May 1, 1940
The next day, Elizabeth sat in her wheelchair, playing catch with her brother, sister, and cousin.
"Come on, Aimee!" called Erin.
Aimee tossed the ball to Erin.
"Good catch." Jason smiled.
"Thanks!" Erin said, tossing the ball to Jason.
He caught it. "All right Elizabeth, here you go. Ready?"
Elizabeth smiled and got her hands ready to catch the ball.
"You can do it." Erin encouraged.
"Keep your eye on the ball." Jason said. He threw it and Elizabeth caught it with no trouble.
"Good catch!" Mary Ellen called from the porch.
Elizabeth threw it back to Aimee.
The ball made the rounds again.
"Here we go." Jason said, tossing it to Elizabeth.
Once again, Elizabeth caught it. She tossed it back to Aimee and smiled.
Life isn't so bad this way. I'm still able to enjoy things. I have to take things a little more slowly, but I guess that's a good reminder from time to time.
May 2, 1940
The next afternoon after school, Grandpa, John, Jason, Erin, Elizabeth, Joy and Aimee were all in the living room. Grandpa held Joy on his lap.
Jason went over to the radio and turned it on. A lively jazz song was on the radio. He grabbed Erin's hand and began to dance crazily all over the living room with her.
Grandpa, Elizabeth, and Aimee all got a good laugh watching them.
Jason even picked Erin up and swung her around!
"Don't let your Mama see you do that!" John laughed, knowing his conservative wife.
Grandpa and Elizabeth laughed even harder.
The sound of a car horn came suddenly.
"Well now, what do we have here?" Asked Grandpa as he looked out the window.
A large truck with a trailer behind it pulled into the yard followed by the Baldwin Sisters in their truck.
"There's a horse trailer too." Said Zeb.
John came over to look out the window as well. "And the Baldwin Sisters."
"Oh, I'm glad Esther isn't here to see this." Grandpa said with a laugh.
"Boy are you gonna be surprised Elizabeth!" Smiled Aimee.
John, Zeb, and Aimee rushed outside, forgetting about Elizabeth on the couch.
"We'll help you, Elizabeth." Jason said.
He and Erin helped her onto her crutches.
A man brought the horse out of the trailer.
"My, what a pretty one!" Zeb admired the pony.
Elizabeth came out with Jason and Erin. Once outside, she saw John-Boy, Jenny, and their kids were there.
"John-Boy! Jenny!" the girl exclaimed.
John-Boy ran up onto the steps. "Hello Darling!" he kissed her cheek.
"Hi Honey." Jenny hugged Elizabeth.
"Hi Jenny," Elizabeth said. "Hi Isaac!" she greeted her youngest nephew who was in her sister-in-law's arms.
Jen and Isaac ran up onto the stairs.
"Hi Aunt Elizabeth!" Jen smiled.
"Hi Honey, how are you?"
"Good. We've been praying for you."
"I appreciate it, Jen."
"Jason, would you help me down the stairs?"
Jason picked up his younger sister and put her down on the ground.
"We bought Elizabeth a pony." Miss Emily said.
"To give her something to look forward to." Added Miss Mamie.
"An incentive to walk and ride again." Miss Emily added further.
Erin looked at Mary Ellen. Her sister looked skeptical as to if this was the best thing for their younger sister.
"This is George Lister. He cared for all of Papa's horses." Miss Mamie introduced the man.
"He's mine? Really mine?" Elizabeth was excited.
The elderly sisters smiled and nodded.
"I'll ride him and exercise him until you can ride him." Aimee offered.
Elizabeth smiled and nodded.
"Go ahead, Honey." Zeb smiled. "Show Elizabeth how she'll do it."
"Her name is Judy." Miss Emily explained.
Aimee got on the horse. "Go on, Judy."
Judy trotted around.
"George went all the way to the coast to get her." Miss Mamie said. "She came from Assateague Island, off the Virginia shore."
"I never thought I'd ever have my own pony!" Beamed Elizabeth.
She hobbled over on her crutches to watch her cousin more closely.
As Elizabeth watched her cousin, the sad reality finally hit her. It would be a VERY LONG TIME before she would ever be able to ride Judy.
Aimee circled back around toward her. "Isn't she beautiful?' she asked.
Elizabeth forced a smile.
John and Olivia exchanged glances.
Ben smiled. He was hopeful that one day, his sister would indeed ride Judy.
Miss Mamie and Miss Emily beamed, watching Aimee. Neither of them were aware of the hurtful thoughts going through Elizabeth's head.
Aimee looked at Elizabeth.
Elizabeth sighed, staring out into the distance. She was becoming angry. She wanted to throw her crutches. She glanced at her legs then back up at Aimee on the pony.
Zeb stepped closer. Tears streamed down his cheeks, seeing his granddaughter in so much pain.
Olivia bit her lip. She too saw the disappointment in Elizabeth's eyes.
Ben stepped forward. "Elizabeth, I've got a great idea!" That contagious smile he had once again spread across his face.
Elizabeth didn't acknowledge him.
Ben's smiled dropped. "I'll tell you about it later." He went over and stood by John-Boy and Jenny. John-Boy put an arm around him.
"I hope she's okay." Whispered Ben.
"She's just hurting right now." John-Boy whispered.
Elizabeth continued to stare at her cousin.
How LONG will it be before I'm able to have fun again?
Later that evening, Ben hooked up Judy to the pony cart they had made with Martha Corrine in the Summer of 1937.
"Watch out Reckless." Aimee warned the Waltons' dog.
Ben grabbed the rein on Judy and pulled her down the road. He stopped in front of the house.
"Mama! Daddy! Everybody come here!" Elizabeth called.
Everyone came outside and stood on the porch.
"Oh Ben, what a wonderful idea!" John-Boy smiled.
"The cart fits Judy perfectly." Elizabeth smiled.
"Oh, you'll have so much fun Elizabeth!" Erin smiled.
"You won't be needing these till we get back." Ben smiled, taking his sister's crutches. He kissed Elizabeth's cheek. Ben went over to the porch and handed the crutches to Mary Ellen.
"Isn't it great? Ben asked.
"It sure is." Mary Ellen smiled. "Have fun."
"We will." Ben grinned.
"Ben," Erin said.
Ben went over to his sister. "Do you like it? Elizabeth's gonna have so much fun!"
"I love the idea!" Erin smiled. "This means more to Elizabeth than all the presents you could ever buy her. Now do you understand what I was telling you before?"
Ben smiled and nodded. "I do now." He turned to his younger sister and cousin. "You girls ready?"
"Yeah." Aimee smiled.
Ben jumped up in the pony cart, grabbed the reins, and guided Judy down the road.
That evening, Corabeth stepped out onto the porch of the store. She turned on her flashlight. The wind blew outside.
"Mr. Godsey?" she called. "Mr. Godsey?"
"I'm right here, Honey." Came her husband's reply.
She followed the sound of her husband's voice a few steps until she saw him.
"Mr. Godsey, where is your motorcycle?"
"That fool thing broke down again down by the bridge."
"Mr. Godsey, have you forgotten the purpose of your visit? You were to pick up Aimee."
"Aimee's gonna spend the night with Elizabeth. It's okay. She asked and I said it was all right." He paused. "Besides, Elizabeth needs the company."
Corabeth scanned the dark landscape. "I wish she'd picked another night."
Ike was confused. "Why another night?"
"I don't like the feeling of this one." Came Corabeth's eerie response.