Marilyn D. Anderson

“ Dad shook his head and led Molly forward. Tim's eyes got big. "Steady, horse," he said nervously. "Not so fast." Everyone laughed. After awhile he said, "This is awesome. Mom, can we get a horse?"
Aunt Jane groaned. "Oh, sure," she said. "That's all we need. We've got a dog, a cat, two gerbils, and we live in town. Where would we put a horse?"
"And horses are very expensive pets," Maggie's mom added.
"Jodi's turn now," Dad said.
Tim slid off into Dad's arms. As he landed on the ground he said, "Can I ride again after Jodi? Can I ride by myself like Maggie did?" ”

“ Chuck laughed. "Molly is lighter colored than Polly. That's Molly." He pointed to the smaller of the two horses.
"I'll remember that," said Dad.
"Did you talk to Larry Croon?" asked Chuck.
"Yes," said Dad. "I bought some equipment from him, and it should be here later today."
"Good," said Chuck. "You'll love working with horses. They're a lot more fun than tractors."
"Come on," said Dad. "I'll write you a check."
When the men left, Mom looked down at Maggie. "So, what do you think of our new horses?"
Maggie sniffed. "They're too big." ”

“ Finally the cows were all back in the barnyard. "Whew," said Mom, hanging on the fence while she panted. "Life is never dull around here."
"Nope," said Dad. "The cows ruined some of our corn crop too. We lost money out there."
"I'm glad the cows don't act like that all the time," said Maggie.
* * * * *
The more Maggie rode Molly, the better she liked the big horse, but now Dad was too busy to help her get on. Maggie wished she could just jump on the way Dad did.
One day Maggie went to the pasture to visit the horses, and they were lying on their sides snoring. "Hello!" Maggie said loudly. ”

“ When Kelly opened the door, she squealed, "Maggie, wait until you see what Dad made for me."
The girls raced up to Kelly's room, and Kelly showed Maggie a small wooden stable. "See, it has box stalls, places to hang bridles and saddles, and even hay." Sure enough Easter-basket grass waited in the mangers.
"Wow," said Maggie. "I love it." She dropped to her knees and said, "We've got something new at our house too."
"A pony?" asked Kelly.
"No," said Maggie. "Something much bigger. Dad bought two big work horses."
"Really?" said Kelly. "What are their names?"
"Polly and Molly," Maggie reported. ”

“ Mom said, "Corky better stay in the house. He could frighten the horse." She grabbed her barn jacket.
Maggie and her parents went out to the barn. Dad bridled Molly and led her out the door. Polly whinnied frantically and jumped around in her stall. Molly ignored Polly.
"I'll go first," said Dad. "Just to be sure it's safe."
He led Molly to a hay wagon and crawled on from there. He clucked to Molly and rode off. He turned Molly right and left, and they even trotted a little. Dad slid off again.
"This is a good horse," said Dad. "She handles as well as most riding horses. Ready, Maggie?" ”

“ Mom called to Maggie over the whine of the vacuum cleaner. "Please go see why Corky is barking."
Maggie put down her toy horses and looked out the window. She saw a gray car in the driveway. "It's Tim and Jodi," she cried as she ran to the door.
Mom shut off the vacuum and pulled in the cord. "Oh, my," she said. "What will I give them for lunch?"
Maggie didn't care what they ate. She was excited that she would have someone to play with. Being an only child on a dairy farm could get lonely. ”

“ Soon the team got to the barn, and they stopped. Dad jumped down to grab Molly's bridle. "Darned crazy animals," he fumed. "I've got cows in the corn, hay bales all over, and these horses to unharness. Get your mom."
Maggie jumped off the wagon and ran toward the house.
"Bring Corky, too," Dad called after her.
Soon all three Johnsons entered the cornfield carrying clubs.
"Be careful," said Dad. "There's nothing crazier than cows in a cornfield. It tastes so good to them that they go a little nuts."
"Yes," said Mom. "We need to stick together." ”

“ Dad said, "Well, you know she wants a pony."
"Yes," said Mom. "But I didn't think you'd spend so much money without discussing it."
"You buy what you want," he shot back. "And this was what I want."
They stopped talking when Maggie entered the room.
"Time for breakfast," said Mom. "Maggie, please wash up and set the table."
They started breakfast. Then Dad said, "Maggie, I bought something special yesterday. I think you're going to like it."
"A pony?" she asked eagerly.
"I'm not telling," he said, grinning. "But it's coming today ... in a truck."
"Fred," Mom scolded. ”

“ When the Johnsons got home, they were late with the milking. Dad said, "Maggie, I'll help you get the cows. They might be silly with those horses running with them." He picked up a bucket of oats and a bridle and set off with Maggie on his heels.
The horses came right to Dad and started eating oats. He slipped the bridle over Molly's ears, climbed on a rock, and jumped up on Molly. ”

“ Chuck walked up the ramp into the back of the truck.
Maggie saw a flash of gold and heard a nicker. It sounded like a pony.
But it wasn't a pony. Chuck appeared at the top of the ramp with ... the BIGGEST horse Maggie had ever seen. It was gold with a white mane and tail and white blaze down its nose.
The ramp shook as the huge animal tromped down it. The horse towered over even Dad's head. Maggie could have almost walked under the animal's belly.
Dad took the horse's halter, and Chuck went back into the truck. He reappeared leading another horse as big as the first. ”

“ The team followed Dad to the next group of bales. Maggie felt important to be driving these big horses. Dad loaded all the bales on the wagon and they started home.
Dad drove, and the horses strolled along. He said, "Come on, Girls. We don't have all day." The horses walked slightly faster.
"Maybe they're tired," said Maggie. Then something in the cornfield on the right caught her eye. It was black and white, and the corn was moving.
"Dad," she yelped, "the cows are in the corn."
Polly rolled her eyes at the cornfield and leaped to the left. She dragged Molly along and started to run. ”

“ The horses were standing head-to-tail under a large oak tree. Polly was keeping the flies off Molly's nose, and Molly was returning the favor.
Maggie looked around the pasture for some way to get on Molly. The rock Dad had used was too short for Maggie. The barbed-wire fence around the field was high enough, but she couldn't crawl up on that. If only their farm had wooden fences. ”

“ As they walked back to the Anderson's car, Jodi eyed Maggie. "Do you get to ride every day?" she asked.
"Well, not every day," said Maggie.
"I wish I were you," said Jodi. "I love your horses."
"They're pretty awesome," said Tim. "But a pony would be better. You can't get on and off Molly by yourself."
Maggie almost told him about her pasture ride, but she knew Tim. If he heard about that, he'd want to try it. Maggie wasn't ready for that.
Chapter Seven
The day after her cousins' visit, Maggie went out to the pasture again. ”

“ The three kids sprinted toward the fence as Corky barked with delight. He nipped at the cow's nose, and she charged at him.
"Yip!" Corky cried. He put his head between his legs, raced after the children, and passed them.
Splash crashed out of the brush toward the dog and the children. The fence wasn't far away. They just might make it.
But just then Maggie's bad ankle gave out and she fell. She knew she'd never get up in time. The cow was coming fast. Maggie shut her eyes and prepared to be attacked.
Chapter Ten
Maggie pulled her body into a tight ball and waited for the pain. ”