Ambrosia's Story by Tammy Marie Rose Page B

feet, anger still clear on his
barely visible face Daniel McDonald began to walk back to the woods
defeated. Mirabella followed from a safe distance. As soon as he
cleared the meadow and headed toward the mountainside Mirabella was
certain he was headed for the old black bear cave.
    Closing her eyes, she used her fairy magic to
wish herself to the cave. She had only a few minutes before Daniel
McDonald reached the cave so she quickly entered in search of
Ambrosia. She was rewarded with the sight of her tied up on a bed
of moss.
    “He is close, Ambrosia.” Mirabella landed on
the ground in front of her and it took all her might to pull the
rag from Ambrosia’s mouth.
    “Are you hurt?”
    “No,” Ambrosia said trying to sit up.
    “Stay still,” Mirabella pulled on the vine
tying Ambrosia’s legs together. It took all of her energy, but she
was able to loosen it enough to unwrap it from Ambrosia’s legs. “We
do not have time to untie your hands. As soon as we are free of the
cave, Ambrosia, I want you to run as fast as your legs will carry
you. Run into the forest behind the village and find a place to
hide.”
    Just as they stepped out of the cave’s
darkness Mirabella saw Daniel McDonald just a few feet away. “Run
Ambrosia. Run and do not look back.”
    Ambrosia ran as fast as she could, her
balance off a bit due to her hands being tied together. Daniel
McDonald turned as though he was going to give chase, but didn’t.
Instead, he turned to face Mirabella.
    He took one-step forward. “I’m not going to
hurt you.” He slowly took a few more steps. Mirabella hovered just
a few feet from his face. With one quick move, he lunged forward
and tried to snatch her from the air.
    Mirabella had flown higher up just in time
and looked down at him from high above his reach.
    “Get down here!” he shouted up at her as he
got back to his feet and dusted wet leaves from his jeans.
    “Ambrosia lives with us now. It would be best
for you to return to the human world and leave us alone.”
    “Oh. I’ll be returning to my world with
Ambrosia and you little fairy.”
    “I can’t let you do that.”
    “You have no option. Now get down here!”
    When Mirabella stayed where she was Daniel
McDonald grew angrier. He picked up a handful of rocks and began
throwing them at her.
    Mirabella was able to dart out of the way.
“We will not let you take Ambrosia.” Mirabella flew off and he
turned and began chasing her, but he could not keep up.
    He had to stop to catch his breath. His chest
ached from exertion. “This is not over!” he shouted.
    * * * *
    Mirabella found Ambrosia tucked away in a
hollow log. “It’s safe Ambrosia come out.”
    Ambrosia’s eyes were red and swollen with
tears. “I’m so sorry.”
    “You have nothing to be sorry for.”
    “All of this is my fault. Everyone is in
danger because of me.”
    “Your stepfather is an evil man, Ambrosia.
That in no way is your fault. I wish we had the time to discuss
this further, but we must find the others and find a safe place to
hide.”
    As they headed into the woods in silence
Mirabella’s thoughts raced. She had to find a way to protect them
all.
    They found Rom and the others hidden in the
May apple patch protected by the plants’ big leaves.
    “We need to find a safe place to hide for a
few days. We need time to figure out how to deal with this
problem.”
    Before Mirabella could finish the thundering
voice of Daniel McDonald filled the air. “You can hide, but I’ll
find you. I’ll find you all. You’re going to make me rich!”
    They moved quickly deeper into the woods. As
time passed, Daniel McDonald grew frustrated. He pulled a bottle of
whiskey from his backpack and began to drink. It did not take long
for him to become drunk.
    As he continued his search for Ambrosia and
her new friends, his rage grew. “You think you have out smarted me,
but you are wrong!” he shouted angrily.
    As he continued staggering through the trees
an evil thought