Chapter Eight
The next Sunday, Maggie's family went to St. Paul to visit Tim and Jodi's family. Tim and Jodi had lots of new things to show Maggie, but they 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, but Mom 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 of the straw today, but first I have to fix fence. I don't want the cows in the corn again."
Mom looked at him with her arms crossed. She said, "I noticed you used the 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 could tell Dad was in a bad mood because he slammed the harnesses on the horses' backs.
When they were ready, Dad led them to the wagon. He had Maggie hold the horses while he walked around to hook up. "Doggone it," he growled. "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 mind began to wander.
Suddenly Dad burst through a door just behind the team. A bunch of fence posts swung crazily in his arms.
Polly leaped forward, knocking Maggie to the ground. "Owww," she wailed as her ankle bent under her. She had to scramble to avoid being run 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 and ran over to Maggie. "Oh, I'm SO sorry, Maggie," he said. "I never thought about the fence posts scaring those silly horses. How bad is it?"
Maggie rolled back and forth on the ground holding her throbbing ankle.
Dad picked her up and started toward the house. "Betty, Betty," he yelled as they neared the back door. "Get some ice. The horses stepped on Maggie."
Mom met them saying, "Oh, no, those darned horses again. I knew someone would get hurt." She bent over Maggie's ankle.
Mom put ice on the ankle and gave Maggie a pill for the pain. At first her parents discussed taking Maggie to the hospital, but it didn't seem to be broken.
When Maggie was resting on the couch, Dad said, "Betty, I think you're right 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 too dangerous and too expensive. The sooner we get rid of them the better."