Chapter 6

The sheriff had a wide face with a short stubby nose, thick dark-grey bushy eyebrows, and a thick bushy mustache with a grey beard about two inches. He was an inch shorter than Lewis, had a sturdy wide chest, and sturdy legs. On his body he wore a tanned blue denim bib-style shirt, a grey hat with a rawhide braiding, copper-colored shotgun chaps, and red-brown boots with under slung heels. On the left side of his shirt, he wore a badge of pure silver titled "sheriff." He stood in front of Lewis with his arms crossed over his chest and a look of seriousness on his face. What could he possibly want that was so important?

"Well howdy Sheriff Ned Jones," Lewis tried to act and sound friendly to hide suspicion. But the sheriff didn't seem to be buying his act. Standing next to him was Dan with Sampson sitting on top of his head. But Lewis was too drunk to even notice them. "What can I do you for?"

"Well nothin' in particular…except," Sheriff Jones paused for a second as he held up the same diamond bracelet and torn poster that Sampson gave to Dan. "…know anything about this?"

Lewis stared on in bewilderment. How did those get out? I'll bet it was that bovine nosin' around in my closet again. I'll deal with her later! Much later! Right now he had to think of some excuse quickly.

"Sorry sheriff, don't know nothin' about them two items you hold…," then his tone turned from low to high. "… So why don't you just scurry on off my property?" He attempted to close the door on the sheriff's face, but Jones held it back with his right hand forcefully.

"Not so fast partner, we've still got a whole lot to talk about. Where were you at the time when five men just robbed the town bank?"

Perfect, now this guy was becoming more suspicious. Come on, think, think, think! "I was nailin' up a door on my barn house when my cow got loose; so I had to run over to town and retrieve her. Why are you askin' me all this?"

"I'd like to come in if I may," Jones requested. Lewis stepped out of his way to let him in. Ned Jones was a little shocked to find five liquor bottles on top of the table in the kitchen area. Two were only half empty while the other three lay flat with a few droplets. He stuck out his tongue in disgust. There ought to be law in this town about the effects of alcoholism. Usually when someone in town became drunk, they would start to cause all sorts of problems to everyone. The entire house around him seemed normal and unsuspecting until Dan started scratching hesitantly on the walls.

"What is it Dan?"

He turned to where his canine companion was scratching and walked over to investigate. Before his hand could reach the doorknob, out popped Grace tired and huffing heavily after every breath.

"Huh, how did you get in there?"

Grace, still frightened from Lewis's threat, backed a few feet away from Ned when she saw him. Because of all that has happened she was becoming more afraid of strangers. Who was he anyway? Could he be another one of her owner's henchmen like the Yeller Gang? She couldn't help but shiver with fright then scamper under the table where the liquor bottles sat. The last thing she needed was more human contact.

Whenever he tried to get close, she would just back away as if he was ready to do something even worse.

Ned couldn't help but take pity on the poor thing. He knew his job was to try and protect the town and its citizens, despite the dangerous consequences. So why not protect the young critters on the farm. Seeing the fear in the calf's eyes, he suspected that Lewis had done something to make her afraid of all humans.

Dan however strutted over to her and whispered in a soft tone, "So you're the one bein' cooped up inside. Don't you worry young one, we're here to get you outta this here place. Your little friend told me all that has happened"

Grace didn't know what he was talking about. He didn't seem to want to hurt her at all. Sampson jumped off Dan's head to explain to her how he managed to discuss their encounter out in the desert but had to rush back for evidence. His contact with Tuck gave Grace more chills when he mentioned how the dog tried to stop him from reaching town.

"That man is the sheriff; he ain't here to harm you, he's here to help. Now please come on out, if you don't, then you'll be stuck here for the remainder o' your life…" Grace stared down at her little companion and listened to more about what he had to say. "…and if you're stuck here...you'll never experience the true meanin' o' freedom or happiness. Just a lonely calf who still wishes… she had a family." Now Sampson's eyes turned to sadness when he mentioned the sound of that last word. He missed his own family already. But now was not the time for that when his friend's life was at stake.

Upon seeing the sorrowful expression on his face, Grace still didn't fully trust the sheriff, but she did come out from under the table to have another look at him. He lowered down in an awkward position then held out his left hand for her to examine. She slowly walked up to him to have an even closer eye to eye with him. Her face was only a few inches away from his. She was a little startled when she felt his left hand on her back, but he rubbed against it smoothly instead of violently as Lewis would always do.

"A calf like you should be on an average farm, not here; this place is not for you."

He was not mean, arrogant, brutal, or any of the other negative comments that describe Lewis. But Grace began to lose part of her balance as each of her legs began to shake frantically and unsteadily. Ned knew exactly what was wrong. He would take this calf to his house and give her a bottle of milk to replenish her health.

Before he could lift her in his arms, he thought he heard the sound of a click from behind him. It was Lewis with a gun in hand. This sheriff was beginning to get too nosy coming in here and the drunken low-life wanted nothing more than to fire at anyone who dared to invade his privacy and to interfere with punishing that disobedient calf.

"You know what sheriff," he replied wickedly, "you're gettin' mighty too nosy round here. Now hand over that calf or you'll be tastin' bullets through your tongue."

But Ned placed Grace behind him and stood up straight. He really must've been harming this calf severely and cruelly recently. Well he wasn't about to give her up that easily.

"Alright partner, you want the calf, come and get her," he dared Lewis, taking his pistol up in hand. But before Lewis could pull the trigger, something hard and wooden whacked him on the side of the head. Lying down on the floor unconscious, it was one of the sheriff's deputies. He wore a copper shirt with popper buttons, modern leather cuffs, and chaps similar to Ned's.

"Just thought you could use a little backup," he replied with a grin.

"How did you get in?" asked Ned.

"The ol'fool left his back door open. I've seen a lot of crazy drunk low lives before, but this one is definitely outta control."

"I could've handled him on my own," Ned muttered as he put his pistol back in his belt. "Just make sure you get the other deputies to take care of him, he won't be leavin' till we get to the bottom o' this."

A few moments later, the sheriff's deputies successfully put Lewis behind bars while he was still knocked out. No charges of any illegal activity with the Yeller Gang could yet be filed against him without full clear evidence, but only for drunkenness and pulling a weapon on a lawman. Despite there being no laws against animal cruelty, he wanted to get Grace out of where no baby animal should ever be.

"Sheriff Jones," one of the deputies barged in through the wooded doors to report something. "While we were searchin' the whole household, we discovered a whole pile o' these and these."

He slammed a pile of newspapers and WANTED posters on the desk. The newspapers had articles in them about the Yeller Gang committing more crimes in towns. They looked to be at least a couple of months old.

"Why do you think he would be keepin' these in a place out of sight?"

"Because he don't want anyone knowin' that he is involved with their little schemes," Ned replied sarcastically slamming his fist on his desk. The deputy jumped back at his reaction. Looking at the frozen Lewis in the cell, Ned decided it would be pointless at this time to get more information out of him.

"Until he wakes up, the Yeller Gang will be as good as ours." Rising from his chair, he left the office for home.

"Come on Dan, you too calf," the animals had been sitting outside for a short period of time while Ned had been trying to get a clue out of some of the items that were taken from Lewis's house. They may have had Lewis for now, but the Yeller Gang was still out somewhere wreaking more havoc.

"Catchin' crooks is even harder than I thought it would be," he sighed.

Dan looked up at the frustrated expression on his master's face wishing there was something else he could do for him.

"Don't worry young one, you'll be stayin' here for a while until I can rearrange for another farm owner to take you in," Ned replied opening the front door of his house. Inside it was clean and tidy unlike the filthy foul smelling atmosphere at Lewis's home. Not only was she in a friendly place but she also didn't have to worry tonight about any crazy old loon or vicious canine hurting her.

"I've got somethin' for you," Ned pulled out a plastic bottle of white liquid from the cellar down below. Having never seen it before, Grace was about to move back before Ned continued. "…what's wrong? It's only a milk bottle. There's nothin' to be afraid of; just drink it and you'll grow up to be a strong bovine, maybe even a real beauty." Grace walked up and started suckling on the end of the bottle. This stuff was good, not like the other filth she was being force-fed. Ned rubbed her back smoothly to comfort her.

Back when he was real young, he remembered growing up on a small cattle ranch with his stepfather. But because he had taken a liking to spending more time playing with them, his stepfather, who did not approve of him neglecting his other duties, sent him away to live in an orphanage. Though life for him had a few ups and downs, in the end he managed to pull through. Now he was hoping for this young calf to grow up with love, happiness, and a peaceful life on a farm where she would always be welcomed and appreciated. She deserved much better.

"That should be enough," he said, gently pulling the bottle away. Once out of her mouth, Grace didn't holler or throw a tantrum; instead she just gave a frown of disappointment.

"Don't worry, there will be more for you tomorrow; but for now, it's time to go to sleep."

He led her to his room filled with a wide rectangular bed with a wooly sheet and a fluffy pillow in the middle.

"That over there is my bed; I think you'll be more comfortable there." He pointed to a velvet cotton mattress on the right side next to his bed. The calf settled on top of the soft cozy mat and rested her head against the sidelines. This was much better than the dark lonely shack. Normally the mat was really Dan's sleeping area, but he didn't mind, after all she went through, and he believed she needed it more than he did. He and Sampson would be resting on the soft rug in the living room.

Grace fell asleep breathing softly and rhythmically. Ned smiled at the innocent sweet animal. So sad to think about why anyone would want to do harm to a poor defenseless critter. Anybody like that was considered nothing but a great big coward.

"You're safe now, little one," he whispered, pulling the covers over him. "…safe for now."

That same night, back at Lewis's home, Tuck popped his head out from under the bed in the other room. While the sheriff and his dog were doing an investigation, he hid where he hoped they wouldn't be able to find him. Seeing all that has happened, his lips formed in a snarl of fury. Not only did he lose the chance once again of a good beef meal, but already the lawmen had carried Lewis off to jail for drunkenness and possible involvement in the Yeller Gang's early crimes. And Tuck knew that by the time Lewis regained consciousness, it would be over for him and his masters by Lewis being forced to give away their hiding position.

He hastened out the back door and all the way into the dark distant horizon where his masters hid. Now was the time to take drastic measures.