‘The Legend of the Great Horse’ trilogy – Page 42 – THE LEGEND OF THE GREAT HORSE trilogy

#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.

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.

Read the 1st Chapter online!

A Great adventure is about to begin…

Early excerpts from Eclipsed by Shadow have been posted on the book’s blog and Facebook page — and the story is about to take off.

Literally.

Eclipsed by Shadow begins an adventure through the ages when horses were everyday companions in work, war, sport and spectacle …

Our teenage heroine journeys to prehistoric days when man’s interest in the horse was strictly culinary, experiences the thrills of Roman chariot racing, rides with the hordes of Genghis Khan, and enjoys a season of Chivalry among castles, Tournaments and knights.

#22- The Horse Thief

Heavy clouds curtained the morning’s light. The previous day had been like early spring, but today was going to be gray, damp and cold. Pneumonia weather, Randy grumbled to himself, tramping across the pasture with a halter. ~ Eclipsed by Shadow (excerpt)

Heavy clouds curtained the morning’s light. The previous day had been like early spring, but today was going to be gray, damp and cold. Pneumonia weather, Randy grumbled to himself, tramping across the pasture with a halter.

The ground near the pasture’s stables was cut by horses’ hooves. The stables door was fifteen feet tall and was meant to slide on a track now rusted and bent. Randy braced all his weight to force the door open. Once he was inside, the early gloom made it hard to see. It didn’t matter: a golden palomino would be easy to spot.

Walking down the aisle, Randy peered into each stall. He was surprised not to see the filly’s pale yellow coat in the semi-darkness. He walked back down the aisle slowly, looking again. Finally, Randy risked turning on the lights. Fluorescents blazed overhead, and every horse in the stables stuck its head into the aisle in hopes of an early feeding.

Excerpted from Eclipsed by Shadow, the award-winning 1st volume of “The Legend of the Great Horse” trilogy. (Hrdbk pg. 70)

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

Read the 1st Chapter online!

Book I: “Rome wasn’t Read in a Day”

Jennifer wished the answer could be different. “Meagan, there are no such things as Great Horses. I like that you are taking an interest in history, but you can’t believe in fantasies.” – Eclipsed by Shadow (excerpt)

This excerpt is from Eclipsed by Shadow, Book #1 of The Legend of the Great Horse trilogy, an adventure through history―on horseback.

The scene is set in modern day America: young Meagan is convinced the legend is true, but no one believes … including her mother…

I think that if I become a horseman,
I shall be a man on wings.

– Xenophon (c. 400 BC)

Jennifer wished the answer could be different. “Meagan, there are no such things as Great Horses. I like that you are taking an interest in history, but you can’t believe in fantasies.”

“Mrs. Bridgestone said only true owners will believe the legend,” Meagan replied stubbornly. “You are just proving it.”

“I’m sorry, Meagan.” Jennifer glanced down at picture of chariot race with teams of galloping horses. “Horses can make people act very strangely. Now, will you promise me? No talking with Mrs. Bridgestone.”

Meagan shrugged. “Maybe we should bring Promise back home, just in case.”

“Meagan?”

“I said okay.”

Jennifer went to the doorway. “Tell the books goodnight, Meagan. Rome wasn’t read in a day.” Jennifer closed the door behind her and returned downstairs. She sat beside her husband on the couch. “I’m worried about Meagan, Tom.”

“Of course you are, Jen. It’s how we know you’re her mother.”

Jennifer shrugged. “She spends all her time reading history books. It’s that silly legend. Meagan is absolutely convinced.”

“Yes, she told me. It sounds like this Bridgestone woman is a bit … should I say it?”

“There is nothing wrong with being a little eccentric, Tom.”

“That wasn’t the word I was going to use.”

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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Links:

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