Chapter 5

"Time for your medicine girl!" Pearl had equally interrupted the story by opening the doors, holding in her right palm what seemed to be a small embrown cemented vial (think of those bottle liquids people put into their irritated eyes).

Grace felt a little frightened and moved back slowly against the wall. Normally she didn't feel too comfortable with any substance (not even water) seeping in her eyes. Sometimes the feeling was like having water preparing to swell in every part of your body causing you to swell till your eyes burst.

"I'm sorry girl, but you must take this or else your eyes won't be gettin' any better,"

Pearl moved closer to where the girls were sitting. It was surprising for her to see that they stayed close to her this whole time. That's what family was all about; staying close together at all costs. She smiled at them as they still stood next to the poor heifer that was now shaking nervously. However, she didn't like the idea of forcing one of her animals to stand perfectly still in a strict order. But at this rate, she knew what had to be done.

"I know, I know girl….just hold still," She replied sternly as she held back one of her eyelids to allow the vial to drop. Maggie had both her hooves on the heifer's back in order to prevent her from moving. Even she was smart enough to know this was for her own good.

"Phew, see now that wasn't so bad, was it?" Pearl wiped the sweat off her forehead.

"You sure you don't wanna come out and enjoy the sunshine?"

The yellow heifer shook her head anxiously as if she were trying to tell her "no" then buried her entire head in the hay pile. Pearl watched in confusion. She had never seen the sweet gal act like this before. Usually she would walk out every single day helping her out by the apple trees happily, without a care or concern for the outside world. There had been something going on in her mind definitely, because it was not her usual behavior. Maybe a doctor/medical person could describe what might be wrong. Could be that it was the only smart option to do.

"Alright then, whenever you're ready, come on out and I'll be there."

The frightened calf stood frozen in the middle of the town road waiting for the stampede of horses to run her down. Several minutes later, the rummaging grew softer and in dead silence. Opening one eye slowly, it appeared that she could see the buildings again despite the sting in her eyes from the peppers. She luckily wasn't run down after all; must be that the horses had gone around her frozen position. But the next thing that spooked her came the vibration of what seemed like thunder. She turned behind to witness five armed men with their faces half-covered jotting into a local bank. For now, all thought of the vicious guard dog had left her as she carefully snuck on the opposite side of the bank and peeked in through the dirty old window to view what was happening.

"Stick'em up, this is a holdup!" The leader demanded in high tone with his gun pointed at the cowering citizens shaking on the floor in fear. "Move from your spots and you'll be blown to bits! Now hand over everything you got in your pocket!" Nobody even dared to act brave for they were completely without weapons and any other form of defense. Their only option was to just do as they were told until the bandits would be gone and out of sight.

"Hey, you there!" the other bandits stopped what they were doing and turned their direction to their leader's loud thunderous voice. He had been shouting at a woman trying to hide something in the palm of her hands, away from the eyes of the greedy outlaws.

"Show me what you got!" seizing her left wrist roughly, it turned out to be a shining diamond ring placed on her middle finger.

"I thought so, hand it over!" He tried to remove it, but the woman resisted in his tight grip.

"No, not my wedding ring!" She cried in protest, still in her attempt to break free.

"Give it here!" The bandit leader demanded. "Well what a shame; if it's that important to you, then I guess we'll be takin' it with us." Unexpectedly, he snatched it off her finger, and then pushed her onto the floor. The woman's eyes filled with tears from the loss of her precious ring.

"Come on boys, time to blow this joint!" His henchmen followed, mounting their horses and then trotting off into the dusty highway.

Grace wondered in curiosity. Something seemed awfully familiar about those men. Just like the ones she and Sampson first encountered out in the dry lands. No, they couldn't possibly; or could they?

Turning away from the windowsill, she decided to go tell Sampson. That is, until a large muzzle pressed against her tiny pink snout. Her fear returned as she gazed up at the menacing eyes of Tuck. He bent down closer to meet her face.

"Didn't anyone ever tell you that lookin' through a window is a bad manner?" He growled.

"I'm sorry."

"Not as sorry as you will be!" He was prepared to smack her with his right paw, before another voice boomed in.

"Tuck, halt!" Tuck did as he was told and stepped aside. It was Lewis, and this time he was as furious as ever. With his hands on his bulgy hips, he smiled at Tuck and gave him a firm pat on the head, then whispered, "You wouldn't want to spoil a good meal, wouldn't you? It might taste raw." The Doberman stuck his tongue out in disgust at that last word. Then he turned to Grace with a cold sneer.

"Speakin' of which," Lewis sneered as he knotted his thick fingers in her blond hair and jerked her head up. "I know a certain unruly bovine about to be given the punishment of her life when she gets home!"

He didn't need a rope to drag her since Tuck kept his eyes on her securely. None of the townspeople paid any attention to them as they marched through the dusty street. They were too busy wondering if those bad men would return to their town at anytime to wreak more havoc.

"Now do you believe me?" Sampson said to Dan sternly, as they both crawled out of the porch from where they were hiding.

"What I saw were five masked men in dark clothes robbin' a bank, and then takin' off. But I don't believe it was the Yeller Gang." Dan shook the dirt off his ears with his left leg. "However, I did see how your friend's owner just acted as if nothin' happened. He should have been as scared as the other folks." He finished as he jumped back onto the porch.

"I'm tellin' you, it is them and Lewis has the word guilty written all over him!"

"Now, now, there is no need to get tense n' all. Do you still have those two items with you?"

"Sure do," Sampson went back under the porch to fetch the bracelet and poster. They were still in good condition. Once more, he handed them over to Dan so that he could examine them. He raised his head up in bewilderment.

"It can't be!"

Grace had not been thrilled with being dragged back to the old ranch. But this time, instead of taking her to that awful shack, she was lead into the house.

"I've had it up to here with you runnin' off on me, cow!" Lewis roared slamming the door tightly shut. In a fury, he dug his fingers into her blond hair and pulled her into the living room. Grace cringed painfully from his tight grip. She wondered what kind of punishment he would be giving her this time. There he released her, and went into the secret hiding room to fetch that whip.

Oh no, not again! Grace thought with her eyes widening in horror. As he was nosing through the room, Grace had been secretly wishing she were back in the shack with Sampson at her side. She didn't know why, but she would rather not put up with Lewis's stupid lectures and pointless punishments. They certainly weren't getting her anywhere. She made a face at Lewis with his back still turned. Tuck grabbed hold of her chin from underneath and pulled her close to his face after he witnessed what she did.

"Do you think that's funny?" He snarled viciously. "Don't forget, he's your master and I'm his guard dog; which means I got my eyes on you. So unless you don't want to become ground up meat, you'll follow orders," baring his claws in front of her face, Grace somehow managed to release herself from his grip and tried to back up against the wall.

Unfortunately, she bumped into Lewis. There he stood with his muscular arms crossed and the whip in hand. His angry eyes were on her as well.

"I thought I told you to stay in your spot!" he roared, kicking her in the stomach. She bellowed in pain. His lips curled and his eyes glinted. Ignoring her cry, he lifted her by the scruff of her neck and was thrown back where she last stood. She froze completely still, without moving an inch or two.

"Let me make it clear one more time!" Tuck stepped a few feet back to avoid getting hit by mistake. Grace didn't want to see what he was doing and covered her eyes. But before she could feel a sting, a loud bang at the door interrupted the situation.

"What meddlin' idiot dares to step on my property?" Lewis moaned as he walked to the window to check. His expression turned from anger to shock.

"Tuck!" he cried, "Move that bovine into the closet, now!" The Doberman didn't know what hit him, but did as he was ordered without protesting. Once he and Grace were out of his sight, he opened the door.

Out on the front step was the sheriff!