Chapter 7: A Story for Grace

As two weeks passed in June, Melanie tried her best to help Grace get over what happened, but it was harder than she thought. Although she was now three weeks old, Grace wasn't any curious or spunky as she was after the flogging. She had become rather quiet now and wary of everything big or small. Whenever she heard the sound of crows, vultures, or Lewis's footsteps, she'd jump. And anytime Lewis entered to drop off hay, oats, and fresh water, Grace would hide under Melanie for protection now that she knew her new mother would not allow Lewis anywhere near her as long as she stayed close. Her back still hurt a bit, but Grace didn't suffer as much during that time. Melanie always nursed her wounds to make the pain go away. The young calf kept on suckling every now and then from her udder, yet in a slow and uneasy manner. At all times, Melanie said that as long as she stays inside the fence and never go anywhere near Lewis, it would be alright. It was one of the only things that could calm her down. For all Grace knew, Lewis was the enemy and a voice inside her head told her to stay alert at all times when he was near. One simple mistake and she would be in for it.

Whenever Crimson was not out with Lewis during one of his daily duties in town, he too would stay by Melanie just like he promised two weeks ago and be a better help in keeping little Grace out of trouble. He hadn't spoken a word to Melanie about how he had looked into her eyes ever since that night, still in belief that it was unnatural. Yet he was unable to shake off that unusual feeling he might be having whenever he was close to her. What he hadn't known was that Melanie had been thinking the same thing he was while mothering Grace. Her mind had been clouded with his memory of him staring into her eyes. Because there was no other cow, horse, or any other farm animal in the barn to lighten up her spirits during hard times, Crimson was so far the only animal here she met that told her never to believe Lewis's harsh words, even though it was their home and he had known the both of them were taught to please their new master once they would be sold someday. He had so far been the only kindness she had known in this unhappy home. Maybe not perfect in every way, but he was all she had for support. Better yet, Melanie remembered how he told her that what's done is done after her other calf had been stillborn and there was nothing more she can do about it but to accept that some of these things happen without any real explanation. Now that Grace was here, she needed a mother to stick close to help her and teach her. Because of Lewis, the only way to possibly survive here was to act like a family to keep Grace from getting scared to death.

Eventually, both Crimson and Melanie had later found out about Grace's friendship with Sampson one night in the barn when they heard whispering. Grace had apologized for being up late when she should have been sleeping, never meaning to wake them. Once they listened to Sampson's story of being separated from his family in a flood, he was allowed to stay on one condition that he keeps himself hidden from Lewis since mice were known to be pests in the barn. Sampson of course had known about this the first time his parents taught him which is why his family knew when to avoid human contact when traveling from one area to the other at all times.

"Mama, what were things like before you came here?" Grace asked her new mother, one sunny day outside the barn. Sampson was taking a little nap in the barn, shielding himself from the hot weather, leaving Grace with her afternoon meal from Melanie while Crimson ate his oats near the barn. "Did you live here your whole life?"

"Not quite Grace," Melanie replied, taking her eyes off Grace for a moment to look toward the hills of trees and red rock canyons. "It's been a long time since I was a calf that I can't quite recall how much longer I've been living here. Five to six years I should say. I am now seven." She didn't like to be reminded of her past since it brought back the sad memories of being taken from her loving mother and how her heart held emptiness a few months after being sold to Lewis. "But now that you're here, I might as well tell you a little story."

"Story, what's a story?" Grace asked, forgetting her fear of humans for a while. "I wanna know what it is."

"Well then, why don't you sit down and I'll tell you."

Grace did as she was told. Something about the mention of a story brought her interest, even if she didn't know what it is. But she was about to find out.

"But I must warn you Grace," Melanie began cautiously. "This story might include a bit o' heartbreak. Still wish to listen?"

"I'm listening," Grace replied.

"Oh very well. Let me think. Not too long ago, I used to live at a place known as the Red Iron Ranch with my mama, aunts, uncles, brothers, sisters, and cousins. The ranch was somewhere south of here miles away, I believe. My mama and I were so close that she'd knew when to chase away any critters who were botherin' me and came to my defense when one of the humans wasn't treatin' me right. I'll tell yah all bout how I stayed there for a year until fate suddenly changed everything.

It was another beautiful spring day in the meadows of the Red Iron Ranch where the cattle grazed, minding their own business as they did almost everyday. A grown Brown Swiss heifer by the name of Apple Pie was nursing her two week old calf she named Melanie. This was her fourth calf that she became pregnant with. During birth, the mother cow feared that her baby would not have survived with the way she was laying still. But a good nudge on the side woke her instantly and she struggled to walk. Apple Pie was proud of her calf and decided to name her after an old friend who used to live here, but lost her life out in the wilderness where she was attacked by coyotes after being separated from a cattle herd out on a trail. How it pained her to think of that tragic event, and Apple Pie blamed herself for not being closer to her at the time when she thought she should have been. But that was long ago, so now it was her job to look after this new calf of hers, hoping she wouldn't make the same mistake with Melanie.

Today Melanie was nursing from Apple Pie hungrily, believing that nothing unusual would happen today. In spite of the peacefulness she felt, Melanie's ears perked up at the sound of what seemed like demanding voices. It sent a terrible feeling in her heart as she turned around to peek outside of the fence, witnessing the farmer and his men pulling and pushing a Black Angus cow to tie her onto the back on the wagon that was scheduled to ride to town several miles away.

"Is that Elsa I see there?"

Melanie turned to her side to see Apricot the vain Guernsey bovine snort at the sight of Elsa, being the Black Angus, handled impatiently by the men who were now tying a rope around her neck. She fought by kicking out at them to keep anyone from sending her away, but in the end she had failed. One worker slapped her firmly on the behind as the wagon was now leading her down the road to the marketplace to be sold to a merchant.

"Apricot, what's gonna happen to Elsa?" Melanie asked worriedly. "Ain't she gonna come back soon?"

"Of course not dear," said Apricot with no care in her voice. "She's being taken to the marketplace. Once an animal is taken there, they never come back. Good riddance I should say."

"How can you say that?" Melanie gasped at her behavior. "I thought she was your friend."

"Dear child, haven't you known that she never bothered to pay the least slight attention to her last calf Cody? It all started after the difficult deliverance that my friendship with her changed. Elsa completely ignored Cody when I thought she should have been happy that he survived as I mentioned to her. But she wouldn't even listen to my words. She wouldn't even tell me her reasons for refusing to mother him and to think that black cow was once my friend. What drove her to do such a wretched thing like that, I shall never know. Nor do I bother to care. Our friendship is over. Now the poor dear will likely grow up without a mother after dealing with rejection."

"Where is Cody now Apricot?" Melanie had her mind on him.

"Right over there dear," she pointed her head to where the black calf sat. "You can go talk with him if you wish. But don't expect a simple hello. He'll likely turn you away."

Apricot stuck her nose in the air and walked off from the fence to gossip with the other cows. Ignoring her snooty remarks, Melanie shrugged and went to see Cody anyway. He had been sitting in a corner of the fence, isolating himself from the rest of the cattle in lonely spirits. Nobody had told her that he had been there since this morning, without moving or answering anybody. His mother Elsa never allowed him to have a drop of her milk today. The only time he had any for the past week was when the handlers had to confine Elsa in a tight space so she could not hurt him as he fed between meals. A week after his birth, the handlers had soon given up on Elsa and decided that the easier way to take care of her was to sell her off to town, planning to take care of Cody later with another heifer. The poor calf sat believing that perhaps nobody would ever want him.

Melanie couldn't help feeling sorry for Cody when she approached him cautiously. If what Apricot said was true, why would any mother do that to her own child? Whatever it was, Melanie only thought about trying to talk with him. There was nothing she could do about Elsa now that she was gone. Once Melanie was close, the black calf frowned, turning his head the other way.

Melanie was taken aback by this movement. First he looked sad. Now he showed no emotion or response to her. Cody remained seated and silent, staring out the fence as if he still wanted his mother, despite that she ignored him.

"Howdy," Melanie said to him. "I'm Melanie. What's your name?"

Of course she already knew his name, but only asked him that to show that she was friendly. So far, he said nothing, looking out at the fence waiting for his mother to return. With a heavy sigh, Melanie refused to leave and sat down close to him.

"Did you lose your mama?" she whispered to him. "Apricot told me what happened and I just wanted you know how sorry I am about it. Please tell me something."

Finally, Cody glanced at her out of the corner of his eye. The corner of his lip quivered, conveying an emotion that Melanie couldn't describe. There was sadness she sensed in him, but also mixed with fear, confusion, and loneliness.

Shaking her head in confusion, Melanie kept on going. "I know what you're thinking and I don't blame you. But please don't stay here by yourself."

After a moment of struggling to find the right words, Cody whispered to her gravely. "Please…leave me alone."

Melanie paused. She knew he was unhappy, but she wasn't going to walk off and leave him alone just like that. He needed someone, no matter what he said. She thought of what Apricot said of Cody being rejected and feeling useless, even at such a young age. Never did he understand why his own mother would never let him feed from her or lay next to her in the stall. He could never figure it out. He never even smiled once. Melanie couldn't bring his mother back to him, but she could at least try to be a friend to someone who was in desperate need of one.

"Listen, I ain't gonna hurt you. I wanna be your friend. I can help if you'll only let me."

Cody shook his head, refusing her offer. But that didn't stop Melanie. Saying no was a challenge to her. She went over to the pile of hay and brought it back to place before him. Cody stared at her for a moment, wondering what she was doing.

"Go ahead, eat something," she encouraged. "You can't get better unless you eat something to fill your stomach."

Cody reluctantly gave it a try to see if it would do anything to help him. In a way, it tasted good and sweet. But now he was more confused than ever. One moment he was rejected, and the next this female calf comes offering him some food. He didn't know what to say to her.

"If you're unsure what to think of," Melanie maintained calmly. "Say thank you. It's what you say when someone like me offers you something."

"Thank you?" Cody responded weakly.

"That's right. Now why don't I bring you over to my Ma? I'm sure she'll let you have some of her milk."

The mention of a mother made Cody shake his head angrily, believing all mothers behaved the same way that his own mother did to him. "I don't want no mamas," he said coldly. "They're mean."

"My mama ain't so mean," Melanie corrected. "If yah come on over, you'll see for yourself what she's like. I promise she won't kick yah or anything like that. Just trust me on this."

Cody grimaced on this as if he was determined to prove her wrong. He pushed to one foot, supporting himself. Once he was up on four feet, Cody looked at Melanie darkly, as if to say, "Where is she?"

Melanie thought for a moment then added to him. "Follow me this way and I'll take you to her. Don't worry, she's awfully nice."

At first Cody wanted to decline, but staying here all day was becoming rather boring to him with nothing to do. After a moment of silence, the rejected calf followed Melanie over to where her mother Apple Pie had been grazing on the field of green grass. She stopped for a few minutes to look in the direction where her daughter was coming with the rejected calf that the herd had been talking about. There was no doubt that it was Elsa's son.

"Why Melanie, what're yah doin' with Cody?" she asked her.

"Mama, can Cody have some o' your milk?" Melanie begged. "The handlers sent Elsa away in a wagon. I don't want him to be alone."

"But haven't they put him with another heifer yet?"

"That's why I brought him over here," Melanie answered. "I thought maybe you could help him. Please, can you?"

Feeling sorry for the poor lonely calf that hid behind Melanie nervously, Apple Pie had no choice but to nod her head. Like all the other cattle, she had heard about Elsa rejecting little Cody here for reasons that she had refused to tell everyone. Still finding no excuse for that kind of attitude, she believed all calves were meant to be loved in spite of everything. If Elsa wouldn't take care of him, it was likely that no one else would. With a little encouragement from Melanie, a confused Cody moved up slowly to Apple Pie where her udder was, at first scared that she would kick him.

"It's ok little one, I won't hurt you," Apple Pie smiled at him.

Although unsure, Cody tried it as he nursed from her for no less than five minutes. Apple Pie's milk was sweet compared to his real mom's milk. With her gone, Cody no longer had the desire to be alone. He only wanted someone to take care of him. Still there was a long way to go for him to know everything about love and kindness on this ranch full of demanding humans. But that was the job of the adult cows to teach their young ones.

Melanie nursed from the other udder without pushing or shoving little Cody, thinking he was hungrier than she was for today. She was a fast learner when Apple Pie taught her what to do and what not to do. Melanie seldom ever whined or complained about anything. The inside of the fence with the green field seemed good enough to her as long as none of the handlers were standing by her, listening to their angry voices. The sounds of them usually made her feel uncomfortable, never understanding why the men had to yell at them so harshly in every round up. Apple Pie mentioned that it was the life with all ranches here and everywhere so there was nothing more they could do about it. Some cattle are raised, bred, and then sold to a different person later after a year of birth. That was for the male calves. Some stayed for breeding and the female calves were usually spared, except if it turned out to be a runt or a stillborn, out the door it went like a useless piece of farm material. Apple Pie hoped that her daughter would stay, but she had learned long ago that fate held some unexpected changes so some things couldn't last forever.

At this time, Cody was experiencing this first feeling of warmth in his heart which had never been felt from Elsa. He soon forgot about her and saw Apple Pie as someone much generous and kindhearted and was feeling a little better. Melanie was one of the first calves that had been nice enough to offer him help, even when he wasn't acting nice to her at first. He would understand more about it later.

Time went on after that with the changing of the seasons. The spring turned into summer, and the days were hot and lazy. The calves ate more and grew larger, even Cody who was now healthy and happy with his adoptive mother and adoptive sister. Neither Apple Pie nor Melanie ever bothered to mention the name Elsa to him or anyone in fear that it would only break his heart to remember the feeling of rejection. No one else on the ranch mentioned her either, so that was a relief. Cody grew a little larger than Melanie since he was a handsome bull. But that didn't bother her as long as he still cared for her. During his time with them, Cody had grown bold and full of dreams to see what was beyond those hills, having also grown tired of staying inside the fence all the time. The humans did not bother Melanie as much since she had grown used to hearing their voices around. The rain brought little comfort for the animals mainly because it brought on lightening and thunder that sent them running for whatever cover they could find from the trees or inside the barn. The only small bright side of it was that it cooled them from the heat. Most trees in this area had been cut down to be made into furniture. Soon afterward autumn came with much cooler days. This meant rain for the vegetable gardens that most farmers grew on their farms to keep and sell for the upcoming winter.

Winter time had also come and gone now that the harsh blizzard was starting to melt away with the first sign of spring. Being born in the spring last year, Apple Pie had watched Melanie and her adoptive son Cody turn into fine healthy yearlings. She was proud to find that Cody had grown up without any anger or bitterness in his heart if Melanie hadn't bothered to bring him over for a share of her milk. Yet she dared not to think of what would happen if Cody had grown up without a loving mother, even if she wasn't his. But as much as Apple Pie was proud of having the two, she suddenly remembered what would happen once the calves reach their first year of age which brought fear and worry to her as well as some of the other mother cows. Leaving Melanie and Cody alone for a while, she hoped to find some comfort and relief by talking with the mothers, some which lost their calves last spring.

"Apple Pie, Cody don't seem to have any worry o' being separated from you ever since yah adopted him as your son," said Apricot, still quite vain. "Does that mean yah haven't yet told him what might happen soon enough?"

"I couldn't bring myself to tell him Apricot," Apple Pie answered as truthfully as she could. "He's been through too much since his real mother was sold. So how can I tell him it might be his turn to leave here?"

"Like it or not, all the male calves will have to know soon enough," said Apricot sharply. "If you still love him, you'll tell him before its too late."

"Oh enough of that talk Apricot," Belinda, the light brownish cow stepped in Apple Pie's defense. "Honestly, must yah be so darn stuck up like that all the time? I'm sure Apple Pie has her own reasons for wanting Cody to be happy. Now let her be."

Apricot snorted and walked off to join another group of gossiping cows who had no calves born this year.

"Don't worry about Apricot," Belinda said to Apple Pie reassuringly. "Don't know what her problem is, but I think you're doin' a fine job with Cody. Whatever happens, he'll still love you."

"Thanks Belinda. But you know Apricot was not always so stuck up like that. She and Elsa used to be friends and although we'll never know what went on between them, the least I can do is try to remember what she was before. Who knows, maybe she'll revert back to who she was one o' these days, I hope."

"I doubt that."

So as the days drifted by, the winter season was finally over with spring shining its first glow on the earth. But to Apple Pie, she knew what time it was when she went to check on Cody who was spending the day with Melanie. Cody didn't understand why she was acting emotional when she nuzzled him for what was to be the last time. Soon the ranchers came to round up the older calves for a trip into town. Melanie's crying for him did nothing to stop what was happening.

AN: So sorry for the late update on this story. I got distracted with writing chapters for another of my upcoming stories and planning my next animated projects. This chapter might not be much, but it is also to show I do plan on finishing it up as much as possible. And I do hope to make the next few chapters a little more interesting. Stay tuned.