Diversionary Tactics

The solitude of winter was waning right before my very eyes. So I thought. Wasn’t that reprieve in the weather just beautiful last week! Sunshine, glorious sunshine, life was good, and today – well it is sleety, cold and gloomy, again. Ahhhh – the good and the bad of every season.

It sure makes me yearn for spring. Before you know it, the little yellow and purple heads of daffodils and crocus will burst upon our scene and line our Virginia byways with life and color. You’ve gotta love it don’t you!

Now really, I thought spring was in the air last week. Wild turkeys were out roaming, the sly ones left a trail of feathers down my master’s back field right towards Beaver Damn Creek. I know, I know, it does not look good for me on patrol duty but it is that new dog I tell you. Yes, you’ve got it – Stingy Nettle Nelly. Well, that’s what I call her – that or Needle Nose Nelly, because she is always needling her way into all of my business.

No, it is not mean. It is fact! What is a Cairn Terrier to do? The way I saw it I had two choices. Have you ever been in that situation? Having to decide what was the better path of two worlds.

Here’s how it all went down. I was trotting along my well worn paths of the farm. I was looking out for signs of trouble when Sammy the Bull (Boy Cow) and Miss Ashley his favorite Heifer (Lady Cow) were meandering slowly out into the sunshine towards the huge “round bale” of hay.

Sammy was completely absorbed in Miss Ashley. She was blinking those long, long lashes only the way a heifer can. Miss Ashley’s baby browns are so large I am sure Sammy could see his handsome self right in her very eyes. It was right in this moment of February love that Stinging Nettle Nelly ran out of the hay pile. Low, to the ground she went nipping and yapping at Sammy with the instincts of the Boarder Collie that she is.

Now, little Stinging Nettle Nelly had no idea what kind of trouble she was in and that is where my dilemma began. Looking towards the barn where the cattle had just meandered from, another disaster was taking place. Lord Percy (King of the Chicken Palace) was crowing at the top of his lungs in warning that the Sly One was on the hunt in his hen house!

I darted back and forth. Sizing up each situation, I was torn to make an immediate decision. I heard Sammy the Bull snort and stomp his massive hoofs right at Nelly. I knew that whatever I decided, sure death was the outcome to either Nelly or one of Lord Percy’s hens.

How could I a small but Mighty Cairn Terrier make Sammy “gulli- Bull” enough to buy into a diversion tactic and con him away from stomping Nelly into smithereens? Nelly was standing her ground yapping and nipping; no fear what so ever for only being 3 months old. What was she thinking! Sammy was snorting, getting madder by the second. Miss Ashley was getting annoyed that she was not the center of attention – turning away from the golden round bale of hay she flashed those big baby brown eyes at Sammy, whisked her tail right into Sammy’s face, turned and swished away toward the barn yard.

Sammy lifted his nose into the air after Miss Ashley, curling up those big bully lips of his after his true love; he snorted and begged Miss Ashley not to go. I saw my chance, darted in and grabbed little Nelly by the neck and dove into the back side of the round bale, hiding for dear life.

Sammy followed Miss Ashley and the two of them turned and meandered off toward the creek bed. Fortunately all the commotion caused the Sly One to turn and run for cover into his foxy den. Whew! Another henny penny saved for the day.

“Nelly;” I said; Please don’t be a “nim cow poop” and ever pull a move like that. You nearly got us both killed. Next time Sammy won’t be so “gulli- Bull” and our odds of survival will be nil. It was a very selfish act out there in the name of fun.

Nelly lowered her head, laid down with that needle nose of hers pointing towards me and lifted those beady little eyes begging forgiveness. Now what’s a Mighty Cairn Terrier like me to do I ask?

Until next time stay warm and keep out of trouble!