Our adventure continues with Chapter IV of THE HOLLY KING inside the MacKennon homestead in Ghost Horse Hollow. Thanks so much for joining us today with our ongoing holiday tale ...
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The little guest cabin where Jonas White Hand and Lyla Morning Sky reside. Ghost Horse Hollow looks like this photo taken in the late fall in the Cherokee Mountains. |
Chapter IV : The Battle of the Ponies and the Hounds
The evening star tipped the horizon just as the waxing moon appeared above the First Hill of Dendoran. Aaron Ray carefully latched the garden gate behind him. It was a necessary routine on any farm. The metalworker beckoned to White Hand to hurry on, and Jonas responded by waving a rope halter in the air, while turning to his last chore of filling the water troughs. Aaron looked around for Bugle and Belle, but the Blue Tick hounds had already nudged their way past the gate and reached the front porch. With a fluttering of his jet-colored wings, Pelbert the Crow escaped out the kitchen window and spoke briefly with the dogs. The bird then flew in the direction of the clothesline in the side yard and headed toward the chicken coop to gossip with Black Bottom the Rooster. By the time the hounds had flopped down beneath the front porch swing, Pelbert had returned triumphantly and slipped back inside.
“Panther! Addie! The bell’s been rung twice now, girls!” Hannah called as she followed the lilting notes coming from the antique pipe organ in the parlor. Lady MacKennon smiled tenderly. The melodies that tumbled down the wide front hall were hauntingly beautiful. They were reminiscent of old fairy tunes, which Glowgold had been teaching the girls all afternoon. He flitted from one daughter to the next, humming in their ears and waving his wand in time to the music.
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This pump organ looks similar to the one in the MacKennon's parlour. Notice the old foot pedals that have to be pressed back and forth to make the sound! |
Hannah fondly remembered when Glowgold had begun teaching her the same melodies when she was but six years of age. How she had loved the fancy organ, with its beveled glass panels and creaky, embroidered bench seat! Panther and Addie were presently taking turns at pumping the stiff pedals, while giving each other a chance to play the instrument’s worn, ivory
1 Comments on THE HOLLY KING, a Family Holiday Tale #9, last added: 12/1/2011
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The story is just warming up now and the adventure is starting to take off! I especially want to thank actress Ellyon Elestial for bringing the part of Panther MacKennon to life. Panther is the heart of the novel with the action revolving around her courage and skill. Panther would make a terrific movie character with the fairy martial arts techniques and the horse riding scenes. Ellyon Elestial did a super job. Hope you will check out the video on You tube! www.youtube.com/watch?vOyMzKev8hWE