“It’s important to acknowledge and work through our fears,” Rose Noire was saying. “Because children are so sensitive and impressionable, and if they realize you’re afraid of something, they could pick up your fears—”

“I’m not afraid of snakes.” Michael said. “I just really dislike them. And I doubt if Timmy’s going to be scarred for life if he realizes that I don’t like snakes as much as he does. Are you, Timmy?”

“No,” Timmy said. “Can I have ‘nake now?”

“No,” I said, coming up to join them. “The snakes have to go back to the zoo. If you’re good, we’ll take you to see the snakes later, at their house.”

“Do you want to say good morning to the sheep?” Rose Noire asked. A couple of stray sheep—escapees from Seth Early’s pastures, no doubt—were grazing nearby.

Timmy frowned at first. Clearly sheep were no competition for the snakes in his mind. Then he smiled.

“Sheep play horsie-horsie,” he said, and dashed off toward the unsuspecting ewes, with Rose Noire in hot pursuit.

“Well, that will keep them both busy,” Michael said. “It would help if your father would hurry up and haul the snakes away while Timmy’s torturing the sheep. Which reminds me—I have some good news.”

“You’ve located Karen and she’s coming to pick up Timmy in half an hour?”

“No, but I seem to have convinced your father and grandfather to let me help with whatever they’re doing. I’m supposed to meet them in our barn at seven tonight, wearing dark clothes that are easy to run in.”

“Oh, great,” I said. “As if Dr. Blake should be running at all, much less after dark. Or Dad. You couldn’t talk them out of doing whatever it is they’re doing?”

“I couldn’t even talk them into telling me what we’re doing, even after volunteering to help and promising to keep their secret. But don’t worry; I’ll be with them, and I’ll look after them. And I’ll have my cell phone along. I’ll give you a call as soon as I know what we’re doing. Meanwhile, it’s time I left for work.”

He gave me a quick good-bye kiss and strode toward his car, draining the last of his coffee as he went.

I spotted Dad and Dr. Blake in the backyard, near one of the sheds. They seemed to be looking for something. They were scuffling along with their eyes glued to the ground, stooping to peer under the shrubbery from time to time. I strolled over nearer to them.

“Lost something?” I asked.

“Oh, no,” Dad said.

“Just one of the snakes,” Dr. Blake said.

“But not here,” Dad said quickly. “Back at the zoo.”

“And you’re only looking here because the light is better,” I said. “I see. What kind of snake? Is it poisonous?”

“No, it’s not poisonous,” Dr. Blake said.

“And we didn’t lose it in your yard,” Dad added, his tone desperate. “Did we, Dad?”

“Eh? Oh, no, of course not,” Dr. Blake said, finally catching on. “Left her over at the zoo, I’m sure.”