Excerpt of Beneath the Summer Sun by Kelly Irvin

Jennie stopped breathing. Her lungs protested. She didn’t
want to move, not even to let them expand and contract.
Silly snake facts spouted by her son Micah when he wanted
to make her shiver presented themselves. Snakes can’t sweat
so they avoid the afternoon sun. They take naps during the
day and come out when it’s cooler and dark. This one would
likely stretch at least four feet long, not including its
rattle. Its skin glowed brown and golden with a darker
stripe down the back.

Jennie’s mouth went dry. Her stomach chose that moment to
heave. The hot dog did not want to stay down. Purple spots
dotted her vision.
“Cottonmouth?” Nathan whispered. He stood motionless at her
side. “Poisonous?”

“Rattler.” She tried to speak without moving her mouth.
“Rare here, but you see them. Obviously.”

“Don’t move.” His voice barely audible, he took one step,
stopped. “I’ll grab Francis and we can hightail it out of
here.”

“Nee. You’ll startle him and he’ll holler.” Her fear of
snakes might be big, but her fear of one of her children
being hurt was greater. She searched the ground. Not a
single rock big enough to dispatch the viper. “Don’t.
Move.”

Leo could help. If anyone could help it would be Leo. He’d
know what to do.

He was a man who never flinched. He’d been through the
worst. Since that terrible day, he’d taken everything in
silent stride.

She turned slowly, carefully, tiptoeing at first,
ridiculous as it must look, and then ran.

Her sneakers sank into the rich, dark soil, impeding her
progress. The scent of sweat and grass and dirt assailed
her nose. She needed to run, faster, faster. Gott, help me.
I know we’re not on the best of terms, but please, Gott,
help me.

Leo had the reins in his hands when she reached the fence.
She slammed to a halt. “Help. Snake. Rattler. Francis.”

He dropped the reins and reached behind the buggy seat. A
long, lean, deadly looking brown rifle emerged.

Rifle in hand, he hurtled over the fence like a boy half
his age. His straw hat plummeted to the ground. His legs
were much longer than Jennie’s, but fear and adrenaline
that tasted like metal on her tongue propelled her in his
wake.

Leo slowed, slowed some more, halted, then stepped forward
with a balance and ease that spoke of a much smaller man.
He raised the rifle, took aim, and sent the snake on its
way in an explosion of sound that made Jennie jump even
though she knew it was coming. The acrid smell of gunpowder
filled the air and burned her nose.

With a blood-curdling scream Francis rolled over, hopped to
his feet, and ran straight into Jennie’s open arms. She
scooped him up and hugged him hard, despite the urge to
take him to the woodshed for a “talk.”

“Danki.” She spoke the single trembling word to Leo but let
her gaze encompass Nathan. He was willing to do more. He
simply hadn’t known what to do. “Francis thanks you too.”

A spark of something indefinable in his amber eyes, Leo
nodded and set off across the field, his rifle slung over
his shoulder, his gait loose and easy. Taking it in silent
stride, just the way she knew he would.