The Little Sea Horse

By Clara E. Stuart

THE LITTLE SEA HORSE is a heartwarming adventure brought to life by the author, Clara Stuart. It is a story of people touching the lives of their neighbors, with the help of a tiny creature who was discovered by mere chance. If the Lewiss hadnt gone fishing that morning, if they hadnt decided at the last minute to take one last vacation before winter came, this little wonder would have died, never to share his special gift with the world.
Although the story is completely fictional, the author dots the story with similarities from her personal experiences, as well as the sweet spices of inspiration sprinkled throughout the book..
A few years ago, she and her husband had gone fishing on the Snake River in Northeastern Oregon. It was a cold, damp and foggy morning, but that didnt keep them from enjoying the scenery that they loved so much. They shoved their boat away from the dock and headed down the Snake River toward their favorite fishing spot. Just as they rounded the bend, something in the water caught Claras eye. I wonder what that is? she asked her husband. It was just a Styrofoam bait box someone had carelessly tossed overboard. He didnt pay much attention to it, but Clara, well with the imagination that she has, it sent her mind whirling and creating. By the time they got home she already had the first two chapters planned, and a story was born. . .
Al and Ellen Lewis were on vacation, enjoying a little fishing at their favorite place on earth. It was the beginning of autumn, and the days were dreary and cold. They were motoring out on the Snake River taking in the gorgeous view, on their way to their lucky fishing spot. The snow capped mountains stood tall behind the brown rolling hills in Northeastern Oregon. The River was cold and murky and fog ways laying low along the banks. All at once Ellens eyes were drawn to a snag in the water, seemingly caught up in the currant. The water was churning, or was it. . . ?
Coaxing her husband to get closer to the thing that was thrashing and fighting for its life, they only frightened it more. It freed itself but at the same time plunged into the frigid water and went under. As soon as it popped to the surface, Ellen grabbed it and pulled it into the boat.
As the drama unfolds, it takes the Lewiss on an adventure of heartbreak, compassion, and love. The special little Sea Horse that they pulled out of the water, although tiny and helpless, turned out to be the very burst of inspiration that this small community needed. People who had neglected to stay in tune with their neighbors, came together in the time of need, taking the Lewiss full circle and beyond.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris US
• Release date: Oct 30, 2012
• ISBN: 9781479735891

Clara E. Stuart

Clara McFarland is a native Oregonian. Born in Portland in 1946. She grew up in the Portland area, went to school and graduated from John Marshall High School class of ‘64. She Married the love of her life Albert Stuart, in 1965 and will celebrate their 47th wedding anniversary the fall of 2012. They have three children, ten grandchildren, and three great grandchildren. Painfully shy her entire life, she safely tucked herself inside the stories and poetry she wrote. Her passion grew by leaps and bounds for the inspirational messages of the writings she and the Lord created. She say’s “I am just the pen, it is He who does the writing”.

Book preview

Copyright © 2012 by Clara E. Stuart.

Sketches by Clara Stuart

ISBN: Softcover 978-1-4797-3588-4

Ebook 978-1-4797-3589-1

All rights reserved. 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 copyright owner.

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to any actual persons, living or dead, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

To order additional copies of this book, contact:

Xlibris Corporation

1-888-795-4274

www.Xlibris.com

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Contents

The Vacation

Chapter One

Teresa

Chapter Two

Lily’s Sea Horse

Chapter Three

Community Unity

Chapter Four

L Sea Meets Sally

Chapter Five

L Sea Makes His Own Choice

Chapter Six

The Proud New Owners

Chapter Seven

Little Runaways

Chapter Eight

Family

Chapter Nine

Gifted?

Chapter Ten

Christmas

Chapter Eleven

Spring at last

Chapter Twelve

Job For L Sea

Chapter Thirteen

Abby

Chapter Fourteen

Aunt Lois

Chapter Fifteen

Dedication

I gratefully acknowledge my greatest inspiration and Savior, Jesus Christ. He gives me the words and I put them on paper. I want to thank the other half of my heart, my best friend and husband of 47 years. He has encouraged me every step of the way. To him who loves us unconditionally, and to my precious family, I dedicate this book

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The Vacation

Chapter One

It was late October, a chill was in the early morning air and the eerie fog that had settled on the murky water was beginning to dissipate. Al and Ellen Lewis were out a mile or two toward the Snake River, fishing and enjoying the scenery. The entire valley was picturesque with its rolling hills partially hidden by the low clouds, secluding a small herd of elk that were grazing along their slopes. They watched a lone coyote running around along the shoreline rummaging for food among the driftwood. While high in the branches of a cottonwood tree, a golden eagle was perched, ready to dive down and snatch any unsuspecting fish from the water below him, or whatever tasty morsels the coyote might leave.

This was the Lewis’s favorite place on earth. All their vacations were spent right here. Friends and family loved to travel to different places, and they always came back raving about the beautiful scenery in Hawaii, Costa Rica, and Ireland, all of which seemed intriguing for sure. But Al and Ellen chose this place because they were sure that no countryside in the world could be more gorgeous than it was right here. There was no place they would rather be. It wasn’t merely the beautiful brown rolling hills that attracted all sorts of wildlife that captivated them, nor the snow capped mountains standing tall and majestic behind them. It wasn’t just the rivers and streams tumbling swiftly over rock beds and flowing through the plush green valley or the breathtaking sunsets. No, it was much more than that, there was something about this place that was almost magnetic to them. It drew them with its beauty that was true, but it was the serenity and the pure fresh air. It was the friendliness of the local ranchers and town’s people, who never failed to throw up their hands to welcome them that brought the Lewis’s back year after year.

It doesn’t get any better than this, Al commented, leaning back in his seat.

I know what you mean, I could sit here all day just watching the beauty of this place and never get tired of it, Our God is an awesome artist, Ellen sighed.

Suddenly her attention was snapped away from the hills to something in the river. It was moving frantically in the water and seemed to be caught on a snag in the currant. Debris and foam had collected around it making it nearly impossible to tell what it was. As their boat slowly drifted toward the floating mass, they could see the form of a tiny animal struggling desperately to stay afloat in the chilling water. Ellen couldn’t imagine what it could be but it appeared to be green!

Al, Pull over to the right a little, let me see if I can help the poor little thing.

The closer they got the more clearly Ellen could see what was causing the disturbance; it was a newborn foal all tangled up in a tree branch.

They drifted in cautiously until they were finally close enough for her to reach out and grab the branch. The foal, frightened by the noise of the outboard motor and at the sight of what must have looked like giants, made one last attempt to free itself. It lunged, was in the water and had gone under before Ellen could grab it.

Oh no! she yelled, dear Lord no!

All at once the water began to boil wildly and then the foal bobbed to the surface like a balloon full of air.

There! Al shouted.

Got him! gasped Ellen, giving a sigh of relief as she tugged the creature into the boat. It was indeed a very green and rather slimy colt.

Oh look Al, the umbilical cord is still attached! Poor baby, do you think he’ll make it? Ellen asked, shivering at the sight of the limp little form.

It’ll be a miracle if he does, replied Al. Hypothermia is deadly enough for a grown person, much less a tiny animal like this.

Al, a slightly balding, gray haired man with muscular arms and a little pot belly, smiled as he watched as his wife wrapped the now shivering colt in her parka and laid him close to the propane heater they brought with them. He couldn’t help but admire her for her tenderness as she soothed the colt, speaking softly to him and making sure he was warm. It reminded him of the gentle way she cared for their children as they were growing up. The wind was blowing her graying hair back, exposing her face to the sunlight now peaking through the broken clouds. He could see how aging had marked her brow with what his mother would call worry lines and he was amused by the way her hazel eyes seemed to reflect the blue from the life vest she was wearing. It was just one more thing to remind him of just how much he loved her.

Ellen seemed a little more hopeful than her husband who was the more practical of the two. Although he was small in stature, still he was very firm about keeping a level head. She searched his face for any sign of hope, but the steel blue eyes that she’d learned to trust for strength didn’t reveal what she had hoped to see. Her mind was racing as they headed for the dock. Fishing would be delayed for today.

I wonder who he belongs to . . . ? she finally managed to say, thinking out loud really.

"I wonder how he ended up in the river," Al answered.

That storm last night was really fierce. All the wind and heavy rain probably caused a flash flood that swept him away from his mother, right on out to the river, she said.

Well anyway we’d better see if we can find the owner, Al said, concerned.

Um hum, Ellen responded, not really paying attention to him. Her thoughts were on the colt who was beginning to show signs of life. His eyes came open and he snorted! Water spewed everywhere!

Goodness! laughed Ellen. You’re a regular little sea horse aren’t you? She spoke softly, trying not to frighten him. He blinked his big eyes at her as though he understood what she was saying.

The algae now drying in his hair, mixed with blood from the few minor cuts and scrapes, caused the colt to have funny little greenish highlights, but they could see that, underneath it all, he was actually white.

Yep, that confirms it, she giggled, a regular little sea horse, easy baby, she whispered as he began to wriggle out of the parka. You’re going to be okay.

Look at him Al, I think he knows we’re trying to help him, look how calm he is.

He’s still half frozen, probably in shock. You’d better find something to put around his neck before he comes to all the way. We don’t want a panic-stricken animal on board, we could all end up in the river, Al said, genuinely concerned.

Ellen looked around the boat. All she could find was an extra life vest. She carefully wrapped it around the colt and fastened the buckle snuggly. He was