Perfect. Nate nodded, deciding Etienne had to be a basically decent sort of fella to jump on board with this scheme so quickly. Leave the diversion to me, you get that baby up and outta there as soon as you can.

Maybe it was a little dangerous. Maybe some folks would call it stupid. Nate decided to call it 'an adventurous spirit' as he loped out into open grass, setting himself in full view of the doe.

She snorted, foot stamping. He sidestepped. Easy there, Mama... A spring-blue gaze darted back toward Etienne and the washout, to gauge his proximity. Wouldn't it be a laugh if he just took the free dinner and ran with me standing out here? Well, too late now for second guessing.

Eyes fixed back on the doe, he crept forward in a rough approximation of a sheepdog, and when she charged, he bolted in a way to keep her eyes off Etienne.

Heart pitched. Paws and hooves tore grass. Shit, she was fast! He laughed a little, in spite of himself, tail tucked to avoid stomping hooves.