Stuart felt so nice and warm in the barn.   He snuggled down into the quilt.   Just then, the stall door opened and Horace stuck out his big head.

Horace whinnied, "Hey, look at you.   You look great!"

Stuart wiggled and tried to sit up.   The quilt and plastic were wrapped so tightly around him that he couldn't get uncovered.

He turned his head toward Horace and said crossly, "Why did you leave me back there in the ditch?   If I could get my arms loose, I'd smack you right on your nose!"

"Hey, Stuart, I'm sorry.   I was so scared of getting caught and you were so light weight that I never knew you fell off until I got back home."

"You were so concerned about yourself, you mean," said Stuart.   You were so concerned about getting home and eating some oats that you never even once thought about me!"

Horace hung his big head.

"I'm really sorry, Stuart.   It was just that I was so scared...I guess I couldn't think about anything except getting away from there.   I was scared I was going to get caught and sold to somebody or shipped on a train away from here.   Can you ever forgive me?"

"Well...all right," said Stuart.   "I understand.   I was sort of scared too.   I forgive you, Horace."

"Whee-ee-ee," whinnied Horace.   "Hey, why are you all covered up like that?"

"Billy and Mrs. Johnson cleaned me up.   She gave me clean pants and stuffed my legs again and wrapped me up for winter.   I'm staying in here until spring and then going back out into the garden."

"Maybe Charlie will be back next year too.   Do you think so, Stuart?" asked Horace.

"Probably," said Stuart.   "But if he does come back, I'm not going on another adventure.   I'm never leaving ever again.   I like it here...in my garden."

"Yeah, me too," said Horace.   "Besides, there's no oats to eat out on the road."

Stuart snuggled back down into the quilt.

"Well, goodnight, Horace, see you next spring.   And ... Horace?"

"Yeah?" asked Horace.

"I don't want you nibbling on me.   Okay?"

"Okay, Stuart.   I'll keep a real good eye on you this winter.   Goodnight, Stuart.   See you in the spring."

"Goodnight, Horace," said Stuart as he closed his eyes.

He fell asleep under his warm quilt.   He dreamed of Billy and sunshine and warm breezes that made his legs flap.   He dreamed of a big, black crow named Charlie with a magic feather.