A Shadow of Hope: The Mystery at Oak Ridge Stables

By Kim-Briana Nguyen Lorine

When a young girl named Kale and her parents are called to the Oak Ridge Racing Stables, they have no idea that they were about to be involved in one of the greatest mysteries in the stable's history. Something is spooking the horses and making them too nervous to race, and staff members are resigning because of how the horses keep bolting and charging unexpectedly. The owner of the stables is worried that he might have to sell the horses and close down the stables, but Kale desperately wants to do something to help. Kale has always loved horses, but will that be enough to save the future of the stables or will the answer to the mystery lie in a gorgeous black stallion that seems to trust only one very special girl? Find out in this first book of the series A Shadow of Hope!

• Language: English
• Publisher: AuthorHouse
• Release date: Mar 18, 2010
• ISBN: 9781449088743

Kim-Briana Nguyen Lorine

Kim-Briana Nguyen Lorine has always loved horses, adventure, and mystery stories and would like to share that love and passion with readers all around the world. She was born in San Antonio, Texas and lives with her single mother. She has two sisters, both of whom are in the medical profession. Kim-Briana was home schooled by her mother and is currently attending college in the pursuit of going into the medical field as well. She is eighteen years old and her favorite pastime is writing adventure/mystery stories as well as reading them. Kim-Briana began writing short stories when she was nine years old already, and her enchantment with creating wonderful fiction tales continues to this day. It was her mother who brought her love of reading and writing stories to a flourishing start, and she is fortunate to have such a brilliant, caring mother. Now, she wishes to spread the joy of a good mystery thriller and the hope that one very special horse brings to many other children and their families everywhere. Therefore, she hopes you will enjoy this first book in her newest children's series "A Shadow of Hope".

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© 2010 Kim-Briana Nguyen Lorine. All rights reserved.

No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted by any means without the written permission of the author.

First published by AuthorHouse 3/12/2010

ISBN: 978-1-4490-8874-3 (e)

ISBN: 978-1-4490-8876-7 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-4490-8875-0 (hc)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2010903416

Printed in the United States of America

Bloomington, Indiana

This book is printed on acid-free paper.

A special thanks to my sisters, father, and especially to my dear mother for inspiring and helping me to succeed in so many ways.

San Antonio -- March 2010

Kim-Briana Nguyen Lorine

Girls and horses seem to have some sort of a magical attraction between them. And, for a certain twelve-year old girl named Kale, this connection may have helped to solve the biggest mystery in the history of the Oak Ridge Racing Stables.

Kale lived with her parents in a small house in the Kentucky countryside. The girl’s father, Benson, worked as an on-call veterinarian for the various farms, neighborhoods, and horse racetracks around the vicinity. Her mother, Lena, was employed as a waitress at a small restaurant about seven miles from Kale’s house. The town where this girl and her parents lived was a small countryside town of a little more than a thousand people. The trip to the nearest grocery store would normally take forty to forty-five minutes. Anyhow, the story began in mid-March, when it was spring break and all of the children were enjoying their time home from school.

Like most typical girls, Kale loved horses and wished that she had one herself. There were many farms and stables in Kentucky and Kale always loved to look at the horses in the pastures whenever her parents happened to drive across one. Kale had only met a horse once when she was six years old. Her grandparents had taken her to visit a barnyard, where Kale stroked a gentle brown horse for half an hour straight. Since then, the girl’s love for horses only grew. Kale had a whole bookshelf full of books all about horses in her room and almost every picture that the girl drew had a horse in it. Kale’s room was filled with horse figurines and she slept with four stuffed horses snuggled up beside her.

So, you can probably imagine Kale’s delight when her father, Benson, arrived home from work one evening and said I just got a call on my cell phone from a place called ‘Oak Ridge Stables’. They say they need a relief vet as soon as possible and wanted me to come there first thing tomorrow morning. The owner apparently was having some trouble with his horses and the permanent veterinarian there quit for some reason. And as it seems like he wanted us to stay for some time, I’m afraid we all have to drive there together tomorrow. I do wonder what the problem is, though. Kale ran up to her father and asked excitedly Does this mean that we’ll be staying up at the stables? Benson sighed Yes, it certainly seems that way.

Kale cheered just as her mother, Lena, came into the room and said Well, we better get to dinner now and then we’ll all go to bed early so that we can leave tomorrow at dawn. Benson and Lena led the way into the kitchen, where Kale and her parents ate supper and then prepared for bed. That night, Kale could hardly sleep from excitement. Her dreams were filled with galloping horses and prancing unicorns. The next morning, the alarm clock rang at six thirty AM and Kale rushed to change her clothes. The girl ran out into the hallway, where her mother spoke up Get into the kitchen and have breakfast, Kale. Your father’s got scrambled eggs and toast on the dining table. Kale washed up and ate her breakfast quickly as her parents packed up some necessities for their long trip to the Oak Ridge Racing Stables.

By seven fifteen, everyone was settled into the truck and Benson asked Do we have all the things we need? I’ve already got my complete vet kit and equipment here. Kale and Lena nodded and Benson drove off. As it was still early, everything was still covered in a dense layer of fog and dew drops could be seen on the leaves of the trees and the metal fences. Kale settled back and enjoyed the scenery as the sun began to rise on this quiet Kentucky town. No one spoke until they reached the main highway, where the fog began to clear off. Lena looked around and inquired How far is it to this stable that we’re going to, dear? Benson muttered I suspect that it’s about twenty-five miles from here. Kale clapped her hands and giggled I can’t wait to see all of those strong, beautiful Thoroughbred horses. I’ve read all about them!

Kale and her parents reached the stable grounds at exactly eight o’clock. While Benson was reading the signs that pointed to where the parking lots were, Kale looked out of the truck window. The stable grounds seemed very large and there was a forest that stood next to several buildings. Kale glanced once at the forest and turned away, but the girl suddenly did a double take. Leaning out the window, Kale clearly saw a large, handsome stallion with a gleaming black coat watching her from among the trees. Kale could only see its head and front legs, but the girl knew that the horse must be half hidden by the trees it was standing next to. The stallion blinked at her as it watched the truck she was riding in go by. Marveled and overjoyed, Kale turned around and told her mother Mom, look at that beautiful black horse over there. Lena looked out and shook her head What are you talking about, Kale? I don’t see any horse.

Kale glanced back out of the window and saw that the horse had indeed disappeared. Kale frowned That’s strange! I’m sure I just saw it standing there and looking at me. Lena shrugged Maybe it went back into that dense forest. Benson declared Well, here we are at Oak Ridge Racing Stables! What do you think, Kale? Kale gazed adoringly at two horses that were grazing in a large wide-open field beyond a white fence that bordered the parking lots from the meadows. Rows of beautiful, colorful flowers grew alongside the fence and a red-leafed maple tree stood beside the flowers. Smiling broadly, Kale jumped out of the truck the moment her father shut down its motor.

Lena and Benson walked with their daughter up to a large two-story mansion, which had a big sign in front with the words "Welcome to Oak Ridge Racing Stables" written on it in bold letters. Another sign on the glass front doors said "Please come in. A life-sized horse statue stood in the middle of a round driveway that led up to the front doors. Benson opened the doors and Kale trotted in right away and looked around. A man who was sitting at a front reception desk stood up and said Hello, how may I help you folks? Benson approached the man and replied I got a call from the owner here at these stables that his permanent vet had quit, so he wanted me to take his place as a relief vet until he can find a replacement. The man smiled Ah yes, so you must be Benson Turner, the on-call veterinarian. Please follow me and I’ll show you where Mr. Brook’s office is. He is quite worried about all the horses; I can assure you of that."

The nice man led Benson, Lena, and Kale down a long hallway and around a corner, where a single office at the end of the hall stood, bearing a square sign that stated "Welcome to the office of Mr. Shield Brook, owner of the Oak Ridge Racing Stable Grounds." Benson thanked the man at the reception desk and beckoned his family to follow. Kale’s father knocked softly at the door of the office and a tall, handsome man in his forties opened the door almost immediately. The owner of the stables looked tired and worried at the moment, but his overall appearance was neat and he looked like a kind, gentle, and helpful man. Benson introduced himself and his wife and daughter to the owner, who shook their hands and invited them into his office.

Mr. Brook began telling of his problem right away "It seems to have started ever since the beginning of the horse racing season, which began two weeks ago. I had instructed the jockeys and riders to train up the horses for the race. It was then when the trouble began. Well, every night, right around the time everyone got to sleep, I’ve heard reports from the stable manager and staff around here that they heard the horses in the open stables neigh and act wildly as though something was spooking