Page 58 of Praising Little Palmer

Palmer was met by the most awesome sight. “May!” she screamed, wiggling in Beau’s arms. He set her down and she rushed toward the cow. Burying her face in the cow’s hair she sobbed. May nudged her with her nose as if she was trying to comfort the Little girl.

“I knew if we could get you to Rawhide you would be okay!”

Turning, she rushed back to Beau. “Thank you, Daddy! Thank you for adopting our baby!””

“Well, she’s more like a teenager, but May needed a family and you were right about Rawhide being the best one around—for all of us.”

It was then that Palmer noticed they had an audience. She smiled and waved at everyone.

“Thank you for adopting May, Palmer!” Becky called out.

“She’s so beautiful,” Heather said. “I love all her hairs!”

As Palmer stood and reflected on the last few months at the Ranch, she realized the same people who had welcomed her, now stood to welcome May.

“Thank you all for being here. When I first got here and even today. May and I both have a family now and it’s the best one in the world.” She tugged on her Daddy’s shirt until he bent down and she whispered into his ear. After he grinned and nodded, she turned to look toward where Master Derek, Sadie, Reese and her Daddy, Arlo, stood. “If it’s okay, Daddy and I would like to donate May to the petting zoo. That way all of us can love on her.”

“That’s a very sweet gift, Palmer, and on behalf of all of us, we are very proud to have May join our family too,” Master Derek said.

She’s going to get so much love,” Sadie agreed.

May turned and licked Palmer’s tears, making Palmer giggle. “May says thank you.”

“We are going to make her a name plate today,” Reese said. “What do you want it to say?”

“May D. Minx,” Palmer answered without hesitation.

“What does the D stand for,” Daddy asked.

“Deserving. Because she’s deserving of all the love she’s going to receive on the Ranch.”

Beau hugged her close. “What about Minx? What inspired that?”

Palmer studied the large pink bow in the cow’s fuzzy hair and her freshly painted hoofs. “Look at her, Daddy. She’s a very sassy lady!”

Nodding, Beau agreed. “That she is.”

Palmer wrapped her arms around the cow’s giant fuzzy head as much as her small arms could manage and then, very carefully, she pressed a kiss right into the cow’s wild, crazy hair.“Welcome to Rawhide,” Palmer said fondly. “I know you had a hard start to your life, but you have a family now and we’ll never let anything hurt you again.”

The fuzzy beast nudged forward gently, her nose bumping Palmer’s shoulder as if she were expressing her gratitude.

Palmer laughed and hugged her again. “Welcome home, May D. Minx. We’re really glad you’re here!”

The End