DECEMBER 14, 1860
Marta was lying on her bed thinking about Christmas. She had been watching and listening to everybody buying Christmas presents for their love ones and talking about Christmas for the past couple of weeks, and it was getting to her. She didn't have anybody to buy presents for, and she knew nobody would be giving her any gifts. She felt very lonely. She wouldn't even have anybody to spend Christmas day with. But little did Marta know that on Christmas day she would receive a present.
Ted told Walter that he wanted a very gentle horse for a friend, and that he didn't have time to come out to his ranch and pick out one, so he would rely on Walter's judgement. He paid for the horse in advance, sight unseen, and Walter agreed to deliver it in front of the hotel Christmas morning.