Genre

Literary Fiction/Metaphysical/Fable/Young Adult

Synopsis

Little Horse begins his journey through life in a lush meadow inhabited by a herd of wild horses. With the comfort of his mother’s creamy warmth, soothing lullaby, and wise words, he overcomes his terror of the shifting night shadows on the forest floor. He transforms bullying colts into friends, learns to navigate the blurry line between fantasy and reality, recovers from the searing loss of his first great love, and glimpses the dual nature of beauty and sorrow. On learning that even the flowers, vibrant sunsets, and his beloved mother have a dark side, he believes he’s grasped life’s hardest lessons.

Then a cougar attack triggers a chaotic stampede. Lost and grieving, Little Horse wanders alone until a young equestrian rescues him. He tumbles head-over-hooves in love with her and moves into her stable, only to realize that something essential is missing. As he debates whether to stay or flee, he wrestles with timeless questions about the meaning of life and his true purpose.

This inspirational, novella-length fable:

Blends poetic prose and lyrical verse to nourish the hearts of literary fiction fans,
Features over 150 drawings and paintings to enchant equine enthusiasts.
Provides metaphysical food for thought for soulful seekers

Sample Chapter

Mr. Spider's Webs

Originally published in The Roswell Literary Review

Little Horse awakens one morning to discover that a spider has woven a giant web across the window opening of his stall. Each fine, silky strand has been placed just so, and the grand weaving glistens and gleams in the morning light.

"Mr. Spider, you will have to do your building elsewhere. When I put my head outside, your kitchen will be ruined," Little Horse tells him.

The spider rests quietly on the wall nearby and does not answer. Is he sleeping? Although he would like to put his nose outside the window to sniff the clover and nod at the barn boy who is making his rounds, Little Horse doesn't want to disturb the web before the spider's breakfast has arrived. So he waits.

Finally, a large fly is caught. Instead of running over to eat it, the spider stays perfectly still.

Little Horse nudges the spider with his nose. "Oops!" he cries as the spider falls to the ground and scurries away. Little Horse sticks his head out of his window, shredding the web, and proceeds to enjoy what remains of the morning sun. He quickly forgets all about the spider and his web.

The next morning Little Horse awakens to find a new web stretched across his window opening, and the spider is waiting nearby.

"Mr. Spider!" whinnies Little Horse. "I told you yesterday, you must not build your kitchen here! This is MY window, and I have to put my head outside! I need to get some sunshine!"

The spider does not move or answer. Little Horse paws the ground and prances in place, a bundle of nervous frustration. Finally he trots to the window and thrusts his head outside, shredding the web as he does so. He looks down in time to see Mr. Spider slowly crawling away and disappearing between the wooden wall slats.

Little Horse awakens on the third morning and finds that once again Mr. Spider is standing next to a beautiful kitchen that must have taken all night to build.

"Dumb old spider," he mutters. "Are you going to starve before you learn to build your web elsewhere?" Little Horse sticks his head out his window and closes his eyes as the filmy strands of the shredded web settle over his muzzle.

He is still trying to calm himself when he hears a small voice. "Don't worry about me, lad," says Mr. Spider. "I need less food than you think."

"But I've told you time and again, I need my window! You have to build your webs somewhere else!"

"This is your spot for sunning. It is my spot for web-building."

"But why here? You could go anywhere, but I'm trapped! This is the only window I've got."

"Trapped? No, I think we have both chosen this spot."

Little Horse ponders the spider's words. It is true he cannot bring himself to trade the safety of his stable for a journey into the vast unknown, however much he might long to explore the world beyond his stall. "Well, you are going to be very unhappy when I tear up your kitchen each day," he warns the spider.

"Perhaps it is true that I will be, as you say, unhappy."

"Then why...?"

"Ah, yes, that seems like such a good question, doesn't it? But 'why' is the kind of question even very good answers do not help."

Seeing Little Horse's confusion, Mr. Spider explains, "I use this window to build my web. You use this window to look outside. I shall continue to build my webs here, and you shall continue to look outside. All I ask is one small favor. Would you take a moment to look at my webs before you shred them?"

Little Horse nods.

After that, Little Horse awakens each morning to find a brand new web stretched across his window opening. Every day he studies the intricacy and symmetry of the grand weavings, delighting in the sight of sunbeams playing on the silvered strands. He is awe-struck by the infinite variety of the webs, no two of which are exactly like.