A Deadly Affair at Bobtail Ridge Read Online Free PDF

but he stamps his feet and blows through his nostrils, something he’s never done before. His eyes are rolling and he looks frightened. I could let him stay in the pasture and have Truly come by later and put him away, but it hurts my pride to think I can’t outsmart a cranky horse. I step deeper into the stall, speaking calmly, and Mahogany takes another step or two. He’s halfway in now, and I move to the side to get out of his way. Suddenly he screams and rears. I jump back, dropping the lead. And that’s when I see a huge rattlesnake on the floor of the stall. He’s half-hidden by straw strewn on the floor.
    â€œSon of a bitch!” I yell. Mahogany rears again, panicked. In the stall next door, Blackie takes up the panic and begins blowing and flailing around, kicking and butting up against the sides of the stall.
    Mahogany continues to rear and stamp, his eyes wild. I fling myself up against the far wall to avoid his hooves—and to avoid the snake, which has begun to coil itself. “Whoa, boy,” I say. “Easy does it. Back on up. Take it easy.” I try to keep my voice even, although I’m as alarmed as the horse is. I’m relieved when Mahogany moves backward far enough to turn around and bolt out of the stall.
    Now it’s me and the snake, which is fully coiled and making that rattling noise that chills the blood. The snake is so long that he might be able to reach me if he strikes. I’ve got sturdy boots on, but I don’t know how high up he can lunge. All he has to do is hit my femoral artery and I’m done for. I look for something to defend myself with and see a pitchfork on the wall just out of reach. Should I lunge for it or stay still? The slightest movement could set the snake off.
    Knowing a bit about rattlers, I opt for stillness. It’s a waiting game that has my legs shaking and gives me plenty of time to get a good look at the snake. This isn’t your central Texas rattlesnake. It’s thicker and longer. If I’m not mistaken this is a timber rattler, which you sometimes find in east Texas but not so much around here. When I worked as a land man and did a lot of land surveys, I made it my business to know the habits of the poisonous snakes in Texas—which are many. The timber rattler is less aggressive than some others. Sure enough, after a time of seeing no movement from me, he uncoils himself and slithers back under the straw.
    I wait until my breathing is quieter and my legs less rubbery before I ease out of the stall, keeping my back to the wall and my eye on the straw where the snake disappeared. Out of the barn, I hunch over with my hands on my knees, taking deep breaths, waiting for my heart rate to slow down. The sun has set, but there’s still a good bit of light in the sky. I’m relieved to see that Mahogany has retreated far down into the pasture, still blowing and dancing skittishly.
    I go back into the barn and lead Blackie out to the pasture. I don’t know what that rattlesnake has in mind, but I don’t want it to corner Blackie. The horse is reluctant to leave and tries to go back into the barn, so I have to swat him on the rump to get him to move away.
    I waste no time going back to my place for a shotgun. I come back and find a long-handled hoe, which I use to push straw aside until I uncover the rattlesnake. Then I dispatch it with a couple of shots. Normally I wouldn’t bother a snake, but this one was in the wrong place at the wrong time. I feel sick thinking what could have happened if Jenny had come home, distracted, and tried to put the horses away.
    After I hang the snake’s body on the fence, I try to get the horses back in, but Mahogany is having none of it. I get Blackie in and then go back to my house and call Truly Bennett and tell him what happened. “I’d appreciate it if you’d help me get Mahogany in the stall. He’s pretty spooked.”
    â€œI don’t