Thomas didn’t need to think about it for a second. ‘Freedom, his name is Freedom.’
‘Very well,’ Father said, and began carving the name on the pony’s quarters.
Thomas lingered and watched every letter his father made, stroking the pony the entire time.
‘There. Done,’ said Father. ‘He’s ready for his owner.’
Thomas let out a sob and clasped his arms around the pony’s neck.
‘Goodbye, Freedom. You have been the greatest friend,’ Thomas said in between gasps. Salty tears trickled down his cheeks and onto his lips. He thought of their adventures in the snow, and the fact that the pony would never taste that freedom ever again.
‘Goodbye?’ asked Father. ‘Well, that is strange thing to say. You shouldn’t be saying goodbye. You should be saying hello.’
Thomas looked at his father with red-rimmed eyes.
‘Thomas,’ Father said, ‘you are the very important person. You are Freedom’s owner!’
Thomas’s eyes widened so much, they very nearly popped out. ‘Mine? Freedom is mine?’
‘He’s all yours!’
‘Yahoo!’ cried Thomas, mounting his pony right away. He imagined they were galloping through the fields.
‘Come, Mother, let’s leave the boy and his pony to become acquainted,’ said Father, and Thomas’s parents left the workshop.
‘I’m not your owner, Freedom, you’ll never have an owner. We’re best friends and you’ll always be free!’ Thomas cried, thinking nobody could hear him but the pony.
But Father popped his head around the workshop door.
‘Thomas, just one thing,’ Father said seriously. ‘If you and Freedom do insist on your midnight adventures, just make sure you don’t stay out quite so late each night.’
Father winked and Thomas’s smile nearly split his face in two.
‘Who knew?’ Thomas said to Freedom once they were utterly alone. ‘Turns out grown-ups do believe in magic, after all.’
Download for FREE!
The journey of an awkward pony galloping on bravely through bullies and hecklers. A beautiful retelling of Hans Christian Andersen’s classic, The Ugly Duckling.
When strange looking pony Bella is born in at a prize-winning stud yard, nobody wants to be her friend. She looks too different to fit in. Now, with the showing season looming and the prize-winning ponies heckling her, Bella must find her own inner beauty or risk getting bullied forever…
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Angharad Thompson Rees has spent her lifetime frolicking with horses and ponies, from Olympic show jumpers and world class racehorses, to taming naughty ponies using Horse Whispering techniques. She believes in the magical, revels in the whimsical and owns a pet unicorn, called Sydney.
Say Hello and Get Free Books!
www.angharadthompsonrees.com
[email protected]
Table of Contents
Copyright
Dedication
Table of Contents
The Painted Pony
THE PAINTED PONY
I. In the Beginning
1. Stargazer Ponders
II. A Strange Occurrence
2. Stargazer Imagines
The Girl and her Pony
THE GIRL AND HER PONY
1. A Right Royal Parade
2. A Right Royal Find
3. A Right Royal Name
4. A Right Royal Discovery
5. A Right Royal Predicament
6. A Right Royal Friendship
The Galloping Pony
THE GALLOPING PONY
1. Warmheart of Pennydale
2. Humble Beginnings
3. A Gentleman’s Bet
4. The Big Day
5. Off and Racing
6. Humble Endings
The Runaway Pony
THE RUNAWAY PONY
1. The Wooden Bridge
2. The Wild Winds
3. The Land of Faerie
4. The Bog of Eternal Endurance
5. The Princess Redemption
6. The Journey Home
The Desert Pony
THE DESERT PONY
1. Lake Furkan
2. It’s a Goat’s Life
3. Market Day
4. A Seeker’s Tear
5. Sky High
6. Lavender and Primrose
7. A Fond Farewell
The Wooden Pony
THE WOODEN PONY
1. London at Night
2. Many Colours
3. Eyes Open
4. The Midnight Hour
5. Freedom
Free Bonus Pony Tale
Pat the Ponies
Coming Soon
About the Author
Magical Adventures & Pony Tales Boxset (Vol 1 - 6) Page 10