DANNY

The first story, The Gift, centers around the horse the Jody named Gabilan that was
given to him by his father. Jody clearly loves the horse and spends most of his free
time brushing it, washing it, and training it. Soon enough, Jody thinks that the horse
is ready to be ridden - but disaster strikes. Gabilan caught a severe cold from being
out in the rain, even though Billy had made the promise that Gabilan was too strong
to get sick. Billy, overwhelmed with the dilemma, has to resort to drastic measures,
resolving in the horse's throat being cut open to insert a breathing hold. However,
the problems are not over yet. Gabilan escapes the ranch one night, and, to much
dismay, Jody finds the horse's body being fed on by vultures the next morning.
MELGAR PAPI
The next story, The Great Mountains, is about a visitor to the ranch named Gitano.
Gitano is an old Mexican man that came to the Tiflin family, claiming that he was
born and raised on the farm. His last wish is to remain on the farm until he dies, but
the stern Carl Tiflin refuses, leaving the man without his hopes. That same night,
however, in defiance of his father, Jody sneaks off to meet Gitano. He sees him
polishing a sword, and asks Gitano if he has ever been to the Great Mountains that
Jody often gazes at. In response, Gitano claims that he has, but remembers little
about his adventures. Something about this conversation must have inspired Gitano,
since the next morning he is gone. A neighbor reports that he saw a man - someone
carrying a sword, riding on horseback into the mountains. Jody, whose dream it is to
explore them, is filled with longing and deep thoughts.
REVOCABRO
The Promise is the third section of the book, it being mainly about Billy and Carl
deciding to let Jody raise a colt from birth. So, Jody is given the horse Nellie to
breed. The breeding takes a lot of time and money - Jody has to step up his chores
to pay for it. After the experience with Gabilan, he is worried that something might
go wrong again, so he is wary of Billy. When the time for the birth comes,
complications spring up. Nellie is ill. Something is wrong with the birth. Nellie has to
be killed, and the colt is cut out of her stomach.
MEZA
The last story, The Leader of the People, centers around Jody's grandfather (his
mother's father). The family receives a letter from the grandfather stating that he is
visiting. Carl is upset, giving his main reason of annoyance as the man tells the
same stories over and over about crossing the Great Plains. The grandfather
comes, and tells his usual stories. The next morning, he is late coming down to
breakfast, and Carl starts complaining about him. The grandfather comes down,
having heard everything. Jody sits out on the porch with his grandfather, having a
conversation about how his grandfather really felt about crossing the Plains. The
important thing wasn't crossing, but leading other people across it. Jody tells of his
dreams to become a leader, but is told that the days of exploration are over.