Gift Horse

Gift Horse by Dandi Daley Mackall

Book: Gift Horse by Dandi Daley Mackall Read Free Book Online
Authors: Dandi Daley Mackall
Tags: Retail, Ages 8 & Up
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thought to pray myself. At least I had sense enough to ask Lizzy to.
    â€œGod, help Winnie do what she needs to do with this horse. And please keep that little baby horse safe.” Lizzy was talking to God out loud, but it didn’t feel weird. She might have been talking to Catman or M.
    I caught Catman’s worried gaze. It was as close as I’ve ever seen Catman come to being rattled. “I’m going to milk her,” I explained. “We’ll save it for her baby.”
    â€œI dig. Then it’s all cool, right?” Catman asked.
    I shook my head. “I don’t know. The milk doesn’t look right. It isn’t thick enough. It’s too white. But I’ll collect it. It’s all we can do for now.”
    M had his ear pressed to Gracie’s side. He stepped back so I could get to her udders. Lizzy got as close as the stall door.
    â€œEasy, Gracie. We’re going to help you get ready for that foal.” I rubbed my hands together to warm them.
    Gracie craned her neck around, saying, I hurt. Don’t make me hurt more.
    I squatted on her near side, which is what you call the left side of a horse. Positioning the margarine container under her udder, I squeezed with my thumb and forefinger and pulled down gently from each side of the teat. The barn was still except for the squirt, squirt into the plastic bowl.
    Nickers stuck her head over the stall divider and watched.
    I filled the first container and handed it off to Catman. We didn’t talk. Not even Lizzy. I kept milking for two more containers’ worth, until her udders relaxed. Gracie groaned, a contented grunt, as if she finally had relief.
    â€œDone.” I stood up and handed the last container to M, who put on the lid.
    â€œIs it enough?” Lizzy asked.
    â€œCheck it out, man.” Catman lifted the lid and sniffed. “Smells like milk.”
    I felt it with my fingers. It wasn’t very sticky.
    M stared at the bowl. You could almost hear him wondering how we’d know if the colostrum was good enough.
    â€œWe’ll test it,” I said, answering his unspoken question. I turned to Lizzy. “Remember that gadget Madeline gave Dad so he could test his antifreeze?”
    â€œThe one that’s supposed to double as a turkey baster?” Lizzy asked.
    â€œGross!” Catman said.
    â€œNo kidding,” Lizzy agreed. “Madeline says she’s invented the perfect disinfectant for it, too. So it’s supposed to be safe for antifreeze and  for turkey, as long as you use her cleaner. The patent people admitted she proved her case. But they couldn’t get past the idea of antifreeze and turkey, so they didn’t give her the patent.”
    â€œYou and Dad haven’t used the thing yet, right?” I asked, trying to cut to the chase.
    She shook her head.
    â€œGood! I need it.” I’d seen Mom use a brand-new antifreeze kit on our broodmare’s colostrum in Wyoming once.
    â€œI know right where it is!” Lizzy shouted, running out of the barn. In minutes, she returned with the antifreeze kit.
    I took the contraption out of the box and removed the wrapper.
    â€œIt sure looks like a turkey baster,” Lizzy observed. “Except for the little balls inside.”
    I squeezed the plastic bulb on top and stuck the tube into the first container of milk. “If the balls float in the milk, we’re in business. The colostrum’s good enough quality, with enough vitamins and antibodies to make that foal healthy.”
    â€œAnd if they sink?” M asked out loud.
    â€œThen we’re sunk,” I answered. “There.” I took the tube, full of milk now, out of the container and held it up so we could all watch.
    It didn’t take long. First one ball floated to the bottom. Then another. Then another.
    We stared at the milk, which was so thin only one lone ball remained afloat. Then it plunged through

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