Baby

about her actual marriage status. And no children; he thought that was odd since she mentioned she had been married for years. Well, he best mind his own business and hope she decided to take him on as a hand. A woman like her should not be alone this far from town, anyway.
    Hoping for the best, he arrived at the bandit’s campsite. Not much remained except the cold ashes of their campfire. Scanning the area, he noticed they dropped his saddle. What a relief to recover his saddle, perfectly molded to Maggie’s broad back. He would have a hard time with her if he lost it. Bareback gets mighty uncomfortable stowing gear and riding long distances. Since they robbed him of all his savings, he had to find work to replace everything. Meeting Netty was fortunate in more than one way. That is, if he could convince her to take him on. Unfortunately, she does not seem to be the kind of lady that can be talked into things. She has a spine. He sure admired all the hard work expended putting the farm back in order; a monumental task. She sure was some woman .
    Wil returned to the cow pasture, observing Netty rounding up the Jerseys. He loaded the tools on Maggie’s back. Running to the gate, he held it open as Netty shooed the herd through. Walking back down the worn cow path, they noticed the temperature drop remarkably. The snow that seemed soft and slushy this morning, now crunched and slipped under their feet. Their breath made gusty little clouds in front of them as they hurried to the barn. The Jerseys, sensing the barn was close, broke into a run, desiring as much as Netty and Wil, to get out of the freezing cold.
    As Netty and Wil approached the barn with Maggie, they saw the Jerseys milling and shoving each other out of the way to be the first at the door, their hooves clacking on a thin layer of ice formed from snow melt dripping off the roof. Reaching past Netty to open the barn door, Wil took his eyes off Maggie as he held her reins. Maggie snickered as she got bumped by one of the cows, her hooves flailing on the ice. As Wil opened the barn door, down she went, screaming as she fell, the thud, bone shattering. Wil gasped, his eyes unbelieving, as he stared at the devastating break. He dropped down to the ground, cradling Maggie’s head as tears dropped from his anguished eyes to land on her steaming muzzle. Her eyes flared, wild with pain as Wil tried to calm her. He knew the only solution.
    “Netty,” he screamed between sobs. “ Get me your rifle. ” Netty moved to run but stayed glued to her spot. “ Netty, ” Wil screamed again. Rising to run for the rifle himself, he turned to the stoop and felt shock course through him as he saw the strange creature from his dreams in all its golden glory. The creature’s tail rose in the air and hovered. From the end of the tail emerged a fleshy bulbous hunk of something. As it wavered in the air, Wil was assailed with the smell of sulfur and the feeling of pressure on his chest.
    “ What the heck? ” Wil screamed. He grabbed Netty and threw her to the ground, covering her with his body.
    ###
    “Wil, get off of me.” Netty squirmed underneath him. Her heart beat frenetically at her breast with the shock of seeing Baby on the stoop. She expressly told him to be inside, well before nightfall.
    “Sister, Wil and Maggie needed my help.” The aura in her mind whispered, its whispers swirling. “It is my mandate. I must heal.”
    Netty scrambled out from under Wil as he rose to his feet, staring in shock at Maggie. She was on her feet . And as they watched in disbelief, she calmly walked into the barn to join the Jerseys. Quickly turning back to the stoop, Netty quietly watched Wil as she crouched down in a defensive position with Baby tucked protectively in her arms. Before he could say a word, she rose and scampered into the cabin, slamming the door.
    ###
    Wil stood dumbfounded. What just happened? He went to the barn to fill the water trough and examine Maggie. As he brushed her coat, he inspected her leg. Should I question my eyes? Did I make a mistake? No, that’s crazy. He saw her pain with his own eyes. And he heard her screams. Looking into her placid eyes, it was like nothing ever happened. Left with no choice, he knew he must demand an explanation from Netty. He felt pretty sure the blame rested with that unnatural creature on her stoop. The same creature imagined in his dreams. Obviously he must have caught a glimpse it before, probably while in his