Forest Guardians Chronicles: A Matter of Humanity by Beth Roose (smart ebook reader TXT) 📗

faster. After a while, she reached the Grocott horse farm and made herself comfortable behind three big shagbark hickory trees. Each had massive trunks that were responsible for holding up the thick branches that extend off of the elderly trees. Freda noticed the horses and reached across the fence line and pulled on the bark of the trees. She could hear the little boy Davey out riding with his pony Firecracker. She was stuck there until Davey took Firecracker into the barn. She turned her head quickly as she heard a rustling and quickly laid flat on the ground in the fallen leaves. Bitty poked her head out from behind the bushes and noticed Vue standing there on the forest floor. Vue stopped at the ridge tree line, sniffed in the air, but then continued past the farm. Freda landed on the white wood fence beside Bitty, startling the little hairy girl. “That was close, “she told Bitty. “Let’s head over to see Bev. That should keep us out of trouble for a while.”

Freda was first to arrive at Bev’s farm. Bev was weeding the flower bed and spotted Freda long before she landed on the sidewalk beside her. As Bev stroked the heron’s beautiful head, she caught sight of Bitty running through the field. The little hairy girl quickly approached and flung herself at Bev, locking her arms around her waist. “Oh, Bitty,” Bev exclaimed, “I am so glad to see you!” Bitty responded back to Bev using the sign language she had been taught. Bev, delighted that the little one was learning, responded back with a big kiss on her forehead and a giant bear hug. Afterwards, Bev signaled for Bitty to follow her to the barn and see her new bunnies.

There were rabbits everywhere in Bev’s big beautiful barn. Bitty especially wanted to hold Coco, the soft and fluffy chocolate colored bunny. As Bev placed her in Bitty’s outstretched arms, she found herself thinking that she had never seen someone so eager to hold a rabbit. Bitty pulled Coco close to her and held her gently. Watching, but staying silent, Bev found herself soaking in every second of the tender moment between Bitty and Coco. Watching Bitty handle Coco with such care and warmth warmed Bev’s heart. She was surprised when Bitty began to kiss Coco. This action, although small, confirmed to Bev that the Harry Tribe members truly were Guardians of the Forest.

Suddenly, Bitty and Bev heard a gentle clearing of the throat coming from the threshold of the barn. “Hey, did you guys forget I was standing here?” Freda, the blue heron, said annoyed, “I want a turn!” Freda pulled her giant blue wings into a feathery, soft cradle. Bitty looked up from her tender loving moment with Coco and gave the rabbit one last final kiss on the head. She placed the small, furry creature into Freda’s arms and Coco sunk into the warmth of the wings. Coco closed her eyes and tucked her ears back into the mass of blue feathers. Bev moved forward and put her arm around Bitty, both noticing the motherly look on Freda’s face as she held Coco. The heron was so warm, tender, and full of love. Bev knew this was a special moment for Freda due to her sudden loss of her child because of a deforestation accident. Bitty and Bev decided to give Freda a private moment with Coco. They walked down to the horse stall to visit Sugar and her new foal, Cookie. The pair walked hand in hand down the dirt path, Bitty anticipating seeing the new pony that was only a few steps away.

3

The Marriage Proposal

Bev and Ranger Kopchek were having an intense, hushed discussion on the front deck of Brandywine Falls. They were there to investigate the recent situation involving Vue and the human woman. Bev walked Ranger Kopchek to the cove where Freda and Bitty saw the hairy huntsman and the strange woman shortly before. Ranger Kopchek combed the perimeters around the cove and the bottom of the Falls, avoiding the big, jagged rocks that jutted from the water. She was concerned that she would not be able to search the area in a methodical way because of the terrain, but she gave it her best. Bev and Ranger Kopchek searched for what seemed like an eternity. They made sure they looked in all of the little caves, niches, and nooks around the Falls, making sure not to miss a single detail. Bev was disappointed when they found nothing after a two-hour search. Ranger Kopchek told her not to worry. If it were anything significant, other clues would come forward. She told Bev that she would discuss the issues with the ranger department and inform them of the recent odd behavior that Vue had been exhibiting. The pair chatted on the deck of the falls for a little while longer before parting ways back into the lush green forest on a perfect Cuyahoga Valley National Park.

Bev arrived back at the farm. She pulled her Ford F350 up to the barn door that was open. As she jumped out and shut the door she could see into the barn and sitting beside Coco’s bunny cage was Freda. Her big blue wing wrapped around the cage with her head resting on top of the cage fast asleep. She tippy toed up to Freda and tapped her on her back. Freda opened her eyes and lifted her head to look at Bev.

“Hey Freda, I see you are keeping watch over Coco, has she had her babies yet?”

Freda looked back at Coco in her cage fast asleep. “No, Bev, she is taking her time. Those babies are just not ready to make their entrance into the world.” Bev told her she would sit and keep watch while she went and had her dinner.

Freda stood up and extended her wings and then took flight from the barn entrance. She looked back and said “See ya