The Christmas Pony Read Free

boarding house here in town.” She refrained from mentioning that the place in town was said to have bedbugs since Mama would not approve. “The food is lots better at my mama’s boarding house too. It’s not bragging ’cause everyone says so.”
    â€œThat sounds good to me.” The man’s brown eyes lit up.
    Just like that, Lucy was explaining to them where the house was located and what color it was and that she’d run on home ahead of them and inform her mama that they were coming. “If you get there in time, you can have lunch with us too. Grandma’s making chicken and dumplings today.”
    â€œI like the sound of that.” The man looked at his watch and grinned. “My mouth is already starting to water.”
    â€œBut a mile from town?” The lady’s red lips puckered as she stuck out a shiny black shoe. “How on earth do we get there?”
    The man just laughed. Meanwhile, Lucy scrambled to gather up the package that Mrs. Danson had readied for her, bidding everyone good-bye before she hurried on her way outside. Heading down the road for home, she partly walked and partly ran, but she realized that her plans for stopping by to talk to Mr. Greenburg about Smoky would have to wait for now. However, if God had already answered her prayers for paying boarders, maybe that meant he would answer her prayers for a pony as well.

2

    W ho are these people?” Mama asked after Lucy had breathlessly told her the good news.
    â€œI don’t know their names,” Lucy gasped as she peeled off her coat, “but they look like rich people.” Now she described the yellow car and the lady’s fine clothing. “I think I heard them saying they were on their way to California.”
    â€œWith half of the rest of the country,” Grandma said from where she was tending a pot on the stove.
    â€œPassing through.” Mama hung Lucy’s coat on a peg by the door. “Everybody is just passing through Maple Grove.”
    â€œDid you get the yeast?” Grandma asked Lucy. “I’ll need it to bake bread for tomorrow. Especially if we’re having guests.”
    â€œIt’s in there,” Lucy told her.
    â€œYou run on upstairs and check the rooms,” Mama said to Lucy as she reached for her good apron. “Open the doors to let some heat in, and take the feather duster with you and make sure everything looks tidy and fresh. I expect they’ll want the front room since it’s bigger and the sun comes in so nice in there, but we’ll let them take their pick.”
    Lucy scurried up the stairs, opening all the bedroom doors and even checking the bathroom to make sure there were no spiders or webs in the sink or the big claw-foot bathtub. Everything seemed to be in good order, but she wished it was summer so she could gather some pretty flowers to put in a vase. She thought the movie star lady would like that.
    She stooped to straighten out the colorful braided rug that ran down the length of the hallway. She and Grandma had made that rug from long strips of old fabric last winter. Lucy did the braiding and Grandma did the sewing. It was supposed to keep the sounds of footsteps quieter up there, but Lucy thought it mostly looked pretty and festive.
    She was just coming down the stairs when she heard someone at the front door. Lucy rushed to answer it. “Hello,” she said eagerly. “I forgot to tell you, I’m Lucy.”
    â€œPleased to meet you, Lucy. My name’s Veronica.” She jerked her thumb toward the man behind her. “And this is George.”
    â€œPleased to meet you, Lucy.” He leaned down to shake her hand.
    Lucy was leading them into the front room just as Mama came through the dining room. She still had on her working clothes, and Lucy could tell she was uncomfortable. Probably even more so when she saw how fancy Veronica looked.
    â€œThis is George and Veronica,”