Daisy's bark sounded hoarse, as though she'd been raising Cain for hours. He ran for the shed. "Daniel!" Cynda was on her knees on the tractor seat, holding aloft a plastic quart bottle of oil. She shouted to be heard over the barking. "A raccoon! I think it has rabies." Dan's heart nearly stopped as he rushed toward the shed. "Cynda, raccoons can climb." She glanced over her shoulder. Her cheeks were wet with tears. "He's trying to bite Daisy or get the pup." Daniel saw the ringed tail when the animal darted out from under the tractor. Cynda hurled the bottle, striking the raccoon in the side. The dark form turned and he saw the foam dripping from its jaws before it darted back under the tractor. Six other bottles of oil were strewn across the dirt. He kept his tone low and calm, his heart leaping because he had Colton's shotguns in his truck but falling again when he recalled none were loaded. The few feet into the house seemed like miles. "Cynda, I'm going to shoot the 'coon, but I have to have to go inside to get ammo.
