Stag
By Belea T. Keeney
The deer strolled out into the road—five of them—and Tanner braked hard and twisted the wheel. His old Altima skidded off the gravel road that led down to Lake Monroe’s beach. The engine shuddered and nearly stalled. “Sonofafuc—”
“Mitch!” Kathy put a pudgy hand on his arm. “You promised you’d be nice.”
“I said I’d try, sis.” Tanner glanced at Brianna in the back seat.
Her eyes were wide. She pointed. “Deers, Mommy! Look at the deers!”
“Yes, those are deer,” Kathy agreed.
Two fawns pranced onto the gravel, ears waggling. Two does lowered their heads and began grazing in the grass directly in front of the car. The third stayed in the road, seeming to stand guard.
Brianna moved in her car seat to see them. “Where’s the Daddy Deer?” she asked. She kicked the bac
