"Shit. I forgot to put out his food this weekend."
Without taking his eyes off the raccoon, Brody asked me, "Is he planning to eat me in retaliation?"
I bit back a laugh. "I doubt it. He's just a little guy."
"Are you laughing at me right now? If I get bitten by a pissed off raccoon with rabies, you will nurse me back to health. If you don't, I'm telling your mom that you stood idly by and laughed while the damn thing chewed on me."
I gasped. "You wouldn't dare!"
"Try me."
I growled and yanked the lid off the tin I kept on the table by the front door. I tossed the dog treat I dug out of it across the porch and onto the ground. With the scritching of little claws, the raccoon lumbered off the porch and went after the treat.
"Okay, get in here," I said. "And close the door behind you."
As soon as Brody stepped inside, I turned and headed toward the kitchen.
"Where are you going?" he asked.
"To feed Gary so he won't pop out and scare the shit out of Sierra when she comes home in a little bit."
I heard the front door close and Brody followed me. "Is this something he does regularly?"
I shrugged one shoulder and I went into my pantry to grab the stainless steel bowl from the top shelf, along with the food I used to feed Gary. "Only if I forget to feed him."
I'd just placed the bowl on the counter and opened the container of dog food when I heard a feminine shriek from out front followed by a strange hissing noise.
That was all followed by Sierra screaming my name as she pounded on the front door.
"Open the door, Cam! There's a hissing rodent on the front porch!"
"Go let her in," I commanded Brody.
"No way."
I groaned and shoved the bowl of food against his belly. "Fine. I'll let her in. You go put that on the back porch."
He opened his mouth to argue so I just pointed at the back door without a word.
"Shit. Fine."
As he marched toward the back door, I hurried to the front. I could hear the sound of Sierra's key jiggling in the lock but the door was still secured. I flipped the deadbolt and unlocked the knob. Then I jumped back as the door flew open and Sierra tumbled inside, cussing and panting.
I planted myself in the doorway and put my hands on my hips. "You should be ashamed of yourself, Gary."
The creature on my front porch went from aggressive to cowed in one blink. I sighed when he put his little hands over his eyes as though I wouldn't be able to see him if he couldn't see me.
"Your food is on the back porch. I'm sorry I forgot."
Gary lowered one paw and stared at me, a hopeful gleam in his eye.
"Go on. Go eat. I won't forget again."
I stepped back inside and grabbed the door. By the time I pulled it shut, Gary was gone.
When I turned around, Sierra and Brody were standing behind me, staring at me in shock.
"What?"
