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While Dalton catnapped in the truck, Tell walked the fence line until he reached the first section they’d rip out and replace

He and Dalton were unloading equipment when Brandt drove up He was all business “Mornin’ Let’s only do the first half today Jess has a doctor’s appointment this afternoon, so she’s home And there’s no cell service on this part of the ranch, so I—”

“Worry,” Tell and Dalton finished sih-fived Eerie, how often they were on the sae, Tell and Dalton had spent ether as kids and as adults, because Luke and Brandt had been so tight

“Looks like I’m workin’ with Tweedledee and Tweedledum today”

Dalton poked at Brandt’s belly “Looks like we’re workin’ with the Pillsbury Doughboy today”

“Jesus, Dalton,” Tell said with a groan

The coht off Brandt “Yeah, I know I’ve packed on an extra twenty pounds But Jess is so damn self-conscious of how ht along with her, she won’t eat That ain’t good for her or the baby So I’ll deal with ut after that kid is out of eant, I’ame,” Dalton said

“You just wanna stand over him and yell,” Tell retorted

“Yep And ain’t you jealous that you didn’t think of it first?”

They dragged fence posts, a posthole digger, shovels, barbed wire and various hand tools to the first rotted post

They’d done this enough times there wasn’t need for discussion, which Tell kneould’ve bugged the crap out of most people Silence ruled out on the western plains and between the McKays

And if they’d had the radio blasting or been jawing about nothing, he probably wouldn’t have heard the rattler

He’d noticed a weird-shaped chunk of rock behind Dalton’s boot Then that rock rose up

“Ah, Dalton There’s a rattler about a foot from your left boot,” Tell said calest you don’t move”

Dalton said, “Shit,” but stayed put

“Brandt, can you get on the back side of it?”

“What am I supposed to do? Poke it with a stick?”

“That’s what Dad would tell you just to see if it’d strike you first Hit it with a rock and see if it’ll move away”

Brandt approached the snake with a spade and tossed a rock five feet behind it But instead of it slithering the opposite direction, the snake ht between Dalton’s feet

Once the snake had slithered through, Brandt said, “Catch,” and tossed Dalton the spade

Dalton brought the shovel down hard, slicing the snake in two

“Nice You keeping the pieces to make yourself a snakeskin hat band?”

“Never I don’t even want the damn rattles” Dalton shivered fros”

“It’s the season Guess that’s a sign to break out the tall boots froroaned Most rattler bites happened below the knee, so thick leather boots that hit directly below the knee were necessary in the su them