A Bride For Dalton by Caroline Clemmons

Author:Caroline Clemmons [Clemmons, Caroline]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2019-09-12T05:00:00+00:00

Chapter Nine

The next morning after the men had left, Buddy barked as if to alert them a Mongol horde had descended on them. She hoped the raccoons hadn’t returned. Bert had gone to collect eggs.

Rebecca stepped out the door and found a snarling skunk on the porch. She hadn’t known skunks could snarl.

Bert shouted, “Get back inside. That skunk’s rabid.”

She backed up and closed the door, grateful for the warning. She wrinkled her nose. “Euww, that odor.”

Then she realized Bert and Buddy were exposed to the crazed animal and Bert had left his rifle in the house. What could she do to help them?

They never used the side door but it offered a way to get out and get a rifle to Bert. She hefted the rifle and a box of ammunition and left by the side door. Hurrying toward the chicken pen, she stopped in her tracks. The skunk had come around the corner of the house.

Bert had locked Buddy in the barn by this time and he circled around the diseased animal. When Bert reached Rebecca, he took the rifle and ammunition from her. The skunk advanced on them.

“Get inside in case I miss.” He leveled the rifle at the animal.

When she was inside, she heard the sound of the rifle. She hated that the animal had been shot. After she worked up her nerve, she peeked out the window.

Bert had a shovel and was digging a hole. He used the shovel to scoop the skunk into the hole and then filled in over the animal. He tamped down the ground as if he was mad at it.

When he’d washed up and came into the house, he sat down. “Whew, that was a close call. I thought sure Buddy was going to tangle with that skunk before I got my dog into the barn.”

“I’m sorry you had to shoot the poor thing. I sure didn’t know how.”

“Poor thing? Those ‘poor things’ eat baby chicks and eggs. A rabid skunk contaminates anything it comes in contact with. I wish I knew where that one wandered in from so I could make sure none of its relatives are rabid.”

“I’ve never thought about what a skunk eats. I would have supposed they ate leaves and berries. I’m so glad you got Buddy into the barn. He sure was mad at that skunk. I’m sure he would have tried to attack it.”

“That would have upset me plenty. Buddy has been with me since I was injured. I know he’s getting older but I expect him to live several more years.”

He brushed a hand across his face. “You can bet I won’t ever leave the house without a gun from now on. I was careless and it could have meant disaster.”

He stood. “I’d better go finish the eggs and let Buddy out of the barn.”

“Wait, here’s a sausage patty left from breakfast. Give it to Buddy so he knows he’s not being punished. He did well to warn us.”

Bert took the meat and a smile broke out on his face.

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