Sam and Jenny are a couple who have recently moved to the country, and live next to a slightly cantankerous but generally good-natured old man, Sandoval. Sandoval frequently asks Sam to do favors for him, to Jenny's disapproval, as it distracts Sam from the much-needed repairs of their own house. The issue drives the two apart, because Jenny resents Sam for being so enamored by the house before they bought it and failing to notice its many flaws, and Sam becomes tired of Jenny's endless dislike of his choices. One day, Sam agrees to Sandoval's request that he kill a skunk that has eaten the old man's chickens, a decision neither Sam nor Jenny like, but whichSam promises to fulfill. Meanwhile, Jenny suspects she is pregnant, but has not told Sam because she has not had it confirmed. When Sam goes to hunt the skunk, he at first sympathizes with it, but steels himself with his duty. However, when the creature reveals itself, he is surprised to see that it is actually a fox, which he is much more reluctant to kill. He still resolves to shoot it, and fires, but misses. The next morning, he tells Jenny about the fox, and she is happy that it was not killed. Then, she reveals her pregnancy, which shocks Sam and fills him with joy. Reinvigorated, Sam reflects on the fact that all of their lives, including Sandoval's, have improved seemingly as a direct result of the fox's continued life, which he is glad for. Some time later, Sam and Jenny spot the fox again, and to their chagrin, it had broken into the newly reinforced chicken coop and whisked Sandoval's favorite hen away.