All characters, except those not mentioned in the movie are the property of the Walt Disney Company and are used without permission. Even though I do believe that they deserve much better than what they get recently these days.

Chapter 1: A New Spring Day

Grace stepped out from behind the den sniffing the fresh morning air. Today was the first day of spring and the season of winter had come and gone by. Although it had been a rather dreary winter, none of it could stop the family members of the Patch of Heaven farm from feeling right at home. They learned that winter wasn't all bad because of ice skating, snowball throwing, building snowmen, and celebrating a holiday called Christmas. Throughout the season, Grace had been helped by Maggie and Mrs. Calloway to recover from an old scar caused by a nightmare of her cruel owner. It had not been too complicated for Grace to admit to them that she was deeply troubled by her past, but every memory of what she went through was like a scar that refused to heal properly, just like the ones hidden beneath the hairs on her hide. And it stunned her more when she heard about the doctor telling Pearl that he discovered a couple slightly odd scars spread all over her back. She had hoped no one would ever find out about them. The dreadful memories haunted her mind throughout the month of November which caused her to refuse to step outside the farm for even a moment in fear of her cruel owner jumping out to drag her away from her family and be given a severe thrashing.

However, it had taken a lot of effort for Maggie and Mrs. Calloway to help her understand that everything was alright now that she had a family who loves and looks out for her always. It wasn't easy, but it helped her to not be defeated by sadness or doubt since it hardly touched anyone. And just as Pearl mentioned to her, it did no good to dwell on past experiences since it only kept her from being happy with doing what she loved on the farm. Not wanting the family to know about her troubled past, she told them that she had been suffering from an unknown illness that caused a number of aches in her body. She felt talking about it would be too heartbreaking for them to want to hear. And she did not want to break into hysterical crying in front of them. The only other family members besides the two cows who knew about her secret were Ollie and Audrey, but they didn't want anyone to find out about their little eavesdropping. Life was hard for her at the beginning, but all that happened before was over. There was nothing more for her to fear; for now at least.

"Feeling better Grace?" Maggie asked with a smile. For the first time in a long time, it was good to see her smiling again. No longer was Grace hiding inside in terror, instead she was feeling alive as the sun bathed down upon them.

"Good as new," Grace answered as she stared heavenly at the morning sky. She was actually feeling too delighted with watching the hummingbirds flutter over the bluebonnet field to think about why Maggie asked her that question. After a long hard winter, Grace was finally back to normal. But that didn't stop her or the other two from learning to be cautious whether they're on the farm or on the outskirts of the landscape. Any disaster was bound to happen unexpectedly and they knew better. All they had to do was keep their eyes open. "Look, the flowers have bloomed." She pointed eagerly to the daisies, sunflowers and bluebonnets swaying about and pranced over to them like a happy-go-lucky calf on a playground. Grace loved all types of flowers. With happiness all around her, she began to sing "she'll be comin' round the mountain" in the same horrid tone as always.

"There she goes singin' round that mountain again," Maggie said hesitantly.

"But at least she's happy again," Mrs. Calloway assured as she watched Grace breathe in the sweet scent of daisies. "We should be grateful to see her up on her feet again. It does no good to mope around on a beautiful day like this. Isn't that what we wanted?"

"I know, but then that means she's back to disturbing the peace again," Maggie watched as Grace marched about carrying on with her off key tune. Perhaps Mrs. C was right, it would just be sad to see Grace feeling sorry for herself all afternoon. Even if Maggie didn't appreciate her singing, she'd rather not have to deal with negative emotions today. "Now we don't have to keep reminding her to stay cool."

"Ok so what was that all about?" the two looked to see Jeb the grumpy goat standing before them frowning in suspicion. He wanted to know what the cows were hiding from everybody all this time.

"What are you talking about?" Maggie asked with her brow furrowed. She thought he would never ask again about Grace's strange behavior. "Haven't we told you enough already? She's fine now, let her be."

"I ain't ever heard of an illness that keeps you hidden from the sun or one that causes you to go berserk for no apparent reason. So what was it?"

"Oh honestly Jeb…" Mrs. Calloway said with a little irritation in her voice. This seemed like the fiftieth time or more since that question was asked and was now becoming old and pointless. "…haven't you anything better to do than ask the same old question over again; like collecting cans? What we did in there is not for you or anyone else to know about. You outta be thankful that she's feeling better."

"Thankful, I was hoping there wouldn't be another off key sequence today coming from her today," Jeb complained. He looked at Grace who was singing far off in the field of sunflowers. With her high-pitched voice, she could barely hear what they were talking about. Every time she sang, she seldom paid attention to smaller mammals on the ground or in the air and how they reacted around her. "How does anyone put up with it?"

"We don't know," Maggie answered truthfully. "It may not be pleasant for us to hear, but at least it makes her feel good about herself."

That was all she could think about what to say in putting up with Grace's tone deafness. She and Mrs. Calloway knew that they might have never been able to capture Slim if it hadn't been for Grace being immune to his hypnotic yodeling number. No matter how many times Maggie would have liked to tell Grace that she couldn't stand her singing, she decided to keep it to herself just in case Slim ever showed his face around here again. Now she understood how and why Grace learned to sing so badly.

"Well I don't know or care what else caused dear Grace to have a nervous breakdown," Audrey the chicken spoke up. "Everyone else is delighted to see her recovered from whatever it is that prevented her from moving about." Then she turned to Jeb with a sour expression. "And all family members need to respect other's privacy." Jeb could only turn tail and walked back to his barrel with cans.

"Thanks Audrey," said Maggie thankfully. "We needed that." It wasn't that they didn't love Jeb, but they only wished that he would mind his own business and try to act more mature with everyone.

"No problem," replied Audrey smiling. "Why should we waste time worrying about Grace now? I mean it's not like she's in danger of becoming kidnapped or something like that, right?"

"No, but its best that we keep our eyes open and stay alert for any unusual activity," Mrs. Calloway advised. "We never know what might happen here or out there."

"Like that cattle rustler you caught? Well if you ask me, there hasn't been a single crime in these parts for weeks."

"Now that you mentioned it, it has become rather dull without the all the fun in catching crooks and bringing them to justice," Maggie agreed thoughtfully as she gazed at the landscapes in the further distance. All seemed rather quiet. "I wonder if we'll ever have another adventure someday. I wouldn't mind that."

"Why would we need to?" asked Mrs. Calloway, before taking a bite out of hay from a trough. "Everything we have is here on this farm."

"Perhaps you're right. Still, I do wish something exciting would happen today. One that requires a good whoppin' n' head buttin'."

As the two girls were discussing about adventures, Audrey turned to her side when Ollie appeared. She stuck out her thumb (or wing) and pointed over to the back of Pearl's house. It was a signal for her and Ollie to walk behind there so that no one would hear or see what they're talking about.

"What's goin' on? Yah haven't told them have you?" Ollie asked worriedly as they were out of earshot.

"Don't worry, all is well," Audrey assured him. "I think that as long as we keep our mouths closed and don't mention anything about mothers, bad owners, old friends or anything else we've heard, then they won't know and Grace won't get upset. You know how easily sensitive she is to that." Ollie nodded in agreement. Nobody in the family blamed Grace for feeling sad about being taken away from her real mother, even if she never knew her that well enough. It was normal to be that way from time to time, just like the way Grace's story tugged at their heartstrings emotionally. Since the past could not be altered, it was important to focus on what was now. Now everyone knew what to do in case another scoundrel was to step foot on their property. Families were always there to protect and look out for each other.

"Poor Grace," Ollie murmured sadly. "I can't help but feel sorry for her. Wish there was something else we could do to help her forget."

"So do I," Audrey agreed. Then she perked up. "But whatever happens today or tomorrow, we'll stand by and do all we can to help. I don't know but I have a feeling in my feathers that something dreadful could happen at anytime now."

"What makes you think that?"

"Everything has been quiet around here, almost too quiet. Every time it's like this, the worst is bound to occur at the wrong place at the wrong time." The chicken flapped her wings in hysteria as her voice sounded unsteady. She herself was not used to being in a dangerous situation.

"Not so loud now," Ollie shushed her enough to make her stop flapping. "I get the idea, but do you want the cows to hear us?" Audrey was then silent as she realized that she came close to giving herself and Ollie away.

"Oops, I almost forgot." She blushed, and then Pearl Gesner stepped out giving the farm animals a friendly morning greeting. That meant she was preparing to feed them all the same healthy nutrients they usually ate. The two were already rumbling with hunger. But Audrey whispered in Ollie's ear to remind him. "Remember now, we mind our own business." Then they strolled over to rejoin the family.

Meanwhile in Chugwater

A stagecoach pulled by four brown horses rode the dusty busy streets of Chugwater town. Some passing citizens roared out as it nearly ran them over. What kind of crazed hooligan rides like that on such a busy street? Wherever it was heading couldn't be in that much of a hurry. The stagecoach pulled up to a halt in front of the entrance of Annie's Saloon. A few vexed cowpokes watched as the driver opened the door to allow whoever was inside to step out. Before the men had a chance to curse at this newcomer, they held their tongue to see a lovely, rosy-cheeked, young woman with a blue parasol in her right hand descend, then paused to catch her breath. She was a blooming gal with sea-green eyes, blue eye-shadow, long black eyelashes, crimson lips, and walnut hair wrapped up in a bun from under the fancy blue hat she wore with a curling red feather hanging out of it. A beauty mark lay beside her right cheek. She wore jaded blue earrings, a crisp silken ultramarine blouse in long puff sleeves with a steady neck collar and an elegant, grey brooch with white laces hanging out underneath it. On her hands were black velvet gloves that went down to her elbows. Her lovely ultramarine skirt was dazzled in Victorian style fabric that went down an inch below her knees and was worn over a versatile hoop underskirt that no one saw. Instead of wearing fanciful shoes, her feet were fitted in average, custom made auburn cowboy boots without the spurs. They were her right size for a woman.

She turned to the cowpokes who had been staring in awe this whole time at the sight of her beauty. "Pardon me gentlemen," she said in a voice that made their heads spin. They were in love with her already. "But would any o' you be willin' to walk in with me? I wouldn't want folks in this here town to think I'm all alone."

In a rush, the cowpokes stood at the entrance as two of them held the doors open for the mysterious woman. A few of them were pushing each other aside arguing over who should walk her in.

"Oh why don't ya'll take turns showin' me the way boys?" the woman suggested. "I'm sure there'd be room for all o' yah." her eyes twinkled as she winked.

Forgetting about arguing, they helped walk her into the saloon and hoped that she would tell them about what brings her to Chugwater. Unbeknownst to them however, no one ever noticed four masked strangers hiding in the stagecoach all this time with the driver whispering to them darkly from the seat.

"Remember the signal men. By the time she sings in there, that will be our time to rob the bank and snatch the purty blond heifer when she appears. They'll show up; I'm sure of it."

Author's note: This story takes place after the events of Life Before Paradise and before A Nightmare in Ghost Town and A Frosty Christmas Wonderland. I thought I tell readers that in case some are confused about the timeline. Everything else will be discussed in later chapters.