Daisy had a secret. Ok so the rest of the herd knew the secret but there were a lot of others that did not know the secret. Any way she was kind of sad about the secret because she did not feel like she could be friends with others that did not know the secret. The other cows laughed at Daisy for being so gloomy. After all they were all cows in the pasture together what did it matter if no one else knew but them what the secret was.
The problem was that Daisy liked hanging out in the barnyard with the humans especially the young humans who fed her corn and apples. To protect the secret she always had to return to the pastures with the other cows at night.
Daisy had heard that the barn was nice and warm in the winter time and very breezy and cool in the summer. She had also heard that the cows in the barn were treated well, and well fed. Unfortunately, she really did not know any of the cows in the barn as she belonged to the cows in the pasture. The cows in the pasture had a secret.
Every day Daisy would wander up to the barnyard, if the young humans were there they would find something to feed her. She was not hungry really she just liked being around the humans. They petted her and fed her and sometimes when the older humans were not around they would climb on her back, and she would move slowly around in a circle. They would laugh and slap her on the side with their little hands and shout “giddy up” like they did with the horses. If the older humans were there she would stand very still so they would not think she was trying to hurt anyone.
One summer day there was a new young human and everyone called her Wendy. Daisy knew all of the humans’ names that lived on the farm. There was Todd and Mary and Jenny they were the young humans. The older humans were Pa or Mike as some of the humans called him and there was Ma or Ruth as Pa called her at times. However, Wendy was new and was a little older than the other young humans. Daisy heard her tell Todd that she was 13 and that made her older than him as he was only 10 and she did not have to take orders from him. Daisy was not sure she liked this new human because she always seemed to be mad at the other humans around her. They were just trying to show her the right way of being round the animals that lived in the barnyard.
One day when Daisy came wandering up to the barnyard she heard Wendy yelling at Ma. “I hate it here! I wish I could go home.” At that point she ran crying from the house and headed out to the pasture. Daisy was not to sure that was a safe thing for the young human to do since she did not know the pasture the way the rest of the family did. Daisy heard Pa say “let her go she will have to work it out on her own.” Ma responded “I hope so since she can’t go back home at this time.” Daisy raised her nose to the air and slowly made her way along the scent path Wendy had left behind her.
Soon Daisy spotted Wendy sitting under a tree by the little creek that ran though the pasture. She looked for the herd but her nose told her they had moved to the other side of the little hill that was some distance from the tree. It was late afternoon and the sun was not as hot on that side of the pasture at this time of day. Since Daisy was not use to Wendy and was not sure how she would react she put her head down and gazed the grass in the general direction of the tree pretending not to notice the crying human that sat under it. The young human did not at first notice the black and white cow as she moved slowly toward her. Finally when Daisy reached the creek Wendy looked up and yelled “get away from me!” “Go!” “Shoo!” “Get away!” Daisy moved away but kept the young human in sight. Finally the crying stopped and Daisy realized the young human was asleep. She was sure that was not good but did not really know what to do about it. So Daisy moved closer and stood a watchful guard over her. Time passed and the sun began to go down. Daisy became worried. It was not good for the young human to be out in the pasture after dark but she was only a cow and really did not know what to do. Suddenly she heard the voices of Pa and Todd calling Wendy’s name and she had an idea. She began to moo. She mooed like her mother had done when she was little and wanted her to come back to her. The mooing did two things. One it woke Wendy up so she could hear her name being called and two it attracted Pa and Todd in her direction.
When Wendy woke up she jumped up but when she came to a standing position she saw Daisy who had moved closed to protect her and screamed and put her back to the tree. About that time Pa and Todd came over the other little hill that blocked the view of the tree and creek from the house. Pa called out not to be afraid and Todd came running down the hill shooing Daisy away. Neither of them were mad at Daisy they just knew that Wendy was afraid of cows and that her screaming would scare the herd that had started to appear over the far hill.
Todd turned to Wendy and sneered at her, “Sissy cows don’t bite!” Pa called him down, “Todd she does not know that she has to learn it.” Wendy bit her tongue; if Uncle Mike had not been there she would have told Todd off. Since she was forced to stay on the farm for the summer she figured she had better try to keep her mouth shut for a while. Besides she would get even later with Todd. Pa took the two young humans back to the house and Daisy felt a big sigh of relief escape her chest since the young human would not be in the pasture after dark. She did not feel it was safe for humans after dark in the pasture.
The next day all the young humans came to the creek to fish or at lease Todd came to fish, Wendy, Mary, and Jenny came to play and pick flowers. The herd had moved over the far hill all but Daisy had started back toward the barnyard when she saw the young humans. She altered her steps and soon had gotten quite close when Jenny saw her. Jenny called out her name and when Wendy looked up she scream and hid behind the tree. Jenny and Mary ran up to Daisy and started patting her and pulled up grass to feed her. Wendy watched from behind the tree. Todd sneered at her. “What’s your problem with cows? They won’t hurt you especially little Daisy there. She is only a yearling calf!”
“I don’t care what you say they keep me awake at night with all that mooing.” Wendy sneered back. “They moo and moo and moo. Never heard such noise. I have nightmares listening to it.”
“It is just the way cows are. Don’t mean nothing,” sneered Todd again.
“Well I don’t care what you say. I don’t trust no cows,” sneered Wendy back and with that she ran up the hill that was between the creek and the house.
A few days later Daisy wandered up to the barnyard late in the evening. She had kind of stopped coming to the barnyard because she did not like to make Wendy uncomfortable. The first thing she saw was Pa and the human, sheriff Bob and the rest of the family sitting on the porch. Ma looked like she had been crying and the young humans all looked like the world had come to a very bad end. Jenny spotted Daisy and ran over to her and threw her arms around her neck. “Wendy's gone! She ran away!”, and with that Jenny burst into tears. Mary and Todd came over when Jenny started crying. Mary stroked Daisy nose. Todd said, “To bad you can’t find her like you did the last time Daisy.” Jenny picked up some hay and fed Daisy. Daisy chewed slowly trying to figure out what to do. The sun was going down and Daisy was worried about what would happen to Wendy after the sun went down.
The young humans were called into the house and Daisy turned to move back to the pasture. She lifted her nose to the breeze that had popped up. The faint scent of Wendy came to her nose. It came from the direction of the road. Problem was that road had two directions and Wendy was headed in the wrong directions. She was headed for the river that the little creek emptied into. Daisy knew from what the herd had told her the river was not a place that was safe at any time.
At night there was a coyote that came down to the river to catch whatever it could to eat. Daisy was not sure that it would hurt Wendy but then one could never trust coyotes.
In the last week the herd had been nervous about the smell of mountain loin that seemed to be getting stronger. The entire herd had been told to stay close at night. Daisy had been a good cow and stayed close but now one of the young humans was in danger and she really felt that someone should do something. She gave it some thought and finally for lack of a better plan set off in search of Wendy. She looked over the fence and noted that Pa had forgotten to put down the latch on the gate. Slowly, so as not to attract attention from the house, she moved to the gate and put her weight against it, until it had opened enough to let her through.
Daisy moved as fast as she could considering she was a cow and followed the faint scent. She had gone about a mile when the sun began to sink and she could feel the secret starting to work. As the darkness of night surrounded her Daisy felt the change. She was able to see into the dark better and her sense if smell became even sharper. From the distance she heard the herd taking count and she knew that very shortly the herd would know that she was not with them. It was forbidden for anyone to go in search of the missing so her father or one of the other members of the herd would have something to say about it when she returned. Then Daisy realized that might be a big “IF.” Well, it was too late now to turn back Wendy was somewhere up ahead and it looked like Daisy was the only one to find her.
Daisy had covered another mile when the smell of the river came to her. Darn! Thought Daisy she could also smell coyote along with the river and Wendy. Daisy tried to move faster which became easier since night had fallen but she was still a cow. Rounding a curve in the road Daisy saw the river off to right and head in that direction. The moon was full and made it easier to see the river and the bank. Daisy stopped. Her ears caught the sound of gentle sobbing that could only come from a human throat. She turned to the left along the river but she still could not see where Wendy was. She finally realized why. Daisy was standing on an over hang. The sound of sobbing was coming from under it. Daisy picked her way down the slippery river bank until she could see under the over hang. There sat Wendy huddled up with her arms around her knees, and her head buried in them. At intervals a soft sob came from the little huddled mass.
Daisy stood undecided. She knew that Wendy could not see her as the secret was in effect. If she spoke to soon she might scare Wendy into running into the river. Finally she hit on the idea of making some noise first. She moved down the bank of the river several hundred yards and then made noise as she approached where Wendy was hiding. Finally she stopped and said, “Hello?”
Wendy’s head shot up. In a very frighten whisper Wendy said, “Who’s there?”
“Just a friend” Daisy figured that Wendy would not react well if she knew it was Daisy. “Where are you I can’t see you?” said Wendy just as frighten.
“Well it is petty dark down here. What are you doing down here this time of night?” Asked Daisy.
Wendy sniffled, “Running away.” Was her flat answer.
To stall for time to figure out what to do next Daisy asked the obvious question. “Why?”
Wendy did not answer right away. She sobbed and sniffled for a few more minutes then finally said, “Because I don’t belong anywhere and no one loves me anyway so no one will miss me.”
Daisy was surprised by that answer. She asked “Don’t you have family around here?”
Wendy was silent for a while. “Yeah, but they don’t want me here. They just took me because my mom is aunt Ruth’s sister. Mom and Dad are having problems and mom asked Aunt Ruth to take me for the summer so they can work out the problems. Mom and dad don’t want me cause I just cause them more problems.”
“Gee that does not sound like the people I know.” Said Daisy
“You...you know... my aunt and uncle?” Wendy said with hesitance in her voice.
“You mean Mike and Ruth Smith? Who own a farm about 5 or 8 miles down the road? Sure everyone knows them they are good people.” Said the voice from the dark. Wendy was trying to see who was there but she couldn’t see anyone in the dark. She couldn’t remember hearing the voice before.
Daisy sighed. To Wendy it sounded very lonely.
“What’s your name,” asked Wendy. “Do I know you?”
Welllll, now it was Daisy turn to hesitate. “Yeah you kind of know me but not really.” Said the in the dark voice.
“What? That makes no sense.” Wendy found herself getting mad. She was not stupid and hated it when people treated her as stupid. “Who are you!” she shouted. She did not mean to but she did anyway.
“Ok! Ok! You ready for this because you won’t believe me.” Daisy had resigned herself to revealing herself.
“You don’t know that.” Wendy was now miffed.
“Ok” said Daisy. “My name is Daisy and you know me.”
Wendy said. “The only Daisy I know is a cow and cows don’t talk.”
“Told you, you would not believe me. Said the voice in the dark. “Besides you’re afraid of cows because they moo all night and keep you awake.”
Wendy finally came alive and jumped to her feet. “How do you know that?”
“Because that is what you told Todd when you hid behind the tree down by the creek the other day.” Said the voice in the dark.
Wendy was dumbfounded. She remembered the conversation and only she and the three kids were there, Jenny Mary and Todd. She even remembered running back to the house and there was no one else that she could see. Finally since it was not possible to believe there were talking cows Wendy said, “Todd must have told you.”
Since the argument was not getting them anywhere Daisy gave up. “Ok what ever it is you want to believe but right now we need to get you back to the safety of the farm. It is not safe for little humans to be out here.”
“I am not going back and I am not little I am 13 and can take care of myself.” Wendy had not noticed yet that she had been referred to as human instead of a girl. She was still to busy being mad at the world. “I am no farm brat. I am from the big city and know how to take care of myself.” Wendy cross her arms and kind of raised her head and nose up to show that she was above the label of helpless.
Daisy was unfazed by this act of defiance. She just wanted to get Wendy back before something happen to her. The smell of coyote was growing stronger and there was still that faint smell of mountain loin, with luck it would stay just that, faint. The coyote however would become a problem if she could not get windy out and away from the river. Think Daisy! Thought Daisy to herself. What to do with a very angry and clueless young human?
Finally Daisy said, “Well at lease let’s move away from the river. There is a coyote in the area and he comes down here at night to hunt and drink.”
Coyote? You mean those things that look like little wolves? Wendy looked around at the darkness around her and had enough sense to be scared.
“Yes,” said the voice in the dark. “We need to move away from the river.”
“Well, ok but I am not going back to the farm,” Wendy finally agreed.
“Ok” said the voice in the dark. Daisy had a sudden idea where to take the young human. Of course it would cause her more trouble but then she was all ready in a world of trouble so adding to it would not really matter much she figured.
“Can you get back up on the bank next to the pasture?” Asked the voice in the dark.
“I don’t know I can’t see any thing. I could follow you but I can’t see you.” Said Wendy in a voice that told Daisy that she was more frighten than she would admit to.
Daisy gave it more thought and decided that she could have Wendy hold on to her tail but then Wendy would probably freak out totally. Then she had another thought.
The voice in the dark said “What if I had you hold on to my walking stick, that way you would not get lost.”
“Ok I guess what does it feel like?” Asked Wendy doubtfully.
“Oh well the top of it has a bushy feel like hair. My mom and dad made if for me when I was little. They did not want me to hurt myself,” said the voice in the dark.
Daisy got closer and tuned around and lightly touched Wendy with her tail. Wendy jumped and yelled out loud but then took a hold of the offered “walking stick”
“Shh! We need to be as quiet as possible!” Said the voice in the dark.
Wendy whisper, “sorry I was just surprised. It is soft.”
“Thank you,” said the voice in the dark. “Now don’t let go and I will try to walk as slow as you need so you do not fall.”
Off the two of them set. Since Daisy night vision was just as good as her day vision if not better she found her way up the bank and into the pasture with Wendy holding on to her tail. The moon was shinning bright but Wendy still could not see the person in front of her, or the walking stick for that matter. The rest of the pasture was petty clear but had all kinds of shadows so she could not see where they were headed.
Wendy finally dropped the “walking stick” and Daisy stopped and turned her head around. “What?” She asked of the young human behind her.
Wendy said “I still can’t see you? I can see the pasture and some trees but I can’t see you.”
“Can you see shadows around you?” Said the voice.
“Yeah,” said windy.
“What kind of shadows do you see?” Said the voice.
Just shadows from the trees and such” Wendy answered.
“Ok nothing else?” Asked the voice.
“Well...” Wendy looked round. “I see... something that looks like a small cow.”
“Ok, well you follow the shadow and you will not have to hold the walking stick.” Said the voice.
What? Said Wendy.
The voice did not answer but the shadow of the cow started to move off into the field.
“Wait!” Said a startled Wendy.
“I am walking slowly, come on the night is not getting any younger you know.” Said the voice.
Wendy could not understand why she could not see the person in front of her even though the voice came from the same place but she did know it was moving off into the pasture with the shadow of a small cow. Her choices were follow or be left alone in the pasture. Wendy chose to follow the shadow of the cow. Shortly after they got started a small cloud moved a crossed the moon dulling the light in the pasture but Wendy could still see the shadow, Wendy could not make sense of it her head started to throb. They walked for what seem like hours to Wendy, but were about an hour for Daisy and then Wendy hear the sound of mooing. She stopped again.
“I hear cows mooing” she said to the empty pasture.
“Yeah that is the herd it is the safest place in the area besides the barnyard at the farm,” respond the voice.
Wendy would not move. “I am afraid of cows.”
The shadow had stopped and then turned to face her. “Why, they have never done anything to you have they?” The voiced asked.
Wendy had to answer “NO but they are so big and I saw them kicking at Uncle Mike when he tries to milk one and Uncle Mike tells me to stand very still when I go into the barn and one of them are there.”
The voice sighed. “Yes they are big and they do kick when pa tries to milk them because they have to be restrained while being milk but he feeds them while it is happening so they settle down quick but they frighten easy so any new or unfamiliar scares them and they stop giving milk or it sours quick and since that is how pa makes some of his money he can’t have you scaring them. Cows by their nature are gentle animals but they are big and can hurt you by accident since you are so much small than them. Pa and Ma and the young ones have just been trying to teach you about how to be around animals on the farm so you or them do not get hurt. If you would stop and listen to them instead of feeling so sorry for yourself you would be having a lot more fun here. They don’t hate you they are just trying to make you part of the family and what is a bad situation for you a little better. Not that you noticed, you have been to busy hating yourself and the world around you.”
Silence fell after that. Daisy finally ran out of things to say. Daisy knew that it was against the rules to talk to humans but this little human needed someone to speak the truth to her, even if it was just a werecow. Maybe if Daisy was lucky Wendy would never find out that there were werecows out in the pasture and the secret would be safe. But right now Daisy needed Wendy to get closer to the herd and way from the river.
“Come on we need to get going.” Said the voice. The shadow of the small cow started moving again. Wendy followed in a daze. Her life had been crumbling since the summer started and it had been a very long day starting with the scream fest she had directed at Aunt Ruth. Now she followed the shadow of a small cow a disembodied voice she had never heard across a pasture that looked nothing like she had seen on the farm. Soon she and the shadow/voice came to something that seemed familiar. A little hill. They had been following a creek that grew smaller as they moved from the river. She now recognized the creek and the hill. If she was right there would be a tree close by. The little cow shadow followed the creek around the hill and Wendy could see the tree a short distance ahead. There was a great shadow surrounding it but there was something else. She could swear she saw lots of cow shadows but there were no cows present in the field. The mooing she had heard had suddenly stopped just before they rounded the hill. An eerie silence had fallen over the field. The cloud that had covered the moon had passed and shadows of cows deepen but there were no cows visible. Wendy started getting a headache. She came to the tree and suddenly sat down on the soft grass under it. She looked round. “Daisy? You still here?”
“Yes Wendy.” Came the voice.
“My head hurts and I am really tired,” Wendy’s voice sounded very tired.
“Its Ok, we are safe now. You can sleep I will watch over you till the sun comes up.” Said the voice.
“Ok, thank you,” and Wendy closed her eyes and the pain in her head stopped as sleep stole over her. Soon the soft sound of a breathing human was heard on the breeze as it moved the leaves of the tree and the grass of the pasture.
Daisy looked down at the sleeping young human and then looked up to see the approach of her father the big bull of the heard. "Here it comes!" thought Daisy she put her head down hoping that she would be spared the worse of what was to come.
Daisy!” came the sharp sound of her father’s voice. He said it soft enough but the tone revealed his mood. “What have you done, you have put the whole of the herd at risk.”
“I did not know what else to do; the young human was in danger from herself.” Pleaded Daisy.
Her father looked at her. “Well at this time we will have to solve this problem as a herd but tomorrow you will have to be judged and you behavior corrected.” Then her father mooed softly and the rest of the heard drew closer to hear what was to be done to get the young human back to the farm house and not reveal the secret of the herd to other humans.
Having never had to deal with humans after dark the herd stared at the sleeping human. What do werecows know about young humans, or any kind of humans for that matter? After all they turned invisible at sundown and mooed to keep the humans thinking that they were still there. Of course they had the power to adapt to the language of the humans they lived round and their minds were open to fooling the predators that sometimes came round but they never faced being found out. Finally they came up with the idea of putting the sleeping young human on Daisy back and letting her take Wendy home. The sun was beginning to come up and they did not want her in the pasture when she awakened.
After several ideas were given and rejected a couple of the herd tried lifting a rock with their tails and the herd figured that if six of them picked her up with their tails they could get her high enough up for Daisy to crawl under her and then stand up with out dislodging her. This was done and Daisy found that her days of allowing the young humans in the barnyard came in handy. She knew how to walk slowly and carefully enough to get up the hill and down the hill and then to the barnyard.
When Daisy got to the barnyard she saw more humans and the things they called trucks than she had ever seen in her short life. Sheriff Bob was talking though something that made his voice very loud. Daisy realized that the humans were going in search for Wendy. Daisy stopped behind the barn and looked at the morning sun. Then looked at the small shadow on the ground. When the shadow suddenly disappeared she knew it was safe enough to appear in the barnyard. She slowly moved into sight of the humans but they were still listening to sheriff Bob. She started to moo. No one heard her. She continued to moo and when sheriff Bob suddenly stopped talking the humans heard her mooing. Someone finally realized that Wendy was on her back and they rushed to the fence. Sheriff Bob and Pa were the first to get though into the barnyard and slowly approached the young cow so as not to scare her; they did not want to cause her to drop the sleeping girl. Pa touched Daisy nose and said quiet reassures to her as he did with the cows in the barn. Daisy wiggled her nose in his hand to let him know she was Ok. Then sheriff Bob lifted Wendy off Daisy back. Wendy awoke and made a squeaky noise when she saw sheriff Bob and then quieted down when Uncle Mike took her in his arms and gave her a big hug. Uncle Mike looked at Daisy and said, “Good girl Daisy” sheriff Bob and Pa turned and started to the farm house. A cheer went up when Pa came out of the barnyard with Wendy in his arms. Wendy had started crying again, she whisper to Uncle Mike. Why are all these people doing here? They came to look for you; we were all worried when we could not find you in the dark there has been a coyote and a mountain loin in the area.
About that time Ma and the kids came out of the house and rushed over to Pa. “Thank God, are you ok!” Was the rush of words from Ma. Who found her asked the kids. Pa told everyone to settle down and let him get Wendy into the house. The local Dr. pushed through the people that were there and followed Pa into the house so he could check Wendy out for injuries, Ma had already rushed back into the house to make the bed fresh to receive Wendy and then to make tea and soup for her. The kids stayed out side and were asking sheriff Bob every question they could think of without waiting for answers as kids will do. Finally he held up his hands and called for quiet.
“Well people looks like a yearling cow beat us to the punch and has brought Wendy home. Thanks for your help. We will let you know if there are any other problems that you can help with. You all go home and have a good weekend.”
Todd looked at his sisters and then rushed to the barnyard. Daisy was still standing there and all three rushed up and started petting her and praising her for being the best Cow in the world and they found treats for her and made her feel very important indeed.
Mean while in the house the Dr. had pronounced Wendy in good health and was packing up to leave. Ma had hot tea and soup ready to feed her and Pa was sitting on the edge of bed looking seriously at Wendy.
“Now,” said Uncle Mike “Why all the drama girl?” “You had us worried sick all night.”
“I’m sorry Uncle Mike” Wendy hung her head.
“I know but you better explained yourself girl.” Said her uncle.
Wendy looked at her aunt Ruth and hung her head again. Mom called yesterday and told Aunt Ruth that her and dad are getting a divorce but I was not to know about it until she came down this weekend. I lost my tempter and started yelling at Aunt Ruth and then I ran away. Wendy started to cry again and Ma sat down and put her arms around her.
Why ask Pa. Why did you run.
Mike! Snapped Ma.
Ruth might as well be me as your sister when she gets here. Was Pa’s quiet answer.
Why you run Wendy, pa asked again.
Wendy dried her eyes with the sheet and looked at her uncle. Because it is my fault that mom and dad are breaking up. They hate me.
That not true, responded Aunt Ruth and gave her a prolong hug.
"No it not!" said a voice from the door.
Everyone turned and in the door way was Wendy’s mom and dad.
Wendy started crying again and Ma and Pa moved aside and made room for Wendy’s parents at her side.
Yes it is or you would not be getting a divorced. Wailed Wendy.
Her mother hugged her. No it isn’t honey we just have to many differences to go on living in the same place. But you are not one of them. We both love you and will be there for you.
That’s true honey, said Wendy’s dad as he knelt down beside her.
That’s why we sent you down here this summer so we could make some hard choices without upsetting you so much. Her mother said sadly. Apparently that was not the smartest move we could have made.
We just wanted to protect you from some of the arguments that were going on. Said her dad, maybe we should have included you in the decision making but parents don’t always know the best moves to make. They are human beings after all. But I do know that your mom and I love you very much. That will never change.
Pa closed the door and with Ma they went down stairs and out to the farm yard. Those that were still there they thanked for their support. As the sheriff Bob drove off pa looked toward the barnyard and there stood Daisy and the kids. As usual the kids stood on the fence petting and feeding Daisy. Pa walked over and taking Jenny up by her waist tossed her on Daisy back. "You kids are always telling me she is gentle enough to ride and I guess if she can bring Wendy home sound asleep with out getting her hurt then I guess you are right." Giddy up Daisy and he gave Daisy a gentle pat on the butt. Jenny squealed with delight and yelled “giddy up” and kicked her small feet on Daisy sides. Daisy as always walked slowly in a circle so as not to cause Jenny to fall off. Ma walked over and Pa put an arm around her shoulders. “Well, I guess Daisy is one we will keep and let her live were ever she wants." Ma smiled “Yeah, I think that would be good.”
"You hear that Daisy, Pa said you could live here in the barnyard if you want."
Daisy stopped and looked over to the fence. Then started walking again. Daisy gave rides to the young humans until she noticed the sun head for the horizon. The kids had to go into the house for supper and Daisy headed for the pasture. It had been a very strange day.
Daisy stood under the tree by the little creek and waited for the sun to go down. The change started as the herd toped over the far hill. Daisy figure that her father would be in the lead but he was the last one over hill. And the herd had arranged itself to leave a clear path between Daisy and the big bull. Daisy hung her head as her father walked up to her.
“A very strange day”, said her father.
Daisy looked up, “yes it was.” was her response.
“You put the whole herd at risk you know.” Said her father.
“I know and I am sorry father. But she was in danger and the humans did not know where to look.” Daisy lifted her head and looked at her dad while she spoke. She had been wrong but was not ashamed. She cared deeply about the humans on the farm.
“Well we are all glad the young human was not hurt but still you have broke the rules of the herd. For that you will have to make a choice. You are either part of the herd or part of the cows in the barnyard. You must choose.” Her father was very serious.
Daisy stared at her father. She could not image how she could be part of the barnyard she was a werecow. Finally she figured that to be part of the barnyard was what she wanted.
She looked at her dad and bowed her head. When she looked up she said one word. “Barnyard, please.”
Her father touched her nose with his nose. “So be it.”
He turned to the herd. Tomorrow Daisy will leave us. Come say good by to your sister. With that her father stepped aside and one by one the members of the herd came and touched noses with Daisy. With the last cow touching her nose. The herd as a unit started to moo. Her father told her tonight you do not moo. In the morning you will leave the pasture and not return. The secret will be safe when you leave. Then he too joined the chorus of mooing.
For Daisy it seem to be a long night. She heard the mooing all around her but as the night moved towards dawn she began to notice that she could no longer see the herd only the shadows of cows like windy had described the night before. As dawn came to the sky the herd appeared and turned to face Daisy. She looked back at the herd and realized she did not know any of them. She looked around and wondered how she got out of the barnyard. She turned and walked over the little hill to the barnyard where she belonged. She did not look back.