Job had watched Bill take her and Mona up the muddy road in the trailer to the old Ford by the store and was glad they went to church in town. Mona kept Becky well dressed for the occasion, proud of the child and wanting her to go to Sunday school to grow up properly, but Becky had her own rules to follow even at an early age.
There was an incident that had made Becky thoughtful. She had gone to her cousins up the road to play baseball. It was a close game, and Becky was on the winning team. She did not watch the time as there was a bright yard light, but when she left to go home, it was dark. As she started up the lane, Jolly reared and began to buck into the blackness in panic. Becky hung onto the horn while her cousin watched in shock, as Jolly was always gentle with his mistress. The horse was terrified, and so was Becky. She prayed he would stop, and eventually he adjusted to the black night, and Becky patted him gently, pulled the rein slowly and guided him to the lane and eventually home. The next day at school, her cousin told her that in the morning of that day the wire fence around that field had been taken down. It was a blessing that had saved Jolly and Becky from a terrible outcome. She never forgot her good fortune.
Things started to happen that were foreboding. Bill sold Maud and the other work horse, and they were to be put out to pasture. Mona and Becky were sad to see them leave, but they had earned their rest. Russ, their longtime mutt, had cut his leg and had to have it amputated. Becky held her breath as Bill announced that he and Mona had decided to move into town where he would work as a potato inspector.
The cruellest cut was that they would have to find Jolly another home. Becky was sick to her stomach. Why couldn’t they board Jolly in town? That would not happen, Bill said. An uncle in NS wanted to take Jolly, and he would look after him. All was lost, and this outcome was all because Bill had gifted Jolly to Becky only three years ago, a gift she thought would last forever. It was all so cruel. Becky spent the last night in the barn with her beloved horse; she would not come into the house.
The horse trailer pulled up the next day and Jolly whinnied as Becky hugged his neck. The truck moved away, leaving tear-stained faces.
The next few days found a strain in the Lowther family, but they soon moved into a nice house in town, and Becky started Grade Ten in the High School. But she was young, having started school early, and she was adrift. A few months later she met a young woman who lived on the next block. A lasting friendship began where they walked to school together and studied their subjects on the phone. Becky had found a best friend.
Her uncle had spent time at the racetrack and felt that Jolly had promise. He fed him special oats and trained him running at the racetrack. Would Becky like to come over and see him? There was much patting and nuzzling and then Becky, at the track, sat on the sulky behind her beloved horse and he ran like the wind. Becky watched him during the race that night and excitedly saw him come second. She realized that Jolly was in his element but knew he would always be in her heart.
