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Chapter one, "The Gift," introduces us to all the main characters: the ranch hand Billy Buck, next the little boy Jody, Jody's father Carl Tiflin, and Jody's mother, called only Mrs. Tiflin. We start on Jody's journey to manhood after breakfast as the little boy Jody walks with his dogs, picking up rocks along the way, through the hills near the family ranch. In the second section, "The Gift," Jody's father tells him crossly, "You come with [Billy and me] after breakfast!" In the barn, Jody meets a red pony colt. Although his father lets him know he will be expected to take responsibility for him, Jody can barely contain his excitement and pride. Billy, to whom Jody looks up, promises to teach him how to break the pony, and Jody names the pony after the nearby Gabilan Mountains. In the next section, Jody assumes increasing responsibility for the care of Gabilan. He is so busy with his new pony that he almost forgets his friends the dogs and his other chores, but both they and his mother understand. He listens carefully to what Billy tells him about breaking Gabilan and takes pride that such a "fine hand with horses" is teaching him. He sees Billy as being able to do no wrong. Jody practices and practices saddling and riding a sawhorse. He can't wait until he can ride the pony. The weather in the mountains begins to change and Jody worries about the rain and getting Gabilan muddy. One day he decides to leave the pony in the corral while he goes to school. Billy agrees that it will "be good for him to be out in the sun" and promises to put him in the barn if the rains come. The rains do come, but Billy and Carl Tiflin are away from the ranch and the pony stays out in the rain. When Jody finds Gabilan outside he towels him off and worries that being in the rain all day will make him sick. Billy tells Jody, "Now he'll be all right in the morning." Jody discovers Billy can be wrong about things as well as the weather. Gabilan is very ill and Jody begins to fear that he will never get well, but he still trusts to nurse the pony back to health. Jody spends many nights sleeping next to his pony and putting a mixture of bran, hops, carbolic acid, and a little turpentine and steaming water in Gabilan's feedbag, as Billy taught him to do. But, the pony keeps getting worse. Billy admits to Jody, "Yes, he's pretty sick." Billy attempts to help the pony's breathing by opening a hole in his head so the pus can run out. And, indeed, he appears to improve. One night Jody is sleeping in the barn and Gabilan attempts to leave through the door which has blown open. Jody knows this is a bad sign, but brings the pony back inside. Again, Billy tries to help Gabilan's breathing, this time by putting a slit in his throat. Jody keeps the wound open so his pony can breathe. No matter how much nursing Bill and Jody provide, the pony's health does not improve. One night when Billy is staying awake to watch the pony, Gabilan's breathing quiets and Jody falls asleep. The next morning the pony is gone. Jody and his father find the dead pony in the mountains. When Billy finds Jody he is beating buzzards of Gabilan's head. This episode ends with the ranch hand, Billy, picking up the boy, Jody, and speaking of him as a man to his father who is like all humans trying to deal with death and grief. In "The Great Mountains," the second episodic chapter, the little boy Jody is again playing with his dogs. He is lonely without his pony and, like all boys, even those who have grown up a lot in a short period of time, he is bored and searching for fun and adventure.
Approximate Word count = 2542
Approximate Pages = 10.2
(250 words per page double spaced)
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