Fire Prayer by Deborah Turrell Atkinson Page A

felt the glow of being of use to someone.
    â€œBrah, you are one true friend.” Skelly grinned and threw him a towel. “I’ll give you a ride to the end of the road. Just tell me when you want to leave.” He picked up the desk chair and moved it into the bathroom. “Sit down. I can sweep up better in here.”
    Tanner sat down and wrapped the towel around his neck. “What’s roid rage?”
    Skelly’s smile disappeared. “You just saw it. Irrational anger, one of the side effects of anabolic steroids. ’Roid. Get it?”
    â€œHe got any other symptoms?”
    Skelly nodded and looked sad. He didn’t elaborate and Tanner didn’t ask. Instead, he sat quietly and listened to the gentle snipping of the scissors. Connor once idolized his older brother. It was painful for Tanner to observe the change. He could imagine what Skelly felt.
    Skelly was the first to break the silence. “How’s the research going?”
    Tanner’s eyes lit up. “I’ve got two nibbles on the new substance I’ve isolated—Whole Health Medicines, which is a good-size American company, and an Australian one I want to check out.”
    â€œFor the seaweed extract?” Skelly made a little grimace. “It had better be real healthy, cuz it looks like shit.” He laughed.
    Tanner grinned. “It does, but we’ll figure out some way to package it. It’s great for you, you know.”
    It wasn’t worth going into a detailed explanation of how certain antioxidants tied up harmful free radicals, or how he had simplified an extraction technique for kahalalide F. Tanner knew Skelly accepted his word that it was good for him, and was glad his friend was finally having some commercial success.
    Skelly ran a comb through Tanner’s hair and snipped at a few wayward ends. “Did that guy you met last year on our tour with one of the companies help you?”
    â€œThe physiology prof? He gave me some tips on getting grant money from the NIH. Federal money. Can’t knock that.”
    â€œWay to go, dude. Hey, I oughta make you pay for haircuts.”
    Tanner smiled. “I’m not getting rich, but it helped me buy equipment and it got the companies’ attention. Gave me legitimacy.”
    â€œYou did all this in your cabin out past Keawenui Bay?”
    â€œYeah, once we got my generator set up. I sure appreciate your help with that.” Tanner’s smile faded. “You still have those pills I asked you to keep for me?”
    An expression of approval spread across Skelly’s face. “You’re going to take them when you talk to the pharmaceutical people, right? That’s a good idea, you know. Hey, can you get your head farther into the sink?” Skelly tested the water temperature and began to wash Tanner’s hair. “You’re gonna make this happen. Hah! My lolo friend, the rich Moloka‘i chemist. What’s Jenny going to say to that, eh?”
    Tanner shrugged and the towel fell to the floor. His next words held a tinge of urgency, even though they were spoken into the sink. “How about Luke’s meds? You keeping extra in the fridge for me?”
    â€œNo worries, brah.”
    â€œThat’s more important than my pills.”

Chapter Nine
    Storm was halfway up the hill leading to the rodeo arena and stables when she ran into an ebullient group that included Hamlin and Aunt Maile.
    â€œAuntie Maile,” she cried out, and the women threw their arms around each other.
    The men stood grinning, and Hamlin couldn’t contain himself. “We saw the baby horse just getting to its feet. A half-hour old. It’s a girl.”
    â€œYup, it’s a filly,” a young man chimed in. “A cross between one of our quarter horse stallions and an Arabian mare.”
    Dusty spoke up. “Storm, this is Makani Kekapu. He’s our rodeo foreman.”
    Makani stuck out his hand. “I