Snake in the Grass

Mike says it's been three weeks since we last mowed. I say two and would also like to add that he generally has no sense of time. Nevertheless, there's something about "haying" your yard that brings out the critters, I suppose. Because coiled by the steps, a long black snake caught my husband's attention . . . and soon, mine. A few moments and a large shovel later, we were safe in our kitchen and debating the nature and type of snake that had me standing on a chair on the back porch. I would like to say that it was a cottonmouth, but mostly because that makes the story more interesting and DANGEROUS! Mike tends to think that it was a black snake and carries guilt that he killed a snake that likely meant us no harm. But after the lawn crew killed three copperheads in one afternoon, I can't say that I'm at all willing to take the chance. Would you be?