The Ride of Her Life: The True Story of a Woman, Her Horse, and Their Last-Chance Journey Across America

“When she was in the hospital, the decision was made to send Waldo, who was too frail to stay alone, to a nursing home. The French boys took Depeche Toi back to their own farm for safekeeping. The rest of her animals were sold off to help pay for some of her hospital bills. Annie was still bedridden when she got the news that Waldo had passed. She was the only one left. The last of her line.”

This passage neatly sets up the problem that Annie faced as an older woman with no relatives, employment, or money. This builds sympathy for Annie by describing the unfortunate circumstances that suddenly took away the stability and familiarity of life on her farm. In addition, the passage creates intrigue, prompting continued reading to learn how Annie confronted the terrible loss of her uncle, her animals, and her health.

“Although Annie had plenty of grit, the prospect of finding her way from where she stood now—still seriously weakened from her lung troubles, nearly broke, and with an empty barn—would have daunted anyone. In 1954, a single older woman without family or employment faced few and stark choices. Annie had no bank account, no savings, and no relatives to rely on.”

This passage reminds readers that some people have no social safety net to rely on during hard times. The historical context of Annie’s plight helps explain why she made such an extreme decision and encourages readers to consider why she preferred to take a long horseback journey rather than sit in a county home.

“Instead of resting, she’d never worked harder in her life. Yet, miraculously, she was still standing, and most of all, she had amassed over a hundred dollars—enough to make it through the winter. Not enough, however, to sustain herself through the winter and set the farm right.”

The text characterizes Annie as a hardworking, fiercely independent person accustomed to relying on herself. This passage shows how Annie faced an impossible economic situation: No matter how productive her farm was, she could not earn enough money to provide for herself. This quote garners sympathy for Annie and offers valuable context for how she made her dramatic decision to give up her farm for good.