Deck the Stalls

By Shannon Kennedy

All Sierra McElroy wants for Christmas is a guarantee the horses at Shamrock Stable will be home for the holidays. Her mother has decided they can’t keep every horse and should sell some. Now, what can Sierra do to save her friends and Christmas for everyone?

A SHAMROCK STABLE NOVEL

1. No Horse Wanted
2. No Time for Horses
3. Nothing But Horses (coming 2014)

• Language: English
• Publisher: Melange Books, LLC
• Release date: Nov 14, 2013
• ISBN: 9781680463347

Shannon Kennedy

Shannon lives and works at her family business, Horse Country Farm, just outside of Granite Falls in Washington State. Teaching kids to ride and know about horses since 1967, she finds in many cases, she's taught three generations of families. Her life experiences span adventures from dealing cards in a casino, attending graduate school to get her Masters in Teaching degree, being a substitute teacher, and serving in the Army Reserve—all leading to her second career as a published author.

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Special Smashwords Edition

Deck the Stalls

A Shamrock Stables Novella

by Shannon Kennedy

Published by

Fire and Ice

A Young Adult Imprint of Melange Books, LLC

White Bear Lake, MN 55110

www.fireandiceya.com

Deck the Stalls, Copyright 2013 by Shannon Kennedy

Smashwords Edition, License Notes

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Names, characters, and incidents depicted in this book are products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, organizations, or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental and beyond the intent of the author or the publisher. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher.

Published in the United States of America.

Cover Design by Lynsee Lauritsen

DECK THE STALLS

SHANNON KENNEDY

All Sierra McElroy wants for Christmas is a guarantee the horses at Shamrock Stable will be home for the holidays. Her mother has decided they can’t keep every horse and should sell some. Now, what can Sierra do to save her friends and Christmas for everyone?

Deck The Stalls is dedicated to our real Nevada who knows how to make New Years’ Day special. It truly is his birthday. Since he whinnies whenever we enter the barn, I’m sure he’s actually saying Got carrots? If not, apple slices will do!

Table of Contents

Deck the Stalls

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

About the Author

Previews

Chapter One

Shamrock Stable—Friday, November 29th, 3:00 p.m.

I drove past the parking lot by the indoor arena and up to the house to unload the results of my Black Friday shopping extravaganza. Bargain hunting today meant I’d loaded up on holiday decorations for the barns and the presents Mom asked me to get for my younger half-sister. Autumn must have been watching from the living room windows. As soon as I parked the Ford Ranger, she raced toward the truck. I switched off the motor and pulled out my keys. Hey, kid. What’s going on?

Not much, Autumn said, trying to peer around me and check out the bags. Meredith got here, and she’s teaching lessons. Mom’s showing Christmas horses. She says we have to sell four of them to have enough money for me to get a new saddle and new chaps and a new coat and…

Since her list went on forever, I tuned her out. I hated selling horses even when Mom said it was a necessary part of the business. It was like losing family members. I decided it was easier to part with my latest stepdad who’d gone off with some barrel racing champion who thought she was all that and a bucket of carrots. We should have asked the blonde bimbo for a decent price for him and then we wouldn’t have to sell any of our loyal four-legged buddies.

Sierra, are you even listening? Autumn stamped her foot, planted her fists on childish hips, and glared at me with narrowed blue eyes, her father’s eyes. I was telling you what else I need for Christmas.

You think you need everything, I told the seven-year-old, and you’re probably right. How about helping me out so I don’t give Santa a heads-up the next time you’re naughty?

Okay. What do you want me to do?

Take these bags to the office. I pulled out the sacks with horsy-safe garlands, placemats, plastic ornaments, and small wreaths. "You’ll