Back at the Coop Dan's back was hurting badly, and he was finally sleeping soundly. It was almost three AM, and I was quietly laying in the bed next to him when I began to hear the noises. First it sounded like something scratching inside the outer wall of the house. Then it was a pouncing and thumping sound. My heart started to race. What could it be I thought. I gently lifted the sheet and climbed out of bed as not to wake him. I was afraid, but I knew if needed he would wake up and save me from whatever trouble there could be. Even in pain, he was always my protector and best friend. We were married a few years ago, after he got pardoned by the president and got out of prison. I stepped ever so lightly across the bedroom floor, and into the bathroom where the sounds were coming from. The thumping was now louder, but it was not in the wall. It was outside in the backyard behind the house. The only thing out there was the coop for our chickens, but they are always asleep at night. I slipped my bare feet into my slippers and headed down the hall and through the kitchen toward the back door. I looked carefully through the small glass pane, hoping to see what all the ruckus was about, but all I saw was the empty fenced in run off the side of the deck. We live on a very small farm in New York State. I was born here, and well, let's just say my life has had some very sad and hard times. Dan was my hero. My one and only. Had it not been for him, I would probably be dead. But because of his love and courage, here we are, living a happily ever after story. He is a writer, born and bread in the city, who moved to the country some years ago to pursue his career in writing while in the midst of a major episode of writers block. Bang, boom, I heard it again now louder, standing daydreaming at the door. It was from inside our chicken coop for sure. I opened the door and walked onto the deck. All of a sudden, two of our 25 girls came running out of the small opening in the coop, and pranced excitedly down the little ramp and into the run. I saw a couple feathers fly behind them on thier way out. I suddenly realised there was something in the coop after the chickens and my heart was in my throat. Dan was always the one to check out any disturbances at night. He felt it was his job, even though it was my job to care for the birds. I ran down the stairs and around to the main door. When my hand hit the handle My heart sank. I remembered once a few years ago, opening this same door in the middle of the night, just trying to find shelter from the cold and misery I was enduring at that time in my life. Three more of the girls ran down into the run. I was afraid of what was inside. We had all kinds of wildlife here, and obviously something had gotten in there. I wasn't scared of the animals, but if they get cornered, they could bite and scratch. I thought it best to fling the door open and just stand back to the side, allowing whatever it was to have a clear escape route. Nothing emerged. I cautiously moved toward the opening not knowing what I would find. My eyes were glued to the inside and scanning around as fast as possible. A couple of chickens dashed out the door and hopped over the two steps and out into the dark yard. I looked around inside the coop, and up high against the wall spread eagle and holding on for dear life, was a big raccoon. I walked away from the door and waited. It took a few seconds, and then it fell to the floor and ran like like lightening from the coop, and darted away into the back woods. All the chickens were alive, but there were a ton of feathers all over. It took me some time, but I finally got them all back in, and closed up the coop. I even closed the little run door just to be safe. This was the first time we have ever had anything get in the coop. Dan told me a story about when he first moved here, about a bear trying to get in the small door after him forgetting to close the gate to the run. But we have never lost a bird yet. It was a good thing I was awake. I went back into the house and locked the door and put the deadbolt back into place. Dan had insisted on deadbolts on every entrance to our home. I knew it was out of complete and utter love that he did this. He wanted me to feel secure. It is too hard for me to explain our past together, but it would give you more insight into the things I share with you here. You could read a good accounting of it written by my loving husband Dan. It is the story of Mel is sa. Yes, that is me, my name is Melissa. Dan was still sound asleep. I was glad he was getting some rest from the pain in his back. I climbed back into bed, and again gently snuggled up close to him. I thought about the chickens for a while, and then I fell asleep. Dan woke up before me. I could smell the fresh brewed coffee, and breakfast cooking on the stove. I jumped up and flew into the kitchen. I felt guilty for sleeping late, and him having to stand at the stove in pain. Our eyes met and he smiled. Good morning Melissa, he whispered, opening his arms and wrapping them tightly around me. God, I felt so good in his arms. Good morning honey I said, melting away under his spell. You should not be up cooking with your back, that is for me to do. But I feel better he replied. During the night I felt a warm sensation against my back, and somehow it fell into place. Look, he said, as he half jumped into the air and clicked his heals together. Wow I thought as I grabbed him and held him tight to me. I'm glad you feel better but I still want you to take it easy. I took over at the stove while Dan poured us both a cup of coffee. He had all the fixings ready to make western omelettes, and bacon and sausage already broiling. Two English muffins were sitting in the toaster, just waiting to be pushed down to cook, and our homemade raspberry jam, begging for them to be finished. Where are the eggs, I asked? Oh he said, I dropped the last two from the fridge by accident, I'll go out right now and get some more from the coop. Dan was back in a flash, and I cracked open three huge brown ones fresh from this morning. We have a few dozen in the shed, but they are to sell on our road side stand. We still get two dollars a dozen. They go fast as they are the cheapest around. You better check the girls good this morning said Dan, there are feathers all over the coop. They must be fighting something terrible. Terrible it is I told him, a giant raccoon was in there last night, and I got him out with no casualties. We are lucky he didn't kill all of them. A raccoon?!!! He questioned excitedly. Yes, a raccoon I said again. Dan looked at me. His eyes got sullen and hard. What is wrong honey I asked? Dan still staring at me came over and held me tight. Something isn't right he said, there is no way a raccoon, can get into the coop. It is solid. Well maybe it got in the run and went through the hens door I said. The run is tight too said Dan, someone had to have put it inside. I turned off the stove and we both went out to check the run, but like Dan said, it was tight. Not even a rat could get through the tightnit fencing, and the top fencing was totally in tact too. Why would someone do that I asked him? He replied, maybe someone else is selling eggs, and is angry at our cheap price. Maybe they can't compete. Dan had a worried look on his face. After breakfast he said, we will go into town and get a lock and a new latch. That way they will have to break it apart and we will know for sure. Also he said, we will get a trail camera and set it up in the trees, to see what is going on while we are asleep. I helped Dan install the latch and lock. It was a combination lock. Also I held the ladder while he adhered the camera in the tree. We would now wait and see. The first night there was no sleeping for either of us. We were both concerned about the chickens, but Dan's concern seemed to be a bit deeper than just our girls. He sat on his rickety old computer surfing the news. All night long and nothing. No raccoon, and he found nothing of interest in the news he searched. After a few nights, we both began to settle down again. Maybe he was right and it was just a mean angry egg seller. I can tell you this though, every roadside seller I have ever met, have been incredibly kind and loving people. I'm sure like anything else, there could be one bad egg to spoil the whole batch. Weeks went by and all was well. I raised the price of our eggs to two dollars and fifty cents. That is still two dollars cheaper than most, but I figured it was better than causing some other seller to be upset. One night, again around two AM, Dan woke me up. Melissa, did you here that he asked? No I didn't I replied, I was sleeping. What did you hear Dan? Stay here he said, I'll go check. He reached into his nightstand drawer and pulled out his gun. He had it since his shooting competition days in college. Dan, being very cautious and quiet, made his way to the front door. He opened it and looked around. All was quiet. He closed and locked the door, and proceeded to the kitchen door out back. It was already open. Dan held the gun up in his right hand as he pushed open the screen door. Again there was nothing but silence. He walked outside for a few minutes and then came back in and locked the door. He told me it was nothing, and asked if I had shut the door before going to bed. I assured him I had. We didn't sleep again that night. In the morning, Dan was in the tree getting the camera as soon as it was light enough to see. He brought it to the kitchen table and together we view the pictures. The first two were deer, the third was a big opossum, and the fourth fifth and sixth, had shadowy figures, who seemed to be dressed in black, with dark ski masks covering the heads and faces. Dan looked into my eyes, put his arms tightly around me and said, I was afraid of this. End of part one.