Maggie's Wish

by Herbert Strang

  "No, that would be too dangerous," said Dad. He clucked to Molly andthey started after the cows.

  Humph, thought Maggie. I'm the one who wanted a pony.

  The cows started toward the barn at a fast walk. Then they broke intoa trot, and the horses did too. The cows began to gallop, and thehorses kicked up their heels as they joined the excitement. That'swhen Dad fell off.

  Maggie ran toward him yelling, "Dad, are you all right?"

  He was on his feet immediately, but he rubbed his shoulder. "Yeah," hesaid, "but I'm going to be sore tomorrow."

  * * * * *

  After her father's fall, Maggie was a little afraid to try ridingagain. But Dad said, "It will be okay. Molly only kicked up becauseshe got excited."

  "All right," said Maggie, "but you hang on to her."

  Dad put Maggie up on Molly's back and led her around a few times.Molly was fine.

  "Show me how to steer," Maggie begged.

  Dad showed her how to pull on one rein until the horse turned herhead. Of course, Maggie also had to let go a little bit on the otherside to make that possible. At first it was hard, because Molly's neckwas so thick. The big mare ignored Maggie instead of turning.

  "Kick her over in the direction you want to go," said Dad.

  "No," said Maggie. "I don't want to hurt Molly."

  Dad laughed and said, "Honey, you're too small to hurt that big horse.She'll barely feel you."

  So Maggie kicked and the big lazy horse turned.

  Chapter Five

  A few days later Maggie was riding Molly when a red car drove up.Kelly got out and ran over. "Hi," she cried. "Oh, Maggie your horse isbeautiful."

  "Yes!" said Maggie. "I can ride her all by myself? Want to try it?"

  Kelly's mother hurried over waving her hands. She said, "No, Kelly,step away from that big horse. We need to get into town. You've seenthe horse, and that's what you wanted."

  "But it's fun," said Maggie. "Come on."

  "No, that's all right," said Kelly. "We do have to get going, andshe's awfully big."

  Maggie was disappointed. She wanted to share Molly with her friend,but they left after only a few minutes.

  Later that day Dad baled hay. He dropped the bales in the field. "I'lluse the team to get them," he told Maggie. "You can drive the wagon."

  "Oh boy," said Maggie.

  Dad harnessed the team and they set off. When they reached the firstthree bales, Dad handed Maggie the reins. He loaded the bales andstayed on the ground to pick up the rest.

  "Okay," he said. "Bring the wagon."

  "Get up," said Maggie slapping the reins against the horses' rumps theway Dad had done. The team followed Dad to the next group of bales.Maggie felt important to be driving these big horses. Dad loaded allthe bales on the wagon and they started home.

  Dad drove, and the horses strolled along. He said, "Come on, Girls. Wedon't have all day." The horses walked slightly faster.

  "Maybe they're tired," said Maggie. Then something in the cornfield onthe right caught her eye. It was black and white, and the corn wasmoving.

  "Dad," she yelped, "the cows are in the corn."

  Polly rolled her eyes at the cornfield and leaped to the left. Shedragged Molly along and started to run. Maggie and her dad were thrownback against the hay as the wagon picked up speed. They had a runaway!

  Bales flew off the wagon as it bounced over rocks. The wagon tippedand almost turned over, but Dad managed to steer a little. The wagonrocked back onto all its wheels. Maggie hung on for dear life.

  Soon the team got to the barn, and they stopped. Dad jumped down tograb Molly's bridle. "Darned crazy animals," he fumed. "I've got cowsin the corn, hay bales all over, and these horses to unharness. Getyour 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 acornfield. It tastes so good to them that they go a little nuts."

  "Yes," said Mom. "We need to stick together."

  They started through the corn, each taking a row next to the other.The cows were hard to see because the corn was so tall. They yelled,and Corky barked.

  Maggie saw two cows just ahead chewing the corn. "Get out of here,"she yelled, waving her club.

  The cows danced away like naughty children and tried to get behind theJohnsons. Maggie ran to head them off. She saw more cows. The Johnsonsran and yelled and waved their clubs until they were exhausted.

  Finally the cows were all back in the barnyard. "Whew," said Mom,hanging on the fence while she panted. "Life is never dull aroundhere."

  "Nope," said Dad. "The cows ruined some of our corn crop too. We lostmoney 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, butnow Dad was too busy to help her get on. Maggie wished she could justjump on the way Dad did.

  One day Maggie went to the pasture to visit the horses, and they werelying on their sides snoring. "Hello!" Maggie said loudly.

  The horses jerked to attention and started to get up. But when theysaw it was only Maggie, they relaxed. Molly's back was now even withMaggie's waist. It was the perfect chance. Should she crawl on?

  Maggie hesitated. What if Molly jumped up and ran? Even Dad had fallenoff when that happened. With no bridle, Maggie wouldn't be able tosteer the horse. It might be dangerous.

  But this was such a perfect chance, that Maggie put her leg overMolly's back. She grabbed a bunch of mane and held her breath.

  Molly just yawned, and gradually Maggie relaxed. She loved the feel ofthe horse under her. First she pretended she was herding cows. Thenshe was riding in the Kentucky Derby. Finally Maggie lay back onMolly's soft wide back and studied the clouds.

  Suddenly Maggie heard barking. Molly heard it, too, and her front endshot up. A surprised Maggie slid right off the horse's rump. Then shewas looking up at two back legs and a white tail.

  Corky ran up barking, and Molly quickly swung around to get betweenthe dog and Maggie.

  "Corky, be quiet," Maggie ordered. She got up and went to Molly'shead. "Good girl," she said. "You wanted to protect me, didn't you? Ilike that."

  Molly nuzzled Maggie's pockets, but gave up when she didn't find atreat.

  Chapter Six

  The following day Tim and Jodi showed up. Tim was out of the carbefore Aunt Jane had turned the engine off.

  "Hey Maggie," he said, "look what we have. Dad bought us modelairplanes, and they really fly."

  Maggie grinned and said, "Well, that's nothing. I can ride a horsethat's as big as an elephant."

  Tim's eyes opened wide. "What?" he said. "Show me this horse."

  "I want to see too," Jodi added.

  "Okay," said Maggie. She started toward the barn, but Tim and Jodiraced past her. Maggie had to run to keep up.

  Dad looked out of the barn just in time to wave them to a stop. "Hey,slow down," he said. "You can't go running up to horses like that.You'll spook them."

  Jodi said, "Look! Horses! And they are big!"

  "They're ... enormous!" gasped Tim. "Can we ride them?"

  "Sure," said Dad.

  "Do they have saddles?" Jodi asked.

  Dad laughed. "No," he said. "I don't think they make saddles that big.But you don't need a saddle. I'll put you up there."

  "Up there?" Jodi asked, looking frightened. "I don't think so."

  Tim said, "Are they fast?"

  "Fast enough for you guys," said Dad. "Maggie, get Molly's bridle, andwe'll show them."

  When Dad put the bit in Molly's mouth, Tim said, "Golly, look at thosebig teeth."

  "Sure," said Maggie. "But Molly never bites us."

  "And," said Dad, "she doesn't have teeth where I put my hand. Co
mehere, and I'll show you."

  Tim inched forward, and Dad held Molly's mouth open wide. She had afew teeth in front, then a long gap before there were more.

  "Wow," said Jodi. "That's awesome."

  Dad finished putting the bridle on and said, "Let's go." When Timstarted to run to the door, he added, "And please walk."

  Aunt Jane and Maggie's mom joined them, and Aunt Jane had her camera.Tim was gung ho to ride, and Dad was ready to help him on. Maggie wasfeeling a little left out.

  Aunt Jane said, "Maggie should ride first. She can show us how it'sdone."

  That made Maggie feel better. At last she had something important toshow Tim and Jodi. She rode proudly around the yard twice, before shestopped and slid off.

  "My turn," Tim insisted. "Can we gallop?"

  Dad shook his head. "Let's try a walk first." He boosted Tim ontoMolly's back. "Slide forward and get hold of the mane."

  Tim grabbed the mane in both hands and began to wiggle his body."Giddy up," he said eagerly.

  Dad shook his head and led Molly forward. Tim's eyes got big. "Steady,horse," he said nervously. "Not so fast." Everyone laughed. Afterawhile he said, "This is awesome. Mom, can we get a horse?"

  Aunt Jane groaned. "Oh, sure," she said. "That's all we need. We'vegot a dog, a cat, two gerbils, and we live in town. Where would we puta 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, "CanI ride again after Jodi? Can I ride by myself like Maggie did?"

  "We'll see," said Dad. "Maggie's been practicing for awhile." Maggiefelt proud.

  Once Jodi was on, she hugged Molly's neck and kissed the horse. Shelooked worried when they started to move, but soon she was beaming. "Iwant to do this forever," she announced.

  "Sorry," said Dad. "I have work to do. Better get down."

  "My turn," said Tim, pushing forward. "You promised I could ride bymyself this time."

  "Funny," said Dad with a frown. "I don't remember making that promise.He put Molly into the pasture, and the three adults left for the house.

  "Let's fly those airplanes now," said Maggie.

  As they walked back to the Anderson's car, Jodi eyed Maggie. "Do youget 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. Youcan't get on and off Molly by yourself."

  Maggie almost told him about her pasture ride, but she knew Tim. If heheard 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 pastureagain. The horses were standing head-to-tail under a large oak tree.Polly was keeping the flies off Molly's nose, and Molly was returningthe favor.

  Maggie looked around the pasture for some way to get on Molly. Therock Dad had used was too short for Maggie. The barbed-wire fencearound the field was high enough, but she couldn't crawl up on that.If only their farm had wooden fences.

  Then Maggie remembered a wooden gate at the far end of the pasture.That might work, she decided. She went off to check it out.

  Yes, there was the old gate nearly hidden by tall grass andlow-hanging branches. Maggie stepped on the gate to see if it wasstrong enough to hold her, and it was.

  Maggie hurried back to the horses and grabbed the halter Molly waswearing. At first Molly refused to move, but Maggie picked some cloverfrom the other side of the fence. Then Molly was willing to follow.

  Finally Molly was standing next to the gate. Maggie climbed up andprepared to slide on the horse. But just as Maggie was ready to jump,Molly swung her rump away. Maggie got down. She pushed and pulleduntil Molly's rump was again next to the gate. Maggie crawled up, andagain she got ready to slide on. But Molly moved again.

  After five or six tries, Maggie was finally able to leap on. But justas she did Molly stepped aside. Maggie grabbed at the mane and managedto stay on.

  "Whew! I did it!" Maggie crowed. "I'm riding all by myself. Giddy up,Molly."

  But Molly didn't move. She simply put her head down and startedeating. Maggie kicked and kicked, but Molly ignored her.

  Finally Maggie slid off and started home. Next time she would bringthe bridle. She would get Dad to teach her how to put it on.

  Dad laughed when Maggie said she wanted to bridle Molly. "You're tooshort," he said. "You can't even reach the top of her head."

  "Then Molly will just have to put her head down," said Maggie.

  "What if she won't?" asked Dad.

  "I'll feed her oats while I put the bridle on," said Maggie.

  And that's what she did. While Molly gobbled oats from her hand,Maggie pushed the bit into the horse's mouth. But that was the easypart. Molly spit out the bit before Maggie could get the rest of thebridle over the horse's ears. Dad had to hold the horse's head downuntil Maggie could get the bridle completely on.

  "Good work," said Dad. "Molly's pretty stubborn, but so are you." Thenhe lifted Maggie onto the big horse, and she rode for awhile.

  Mom came along just as Maggie put Molly back in the pasture. "Well,"she said, "at least our horses are giving pony rides. I don't see themdoing anything else that's useful."

  Dad heard that, and he said, "I'll use them tomorrow when I haul instraw bales."

  Mom made a face. "Let's hope you don't have another runaway."

  Maggie knew Mom thought Dad's horses were a waste of money. But Maggiehad learned to love Molly. Now she wanted to keep the team.

  Later, when Mom went to town for groceries, Maggie begged to go alongand visit Kelly. When the girls got to Kelly's room, Maggie said, "Ican ride Molly any time I want now. I can bridle her, and I can get onher by myself."

  "But how?" Kelly wondered. "Molly is so tall."

  Maggie said, "Come out for a visit, and I'll show you."

  Kelly shook her head. "No, I don't think so. I'll wait until you get apony instead."

  Chapter Eight

  The next Sunday, Maggie's family went to St. Paul to visit Tim andJodi's family. Tim and Jodi had lots of new things to show Maggie, butthey also wanted to hear about the horses.

  "I ride Molly whenever I want now," said Maggie.

  "Boy, are you lucky," said Jodi.

  Maggie nodded and added softly, "I even ride Molly in the pasture, butMom and Dad don't know about it. Mom would have a fit if she knew."

  "Wow!" said Tim. "How do you get on?"

  "I crawled up on a gate and jumped on."

  "Awesome," Jodi and Tim said in unison.

  Tim asked, "Can I ride in the pasture when we come out next time?"

  Maggie had to think about that. She was afraid Tim would be reckless,but he never ever seemed to get hurt.

  "Okay," she said. "When can you come?"

  "Maybe next Wednesday," said Tim. "I'll start begging tomorrow."

  * * * * *

  At breakfast on Monday morning Dad said, "I should bale the rest ofthe straw today, but first I have to fix fence. I don't want the cowsin the corn again."

  Mom looked at him with her arms crossed. She said, "I noticed you usedthe tractor for the straw bales."

  Dad scowled and said, "Well, I'll use the horses for the fencing."Then he jammed his hat on his head and headed for the door. "Maggie,please come and help."

  Maggie went with her father, and they caught the horses. She couldtell Dad was in a bad mood because he slammed the harnesses on thehorses' backs.

  When they were ready, Dad led them to the wagon. He had Maggie holdthe horses while he walked around to hook up. "Doggone it," hegrowled. "I'm missing a trace chain. I'll be right back."

  Dad went into the barn, and Maggie stood between the two huge horses,holding them still. Dad seemed to take forever, and Maggie's mindbegan to wander.

  Suddenly D
ad burst through a door just behind the team. A bunch offence posts swung crazily in his arms.

  Polly leaped forward, knocking Maggie to the ground. "Owww," shewailed as her ankle bent under her. She had to scramble to avoid beingrun over.

  Molly stood her ground, and since the horses were hooked together,Polly couldn't go far. But Maggie's ankle HURT.

  Dad dropped the fence posts and caught the horses. He tied them up andran over to Maggie. "Oh, I'm SO sorry, Maggie," he said. "I neverthought about the fence posts scaring those silly horses. How bad isit?"

  Maggie rolled back and forth on the ground holding her throbbingankle.

  Dad picked her up and started toward the house. "Betty, Betty," heyelled as they neared the back door. "Get some ice. The horses steppedon Maggie."

  Mom met them saying, "Oh, no, those darned horses again. I knewsomeone would get hurt." She bent over Maggie's ankle.

  Mom put ice on the ankle and gave Maggie a pill for the pain. At firsther parents discussed taking Maggie to the hospital, but it didn'tseem to be broken.

  When Maggie was resting on the couch, Dad said, "Betty, I think you'reright about those horses. I'll see if Larry still wants to buy them."

  "No," said Maggie. "I love Molly."

  Mom lips made a tight line. She said, "Maggie, those horses are toodangerous and too expensive. The sooner we get rid of them thebetter."