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Winter Horse #winterwordsflashfiction

December 17, 2019 by Sheri

Another thud shook the roof. Lillian jumped and spilled scalding tea on her knee.

“If that horse does not settle down in one minute—” Mam popped her pricked finger into her mouth, clutching Lillian’s torn shirt with the other.

“It’s a winter horse, Mam. It doesn’t know how to stand still.”

“Tell me again why you agreed to watch a winter horse on this night, of all nights.”

Lillian stared into the fire, avoiding Mam’s glare. “He was injured. He couldn’t stay at the stables alone. Peter was desperate.”

A bang. The plaster ceiling shook, dust filtering down.

Mam shot to her feet. “That’s too much. Get out there and calm him. I won’t have this roof down on my head on Christmas Eve.”

Lillian set her tea on the floor and rose slowly. “I don’t know how to calm him.”

“You should have thought of that before you took him in. Or up, as the case may be.” Mam spun and stormed into the kitchen.

Bundled in her cloak, Lillian cracked the door and a wintry gust took her breath away. A wild, lonely call filled her ears. The poor horse.

She shut the door on the warm cabin and waded through drifts until she could see the white creature poised on the roof. He looked too big for his perch, his wings shadowing it on either side. The only sign of his injury was his front left paw, curled under him.

At the sight of her, he snuffed and shivered his wings, sending a sparkling cloud of snow over her. The moon emerged from a cloud and his white coat glimmered, the shadows beneath him deepening.

“Hey boy,” Lillian murmured, inching closer. Her heart pattered, but her awe was overcoming her fear of the massive creature. He reared back as she placed one foot on the rung of the ladder, his paws effortlessly gripping the icy roof.

“It’s all right.” What had Peter said? A winter horse can always tell when you admire them. “You’re beautiful, boy.”

He stilled, dipping his long snout. Lillian climbed a rung, and he didn’t move. By the time she’d reached the top, he’d moved within reach. His coat gleamed so brightly it almost hurt her eyes, but she couldn’t look away. Slowly, she reached out. He sat, straddling the roof like it was a comfortable bed. She held her breath as one finger brushed his icy forehead. Cool magic swept through her, like a delicious hint of snow on a hot summer day.

Distant tinkling bells. Lillian settled next to the winter horse, weaving her fingers through his white mane. A gleaming shape appeared across the night sky, lit by the moon. Seven winter horses, their massive wings pulling a sleigh behind them. It was too far to see, but Lillian knew a man in red held the reins, and a boy with two dimples and curly brown locks sat in the back, watching their cargo. She imagined he glanced her way and saw her tiny shadow next to the horse on the roof.

“Merry Christmas, Peter,” she whispered.

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About Sheri

Here Goes Something New!

Hi, I'm Sheri Yutzy. I love forests under the night sky, trying new foods, and drinking Irish tea. I've been to 17 countries, and once spent the night in a hotel lobby in Florence, Italy, because the entire city was fully booked for a festival.
I'm married to a musician who looks good in black, mama to three curious kids, and happy resident of a Cape Cod cottage in Ohio.
I write YA fantasy and am acquisitions editor at sparkflashfiction.com.
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I’m still here… Still living life, writing and I’m still here…
Still living life, writing and editing, loving every falling leaf and crisp breeze. I started listening to Christmas music yesterday while baking pumpkin muffins because I just couldn’t resist.😅 This year I’m planning to focus on Advent and the weeks leading up to Christmas, since we’re always traveling out of state over the 25th, and it seems to slip by in the busyness.
I have a lot going on right now, and social media is taking a back seat for the moment. Or the month. But I’ll be back, when I have the focus to spare. Until then, I wish you all a happy, mindful fall.
Love you 😘

#sheriyutzy #livingslow
Lovely things await! My contributor’s copy of CO Lovely things await!
My contributor’s copy of COMMONPLACE from @daughtersofpromise has arrived.
I gasped when I saw the artwork with my article on Forest bathing. So rich and beautiful!
As always, they’re a joy to write for. 

#magicineveryday #daughtersofpromisemagazine #magiceveryday #ordinarylife #mennonites #mennonitestyle #mennonite #mywritinglife #writingsforlife #writingaboutlife #writingismylife #lifewritings #writinglifestyle #freelancewritinglife #bookwritinglifestyle #lifewriting #writingislife #writingforlife #thewritinglife #owningmyself #owningmylife #owningit #owningmytime #startyourlife #honestliving #honestlivingbeing #livinghonestly #honestlivings #alwaysbelearning #sheriyutzy
🌚 COVER REVEAL🌚 We finally get to see the b 🌚 COVER REVEAL🌚

We finally get to see the beautiful cover for THREAD OF DREAMS, @embarnettauthor’s upcoming debut from @owlsnestpublishers! 
I can’t wait to get my hands on this dreamy book.

Here is the blurb:

Nova’s sunless planet is sustained by the magic of human dreams. Born as a moon mage, Nova’s job is to harvest dream threads from unaware humans to be used against a dark parasite eating away their land. 

Then, Nova meets Arlo, a boy who not only sees her but whose aching heart permeates his dreams. Desiring deep connection, Nova ignores the warnings of her people in order to visit the beauty of his subconscious.

But nightmares not only seep into minds and hearts, they also stalk the bioluminescent forests of Nova's world. Danger lurks in waking and sleeping, and to fail means succumbing to the parasite while cut off from Arlo forever. But if Nova can find a way to fight back, she and her people could be free to dream again.

#threadofdreams #emilybarnettauthor #bookworm_insta #booksoutside #fantasylit #yalove #amwritingyafantasy #yafantasywriter #yafantasyauthor #novelfantasy #loveagoodbook #readtogether #iamreading #indiebook #newbooksmell #loveofreading #imreading #booksmell #booklovergift #bookloversoftheworld #constantreader #books4life
I’ve been reading a lot of books, but not taking I’ve been reading a lot of books, but not taking many pictures of them.🥸 
Mostly because this weather is as anti-inspirational as it gets for me.😭 this happens every year—the last few hot and muggy days of September make me want to hide inside 24/7. But it’s supposed to get cooler by the weekend, thank God.

I saw DREAMS LIE BENEATH at the bookstore and was captivated by the cover. It’s so different from A RIVER ENCHANTED that I didn’t realize it was the same Rebecca Ross. I actually thought, one of them needs to change their name.😅

This one is my next read, I think. Have you read it? What did you think?
@beccajross #rebeccaross 
#sheriyutzy #bookworm_insta #summerreads #fantasylit #yalove #amwritingyafantasy #yafantasywriter #yafantasyauthor #novelfantasy #loveagoodbook #readtogether #iamreading #indiebook #newbooksmell #loveofreading #imreading #booksmell #booklovergift #bookloversoftheworld #constantreader #books4life
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