Free Star Gazer by Chris Platt

one to figure it out.” She paused for a moment waiting until Jordan nodded in agreement, then continued. “Will the auction take the horse back?”
    Jordan shook her head. She didn’t want to give Star Gazer back. “The Wilsons already paid for her. I have to pay them back on Monday. That’s when Mr. Yoder and Jacob are supposed to deliver Star Gazer.”
    â€œI see.” Jordan’s mom folded her hands in her lap and stared out across the soybean fields.
    Jordan knew that look. It pained her to know that she’d caused this much trouble for her mom. “I…I know you’re really upset about this, but—” Her mother fixed her with a stare that cut her off midsentence and made her feel like crawling under the porch.
    â€œJordan…” This calm, steady voice worried Jordan a whole lot more than screaming and shouting. “You went to an auction this morning,” her mother continued, “with permission to buy some chickens. You came home with the chickens, and the news that you’ve purchased a draft horse— a lame draft horse. Your savings is now gone, and we’re going to have to figure a way to feed this horse and ourselves. Yes, I am upset.”
    â€œBut, Mom,” Jordan squeaked. “The packer was buying Star Gazer for dog food. Jacob said they like buying the bigger horses because that way they get their money’s worth.” She searched her mother’s face. “I’m sure you would’ve done the same thing if you’d been there.”
    â€œMaybe I would have,” Mrs. McKenzie admitted. Her shoulders seemed to sag under the weight of the problem Jordan had caused. “But the problem still remains. We’ve got a horse that we really can’t afford, and if she’s lame, there’s no way we can sell her—except to run her back through the auction. And then she’d probably just end up in a can anyway.”
    Jordan gazed into the distance. “I know. I’ve put us in a pretty big mess,” she said. “But if you’ll just meet Star Gazer, you’ll see why I couldn’t let her go to the packers. I’ll work and earn some extra money to help care for her.”
    â€œAll right, Jordan. Here’s what we’re going to do,” her mother said, her tone brooking no argument. “I’ll meet Star Gazer on Monday when Mr. Yoder and his son come to deliver your horse. You can mow lawns and weed flower beds for the neighbors to help pay for the upkeep on this horse. Then you’re going to come home and do a whole list of chores that I have for you. By the time you’re done, you’re going to have calluses on your calluses. And maybe somewhere in there, you will have learned a lesson.”
    Jordan was thrilled that her mother was going to let Star Gazer come home with them. “I’ll work until I drop,” she promised.
    Her mother gave her a don’t-mess-with-me stare. “I’m not finished yet,” she warned. “We’re going to see if we can get this mare healthy again, and then we’re going to try to sell her.”
    Jordan’s moment of victory slipped away. But she knew this was as good as it was going to get for now. Her only hope was that her mom would fall in love with the big draft beauty just as she had. She lifted her eyes to her mother’s face. “I really am sorry, Mom.”
    Her mother let out an exasperated sigh and folded her in a hug. “I know you are, dear. Now you can show me just how sorry you are by taking those chickens out to the barn and feeding them. After that you can grab the hoe and start weeding that big flower bed over there.”
    Her mother picked up her purse and walked into the house, leaving Jordan sitting on the porch steps wondering if she was going to regret her decision to buy Star Gazer.
    The next morning, Jordan was up with the sun. She didn’t want her mom to have to