Author(s): Joy Cowley

Children Fiction

A dramatic sequel to the award-winning Bow Down ShadrachThere are two new arrivals at the farm: Shadrach's young filly, Gladly, and a boy called Eden. Gladly is welcomed with open arms, but Eden's arrival, direct from a social Welfare home, throws the family into turmoil. Hannah is carried away in a rush of optimistic generosity, but Sky and Mikey are deeply suspicious. Willing to share her family and home with Eden, Hannah is surprised to find herself so resentful of the special bond that develops between Eden and her precious horse. Sky and Mikey form a hostile alliance against Eden; Hannah copes by telling him wonderful new stories. But Hannah doesn't foresee that the invitation into her imaginary world will lead Eden and Gladly into great danger. Joe came back from the phone to tell them to news. His grin was wide and when he had finished the story, he threw out his hands as though he were going to catch the entire planet. ‘Anyone want another horse?’ Hannah sat so still that she could hear the blood pumping in her ears. Her father’s words seemed to hand in large speech bubbles over the table and she had to go over them again to make sure of their meaning. Mikey was grinning round a mouthful of chocolate cake. Sky, extra noisy because it was his birthday, was banging fists on the table, rattling plates and knives and bouncing cake crumbs. ‘Yeah, yeah, ziggy-bob, yeah! Get another horsie. Yeah, yeah, yeah!’ Sophie and Joe were looking at Hannah, who was still daring herself to believe it. Shadrach had a daughter? She flicked through pictures in her mind, saw the float that took Shadrach away, and then his travelling companion, the beautiful chestnut thoroughbred called Lacemaker. They had been left for a night in a paddock when the car towing the float had broken down. Sophie was laughing. ‘Dear old Shadrach! Who would have though it? A worn-out old draughthorse and elegant Lacemaker, queen of the thoroughbreds.’ ‘She falled in loved with him!’ shouted Sky. Mikey said, ‘What are we going to call it? Shadmaker? Lacerach? Hannah’s cheeks were burning and her throat was thick with tears which would start running if she spoke. Shadrach had a baby. Shadrach was dead and yet he was still alive. ‘The owner said the foal had to be killed,’ said Joe, ‘but Neil smuggled it out in his van, wrapped in a blanket and found another mother for it. He knew we’d be interested.’ Joe put his hands on the table and leaned towards Hannah. ‘I have a solemn question to put to you, oh Hannah of the wilderness. Do you hereby adopt this filly?’ Hannah let her breath out in a long soft sound. ‘Gladly!’ she replied. ‘That’s a good name for it,’ said Mikey. Sky thumped the table again. ‘Gladly, Gladly, ziggy-bob, Gladly. We got another horsie. Gladly, Gladly.’ Sophie came up behind Hannah’s chair and put her arm around her. Hannah turned and let her eyes and nose run against he folds of her mother’s denim skirt. Gently, Sophie stoked Hannah’s hair and said, ‘Yes, it’s a very nice name.’ Joe came back from the phone to tell them to news. His grin was wide and when he had finished the story, he threw out his hands as though he were going to catch the entire planet. ‘Anyone want another horse?’ Hannah sat so still that she could hear the blood pumping in her ears. Her father’s words seemed to hand in large speech bubbles over the table and she had to go over them again to make sure of their meaning. Mikey was grinning round a mouthful of chocolate cake. Sky, extra noisy because it was his birthday, was banging fists on the table, rattling plates and knives and bouncing cake crumbs. ‘Yeah, yeah, ziggy-bob, yeah! Get another horsie. Yeah, yeah, yeah!’ Sophie and Joe were looking at Hannah, who was still daring herself to believe it. Shadrach had a daughter? She flicked through pictures in her mind, saw the float that took Shadrach away, and then his travelling companion, the beautiful chestnut thoroughbred called Lacemaker. They had been left for a night in a paddock when the car towing the float had broken down. Sophie was laughing. ‘Dear old Shadrach! Who would have though it? A worn-out old draughthorse and elegant Lacemaker, queen of the thoroughbreds.’ ‘She falled in loved with him!’ shouted Sky. Mikey said, ‘What are we going to call it? Shadmaker? Lacerach? Hannah’s cheeks were burning and her throat was thick with tears which would start running if she spoke. Shadrach had a baby. Shadrach was dead and yet he was still alive. ‘The owner said the foal had to be killed,’ said Joe, ‘but Neil smuggled it out in his van, wrapped in a blanket and found another mother for it. He knew we’d be interested.’ Joe put his hands on the table and leaned towards Hannah. ‘I have a solemn question to put to you, oh Hannah of the wilderness. Do you hereby adopt this filly?’ Hannah let her breath out in a long soft sound. ‘Gladly!’ she replied. ‘That’s a good name for it,’ said Mikey. Sky thumped the table again. ‘Gladly, Gladly, ziggy-bob, Gladly. We got another horsie. Gladly, Gladly.’ Sophie came up behind Hannah’s chair and put her arm around her. Hannah turned and let her eyes and nose run against he folds of her mother’s denim skirt. Gently, Sophie stoked Hannah’s hair and said, ‘Yes, it’s a very nice name.’ 'Joy Cowley has come up trumps and produced a brilliant sequel to Bow Down Shadrach... A great story for nine to 13-year-olds strong on emotions and rural New Zealand.' Bay of Plenty Times, 24/6/95. '...a pleasure to read. It was easy to get into and truly enjoyable from cover to cover.' Sunday Star Times, 19/2/95. 'An excellent story for young people, with great imaginative twists woven into the main plot.' Bay of Plenty Times, 10/9/94. 'Cowley is adept at giving her characters depth and warmth. You get to know their strengths and peculiarities, become attached to them and this is what drives the story along... There is an exciting climax and the novel leaves you with a good feeling.' Otago Daily Times, 17/9/94. 'Joy Cowley's skill as a storyteller is equalled by her sensitive observations of the agonies of growing up.' Evening Post, 19/8/94. 'Cowley's control of language and subject matter is masterly, and characters - particularly those of the four children - are vividly realised.' Listener, 29/10/94.