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Speaker 1: Amongst the fields of the Irish countryside, there was a

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small but pretty farm. To be completely accurate, it had

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been a farm once upon a time, and it still

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retained much of the land and many of the buildings,

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and it still had a few animals too, although these

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were either a cat's chickens or a horse's. The locals

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knew the farm's owner as Granny Horse. It wasn't how

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she introduced herself, but it's what everyone called her just

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the same. If you had a problem with your horse,

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you tended to take it to Granny Horse to have

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it looked over, maybe even leave it for a few days.

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Granny Horse had spent many years living happily on the

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farm all alone. She had her animals and her regular visitors,

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so she didn't miss company. But recent events had changed

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all that. When she took in her two grandchildren, Ada

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and Conrad. At first it was quite a shock for

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all three of them, but they weren't strangers. The children

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quickly settled into the rhythms of looking after the animals

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and were distracted by the comings and goings as neighbors

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near and far called in to talk to Granny Horse

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or bring in a mare or a fowl to be

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looked at. In truth, Grannie Horse was both surprised and

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pleased at how smoothly the children were adapting to their

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new lives. Both Ada and Conrad loved the animals, learning

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the names of each of them, despite the challenges this presented.

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The cats lived amongst the barns and tumbled down outbuildings,

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keeping the rats and mice down, so they weren't easy

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to find. The chickens were another challenge, as the eight

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girls Granny Horse kept for their eggs all looked very

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much alike Grannie Horse, though knew how to tell them apart. Hannah,

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for example, was missing the end of a toe on

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her left foot, while Orla's comb the red ridge atop

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her head, was much shorter and flatter than her sister's.

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Shaneade was Ada's favorite, as she, unlike the other chickens,

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insisted on laying her eggs in the strangest of places,

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so finding them was like a fresh treasure hunt every day.

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Learning the horses names was much easier, other than the

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temporary guess that the locals would bring to the stables

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for a few days. There were three horses on the farm.

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Morrigan was a white Irish cob with a brown face

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and large brown patch on her flank. She was the

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eldest of the horses and the most patient with the children.

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Then there was Dagda, a chestnut horse that towered over

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everyone despite his size. He was gentle and open for

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his ability to let himself in and out of the

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barn where he lived. The last horse was Ogma, a

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carry bog pony. Ogma got into everything, thought nothing of

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pushing you over, and was a general nuisance half the time.

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But this playful cheekiness just made the children love him

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all them. A few days after their arrival, Ada and

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Conrad were carrying buckets of feed, sweeping out the stables

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and topping up the water as if they'd been doing

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it all their lives. Grannie Horse was pleased to hear

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the laughter as the children encouraged the chickens into the

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coop for the night, not least because Orla was refusing

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to go in. Can't we just leave her out? Grannie asked, Ada, Oh,

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heavens no, chuckled their grandmother. The fox will have her

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in an instant. She's too quick, complained Conrad, attempting to

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grab the dodging hen. That she is, laughed Grannie, but

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not quite quick enough to escape a fox. As if

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understanding the seriousness of the situation, Aurla changed direction and

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ran straight up the ramp to disappear inside the coop.

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Got her, said Ada triumphantly, as she slid the door

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into place. Let's settle the horses, then we'll sort ourselves.

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Something sweet, said Grannie as she turned to the stables

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and barn. They not gone two steps when their attention

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was caught by an approaching engine. A little late for visitors,

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Grannie said, adjusting the scrunchy that held her long gray

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hair back like a horse's tail. In the fading light

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of evening, a battered white truck pulled into the yard

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towing a horsebox. It pulled up, and a middle aged

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man with a flat cap and a day's worth of

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stubble on his chin climbed out Grannie horse. He said

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with a curt nod, it's mickey. There was no mistaking

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the concern in the man's voice as he and Grannie

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made straight for the rear of the horse box. Ada

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and Conrad huddled around as it was opened up to

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reveal a sickly looking black cob with a white nose.

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I'll look at you, Micky, said Granny Horse as she

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entered the box. You are in a sorry state. Is

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he gonna be all right? Grannie asked the man, his

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voice full of worry. Well it's not looking good, Ronan

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replied Grannie Horse. She inspected, Micky not good at all.

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Help me get him into the stable. Micky walked awkwardly,

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almost reluctantly, across the short distance to where Conrad held

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the door to one of the two empty stalls open.

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Will you look after him, asked Ronan, twisting his flat

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cap between his fingers. Well, I'll do my best, nodded Grannie.

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You always do, Grannie replied Ronan, attempting a smile. That done,

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He climbed back into his rusty old truck and returned

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down the track. What's wrong with Micky, asked Ada innocently. Oh,

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poor Micky's lived a long time, Poor Ronan, there is

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going to miss him, she said softly. Can you help Micky,

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asked Conrad. I can, but not to make him better.

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Grannie said, but I could make it easier. Ada and

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Conrad weren't quite sure what this meant. Ronan seemed very upset,

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said Ada, Micky's important to him. It'll break his heart

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when he goes, said Grannie, closing the stall's door. Come on,

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let's head inside for that sweet treat. I can come

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back out here later, Can we come, pleaded Ada. Yeah,

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can we help? Conrad added No, No, insisted Grannie Horse.

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It'll be bedtime for you two. Now come along, there's

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cake waiting. Although Aida and Conrad did go to bed,

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they didn't go to sleep. Conrad was staring at the

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ceiling when there was a light tap on his door

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and Ada appeared in his room. What are you doing,

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he whispered loudly, as she made way for his window.

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I want to see, she said, and pulled the curtain aside.

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Conrad's room overlooked the stables, allowing them to see the

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lantern illuminating Mickey's stall. Grannie Horse was at work. What's

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she doing, asked Conrad as he tried to get a

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good view. Can't see properly, explained Ada. Regardless, they stayed

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at the window until they were too tired to watch

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any longer. The next morning, they sorted their own breakfast.

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As Grannie Horse wasn't in the kitchen, they found her

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shortly afterwards, in Micky's stall, How is he asked Ada.

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Not good, replied Grannie. But he's coping. When you said

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Miki was important to Ronan, what did you mean, asked Conrad. Well,

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Micky is a working animal, explained Grannie. Ronan doesn't own

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a tractor, so Micky pulls his cart when he's gathering

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his fruit and projuice. What will he do without him,

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Conrad asked, with concern. I don't rightly know, said Grannie.

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You saw the state of his truck. He'll not have

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the money to replace Micky when he goes, is he

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began Ada nervously. Is he going to go? I'm afraid, so,

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said Grannie. Now I need you to take care of

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the animals by yourselves this morning. Can you do that?

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Conrad and Ada nodded firmly and got to work. It

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proved a welcome distraction, not least when they went searching

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for where Shaneide the hen, had laid her latest egg.

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There was an old rusting car between the stables and

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the barn, missing a back door, a head light, and

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all four wheels, And after searching for a while, Ada

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remembered seeing the chicken pecking in the dirt nearby. Found it,

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shouted Ada with satisfaction as she removed the speckled egg

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from under the steering wheel. Well it's smells in here,

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said Conrad, pinching his nose as he leant inside. It's

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just chicking poo, laughed Ada, as she wriggled back between

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the seats. You should be used to it by now.

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They didn't see much of Grannie all day, although they

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checked on her and Mickey regularly. By bedtime, Grannie was

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preparing to go out to the stall again as the

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children got ready for bed. Aren't you tired, Grannie asked Conrad.

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A little, she admitted, But it won't be long now.

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Is there anything you can do? Pleaded Ada. Ronan won't

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be able to cope without Miki. Well, I've been giving

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that a lot of thought, she said to herself, A

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lot of thought. Ten minutes later, she was back in

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the stall and the children were back at the window.

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Can she say if Micky, Ada asked. I don't think so,

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said Conrad sadly. They watched for an hour, not being

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able to see much other than a brief glimpse. Micky

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was lying down amongst the straw. Now his ear occasionally

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twitching as Grannie busied herself around him. Then, quite unexpectedly,

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the large, dark shape of the horse appeared along the stables. Conrad, Look,

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that does let himself out the barn, yelped Ada. What's

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he doing, Conrad wondered. Dagda used his teeth and lips

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to open first Morgan the cobstool, then Ogma. The big

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ponies both wandered off in the direction of the barn.

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Dagda then stood in front of Micky's stall, blocking the

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children's view. After a moment, the big horse turned and left,

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followed by Grannie carrying her lantern. I'm gonna find out

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what's going on, announced Conrad. Ada was right behind him

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as they pulled on their boots and slipped out into

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the cool night air. The yard was dark, but it

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was obvious where Grannie had gone as the lantern was

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lighting up the barn's interior, stopping beside the willless car

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as they caught scraps of conversation. Who's she talking to?

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Whispered Ada. They moved closer, still allowing them to pick

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out the murmured conversation of four individuals. The barn was

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old and the wooden boards on its side weathered and warped,

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allowing the pair of them to peer through narrow gaps.

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There was Grannie deep in conversation with Morgan, Dagda and Ogma.

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It was such a stunning spectacle that both Ada and

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Conrade almost forgot to breathe. Then it's agreed, said the

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white cob. Something old for something new. I'll get it done,

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nodded Grannie horse Fearing they would be discovered, Conrad grabbed

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Ada's arm and pulled her away. They didn't stop running

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until they were back indoors. Good morning to you, both,

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greeted Grannie as they came down for breakfast the next morning,

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who unscrambled eggs. Aida and Conrad nodded but didn't speak

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as Grannie cut thick doorsteps of bread and dropped them

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into the toaster. You two are quiet, she said, Didn't

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you sleep well? Grannie asked Ada abruptly. How's Mickey All's sweetheart?

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Said Grannie with a sad shake of her head. Micky's gone,

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bless him, but it was peaceful. He didn't suffer. I

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saw to that. But what about Ronan? What will he do?

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Asked Conrad, sounding distressed. That's all taken care of, smiled

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Grannie as she began scrambling the eggs. Ronan's beat up

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white truck and horse box arrived just as they were

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wiping the last of the yoke from their plates. The

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children rushed out to join Grannie and were surprised to

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see Ronan smiling. Oh thank you for all you did

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for Micky, he said to Grannie, clutching her hand. Oh

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don't mention it, insisted Grannie, Horse, Conrad, and aid Her

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took the opportunity to peer into Mickey's stall, but all

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they could see was the large sheet draped across him.

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Are you serious about me taking a new horse away

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with me, Roanan asked, twisting his hat in his hands,

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like he had that first evening. I am, said Granny.

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There were forestools in the stable, Morgan's, Agma's, what had

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been Mickey's, and one empty one. The children knew it

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was empty because they'd searched it yesterday for eggs, but

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it wasn't empty now. Grannie opened the door and let

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out a young gray cob. This is Cormac, she said.

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Ada and Conrad were stunned. They'd heard no vehicles delivering

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this new colt and yet here it was being made

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a fuss of by its new owner. Conrad's eyes strayed

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towards the barn, where Dagda stood in the doorway, closer

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to Morgan and Ogma. Closer to Morgan and Ogma watched

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from over their stable doors. The old rusty car between

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the two buildings was gone. Conrad gasped something old for

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something new. He whispered under his breath, the and