A Star Discovered Read Online Free PDF

funny, Mare . . . he usually doesn’t lie down like . . .” Jody stopped in mid-sentence. Something about the way Star
     was lying there didn’t look right, and both girls knew it at the same instant. Without another word, they took off at a dead
     run across the field.
    The reason for Star’s unnatural position was horribly revealed as the girls approached. The long rope they had used to tie
     him to the springtooth harrow was now wrapped over and around and through the teeth of the machine until it had gotten so
     short that Star was thrown to the ground and trapped, not able to stand or move. Under his feet, the grass had been reduced
     to bare dirt where he had fought to get up. His cheek was resting on the flat side of one of the teeth, and he was groaning
     low in his throat.
    “Star!” Mary and Jody screamed, dropping to their knees.
    “Oh no, oh no, oh no, oh no,” Jody wailed, tugging in vain on the slipknot, which had tightened beyond her strength during
     the struggle. “Mary, go get Willie!”
    Mary was gone in a flash. Jody gave up on the slipknot and tried to unhook the snap from Star’s halter, but it was twisted
     and unyielding. As she worked, Star looked up at her desperately and tried again to get his legs under him.
    “Shhh, boy, don’t move, don’t move,” Jody sobbed, stroking the side of his head. “Willie will be here soon.”
    No sooner had the words passed Jody’s lips than the rope binding Star to the harrow was cut just below his halter ring with
     one swift motion. Willie jammed the blade of his pocketknife into the ground and gently lifted Star’s head so that his cheek
     was away from the harrow tooth. Mary and Jody gripped each other’s hands, watching Willie with tears streaming down their
     cheeks as he cradled the colt’s head in his arms and stroked his neck.
    “Come on, buddy, you’ll be alright,” Willie murmured, running his hand down Star’s front legs, feeling along the cannon bone
     and pasterns. Star rested his head on Willie’s leg and moaned once more, exhausted from his nightlong struggle with the harrow.

    No sooner had the words passed Jody’s lips than the rope binding Star to the harrow was cut.
    “You girls, go get a smaller bucket from the milk stable,” Willie instructed, “and put a little water in it. He needs a drink.
     Then we’ll try to get him up.”
    The girls were back with the water in an instant. Willie supported Star’s head while Jody held the bucket to his lips and
     Mary looked on, saying a silent prayer. Star raised his head a little higher, sniffing listlessly at the water.
    “C’mon, boy, just take a little sip,” Mary whispered. “You’ve got to.”
    Star lipped at the water once more, then he lowered his muzzle and took a real drink.
    “Good boy, good boy,” Jody murmured through her tears. Willie rubbed Star’s neck and shoulder vigorously in an effort to get
     the circulation going and encourage him to stand.
    “That’s enough water, Jody,” he said gruffly. “That should perk him up. Now stand back so he has room to get his legs under
     him.”
    Jody obeyed Willie’s order just in time to avoid being hit by Star’s front hooves.
    He suddenly sat up on his haunches and stretched them in front of him, searching for the strength to push himself up from
     the slippery grass. He groaned once more from the effort, his muzzle lowered almost to the ground.
    “Here, Jody, you stand at his head and hold onto his halter,” Willie instructed. “I’m gonna give him a little help from behind.
     Just watch out for his front feet when he goes to stand up.”
    Willie crouched behind Star, and while Jody tugged gently on his halter, Willie lifted the struggling colt’s haunches with
     all his strength. Star rocked to and fro once more, and then with a grunt from deep in his chest, he hoisted himself to his
     feet.
    Mary and Jody refrained themselves from throwing their arms around his neck, afraid their weight would knock