Home – Page 6 – THE LEGEND OF THE GREAT HORSE trilogy

#8- Wait … who is Mrs. Bridgestone?

The following excerpt is from Eclipsed by Shadow, the 1st volume of “The Legend of the Great Horse” trilogy.

“Allow me time to explain.” The elderly woman waited as the tea was poured, accepting her cup with a polite murmur. “I have gained some experience with horses since we last met, Meagan.” Mrs. Bridgestone sipped her cup delicately. “What did you name your young horse, dear?”

“I named her Promise, ma’am. It was how you said, that animals sometimes name themselves.”

“They do indeed. At least, that has been my experience.” The woman thought for a moment. “Promise. Why, that is a lovely name! It is quite apt too, if somewhat misleading…”

Meagan looked shyly at the floor.

The woman reached for her cane. “Before we have lunch, I think you two might enjoy meeting a few friends of mine. Nelson, could you assist?” The man stepped forward to help Mrs. Bridgestone to her feet.

Jennifer and Meagan followed into a wide hallway that ended at a glass door. Beyond could be glimpsed lawn and white fences. A bay-colored flash floated by in the sliver visible through the window.

Meagan opened the glass door and ran out. Emerging into sunshine, she gasped to see a storybook stables nestled within a brilliant green landscape. White fences wrapped crisp lines around wood-shingled roofs and raked paths. Hanging chrysanthemums flanked yellow-and-white Dutch stall doors. The building looked more like a decorated cake than a working facility.

“Mom, look!” Meagan ran to the central paddock and leaned over the fence toward a husky bay horse. “It’s a filly too!” she called. “She is Promise’s age!”

“I own six horses altogether, Jennifer,” Mrs. Bridgestone confided. “All fillies. I’ve secured the services of a horseman to watch over them. A groom…” The old woman leaned on her cane and gazed at the stables. “What a lovely profession.”

“Have you had horses long?” Jennifer asked.

“Not at all.” Mrs. Bridgestone took Jennifer’s arm as they walked on. “I admit to a mostly academic knowledge of horses, Jennifer. I loved horses as a young girl, yet I have come to actual ownership late in life.” …

Copyright © 2008 John Royce

« “Mrs. Bridgestone” || “Horse Talk with Mrs. Bridgestone” »

The above excerpt is from “Home,” the 1st section of Eclipsed by Shadow, and is set in modern-day California. (p. 44 Hbk)

The Legend of the Great Horse trilogy is an adventure through history … each section is about a different time period.

Eclipsed by Shadow (Book #1 of the trilogy) won national awards including the Eric Hoffer Award for best Young Adult Fiction, and the Mom’s Choice Award for best family-friendly Young Adult Fantasy.

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Quick Links:

» See All Excerpts from The Legend of the Great Horse trilogy.

» Read the 1st Chapter online.

» Check out Book #2 of the trilogy: The Golden Spark.

» See the Media Kit for more information about the trilogy.

Check out the trilogy’s page on Facebook!

#6- Holidays with Promise

“Promise looked on hungrily, a demented blonde reindeer wearing fake antlers and a white beard…” —excerpted from Eclipsed by Shadow (Book #1 of ‘The Legend of the Great Horse’ trilogy (p. 22)

Excerpt from Eclipsed by Shadow, the first book of “The Legend of the Great Horse” trilogy …

Halloween was memorable, as is any disaster. It began with Meagan’s decision to use the good tablecloth to make Promise into a horse-ghost. She was explaining this to her mother when the foal bolted and shredded the linen. In the interests of family harmony, it was agreed Tom would take Meagan trick-or-treating this year.

The tablecloth was mended for its new career as a horse costume, and father, daughter and foal set out—though Meagan’s authentic “Headless Horseman” pumpkin-head quickly succumbed to an inquisitive nudge from Promise. At the first house Tom nervously agreed to hold the foal and let Meagan trick-or-treat. While waiting, the foal glimpsed the top of Tom’s wallet in his back pocket and mistook it for a treat. Tom’s shouts attracted children from all over the neighborhood. By the time Meagan returned, Promise was disrobed and Tom’s wallet was a sodden lump. He handed the lead rope to Meagan without a word.

Switching duties brought little improvement. Meagan grew upset when her father invited pennies and apples in place of candy and, more ominously, Promise discovered Halloween bags contained her favorite red fruit. A boy standing too close was ransacked for goods. The hysterical child streaming candy and costume down the street concluded the evening.

Thanksgiving Day arrived with the foal still in the backyard. It was a day of relatives, picture taking, and general feasting on the patio. Tom acknowledged the patched linen tablecloth with thanks that the day was not Halloween, while Promise helped the children closest to the pasture fence finish their salads.

« “An education in horses” || “Mrs. Bridgestone” »

The above excerpt is from “Home,” the 1st section of Eclipsed by Shadow, and is set in modern-day California. (p. 22 Hbk)

The Legend of the Great Horse trilogy is an adventure through history … each section is about a different time period.

__________

Quick Links:

» See All Excerpts from The Legend of the Great Horse trilogy.

» Read the 1st Chapter online.

» Check out Book #2 of the trilogy: The Golden Spark.

» See the Media Kit for more information about the trilogy.

Check out the trilogy’s page on Facebook!

#4- Meagan’s mother, Jennifer

“You never got to meet any of the old girls. Just as well, son. Be a shame if they’d scared you off.”—excerpted from Eclipsed by Shadow (Book #1 of ‘The Legend of the Great Horse’ trilogy (p. 15)

Jennifer always dismissed the suggestion that she was beautiful, but Tom disagreed. Both mother and daughter were like the thoroughbreds they loved, possessed of long lines, graceful and athletic. Jennifer’s most striking traits were the ones Tom had fallen in love with and his daughter had inherited: green eyes and auburn hair—and also a fiery temper and an intractable stubborn streak.

Words came into Tom’s mind as he watched his wife, something her father had said the night Tom was married. His father-in-law generally spoke little, but on that night he put his arm around Tom’s shoulders and gave him advice. “She can seem a bit tough at times, son, but Jennifer is a good girl. She’s like all the Owens women. They came west by oxen and went right back for their horses, and no one got in their way.” His father-in-law’s eyes had been full of amusement, but his expression grew serious. “You never got to meet any of the old girls. Just as well, son. Be a shame if they’d scared you off.”

Copyright © 2008 John Royce

« “Meagan’s father, Tom” || “An education in horses” »

The above excerpt is from “Home,” the 1st section of Eclipsed by Shadow, and is set in modern-day California. (p. 15 Hbk)

The Legend of the Great Horse trilogy is an adventure through history … each section is about a different time period.

__________

Quick Links:

» See All Excerpts from The Legend of the Great Horse trilogy.

» Read the 1st Chapter online.

» Check out Book #2 of the trilogy: The Golden Spark.

» See the Media Kit for more information about the trilogy.

Check out the trilogy’s page on Facebook!

#3- Meagan’s father, Tom

“Tom would not have considered himself a horse-lover …. Still, he had come to appreciate the solemn tranquility the presence of a horse creates.” —excerpted from Eclipsed by Shadow (Book #1 of ‘The Legend of the Great Horse’ trilogy (p. 1)

Tom would not have considered himself a horse-lover. In fact, most family arguments were over the time and money spent on horses. Still, he had come to appreciate the solemn tranquility the presence of a horse creates. He remembered a quote from one of Meagan’s horse books, a passage written more than two thousand years ago by an ancient Greek general: “If such a majestic beast is subordinate to our will, then surely man is master of the world.” Tom thought the old man had it exactly right.

He had become used to the old girl, watching Moose shadowbox on cold mornings, kicking and running from unseen enemies. He smiled to remember the mare’s contortions to snip a blade of grass beneath the fence while ignoring a full rack of hay; or of Meagan presenting Moose with a paperclip or other harmless object, and watching the massive horse back away in alarm, only to return curiously with neck outstretched, sniffing, a picture of foolishness. It impressed him that the immense, powerful animal possessed the gentlest of spirits.

Copyright © 2008 John Royce

« “Meagan’s first love, Moose” || “Meagan’s mother…” »

The above excerpt is from “Home,” the 1st section of Eclipsed by Shadow, and is set in modern-day California. (p. 12 Hbk)

The Legend of the Great Horse trilogy is an adventure through history … each section is about a different time period.

__________

Quick Links:

» See All Excerpts from The Legend of the Great Horse trilogy.

» Read the 1st Chapter online.

» Check out Book #2 of the trilogy: The Golden Spark.

» See the Media Kit for more information about the trilogy.

Check out the trilogy’s page on Facebook!