horse thieves – THE LEGEND OF THE GREAT HORSE trilogy

#26- The Great Escape

Wind rose in Meagan’s ears, and time stretched into a series of still photographs as the young thoroughbred gathered and stretched. The ground blurred and together they lifted into the air. – Eclipsed by Shadow (excerpt)

“The horse must never be ridden…”

“It’ll be all right, girl.” Meagan led Promise a step toward the waiting thieves. The filly put her head low into Meagan’s hair, trembling. “Come on, girl, you’ll be fine.” Promise took another tentative step, stopped and snorted, then went another. Meagan hesitated. What am I doing? She trusts me.

Glancing at the fence joining the Cromwell’s yard, Meagan saw an escape. With a quick motion she jumped up and pulled herself onto Promise’s back. The filly swung around, accepting the weight and understanding instantly.

Meagan heard shouting behind her as Promise reached for the safety of speed. The pasture was small but both horse and rider meant to go beyond. Fluid strides lengthened, swallowing the earth in quickening gulps as the pasture fence rushed towards them. Wind rose in Meagan’s ears, and time stretched into a series of still photographs as the young thoroughbred gathered and stretched. The ground blurred and together they lifted into the air.

Excerpted from Eclipsed by Shadow, the award-winning 1st volume of “The Legend of the Great Horse” trilogy. (Hrdbk pg. 83)

Book II: The Golden Spark will be published Fall 2010.

Read the 1st Chapter online!

#25- Panicked Thoughts

Promise let Meagan come close, but gave no signs of relaxing. Every fiber in the horse was prepared for flight, and her wide eyes never left the two men. – Eclipsed by Shadow (excerpt)

There was no time to do anything except cooperate. Meagan took the halter and walked back to the patio.

She spoke softly to her frightened filly. Promise let Meagan come close, but gave no signs of relaxing. Every fiber in the horse was prepared for flight, and her wide eyes never left the two men. Meagan reached to carefully remove the broken bridle.

“Leave it on!” Randy growled, stepping forward.

Promise flinched, tearing the bridle from Meagan’s hands and racking her raw mouth as it twisted. The horse stepped into a patio chair, tangling herself and almost falling. Hooves clattered on brick as the filly bolted across the patio and through the gate to escape. She ran bucking wildly into the pasture, running to the farthest corner.

Meagan remained frozen as Randy stooped to pick up the halter she had dropped. He threw the harness to her. The halter fell on the bricks.

Excerpted from Eclipsed by Shadow, the award-winning 1st volume of “The Legend of the Great Horse” trilogy. (Hrdbk pg. 82)

Book II: The Golden Spark will be published Fall 2010.

Read the 1st Chapter online!

#24- Thieves in the Backyard

In moments Meagan was down the stairs and out the back door. On the patio, still in her nightgown, she stopped in shock. The filly’s bridle was pulled halfway off and both reins had snapped. – Eclipsed by Shadow excerpt

Promise returns…

In moments Meagan was down the stairs and out the back door. On the patio, still in her nightgown, she stopped in shock. The filly’s bridle was pulled halfway off and both reins had snapped. Cuts covered her lower legs and a scrape along one shoulder was crusted with blood.

Promise’s nostrils dilated as she raised her head in jerks, backing a step. “Easy, girl,” Meagan soothed, approaching. “Let me clean you up and get you some food.”

“I am afraid there won’t be time.”

Meagan turned to see an unknown man standing beside Mr. Wells. The trainer held the most incongruous of objects—a gleaming handgun.

“Your horse came to say goodbye,” Mr. Wells said evenly. “She’s caused a bit of trouble.” As he stepped forward, Promise tensed and blew out strongly.

“How did she escape?” the second man asked anxiously. “The animal is a Houdini! Across all the traffic, too!”

Mr. Wells waved his gun toward Meagan. “It looks like that headpiece is about finished. Why don’t you find something else? Fast.”

“I do wish this wasn’t necessary,” the second man told her apologetically. “I wish I’d never seen a betting booth.”

Mr. Wells waved his gun again and Meagan ran out into the tack room, thinking in panicked flashes. Her parents were still upstairs asleep. If the men were going to hurt her or her family, they would have done so—they only wanted Promise and there was no time to do anything except cooperate.

Excerpted from Eclipsed by Shadow, the award-winning 1st volume of The Legend of the Great Horse trilogy. (Hrdbk pg. 81)

Book II: The Golden Spark will be published Fall 2010.

#23- Stolen Promise

Meagan stood quietly and lifted the window blinds. The early sky was gray and turbulent. Birds chirped in the cool pre-morning. She folded her hands on the window sill, ready for tears. Promise was gone, stolen. – Eclipsed by Shadow (excerpt)

That night Meagan cried herself to sleep. Police had been called and neighbors alerted, but nothing had been heard. Jennifer tried the phone number Pamela knew for Mr. Wells—it had been disconnected.

When she did finally sleep, Meagan dreamt of riding. She galloped with Promise across clear stretches of green. Fences rose up before them and she twitched in her sleep as she and Promise soared over … and then up into the bright sky. Meagan opened her eyes to the gray of early pre-dawn and lay in bed, staring at the ceiling remembering her remorse.

So the dream of the flying horse had finally returned. It gave her no comfort now; the vivid image seemed to mock her loss. Meagan stood quietly and lifted the window blinds. The early sky was gray and turbulent. Birds chirped in the cool pre-morning. She folded her hands on the window sill, ready for tears. Promise was gone, stolen. Even if found, the poor young horse could easily be traumatized. Please be safe, girl, Meagan prayed, putting her head in her hands. She happened to glance down to see a dark shape.

Promise was standing on the patio.