......but as Dora walked away, once more she began to cry-but this time her sobbing became uncontrolable. She suddenly felt her legs give way and abruptly collapsed onto the cobbled yard. Her mind was spinning-
'why would he do this to me- why?' 'Why'? 'Why?
After what Dora had been through in the last few days, and what with the terrible loss of several of the horses-that included her beloved Copper- (Steve was ALIVE at least), she was now in a state of shock and her tears flowed like a salt, sparkling- stream, blinding and stinging her momentarily of her sight. She felt as if she wanted to die- there and then.
She seemed to be the only person at Follyfoot Farm that had the weight of the world on her young, innocent shoulders.....'where was Slugger to come to her aid?' She pittiably thought.
As Dora continued to weep, she lost herself in another realm (perhaps it was heaven for her)-but her heart was still beating furiously. Emotionally, she felt raw anger and utter,utter disbelief take hold of her already broken mind. A small, gentle hand touched her shoulder and quietly called out- 'Dora, Dora......Dora'. It was Hazel, the teenage reprobate, whom Dora had initially disliked from the very beginning -of course the feelings had been mutual then-however like a Guardian Angel, (or even a soul-sister) Hazel comforted Dora in her moment of great need. In Hazel's eyes, Dora was vulnerable -just like herself -and offered her love and warmth. They both remained there on the cobbled stones, seemingly motionless, like two orphaned sisters that had survived a great terrible calamity.......