The Yearling

The Baxters rejoice when their cow miraculously gives birth to a calf. Ora spends three days making a giant fruitcake for the Christmas festivities in Volusia. Penny gifts her the alpaca fabric, and she weeps with joy and rushes to make a new dress before their trip. Jody has a gift for Ora but realizes he has nothing for Penny, so he finds a reed and makes him a pipe. Buck reports that Old Slewfoot killed one of their hogs, and Penny sets a large trap to protect their new calf. Three days before Christmas, Old Slewfoot kills the new calf and Penny is infuriated, a sight Jody has never seen. Penny prepares to hunt, vowing “This time, hits’ me or him” (346). Jody and Flag follow as Julia is hot on the bear’s trail, but after tracking him all day, they give up and return home, hoping the bear will return to the calf carcass in the trap. Penny asks Ora to massage his sore back, as he plans to rise early the next day to continue the hunt.

Penny leaves early and despite his sore back, plans not to return until he kills Old Slewfoot—despite Ora tearfully reminding him that Christmas Eve’s the next day.