Free Cyrus: Swamp Heads by Esther E. Schmidt

that’s the moment I dare to look in his direction. Only to see his car drive off.

Chapter 07
     
    I’m holding on to the rope as I’m standing in the water. All the gator’s teeth are showing even with the rope that’s wrapped around his jaws. I need to get the second rope around him too so I can pull him out of the water.
    Just as I guide the long stick with the rope, I get it in place as he starts his death roll. Yeah, buddy… I got ya, not getting out of this one. I hold on to the rope with both hands, ignoring the burn in one of my hands, I brace myself as I walk back to drag the gator with me out of the water.
    Feeling heat at my back, I don’t even have to turn around to know who’s behind me. The freakin’ idiot has made it his goal to bug me on a daily basis. It doesn’t help that Chester, his brother, is in on things. As is the rest of my whole freakin’ staff.
    He wormed his way into their hearts just like he’s still in mine. Except I don’t want, scratch that, need him in there. It’s been three weeks and my anger still flares up every now and then. I’ve but spoken a hand full of words to him. Growls like; go away, leave, and no are the only things he gets out of me before I walk away.
    Yet, he still keeps popping up. Like two weeks ago when Danssel showed up and started shouting about how he would ruin me. Cyrus pushed me behind his back and punched Danssel in the jaw. Then, just like you see in the movies, he went and grabbed him by the back of his belt and fisted his hand in his neck and shirt and threw his ass out the gate like he was emptying a bucked filled with horse shit. He waited for Danssel to turn over in the mud before Cyrus swore he would kill him if he ever came here or contacted me in any way.
    I have to admit; my panties were wet seeing him step up for me. Although my only reply to him was ‘I could have handled it myself’. He just endures my nastiness and grovels. I don’t need the distraction. I work with gators. One in fact that’s snapping his teeth very close to me right now. I jump over as I turn and sit on his back. The gator is out of the water and I place one hand on his head and slide down to shut his jaw slowly. Reaching back to grab my knife, I cut the rope from around his upper jaw.
    Putting the knife away to free my hand, I grab a roll of electrical tape from my pocket. Tugging the beginning between my teeth so I have a leader I lean forward and grab the gator’s jaws in my hand and guide his head up. One of my knees is still on his back, holding him in place as my other foot is standing next to the gator’s front claw.
    Taping up, I hear Cyrus’ annoying voice. “Why the hell do you keep doing this shit alone? I told you to make this a two-man job.”
    I’ve tried ignoring his ass for these last three weeks, but nothing seems to help so I might as well give up and treat him like every other person around here. I didn’t hire him nor is he part of the volunteer group, he’s just here. All. The. Damn. Time.
    “Because…I wouldn’t get a lick of work done if I schedule these things as a two- man job.” My voice is lacking emotion.
    And yes, I emphasize the man part since that’s what he’s after. He wants me out of the danger zone. Not gonna happen. It’s my freaking company and I’ve been doing this since I learned to walk. My mom started this company. She was a woman who kicked ass and so am I, so I can freakin’ well do this job like she did all those years.
    He grabs the rope that’s around the gator’s neck and pulls him up to the board that’s against the truck. I can easily do the job but I let Cyrus put the animal that needs to be relocated onto the truck while I reach for a towel.
    I’ve opened up a cut I have on my hand. I got it three days ago when my knife slipped away and I wanted to catch it. Stupid, I know. It’s not that deep but with the work I do and the spot, it’s hard to close and will take forever to heal. Right now