Chapter 29: Goodbye to Texas

"Get her outta here boys!" Sheriff Hudson ordered two Texas rangers after they threw Shirley into the jail wagon with Scar Face Sam, Carl, and Tom. "Don't fret ma'am, I think you'd look mighty sweet in stripes." Then the doors closed.

Maggie, Grace, Mrs. C, Buck, and the rest of the Patch of Heaven gang watched as the jail wagon rode past the townsfolk and out of Dust Grove, heading straight back to Sun Valley Town. Another prison wagon had already left minutes ago with four other Texas rangers on their way to Coal Mine Canyon. As for the reward money in capturing Shirley, it was handed over to Sheriff Brown since he not only knew the girls more than anyone did, but it was Hudson's way of thanking him and the others for the amount of details and evidence Brown managed to gather back in Chugwater and being a good help since his arrival in Sun Valley Town. But it was also for not believing him the first time about the story of Pearl's girls. The reward money might even make up for some of the amount that Shirley stole when she conned the town with her singing and dancing performance. The folks back in Chugwater would be grateful.

"Well girls, it looks like Shirley's gonna be put away for a long time," Maggie spoke proudly.

"Aw yes, I couldn't agree more," Mrs. C assented. "But that's what happens to those who dare lay a finger on our family like that, right Grace."

"Absolutely," Grace answered happily. "I said it before and I'll say it again, nobody messes with Pearl's girls."

"But what about you Junior?" Mrs. C turned to the buffalo next to her. "However did you know where we were?"

"Yeah Junior, what's the story?" Maggie asked curiously.

Junior blushed when asked the question. "Well…it started three days ago when I was on my way over to your farm to visit a certain someone I know." The girls knew he was talking about Mrs. Calloway. "But when the cranky goat told me you was missin' cause o' some bandits kidnappin' your friend, I vowed to find ya'll myself if I had to. So I…"

"Alright girls, come along now," Sheriff Brown interrupted. "It's time to head on back to Chugwater, so say goodbye to Texas."

"Come on Junior, you can tell us all about it on the train," Mrs. C assured him.

Grace followed her friends until she stopped and remembered something. "Wait a minute girls, I forgot about something. I'll be right back."

"Huh?" Mrs. Calloway turned around to find Grace heading back to Dust Grove Town for who knows what. "Wait Grace, where are you going?"

But Grace was already moving inside the crowd. The working mules had now been standing by the sheriff's office as the lawmen were gathering them up, wondering what to do with them. Chuck held the same prize money and gold ribbon that Lucky Jack had snatched away from Shirley. When Grace finally found the mules, she had guessed that the rabbit must have handed it over to him so that Maggie and Mrs. C would be able to save Grace while Shirley was distracted. Making her way through, Grace moved up to them.

"Hey there boys," she surprised them. "I just wanted to thank you for helping my friends come to rescue me."

"Oh you're most welcome missy," Jake said politely. "Sorry if we weren't much of a help to you shortly after your arrival. We just didn't want you getting in trouble if you tried rebellin'."

"Oh that's alright," Grace replied gently. "What happened before wasn't your fault. I was just desperate to get back home somehow in any way I can. But what will happen to you boys now that you're free?"

"Who knows," Marcus shrugged his shoulders. "But don't worry bout us Grace. Whatever happens to us, and wherever we go, we'll be alright as long as we ain't prisoners no more."

"I understand," Grace admitted, feeling a little sad that she would be leaving them soon, wishing she could have gotten to know these boys a little longer. "I'll be leaving back for home shortly so…goodbye boys. Wish I could have gotten to know you a lot better."

"You got a family waiting for you back over there," Marcus insisted. "Your friends traveled all this way to rescue you, so you should be happy for that. Besides, we'll be alright as I just mentioned. We belong here in Texas. So we'll never forget you. And by the way, that was mighty extraordinary the way you n' your friends stood up to Shirley and the gang. We're proud o' you."

Grace nodded, feeling a little better and confident. "You're right, thanks. Oh and Chuck, may I see that thing in your mouth?"

Chuck handed the items over to her without questioning and watched her walk over to the same judge by the tent, nudging him in the hips.

"Oh howdy there," he said. "What's this?" Grace moved her head forward showing him the money and the ribbon as he took them from her.

"I think she wants to give it back sir," the other bronze haired judge whispered to him. "It looks like Shirley's not her real owner after all."

"I suppose not," the judge acquiesced, patting Grace on the head. "Well girl, if this is what yah want; we might as well start the competition all over again. Hopefully no one's an outlaw in disguise."

The men walked back into the tent for other personal matters involving the competition and restarting where they all left off.

"Grace, there you are!" Mrs. Calloway called out to Grace as she ran over to her. "Come on, we're going home. We wouldn't want to lose you again now would we?"

"Don't worry Mrs. C, I'm finished here," Grace insisted, following Mrs. C out of town once more. "I was just saying goodbye to the boys. They wanted me to thank you for helping them."

"But why did you return the ribbon Grace?" Mrs. C asked.

"Cause I'd rather win my ribbons the honest way," Grace admitted. "Shirley was doing it all wrong that's for sure."

Mrs. C couldn't argue with that, feeling that Grace was right. Despite her tone deafness, Grace was not the type of gal who would cheat her way through life by not being true to herself. Of course, she knew it was Shirley who would have done that, using Grace to get her way. On the way back to the train station, the girls chuckled a little when Buck boasted that he almost had Fire Bolt down on the ground, but barely had enough time to discover his weak spot before Mrs. C intervened.

"I would've taken care o' him, really I would," Buck maintained. "If it weren't for his fast unexpected moves, I would have had time to find his weak spot."

"Whatever you say Buck," Maggie laughed.

"No, no, really I almost had him," Buck debated. "You should have seen how I handled it all. He was tough, but I was tougher."

Grace could only smile and laugh, knowing she hadn't forgotten the old Buck. She admitted to herself that she missed listening to him throughout her days of imprisonment just as much as she missed her family back home. Grace walked all the way up to the stock cars where she and the others would be staying in on the train. She sighed contently as she glanced over her shoulder to glare at the view of the fair and the landscapes of Texas. What more could Grace say? Shirley and the Yeller Gang were finally caught, and she had her freedom back. She owed it all to her friends who never gave up searching for her. But she also owed it to the mules for helping them get here. Although Grace felt a little ashamed of herself for being close to giving up hope, she was free and that was all that mattered.

"Oh, could someone please get this thing off my face?" Grace pointed to her halter. "I almost forgot...and this collar too."

Lucky Jack hopped behind her to remove the halter and collar before throwing it out on the dusty road.


On the train

While riding the train back to Chugwater, a relieved Grace listened to Junior explain how Jeb told him how her friends went out again into the unknown somewhere in Texas to rescue her, encouraging him to travel here himself and to come meet this Shirley gal so that he'd make sure she never dare harm the girls in any way. But most of all, he had been secretly doing most of it for Mrs. Calloway, but didn't want to admit it in front of everyone. Only Mrs. C could see through the reason behind his shy eyes. She hadn't expected the huge buffalo to come all this way for her, but he did. Junior seemed so brave standing behind Shirley like that before the woman had a chance to take Grace away from them again. Mrs. C blushed, trying to hide her face from everyone. But Maggie had already seen this, yet kept her silent snickering and teasing to herself, not wanting to upset her in any way.

"So Grace, how did it feel to be far from home while you were gone?" Maggie asked, hoping to change the subject. "I mean…did you miss us already?"

"Uh now Maggie…" Mrs. Calloway hesitated for a moment, worried that the question might hurt Grace inside.

"It's ok Mrs. C," Grace assured without sounding sad. "I don't mind telling about it." She cleared her throat. "When those outlaws kidnapped me, I was scared…not only for myself, but for you guys, fearing that they might've gotten to you. I thought about fighting back many times, but their weapons and ropes kept me tied down. Being blindfolded the whole time, I couldn't even recall which road they took to be honest. So how would I try to escape if I didn't know where to go? Plus I was too scared to fight back against them by myself." Nobody could blame her for that. "But can you believe it girls? Shirley wanted to breed an entire herd of golden cattle outta me. Am I really the only blond bovine on this earth?"

"I sincerely doubt that Grace," Mrs. Calloway replied. "But even if you were, Patch of Heaven is where you belong…nowhere else."

Grace smiled at that. At this time, Pearl and the other barn animals would soon be happy to see her again and welcome her home with open arms. Although the Patch of Heaven gang didn't see what was happening, the train they rode on moved passed miles away from Coal Mine Canyon where the Texas rangers arrested Gene, Hickory, and Mitch.

AN: One more chapter to go and then I'm done. By the way, this story was inspired back in the summer of 2005 the time when I first watched Home on the Range the day before I left for San Antonio, Texas for a week-long trip. From that moment on, I decided to make it a tradition to watch the movie every time before I leave to see my family down there. Yet sometimes I feel sad when I leave that place, but then again, I can always go back whenever possible. I hope you readers have enjoyed this story, even though it is not over yet. After this, I may try to finish up my Halloween sequel and then look through my list of upcoming stories to decide which one I should do next. Which one will it be? It might be better if I surprise you.