Addison brayed loudly, silently cursing the power that censored her words with a donkey's 'Hee-haw.'
"I'm going to miss you too, Adelyn," Melissa chuckled, now ruffling the hair in Addison's mane.
Addison couldn't allow this – She couldn't let good, decent Melissa can’t be transformed into a burden beast like her.
Yes, Melissa deserved a better life, but she wouldn't find it going off to Pleasure Island! She’d be turned into a donkey and sold into another life of more hard labor.
She heard the sound of footsteps rushing past the barn, and realized that the other girls in the ranch must be sneaking up to the road without waking the boys up because they knew they couldn't go to Pleasure Island.
A distant bray in the night, followed by the crack of a whip, told Addison that the stagecoach to Pleasure Island must be waiting outside the camp.
Her heart tore as Melissa smiled at her, patted her one more time on the head and turned to leave.
Addison brayed again, and out of sheer desperation, turned around and kicked with her hind legs, breaking the door to the stall open.
Melissa jumped in shock, turning to see Addison rush out of her stale and get between the girl and the door.
Addison shook her head fiercely, with a firm "hawww-hee!" trying to tell Melissa that she wasn't going anywhere.
"Adelyn, come on," grumbled Melissa. "I've got to get going! They won't wait for me."
Addison shook her head again, and butted Melissa back with her head.
"Adelyn, what in the world are you doing?!" cried Melissa as she stepped back, apparently wondering what had set this donkey off.
Addison responded by butting Melissa farther back, pushing her into her regular stall, and standing guard between her friend and the door.
There was nothing she could do for the other girls, and she felt sorry for the fate that awaited them, but she refused to let it happen to Melissa.
Melissa was good, and Addison had to keep her safe!
"Adelyn, come on! They're going to leave!" Melissa cried, trying to get around her.
Addison brayed a negative, and shook her head again.
Another whip crack, and in the distance, Addison heard the familiar voice of the Coachwoman yell "Giddap!"
The coach then took off, and Addison sighed with immense relief, sagging to the ground.
"You stupid ass!" Melissa cried, rushing out the door, trying to catch sight of the stagecoach.
Addison raised her head, looking after Melissa, who picked up a rock and angrily threw it as hard as she could. Then she came back into the barn. "It's your fault!" She yelled at Addison. "I could've gotten away from this place once and for all! I could've gotten away from my father, and you spoiled it! You ruined everything! I'm trapped in this awful place, and it's all your fault!"
Melissa glared angrily at Addison, then locked her in the stall, then found another unused stall, and dropped down out of sight, apparently going to sleep.