The War that Saved My Life by Kimberly Brubaker Bradley

Now Lady Thorton’s face looked strained. “Then you’re the third person
that animal has ever actually liked, after Grimes and my son.” She shook her
head, once, sharply, and her face took on its official look. The iron-face look.
“I brought over some clothing for you and your brother. Your brother’s is
from an assortment of village families. Yours is mostly from my daughter.
Things she’s outgrown. Here.”
She laid a pair of yellow pants and a pair of ankle boots across my lap. I
stared at them. The pants were made of a thick, tough fabric, with legs that
ballooned wide at the top, then narrowed and buttoned below the knee. I
recognized them: Maggie had worn a pair just like them the day before. “For
riding,” I said. I’d never worn pants before. It would be easier, on Butter.
Lady Thorton nodded. “Yes. I’m sure Miss Smith’s helping you, but I
didn’t think she’d be able to find you the proper clothes.”
Miss Smith said, very softly, “I haven’t helped her. She’s done it on her
own.”
Lady Thorton looked me up and down. “Margaret needs to stay in bed a
few days. She won’t be able to ride again before she leaves for school. But if
you have questions about horses, you can always go to our stables and ask
Grimes. I know he’ll help you.”
I noticed she wasn’t offering to help me herself. I said, “Butter doesn’t
want to go fast. I don’t know how to make him.”
She gave a little laugh, and tapped my knee as she stood. “Persistence,”
she said. “Ponies are stubborn until they know who’s boss. Enjoy the new
things.”
Miss Smith saw her out. When she came back in, she sat down in Lady
Thorton’s place. “I’m sorry,” she said, after a moment’s pause. “I didn’t mean
to call you a liar.”
Sure she did. I shrugged. “I am one.”
“I know.” She began to empty the rest of the box of clothes. Shorts for
Jamie, sweaters, shirts. Then she straightened. “No,” she said. “That’s wrong,
I don’t know that. We both know you sometimes tell lies, but I can’t say that
it makes you a liar. Do you understand what I mean?”
Blouses, sweaters, skirts for me. A red dress with lace on the cuffs. Coats
for winter.
I touched the girl’s coat. Maggie’s coat. “Will I still be here in winter?”
“I don’t know,” Miss Smith said. “Do you understand what I just said? The
difference between lying and being a liar?”