Chapter 7

Jo scrambled out of the way as the skunk stomped his rear feet, aiming his backside directly at them.

She watched in horror as Carrie remained motionless, watching while the hissing skunk lifted his tail. "Get away! He's gonna spray!"

"His stinker no longer works. He tries to spray. Nothing happens."

If looks could spray, the skunk would have given them a good dose from a potent arsenal, but sure enough, no smell emanated, no matter how hard the skunk tried.

Finally, his tail lowered. He flopped down on his blanket, a look of defeat etched on his face.

"See? He's harmless. I was hoping I could set him free here at the farm. No one else wants to take him."

Jo wrinkled her nose. "You want to let him loose here? What about our chickens?"

"Skunks won't go after full-grown chickens. Although eggs and baby chicks are another story. Besides, I have a feeling once we open the cage door, he's going to take off like a bat out of you-know-what."

"I dunno."

"Please?" Carrie clasped her hands. "There's so much farmland around here, around you. I found him three roads over. I'm sure he'll find his way home and head back to his den."

Nash strolled over and greeted Carrie. "Hey, Carrie."

"Hello, Nash." Carrie smiled brightly. "Maybe you can help."

"Help what?"

"Convince Jo it's okay to release this little fella here on the farm." Carrie grabbed the cage's handle and slid it onto the ground.

Nash stumbled back. "What in the world?"

"His sprayer doesn't work," Jo said. "I did the same thing."

Nash inched closer, warily eyeing the skunk who barely lifted his head, still clearly depressed about his non-working number one defense mechanism. "You're sure? Maybe it's just clogged."

"Nope. It doesn't work," Carrie said. "He's tried spraying me multiple times. I think something happened to it when he got hit."

"You rescued this skunk…"

"From the side of the road. Isn't he cute? Check out the brown patch of fur on top of his head. He has a mini mullet. Some skunks have a brown stripe, but I've never seen one with a brown patch of fur."

Jo craned her neck. "I don't think I have either."

"He's special. At first I thought he was dead, but when I found out he was still alive, I took him home, nursed him back to health and now he's ready to be reunited with his kinfolk here in the countryside."

"What will happen to him if you don't drop him off here?" Jo asked.

"I can't keep him. My cat, Mr. Whipple, is having a hissy fit. I think he's afraid. Besides, skunks aren't allowed as pets inside the city limits, and I don't want to risk losing my taxidermy license."

Jo stared at the forlorn animal, now curled up in the bottom of the cage. He seemed like a plucky little guy, determined to live. Carrie had worked hard to help him get back on his feet. The very least Jo could do was give him a fighting chance. Besides, if his home was somewhere nearby, it was possible he would find his way back there.

"Why not just drop him off? Why bring him here?" Nash asked.

"Because if I let him loose near my house, I'm afraid he'll find his way back. He seems to like the creature comforts of a warm home, three squares a day and people," Carrie said. "I considered leaving him near the woods where I found him, but was afraid if you came across him, you might try to trap him and relocate him."

"So you wanted us to be aware you're dropping him off in our neck of the woods in case he comes sniffing around looking for his next meal," Nash said.

Carrie nodded. "Or better yet, you pick the spot and set him free. He's relatively harmless to humans with his stinker out of commission, although I still wouldn't get too close to him. His other defense mechanisms appear to be intact."

Jo weighed her options as she studied the critter. He looked sad, depressed. Maybe he was close to home. "Okay, but I want to drive him way out back, by the fence line, to let him go."

"It's a deal." Carrie let out a whoop and clapped her hands. "Like I said, I'm sure as soon as you let him loose, he's going to scamper off to his happy place and you'll never see or hear from him again."

"I'll load him up in the pickup and we can take him out back." Nash ran to get the truck and as soon as he pulled around, Carrie opened the tailgate and slid the carrier into the bed.

Jo jogged inside to tell Delta where they were going, and then the trio piled into the cab.

Nash drove around back, down the long dirt track leading past the gardens and beehives. He turned right, keeping to the main path as he made his way along the fields, recently cultivated and ready for planting season.

While they rode, Carrie rattled on about her latest project and then the conversation shifted to Shane Barr. "I'm going to run by Dave's farm after I leave to offer my condolences. If I was him, I would keep one eye open."

"Keep one eye open?" Jo asked.

"Someone who worked at the farm killed Barr, which means a killer is on the loose."

Jo shared her concern, and she'd even voiced those concerns to Leah the previous night. Her former resident was living within striking distance of the killer, as well.

"I warned Shane someday his risky lifestyle was going to come back to bite him," Carrie said. "It was right after we broke up."

Jo's head whipped around. "You dated Shane?"

"Unfortunately." Carrie waved dismissively. "It was eons ago, before he married. He started his womanizing not long after we broke up. I'm surprised he ever bothered getting married."

"Maybe his wife took him out," Jo theorized.

"No way. She's a mousy little thing. I think it was a marriage of convenience. Shane used her. Besides, as I said, I heard it was splitsville for them. His wife has been out of the picture for some time now."

"What about the girlfriend, Robyn, something?"

"Colburne. They were two peas in a pod. I seriously doubt it was her."

Jo had to agree with Carrie. In fact, the more she thought about it, the more convinced she was someone who worked at the farm murdered the man. It was the only thing that made sense.

Nash stopped when they reached the "t" in the fence. Beyond the fence were hundreds of acres owned by the Kansas Creek Indian Reservation. Dave Kilwin's property bordered on the other side, with Jo's property being the third. "This is it."

Carrie hopped out and surveyed the area. "I think it will work. I get a good vibe from this spot. Let's set him free and see what happens."

With Nash leading the way, they circled around to the truck's bed. He cautiously removed the cage and set it on the ground. "Would you like to do the honors?"

"I want to say goodbye." Carrie knelt on the ground. The skunk's ears flattened, and his beady little eyes watched her like a hawk.

"This is it. You're well now and will be home free. I think if you head off in that direction, you'll find the rest of your family over there in the woods."

While she talked, Carrie lifted the latch and opened the door. She took a step back.

The skunk remained rooted to the spot.

"Go." She shooed him with her hands. "You're free, free to leave."

The skunk refused to budge.

"Now what?" Jo folded her arms.

"I thought this might happen." Carrie reached inside her pocket, pulled out a bag of cat treats and strategically placed them on the ground in a curved line, starting near the door. "Here's your going-away meal."

The skunk perked up, his nose wiggling back and forth. He cautiously crept forward and gobbled up the nearest cat treat. He went for the second one and then the third until he was finally out of the cage.

He gobbled up the last treat and began sniffing around, searching for more.

"It's time to go." She shooed him forward. The skunk paused for a fraction of a second and then waddled off. He squeezed under the fence and ran up the hill before disappearing from sight.

"Wonderful." Carrie gave a thumbs up. "Another successful rehabilitation notch in my belt."

"You're a good person, Carrie." Jo patted her back. "I hope he's reunited with his family and lives a long and happy life."

Nash placed the empty cage in the bed of the truck and climbed back in the cab where Jo and Carrie sat waiting.

They reached the front and Jo noticed a familiar vehicle parked off to the side. It was Pastor Murphy. Standing next to him were Carli and Courtney Ladeaux.

"It's time to greet our new residents."