He had the horse picked out and went to the field to feed and pet it and make it gentle, so he could ride bareback, and mother said he would be almost sick if the owner of the money turned up.
Pulling his boots one night, father said so too, and that the thoughts of it worried him.

He said Mr.Pryor had shaded his price so that if the money had to go, he would be tempted to see if we couldn't manage it ourselves.

I don't know how shading the price of a horse would make her feel better, but it did, and maybe Leon is going to get it..