The old man continues to talk as the horse eats his hay. The horse seems to listen to his master and breathes on the old man’s hands.
Maybe the old man will feel better once he has verbalized the details of his son’s illness to his death and funeral. Finally, Iona may find relief in talking to his little white mare. He pours his heart out. The story is left with an indecisive conclusion. Hopefully, the resolution for Iona will come with the purging of his grief with his working companion, his little horse.