Burkum writes the tale of Randi Steel and her older brother Brad. At twelve years of age, Randi had a very close relationship with Brad. This was despite him being six years her senior.
Shortly before Brad was due to leave for college, the pair went on one last ride together. Randi had challenged her older brother to a race; convinced her shortcut would result in her winning, just this once. The end result however was what neither of them could have foreseen.
Randi’s mount loses his footing on the way down a steep decline, sending the young girl hurtling through the air. On top of injuries that will heal, Randi loses her hearing on account of the fall. Very shortly after this Brad moves away for college and suddenly she's lost her brother, too.
Nine years later Burkum picks up the story. Randi and Brad have grown apart and hardly know each other.
Having adjusted to being deaf, the now 21 year old young woman signs proficiently, can read lips and is able to hear minimally with the help of a hearing aid. Rather than adjust to his sister’s disability, Brad has blocked that part of his life from his memory. His focus is on his own farm and horses and an upcoming endurance race that is important to the farm in more ways than one.
A Change Sees God Start to Move in the Pair's Life
Randi finds her world upended when she is transferred from her job at the bank to a position at a new branch. Despite the building not yet being complete, she finds herself needing a place to stay nearby. Brad’s location seems to their mother to be the solution.
Not wanting to upset his mother, Brad agrees to accommodate his younger sister. Finding her to be an interruption at a pivotal point in his life, the older brother does not however interact with Randi or make her feel welcome.
Brad struggles to communicate with his deaf sister and has long since convinced himself that it’s not worth even trying. Randi suddenly finds herself in a new environment, too much time to spare and a brother who seems to resent her presence.
Two months out from the town’s annual endurance race Brad meets with an accident, having to forfeit himself from the race. His staff, girlfriend and sister all sympathise, understanding the disappointment of not being able to partake in a race he’d been training so hard for.
They can't however understand why Brad is treating it like the end of the world. Things come to a head and Randi suddenly finds out that her brother is even more upset about not being able to race due to a bad decision he made prior. When this new information comes to light, it’s up to the deaf young woman to consider racing in her brother’s place.
The race spans over a four day period with more than eighty competitors signed up for the race. There are two things that will make Randi particularly stand out if she is to race. She’ll be the only female and every other competitor can hear. Despite this, the young woman's focus is restoring her relationship with her older brother. Taking part in this silent ride seems to be the way to do so.
Silent Ride is a wonderfully written story, focusing on determination, second chances, God’s grace in an ever changing world and how going it alone is never the answer.
Silent Ride is available to purchase through Rachel L. Burkum's website. The book was published in 2008 by PublishAmerica, Baltimore. The ISBN is 1-60474-010-8.
Chris Thomas - C. Thomas has studied and worked with horses since 2001. She teaches horse studies part time and is undertaking an Equine Science ...
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