Trouble by the Creek

I had thought about letting Lisette riding in the gondola, from yesterday’s post Treasure in the Wheatfield , but decided to share one more of her adventure’s. Enjoy! 

Lisette was really enjoying riding down the river on the gondola. She thought she could really get used to this. After a hour the gondalier finished playing his accordion and pulled up to the dock. Lisette thanked him kindly, as she took his hand to help her step out of the boat. 

The sun was shining and she decided to take a walk in the little town. There were open fruit markets and flower and craft vendors, that she enjoyed stopping at. 

After browsing she stopped at an outdoor cafe , thinking she would treat herself to a dark chocolate raspberry latte. She was sitting there savoring the sweet taste when she heard a woman yelling, “There she is! That’s her! She’s the thief!” 

Lisette saw the policeman and the lady coming towards the cafe. She looked around at the other customers, seated outside, wondering who the thief was. 

“Where is my purse?” the lady shouted at her! 

Lisette was startled, the policeman was standing right in front of her! 

“I…I…don’t know what you are talking about?”  Lisette said. 

“She is lying, she looks just like the lady that left the store I was in.” the lady said to the policeman. 

Lisette’s stomach was turning into a big knot, what was she going to do? She looked at the cowbell next to her latte. That bell was starting to cause her trouble. Could she go anywhere without being mistaken for someone else? She didn’t know what would happen if she shook her bell again, but anywhere had to be better than where she was now! She grabbed it and shook it 3x. POOF! Purple and pink smoke again everywhere. 

The smoke cleared and Lisette found herself  sitting by a creek, with a large Weeping Willow tree by it. It was quiet and much more peaceful than having a lady scream at her. She sighed deeply, thinking she may rest here for a bit, and then decide what to do next. 

This cowbell obviously had special powers to take her to different places, but could it make a house appear for her too? Like where was she to go, after resting at the creek? She was almost afraid to walk around town, wondering who she would be mistaken for next? If she could only be mistaken for a famous person, now that might be fun. Living in a mansion? Oh the possibilities that existed with this strange new bell. 

Her thoughts were interrupted by a gentle touch on her shoulder. Lisette jumped, she hadn’t heard anyone coming . She turned her head and noticed a cute little girl staring at her. 
“What are you doing?” the little girl asked. 

Lisette wasn’t sure how to reply. Was she on someone’s private land? She looked around a little more and gasped when she saw a little white cross, not far from the tree. This was someone’s land. 

“Annie, Annie! Time to come in for supper!”  Lisette saw a woman standing in the distance, calling to the little girl. 

The little girl smiled and took Lisette’s hand. “Mommy, can she have  supper with us?” Annie yelled back. 

Annie started pulling her along as she walked towards the house. Lisette didn’t know what to do. What was she supposed to tell Annie’s Mom? That a mysterious cowbell brought her here. The Mom would wonder what kind of strange nut her daughter had found! 

While walking towards the house, Lisette saw a cow grazing, not far from them. 

“Do you want to see Betsy?” asked Annie. 

“Betsy?” replied Lisette. 

“Yes, she is our cow. She is really nice, though she has a habit of disappearing at times, but she always comes back.” 

Lisette couldn’t say No to this sweet, spunky girl.

“Sure, lets go say Hi to Betsy.” 

They started walking towards her and Betsy looked up from her grazing, watching them come. Lisette felt her eyes looking directly at her. The closer she got the more intensity she saw in Betsy’s deep brown eyes. She had never been scared of cows before, but this one was giving her a strange, unnerving feeling. 

Suddenly Betsy started running straight towards her and she did not look happy! 

Fear struck Lisette and she shook her bell 3x! Nothing happened! What was wrong, had the bell lost its power, she shook it again and nothing and Betsy was almost upon her! Lisette dropped the bell and took off running towards the road. 

Down the road she went until she had to stop. She bent over with her hands on her knees trying to catch her breath! Looking behind her she didn’t see any mad cow running after her, much to her relief. But now, what was she to do? How did she get back home? 

It was growing dark, she decided that for now she would follow the sign she saw, heading towards town, hoping she could find a motel. She needed a deep, long sleep after this crazy day! She would figure out her next step in the morning.