The Black Stallion

complications set in. Nine chances out of ten everything would be all right, Jimmy had said. But then, Tom figured, there was one chance in ten something
would go
wrong, and it was this lone possibility that caused the palms of his hands to sweat while he waited for the Queen.
    He saw the open truck as it came over the hill. He made out the Queen's blanketed body as the truck drew closer. Her haunches faced the front of the truck. Jimmy had put her in backwards to keep the wind from her face.
    Tom moved quickly to the middle of the fork, one arm raised, his heart pounding. The truck pulled out of the long line of cars and headed for the blacktop road, slowing as it neared him.
    Tom's eyes were upon the Queen. He saw that her hooded head was down low, her body slumped. "Is she all right?" he asked anxiously of the driver.
    "A long haul, but I took it easy," the man said. "Where do we go from here? I've got to get back tonight," he added impatiently.
    "Just a few more miles," the boy said. "Follow this road. I'll ride in back."
    Quickly Tom climbed over the rail of the truck. It lurched forward and Tom steadied the mare. She raised her hooded head, recognizing him; then her nose went to his pocket. Smiling, he produced a carrot and fed it to her.
    "Soon you'll be home," he said. "Just a little farther and then you'll be able to take it nice and easy."
    The road wound with the foothills, going ever upward in the direction of a low range of heavily wooded mountains. Tom looked toward them, for in the valley at their base was his uncle's farm and a home for the Queen.
    The driver called back to him through the cab window, handing him a long envelope. Tom held the letter in front of him, shielding it from the wind. It was, of course, from Jimmy Creech.
    .
R.D.2 Coronet, Pa. June 17 Dear Tom
,
    I've shipped the Queen the best I know how, and she should arrive okay. Feed her light on grain this week, about three quarts in three feedings. Add a little bran each time. Let her have all the grass she wants; it's the best thing for her now. And don't forget to exercise her daily, working her on the longe same as we did here. It'll make it easier when her time comes to have the foal. This week I'd leave her in the pasture every night the weather is good; but next week you'd better bring her in nights. And you'd better watch her closely then. As I said, there won't be much to do when her time comes, but it's better to keep a close watch over her.
    George and I are starting off the season at the Carlisle Fair next week, but you can reach us by writing to me c/o the race secretary at the track. Write as soon as the Queen's had her foal. I'm hoping it's a colt, but George says he's hoping for a filly {he always was partial to girls!). Either way it should be a good one. And Tom, I've got full confidence in you. Use your own judgment if anything comes up. You've got a good head and, most important, the right feeling for horses, and that always pays off in the end.
    There are just a few routine things I want to tell you to do when the foal comes. Be sure to wipe him dry if the mare doesn't take care of that. Pay special attention to his nostrils, wiping them clean so he can breathe good. It'll be important to a little fellow like him. And next thing you do is see to it that the foal nurses as soon as possible. The mare's milk right after she's given birth is the most beneficial of all, and it's important he should get it right away. You help him, if he needs any help. After that you can pretty well relax. Feed the mare light the first two days, giving her a hot bran mash right after she's foaled. That's four quarts of bran and a handful of salt; pour enough boiling water over it to wet it good, then put a sack over the pail and let it steam until it's cool enough for the mare to eat.
    Handle the little fellow from the moment he's born. That way he'll just accept your being around, and it'll make things easier for me later, when I go to break and train him.
    I guess that's about all for now. As soon as I hear from you that the foal has been born, I'll write more on what you should do. The money I gave you should be enough to buy all the grain you'll need in addition to paying your uncle whatever he may want for keeping the mare there, but if anything comes up and you need more, let me know.
    Your friend,
    Jimmy Creech
    P.S. It might be best to have a vet lined up just in case anything goes wrong. As I said, use your own judgment in