Weeks and months passed into the gray mulch of time and events. Tim was to all and even himself just a fine black Aberdeen Angus bull. Alice too had all but forgotten her boyfriend as other suiters now came into the void left by Tim up and disappearing.
Joe Farnsworth was the one who helped Tim and caused Alice to understand her own self.
Joe had dated Alice now for almost a year when as luck or fate might have it they were making big plans together. The farm was a quiet place in early Fall as apples were being now ripe and pickers from Mexico came to help bring in the crop.
A cool evenings walk through the orchard had Joe asking Alice to marry him. She blushed but was very willing as they walked it was Joe who spied the Medallion.
The bright silver medallion was now bent slightly as maybe the farm tractor had driven over it a time or two.
Joe picked it up eyeing the bright silver bobble as Alice's face told there was something extra special about his find.
"What, you've seen this before, something very special, Tim's no doubt!" said Joe as he held the bright and well shined medallion into the late evening Fall light.
"Yes it was his, he lost it along with my love!" chidded Alice as she tried to reach for the bobble.
Seeing his chance for some play Joe snagged the bobble and with a grin took off running through the orchard with screaming Alice hot on his heels.
At last Alice tripped falling face first into a half dried pile of some cow's manure.
Joe hearing her fall slowed his running and saw her face down in the pile. He quickly returned to his lover and apologized. A simple handkerchief was not enough to clean his loves dirty face. The nearby barn and its bathing ability had Joe taking Alice by the hand.
Once inside the great barn Alice stood leaning forward under the shower as she soaped up face and hair. Joe watched and then wandered the barn looking at all the things which a farm needs to remain a working farm.
Alice's grumbling of the stench her face was burried deep into had Joe chuckling to himself. He thought of the Medallion and removing it from his pocket he looked for a neat way of giving his lover a present.
Setting on the corner of an old wooden desk was a box filled with new and used yellow tringle ear tags from many of the farms cattle. Joe looked through the box seeing many had names with numbers as ones used to Id one animal from another till shipped out for sale or slaughter.
Poking into the box Joe came up with a tag named Ellsie. A cut piece of twine from off the large roll, the Medallion and the yellow tag named of Ellsie made an interesting necklace. It was perfect yetthe twine was far too long making the tag and medallion hang quite low.
Alice was toweling her hair and head dry when came Joe with his present.
"I present to my love and lover this bright bobble and her new name Ellsie!" said Joe.
Alice knew what he had both the medallion of horrible change and a tag from her Father's desk. She knew what might happen and tried to fend off her lover's embrase.
Feeling his arms reach around her head and the twines coarse feel about her neck she was suddenly stunned stiff by the Medallion's powers.
"We are married my love!" said Joe as presently Alice was totally unable to answer but was alert and realised what might be beginning to happen.
"I Joe take thee Alice to be my wife to have and to hold till.... " his voice turned to silence.
A shudder ran down Alice from head to foot as her hair shook away letting those hazel eyes see her Lover Joe.
The twine being looped too large Jow had used it as the ring or rings looped about Alice's head and neck. Joe looped it about his neck as well as it to signify their mutual love.
Mutual it would be as Alice saw her skin turning a dark red color and white and red hairs sprouting. Jow stood there looking at his loves changes not seeing his own mutual change as both were beginnin to resemble Ellsie a prize Hereford cow.