Sonrise Stable: Rosie and Scamper

By Vicki Watson

While learning to ride at Sonrise Stable, nine-year-old Rosie dreams of the horse shows she will win with her pony, Jet. Two years later, nothing is exactly the way Rosie planned it—she's riding a new pony, Scamper, and learning that life isn't always easy. But it's as Rosie reaches out to the new girl next door that she truly begins to see that God works all things together for good in our lives.

Rosie and Scamper is the first book in the Sonrise Stable series, heartwarming stories of an extended homeschooling family as they live, learn, and love together. Mixing adventure, life lessons, and realistic horse experiences, the series is a must for readers who enjoy family values, Christian faith, and, of course, horses!

• Language: English
• Publisher: Vicki Watson
• Release date: Jan 29, 2017
• ISBN: 9780984724284

Vicki Watson

I first rode a horse at the age of eight. He was a palomino Quarter Horse, and it was love at first sight. Horses were to become a very important part of my life, although I never could have imagined, at the time, how much God would teach me about Himself and my relationship to Him through these wonderful animals. The Sonrise Stable series combines my love of God and horses in stories designed to help children learn more about both. I have been blessed with three daughters and homeschooled each through high school. I enjoy trail riding, hiking, photography, and playing guitar. I work from home as a web designer and computer programmer and enjoy the variety and flexibility that allows.

Book preview

Sonrise Stable:

Rosie and Scamper

By Vicki Watson

Illustrated by Janet Griffin-Scott

Copyright © 2008 by Vicki Watson

Sonrise Stable: Rosie and Scamper by Vicki Watson

Printed in the United States of America ISBN 978-0-9847242-8-4

Library of Congress Control Number: 2017900732

Second edition: 2017

All rights reserved solely by the author. The author guarantees all contents are original and do not infringe upon the legal rights of any other person or work. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form without the permission of the author.

DRAW ME CLOSE

Writer Credits: Kelly Carpenter

Copyright: © 1994 Mercy/Vineyard Publishing (ASCAP) Used by permission of musicservices.org, license #468606

Unless otherwise indicated, Bible quotations are taken from the King James Version of the Bible.

NKJV verses are from The New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission.

The questions in the back of the book may be discussed after reading each chapter.

Contents

Rosie and Scamper

Sonrise Stable Characters

Sonrise Stable Map

Chapter 1 Rosie and Jet

Chapter 2 Rosie’s Surprise

Chapter 3 Christmas in the Barn

Chapter 4 The Storm

Chapter 5 Scamper

Chapter 6 Early Training

Chapter 7 Carrie

Chapter 8 Kezzie’s Story

Chapter 9 Carrie’s First Ride

Chapter 10 The Missing Helmet

Chapter 11 Camp Preparations

Chapter 12 Cousins

Chapter 13 Eggs and Hay

Chapter 14 Barn Campout

Chapter 15 Barrels and Barn Painting

Chapter 16 Trail Ride

Chapter 17 Family Stories

Chapter 18 Draw Me Close To You

Chapter 19 County Fair

Chapter 20 Billy and Bandit

Chapter 21 Horse Show

Chapter 22 Carrie’s Surprise

Draw Scamper With Janet Griffin-Scott

Discussion Questions

The Sonrise Stable Series

Sonrise Stable Characters

(Horses in Parentheses)

Grandma (Kezzie)

Kristy and Eric Jackson

Rosie (Jet)

Lisa and Robert

Lauren

Julie (Elektra) and Jonathan

Jared (Scout)

Jessie (Patches)

Jamie (Pearl)

Carrie Rogers

Judy and Ross Robinson, Carrie’s foster parents Barn cats: Katy and Jemimah

Sonrise Stable Map

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Chapter 1

Rosie and Jet

There’s Grandma’s house! Rosie’s mother was the only other person in the car, so there was no need for this announcement. Certainly Kristy knew they were approaching the very house she had grown up in, but Rosie couldn’t resist. She’d begun announcing their arrival at her grandmother’s house when she was just a toddler, and it made her smile every time she did it.

The car slowed as they passed the barn entrance and the Sonrise Stable sign with its horse and cross. Kristy turned in to the second drive at the house. Rosie waited anxiously for the car to stop, then she pulled the door latch and jumped out. The small, wiry nine-year-old ran toward the porch of the one-and- a-half story farmhouse nestled in the trees, her dark, braided pigtails bouncing wildly.

Whoa, girl! How about some help here?

Rosie skidded to a stop and doubled back toward her mother.

Take this. Kristy tossed a sleeping bag her way.

Rosie reached for the dark-blue bag, catching it more with her face than her hands. Oomph! Sorry, Mom. I just can’t wait to see Grandma—and Jet. She tucked the sleeping bag under one arm and grabbed her helmet from the back seat.

Grandma stepped through the front door onto the porch. Working with horses over the years had kept her trim, and she was still strong enough to toss bales of hay around.

Kristy wrestled with a suitcase that was stuck between the seats. She gave a jerk, and it popped free.

I thought Rosie was spending a few days. I didn’t realize she was moving in, Grandma joked.

It is only for a few days. We’d need a moving van to bring all her things out here. Kristy grabbed a backpack and pillow with her other hand and started toward the porch.

There was no denying the three were related. They shared the same slim build, dark-brown hair and eyes, and quick, easy smile.

Rosie dropped the sleeping bag on the porch by the front door. I’m ready to ride! She pulled a bag of carrots out of her helmet and grinned. For Jet.

You’ve spoiled that pony. Whenever I go to the barn, she looks right past me to see whether you’re coming too.

I’m not spoiling her, Rosie laughed. Carrots are healthy treats.

Grandma knelt down. I’ve been looking forward to this weekend. Do I get a hug?

Rosie wrapped her arms around her grandmother’s neck. There wasn’t anyone she loved more—except her mom and dad, of course. She’d grown even closer to her grandmother as they had worked together with the horses that summer.

Kristy set the rest of Rosie’s things down next to the sleeping bag. I sure miss living in the country. I can’t wait until we can afford to move out of our subdivision.

You’re welcome to visit anytime, Grandma said. You’ll be able to move someday. God’s timing is not always the same as ours.

I know, Kristy sighed. I try to be patient.

Grandma nodded. I’m still learning patience myself after fifty-some years.

Fifty years? Rosie couldn’t imagine what it would be like to be that old. And patience? She barely had any of that at all. Like right now. She wished they could go straight to the barn so she could ride Jet.

Kristy glanced at her watch. Oh, dear! Is it that late already? Eric will be wondering what happened to me. She held out her arms to Rosie. Hey girlie, give me a goodbye kiss. You help Grandma—and take good care of that pony. Love you. Kristy waved as she hurried back to her car.

I love you too. Bye, Mom.

Enjoy your time together, Grandma called out. She waved and then turned to her granddaughter. I know we will, right?

Rosie smiled and nodded. Spending four days with her grandmother and the horses was more exciting to her than a trip to Disney World.

Grandma put her hand on Rosie’s shoulder. Let’s get this stuff inside. When you’re settled, we’ll go to the barn. Do you want to stay in your mom’s room?

Why do you always call it Mom’s room? Rosie grabbed the suitcase, which weighed nearly as much as she did. It’s been a long time since Mom lived here.

I don’t know. I just never did anything else with those rooms after my girls moved out. Grandma picked up the other items, and they went inside.

When Rosie reached the staircase, she set her suitcase down and pulled it, thumping up one step at a time. At the halfway point, she looked back and noticed her grandmother smiling at her.

Need a hand?

No. She gave a big tug and advanced another step. Rosie had been born prematurely with a heart condition, and had spent the first few months of her life in the hospital. Because of her health issues and the fact that she was their only child, Kristy and Eric were especially cautious with her. Rosie was still small for her age, but she had grown much stronger over the past year.

Although she had ridden Jet before, someone had always been leading the pony. That summer her parents had finally agreed to let her begin riding Jet on her own. Grandma had taught many children to ride, and Rosie became her next eager student.

After tossing her clothes in the bedroom dresser, Rosie walked to the shelves on the opposite wall that held the awards her mother and aunts, Julie and Lisa, had won when they were younger.

She traced her finger over the gold horse that stood proudly atop one of the trophies. Someday Jet and I will win trophies just like this. She picked up a silky blue ribbon and turned it over. First Place, Trail Class—Kristy & Ebony, her grandmother had written on it years ago.

Rosie was consumed with horses. She read, dreamed, and talked constantly about them. Her mom called it horse fever and said it was hereditary. Kristy had inherited it from Grandma and then passed it on to Rosie.

Sometimes, instead of doing her schoolwork, she daydreamed about horses and sketched them in her notebook. Grandma said there was no cure for it. That was fine with Rosie. This was one illness she didn’t want to recover from.

Rosie smiled, set the ribbon down, and reached for a small, framed photograph of her mother riding Ebony. Mom sure looks a lot like me—or I look a lot like her. And Jet looks like Ebony. Jet—oh! I need to get over to the barn! Rosie placed the picture back on the shelf and raced out of the room.

Grandma looked up as she clattered down the stairs. Are you finally ready to ride? I thought you were taking a nap up there.

Oh, Grandma. She was used to her grandmother’s kidding and could, almost always, tell when she was being teased. Where are my boots?

In the laundry room, right where you left them last time.

Rosie ran to retrieve her riding boots. She tripped trying to insert her foot into one of the boots as she walked back to the living room.

Slow down there, girl, Grandma laughed. We have all weekend. Bring a few of your carrots, and put the rest of the bag in the refrigerator.

Grandma held the back door open, and the two stepped onto the gravel path that led to the barn. Bordering the path on the right was a ravine that dropped down to a winding, bubbling creek. A grassy pasture stretched from their left to the road. Today, however, Rosie was blind to the natural beauty surrounding her. Four straight days of riding were in store, and she couldn’t wait to get started.

What have I been teaching you?

Rosie pranced around her grandmother. Keep my reins even, not too tight and not too loose, don’t jerk on her mouth, stay balanced, and—oh, Grandma, you’ve told me so much. I don’t see how I can remember it all!

"You’ve remembered the most important things, but knowing and doing aren’t always the same. You’ll be a real rider when you do all those things without even thinking about them."

Rosie wanted to be a real rider, and maybe even a horse trainer someday, like her Aunt Julie. She looked ahead at the faded, white barn. Four stalls faced the house, each with two doors. One of the stall doors opened into the pasture and the other into the barn aisle. When the weather was nice, Grandma liked the horses to be outside as much as possible.

A jet-black pony poked her head over the first door and watched as they approached. Rosie took off running, and Jet hurried to the inside door of her stall where she greeted Rosie with a friendly nicker. Anticipating a treat, a pair of big brown eyes followed the girl’s every move.

Rosie brushed the pony’s thick forelock to the side, revealing a white star. Jet, you’re the most beautiful pony in the world. She put her hands on each side of the pony’s head and kissed her velvety muzzle. Jet broke free from her grasp and tossed her head as if nodding in agreement.

Rosie pulled the biggest carrot out of her pocket and snapped it in two. She carefully flattened her hand, as her grandmother had taught her, and held out one of the pieces. Jet’s soft lips brushed her palm as she took the carrot. Rosie felt a light, tingly sensation pass down her arm. Ooh, Jet! That tickles.

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Grandma unlatched the stall door and led the pony into the aisle. She rubbed Jet’s neck affectionately. She’s so much like her mother. Ebony was one of my best ponies. She taught your mom to ride, as Jet is teaching you. After my three girls outgrew Ebony, many of my riding students took lessons on her.

I’ll never outgrow Jet! I’m going to ride her until I’m really old—like you.

Hmm. Just how old do you think I am? Grandma shook her head. Oh, never mind. I don’t even want to know. Come on. Let’s get this pony brushed and saddled.

The two worked together quietly. Rosie was so absorbed in grooming Jet, it was a while before she noticed that her grandmother was no longer helping. Grandma leaned against the stall door, smiling.

Rosie paused. What are you smiling about?

"For a moment there, I thought I had gone back in time twenty years, and

Reviews for Sonrise Stable

[morgan · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Awesome story! Some how the author managed to put all my favorite things in one book!