Lily wept bitterly, clinging to the edge of her floral dress as Victoria held her tight against the stone pillar.
"Please don't hurt me!" the young girl sobbed, tears running down her reddened cheeks in the bright sun.
"I promise I'll be good, please let me go!"
Victoria leaned over the frightened child, her face twisted in anger.
"No one can save you now, little girl," Victoria snapped, holding her firmly away from the path.
Clara did not hesitate for a single second when she saw her child in danger.
She gathered her heavy white dress in her hands and sprinted furiously across the sunlit stone overlook.
Her athletic shoes slammed hard against the graveled walkway as she crossed the distance in seconds.
"Don't you dare touch my daughter!" Clara screamed, her voice echoing off the surrounding canyon walls.
Before Victoria could react, Clara grabbed Lily securely into her left arm, pulling her completely free from danger.
With her right hand, Clara struck Victoria hard across the face, sending the woman stumbling backward against the dirt.
Victoria shrieked in shock as she hit the ground, her ruby dress gathering dust from the stone walkway.
Clara immediately backed away toward the safe center of the lookout platform under the fluttering American flag.
She dropped to her knees on the smooth paving stones, wrapping her arms tightly around her trembling child.
"Mommy's here, sweetie," Clara whispered urgently, checking Lily's hands and face for any scratches.
"You're safe now, I've got you, you're completely safe."
Lily buried her face in Clara's lace shoulder, sobbing softly as her mother rocked her back and forth.
On the ground a few feet away, Victoria pulled herself up onto her hands and knees with a wild look.
Her hair was unraveled, and her face burned bright red with embarrassment and rage in the midday heat.
She glared at Clara and the child with pure hatred, refusing to accept that her cruel plan had failed.
The mountain wind whipped past the flag as Victoria scrambled to her feet, preparing to push forward once more.