Hue & Cry

Melody Austin has been deaf as long as she can remember. Through her father's patient instruction and kindness, she has learned to read and write, and from her mother has learned how to keep a house, but Melody is truly understood only by her father, and though her mother and brothers love her, she often takes her hurts to the woods to nurse them alone. It is here, in her own retreat, that Melody comes face to face with a stranger, a young boy, and his hurt horse. Melody may be deaf, but she is far from stupid. It is easy to see that this is the beautiful horse, Blue Lighting, which has been reported stolen, for which a large reward is offered. Instead of telling her father and brothers, however, Melody keeps the Irish boy's secret and brings him food. A friendship develops between this unlikely pair, deaf girl and horse thief, and Melody keeps Danny O'Dare's secret faithfully, until, in despair, he thinks of suicide. Melody insists that her father will understand and help him, but Danny isn't sure. Nothing can lure him out of the woods to the farmhouse, until Melody takes his only weapon, and prized possession. Is it worth revealing himself to get it back? Can Jared Austin really be trusted? Is there any kindness in this America? And is there any hope for a new start?