The Adventures of Dove Step the Sheep, Chapter 5

Chapter 5

Very early in the morning the “ankle-biters” came. Well that’s what all the lambs called them. AND there were a lot of helpers with the farmer and the shepherd. The helpers brought their own helpers. So going up to the mountains with the flocks were dogs, helpers, four-wheelers and tall, huge horses. Up the road, up the canyon and to the pastures we all went!

Along the road Dove saw different flowers. Some were yellow. Some were purple (these were on the alfalfa plants and tasted very sweet). Some were a very brilliant reddish orange on stalks. Very pretty indeed! Dove also saw purple flowers. They tasted like…. Well, nothing! Mimi told Dove that they turn pink later. Mimi even found a pretty pink flower. The leaf was soft and fuzzy.

Dove noticed some few of the sheep tended to want to walk faster and others wandered off away from the flock. Silly sheepies! They could get lost. They could end up all alone. In the dark of night-this is not just a scary concept but could also be dangerous. Who knows what lurks in the dark.

But Dove didn’t know that when he looked away those sheep did go wandering around and he didn’t notice that the sheep wandered off. The following morning he said, “Oh no! Those sheep did wander off!”

The morning air was really cold. Though the sun was up, it was still really, really cold! It was time for the sun to come up but the sky was full of clouds and they were getting bigger and bigger and thicker and blacker. Soon there was a very loud BOOM! From the Heavens above.

The boom wasn’t the first boom of the evening, nor would it be the last. There was a bright flash of lightning and another big boom. All of both flocks were scared and huddled close together. Then came pellets of ice falling from the sky pelting everyone!

Doves mom said, “Don’t worry. The storm will be over soon.” A few minutes later the hail was softer (must have come from the soft rain water) and the storm quit. Afterwards the sun came out and dried them. Dove thought his wool always seemed a bit shorter after a warm rain shower-like maybe it shrinks in the warm rain.

Dove saw something buzzing in a flower. His mom said, “Be careful, bees can sting!” But Dove ignored her and threatened it, without knowing he had. “OW!” Dove yelled. “I warned you.” His mom said.

So much for flowers. There were plenty of them. Big bright yellow ones. They were very bitter to the taste. Ever seen a lamb spit out a half chewed flower? Not a pretty sight I tell you.

There were some clump white-topped flowers. Very spicy to the taste buds on the tongue. A nice addition to a lamb’s diet. In the evening some men set up tents in the meadow. Soon the sun set. The farmer and shepherd worked on cooking food for themselves and all the helpers. Poor people. Too bad they couldn’t just eat the lovely sweet grass and white-top in the meadow. What a scrumptious meal that was. 

The stars came out. There were a hundred times more stars in the mountains than there ever were in the meadow. “WOW!” was all that Dove Step could think.

A few of the lost sheep found their way back to the fold by the next morning. There was still one missing. Dove hadn’t seen Mimi for a while and was starting to worry about her. So was her Shepherd! He mounted his horse at sunrise before having breakfast and took one of his ankle-biting dogs with him to go find his lost lamb. Dove watched as the shepherd rode his horse out of sight with his companion-dog, Alex following along beside him.

They had been gone several hours-actually most of the day. In fact it was so late in the day when they returned that the helpers were having dinner.

Dove Step suddenly heard a familiar bleat. Then he heard Alex and saw the Shepherd on the horse. The Shepherd had Mimi on his shoulders. The Bully that Dove encountered in the meadow had scared her off the trail causing her to tumble down a small hill and she was knocked out.

When she came to, she felt a LOT of pain trying to stand up. It was so bad she could not stand putting weight on one of her legs. Turns out it was broken.

Mimi started bleating, “Ma-aaa, Ma-aaa, Ma-aaa.” To no avail. She listened intently, but couldn’t hear anyone from the flock, not even Dove. She was alone. Lost. AND it was dark out! She was cold. She was wet. She was lonely. She was hungry. She wanted her mama. She wanted her fold! Through the night Mimi felt sorry for herself-that mean ol’ bully. She so wanted to eat, be warm, and mostly to be with the flock. 

She was able to hobble under some low lying junipers which sheltered her from the cold. She slept peacefully through the night. In the morning the sun light glistened on the dew. It was so pretty-like sparkling diamonds. Her broken leg had swollen and was still as full of pain as ever. But a lamb has to eat. So she hobbled to some very lovely soft verdant ferns. She could eat them and fill her tummy. It did help her feel better. She was feeling a little… hmmm… Watched over and…. At peace within herself, but didn’t know why.

It was getting nigh to mid-day when she heard Alex woofing and hoofing hard toward her. She let out a bleat and he was on her like a tick on a dog.

Alex let out one loud howl and her Shepherd came over the crest of the hill!

“There you are my baby!” He dismounted from his horse and scooped her up in his arms. He comforted, stroked, softly spoke and then sang to her. He checked every square inch of her. That’s when he found her broken leg. He set her bones in place and applied a splint. As he was doing this he spoke softly and gently-just as gently as he was touching her. He told her how he had been so worried about her, that he had prayed to the Father that she would find shelter through the night. That she would be safe and warm. Also that she would feel safe and at peace and that she could get nourishment to sustain her. Lastly he prayed that Alex would sense and smell her so they could find her. Mimi felt at peace in the arms of her Shepherd.

Mimi rode on the shoulders of the Shepherd all the way back to the flock. Mimi was so glad to be back with her mama. Dove was so relieved that Mimi was safe-folded and at rest. He listened intently as she shared her trails and travails, validating again that he NEVER wanted to be a bully AND NEVER wanted to wander or stray from the fold!