Next Door Daddy by Debra Clopton

always dealt with the awful creatures. “Don’t you laugh,” she scolded out loud. Marc’s memory was suddenly so alive, as if he were standing beside her chuckling in his playful baritone. He’d had a great sense of humor—not that this was funny. But if he were here he’d be laughing while watching her work up the gumption to go back and attack.
    He’d called her tenacity for overcoming obstacles her gumption. And he’d loved it. He never knew that most of the time it was his strength that had fueled hers. With him by her side, she’d felt as if she could do anything.
    Halting, Polly stared at the shed. Since Marc’s death there had been so many things she’d had to learn to do alone. Talking to him gave her courage. “I can do this.”
    Sure you can.
    Like so many other times when she’d thought she couldn’t do something, she could almost hear his voice speaking from her heart giving her courage…and making her ache with missing him. She straightened her shoulders.
    â€œSure I can,” she muttered. “I can climb this mountain, too.” And she could. Then she thought about the broken water valve and hesitated. For just a moment. “You will do this,” she demanded. If anyone were watching they’d think she’d lost her marbles. Looking up toward a clear blue heaven, she frowned. “But, just so you know. I’m never going to speak to you again if I have a heart attack and die trying to get rid of that snake.” That said, she sucked in a deep breath and stomped forward.
    There was a hoe leaning against the side of the shed, and she grabbed it with trembling fingers. “Mr. Snake, you’re going down.”
    Her steps tentative, she lifted the hoe, banged it on the side of the shed and waited a moment. She tapped it again for good measure before finally sticking her head inside the open doorway. She shuddered and her heart thumped out the theme song to Jaws as she stepped inside….
    â€œIs something wrong?”
    â€œWhaaat!” Polly screamed, spinning around, hoe ready for war. Nate Talbert! The big bazooka was standing in the doorway right behind her. Blocking her exit!
    â€œWhoa, careful with that thing. I didn’t mean to startle you,” he said, holding his hands up like a shield.
    â€œDidn’t your mother teach you not to sneak up on people?” Polly snapped, pushing past him and storming out into the open yard. “You scared the daylights out of me.” As if he couldn’t tell.
    â€œSorry,” he said, following her. Stopping in front of her, his hands on his hips, his booted feet planted shoulder width apart, he studied her. And she…she studied him right back, the bum! The very idea, sneaking up on her like that…looking all strong and appealing—she corrected that thought—capable. He looked capable! Lightbulb moment! He could kill a snake. Or catch it, or scare it off. Like he’d just done to her.
    â€œIt was a snake.” She shivered. “I hate snakes.”
    Nate’s mouth quirked on the edges, his eyes lit with understanding and he reached for the hoe. “I’ll take care of this.”
    â€œHi-ya, Nate,” Gil said, coming around the side of the house, Bogie and Bert running behind him. “You found her. I told you she was back here.”
    Nate smiled. “Yep, I found her in the shed just like you told me—”
    â€œNo, Bert!” Gil interrupted when Bert suddenly latched on to Bogie and started tugging. Bogie barked and tried to back away while Gil pulled on Bert and Bert pulled on the mutilated collar.
    â€œIts okay, Bogie,” Polly soothed, taking the harassed pup’s side as the tug-of-war ensued. Bogie shook his head back and forth frantically, and Bert held on like glue, knocking poor Gil around like a kid on a bucking bull.
    â€œHelp!” Polly laughed, looking up toward Nate. He tossed