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on-screen, “and we’ll move in closer to help if we can.”
    Megan took an audible breath and said, “You sure stayed under for a long time.”
    Aunty Cathy’s gasp was almost a scream, as she pointed. A close-up showed a piece of corrugated iron rocking on Jet Ski–generated waves. It bounced about a foot into the air.
    â€œThat was you. I saw your hands, your head,” Aunty Cathy said. “That’s what bruised your head, that big piece of metal.”
    â€œI don’t think so,” Darby faltered, but she touched her head, trying to remember.
    For a split second, the camera showed Joker leaping waves. Cade hurled himself off the Appaloosa. Hair streaming loose, he hit the water.
    â€œA woman is coming to Darby Kealoha’s rescue,” Mark Larson said, but the mutter that followed made it clear he’d realized his mistake.
    The jiggling camera caught Cade’s ripped T-shirt before the focus widened to take in his hands. He gripped Hoku’s rein while he kept Darby’s head above the waves.
    â€œI beg your pardon, viewers….”
    If Mark Larson said anything interesting after that, no one heard. Everything was drowned out by Megan’s laughter. She’d clearly gotten a kick out of Cade being called a woman, but Darby was preoccupied with a slow-motion replay on the television.
    â€œCrazy superhero, yeah?” Jonah said. He leaned toward the couch from his chair and gave Cade’s shoulder a shake.
    â€œNaw,” Cade said. He looked at the floor as the TV reporter’s voice continued.
    Darby watched herself act like a…what? She could only come up with an expression she’d read. She’d acted like an ungrateful wretch . Had she been so dizzy and bewildered, hypothermic, maybe, out there in the ocean, that she’d really shoved Cade away hard enough that he’d made a big white splash, so she could climb onto Hoku without help?
    â€œI don’t remember it like that,” Darby said, not really talking to anyone until she turned toward Cade and said, “Thank you.”
    Megan was still laughing her head off, so probably no one heard.
    Except Cade.
    â€œHe mea iki,” he said, which she took for You’re welcome. Then, as the TV report ended, Cade grumbled, “I hope they never show that again.”
    â€œMe too,” Darby said, but her mom had told her about news services picking up local stories andprinting them in newspapers all over the world. TV news services must be the same.
    That meant people all over Hawaii, maybe all over the world, would see Manny’s intentional harassment of Hoku. That was good. He’d stay in jail.
    They’d also see her fall. Oddly, that didn’t embarrass her. What mattered was that Hoku, a mustang born free and wild, had stood by her human, just like she had today.
    Yes! Excited chills raced down Darby’s arms. This was a dramatic story. Some news service might broadcast the story in Nevada. She could picture her friend Samantha Forster dancing in delight over the wonder of wild horses.
    Darby’s smile faded as she realized worldwide viewers would see Cade ride to her rescue. She grimaced. That part, she could do without.
    â€œMegan, it’s not that funny,” Aunty Cathy said, finally.
    Wiping tears of laughter from her eyes, Megan said, “Oh, Mom, it is, too. They thought Cade was a girl.” Another round of giggles shook her, but she held up a finger because she had more to say. “But the good thing is, Cade will have a chance to set the record straight tomorrow.”
    â€œNo,” Cade began.
    â€œSee if you kept that torn shirt, yeah?” Jonah teased.
    The whole situation was a happy one, Darby toldherself. Pouting because she looked like she’d nearly drowned instead of swimming like a champion was childish. She decided to leave the room before she ruined everyone’s fun.
    â€œI’m going to go do the