A Horse's Tale, Chapter 20, Twas the Night Before
As Steph and Rob drive up to the house, they check the horses in the Lady’s Parlour and the Football Field, all is quiet, Steph turns off the engine, and turns to Rob, "I really enjoyed visiting the grandkids, they were both so excited.", Rob nods, "Yes, I think they will be up many hours before dawn just waiting." They both get out of the Expedition, and slowing walk to the front door, Steph looks around, "Well some of the water is drying up, well at least in some places." Rob steps over a rather large puddle, "Yes, in a couple more days we will just have mud."
As they open the door, most of the dogs look up, Bruno jumps up, as do Truffles, and Moo. Steph says "Were home did you miss us?" Bruno is jumping around to excited to talk and Truffles and Moo, start racing around Stephs feet. "Ok gang time to go to bed." Bruno hearing this lowers his head, and walks over to his bed, mumbling "No Treats", Truffles and Moo, are still running around in circles, "Ok, Everyone to bed." Rob and Steph head to the bedroom. Steph looks out the window, the lights from the tree sends a glow around the area, Justice is eating, Steph opens the window a little bit, and listens, ahhh, nothing, "The sound of peace and quiet."
Just as Steph reaches to turn out the light, Bruno rushes in the bedroom, "You need to come quick, all the horses are at the front door." Both Steph and Rob say "What do you mean all the horses .." just at that moment, there is a knock on the front door. Bruno is wagging his tail so hard, he falls over, "See I told you." Rob grabs his robe and heads to the door, Steph puts on her robe and is looking around for her bunny slippers. Rob opens the door and yells back to Steph, "It’s for you." Steph finally finds her bunny slips and heads up front. "What do you mean it’s for me?" Rob steps to the side revealing, Dublin standing at the door. Steph followed by Bruno, gets to the door and looks out. For the first time in Bruno's life he was right about something, Standing outside were 36 horses, some holding Wal-Mart bags, Spirit was holding the rope attached to the row boat, in which was 'B', Justice had his Red blanket with white trim, his red Santa hat, and a large white beard. Steph turns to Dublin, "If I may ask, what is going on." Dublin leans forward, and hands a Wal-Mart bag to Steph, He stands up, head high, "We have heard a tale about peoples this time of year, and families, and gifts and trees with lights. Then Violette told us about her hold home and what they did on this day." Violette looks around from behind Dublin, she has a small box in her mouth. She walks up to Steph and hands her the box.
Violette begins, "At my old home, on this very night each year, the people family and the horses, and dogs, and cats would gather together and our people mom would read to us. She gave this to me, so I would remember them." Steph looks at the box, rather plain, only a few teeth marks, she slowing opens it and inside is a small framed card, she looks close holding it up to the light. Violette asks "Well you read it to us." Dublin nods.
Rob turns "What is it?" Steph hands it to him, and wipes tears from her eyes. Rob says, "Yes, I think you should read it to them, are entire family is here or close at heart." He hands the small frame card back to Steph. Steph looks over her shoulder, the dogs are sitting down, and looking at her, she looks out around the patio, and each and every horse, and two mules are looking at her. She looks past the horses, toward the chicken coop, the chickens are lined up looking at the house, along with Tootsie from the edge of the coop.
Steph hold the small framed card in the light, "Yes, I think our entire family is here." Steph begins to read from the small card.
"Twas the Night before Christmas
by Clement Clarke Moore
Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house
Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse.
The stockings were hung by the chimney with care,
In hopes that St Nicholas soon would be there.
The children were nestled all snug in their beds,
While visions of sugar-plums danced in their heads.
And mamma in her ‘kerchief, and I in my cap,
Had just settled our brains for a long winter’s nap.
When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter,
I sprang from the bed to see what was the matter.
Away to the window I flew like a flash,
Tore open the shutters and threw up the sash.
The moon on the breast of the new-fallen snow
Gave the lustre of mid-day to objects below.
When, what to my wondering eyes should appear,
But a miniature sleigh, and eight tinny reindeer.
With a little old driver, so lively and quick,
I knew in a moment it must be St Nick.
More rapid than eagles his coursers they came,
And he whistled, and shouted, and called them by name!
"Now Dasher! now, Dancer! now, Prancer and Vixen!
On, Comet! On, Cupid! on, on Donner and Blitzen!
To the top of the porch! to the top of the wall!
Now dash away! Dash away! Dash away all!"
As dry leaves that before the wild hurricane fly,
When they meet with an obstacle, mount to the sky.
So up to the house-top the coursers they flew,
With the sleigh full of Toys, and St Nicholas too.
And then, in a twinkling, I heard on the roof
The prancing and pawing of each little hoof.
As I drew in my head, and was turning around,
Down the chimney St Nicholas came with a bound.
He was dressed all in fur, from his head to his foot,
And his clothes were all tarnished with ashes and soot.
A bundle of Toys he had flung on his back,
And he looked like a peddler, just opening his pack.
His eyes-how they twinkled! his dimples how merry!
His cheeks were like roses, his nose like a cherry!
His droll little mouth was drawn up like a bow,
And the beard of his chin was as white as the snow.
The stump of a pipe he held tight in his teeth,
And the smoke it encircled his head like a wreath.
He had a broad face and a little round belly,
That shook when he laughed, like a bowlful of jelly!
He was chubby and plump, a right jolly old elf,
And I laughed when I saw him, in spite of myself!
A wink of his eye and a twist of his head,
Soon gave me to know I had nothing to dread.
He spoke not a word, but went straight to his work,
And filled all the stockings, then turned with a jerk.
And laying his finger aside of his nose,
And giving a nod, up the chimney he rose!
He sprang to his sleigh, to his team gave a whistle,
And away they all flew like the down of a thistle.
But I heard him exclaim, ‘ere he drove out of sight,
"Happy Christmas to all, and to all a good-night!"
As Steph finishes, tears rolling down her cheeks, Rob reaches over and puts his arm around her. Rob looks at Dublin, "Happy Christmas to you Dublin and to all of you." Steph looks up, "Oh yes, Happy Christmas to all of you and thank you so much." Steph very carefully places the small frame back in the box and hands it back to Violette, She rubs Violette's forehead, "and thank you." Steph looks around, "People have traditions that mark occasions throughout the year, just as horses do. What I read was written many years ago to show the happiness of the season. This time of year is for family and friends, and you all are our family here. The family changes, we have lost some dear friends, and gained a few. But you are all family." She looks around most of the horses are nodding their heads, some with smiles on their faces, except of Justice seems a bit confused. Several of the horse step forward and hand their Wal-Mart bags to Steph.
The horses turn and return to their pens, Spirit pulling the rowboat with 'B' still inside, probably will take longer than normal. Steph turns and steps over the dogs, "and you are our family also and we lub you all." with that the dogs jump up and return to their beds. Before she closes the door, Steph looks over to the coop, and sitting on the ground next to it is Tootsie. "Rob I have one more thing I need to do." Steph places the Wal-Mart bags on the table and goes into the kitchen. She reaches in to a cabinet and pulls out a can of cat food and a small package she bought awhile ago, Steph heads out the door, and walk directly to the coop, with a few sidesteps around puddles. Steph walks up to Tootsie, who does not run away, Steph say, "I don't know if you understood what was going on, but you are family also, and we love you too." She places the cat food next Tootsie, "And a Special Gift for you." Steph places the small package next to the cat food, as she does, she gives it a small squeeze, and it squeaks. Steph smiles turns back to the house.
As she gets to the door she turns and in a very quiet voice "Happy Christmas to all, and to all a good night." As Steph closes the door and turns the lights off, she hears a squeaking coming from the chicken coop.
To Be Continued.
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