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HOLIDAY HOOFBEATS
Shamrock Stable: A Holiday Novella
BY SHANNON KENNEDY

BLURB

The upcoming winter break at Washington State University in Pullman, Washington means Felicia Gibson and her brother, Jack, are already planning their trip home to what he calls the “wet” not western side of the mountains after final exams. While classes keep them busy, so does the time they spend training for future competitions with the college equestrian teams. Felicia rides in three-day eventing on her Warmblood gelding while Jack does Western Games on his off-the track, Thoroughbred.

Felicia and Jack had such an amazing time over Thanksgiving weekend visiting with their family and seeing the people they’d missed during fall semester. It thrilled Jack to spend so much time with his girlfriend, Vicky Miller in real life, since they’d been limited to phone calls, texts and emails while he was hundreds of miles away. Felicia had fun shopping with their younger sister, Robin and her friends on Black Friday.

When their plans implode for the holidays, Felicia and Jack must remain behind in Pullman, but their younger sister has other ideas. Is there a way to take Christmas to Pullman, Washington and reunite the family?

HOLIDAY HOOFBEATS
Shamrock Stable: A Holiday Novella
BY SHANNON KENNEDY

Excerpt

CHAPTER ONE

Felicia 

Pullman, Washington
Tuesday, November 26^th, 2019

My last class at the university ended early enough that I could go straight to the barn and groom Vinnie, my Appaloosa-Warmblood gelding. When I walked past the indoor arena to the stalls, I saw the students from the Western Games team practicing for the next competition. My younger brother, Jack and his former Thoroughbred racehorse were kicking tails as usual. Amused, I didn’t stay to watch because we were on a time crunch. 

After I finished with my horse, did my share of the barn chores—mucking, watering, feeding— I’d go to the house I shared with two of the girls on the equestrian eventing team. I’d walk my dog who’d been locked in the utility room today, then help clean the upstairs, do laundry and pack for an early morning road trip. Jack and I were driving home tomorrow for Thanksgiving weekend.

This was the last time I’d have an opportunity to hang out with Vinnie for almost a week.  The big buckskin must have recognized my footsteps. He put his golden head over the door and nickered. Smiling, I headed straight toward him, pulling the first organic carrot out of the cloth grocery bag. “Hey, handsome. Did you miss me?”

“I’m sure he did.” A guy pushing a wheelbarrow half full of manure came out of the stall next door. “Aren’t you, Felicia?”

I nodded, giving my horse another carrot while I studied the newcomer. Short black hair, dark brown eyes, six inches taller than my five feet, five, broad shoulders, narrow hips, long legs, good-looking enough if you liked the cowboy type and I did. A flannel shirt over a button-up, long sleeved T-shirt, faded jeans and boots. I gave him a point for knowing what to wear in a barn.

Vinnie nudged me and I remembered what I was doing. I fed him another carrot. “And you are?”

“Keegan Larkin.” He pulled off a glove and held out his hand. “Just got hired to do barn work. Jack said you’d be here soon. You’re a sophomore at W.S.U., right?”

“Yeah, I’m pre-med. What about you?” Most of the people here tended to use shorthand for Washington State University or the U of I, University of Idaho a few miles away in Moscow. I shook his hand, feeling the callouses. He knew how to work. Another point in his favor. “Are you a student here too? What’s your major?”

“I’ll figure that out when I start classes again in January.” He pulled his glove on again. “Been doing Army duty, so I had to leave after my first year. My unit just returned from a combat tour in Afghanistan.”

“Okay if I say, ‘thank you for your service’?”

“Sure. Why wouldn’t it be?”

“I volunteer at a veteran’s center helping the counselors. Some of the guys,” I paused, “and some of the gals for that matter take offense.”

“Everybody has baggage. I don’t judge.” Keegan went across the aisle to an empty stall. “Back to work.”

“I know how that goes.” One more carrot before I headed to the tackroom, wishing I’d put on makeup today. I hadn’t. What was the point when I was only going to my American History, Psych 200 and Irish Literature classes? And I looked awful in one of my dad’s old sweatshirts and a pair of sloppy gray sweatpants. Next time, I’d make more of an effort. I glanced in the mirror, checking out my shoulder-length, red-gold hair, sky-blue eyes. Damn! I looked like I’d been up all night finishing a research paper. Only because I had!

Normally, I’d have groomed Vinnie in his stall, but a lot of people didn’t like mucking around horses. They were big, moved fast when spooked and it took skill to work around them. I haltered him and led him out to the cross-ties. I rewarded him with two extra carrots. He snorted but stood like a proverbial rock while I conditioned his black mane, tail and forelock. Onto the currycomb to bring up the dirt and loose hair. 

Good thing he remained super calm while I brushed him because I was boy, all right, man watching while I worked. I loved visiting my parents and baby sis over the holidays, but I felt a tinge of regret. Getting to know Keegan would have to wait until next week. Of course, there wasn’t a guarantee he actually liked horses or wouldn’t have a major meltdown when Vinnie came first. 

I’d never found anyone who stuck around even when the guy claimed to be supportive of girl athletes. My high school dream and I broke up because he suggested I sell Vinnie since I was going to college and didn’t need my own horse for that. I could ride one of the team’s Warmbloods for three-day event competitions. No thanks. I fell in love with Vinnie when I got him for my sixteenth birthday, four years ago.

When I arrived at Pullman for my freshman year, I met a few guys. Nothing too serious, but it was fun to go out with them. The last one had a major fit because Vinnie threw a shoe. The farrier ran late at another barn. I texted and explained I had to wait for my horse to be re-shod. I’d be there for dinner as soon as I could. It didn’t go well. He had a fit, fell in it and stormed out of the restaurant leaving me to pay the bill. 

Good thing I had an emergency credit card from my dad. I didn’t want to spend the cash hidden in my wallet. My mother gave it to me for situations where a card wouldn’t work. I hadn’t bothered to hook up with a new guy. I didn’t really want one, did I? Looking at Keegan reminded me how much I enjoyed going to movies, out for dinner, and spending time with someone other than my gal pals. 

About Author Shannon Kennedy…

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Links to Shannon’s websites, blogs, books, #ad etc.:

Amazon Kindle: https://amzn.to/4hNgDLg

Amazon Paperback: https://amzn.to/3CnwY9s

Smashwords.com – Holiday Hoofbeats – https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/1631121

Nook Press – https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/holiday-hoofbeats-shannon-kennedy/1146405080?ean=2940185713822

 Apple –https://play.google.com/store/books/details/Shannon_Kennedy_Holiday_Hoofbeats?id=v4MpEQAAQBAJ

Google Play-https://play.google.com/store/books/details/Shannon_Kennedy_Holiday_Hoofbeats?id=v4MpEQAAQBAJ

Kobo- https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/holiday-hoofbeats

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Special Giveaway: Shannon will gift an ebook of NO HORSING AROUND – BOOK #6 in the Shamrock Stable Series to one lucky reader who comments on her Karen’s Killer Book Bench blog. Good Luck!

Happy Reading!

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Thanks, Shannon, for sharing your book with us!

Don’t miss the chance to read this book!