Once I reached the barn, I knelt down and slowly hid in a nearby pile of hay. Holding my breath, I tried not to make a peep as I heard the door slightly creak open and the body of the big, buff, and yet demanding Colonel came barging in.

"Hmmm, now... I could've sworn I saw that little brat come in here" he said, scratching his chin. "Hmmm..." I crouched low, as he proceeded to search in and around every nook and cranny of the barn. As I heard the big powerful stomp of his big greyish-black boots as they crept closer and closer to where I was slightly hiding, waiting, and watching. A million thoughts flashed in my mind; Oh no, what if he finds me? What if? What if? What if?-- Is he going to kill me if he does? What is he going to do with me? Oh, god no! I'm too young to die? Is it a crime to protect the ones I love, let alone a horse that doesn't really even deserve to be in here? Dear God, what's the jail time for that if it is? I gulped, trying to steady myself. It wasn't long before his, meaty fingers found the location of my hiding place, they dug closer and closer as I buried myself, inching deeper and deeper into the seemingly bottomless pit. "Geez, where is that blasted girl" he grunted, "I need my gun, in order to shoot that good-for-nothing Mustang" he cursed silently to himself when his search came up empty.

As soon as I was sure he had gone, I slowly emerged out of my hiding place. Letting out a sigh of relief I smiled to myself; in the seconds I sent between retrieving the gun up until now, a plan was beginning to take shape.

I waited in the hay until the next morning as I was already very tired due to the events of that morning... nestling down into the hay. As I slowly pushed the doors of the barn open, I suddenly thought about making a mad dash straight towards the area-- however, a quick analysis of that idea reminded me that I'd surely be caught. So, inside I made the more rational decision of playing it somewhat sneaky.

"1...2..." I started counting, readying myself to escape