John was so engrossed in his examination that he didn't notice the truck until he heard the car door slam. He turned and saw three men slowly moving towards him. The closest man held up his hands in supplication.
"Easy, girl, easy. We aren't going to hurt you. We just want to help you get home," he said soothingly.
John's heart raced and he began to panic. He was so close to his car. He couldn't get caught now! His eyes went wide as he looked around for some way to escape. But the men were well practiced in catching lost cows and were slowly moving around to encircle him, cutting off his escape into the woods.
John stopped moving and looked at them with sad pleading eyes, small tears weeping from them. "Please... please let me go.... you don't understand.. I'm not a cow.... I just want to go home..."
The lead man stopped moving and looked into her eyes. "And we want to help you. Just come with us and we will take you wherever you want to go. Come closer and we'll talk about it - just like people."
John desperately wanted to believe him, that if he submitted this man would help him. That he would listen to his story and take him back to his car. But deep down he knew it was a lie and he just couldn't move towards him. But too late he realized it was just a trick, a distraction that allowed one of the other men to creep up behind him.
"Got her!" yelled the man as he grabbed the leash attached to the collar around John's neck.
John reared back but it was too late. The man held on until his companions could join him and help. John may have been strong, but not strong enough to pull three men choking his throat.
"Damn she is a feisty one. Must be just a young one," said one of the men as they wrestled him towards the trailer behind their truck.
"Hey! This one aint ours! She aint got no tag on her ear. And I don't recognize that brand!" said another man.
"Don't matter, " said a third gruff man. "That just means she is fair game. We'll take her back and add her to our stock. No one will be any wiser. And from the way she looks and the way she fights she will probably bring in a lot of money. So just get her in the damn trailer!"
John struggled fruitlessly as he was shoved against his will into the back of the trailer. He banged on the door with closed fists after it slammed shut, a loud bolt locking him in.
"No!" he said as he continued to cry. "I am not a cow! I am not a cow!"
As the truck started up and moved down the road, he looked out the slits lining the trailer. They drove past his damaged car and he saw the old lady sitting on top of it. She smiled and waved at him as he passed by.
"No! Please! Don't leave me like this! I am sorry, so sorry! I swear I will be good if you just give me a chance!" he howled as the car and the old lady faded into the distance. He turned his attention to the cab and banged on the metal separating it from the trailer. "Please! You have to stop! I am not a cow! That lady did this to me! You have to go back!"
But the driver and his companions ignored him and continued on to their destination.