A Christmas Blizzard

Hey, everybody! 

I know I said December 25 that I'd post my Christmas story, but yesterday I got to writing and finished Chapter One. So it is Christmas Eve and here is Chapter One of "A Christmas Blizzard"! 

Merry, Merry Christmas!! 

Chapter One

Near Enterprise, Oregon, out in the country and in the foothills of the towering, snow-capped Wallowa mountains, winter was exciting and dramatic. Snow whirled past in furious-fast winds, piling up in tall snow-hills, or collecting on the ground, deep and sparkling. It was here that Katelyn Reed lived. Her father bred and raised Quarter Horse, fast and slender but strong racing and ranching horses.

It was Kate’s twelfth Christmas. She was excited, for this Christmas would be the first she shared with her blood bay colt, Prince. Her parents had finally thought her mature enough to have her own horse, and so two months earlier Prince had been Kate’s twelfth birthday present.

But what Kate and Prince didn’t know was that this Christmas wouldn’t be the normal Christmas most of us have. This Christmas they’d have to work hard to survive together, and if not, both their lives could be at risk.

***

Kate jumped off the boardwalk and nearly slipped on the icy, muddy road that her foot landed on. Catching her balance, Kate struggled to maintain ladylike composure.

Whew, that was close. Kate wondered how the flashing hooves of the buggy horses and saddle horses could keep a straight leg on the wintry roads of December. She shivered and pulled her cloak tighter around her shoulders, earmuffs heating up, breath coming in puffs from her mouth. She turned to her colt, Prince, and slipped towards him.

The milky eyes of the Quarter Horse stared at her. Prince whinnied, lips curling into flehmen. It looked as if he were laughing at Kate. She held back her own giggles, then spoke both to herself and to her horse.  

“Don’t laugh.” She grabbed the hitching rail for support, eyes glinting, thinking of how silly she must look, sliding along the mud. “If you laugh, I fall.” She finally reached Prince’s reins. Kate yanked them from the rail and brought them around to Prince’s withers. She found the stirrup and clutched it. Slowly, she lifted her foot and stuck it in, then in a fluid motion mounted, despite the petticoats that held her legs captive. Sensing Kate’s excited spirit, Prince tossed his head and pranced skittishly, shod hooves clattering loudly on the ice.

“Whoa, boy, no antics,” Kate admonished. She wished she could ride Prince on a snowy lane with no ice. Fear that Prince could break a leg always hovered in her mind. But Prince's shoes were spiked, for good traction, and he was a sturdy, sure-footed colt. Pulling on the left rein, pressing her right heel into Prince’s flank, and releasing pressure on her left heel, Kate turned her colt towards home. She was puffing with pride at the gifts she’d bought for her sisters and mother; necklaces, earrings, and finger adornments.

Being careful and thinking of her colt, Kate pushed Prince into a gait no faster than a walk. Lights twinkled in the shop windows and she even spotted a few Christmas trees in some. It was the eve of Christmas Eve, December 23, and everyone was excited, bustling wildly around Enterprise for last-minute Christmas shopping. Kate especially loved Christmas because of the fellowship with her family members. Usually Aunt Tricia, Uncle Robert, and Grandmother Allison would arrive from Lostine, along with the Cousins Robert, John, Felicity, and Rose. Rose, the cousin closest to Kate’s age, usually brought her horse so she and Kate could ride.

Daydreaming, Kate didn’t notice the dark clouds piling up in the east. Prince, however, sensed them, dark, almond-shaped nostrils flaring until you could see the red. Lifting his delicate, black, teacup muzzle to sniff the wind, his red, black-tipped ears flicked back and he sidestepped.

“Whoa!” Kate slid in her saddle, tossed off-balance. After regaining her seat, she realized that she and her colt were on the snowy lane leading to the Double Diamond Ranch. No more ice, and wow Prince could gallop! Eagerness rose in Kate as she stiffened and crouched low on Prince’s neck, fingers wrapping in the colt’s silky black mane. Prince sensed Kate’s eagerness and arched his neck, muscles rippling. His black stocking legs dug into the snow, spraying the white fluff behind him as he bounded into a breakneck gallop. He flashed by the houses outside of the town with Kate urging him faster. He obliged her.

Kate’s gold-brown hair blew out behind her, along with her scarf. The icy air whipped her cheeks, stinging.

Prince automatically turned onto Diamond Avenue that led up to the horse ranch. Kate could hear the squawks and squeals of her younger siblings who were always outside in the snow.

Kate shouted a howdy and dismounted. Nine-year-old Caroline, sparkling in her blue dress and cloak from where she lay in a pile of snow, jumped up. “Hey! You’re home!”

Kate realized nearly too late that as her three younger siblings charged at her, it wasn't to hug her. In a matter of seconds ten-year-old Henry, Caddy, and seven-year-old Mary had advanced on Prince and were preparing to rummage through the saddlebags, which not only held valuable golden ring and necklace surprises, but also a handful of aggies for Henry on Christmas Day.

Kate jumped in front of her rampaging sisters and brother. “Stop!” she cried. “You are not allowed to -”

A sharp, deafening moan interrupted her, coming from the east. It rose, then faltered, and then rose again, piercing the air. The branches of the pine trees snapped and waved helplessly. Prince snorted, nostrils flared, and sidestepped once more, tossing Kate a look that said I tried to warn you.

Henry howled. “Prince, get off my toe!” His shout added to the chaos of the wind. Kate clapped her hands over her ears and flinched, dropping Prince's reins. The wind picked the leather straps up and slapped them against the colt's hide.

Prince bolted forward, whistling with the wind. Confused by the wind, by Henry's groaning, and the sudden sting of the reins, the colt tried to go left, blinded by the sudden flurry of snowflakes driving into his dark amber eyes. He nearly slammed into Kate, who found her wits and opened her eyes, letting her hands fall from her ears to make themselves useful. A muscular blast of ice-cold wind slapped Kate across the face. She grabbled for the reins and found them. “Hurry, in the house!”

The bright afternoon sun was soon blotted out by whirling black clouds. The sky darkened and with the wind came the biting, bullet-snowflakes. As Kate struggled to lead her colt to the barn, Henry, Caddy, and Mary jumped and slipped towards the house, where Mama stood in the doorway, shouting.

Kate found the barn and pushed the heavy door open. The wind ceased, her hair fell limp, and Prince lowered his head, rib cage heaving.

After feeding and watering Prince, Kate struggled to the house. She turned the doorknob and burst inside. She pushed the door shut and turned.

Papa stood in the doorway to the library, eyes worried. “Glad you’re safe, Katie,” he said, “because this is gonna be a long one.”

She wondered how he knew. Most storms were violent, but in five minutes they died down, or went away completely. However, they usually knew of rising storms and put the pastured horses inside the barn. They hadn't been that lucky this time; the poor horses, mares, geldings, and stallions, were stuck out in this blinding snow and deafening wind.

Kate bit her lip as the wind whistled, moaned, and screamed outside the window. She followed Papa into the grand room where everyone sat, reading either a newspaper or book. The walls shook and snowflakes battled with each other against the glass panes. Mary whimpered as it whirled past. It didn’t help the anxiety about the pastured horses when Kate remembered that there was no way they could take care of the stabled horses all by themselves. The wind was so violent and fierce; who would feed the fortunate horses who were stabled? Papa or fifteen-year-old Ruben would be swept off their feet the instant they stepped outside.

CRACK!

Caddy screamed and flung herself into Kate’s arms. The window crashed open, wind bursting in. The lamps went out, spinning the family into darkness. Mary started to sob and Kate’s arms shook as she lowered Caddy to the ground.

KABOOM! Thunder rattled the house, the ground shaking like an earthquake. Kate braced herself. What had made the window fling open? Ears throbbing, Kate shouted for an answer. “Papa!” she screamed.

The wind stopped as her parents pushed the windows closed. A huge pine branch lay on the floor by Papa’s feet.

“Oh, my goodness,” fourteen-year-old Jane gasped. Her face went white. “That cracked our window!”

Kate looked at the splintering, twisting pierce in the window and her mouth fell open. Dramatic winters indeed! She rushed to help Mama pick the pine up and lay it beside the front door.

“Mama,” Kate grabbed her mother’s elbow. Mama turned. “What does this mean?”

“I’m not sure, Katelyn,” Mama said. “Most likely it is nothing, just like all the other storms we’ve had before.”

“What if it is a blizzard?” Kate questioned.

“Papa will find a way to the horses, Kate,” Mama assured her, seemingly reading her mind. “Don’t worry.”

Kate frowned. Something wasn’t right, though. The wind was so fierce, so violent! She thought of the horses in the pasture out on the range. How were they faring? Then common sense filtered into her mind. This was a storm just like the others, lasting five to fifteen minutes before moving on. She smiled. A little more snow and maybe a few snow drifts, more stuff the shovel and horses to scout out; they’d be fine.

But fifteen minutes later the sky was still dark, the wind still announcing its presence, and it was not even suppertime.

Push HERE to read Chapter Two

*** 

Horse Breed of the Day 

The ARABIAN!!! This is one of our oldest breeds of horses. Arabians are hotbloods, like Thoroughbreds, and can be high-strung. However, Arabians love to be treated with respect, so if you treat them like a fellow friend rather than an animal, they will treat you as The Master. They are usually chestnut, bay, black, roan, grey, rose grey, flea-bitten gray, dapple gray, and sorrel. They are smaller horses, ranging from 14 to 15.2 hands high. They are known for their dished profile, slender body, and arching crest. Arabians come from the desert-y parts of Earth, so they have great stamina and are sure-footed. 

The Arabian is used for pleasure riding, racing, endurance riding, improving other breeds, and many other equestrian sports. 

History of Arabians: 

They come from the Middle East, where this breed is treated like queens and kings. They were used for many things, packing, warfare, and riding. Instead of being treated like a regular horse, Arabians are and were treated more like family members. This is most likely why they enjoy being treated with respect, and if not, are snooty. 

Horse Color of the Day 

The color BAY!!! This gorgeous color can range from a dull, dusty brown to a rich, almost black color. This color always has black points, which are the legs, tail, mane, nose, and tips of ears. My favorite shade of bay is blood bay, which like its name is a more red coat, very rich and gorgeous. Bay is common is most breeds, and in Arabians, Thoroughbreds, and Quarter Horses bay is probably the main color, along with chestnut and sorrel. Bay can also sometimes have a dorsal stripe (I knew a bay Arabian with dorsal stripe, shockingly). This color is most likely my favorite, along with palomino. 

*** 

I will just put the contest info at the bottom, so it is not lost under all my posts. I will do this until the deadline (January 1).

But today, there is a Breyer Horse Contest I am putting on! 
My email: palominoizzy@gmail.com

Explaining The Model Horse Contest: 

All you have to do is take a picture of your model horse or horses under a Christmas tree, in front of lights, standing in snow, or maybe with Santa Clause. Anything that includes Christmas somehow. Then you will send me your best photo. The deadline are the last days in December. On that day I will post all the pictures. You guys will vote for your favorites (each picture will be numbered and you will say which numbered photo you like best in comment section below) and I'll announce the winner on January 3. Please try to get your picture in by New Years Day. The winner will get either a horse drawing step-by-step book, a Susan K. Marlow book, a Jeanne Birdsall book, a journal, or a horse activity book; winners choice. If you don't have a model, you can always use a stuffed animal horse ;) I've also added that you can send a picture of your real horse, if you own one!!!
Does that make sense? I've changed a lot, I'm sorry.

We have a few contestants for the Competition and two of them have sent their pictures!! Yay! #1 and #2 are in, are there any more?

~Izzy West