© Ayr/Gray
“I’m telling you, I’m not going to their cottage for the weekend!”
“Whyever not?” Perplexed I was, that once again, he was refusing. “It’s not like we’re going for the fox hunt. Haven’t done that for years!”
“Never should have in the first place!” Covering his face with his hands, he sobbed.
“Freddy, you couldn’t have known,” I soothed. “’Twas the dogs discovered that den, vixen and kits inside.”
“Georgia!” He wiped the tears on his trousers. “I could’ve called them off, shot my rifle. Even shot the dogs if necessary.”
“Shot Noel’s prize foxhounds? He’da not been pleased.”
“Who cares what Noel prizes? He hunts foxes!”
“And the dogs? Just doing what they were bred to do. You’da not felt right shooting them, anyhow.” I held his upper arms gently.
He hiccoughed, looking me straight in the eye. “There’s something else I never told you, Georgia.”
“What, Freddy dear?”
He drew a deep breath and whispered, “There was a male, a Reynard, up on the ridge across the brook. Watching.” Freddy gulped. “Watching me, like he was memorizing my face. Every time I go to Noel’s cottage, when I get to the side gate, I swear I see him staring at me.”
“Guilt dreams. You’ve got to let this go!” Seeing an opportunity, I propose, “We’ll visit, just this once. If Reynard shows his ruddy face, we leave. If not, we stay. Deal?”
We went. Damn if Freddy wasn’t right.
The cottage burned to the ground the week after.
© Liz Husebye Hartmann (2024)
If you were intrigued, you might also enjoy other writers’ responses to the photo prompt kindly provided by Jenn Gray and C.E.Ayr at THE UNICORN CHALLENGE. (11/29/2024). Feel free to join us with comments, or Flashes of your own!. No more than 250 words in length.
Valley of the Trolls 
I liked this! Sometimes, after I’ve killed a spider in my house, I think, “Why did you do that? It was just living its life, and not really bothering you…..” This story reminded me of that!
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Yeah. All that time, the spider thought you were a housemate! 😄 Thanks, Ann!
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I love the voice in this one, Liz.
And yes, why wouldn’t the reynard remember him?
Why would we think that only humans have love and loyalty – and revenge?
A lot in this wee piece to think over.
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Family first, the fox’s tail just might burn. So we watch our steps!
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Wear the fox hat, as my dear old mum advised me when I told her I was moving to the Jura Mountains.
Seriously (ish), great down to earth tale (or brush) about a fearsome fox on the vengeance trail.
Br’er Fox rules!
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“Wear the fox hat?” Explain please, dumb American here!🤔😄 Yeah, seemed time for a story in support of our fine furry friends. Thanks, Ceayr!
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Oh dear, it’s a wee joke and a pun that might be more clear if you read it aloud, Liz, as if enquiring as to the whereabouts of a place.
Should I also explain that a fox’s den is an earth, and his tail (tale) is a brush?
I’ll try to be less European in future 😄
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Reads aloud: (Smacks forehead).
Well, I’m always up for new learning. Keep ’em coming!🤣
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A very interesting story and an intriguing ending
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Thank you, Sadje!
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You’re welcome
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