Author's Note: "Holiday Wishes Upon the Wind" is my entry for Literotica's - 2011 Winter Holiday Contest.
This is a Romance story through and through, but there are strong paranormal elements present, which made categorizing this story difficult.
I have been blessed with some amazing people in my life who have lent their life experience and inspiration to the story.
But it really is all about the lovely, impish Spirit who guided it along. I hope she is pleased with "her" love story.
The italicized words in the story represent flashbacks in time.
Please Read, Vote, and/or Comment and ENJOY! I love feedback, and constructive criticism helps me grow as a writer. One vote per reader, please. Thanks so much!
(My "thanks" and "mentions" follow after the story.)
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Raechel looked around at the modest pile of wrapped presents beneath the Douglas Fir, noting the lovely contrast between colors and characters. Glancing around, her blue eyes landed on several piles of yet-to-be-wrapped gifts. She sighed. It was Christmas Eve and she still had so much to do! They had to deliver the gifts in the morning. She was in charge of wrapping all of the gifts for the Toy Drive this year. She had been given the choice of crafts, cookies, or gift-wrapping. She chose, in her opinion, the least of three evils. She had no patience for crafts. Her sister-in-law's kitchen was not wheelchair adapted the way her own home was. So she had begrudgingly accepted the wrapping task, wondering just how much work could it be to wrap a few gifts for kids?
She yawned, stretched, and lightly banged her head on the table. "Just a little break," she told herself as she closed her eyes.
"Raechel," a voice called softly in the distance. "Raechel." She lifted her head and looked around.
"Who said that?" She reached for another package lying on the low card-table, knocking over her mug of tepid cocoa in the process. The cocoa spilled, running all over the roll of festive wrapping paper and ruining the cardboard box containing a babydoll. With a groan of annoyance, she grabbed up the box, ripped the sopping cardboard open and glared at all of the plastic twists and security ties holding the doll in.
"You've got to be kidding me!" she growled. After unsuccessfully trying to untwist the ties, she picked up the fancy pair of pinking shears and attacked the box with them, cutting her thumb on the cardboard in the process. Disgusted, she pushed away from the table, grabbed a paper towel and wheeled over to the coat rack. Flinging her woolen shawl over her shoulders and slipping on her leather gloves, she pushed fast and hard, escaping out into the cold night air.
The hair on the back of her neck stood up as she made her way down to the barn. She felt like she was being watched and the sooner she got herself inside, the better. A howl broke the stillness of the night startling her. Despite the fact that she knew it was just the old husky that lived down the lane, she still picked up her speed. Sarah wasn't due back for another couples of hours. She would hide out in the barn, check on the horses, and spend some alone time with her horse Windust. Her heavy heart lifted remembering when Windust had come into her life and the man who came with him.
"I miss you," she said as she opened the barn door and rushed inside. Slamming the door shut, she breathed a sigh of relief, chuckling to herself at her silly imagination. Of course no one answered her and no one was watching her. She unlatched the stable door. Wind nearly knocked her out of her chair, greeting her, and nudging her body. She pushed on the brakes to ensure she wouldn't move and then wrapped her arms around his gray neck, breathing in his horse scent and loving him.
"I can always count on you, friend." She stroked his neck and kissed his muzzle, closing her eyes and allowing the memories to overtake her of that very first day.
***
After the accident that took away Raechel's mobility, she had reluctantly started going to counseling. She even joined a support group for newly disabled women. At first she had been in shock. She was grateful she had survived, but railed at the unfairness of losing her ability to walk. Depression had set in and she had disconnected from the world. Her therapist had worked diligently to try to bring her out of her shell and after months of working with her, she was able to reawaken Raechel's love of horses.
She had immediately put Raechel in touch with a therapeutic riding organization that helped people with disabilities. Raechel had her doubts, but Angie asked her to give it a chance. That's what brought her to Loving Care Farm in the first place. She slowly wheeled into the stable. She'd had a few lessons as a little girl and loved horses since before she could talk. But she never imagined she might be back up on one again.
A horse's whinny caught her attention and she wheeled up to its stall. It was a mournful sound that made her want to hug him. It was love at first sight. She stared in at the stallion and watched. Unable to stand any longer on weakened legs, he bent to the knee and laid himself down. He rested his dark head on a bale of hay, blowing out air with such effort. His hide was dull gray, but Raechel imagined at one time it was probably lustrous and beautiful. She was about to talk to the horse, when she saw a man pick up a syringe and walk over to him. She pushed forward. Her wheels crunching on the ground must have alerted the man to her presence, because he turned to her and lifted his brow.
"Can I help you?" he asked her.
"What's his name?" Raechel inquired, pointing to the stallion.
"He used to be Wind Dancer, but now we call him Windust." The man walked over and set the syringe on a bale of hay, turning to her.
"Windust, like Stardust," she said, her blue eyes sparkling as she wheeled up to the gate.
"Yeah, something like that." He filled the food bucket.
"It suits him." She unlocked the gate and before he could stop her, she wheeled herself into the paddock.
"You really shouldn't be doing that. You might frighten him with your-- "
"Wheels? Last time I checked, horses are used to carriages and wagons. I'm sure he'll be fine." She smiled sweetly. Windust lifted his sullen head up as she entered his paddock. They gazed into each other's eyes. Despite her calming presence, she could see that Windust couldn't relax.
She noticed out of the corner of her eye that the man remained at the gate, watching her. She rolled up to the great gray body and reached her hand up. Windust lifted his head up so she could touch him and snuffled at her sandy hair. She laughed joyously.
"Nice to meet you as well, Windust. Who owns him?"
"The track owns him. I'm Larry, his trainer and he isn't long for this world. When a horse is as badly injured as he is, he is no longer valuable to the sport. Veterinarian bills are exceedingly expensive. It pains me to have to end his short life." He explained, his voice full of emotion.
"Then why end it? It's up to you whether he lives or dies, right? Maybe he just needs to be given a chance." Raechel saw from the startled look in his eye, that what she said might have registered. She pressed on.
"If he had some love and care and a lot of patience maybe he could be nursed back to his full strength. Maybe he needs someone in his life that understands him."
Raechel gently stroked Wind's muzzle and crooned softly, her heart going out to him. She knew what it was like to have people give up on you before even giving you a fair chance. She felt connected to this horse and shared his pain and his fate. She would fight for him!
"If I don't do what I'm supposed to do, I will have many to answer to. I have no room for him in these stables and he is costing my wife and I a fortune." Raechel saw a young woman enter the stables. She introduced herself as Larry's wife Sarah, and smiled at her pleasantly.
"Larry, you should speak for yourself. This is my farm and the welfare of the horses are my decision." Sarah admonished her husband.
"Sarah, honey you know he's hurt. I love the horses just as much as you do."
She glared at him. "I never signed on for working with the track. That was your doing."
"We needed the money."
"I know. Okay? I know! You don't have to remind me every single day about the money. Once we are back on our feet, we are leaving the racing business behind. Understood?"
"Yes, dear." Larry walked away, defeated. Raechel felt uncomfortable listening in on a private conversation, but relaxed when Sarah turned to her with a smile. She didn't look to be that much older than she was.
"Now, what's your name?" she asked Raechel.
"Raechel."
"Raechel, have you ever ridden a horse before?" She saw Larry looked over at them doubtfully and she pursed her lips.
"I have. It was a long time ago, though. I was just a kid. It's always been a dream of mine to have a horse of my own, to learn to ride one an-and then this happened to me." She pointed to her legs. "I felt this freedom and that was when I could still walk." Tears filled her eyes. "It felt like I was flying. It felt like I had no cares in the world." She cried softly and Sarah embraced her gently. "I'd love to feel that again. I bet I could even forget about this damn chair then."
"You okay, honey?" Sarah asked concerned.
