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But Skidmark won't bite me. He's already stopped hissing at me. I don't know how I know, but I'm certain he's not interested in fighting me off. I reach out and pet his fluffy little head. His fur is so soft. He leans into my touch and makes a sound an awful lot like a purr.
"Oh, honey, don't," Brit says.
"Seriously, Dandelion," Jared says. "The rabies shot is no fun."
This skunk doesn't have rabies. A rabid skunk wouldn't be so calm or look at me with such intelligence in his eyes, even in his groggy, sedated state. I pet his striped back and hunch forward to peer into his adorable face. "You are the strongest and the smartest and the sweetest skunk and you are going to be okay," I say in the voice I use to talk to babies. "I'm going to take care of you and protect you, okay?"
"Aw, fuck," Jared says behind me.
Brit says some things. It sounds like they're both quietly freaking out.
I focus on Skidmark and his needs.
"You need love and comfort, don't you?" I whisper.
I wait, but Skidmark doesn't argue. He struggles up onto his front legs and moves toward me. With all the gentleness I have ever possessed, I lift him onto my lap and stroke his fur. His warm body settles heavily onto my legs and he closes his eyes.
In moments, his breathing evens out into the deep sleep of the heavily medicated.
"Holy wow," Brit says. "Dani's a witch."
"She must be," Jared says. "Because that should have ended differently. That skunk is a wild animal and, even sedated, it should gnaw her hand down to the bones."
"Maybe she has some of Nana's magic. I'll have to ask Jenna if there's some kind of Appalachian tale of affinity to animals."
"I think we're bonded now," I whisper to them. "Isn't that a thing? Like I saved his life and now our souls are bonded?"
"Even if it is," Jared says. "It might be better not to press your luck. Skidmark could be in an entirely different mood when the sedation wears off."
I don't want him to wake up in a stranger's lap if the sedation causes him to forget our meeting. I gently place him back in his nest of towels and walk over to stand with Brit and Jared. "I want to stay here with him tonight."
"I've got a cot inside," Jared says. "I was going to use it, but I probably won't get much sleep, anyway."
"Couldn't we just sleep in clean hay like in the movies?" Brittany asks. "We could all stay. I've never slept in a horse stall before."
Jared stares at her, clearly confused. He's probably wondering what in the hell is so appealing about sleeping in a horse stall. Probably because he's done it a million times before and would rather sleep in a bed.
"Are you sure you don't mind, Brit? I really think Skidmark would appreciate you here with him."
Jared turns his confused gaze on me. "You understand that from your bond with him?"
"What? No. But the fact he warmed up to me so quick means he's a social little skunk."
"Great," Brit says. "I'll run home and grab my sleeping bag and as many blankets as I can find. Have either of you eaten dinner?"
I'm starving, but I've got no money for food. I have no idea how I'm going to pay for Skidmark's surgery or all the stuff he's going to need. "I'm fine."
Brit narrows her eyes at me. "I'll pick up pizza and snacks on the way back. Can I borrow your truck, Jared? Sam dropped me off here."
Jared hands her his keys. "I have a sleeping bag, too. It's on the top shelf of my closet. And you can grab as many of my blankets as you want. It's supposed to get down into the thirties tonight and there's no heat back here."
Brit leaves for Jared's house, and I turn to Jared, my heart thumping. God, I hate being broke. "There's something you should know. Something I probably should have told you before I insisted you save Skidmark's life."
Jared crosses his arms over his chest. "I understand, Dani. Don't worry about it."
"I don't want a handout, Jared. I'll pay for everything. Just give me a couple weeks to get my first paycheck and maybe we can work out a payment plan?"
He stares at me in confusion for a moment before nodding slowly. "I thought you were saying you don't want to take care of the skunk. It's going to be a big job and he may never warm up to you. We can take him to a wildlife rehabilitation center. As I said before, legally, that's what we should do."
