Typhoon Island Read Online Free Page A

dusted himself off. “Good thing I like to high-jump,” he said, grinning broadly. As he put his shirt back on, Iola and Callie raced up and gave both brothers a hug.
    “The way I see it,” said a hawk-faced man standing nearby, “you boys have done two foolish thingsthis morning.” He pushed through the crowd that had gathered around the pen, and stood next to the brothers. His skin was tan and weathered like old leather. About four days’ growth of salt-and-pepper beard decorated his chin. The humid island breeze made the man’s long, stringy gray hair dance around his face. His blue eyes flashed brightly.
    “What do you mean?” Joe asked, annoyed.
    “Toying with the bull was bad enough,” the man said. “But you also took the limelight away from Jamie Escobar. That’s doubly dangerous.”
    “Who’s Jamie Escobar?” Frank asked. “And who are you?”
    “My name is Lucas McGill,” the man said, “though most people know me as The Gringo.” He smiled and his face turned into a mass of leathery wrinkles. “As for Escobar, he’s the young guy in the jean jacket.”
    The Hardys and their girlfriends looked at the teen who had first confronted the bull. Though he was surrounded by a crowd admiring his bravery, Jamie Escobar didn’t look too pleased.
    Nearby Jorge Tejeda had gone back to shaking hands. He paused just long enough to wipe the sweat from his forehead and put on his white jacket once more. Then he went back to socializing.
    “Tejeda may get a bump in the polls from this,” The Gringo said wryly. “Politicians are always looking for ways to be seen as heroes. Riling Escobar,though . . . that could make your stay on San Esteban . . . unpleasant.”
    “What does it matter to you?” Joe asked suspiciously.
    The Gringo winked. “We Americans have to stick together down here,” he said. “Keep out of the way of the locals. They play rough.”
    “Thanks for the warning,” Frank said. “We’re not looking for any trouble.”
    “In San Esteban trouble finds you,” The Gringo replied. He turned and vanished back into the crowd as quickly as he’d come.
    “What a strange man,” Callie said, trying to suppress a shudder.
    With the excitement over, the crowd returned to their business. As the others left Angela pushed her way to her cousin’s side.
    “Are any of you hurt?” she asked.
    “We’re all fine,” Iola replied.
    “Though not for lack of trying,” Callie added, giving the brothers a reprimanding look.
    “Don’t worry,” Frank said, “no more bull wrangling for us.”
    “Well,” Angela said, “since you’re okay, I should get back to work. Call me when you get a chance.”
    “We’ll need some downtime first,” Iola said. “But we’ll definitely call.”
    Angela went back to her booth, and the Bayport teens all took a moment to catch their breath.
    “Make sure this pen doesn’t get open again,” Frank said to the short, dark-haired man tending El Diablo.
    “Sí, señor” the man replied, bowing slightly. “I am very sorry for the trouble. I cannot imagine how it happened.”
    The brothers and their girlfriends gathered their luggage and walked toward the shuttle bus stop.
    “That’s enough excitement for this vacation, thank you very much,” Iola remarked. She gave the brothers a weary half smile.
    “Next time,” Joe said, “tell the bull.” He gave her a reassuring hug and then pointed to a towering, coral-colored building across the bay. “Do you think that’s our hotel?”
    Callie shook her head. “According to the literature, the Casa Bonita is farther up the coast,” she said.
    “That has to be the Hotel San Esteban,” Iola added. “It’s supposed to be the biggest building in Nuevo Esteban. We thought about booking there, but you should see the rates!”
    “They must be something,” Frank said, “considering what we’re paying already.”
    “Believe me,” Callie said, “Casa Bonita is a much better deal. The rates are