Mr. Johnson got into his truck. He hadn't seen any horses that he wanted to buy. He felt sad and realized that no horse could take the place of Horace. He was going to have to tell Billy that Horace might never come back home.
Billy loved Horace. He loved to get up on Horace's broad back and ride through the fields. He loved to give Horace lumps of sugar, carrots, and corn. Yes, they were all going to miss Horace so much.
Mr. Johnson waved goodbye to the other farmers as he drove down the driveway and started home.
Stuart lay by the edge of the ditch. It was starting to get dark and he realized he would be laying there all night long.
Just then he heard the sound of a truck. Stuart raised one arm and the truck came to a screeching stop.
Mr. Johnson looked at what lay in the ditch. It looked like a pile of old clothes, but he thought he had seen them move. He rolled the window of the truck down and looked again.
He couldn't believe what he saw!
"Well, for goodness sake," he whispered. "That looks like our scarecrow!"
When Stuart had left on his adventure with Charlie and Horace, Mr. and Mrs. Johnson thought he'd been taken from the garden by the next door neighbor kids.
"Why it IS our scarecorw," Mr. Johnson said, as he stepped down from his truck. "Those darn kids must have thrown him here in the ditch."
Mr. Johnson picked up Stuart and carefully laid him in the back of the truck.
"You've lost some of your stuffing and your pants are torn, but I think we can fix you up. I'll take you home. Martha will fix you up old fella, don't worry. Billy will be so glad to see you."
Mr. Johnson got back into his truck and turned right at the next road. Twenty minutes later, he drove into his driveway and blew the horn.
Billy came running from the barn.
"Dad, Dad," he yelled as he ran toward the truck. "You'll never guess what happened! Horace came back about an hour ago!"
"Horace came back?" asked Mr. Johnson
"Yeah, he was limping and had a stone in his hoof, but I got it out," said Billy. "He was all sweaty too. I put him in his stall."
"Did you walk him around first?"
"Yeah, I did. I rubbed him down too and put his balnket on him. He's eating some oats and corn right now."
"Well," said Mr. Johnson. "I can't imagine where that horse has been for the last two days."
"I don't know, Dad, but I'm sure glad he's back."
"Hey, that reminds me," said Mr. Johnson. "Take a look in the back of the truck."
Billy climbed up onto the step of the truck and peered over the side.
"Stuart!" he yelled. "Stuart...where have you been?"
Mr. Johnson lifted Stuart out of the back of the truck and laid him in Billy's out stretched arms.
"Take him inside son. I think Mom will know how to fix him."
Billy carefully carried Stuart up the porch steps and into the back room of the house.
Mrs. Johnson hugged Mr. Johnson and said, "Will, wherever did you find him?"
"He was laying in a ditch over by the stock yards," said Mr. Johnson. "Whoever took him must have thrown him there. He looks pretty beat up. Do you think you can fix him, Martha?"
Billy laid Stuart down on the back room bench.
"Mom, he's missing a lot of straw out of his legs. Do you think we can still fix him?"
"Well, Billy, it's way too late to do anything about him tonight. Let's leave Stuart here. Tomorrow you can go out into the barn and get some more straw. I think I can fix him up all right."
Billy patted Stuart on the head.
"At least you didn't lose your hat. Tomorrow you'll get fixed up. You're going to be fine, Stuart, don't worry."
Mr. and Mrs. Johnson went into the kitchen. Billy started to follow them. At the kitchen door he stopped and turned and looked at Stuart.
"Rest, Stuart. I'm awfully glad you are home."
Billy clicked off the light, closed the door and followed his parents into the kitchen.
Stuart took a deep breath and relaxed. "Home," he whispered. "Home."
What a wonderful word...home. He had heard Billy say that Horace was home too. Stuart smiled. Everything was going to be all right. He closed his eyes and fell asleep.