A Father's Choice: Horses from Heaven

By Kalyn Lorenz

This is the first entry into the Horses from Heaven series, a new series in kid's fiction. It is a brilliant short story about girls and horses for kids, as it is an entertaining and enlightening read, especially for any child that is struggling to overcome an anger issue.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Life Changer Press
• Release date: Jun 20, 2013
• ISBN: 9781634282970

Kalyn Lorenz

As a young teenager, Kalyn loves horses and anything to do with them. She enjoys reading horse stories as well as spending time with her two horses,gentle and mild Danny and feisty beautiful Beya. Combining her faith with her love of animals, Kalyn's stories share her young wisdom with wholesome entertainment.

Book preview

A Father’s

Choice

By Kalyn Lorenz

Book One in the Series

Horses from Heaven

Copyright 2013

Table of Contents

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

Chapter Eight

Chapter Nine

Chapter Ten

Chapter Eleven

Chapter Twelve

Chapter One

"Anna… Anna."

I slowly looked up and removed my headphones as I heard my mom calling me. Her eyes were red from all the driving, and her shoulders were tense.

Please call Grandpa and Grandma to let them know that we’re almost at the ranch.

Why can’t Sarah do it? I groaned as I paused the music.

I saw Mom’s stern expression through the car mirror and knew it was pointless to expect an answer.

Fine, I conceded. I’ll do it. But Sarah does it next time.

I didn’t mind talking to my grandparents; it was just that I wasn’t in the mood to talk to anyone at the moment. The process of moving to a different place was getting all too familiar. Living with Grandpa and Grandma would be just another stop in the seemingly endless list of places to stay. Would we ever have a place of our own again?

Three rings. Four. I heard the receiver pick up as I held the cell phone to my ear.

Hi, Grandpa. It’s Anna.

Hey, Banana! Grandpa exclaimed using the nickname he had called me since I was four.

Hearing his cheery voice immediately made me feel a little better.

Hi. Mom wanted me to let you know that we will be at the ranch soon.

I could almost hear his smile through the phone.

Your timing is great. I was just headed out the door to do the evening chores, and Grandma almost has dinner ready. We can’t wait to see all of you again.

Me too! I said, grinning. What’s for dinner?

I heard the phone rattle as he turned to ask Grandma, the distance muffling his words. He cleared his throat.

It’s a surprise. he said, and I grimaced, knowing that this probably meant meatloaf, the meal that I always pretended to enjoy when I went to their house for holidays.

Well, see you soon. I said.

Bye Banana.

And the phone clicked.

As I slid back on my headphones, sighing dramatically, I realized that Mom was staring at me.

What’s wrong? she asked, as if reading my mind.

Nothing, I muttered.

She stared at me for a moment, pursing her lips, before turning and looking back at the road, shaking her head.

The truth was, I was still upset about Dad. With each mile we drove, we were getting further and further from Portland, which meant further away from him. Was this what normal families had to go through? The constant moving and the constant anger that clawed at my stomach when I thought about Dad leaving us? Did normal families have to live with their grandparents? Was this all in God’s plan, would it turn out for the better?

Next to me, Sarah stretched her legs, yawning, awakening as Mom turned the minivan onto a gravel road. Sampson, our fluffy grey and white sheepdog, was resting his head protectively over her shoulder, one eye open as he pretended to sleep.

As the car rattled past an endless line of hay fields showcasing harvested stubs, I could see up ahead a barn nestled between two forested hills. The sun was setting behind it, causing a golden haze to make the trees look like they were on fire. A fence ran around the perimeter.

We’re already here? I asked, thinking that I hadn’t had enough time to mentally prepare myself to eat meatloaf.

Yup, Mom said, a faint Minnesota accent from when she lived in Minneapolis coming through again. You ready?

I wish, I sighed.

Sampson whined, pacing excitedly in the back at the prospect of getting outside again.

I patted his head.

You ready for country life, Sammy?

He whined again. I took that as a yes.

Turning into the driveway, the van rumbled to a halt. I leapt off the back seat like a jack-in-the-box. My legs almost gave way underneath me as I