Page 22 of Smitty

You just move, so when Skid called Grim and me, we did exactly that. Neither of us had any idea what was going on. He just told Grim that he needed us at his place, and he needed us there now.

When we pulled up, the garage door was wide open, and before I’d even had a chance to cut the engine, Skid came trudging out with a red face and sweat clinging to every inch of him. His eyes were wide as he gasped, “What the hell took y’all so long?”

Grim climbed off his bike and started over to him as he answered, “Got here as fast as we could. What the hell is going on?”

“Baylor’s rabbit got loose.”

"Loose?" Grim repeated with an exasperated huff. "How the hell does a rabbit get loose?"

“The little psychopath clawed his way out of his cage.”

“He did what?”

“You heard me.” Skid ran his hand over his face, wiping the sweat from his eyes. “Chewed through the latch and forced his way out. Now, he’s running around my damn garage like he’s escaped from prison.”

That earned him a chuckle from both of us.

“Nothing funny about this shit. I’ve been chasing that damn thing for half an hour, and every time I get close, he darts away from me.”

“I believe I warned you about getting her that rabbit for Christmas.”

“Yeah, I remember.” Skid let out a frustrated breath. “I was just trying to do something special for her.”

“And how’s that working out for you?”

“I didn’t think I’d have to run the fucker down.”

“It’s a sad day when you get outsmarted by a rabbit.”

“Okay, I’ve had about enough of that shit,” Skid fussed. “You gonna help or what?”

“Yeah, we’ll help, but it’s gonna cost you.”

We followed Skid into the garage, and it looked like it had been hit by a tornado. Tools were scattered across the ground, and several storage bins were overturned. A couple of rakes and a broom were strewn about, like there had been some kind of attack.

There was a faint scratch coming from behind the workbench, and Skid yelped, “There he is!”

I turned, and the rabbit froze. He was small and gray with floppy ears, and he couldn’t have looked less threatening if he tried. Skid lunged for him, and the rabbit hopped to the left, dodging him without really trying. Grim started chuckling, and Skid scolded, “Don’t just stand there!”

The rabbit darted across the garage floor, and when I saw that he was heading straight for me, I crouched down low. He slowed, then he hopped right up to my boot like I was his long-lost friend. I slipped one hand under him and used the other to steady him as I brought him up to my chest, cradling him.

I scratched between his ears, and he settled instantly. Skid looked utterly offended as he grumbled, “You’ve gotta be kidding me.”

“He’s probably just tired of running away from you.”

“Then he should’ve stopped running.”

“He was scared.”

“Scared?” he snapped. “I’m the one who feeds his ass every damn morning and night.”

“Don’t take it personal.” Grim tried to console him by saying, “Smitty has a way with animals.”

I shook my head. “No, I don’t.”

“Sure, you do,” Grim argued. "Remember that stray dog at the bonfire?"

"That’s just a coincidence."