"Wait here." He was gone.

Seconds later, he returned. So did ten, giant cows. She heard them before she saw them, ambling toward her, mooing and sneezing, swishing their tails and generally scaring the crap out of her.

Over the deafening din of mooing, Maggie could faintly hear Uncle Pete gruffly shouting some instructions.

"Get them chained up!"
"Make sure they don't trip on the trough and turn an ankle."
"Grab the wheelbarrow and get some feed in front of them."

Maggie slowly backed up and stood frozen at the entrance of the barn, petrified. She was terrified to re-enter the main room and equally terrified to flee the barn, afraid she would once again embarrass herself in front of Sam's family.

Cowering by the door, Maggie closed her eyes tight.

*Slurp.* More...