Taylor opened her sleepy eyes and looked out of the window at the field. "No!" she cried, now fully open-eyed.
Buttermilk was in Mama's daisy field.
"I must have forgotten to close the gate last night," Taylor thought as she pulled a sweater over her head. Mama was planning to sell the daisies at the market next week. But flowers. Taylor hurried outside and thought hard what to do.
"When I grow up, I'll be an artist and paint pictures all day," Taylor thought, "I'll never keep a cow. Too much trouble."
Just as Taylor was about to guide the cow out, Red, the family dog suddenly barked(吠). Buttermilk ran across the field, and most of the daisies were eaten or left in pieces.
Mama came out of the house. "What's going on?" she asked. She looked sadly at her daisies.
"I forgot to close the gate," Taylor said. "I'm so sorry."
"I know you are." Mama gave Taylor a hug. "You learned an important lesson today."
Taylor's heart was heavy as she went back into the house. She had to think of a way to make it up. Then a painting on the wall caught Taylor's eye. "That's it!" Taylor returned to her bedroom quickly and sat down at her desk, looking at the daisies left over. Soon, daisies came alive on the paper. Taylor made one painting after another.
The morning of the market day, when Mama was getting ready to sell the daisies, Taylor said to Mama, "I have a surprise for you."
Mama was moved a lot when she saw Taylor's paintings everywhere in the bedroom, bright and cheerful in the morning light.
"Do you think anyone will buy them?" Taylor asked.
Mama smiled. "Oh, sweetie, yes. I'm sure they will."
