wouldn't see them. Tim took Molly's bridle, and Maggie filled her pockets with oats. Then they cut through the cornfield instead of going up the lane in plain sight.

"How's your ankle?" asked Tim as they hurried through the tall green stalks.

"I'll be fine," she assured him.

At first the horses seemed to be hiding. They weren't in the meadow or under the oak tree. They weren't in the brushy spot along the south fence row. That meant they were probably in the small trees next to the neighbor's wood lot. But where?

Maggie saw a flash of white in a thicket next to the fence and stopped.

"What the matter?" asked Jodi.

"Shh," said Maggie. "There's a cow lying in there. She's all by herself, and she could be sick or something. You guys stay here, and I'll check on her."

Maggie crept forward until she could see the cow more clearly.

"Is she okay?" Tim whispered from right behind Maggie. Jodi was right behind him.

Maggie turned and scowled at them. "You were supposed to stay back there," she said crossly.

Tim shrugged, and Maggie looked back at the cow. It was Splash, one of their best milkers. Maggie wondered why she was here all by herself. Cows usually liked to stay together.

Then the answer was clear. A pair of tiny ears and a darling little white nose appeared from behind the resting cow. Splash had a new calf.

Maggie turned to tell Tim and Jodi, but then she froze. Corky was bouncing toward them. In a flash, Maggie remembered other mother cows charging after dogs. She and her cousins were in the way. They could get trampled.

"Get back!" she shouted.

Sure enough, as Corky got closer, he began to bark. Splash lurched to her feet, and swung her head from side to side searching for the danger.

"Run!" yelled Maggie, pushing her cousins back. "Run to the fence."

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. But instead she felt the ground shake and heard an unearthly squeal.

Opening her eyes, she saw Molly run full speed into Splash. Before the cow could hurt Maggie, she was shoved away. Splash stumbled and almost went down. When the cow regained her feet, she shook her head and stared at Molly. Molly stood over Maggie, and Splash went back to her calf.

Maggie shuddered. At first she was too shaky to get up, and Molly sniffed her anxiously.

"Wow," Tim exclaimed as he slid back under the fence to join Maggie. "That was like something you see on TV."

"We thought you were a goner," Jodi added.

Just then Dad arrived looking very angry. "What the heck is going on?" he demanded. "Don't you know that a cow with a calf can be dangerous?"

Maggie was so surprised to see him that she was speechless.

After catching his breath, Dad continued. "I never expected you kids to leave the yard. When I realized you were gone, I let Corky out to find you. What were you thinking?"

"Corky started all the trouble ..." Maggie began.

"Oh, no!" Dad shot back. "You kids started the trouble when you left without telling me. I am going to give you guys such a spanking."

And he did. When Mom and Aunt Jane got home, the kids were standing in different corners of the kitchen with tear-stained faces.

"Mom," wailed Jodi. "Uncle Fred spanked us."

"Why would he do that?" Aunt Jane asked, looking upset.

"Because they almost got themselves killed," said Dad. Then he explained what had happened.

Mom crossed her arms and scowled at Maggie. "I told you to stay close to home. You disobeyed me."

"I'm sorry," Maggie sniffed. "But Dad is going to sell Molly, and I wanted to ride her before she leaves."

"Ride Molly??" cried her mother. "By yourself? She already hurt your leg. She could have killed you this time."

"Molly wouldn't hurt me," said Maggie. "I sometimes ride her in the pasture." She was sorry the moment she'd said it.

"You do?" Dad shouted. "How could you be so foolish? Thank goodness Larry Croon is buying those animals. He's coming after them tomorrow."

"Good," said Mom. "The sooner the better."

"But you can't sell Molly now," Maggie protested. "She saved my life."

Dad sighed. "Yes, she did," he admitted. "But she'll be better off with Larry. He understands horses better than I do."

Tim and Jodi went home not long after that. Mom and Dad wanted to ground Maggie, but she convinced them she needed to thank Molly.

Maggie hugged Molly and said, "Thank you for being so smart and so brave. I'm sorry Dad still wants to sell you, but maybe you'll be happier with Mr. Croon."

              *               *               *               *               *

Maggie told herself she wouldn't watch Molly leave, but she couldn't just stay in the house. Mom and Dad were already watching Molly climb into the truck when Maggie got there.

"Wait, please," called Maggie. "I have to give her one more hug." Molly put her head down so that Maggie could get her arms around the huge neck. Maggie even cried a little.

"Good-bye, girl, and be good," Maggie sniffed. "I'll come to see you when I can."

As Molly nuzzled Maggie's neck, Mr. Croon said, "Yes, Maggie, be sure to come and visit her."

Then it was time for Molly to go. The men closed the door of the truck and it pulled away. Maggie stood there with a big empty spot in her heart.

Finally she gave a huge sigh and turned toward the house. But she heard a motor, and a little red pickup drove into the driveway. It was Chuck.

"Sorry I'm late," he said. "Is the team gone already?"

"Yup," said Dad, "and I'm glad you're here. I can see Maggie's lonesome for horses already."

"Maggie," said Mom, "come and see what's in the pickup. I don't think you'll be disappointed in what Dad bought this time."

Maggie allowed herself to be led to the pickup. She looked in. And there was ... her pony! It was the same color as Molly, but much, much smaller.

"Oh, it's beautiful," gasped Maggie.

"Her name is Honey," said Chuck. "Because she's a honey of a little horse."

"Awesome!" said Maggie. "Wait until Tim and Jodi see her. And Kelly. Even she will want to ride a pony."

Maggie hugged her mom and dad. Then she hugged Honey and led her to the barn.