Walking in Fire: Hawaiian Heroes, Book 1 Read Free

Dane said. “These volcanoes are so tall the island has several climate zones. The locals live up there where it stays in the seventies. They let us crazy haoles have the coast. Plenty hot down here in full summer.”
    “Have you lived here long?” He was deeply tanned, and although his hair was salon streaked, it had plenty of sun-bleach as well. A tattoo of a mako shark bared its teeth on the outside of his calf.
    He shrugged. “Awhile. I’m from So-Cal. How about you?”
    “I’m from Wenatchee, Washington, the heart of apple-growing country.” She grinned at the look he gave her. “I live in Portland, Oregon now.”
    “Ah, now that I’ve heard of,” he said. “What do you do in Portland, Oregon?”
    “I’m an assistant chef at Greenwood Café, in Portland’s arts district.”
    “Whoa, a chef. Nice.”
    “It’s hard work, but I love it.” She also had a cooking blog, which she considered a lot more exciting, but she doubted he wanted to hear about that.
    Besides, the scenery was more interesting. She couldn’t get over the sheer size of the mountain towering over them, or the lushness of the forests spilling down to the sea. As they rounded a point, she could see a white statue shining in the morning sun.
    “What’s that?” She pointed.
    “That’s Captain Cook monument,” answered a deep voice. It was Malu, leaning forward. She was embarrassed to realize he’d been listening to her conversation with Dane. “Kealakekua Bay is where he died.”
    She looked around at him, startled, her hair blowing across her face. “Did he drown?”
    He shook his head, his wide, full mouth quirking in what looked like amusement, although his eyes were hidden now behind sunglasses. “Nope. The Hawaiians discovered he wasn’t the god they’d believed him, so they killed him.”
    “Oh.” She stared at the white spire presiding over the bay, chilled by this grim fact. Every school kid had heard of the famous explorer, but she hadn’t realized he’d been killed here. The original Hawaiians must have been a fierce people.
    Gazing at the wild bay, she saw a flash of silver in the water of the bay. Another flash, and another. “Look, what’s that?”
    Dane turned to look, then shrugged. “Just dolphins.” He tipped his head back in the sun.
    “ Nai’a , spinner dolphins,” answered Malu again. “They come into the bays to rest during the day.”
    “Ooh, dolphins,” cried Cherie. “I heard you can swim with them.”
    “Yes,” agreed Leilani, who was sitting near Melia. “Although you must be careful not to bother them. They are wild creatures. Still, if they like you, they’ll surface to breathe right next to you.”
    “Hawaiians believe the nai’a a tribe equal to mankind,” Malu said. “They live and play together, even working as one to hunt. They have a language all their own.”
    “Sounds like you communicate with them,” Dane joked. Although he was smiling, he lifted a challenging brow at Malu. “Maybe you can teach us how to speak dolphin.”
    Melia turned back to Malu. His face gave nothing away. “Not me. Others do.”
    His voice was calm, but a shiver ran over Melia’s skin. There was an odd note in his voice—a warning, perhaps?
    “I’d be afraid, unless Malu was with me,” the redhead cooed.
    He murmured something Melia couldn’t hear. His two acolytes giggled. Turning away, Melia rolled her eyes, then saw Leilani twisting her lips as if hiding a grin. Oops—she needed to keep her feelings to herself. Her hosts apparently knew Malu well if he helped them with the boat. He didn’t seem to be an employee, so that left friend or perhaps neighbor catching a ride.
    Melia watched the dolphins until they were out of sight. They looked so happy and carefree. She continued to lean on the rail as they motored south, the sail snapping in the wind over her head. The colorful rainbow stripes rose against the clear azure sky like a flag of adventure.
    South of the bay, a long, black