Taffy Runs Away

 by Marenn Harris (ages 6-9)

It was a hot summer morning and Coco and Taffy, who were best friends, were galloping in the fields at Circle C Ranch.  Then, Midnight ran up to them and said excitedly, “Ya wanna play? Ya wanna play?  Ya wanna play?”  

“No thanks! I wanna play with Taffy,” said Coco.  Then, Midnight galloped away.  Midnight asked Snowflake, Taffy’s mom, “Do you wanna play?”

“No, thanks! I want to rest a little,” Snowflake said.

Then, Midnight asked Lacey. 

“Hmm, maybe later.  Andi and I have barrel racing practice”

 Midnight asked Trouble. 

“Sure! I’d love to play!”

“What should we play?” asked Midnight. 

“Maybe Donkey in the Middle?” suggested Trouble.  

“Or maybe Donkey Ball?” suggested Midnight.

Then Coco, who had finished playing with Taffy, ran up and suggested, “What about Pony Pounce?”

“Yeah!”  Trouble said.

Then, they saw Taffy galloping by. Taffy spotted them, and noticed Coco pouncing on Trouble and Midnight.  She heard Coco saying something about a “best friend.”   She thought Coco was talking about Midnight and Trouble.  

“Coco isn’t my best friend?” she thought.  Her feelings were hurt.  Taffy felt really upset, confused, and sad. 

So, she decided to run away.   She ran across the meadow, through the forest and over the hills until she reached a small farm, where she decided to stay. 

***

When Coco was done playing with Trouble and Midnight, he went looking for Taffy.  He looked through the pasture. He searched the pasture next door.  He even jumped the back fence to look in the meadow for Taffy, but he didn’t know that Taffy had gone so far.  

Coco ran back to the pasture and asked Midnight if he had seen Taffy. 

“Last I saw her, she was galloping by,” Midnight answered.

Coco asked Midnight to come with him to look for Taffy, and Midnight agreed to go with him.

***

Taffy went into the stable at the small farm and met a sweet horse named Angel.   She took Taffy to her stall where she had a little colt next door named Sonny.  Sonny was a golden palomino with white splotches all over him.   On the other side of her stall, there was a gelding named Shadow.  He looked like Midnight’s twin. He was covered in black, just like Midnight. 

***

Midnight asked Coco if he had checked the hills.

“No,” Coco said. 

“Let’s go then.”   They started off and when they reached the edge of the meadow, they stopped for a minute to rest.  Then, they galloped on through the bushes and over the hills until they reached that same little farm. They thought she might be out in the pastures so they ran out to check, but all they could find were cows and sheep.  Then, they went to the pond to see if Taffy went there for a drink, but there was no Taffy in sight.    Then, they checked the barn.  All they could find were cows, sheep, donkeys, and an array of other animals, but no Taffy.   

***

Since Taffy was at a strange farm, she decided to hide in case any people came in.  So, she wriggled down into the straw until all that was showing was her eyes.  It was a good idea because a couple minutes later, a girl came in to ride wearing a purpley-pink jacket, a purple and pink striped riding helmet, and a pair of boots.   The girl went into Shadow’s stall and led him out.  She took him to the hooks where all the bridles and saddles were hanging.  She picked out her favorite one of Shadow’s tack and strapped them on.  Then, she took him out and into the arena.   

A couple of minutes after that, another girl came in wearing a rose-colored jacket and a blue and pink striped helmet.   She went into Angel’s stall, then went to the hooks where the tack was hung.  She picked out her favorite pieces of Angel’s tack and took her out to the arena.  Then, a young boy came into Sonny’s stall and brushed him down.  He brought him to the hooks where the tack was hung and picked out the very best of Sonny’s tack and strapped it on and took him to the arena.  Taffy noticed how wise the boy was to take such good care of Sonny and to choose the best tack, not just the best looking.

Then, Midnight and Coco snuck in and Taffy peeked out of the stall door.  When she saw them, Taffy said, “Midnight! Coco! Can we go home?”

“Yeah!” Coco said. 

“I sorta missed you! I came here because you said that Trouble and Midnight were your best friends. It made me feel sad because I thought you and I were best friends,” said Taffy.

Coco said, “No! I was telling Midnight and Trouble about how good of a best friend YOU are!!!”

Taffy said, “Thanks, Coco! I’m sorry I ran away. I met some sweet horses. We can sneak out of the barn to see them.”

“Yeah - let’s go!” So, they trotted out of the barn and to the fence of the arena. Then they saw Angel, Shadow, and Sonny.

“Wow, they’re so beautiful!”

“Yeah. Can we go home now?”

“Sure. Let’s go then.”  And they all galloped home to Circle C Ranch.