The quacks are now louder and more urgent. Nelly leads the way ahead with a determined stride, her white coat shimmering in the sunlight. If I was the crazy type, I’d almost be worried we were all being led into a trap.An animal takeover, Duck Norris style.
The rest of the animals run around us and follow behind her. It’s once we’re through the barn doors that we interrupt a standoff in progress.
I stop dead in my tracks when I spot Rhett, Wy, Toby, Landry, Cora, Dee,andStar all standing in a circle, their hands in the air, and all of them vying for Duck Norris’s attention. The menace himself sits on one of the roof beams with Red’s truck keys hanging off his one leg. I do notice that there are two Bull Mountain residents who arenothere, but given the currentsituation unfolding right now, I don't mention that fact. At this point, they still might be our only chance of survival.
“Quack.”
Cora stamps her foot. “Dickward, if you don’t come down here right this instant, I’ll?—”
“You’ll what, Princess? Climb the roof again?” Rhett teases.
She growls under her breath. “Cowboy, that was a one-time thing. He had my pie!”
"One where he almost broke your neck," Rhett shoots back.
“Come on, Duck Norris,” Dee says in her Australian twang. “Come down and we’ll help get them off your leg.”
“Quack! Quack!”
“What if we promise not to look up Duck recipes ever again?” Landry offers.
“Unlimited blueberry pie for life,” I call out, upping the ante.
Proving the bird is not only smart but hedoesunderstand humans too. He tilts his head my way. “Quack?”
I smirk. “Knew that would tempt you, you crazy bird.”
“Quack! Quack! Quack!”
That’s when I spot Leah and Colton sneak out from the back of the barn, apparently undetected by the duck—so far, anyway.
Colt lifts his hand to his lips when the others sense his presence.
Leah just covers her mouth, stifling a giggle if her dancing eyes are anything to go by.
Colt slowly, quiet as a mouse, climbs an old wooden ladder that is leaning against a post, bringing him closer to where the bird's perched.
“What’ll it take, Duck? You can’t stop me from leavin’ and besides, I promised you, I’m comin’ back in three months,” Wy pleads.
The duck opens his beak to no doubt quack again but clamps it shut, shaking his leg a little and making the keys jingle. It’s as if he’s taunting us.
Then, surprisingeveryone, he flaps his wings and flies down to the ground in front of Red, lifting his head and locking eyes with him–well, that’s what I assume but who knows when his gaze points in two directions.
Red squats down and holds his outstretched palm out to the bird. When the duck drops the keys out of his beak and into Red’s hand, a huge sigh of relief fills the barn.
“Good duck. Thanks for keepin’ my keys safe there,” Red says with a smirk as he stands up straight again.
The duck gives a final indignant quack before waddling off to join Miss Piggy, Nelly, and Bruno, who have all been watching the whole scene play out with great interest.
“Now, I think that’s enough excitement for one mornin’, don’t y’all?” Red adds, causing a chorus of laughter to fill the air.
“I think I might even miss the little feathered menace,” Wy adds.
Red scoffs. “Don’t tempt fate, kid. That duck is more trouble than he’s worth.”
“Well, y'all have to promise to not do anythin’ to him till I get back. He may be trouble, but he sure is entertainin’.”
“That he is,” Toby says, hooking his arm around Wyatt’s neck and pulling him in before walking ahead of us.
