recognized. A rattlesnake was curled in the corner, poised to strike.
11
D ON’T EVER STRUGGLE WITH PAX, SISTER BERNARDA . You’ll lose,” Sister Agatha said as she took the leash. “Pax, back,” she said in a calm voice.
Pax continued barking but took a step back, then another, used to his handler. Sister Agatha continued until she’d pulled Pax well away from the striking range of the snake.
“He spotted the snake outside and chased it into that corner beside that bike. The garage door was open,” Sister Bernarda explained to no one in particular, not taking her eyes off the coiled reptile, which was watching back, its tongue flicking the air.
“If there was a rattler in my yard, I’m glad it was the
dog
who found it,” Christy said, standing well behind everyone. “I hang clothes out on the line all the time, and sometimes I come out barefooted.”
“We need to call the county. That snake’s gotta go,” Louissaid. “We have too many kids in this neighborhood. Keep an eye on it while I make a call to animal control,” he added, then ran back to his house.
Christy’s gaze shifted to the tools scattered all over the floor. “What happened here?”
“That’s my fault, too,” Sister Bernarda said. “I lost control of the dog, and in his eagerness to get at the snake, he knocked the chair over and the tools.”
Christy nodded, but Sister Agatha saw the flicker of uncertainty in her eyes.
“But what were you doing back there, Sister?” Christy pressed.
“I was walking the dog down the easement. You can’t tell where the property lines are, but I figured we were okay, not bothering anyone. Then Pax saw the snake…”
Christy sighed long and loud. “I’ve been saving up to get myself a fence, but every time I think I’ve got the cash, I get hit by a bill I wasn’t expecting.”
Sister Agatha nodded sympathetically. “We understand, believe me.”
“Where did the snake come from?” Christy asked Sister Bernarda after a beat.
“Maybe through the culvert from the drainage ditch. I’m not sure. It crossed right in front of us. I saw movement in the grass, and then the dog took off. I never saw what he was after until it slithered into the garage.”
Christy shuddered.
“Who’s doing animal control duty these days?” Sister Bernarda asked, still watching the snake. Although it had stopped rattling, it remained coiled, its tongue testing the air.
“Al Marrow,” Sister Agatha answered. “He’s the one who handled that problem with the coyote a few weeks back.”
Al, wearing his khaki uniform shirt and blue jeans, arrived within ten minutes of the call in the county’s animal control truck. He was a thin, wiry man with a grim expression, a rough complexion, and numerous tattoos on his arms. Although he looked like a long-term inmate of a state prison, Sister Agatha knew that beneath the gruff exterior beat a very gentle heart.
He nodded to the ladies, then took a look. “Hmm. Western rattlesnake, about average size, maybe four feet. Notice the dark splotches? A western diamondback has those splotches outlined in a pale color.”
“Thanks for the Animal Planet moment, Al. Can you just get it out of my garage?” Christy asked.
Al chuckled. “I charge ten dollars a foot, Christy. That comes to forty-five dollars.”
Christy looked at him with narrowed eyes.
Al laughed. “Okay, just a joke. It’ll take a few minutes, though. I don’t want it to get behind something big and heavy like your washing machine.”
“What’s going to happen to it?” Sister Agatha.
“After I capture it with a loop, I’ll release it in the bosque away from any homes. Even a rattler has its place in God’s plan, Sister.”
Before long, the snake was secure in a burlap sack and Al was on his way.
Once they were back in the Antichrysler and on their way, Sister Agatha was finally free to speak. “That rattler was a godsend. It gave you a perfect way to cover your tracks.”
“You’re
11
D ON’T EVER STRUGGLE WITH PAX, SISTER BERNARDA . You’ll lose,” Sister Agatha said as she took the leash. “Pax, back,” she said in a calm voice.
Pax continued barking but took a step back, then another, used to his handler. Sister Agatha continued until she’d pulled Pax well away from the striking range of the snake.
“He spotted the snake outside and chased it into that corner beside that bike. The garage door was open,” Sister Bernarda explained to no one in particular, not taking her eyes off the coiled reptile, which was watching back, its tongue flicking the air.
“If there was a rattler in my yard, I’m glad it was the
dog
who found it,” Christy said, standing well behind everyone. “I hang clothes out on the line all the time, and sometimes I come out barefooted.”
“We need to call the county. That snake’s gotta go,” Louissaid. “We have too many kids in this neighborhood. Keep an eye on it while I make a call to animal control,” he added, then ran back to his house.
Christy’s gaze shifted to the tools scattered all over the floor. “What happened here?”
“That’s my fault, too,” Sister Bernarda said. “I lost control of the dog, and in his eagerness to get at the snake, he knocked the chair over and the tools.”
Christy nodded, but Sister Agatha saw the flicker of uncertainty in her eyes.
“But what were you doing back there, Sister?” Christy pressed.
“I was walking the dog down the easement. You can’t tell where the property lines are, but I figured we were okay, not bothering anyone. Then Pax saw the snake…”
Christy sighed long and loud. “I’ve been saving up to get myself a fence, but every time I think I’ve got the cash, I get hit by a bill I wasn’t expecting.”
Sister Agatha nodded sympathetically. “We understand, believe me.”
“Where did the snake come from?” Christy asked Sister Bernarda after a beat.
“Maybe through the culvert from the drainage ditch. I’m not sure. It crossed right in front of us. I saw movement in the grass, and then the dog took off. I never saw what he was after until it slithered into the garage.”
Christy shuddered.
“Who’s doing animal control duty these days?” Sister Bernarda asked, still watching the snake. Although it had stopped rattling, it remained coiled, its tongue testing the air.
“Al Marrow,” Sister Agatha answered. “He’s the one who handled that problem with the coyote a few weeks back.”
Al, wearing his khaki uniform shirt and blue jeans, arrived within ten minutes of the call in the county’s animal control truck. He was a thin, wiry man with a grim expression, a rough complexion, and numerous tattoos on his arms. Although he looked like a long-term inmate of a state prison, Sister Agatha knew that beneath the gruff exterior beat a very gentle heart.
He nodded to the ladies, then took a look. “Hmm. Western rattlesnake, about average size, maybe four feet. Notice the dark splotches? A western diamondback has those splotches outlined in a pale color.”
“Thanks for the Animal Planet moment, Al. Can you just get it out of my garage?” Christy asked.
Al chuckled. “I charge ten dollars a foot, Christy. That comes to forty-five dollars.”
Christy looked at him with narrowed eyes.
Al laughed. “Okay, just a joke. It’ll take a few minutes, though. I don’t want it to get behind something big and heavy like your washing machine.”
“What’s going to happen to it?” Sister Agatha.
“After I capture it with a loop, I’ll release it in the bosque away from any homes. Even a rattler has its place in God’s plan, Sister.”
Before long, the snake was secure in a burlap sack and Al was on his way.
Once they were back in the Antichrysler and on their way, Sister Agatha was finally free to speak. “That rattler was a godsend. It gave you a perfect way to cover your tracks.”
“You’re
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