Page 68 of Sew Matcha in Love
There was no way I was letting that serpent hurt her dog.
Once Vennie’s leash slipped, I turned my back on the snake and ran straight for the dog. I reached him in seconds and scooped up the wiggling, agitated bundle of fur. “There, there, it’s okay, Vennie.” I bounced him like a baby and soothed him the only way I knew how as I backed my way toward the porch, keeping my eyes on the vertical pupils of the prairie rattler.
Why on earth wasn’t that snake hibernating? Had the warm weather enticed it out of its den?
Vennie continued to growl. “Shh, you’re fine. You’re fine.”
Another step backward.
“Arrr rrah rah rah rah!”
I struggled to contain him in my arms. Thinking fast, I reached for the hem of my apron and pulled it upward. Somehow, I was able to swaddle him in the fabric.
But while I was busy wrapping him up, I lost track of the prairie rattler.
I scanned the yard and the driveway, listening for the sound that would give away its location.
I felt Zaki behind me. A quick glance at the porch confirmed Zaki’s axe was leaning by the door.
“Take the dog.” As I turned to hand off Vennie, the stupid man grabbed the axe and ran straight for the snake.
“Zaki, no! It’s venomous!”
“I know! Go inside!”
“I will not!” I couldn’t let him get bit. It was too far to a hospital.
I had to get Vennie to safety first, then I was going after the rattler.
“Girls!” I opened the door a crack and squatted to their level to dump Vennie out of my apron. “Amelie! Bring the dogs into the kitchen and make sure their gate is latched. Isla, run to the bathroom and bring me the biggest towel you can find. Hurry!”
Isla was back in seconds, bless her little heart. I grabbed the towel and slammed the door shut. “Stay inside and don’t come out until your dad or I tells you it’s safe, got it?”
“Got it!”
“Good girl! And don’t worry, ’kay?” I shouted into the door as I took off after her dad.
“Okay!”
Zaki had chased the snake down the gravel driveway toward the turnoff to the main road. I ran at him as fast as my button boots could carry me.
“Don’t let it get away!” I slowed to a stop next to him, panting to catch my breath. The combination of the running and the elevation was making me lightheaded.
“Whoa!” Zaki’s axe-free arm reached out to steady me. My eyes flashed to his. “What do you think you’re going to do with that towel? Yelltorro torroand expect it to charge you?”
I held up the towel and laughed. It hadn’t even registered that it was red. “I—I don’t know. Cover it?”
“Not a bad idea. You think snakes can see color? Toss the towel on its head, and while it’s distracted, I can slice it.”
I cringed. “Okay. Let’s do it. But fast. The girls are so upset.” I took a deep breath and tried to keep my voice even. “And Zaki—don’t get bit. Isla and Amelie need their dad.”
I spun on my heel and ran for the snake. When I was within a few feet, I snapped the towel to entice it. The head lunged forward, and I tossed the towel, lifting a prayer that the center of it would land on the head, momentarily blinding it.
The towel hit its target, and the long body whipped and whooshed. Zaki’s axe came down once, then again. A third time. The tail went still, and I turned away once I was sure it was no longer a threat.
“Wynna-bun, are you okay? Talk to me.”
But I couldn’t. One foot in front of the other. As I neared the house, though, I realized I couldn’t let the girls see me in my current state. They didn’t know about my dad, and I didn’t want to upset them any more than they already were.
