Category: Young Adult/Teen Publisher: Publish America
ISBN-10: 1424116376
Type: Fiction
Pages: 180
Copyright: 2005
William Casey’s little sister, Sarah, has died and whatever happened that day it drove Will to near destruction. ‘Fist fights’ became common. One in particular landed him in a cold jail cell, yet even jail couldn't change Will. Instead it took something unexpected. Will’s parents gave him a special gift, a quarter-horse named Sandy. Will’s life finally turned around, just as his parents hoped it would. Will gave Sandy his heart and loyalty. Their lives became filled with horse races and rodeos. Another tragedy attacks the Casey home, one that puts Will to the test. Could he be confident in the words of his father, telling him to trust God, that trusting God gives us hope for the future? Will’s close relationship with Sandy, and new friend, Lori Dune, helped him move on and; painfully, yet ably, hope for tomorrow. When life finally felt perfect for Will, a horrific horse accident takes place. Will and Sandy are broken and barely alive. Can they survive?
Prologue
It was the kind of morning that every cowboy anticipates while pondering the attributes of a horse race and its perfect scenario. Deep periwinkle-blue was the color of Kateyville’s sky, with the sun glistening in bright shades of yellow and soft orange. It was Saturday, August 6, 1960, and Kateyville was experiencing an incredibly beautiful Adirondack morning. One could smell the natural compost of the pine trees, the dew drenched earth, and the familiar scent of the Raquette River with its fish and driftwoods. Every time the wind shifted, there was yet another wonderful combination of the same. The citizens of this northern New York town were gearing up for what was certain to be a spectacular quarter horse event.
A crowd of people had gathered together for what many were calling Kateyville’s event of the year (and maybe even of a lifetime) for a young man named Will and his prized quarter horse, Sandy. As the race was about to begin, people were shuffling quickly into their seats straining for a glimpse of this much adored racing team. Will and Sandy had become hometown heroes of sorts and were favored to win.
An ardor of voices rose from the crowd, and binoculars were raised with nervous anticipation of things to come. Sandy seemed anxious as he tried to back away from the starting gate. The onlookers could faintly hear Will soothe him by saying, “Okay, Sandy! C’mon now boy; it’s all right. This is our day. Stay calm, San. This one’s for Dad.” It was odd that Sandy would try to back out of the gate like that. Will had a difficult time convincing Sandy to get into that gate. One could only conclude that the size of the crowd and its accompanying noise shook Sandy up a bit. Finally, Will was able to reassure and calm Sandy, allowing him to focus and prepare for the bell.
The bell sounded, and like steam from an old train whistle, the horses darted out of their gates. Sandy was the first one out. His hooves and those of the others pounded over the ground in unison, with a rapid paced clamor for the finish line. As each horse forged forward, dirt and muck scudded over the track in every direction.
Sandy was a magnificent sight, the smartest and most handsome quarter horse anyone would ever hope to see. He had long muscular legs, a wide chest, good lines, and large, bright eyes. His coat gleamed in the morning sun, revealing his rich chestnut color, while his lungs and noble heart began to work in unison to a steady rhythm. His muscular chest flexed with each tread around the track. Kateyville’s loyal racing enthusiasts had their eyes fixed on Will and his prized, thoroughbred quarter horse.
William Casey turned eighteen years old just this past June, and he stood about 5 feet nine inches tall, weighing a very solid 165 pounds. He had short auburn hair, lively brown eyes, and a strong muscular build and seemed unaware, or at least unaffected, by his obvious good looks. Will came from a big family. He had one older brother, Jonathan, an older sister, Shannon, two younger brothers, Lenny and Christopher, and before she died, Will had a little sister named Sarah.
Very much his own person, Will usually didn’t care a whole lot about people’s opinion of him. Like most people, Will hoped others liked him; but, if they didn’t, he just didn’t worry about it. It was also true of Will that he didn’t like to have anyone try to tell him who his friends should be. As long as people were genuine, Will liked them. He wasn’t concerned about what station of life they came from. One could readily observe that he was an energetic, outgoing, fun-loving guy, all packaged in a kindly, but yet strong personality. He was a young man respected and liked by many.
This spirited young man never sat on the sidelines; he went after what he wanted and believed he could make things happen. Running races with his most valued friend, Sandy, just happened to be one of those endeavors he threw himself into. Will and Sandy loved to race, and they raced to win.
It was true that Will had a dynamic personality that drew people in; however, he also had a wild, untamed side that many times put him or others in danger. Even his own father had difficulty controlling Will in spite of their close relationship. That is, until he gave Will something very special.
Harry, Will’s father, had always worried about where Will’s wild streak would take him. The guilt and trauma of losing his little sister, Sarah, fueled Will’s rebellion. Harry knew that, but he also feared something else might be at the root of his reckless behavior, something from Harry’s past, and something he agonized over. This chapter of Harry’s life was so traumatic and painful that he made an inner vow to keep it hidden and to never talk about it.
During his waywardness, Will took chances that seemed foolhardy and risky. It was a surprise, as well as a disappointment to many when Will exhibited this audacious and unbridled behavior. However, it was obvious to many that this brazen, dauntless spirit proved helpful when he and Sandy competed for a triumphant end to any horse racing competition. Never was he more determined and confident than today. The race was off to a good start, and Will and Sandy were in the lead.
Turning around, Will could see their amazing lead. Just as he started to measure the rest of the stretch in front of him, he felt a jerk from Sandy. Will’s world collided with Sandy’s as the spectators looked on in terror. A terrible accident began to be played out before the horror-stricken, helpless crowd. Sandy dropped to the ground as he abruptly rolled forward with Will never leaving the saddle. Falling to the ground, Sandy rolled and twisted in ways a horse was never meant to. William was trapped beneath him. This was not the first time Sandy’s speed advanced him to the lead; but this time, being in front led to peril, not triumph. The other horses were unable to avoid the twisted wreckage and soon trampled Will and Sandy beneath their hooves. Before Will’s face were crashing hooves and whipping tails! Desperate cries came from the other horsemen as they frantically tried to miss hitting Will and Sandy. “Whoa! Oh, boy! Jump girl! Oh, Lord, easy, easy!” Their desperate cries were of no use. There was no way to control the horses or this deadly predicament.
Will’s mouth was full of dirt, and just as he tried to spit it out, he felt a sharp thud come down on his head. Will’s body became limp and motionless as it lay in an eerie stillness on the horse track.
From the stands, a still hush replaced the previous excitement. In the deafening silence, prayers reached forth to the heavens as fear and anguish masked hope. The onlookers, with hands cupped over their mouths and toes bent to the tips, strained desperate eyes trying to catch a glimpse of the fate of Will and Sandy. William lay lifeless and bloody on the ground beneath Sandy. Will’s older brother, Jonathan, ran to the ill-fated scene. The fear on John’s face told a horrifying story.
Panic permeated the air. Will was a young man that had overcome so much, even though uncertainty and adversity always seemed to loom over his life. Many in this small logging town had grown to admire and love Will. The idea that something terrible could happen to him now was unconscionable. It seemed such a short time ago that Will’s family buried Sarah. She was born premature and sickly, and no one believed she would live. Sarah survived her infant years, only to lose her life at the untimely age of six. And it was only this past year that tragedy had delivered yet another terrible blow to Will and his family, and they had yet another loss to overcome. It was unthinkable that the Caseys would have to bear even more sorrow.
A crowd of people began to surround the accident where Will and Sandy lay. As Sandy desperately tried to stand, his head seemed to dangle uncontrollably to the side. Those who had even the slightest degree of equine knowledge knew Sandy had probably broken his neck, an injury that almost always leads to fatality. Sandy was writhing in pain. He was a 1200-pound quarter horse, Will’s best friend, and he lay atop him.
Gregg Pace, the family’s trusted friend, as well as Sandy’s trainer, was the first to arrive on the scene. He gave Sandy something to help calm him down. Now, they both lay lifeless and the sight was agonizingly chilling.
Thankfully, an ambulance and several emergency personnel are always equipped and ready at a moment’s notice during all horse racing and rodeo events, and this day was no exception. Within seconds, its siren sounded, and the ambulance was brought inside the track. Once inside the track, it seemed to take forever. Eventually, Will was lifted from the ground up into the ambulance and the crowd erupted in applause. Will was whisked away, with his fate yet unknown.
When the ambulance left the track, a special horse trailer was brought in to retrieve Sandy. Many men were needed to move him. Everyone watched as he was hoisted up into the trailer. Watching in horror, they could see Sandy’s contorted, broken bones that once comprised his magnificent frame. Now, he was lifeless, bloody, and hauntingly still.
An expected triumph had turned to shock and disbelief.
Excerpt
"The next thing I knew, a nurse entered my room... she was a substantial woman, and it wasn't long before I discovered she was a bold talker as well. ...she began to wave her pen around in the air, "Hello, hello young man. I see you decided to wake up today. Well it's about time, don't you think?"
Ignoring her, I never made a sound. Instead, I just lay there, looking out the window, reminding myself that I wanted the shade shut before morning came."
Professional Reviews
Joan Dyer, Gloversville Senior Writers Circle
What a great tribute to your father. You have written a very interesting book for young and old alike. I truly enjoyed it. The love you have for your family comes through in every word you wrote. I wish you luck with any new endeavors you make toward your writing career. I'm looking forward to reading any books you may write in this series . . . I do hope this isn't the end!
One of your greatest fans,
Joan Dyer
Providence, NY
Name: Teresa Alger
Email:
Date: Mon Jun 26 02:34:20 GMT-12:00 2006
Will's Hope is heartwarming, inspiring, and challenging. Heartwarming because it tells of some very close relationships; relationships between humans and humans and horses. It warms your heart with aspiring relationships and it makes your heart ache with relationships that are made distant by death.
Will's Hope is inspiring because it speaks of the love a young man named Will, and his horse, Sandy, have for eachother and how that relationship saves Will's life by making his guilt ridden heart of stone soft and vulnerable again. It is also inspiring to see this young man - through devastating circumstances beyond his control- reach deep inside himself to where he knows the truth and how, when hope seems all lost, he ultimately turns back to the One that he knows holds the hope of tomorrow. He embraces his faith, the faith that was tought to him by his dad and he begins to live again.
Will's Hope speaks of a time when parents worked very hard to raise their children. To teach them of life, to spend precious, memorable time together, and to ensure their children's faith in God by not only teaching them, but more importantly, by living out their faith for their children to see.
Horses are incredible creations of God. They have an enormous amount of love to give. I have horses of my own, and I can greatly relate to the healing affects of a relationship between humans and a horse, just as Will finds with his horse, Sandy.
The challenging aspect of Will's Hope comes when Will is faced with disasterous circumstances beyond his control and the choices he makes in the face of them. Early on, Will's decisions to deal with such tramatic events were dangersous and destructive. Will made choices filtered through a heart gone hard as a result of extreme guilt and self-hatred. It wasn't until Sandy came along that Will was able to see things differently. Will's circumstances lead us to think of our own and how we deal with life's challenges. When we are faced with disasterous circumstances beyond our control, do we rely on human nature, our selfish thoughts of guilt and/or depression, or do we look to God, the One who loves us, created us and is in control? Do we allow Him to comfort us, heal us and ultimately restore to us what we once thought was lost forever?
Will's hope finds its way deep into our soul, forcing us to dig deep into the susceptibilities that can only be found at the very core of our being. It is a story that strips us of all our emotional armour, making us vulnerable and forced to feel. It is a rhapsodical journey worthy of the trip.
Name: Rose
Email: Roseb.tcarinc.com
Date: Wed May 17 13:56:54 GMT-12:00 2006
Will's Hope written by, Bonnie Ford Dunleavy, is an easy to read, fantastic, don't want to put down book. I just loved every minute of it and purposely would stop reading it towards the end, just because I didn't want it to end. I would really love to see another book come out that would continue on with the lives of these wonderful people in this book. I just couldn't get enough.
Rosemarie Barbarulo,
scotia, NY
Name: Mom
Email: lorford1.twcny.rr.com
Date: Sun Apr 16 08:03:38 GMT-12:00 2006
Hello, lovely daughter!
I love this book! I am very proud of you, and I am so pleased that you have bestowed this wonderful honor upon your father. It speaks volumes about your love for him. I enjoyed being one of your proofreaders. Let's hope the readers understand there is a lot of fiction nestled among the truth. Love always,
Mom
Name: Pam
Email: Pamh.tcarinc.com
Date: Wed May 10 02:55:59 GMT-12:00 2006
Will’s Hope is a passionate story about a young boy’s relationship with his horse, his family, his close friends, his God, and the development of his own character from small-town boy to young man. From the beginning, it is an emotional, inspiring, extremely well-written story which would most certainly appeal to a variety of audiences. Anyone with a love for horses and the appreciation for the devout relationship between a human and a horse or a child’s love and admiration for their parent will surely appreciate this chronicle.
Bonnie has a gift of writing which grabs the reader from the onset as well as leaves the future open for other characters and resolutions - and the reader waiting for more of the story. She embraces this character as her own and her love for her father, the inspiration for her story - can most certainly be felt through her writing.
A great, warm & fuzzy story, - this book would make a great inspirational gift and/or a fantastic summer-read.
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