The Penny Pony by Patricia Gilkerson

said
Addie.
    Miss Julie’s blue eyes twinkled. She grinned
and I saw where Sam got his smile. “What I would really like is to
have some horse-loving girls take ownership of Dotty, but keep her
here on the farm and be responsible for her.”
    “Do you mean it?” I said, feeling hope
glowing in my chest. Something was bothering me about this, but I
wasn’t sure what it was.
    “Don’t kid us about this,” Addie said,
jumping up and down. “This is too important.”
    Miss Julie’s eyes were blue stars. ”I mean
it,” she said. “It was such a lucky accident that you found her,
and it was so brave of you to protect her, that I think you should
both have her. You can move her up here close to the house where I
can see her, too. And I’ll be able to visit with you while you take
care of my old friend. Maybe we can make Addie a horsehair bracelet
to match Piper’s.”
    “You should have one too,” said Addie,
“Everyone who loves Dotty should get one.”
    “Your dad is coming out later to check Dotty
over,” said Sam. “But she’s looking pretty perky today, and I think
once she puts on a little weight, she’ll be fine. And I believe
both your moms are coming out to meet her.”
    “But, Miss Julie,” I said, remembering what
it was that bothered me, “she’s a registered purebred. She’s worth
money.”
    “Okay,” said Miss Julie. “So how much money
do you have?”
    I knew I had none at home. There was a little
in my savings account, but I had to use that for a phone. I dug and
dug, but only came up with the penny I had found on the street.
    “This is all,” I said with a sad heart.
    “That’s exactly enough,” said Miss Julie
Applegate, taking my penny. “Dotty is yours. Sam will take care of
the paperwork.”
    Addie and I held hands and spun in a circle
right there in the farmhouse kitchen, nearly knocking over the oak
trestle table. Miss Julie and Sam laughed at us. It felt so good to
hear the laughter that I started to giggle.
    “Adds,” I said, “You know what?”
    “What?”
    “We have a pony!”
    “I know,” she said, grinning.
    “We haven’t brushed our pony today.”
    “Let’s go!” she said. We danced out the door
and across the lawn to the spotted pony waiting for us under the
maple tree. I put my head close to her and whispered that she
belonged to us now and would never have to be hungry or thirsty
again. With Addie on one side and me on the other, we hugged
Dotty’s neck, breathing in the smells of warm pony and fresh-cut
grass, the best smells in the world.
     

 
    Coming in October, 2013
     
    Nickel-Bred
    Book Two in the Horse Rescuers Series
     
    Piper and Addie are looking for another horse
so they can ride together. They find the perfect horse in Nickel,
but then discover that his owner is part of a gang of criminals and
that the horse himself is in danger of being sold to a
slaughterhouse for dog meat. Piper’s parents do not want her to
have anything to do with the lowlife owner, but Piper and Addie are
determined to save Nickel. Piper incurs the hatred of one of the
gang’s members, and the girls must not only save Nickel, but also
save their friends and family from the vicious clutches of the
criminals.
     

 
    About the Author
     
    Patricia Gilkerson
spent a horse-loving childhood growing up in Kentucky, and finally
got her first horse as an adult. She began writing books for
children at night after teaching all day. Today Patricia lives on a
hobby farm in Minnesota with her husband Jim, and the current count
of three horses. Her two children are grown with children and pets
of their own, so there are frequently grandchildren and granddogs
running around her house. Her hobbies include travel, Irish/Celtic
music, scuba diving and reading. Her favorite thing to do is to
hang out with family and friends.
     
    Website:
    patriciagilkerson.com
     
     

 
     
     
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