Chapters 12-14 Summary

Herriot tells the story of a determined widow and her family's fight to keep their farm in Chapters 12 and 13. Mrs. Dalby's husband had died of cancer leaving her to care for their three young children and their farm. Herriot is called to the Dalby farm to look after some cows that are coughing. Unfortunately these cows are badly infected with a lung parasite called husk. Although she can't afford the expense, Mrs. Dalby must take her cows off the pasture where they are picking up the parasite, keep them inside and feed them expensive hay and protein cakes. At the end of the episode, twelve of the Dalby cows die. Herriot is afraid another strike of bad luck will cause the family to lose their farm.

In Chapter 13 Herriot is called again to the Dalby farm to look after sick cows...