- When Nellie Oleson is seriously injured after falling from Bunny, a horse that used to belong to Laura Ingalls, Nellie's mother blames Laura for the accident and orders the animal destroyed. But Laura secretly steals her still-beloved Bunny away from Mrs. Oleson's vengeance and resigns herself to the penance of waiting hand and foot on a demanding, bedridden Nellie.—shepherd1138
- Though her horse Bunny is now the property of the Oleson family after a trade some time ago, Laura Ingalls still visits her and gives her some food.
Naturally, Nellie Oleson berates Laura for this, and is also jealous that a boy she likes named Jason, would rather spend time with Laura than with her.
One day, Laura and her sister Mary see Nellie Oleson riding Bunny and whipping her with a riding crop. Laura demands Nellie stop but she doesn't, her actions causing Bunny to take off running and Nellie to hit a tree branch and fall off!
Nellie is put in her bed and visited by Doc Baker. Mrs Oleson is upset, but grows incensed when Nellie claims she can't feel her legs! Mrs Oleson demands Bunny be put to sleep, leading Laura to become distraught, and ride off with the horse.
She eventually returns to her family's farm, and Bunny is put in the barn. Charles Ingalls promises he won't tell where Bunny is, but has Laura accompany him to town the next day to see Mr Oleson and apologize for Laura taking Bunny. Mr Oleson suspected that the Olesons have the horse, but claims he won't tell his wife (who thinks that the horse just ran off).
Laura goes in to see Nellie, who asks if she can help her with her homework. Laura agrees, but soon finds herself with less time for her own homework and farm chores.
Nellie also tells Laura (under the guise of a secret) that she loves Jason, and in her current condition, feels upset that he may not like her anymore. This causes Laura to not show up to fish with Jason, and when he goes to the farm to find out why, Laura tells him to just go away.
One late evening at the Oleson's, Willie hears Nellie talking in her room, and finds out she can actually walk! Nellie swears Willie to secrecy, promising candy for his silence.
As the days go by, Nellie's "condition" has not improved, and it is decided that she will need a wheelchair. At the behest of Doc Baker and Nels Oleson, Charles agrees to help repair an old wheelchair until a brand-new one arrives.
Mrs Oleson is pleased, and wishes to thank Charles for his work. Nellie convinces her mother that she can watch the store while she is away, and Mrs Oleson leaves.
Upon reaching the Ingalls' farm, she finds it deserted except for Laura, who is saddling up Bunny! Mrs Oleson demands to have the horse, but Laura mounts Bunny and rushes off for town.
Laura rides Bunny to the Mercantile, but through a curtained window, sees Nellie dancing with a doll, and realizes what has been going on.
Knocking on the door, Nellie's voice welcomes her in a few moments later, and Laura finds her friend in the wheelchair. Laura then claims Nellie's Mother wishes to see her, and quietly pushes her out of the house, and up a hill overlooking the mill.
Mrs Oleson in the family buggy comes into view, and Laura gets her attention, before pushing Nellie in her chair down the hill! Nellie falls into the mill pond, and then stands up in it, soaking wet and crying that her ruse has been found out!
Following these events, Mr Oleson apologizes to Laura for his daughter's actions, and unbeknownst to his wife and Nellie, tells Laura that she can have Bunny back, knowing the young girl will take proper care of the horse.
As Laura rides off, she encounters Jason on horseback too, and the two head off to go fishing.
Nellie has witnessed this from her bedroom window, and angrily throws a tantrum, promising to get back at Laura for what she did.
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