Chapter 12: A Daring Escape

Grace felt tears form in her eyes once Melanie was finished with her situation on the man milking her, never giving her a break after several buckets of milk were filled as she listened in sorrow and guilt that Lewis was once again abusing her in his house. In Melanie's own pain, there were often mixed emotions of her feeling that she was a failure as a protector and perfect mother to Grace, no matter how many times she tried to rub it off. As she did her best to comfort Grace from what happened, Melanie closed her eyes, wishing for a way out of this unhappy home where it was not safe for her, Crimson, Grace, and especially Sampson, even for his small size. She still remembered the sounds of the whip cracking earlier today, having horrible thoughts on what else Lewis could have done other than whip her if she had witnessed the whole situation.

After Grace seemed exhausted from the energy she spent in her quiet but intense sobbing, rational thought came back to her.

"Mama, Lewis told me no food for a week," she said weakly, her throat sore.

Melanie stopped rocking her for a few seconds. "He told you that?"

"He said that before he punished me," she muttered, trying to her face underneath Melanie's chest.

First it's lectures, beatings, and now he's starving her? Melanie thought angrily, determined to keep herself from bursting. What more can I do to protect Grace? She can't take much more than this. But now it seems that Lewis won't stop until she's broken. How dare he do this. This has got to stop once and for all.

"I hate living here," Grace said tearfully. "No human loves me."

"But I love you Grace. Don't forget that."

With Grace still crying, Melanie sighed and shifted into a more comfortable position to rock the calf tenderly once more. Her emotions for the sweet innocent calf were bubbling over as a wave of sadness and anger flooded her. The thought of Lewis abusing her was coming back, believing that he had finally crossed the line far enough. Melanie regretted not charging into that house of his to save Grace, knock out Lewis unconscious, and wait for Crimson to come home so she would tell him. Maybe then it would be enough for them to make an escape, even if they didn't know which path was the right one.

"You know Grace," Melanie said gently, still rocking her in comfort. "I miss my own mama too just like you. Ever since I was taken, I never got over what happened. And I don't know if I ever will. Only Crimson was my comfort in dealing with old wounds. The first time I was punished for my rebellious behavior, he told me of a song his mother used to sing to him every night when he was a colt."

Grace remained silent with Melanie still rocking her. Softly, she began singing the tune with the lyrics she had learned from Crimson. It started with the mention of someone telling a child not to be afraid of the outside world like an unwanted stranger. Grace imagined that voice talking to her. In the song, Melanie went on to say there was no danger tonight and that she was here. No matter how silent, dark, or sorrowful the weather seems tonight, she was safe here with her. But someday she would understand that even the darkest times can bring them closer together. Grace grew less tense as Melanie continued, knowing that it was working. The song mentioned clouds, rain, and the moonlight that still kept pleasant dreams in all living things. So whatever seemed scary outside was not real. For it was all a part of nature running its course.

At that moment Grace began to fall asleep as Melanie laid her gently on the floor with Sampson who had also fallen asleep to the soothing lyrics. She smiled, carrying on with her singing of rivers, forests, and sands across the world. Even she was once a child, afraid of the great unknown. But a gentle someone was always there to dry her tears and put the fears to rest with a goodnight kiss, later realizing that even the darkest clouds were a part of how life goes on. Melanie concluded the lullaby once again singing of forests, waters, sands, and that she would still be here in the morning.

With the song finished, Melanie felt the soft, steady breathing of her adoptive daughter. She had fallen asleep, so she carefully tucked the sweet little thing in the soft hay bed, and sat close beside her for extra protection and kissed the top of her head before falling asleep herself, never knowing how long it has been since she sung that lullaby.


By evening, Grace was lucky enough not to be awakened by the sounds of the barn doors opening once Melanie woke up with a start as her heart leaped in her throat in fear that it was Lewis. But to her great relief, it was only Crimson who had finally returned to the ranch after a long day of working nearly to the point of exhaustion by one of Lewis's companions who had arrived earlier in the morning to ride him to town miles away. Melanie slowly sat up, not wanting to wake Grace and went up to Crimson, nuzzling his face as her way of showing that she had missed him. If she had been human, Melanie would have thrown her arms around his neck. He returned the favor by rubbing his neck against hers, having no shame in showing his own feelings for Melanie and could care less what Lewis thought of all three of them.

Crimson finally said in a low voice so Grace wouldn't overhear, just in case she was listening. "We've got to run Melanie, and quick. Tomorrow morning, we're leavin' and takin' Grace with us."

"What, I don't understand," Melanie said, never taking her eyes off him. "You found a way out of this?"

"Just this afternoon, I overheard the man who had worked me talkin' somethin' over with this other group o' strangers at the saloon about a bet at a rodeo. My ears weren't lyin' to me when one stranger mentioned about hopin' to see the palomino and gold calf Lewis promised them by next week. We gotta leave Melanie, by next week we might not last more than that, especially Grace. I should've realized a lot sooner that there ain't no point in bein' any more loyal to a cruel man like Lewis. We've been locked up here long enough. We can't allow Grace to endure his cruelty any longer. It just ain't normal. I mean the worst that might happen next could be us dyin' off from disease or hunger."

Horrified, Melanie could only stare at him. He seemed to know more about things than she did about the outside world since he was a working horse. Melanie turned her gaze on Grace in the hay with Sampson. Her sweet baby face still had her eyes closed, possibly dreaming of a better life somewhere else being raised on kindness and compassion, without fear of abuse. Although she hated to think about it, she had a feeling that Crimson meant that he and Grace were about to be sold off to a rodeo. Well it was not going to happen anytime. All the love she had given Grace, she had also given to Crimson, hoping it was enough for their survival in this horrible home of theirs. Now she was even more afraid for her, wondering if she would be strong enough for this unexpected daring escape plan.

"Crimson, even if we were about to die sooner or later, I'd rather we die free than in here. Whether it be exhaustion, hunger, or other natural causes, let it be. But not here. But what if Lewis caught us outside the fence durin' our escape?"

"He won't catch us if we're outta here before he wakes up," Crimson said quietly with assurance. "I peeked in through the window before I came back in here. What I saw surprised me. He was drunk again, spread all across the floor. I reckon the effects will last till tomorrow afternoon. I'm confident that we'll make our way out before then. We have to at least try. Look I know what my ma once said to me about bein' loyal to my new master, but with Lewis, forget about it. This ain't no life for all of us."

"But where would we go to avoid capture?" Melanie asked, feeling the time for their departure was near. "Would we be able to take on a cougar or coyote out in the wild?"

"My granddaddy once fought off several coyotes when defending two fillies," Crimson insisted. "I recall seein' his moves at the time it happened. If he can do it, so can I. It'll be up to both o' us to protect Grace from danger."

As Melanie leaned against Crimson's chest, she could picture in her mind how they were already on their way out of here, seeing how Lewis was about to become a thing of the past. She felt frightened, wondering how different and big it would be out there by tomorrow. All three of them would be on their own without any human contact. Whatever happened after that would be up to them. But no matter what happens, they would be free. It was a matter of survival.

"Crimson, I love you," Melanie whispered emotionally, on the verge of tears. "Whatever you believe is best, I'll do it. Even though I'm afraid of what might happen, I'll do anything to protect Grace."

"I know you will."

If Crimson did know a little more about the outside world than she did, then she and Grace needed him to lead the way and to help them know what to do during survival. It would pain her to hear Grace wishing every day for something she couldn't have if they did not escape tomorrow.

Kissing her goodnight, Crimson went to the corner to sleep standing up which was not a problem for him, being a horse after all. Melanie went back to sleep next to Grace, thinking of everyone she cared about once her eyes closed. Whenever she was sad or troubled, she fell into dreams every night. This time Melanie found herself walking on a winding trail through the prairie hills with tall green pastures that grew sunflowers, lilies, and bluebonnets on the right, and on the left were wildflowers of yellow, pink, white, and blue. Every one of the flowers swayed gently in the soft, warm breeze of eternal summer. Up ahead seemed to be another bull standing on a hill. Curious, Melanie moved forward thinking that there was something familiar about this bull. Once he turned his head, Melanie knew that it was Cody…her adoptive brother!

"Cody, it's you," Melanie said, feeling a rush of excitement through her. "I thought you were gone for good."

It felt wonderful for her to be touching someone whom she thought she'd never see again. He wasn't the small, rejected, lonely calf that he used to be when she first saw him. Now he had grown tall, proud, handsome and brawny. Yet despite his large size, Cody's heart was gentle and kind. He too was happy to see Melanie. Never had he forgotten her after all those years that they have been separated. He smiled at her and kissed her forehead.

"I missed you so much," said Melanie, close to tears as she felt Cody's neck on top.

"So did I," he replied. "But there was nothing you could have done to stop me from being taken away. I still have your mother to thank for raising me and doing everything she can to help me understand love and compassion. If it were not for her sending you over to fetch me, I would have grown up angry and bitter, refusing anyone else's love. I thank you for that, above all. But Melanie, please listen to me." Melanie did what he said and looked up at him. "I know that you miss me and Mother, and that's fine. But I want you to promise us that you'll move on and focus on the present. There are others who still need you as I did. So whatever happens, don't worry about me. My days as a calf are over, so there is nothing more for me to fear."

Before he could speak any more, both he and Melanie heard the twittering of many birds ahead. This time a tall grown Brown Swiss heifer that appeared a bit older than Melanie came striding forward from a splendid garden of radiant wildflowers and green trees. She quickly recognized who this other cow was.

"Mama!"

Melanie's heart once again pounded with excitement and joy to see that it was her mother, Apple Pie. Indeed it was her. She had returned to be reunited with Melanie and Cody so she would let them know that she would always be with them to the end. No matter how old they were or how far apart they are, they were never alone. Apple Pie looked at Melanie not with sorrow or doubt, but with pride and happiness.

"Cody is right Melanie," she said kindly. "There are others who still need you. You will always be my daughter, no matter how old you get. And I promise that someday, we will be together again. And your friends are more than welcome to join us when their time comes. But for now, live your life in the present as best as you can. Promise that you'll do it for us."

Melanie nodded slowly as her tears started to slow down. She couldn't live in the past. She had to think of Crimson and Grace for now. Her mother and adoptive brother let her touch them for the last time before they sprinted off beyond the flowery hills. She wasn't sad to see them leave. There would come a day where she too would walk beyond that hill and be reunited with those she loved.


"Melanie wake up," Crimson said, nudging at her face. "It's time for us to leave. I know you might still feel tired, but it's now or never."

Melanie was a bit disappointed to find that it was all a dream, but she hadn't forgotten what Crimson said to her the night before about their escape. The palomino stood beside her, as did Grace with her mouse companion, who had awakened to hear the plan that came as a surprise. For Melanie, it had been so long since she had seen her mother and adoptive brother that they nearly faded in her memory. But after that dream, she remembered how much she loved them and would carry on her promise of keeping her mind on the present.

In a way, the dream gave her a sense of peace she thought that she would never feel. Loved ones were never truly gone as long as they remained in someone's heart. So wherever they were now, Melanie vowed to keep her word to them and never break it. Today was to be their last glimpse of this ranch owned by Lewis. If no other human would help them, they would help themselves.

Outside the barn, the first light of the sun had risen and Lewis had not yet come out of his house as Crimson had predicted. Melanie told Grace to stay beside her as they made their way out of the gate and toward the woods. Today was a new start for them.

AN: Hello readers. I am so so so so so terribly sorry that it took so long to update this other story of mine all because I was having trouble with ideas on how to continue the middle to the end. So far I am reading a book that may help me with ideas for hopefully the next couple of weeks. I am also still busy with animating a project, but I won't leave this story on another cliffhanger. I plan on finishing most of it before I continue with my other unfinished stories. Maybe that would makes things a little easier. So again I must apologize for the long wait to the readers who enjoyed this story. I know this chapter isn't much, but it is to show that I haven't given up on this story and don't plan to any time. Stay tuned until the next chapter.