The Gray Mare: A New Mexico Novel

It's the mid-1970s in Northeastern New Mexico and ninety-something year old Casimiro is coming to stay with Ricardo and his grandmother. When Casimiro says it is time for him to tell the tale of how he, as a boy, acquired a gray mare - Ricardo stands up a date. Casimiro's tale begins in the late 1800s when he was twelve years old. His eighty-year-old grandfather, Abelino, a former Comanchero, adventurer and rancher, decides it is time for Casimiro to choose his own horse. But not just any horse will do. Abelino insists that it must be a gray from the ancient bloodlines of the Indians Abel calls the Gray Horse People a horse that Casimiro has secretly desired for most of his young life. The next morning, over objections from Casimiro's father and uncles, the two of them set out, riding two old geldings, on a journey to the Pueblo of the Gray Horse People. What could lie in store for a viejito and nio as they travel through the valleys and mountains of New Mexico? Who will they meet along the way? And, most importantly to the impatient, young Casimiro things don't go exactly as he hoped at the village of The Gray Horse People. But he had seen in a dream what he would find, even though he does not know how it will happen. When Ricardo becomes ill or is he the victim of a witch's curse? his dreams take an unusual course. Whatever it is, Ricardo enters a realm beyond his understanding. Is he losing his mind? Or is it something that has lain dormant within him and found life through Casimiro's tale? How can he experience people and places he has no knowledge of? Fortunately, Casimiro is there to help guide him through the unbidden and unexplainable even if there are some things that cannot, or may not need to, be explained. When Ricardo shares his most recent dream, Casimiro shows unusual interest but offers no explanation for his queries. No importa. Ricardo will soon discover the reason for Casimiro's interest and the legacy of the gray mare. Can someone be a friend of La Muerte? What really happened when three outlaws got something more than they expected? Can a person see the past or future in a dream? And are there such things as past life experiences? Is it true that some stories may never end? THE GRAY MARE is a tale of youth, old age, love, loss, unrealized hopes and the cycle of life woven on the loom of an old man's tale, bound by the love and dedication of a family to each other, and the offspring of Casimiro's gray mare.

About the Author :
DAVID KYEA has lived in Northern New Mexico for more than fifty years. He has worked as a ranch cook, woodcutter, ski lift operator, silversmith, and adobe brick layer; cleared trails in the Pecos Wilderness and planted trees at altitudes of ten thousand feet. He and his wife, Lani, have raised sheep and cattle. They currently live on their ranch in Union County. His law enforcement career began in 1977 and spanned twenty-six years as a Taos County Deputy Sheriff, District Attorney Investigator, Deputy Medical Investigator and Union County Magistrate Judge. He graduated from the New Mexico Law Enforcement Academy and the FBI National Academy. He enjoys traditional New Mexico Spanish music and plays a bit of guitar, mandolin and violin. His writings have been published in the online e zine Lunarosity and by the New Mexico Book Coop in Voices of New Mexico and More Voices of New Mexico. His self-published works include: KITE and other short stories of New Mexico (2020), Finalist: New Mexico/Arizona Book Awards 2021 MARGARITO AND ME (2021), Finalist: New Mexico/Arizona Book Awards 2021 MORE MARGARITO AND ME (2023), Winner: Best New Mexico Historical Fiction and Winner: Best New Mexico Book. New Mexico/Arizona Book Awards 2024. They are available in print or e-book online and through most book retailers.