Page 81 of Deck the Hauls

“I hope you’re right.”

The opossum hissed at us again and I flinched.

“Okay, I think I’m going to just open it before it gets even more pissed off.” I took a step forward.

The opossum collapsed onto the ground then lay there, mouth open, tongue hanging, eyes glazed.

“Oh my god,” I said. “What just happened? Did it have a heart attack?”

Dana tilted her head. “Maybe it’s playing dead?”

“If it is, that is incredible acting. An Oscar-worthy performance.” I peered more closely at the opossum. I couldn’t see its chest or stomach moving at all. Was it breathing? I really hoped I hadn’t killed it.

I crept closer to the cage, slowly bent down, and inched the trap door open. The opossum still didn’t move.

“Are you sure it isn’t actually dead?” I murmured.

“Let’s stand back and give it a minute.”

We walked back about ten feet and stood behind a fir tree, watching the cage.

Nothing.

The opossum slowly lifted its head. It tucked its tongue back in its mouth, sat up, looked around, and then shuffled out of the trap and onto the snowy ground, heading toward the back of the farm.

“What a little character,” I said as it disappeared out of view.

“It was quite cute when it wasn’t hissing and baring its teeth at us.” Dana grinned at me. “Here, you’ve still got some snow on you.” She dusted my hair gently.

Our eyes locked again.

Dana cleared her throat and stepped back. “We should keep going, see if Roz and Ronnie need any help before it gets too dark.”

I swallowed. “Yeah.”

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DANA

As we walked back toward my cabin, the roar of a chainsaw grew louder. We stepped out from a row of firs to find Roz sawing into a tree while Ronnie watched from a safe distance. Two cut firs lay on the ground next to Ronnie.

“It is a bit sad, cutting down these beautiful trees,” Emily said as we watched the fir fall to the ground.

“A very hot actor once pointed out that it wasn’t sad at all, because of all the joy the trees will bring.” Heat rushed to my cheeks. That kind of flirting was not going to help matters.

Emily laughed. “What a wise, hot actor.”

Our gazes locked and my heart leaped.

Roz’s voice brought me back to reality. “Perfect timing. We were just finishing up. Dana, do you mind dragging a tree back? And Emily, if you’re able to hold the chainsaw, Ronnie and I will take another tree each.”

Roz handed Emily the chainsaw, and the rest of us picked up a tree and started dragging them over the snow toward the hay wagon.

Emily and Ronnie walked together in front, laughing.

“So,” Roz said, glancing at me. “You spent Wednesday night together at your place, then Thanksgiving with her parents and now she’s back at your place again. I think it’s pretty clear what’s happening here.”

“Oh yeah?” I braced myself.