Meadowlarks by Thomas Holladay (chapter books to read to 5 year olds TXT) 📕

When they got to the bottom, Willis looked up at the sky and said, “More snow's coming.”

How does he know that? Jason only saw gray clouds, same as all day.

Both men plowed through knee deep snow toward the corner of the garage then turned back, looking at Mom on the porch.

She didn’t want them to leave yet either.

Jason said, “What about pumpkin pie?” They couldn’t have eaten it already.

John rubbed a round tummy and puffed out his cheeks, too full to eat more.

Willis said, “Maybe next time.” His mouth turned downward and his powder blue eyes pierced into Jason like he was mad about something. “There’s a moon tonight.” He poked his thumb toward the front door. “Remember to drop that bar.” Both men turned and disappeared.

Jason and Barnabas went back inside, Mom hung his coat and they hurried into the kitchen. She'd already cleaned up and set two slices of pie on the table, whipped cream and all. His was bigger than hers. They sat down together and both took a taste.

Mom rolled her eyes and smiled. “Mmm. Isn’t this good?”

Jason stuffed a big piece into his mouth, chewing and licking cream from his upper lip. “Best ever.” The whipped cream tasted much better than the canned stuff Grandma had sprayed on everything.” He took another bite, talking around it. “Too bad John and Willis didn’t get any.” He smiled.

More for me.

“Don’t talk with your mouth full.”

Okay. 

He jammed in another mouthful.

This kitchen table and bay window were way cool for seeing outside. It had stopped snowing and it was already getting dark. The air looked clear and clean, watching lights come on in the village, way up at the high end of the valley. Closer to home, Sheriff Nason’s headlights came on just before he turned off River Road and plowed through snow toward the upper meadow.

“This has got to stop.” Mom stood and left their plates on the table. She pulled her sheepskin coat from the back of the kitchen door and put it on, pretty mad about something. She helped Jason into his coat at the entry and they hurried outside with Barnabas, getting really cold now.

Barnabas knew where they were going, following the tracks of John and Willis around the corner of the garage, head down, leading the way.

Jason and his mom rounded the corner and Barnabas waited near the trees. They caught up and the dog plunged through the snow and up the trail into the trees.

Mom said, “Don’t let him get too far in front of us.”

“Barnabas!” Jason clapped his bare hands and the dog stopped. They reached the tree line at the bottom of the upper meadow and Jason held his dog’s collar, waiting for Mom to catch up.

Jason could barely see over the snow, maybe deeper in the middle of the meadow.

The sheriff and Jim Embry lowered a black calf from the back of the truck and led it to that rock where steam rose and meadowlarks fluttered into the darkening sky.

Mom got caught up and Jason said, “Should we go make them stop?”

Mom placed her hands on Jason’s shoulders from behind and backed him into her legs, "Let's stay still and keep quiet."

They didn’t need to wait long.

Sheriff Nason and Jim Embry returned to their truck, the truck backed away from that rock and turned around, and they started back down the hill.

Mom let go of Jason, Jason let go of Barnabas and Barnabas plowed in front of them, jumping over snow that reached Jason’s knees. Jason’s feet and legs got wet and cold and he started to shiver. He could barely see the calf’s head from here.

Barnabas disappeared behind deep snow, barking like crazy.

Birds swirled overhead.

Barnabas must have smelled the calf, still barking like crazy.

Jason and his mom followed the trail and finally reached the rock where Barnabas charged in and out, barking like crazy but not biting.

“Barnabas, NO!”

Barnabas stopped and looked at him, steam rising all around.

The rock had already dried in the middle, nice and warm on the bottoms of Jason’s shoes.

Mom looked up at the birds circling overhead. “Willis said they stayed close to the warmth of this rock. Feel it?”

“Huh.”

Barnabas sniffed at the calf, probably cautious after Stoner peed all over him.

The calf didn’t like it much, crying out in a high pitch, probably scared of dogs.

Mom untied the calf and pulled it off the warmth of the rock, leading it back down the hill along their previously plowed path.

Barnabas followed close behind the calf, sniffing at its legs.

Jason followed his dog in case he tried to bite the calf or something. “Too weird.”

Mom turned and Jason pointed.

The birds swirled overhead, following them downhill, getting darker and harder to see.

Darkness had fallen by the time they reached the barn.

Mom needed to search to find the key, unfamiliar with the hole in the rock. She finally found it. “Here, Jason.” She handed Jason the leader and used both hands to insert the key into the lock, shivering nearly as much as Jason. The door opened outward without a problem. Snow had not reached under the deep overhang of the roof anyway. She turned on a light and Jason followed her inside with the calf. He led the calf into one of the empty stalls and tied off the gate. She half filled a bucket with water and Jason forked some hay into the stall.

Barnabas waited over by the door.

After checking to make sure everything had been done, Mom said, “Let’s get back into the house. I’m freezing.”

The potbellied stove stayed lit this time of year, turned down at night. The barn wasn't so cold as outside.

TWO HOURS LATER, HAVING put Jason to bed, Carolyn sat behind the big antique desk of her dead husband’s father, feeling out of place. She hadn’t yet mentally claimed this office or the master bedroom as her own. She sometimes felt his presence, especially here behind his desk. Not that she believed in ghosts. She didn’t. But,