Dark Shadows

It’s raining and warmer today, and I went out to walk the Wee Wolves around the yard.

Part of that twice-a-day activity is going to the shed to  get a scoop of corn to put into the hollow half-log that serves as a deer-feeder, which is located between the lower woods area and the small orchard area below the house.

As I turned around to head back up from the deer trough, I noticed Misto was carrying something in his mouth — a small deer foot. I took it from him.  

It was quite small — most likely one of the five fawns born on or near this property earlier this year. No hunter is shooting a fawn, so this was most likely a coyote kill.

I tossed the deer hock into the woods while the dogs were looking elsewhere, and went back to the shed to return the 1-quart corn pail, and then headed back to the fenced dog yard.

Rather surprisingly, Misto was right there, but Moxie was not. What?  

That little dog follows me like a shadow.  

I put Misto behind the gate and called for Moxie.  Nothing. A small knot was now in my brain.  

Moxie could get picked off by a coyote if she was alone — her brother in Colorado disappeared to coyote or mountain lion predation earlier this year.

I circled high and low, but no Moxie.  

I went back to get Misto from behind the gate, but he had no obvious suggestions as to what direction to head.

I headed back down to the corn trough, and then, suddenly, I knew where Moxie was, and I smiled.

I popped the shed door, and there she was wagging her tail. Perfect.

The deer hock got me projecting a quite unlikely scenario.  Yes, we have some coyotes about, but they generally hunt solo or in pairs and are rarely seen in the day. Absent a bout of rabies, they will not risk a daylight attack on two dogs and a man — there’s simply too much easy pickings from dead deer, possums, rabbits, mice, turkey, and other food sources.

But the mind will leap at shadows and suggestions if you let it. It does not take much to set mental wheels moving.  But part of owning dogs — especially working terriers — is quieting the heart. Stay calm and carry on.  In all likelihood, all is right and just around the corner.