Maggie pulled her body into a tight ball and waited for the pain. But instead she felt the ground shake and heard an unearthly squeal.
Opening her eyes, she saw Molly run full speed into Splash. Before the cow could hurt Maggie, she was shoved away. Splash stumbled and almost went down. When the cow regained her feet, she shook her head and stared at Molly. Molly stood over Maggie, and Splash went back to her calf.
Maggie shuddered. At first she was too shaky to get up, and Molly sniffed her anxiously.
"Wow," Tim exclaimed as he slid back under the fence to join Maggie. "That was like something you see on TV."
"We thought you were a goner," Jodi added.
Just then Dad arrived looking very angry. "What the heck is going on?" he demanded. "Don't you know that a cow with a calf can be dangerous?"
Maggie was so surprised to see him that she was speechless.
After catching his breath, Dad continued. "I never expected you kids to leave the yard. When I realized you were gone, I let Corky out to find you. What were you thinking?"
"Corky started all the trouble ..." Maggie began.
"Oh, no!" Dad shot back. "You kids started the trouble when you left without telling me. I am going to give you guys such a spanking."