Nothing to fear

Chapter 15

Nick was quite happy that the hay bales he'd been tossing onto the flat trailer were bunny sized. Any larger and he knew that he'd have passed out before getting halfway through the rectangular bundles that sat on the mown field. Not for the first time the fox was glad of the conditioning that he'd gotten during his time during his time at the ZPD Academy and the workouts that he and Judy enjoyed together three times a week. He was in the best shape of his life, but the repetitive lifting and tossing of bales were a challenge.

He'd shucked his shirt after the first hour of helping Stu in the fields, Judy telling him that she and her mother were going to be trying on the wedding gown that her grandmother had made for her. When she shooed her husband away Nick pointed out they were already married and that they didn't have to worry about the whole bad luck seeing Judy in her dress before the ceremony was moot. That was when his bunny wife went on a tirade and chased the fox out, giving her husband over to her father to get him out of the burrow until they were done. Stu was glad for the help and Nick followed the rabbit with a smile after kissing Judy, then getting a swat to his butt and a wink when he turned around in surprise.

It was with some surprise the Nick realized they were at the end of the row of bales and he propped an elbow on the stack, a smile splitting his muzzle as Stu came around the corner of the trailer that was hitched to the rabbit's tractor and tossed a cold can of juice to him. "Thanks, Mr. Hopps," Nick said as he held the cold drink to his ears for a moment before popping the tab.

"Aw, carrot sticks," the bunny said as he tipped his ever present cap up. "Call me Stu. You're my son ­in ­law now, right? Enough of that Mr. nonsense."

"Okay, Stu." He took a sip and looked over the field, surprised that there weren't any more bales to load. "Huh. Did we get them all?"

Stu laughed and slapped the fox on the back. "A good half day's work done in a few hours. You know, if you ever get tired of the police department I think you'd make a heck of a farmer."

"It has its appeal," Nick replied. "I think I've got some years before I think about that, though. I like the city and it needs some work still."

"I suppose," Stu admitted. "But with you and Jude the Dude working together I got a notion you two will make short work of it."

The fox was grateful for the vote of confidence. Then his attention was caught by movement and he shaded his eyes to look at the two figures that came across the field from the direction of the house. "I guess Judy's done trying on the dress."

"Bonnie's mother was a fair paw with needle and thread, that's for sure," Stu said. "She was a bunny that could work wonders," the rabbit said as his daughters drew closer.

The older rabbit watched how Judy looked at Nick, the light she couldn't keep from her eyes, the way her steps quickened a little or the way she all but started bouncing. There was no doubt in Stu's mind about his bunny's feelings towards the fox and it was a joy to behold. As he glanced over he saw that the fox reacted similarly, his ears standing fully upright as his tail began to churn the air behind him. It was the same way he still felt about his wife, but to see it in others was enough to cause his light brown eyes to feel full and he tugged his cap back down and looked at the stalks and chaff from the mowing for the hay, not wanting to be caught in yet another emotional display.

Stu knew that he wasn't the smartest bunny, Judy far surpassing him in that area, but he was a gentle mammal and his emotions ran deep. He was simply glad that he had help seeing past the fact that Nick was a fox and that he was a match for his Judy. There was a brief exchange when the bunnies asked if they could borrow Nick's car and asked if they needed anything from town. The fox passed his keys over and when Stu looked up his Judy and her husband shared a kiss that was quite tender with touches to the other's face that nudged to older rabbit closer to another embarrassing display.