The Horse and the Mole

By Janet Mary Crunican

The world was good for Oliver and Alex. Alex would sit ther for hours under a shady tree watching his friend chase clouds. Oliver being gifted with a talent of running. He wanted more than anything to run races like this revered father. Competition arises. Jealousy forms. A story of love, friendship and the dicipline of a strong determination to achieve that dream.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris US
• Release date: Mar 16, 2005
• ISBN: 9781477179369

Janet Mary Crunican

Janet Mary Cruncian is a prolific author of the Children books; The Horse and the Mole, Oliver and the wholesome loveable series; Little House On The Farm. Janet has also written numerous articles and short stories. Her passion is being creative. Janet was born in 1964 in Portland Oregon. Grew up in the town of Lake Oswego Oregon. Ever since Janet was in third grade at Upland Elementary school determined she would be an author. Janet would sit at her deck on a rainy day to write stories and create books. Janet loves to read and is fascinated with children's books that make lasting heart warming memories. Janet loves words and the word of God, in her childhood her two favorite books were the Dictionary and the Bible. Janet is the President of Television Toastmasters. Janet has been in involved in Toastmaster for over twenty years. She is an accomplished articulate speaker and writer. Janet writes and speaks weekly in Toastmasters clubs. Janet has an great affinity for children and animals she takes tremendous joy in writing her books. Her books are suitable and devoured by all. Janet enjoys telling authentic stories about her own children's unique life growing up on the farm. Stories that warm hearts and give valuable lessons. In Janet's spare time she loves being around her horses, having quality time with her two daughters and writing her latest book. Today Janet lives on a farm in Cornelius Oregon with her husband and two daughters.

Book preview

Chapter 1

Kevin, the farm boy, lay nestled in bed debating whether or not he should get up. The wind blew gently outside, and the leaves swirled and brushed against his bedroom window. His eyes were halfway open when he realized that it was Saturday and he did not have to go to school. Kevin rested in bed, enjoying the warmth of his covers. He stretched his entire body to keep from nodding off again; he could almost feel his feet tingle, they felt so good.

Just as Kevin drifted off to sleep again, he heard loud whinnies coming from the stables. Kevin pulled the covers over his head to block out the noise. Then he heard small scratches on his window. The sound made its way through the blankets he held close to his ears. He opened his eyes, sat up in bed, and looked out the window. He then spied Alex, the mole, running for the barn. He figured that Alex must be trying to tell him something by scratching on the window. Perhaps Cascade, the beautiful chestnut mare, was about to have her new baby. Kevin quickly jumped out of bed and stumbled around his room in a hasty attempt to dress. Finally, he grabbed his yellow bathrobe and raisin slippers and raced out the door, following Alex to the barn. Kevin felt a little chilly with just a bathrobe over his pajamas. If his mother knew he wore his bathrobe and slippers to the barn, she would be furious, Kevin thought. He decided he would worry about getting in trouble later.

He quickly caught up with the mole, and they both raced to the barn. The morning sun was just beginning to show, and the wind blew, tossing the leaves around; a beautiful fall day would soon be here. As they ran, Kevin felt a rush of excited anticipation at having a new friend on the farm. Though the barn was just a short distance from the house, it seemed to take forever to get there.

Alex was not in the greatest shape, but was well respected by all the other moles. Alex had insidiously engineered intricate underground tunnels leading to the choicest gardens on the farm. Alex loved all those wonderful fresh vegetables, thus contributing to his shapeless figure.

In the wake of the wind, they could still hear Cascade’s loud cries. All the farm animals admired Cascade. Her coat was the color of chestnut satin glowing in the sunshine. She had a white blaze from her forehead to the end of her soft nose. She also had a playful white sock on each of her front legs. Not only was she beautiful and strong, but she was kind and loving to all animals on the farm. Her warm, brown eyes always looked around with compassion and friendship.

Kevin and Alex both reached the barn at the same time. With great care, Kevin opened the barn door so as not to disturb Cascade, who was no longer crying. It was very warm inside the barn, and a peaceful feeling filled the air. Together, the two friends searched the barn and, looking upon them in the corner of the barn with great adulation, was their new friend.

Oh my, oh my, oh my! cried Alex as he jumped into the air and did a triple back flip. Kevin giggled as he watched Alex jump with joy.

Where did you learn to do a flip like that? laughed Kevin.

Oh, I don’t know, said Alex, modestly. Moles are capable of many things when they put their minds to it.

Well hello, my new friend! said Alex with cheerful enthusiasm to the new baby colt.

Kevin and Alex stood in amazement as they watched Oliver searching for the ground to stand on. Oliver struggled and struggled to stand up; his legs were so wobbly. Watching Oliver as he kept trying to stand up and kept falling down over and over again; it was obvious that he wasn’t going to give up easily. Oliver was driven.

Cascade looked at her colt and licked him ever so gently; Oliver clearly felt her warmth and love.

Oh! Cascade cried with happiness. You look just like your father.

Oliver really did look like his father. He had the same thin, white blaze going down his forehead. He had three white socks identical to his father’s: two in the front and one in the back. His coloring was a dark black that would change to a rich dapple gray as he grew older. Cascade knew that Oliver was too young to understand what has happened to his father. In time she would tell him.

All the friends watched as Oliver valiantly labored to stand up. His weak newborn legs scrambled around on the straw.

Come on, Oliver, be tough! said Alex, jumping in the air with so much energy he could barely contain himself.

The excitement grew as all the friends waited for Oliver to take his first steps. Cascade gently nudged Oliver to help him stand up. She never took her eyes off the wonderful new creation she had birthed. Her eyes sparkled with joy and love.

Oliver gave out a strong, hard whinny as he tumbled to the ground once again.

I know I can stand up, cried Oliver. I just have to keep trying, and eventually I will get it right. It was clear that he was a very positive animal. Oliver gave another strong push on all four of his tender legs, and he was up! Oliver was now walking around, taking his first, second, and third steps. It was all so exciting, and all the friends were jumping up and down cheering for him. Oliver’s face beamed; he was so very proud of himself. It took all the strength he had to stand up on all four legs.

Congratulations! cried Alex. Oh, I am so happy that I have a new friend. This is the happiest day I have had in a long time!

Alex was so hyped out that he started jumping around and around, doing front flips, and then back flips, even side flips. How he did the side flips, I’ll never know, Kevin muttered to himself. By this time, Kevin had to sit down because he was laughing so hard watching Alex, his stomach began to hurt.

Meanwhile, Oliver watched his new friends adoringly and wanted to join in on all the fun they were having. He did not understand what they were doing, but he did not care; he just wanted to jump around and play with his new friends.

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Chapter 2

Oliver stretched out his tired body as he took a breath of the cool autumn wind. He could almost smell the apple blossoms as their fragrance drifted his way. Oliver just lay there, enjoying life, as all the other animals on the farm started to wake up from their morning nap. He loved the mornings, being near his mother and savoring each warm drop of her sweet, tasty