Page 14 of The Texas Cowboy's Lady

“Is that a coyote? What’s he got in his mouth? A rabbit?”

Jaxson reached for the rifle he kept in the enclosed compartment above the front seat. Most ranchers were armed for such cases. Coyotes were the enemy in this area of the country. They were nature’s poachers on the herds of cattle and horses and anything else they could catch and eat.

“Wait, Jaxson.” Laurel’s hand on his arm halted his exit. “It’s not a rabbit. It’s a puppy. Or is it a baby coyote?”

“Whatever it is, the animal is going away.”

“Itisa puppy. Where did he get it?” Then Laurel did an unexpected thing. She was out of the door on her side, the helmet on her head.

Jaxson intercepted her with fast movements, jerking her back to his side. “Are you crazy? And do you think that hard hat is the attire to take on a hungry coyote? Get back in the truck.”

“We need to save the puppy. We need to make him... oh, shoot.”

The coyote was on the move.

Jaxson made fast tracks into the ditch and then sliced through the fencing without any problem. He disappeared into the thick underbrush on the other side. Laurel waited for the sound of a gunshot, but none came. In a few minutes, Jaxson came back.

“I would have loved to shoot if you had done what I said and gotten in the truck and let me do just that.” Jaxson was clearly not pleased.

“Shush.” She made the quick sound, her hand grabbing his shoulder, her gaze moving around the roadway.

“What are—?”

“Shh, listen. There it is again.” And Laurel began heading toward the ditch to her right.

“Don’t go into those weeds. You know better. Stop now, Laurel.” Jaxson muttered another expletive when she did not stop.

He caught up to her as she headed toward a large cement pipe opening just ahead at the bottom of the ditch. He grabbed her arm and did not let go.

“You aren’t going to fool around down here.”

“Listen. You’ll hear it too.”

*

Jaxson clamped hismouth shut and then, yes, there was a sound... from the direction of the culvert opening. He shook his head. “This day has gone downhill fast. Go get back in the truck.”

“But—”

“Go back to the truck where I won’t have to worry about you, also, and I will check out whatever is inside that culvert making that sound. You’re wasting time by not getting a move on.”

“Okay, I’m going. Please promise to check it all out.”

“Yes, Laurel, I am going to check it all out. And if there turns out to be nothing but a mean old rattler curled up in there for a nap and I wake him up... well, one of us will be really sorry.”

“You’ve got a gun. And I know first aid, and I’ll get you to a hospital super-fast. I promise.”

“How thoughtful. Then get moving fast back to that truck.”

He didn’t move until she had climbed back to the top of the ditch and he heard the door slam shut.

She evidently had opened the window. “I’m in here. What do you see in there?”

Jaxson shook his head. “Just be quiet so I can hear better.”This is crazy. I’m crazy.

The smell hit him first. Then there was a very small, strangled cry that had grown weaker since they heard it the first time. He edged forward, listening for whatever to make that sound again but also for anything else, like a rattle or a growl even. Cement road culverts during the heat of a Texas day provided shade and a little cool relief for all sorts of varmints, friendly and deadly alike.

He bent some in order to step inside the area, his hands tightening on the rifle he still held. At that moment, there was a rustle under a pile of leaves. He used the tip of the rifle to stir the leaves, and there was a tiny bundle of brown-and-white dirty fur covering some bones. The pup barely was old enough to have its eyes beginning to open. Jaxson bent and brushed the dirt away so that he could get a better look. Then he gently moved his hand around the animal and lifted. It fit in the large palm and didn’t have much strength to struggle.

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