Little Britches: Chapter 2  Summary & Analysis

Fred Aultland, the next-door neighbor, introduces himself to Ralph and his father, arriving with a team of “fast-stepping” bay horses. He is younger than Ralph’s father and Ralph likes him immediately. He offers to lend them a horse, but Ralph’s father kindly refuses. Ralph’s father agrees to let him pick up salve for his horses from Fort Logan, however, and Fred later returns with the salve plus baker’s bread for the children. Ralph’s mother thanks him and Fred asks why they have no cows for milk. Embarrassed, Ralph’s mother says they have evaporated milk. Fred then offers to take Ralph for a ride.

Mr. Aultland offers to let Ralph drive the team, showing him how to wrap the lines around his hands. Ralph is scared because the horses are running so fast, but Mr. Aultland helps him control them. They arrive at Mr. Aultland’s house, which is much larger than Ralph’s, and Ralph meets Mr. Aultland’s sister, a tall pretty girl who introduces herself as Bessie. She offers him donuts inside their house, and Ralph meets Mrs. Aultland. Ralph tells Mrs. Aultland how much he likes Bessie and both adults laugh, joking about what a boy Ralph is. Bessie drives Ralph home and meets his mother, who introduces herself as Mary.

Coyotes howl during dinner that night, and Ralph is scared. His father goes to hang a lantern by the horses to scare the coyotes away. Ralph and his family are awoken by the sound of something knocking over the firewood, and Grace, Ralph’s older sister, screams that it's a mountain lion. Ralph’s mother forbids her husband from going outside so he comforts the girl, promising there isn’t any danger. They hear loud sounds coming from the barn, and Ralph has trouble sleeping. The next morning Ralph’s father checks on the horses in the barn and discovers that the source of the source of all the commotion was just a Rocky Mountain canary—a type of small donkey. 

Ralph and his family meet their other neighbors, who show up one after another on Sunday afternoon. First come the Corcorans, who are dominated by the chatty Mrs. Corcoran. Then come the Aldivotes, who Ralph describes as “nice people,” though they’re quiet. Finally, Carl Henry, an old bachelor, and Miss Wheeler, the local schoolteacher, arrive. Ralph’s parents talk about him and Grace going to school, and Ralph’s mother asks about the danger from coyotes. Carl reassures them there is no danger and takes Ralph to fetch milk. On the way back, Ralph runs into cowboys who offer him a lift. Ralph feels like he’s in “The Charge of the Light Brigade.” He is impressed that the cowboys didn’t spill any of the milk.