Otis stood there in shock, mouth agape, frozen like a statue of ice. He couldn't believe what he had just heard from Daisy's mouth.
Otis gulped, his throat beginning to burn and his stomach tying up in knots. "What do you mean she's my daughter?" he demanded.
"Genebelle is yours, Otis," Daisy replied, somehow remaining calm.
This cannot be happening, Otis shook his head in horror and disbelief. "Why do you think that? How could this have happened?"
"Well..." Daisy trailed off and stared into the distance.
"What?" Otis firmly demanded.
"You do remember how long we were a couple, right?" Daisy nervously began.
Otis shrugged. "Only four months. Why?"
Daisy turned her focus to the ground, rubbing her cheek in apprehension. She continued, "So you remember back a couple days before I left the barnyard?"
"Yes..." Where's she getting at? Otis thought in confusion. Something told him that he wouldn't like where she was getting at.
"And so you remember that night we spent together?" Daisy asked with a nervous tone.
Oh, dear cud! I don't like where this is going, Otis thought with horror, already beginning to feel sweat forming on his forehead. He thought back to that night. Daisy had just put Ben to sleep and Otis had come into her stall to check up on him. He had been extremely exhausted from his leadership duties that day and Daisy had coaxed him into relaxing with her. The two bovines snuggled up with each other in bed, but Otis quickly fell fast asleep like a baby. That's all he could remember.
Otis's heart began beating a million times a second, and his throat began to feel hot. He let another gulp before answering, "I remember I was really tired and came in to check up on Ben. Then we cuddled together and I fell fast asleep."
Daisy bit her lip and said, "Well, that's apparently not the whole story. Because shortly after I was brought to my new farm I realized I was pregnant."
A shatter of glass sounded as Otis's eyes widened (like you'd hear on a cartoon) and Otis let out his usual big, frightened scream.
"Shhh!" Daisy shushed, cupping her hoof over his mouth.
Otis removed her hand and began panicking like he never had before. This was one of the most shocking, scariest pieces of news he had ever heard. "B-but, I just don't understand...I only fell asleep! I don't remember...doing anything!"
"Maybe you don't remember, or maybe you were in a daze," Daisy disputed, "but the facts point to it, Otis. I became pregnant and Genebelle is your daughter."
"What?!" Otis refused to believe what Daisy was telling him. It just didn't seem right. No matter how hard he tried, he could not remember anything he had done that would cause Daisy to believe this. If it were true, how could he have forgotten something as bold as that? "It's just not possible! I remember being exhausted and falling asleep right away!"
"I know it's shocking to hear, Otis, especially when you love Abby now, but it's the truth. Genebelle is very happy to see you, too, but I told her not to talk to you until I did."
Otis froze, another terrifying crisis coming to his attention. What was he supposed to tell Abby? He couldn't hide it from her forever. Abby is going to be so devastated, Otis thought in horror. He began to choke up at the thought of breaking her heart.
Otis, still petrified in disbelief at Daisy's news, immediately ran back to his own stall without another word, threw himself onto his hay bed, and covered his head with his pillow.
***
Abby woke up about a half hour later feeling the exact opposite of Otis. She sighed contently with a smile as she glanced at the sun pouring its light through the window of her stall. She felt as if nothing could ruin her day.
"What a beautiful morning," she sighed, crawling out of bed and stretching with a yawn.
At first Abby planned to greet her boyfriend with a usual "good morning", but she smiled as a better idea came to mind. She wanted to get along with Daisy even though she had been Otis's past love. The last thing Abby wanted was any hard feelings towards herself. "If I want to be treated like a friend, I need to be a friend," she said to herself. "I just need to befriend Daisy."
Abby brushed her messy blonde hair, quickly styled it in her usual braid, and pushed through her stall door. Not many animals were awake yet, but to her luck Daisy was one of the few. Abby cheerfully paraded towards Daisy's stall and knocked lightly on the door.
Within a few seconds, the door slowly opened and Daisy, who seemed surprised to see Abby, answered, "Yes, Abby?"
"Hi," Abby greeted with a smile.
"Hello," Daisy returned, wearing a rather fretful look on her face. Abby wondered what was wrong.
"I was just wondering," continued Abby, "would you like to go to Walnut Woods with me?"
"Why?"
"Just to hang out and maybe have a picnic. I want to get a chance to know you better. I don't want you to hate me or have any negative feelings towards me just because I'm Otis's girlfriend now," Abby desperately explained.
A slight, yet uncertain smile entered Daisy's face as she said, "Okay, sure. Let's go at noon."
***
By the time the clock in the barn struck noon, Abby had everything packed for her picnic with Daisy. This is my chance to make it right with Daisy. I gotta make a good impression. Abby tucked a loaf of bread (like a baguette), cheese, berries, grapes, milk, and two slices of fresh blueberry pie Pig had prepared earlier into a small, woven basket and concealed the food in a red cloth. She picked up the basket by its handle and went to search for Daisy. It wasn't long before she found the rather shy cow standing by the barn entrance, ready to go.
"Wow, you packed food and everything," Daisy remarked. "Thanks, Abby."
"No problem," Abby smiled. "Come on, let's go."
The trip to Walnut Woods was very awkward, as the two cows barely said a word to each other the whole way. If any small conversation sparked up, it was from Abby. Daisy acted as if she did not want to say a word.
She really doesn't say much, Abby thought. Figures Otis likes me better. I'm easier to talk to, she proudly smiled.
Abby was relieved when she and Daisy finally reached their destination in the woods. At least if they weren't going to talk to each other, they'd have an excuse because they'd be eating. Abby settled down in a nice, shady spot under a large tree with Daisy accompanying her. She opened the picnic basket, unfolded the cloth covering the food and began passing out the tasty morsels to Daisy and herself.
Daisy let out a sigh of content. "Mmm, those berries are delicious. Where did you get them?" (When I say berries, I mean an assortment of raspberries, strawberries, and blackberries.)
"Oh, one day Otis and I rode over here together and picked them."
Abby caught a flash of envy on Daisy's face, but Daisy quickly hid it. "Really?" she said in a sweet tone, hoping to hide her true feelings. "What do you mean 'rode'?"
Abby giggled. "Otis has this bike he rides. He lets me ride on his handlebars sometimes; we have so much fun." Abby then realized what she was doing. She quickly shut her mouth. She was only making Daisy feel worse talking about the fun times she and Otis shared. She quickly changed the subject.
"So, after you left here, what was your new farm like?"
Daisy shrugged. "It was pretty nice, I guess, but not nearly as wonderful as here. The leader was pretty strict and serious; much different from Otis," Daisy chuckled.
"Did you make any friends at the new farm?" Abby wondered.
"Yes, I did," nodded Daisy. "In fact, most of all the other animals became my friends. I really miss them, but at the same time I'm glad to be back here."
"Were you sad to be at a new farm without Otis?" Abby asked, before quickly adding, "Sorry if I'm being nosey."
Daisy paused for a long moment, before replying in a sad tone, "Yes, I really did."
"I'm sorry, Daisy," Abby replied, full of guilt. "I didn't mean to take him away from you. He even told me he thought he'd never see you again. Out of all the farms in the America, it's a miracle you were brought back here."
Daisy simply stared down at the ground in silence. "I understand. He was just one of the most amazing guys I've ever met. He never cheated on me...never smothered me...never controlled me..." she trailed off.
Abby raised an brow. She suddenly got the feeling that Daisy's focus wasn't on Otis anymore. "Has that happened to you in the past?"
Daisy quickly looked up with wide eyes, and swiftly replied, "N-no, of course not!"
Abby still felt unsure. It seemed as if Daisy was keeping a big secret to herself. Why did she act so nervous when I asked her that? Abby cleared her throat and proceeded to her next question. "Daisy, if I may ask, what was your husband like?"
Daisy's ears sunk down, and immediately Abby knew she had made a mistake in asking that question. "Daisy, I'm sorry! Sometimes I speak without thinking."
"No, no," Daisy sighed. "It's alright. My husband was an incredible guy. He was smart, very funny, kind, and amazingly handsome." Daisy began to choke, fighting back the tears, as she added, "But the terrible storm at our farm took him away from me."
Abby felt a sharp pang of sympathy for the unfortunate cow, and she wrapped her arms around her in a hug. "I'm really sorry, Daisy. I'll stop asking questions. Let's finish our picnic."
***
After both cows had finished their slices of blueberry pie for dessert, they headed back to the barnyard with Abby carrying the empty picnic basket. To her luck, Daisy was beginning to open up to Abby more. Perhaps she's finally warming up to me, Abby smiled.
"And since that day, Ben never plays with glue," Daisy finished her comical story with a laugh.
"Poor guy!" Abby joined in laughter.
"Yep, he's crazy, but I love him dearly," Daisy grinned.
Suddenly, a question Abby had been holding for a while came to mind. Who exactly was Genebelle? She had arrived with Daisy and Ben. Abby's curiosity grabbing hold of her, she took a deep breath and began, "Daisy?"
"Yes?"
"I'm sorry; I know I said I'd stop asking you questions, but I've been wondering...who is Genebelle? I met her last night at the Night Barn, and I remember she arrived here with you and Ben."
Abby took full note of how nervous Daisy's face had become from her question. "Oh, yes, Genebelle. Well..." she trailed off.
"What?" Abby tilted her head in confusion. That couldn't have been a personal question. I just asked who she is. Everyone is going to wonder who a stranger is.
Daisy looked down in embarassment, nervousness, and uncertainty of what to say. She did not want her answer to upset Abby, but Abby had to know sooner or later. She gulped and replied, "She's...my daughter."
"Daughter? I thought you only had Ben?"
"Well, yes, Ben is the oldest. I had Genebelle a little while later." Daisy bit her lip, knowing Abby was bound to ask who the father was.
Abby was completely confused. "But I thought your husband passed away before you had Ben?"
Daisy nodded. "He did..."
"So who would the father be?"
Daisy took a deep breath. Abby wasn't going to be happy, but she felt she needed to do this. "Abby, you're not going to like what I'm going to say, but...it's Otis."
Every surrounding around Abby completely froze as she heard that last word. Abby shook her head in disbelief. At first she thought (and hoped) that what she heard had been an illusion. "I'm sorry, who did you just say the father was?"
"Otis," was her simple answer.
"No..." Abby whispered. She froze in horror again, then gasped and panicked. "How? When? Why?!?! Otis never told me that you two had another baby!"
Daisy sighed. "He doesn't remember. Soon after I came to my new farm I realized I was pregnant, though, and Otis and I had fallen asleep in each other's arms a couple days before I left."
"I can't believe this," Abby whispered in horror. This can't be true! It CAN'T! It doesn't seem right! "So you and Otis...spent a night together?!"
Daisy looked down and nodded.
Without another word, the horrified Abby fled back to the barnyard as fast as she could. Daisy simply stared and watched the cow disappear out of sight in guilt. She had had shared such a fun afternoon with Abby, and she hated to have hurt her. She knew what she had done was wrong.
***
Abby frantically ran inside the barn, holding back her tears until she confirmed this piece of news with Otis. He was not in his stall, nor anywhere in the barn. She turned to Peck, who was nearby, and quickly asked, "Peck, do you know where Otis is?"
"Yeah, he's up on Ben's Hill," Peck answered.
Abby thanked him and hurried up to Ben's Hill. Sure enough, Otis was sitting at the top with an unreadable expression on his face.
"Otis!" Abby called in a panicky tone.
"Hey Abby," Otis greeted, wrapping his muscular arms around her body with a kiss on the lips.
"I need to ask you something."
"Yeah?"
"Daisy just told me the most shocking news I have ever heard. Is it true that Genebelle is your daughter? You slept with Daisy, and you never told me?!"
Otis's jaw dropped, a sense of anger rising up in him towards Daisy. He didn't know what angered him more: the fact that Daisy believed that they had "done it", or the fact that Abby had learned it from Daisy first and not him. "Abby, let me explain!" Otis stopped her. "Daisy told me that same thing this morning, and I was in full shock too! Abby, I can honestly say I never remember doing anything with her! It's not right at all! I don't remember anything that could've led her to believe that. I've been thinking about it for hours, and I can't figure out how this could have happened."
"Oh, really?" Abby sarcastically asked, wiping the tears running down her cheek. "Daisy said you two spent a night together in each other's arms. Is that true?!"
Otis looked down in silence, and sighed, "That part is. But Abby, we never did anything! Please, you have to believe me!" He gave her a desperate, sincere look.
"I thought I trusted you. How come you never told me about this before?" Abby demanded, unable to decide whether she was more angry or sad.
"Because I swear, it never happened! I'm not a dad! Please, trust me Abby!"
"I'm sorry Otis, but I can't anymore." With that, Abby turned tail and dashed back to the barn in tears.
"Sweetie, wait!" Otis called, but Abby simply ignored him. She ran into her stall, locked the door, and cried one of her hardest cries for what seemed hours. She felt like she could no longer trust the bull she had known and loved.
-sniff- Wow, I'm going to be honest guys, I was even choking up as I was writing this. =( I completely feel Abby's pain. Am I the only one who wishes Daisy never came back?? 8D Well, we'll have to see what happens in the next chapter. Will Otis hold strong anger towards Daisy now? Is Daisy hoping to get Otis back? Will Abby ever trust Otis again, or will they ever make up? FIND OUT NEXT CHAPTER!! By the way, sorry for this chapter guys, but I did rate this story "T" for a reason. XD
ANYWAYS...let me just say I am SO, SO, SO, SO, SO, SO {x infinity} SORRY that I took a MONTH to update!! D= EEEK! You guys seriously don't know how much trouble and Writer's Block I've been going through with this story. I had problems because I wanted it to seem accurate while the plot line being exciting...I'm not going to tell you exactly or it'll ruin the story. But FlamethrowerElite helped me out with all my W.B. troubles, so THANK YOU FLAME!!! *hands you a chocolate muffin* 8D I know a lot of you were very desperate to read this next chapter (especially SweetyJen101 XD), and so I deeply apologize for the wait. It shouldn't happen again. I want to say a BIG THANK YOU to SweetyJen101, too. Your 2nd to last comment was so sweet, and it really encouraged me to keep writing. So I thank you, very much! =) *hug & chocolate muffin*
So anyways, I'll stop going on now. XP Remember to REVIEW!! REVIEWERS GET CHOCO MUFFINS! 8D
Oh, and Happy New Year, everyone! =)