through her chest, leaving an ache. Baxter, Hula Girl, and Conch were the horses Jonah hoped to sell. Practicing on Baxter made her like him more—but also made him more salable.
    â€œHere’s the thing,” Cade blurted. He looked straight ahead, through Hula Girl’s ears, instead of facing Darby. “I know you didn’t mean to, but runnin’ Baxter after cattle and yelling at ’em—that runs off fat, too.”
    Darby’s face went hot.
    Get back! she’d whooped at the cattle, while she’d swung her arm around. Then she’d chased after the calf, which was probably okay, but she’d swung Baxter around hard and galloped crazily back at them.
    So that was what Cade had been trying to tell herby talking about the dogs.
    This Hawaiian habit of telling stories to make a point didn’t always get through to her mainland brain.
    â€œSorry,” Darby said, and Cade must have felt embarrassed, too, because he not only started a conversation, he changed the subject.
    â€œSo, uh. It was really nice of Kimo to repair Manny’s old truck for Mom,” he said.
    â€œKimo’s the best,” she agreed, adding to herself that Cade’s mom, Dee, was lucky that everyone around her was willing to forget she’d been a bad mother, and give her a second chance.
    â€œI want to repay him, and I was thinking…” Cade’s face brightened. “It wouldn’t be a big deal, but I bet he’d like Mom’s coco-mac cookies. Coconut and macadamia nuts…” He drew the words out and closed his eyes as if he tasted one. “She made them every Friday before…you know.”
    Darby was pretty sure she did know. Dee had made them before she hooked up with Manny, the stepfather