by Patricia Fry
“Did she survive?” Kat asked.
“Yes, she did. In fact, I became friends with Misty’s owner—we hit it off. Meghan even invited me to Misty’s tenth birthday party.”
Kat stood up and hugged Savannah. “Well, thank you ever so much. That was some fast thinking.”
Savannah shook her head. “In a case like that, it’s usually pure reflex. I’ve not had this particular experience with Rags, but we’ve had enough crazy things happen with him that I seem to always be on high alert.”
Kat hugged Michael. “Thank you, Dr. Ivey.” She stood back and looked at the couple. “You’re the best.”
Michael petted the cat, who had jumped up onto the bed, and he said, “It’s fortunate that he doesn’t weigh any more than he does.” When Kat looked perplexed, he explained, “If he were any heavier, he might not have made it. His weight might have been his undoing.”
Kat shuddered. She gazed at Suki. “Thank God for small and large favors.”
“Amen,” Savannah said. “In the meantime, I’ve removed all of the wire coat hangers from that closet.” She took a deep breath and asked, “Do you feel comfortable letting Suki out for a while? This might be as good a time as any.”
“Well, I guess I could.” She reached for the cat. “Come here, Suki. Let’s put your harness on you.”
“It’s okay with us if you let him go—we pretty much know all of the hiding places in this house. Anyway, he seems pretty intrigued by Rags, so I doubt he’ll go off on his own.”
After thinking about it, Kat said, “Well, okay. Yeah, let’s try it, but I’ll take his harness downstairs with us, just in case.”
While Suki explored the Iveys’ expansive living room and dining room areas, Kat kept an eye on him and on Rags, who seemed fascinated by their cat guest. Savannah and Gladys cleaned up after their meal, and Michael got the children ready for bed.
“How’s he doing?” Savannah asked when she entered the living room later, rubbing cream on her hands.
“Oh, he’s having a blast running up and down the stairs, exploring up one hall and down the other. He has turned your living room into a jungle.”
“Oh, look at him go!” Gladys said, laughing. “He’s more monkey than cat. I knew someone once who had a pet monkey.” She frowned. “Not a good idea.”
“Whoa!” Savannah shouted when Suki dove off the coffee table, scattering a stack of magazines, and skidding into Buffy’s canopy bed. When the Himalayan-mix peered out into the room, Savannah said, “Hi Buffy. Did Suki wake you up?”
“Oh, isn’t she precious?” Kat said. “I just caught a glimpse of her earlier. Look at that adorable face.” She pointed. “Oh my, she has stopped Suki in his tracks—literally.”
Everyone laughed at Suki who stood perfectly still in mid-step, staring at Buffy. When Buffy eased out of her bed and began giving herself a bath, Suki sat down and watched her, tilting his head curiously as if he were mesmerized by her.
Meanwhile, Rags ran up to Suki and tried to get his attention. Suki, however, was not about to take his eyes off Buffy.
“You might as well give up, Rags; Suki wants to engage a new playmate,” Savannah said, laughing.
Rags lay down with a plop as if he understood what she’d said. At the same time, Suki stood up and crept toward Buffy slowly and deliberately until he was close enough to sniff her. When she became aware that he was so close, she stood on all fours, arched her back, and quietly hissed at the strange cat. Suki tilted his head a few times and sat down, but his eyes were still on her. Buffy stared at the infatuated—or simply curious—cat for a moment, then stood up, swished her tail, and walked off toward the kitchen.
Excited now, Suki trotted after her, batting at her and trying to get her attention, but Buffy continued on her trajectory unruffled, until…
It all happened so fast no one caught it on video, but it would have made for a fabulous YouTube submission. Suki, it seems, ran out of patience and he made a little mistake. Just as Buffy approached the cat feeding station and started to lap water from a bowl, Suki got a burst of energy and charged toward her. She must have heard or sensed him coming from behind her, because she darted out of his way, then sat down and watched as Suki landed in the bowl of water. Not only was he drenched, but he skidded on the spill and slammed into a bowl of kibbles, which flew up into the air and showered down on him—some of them sticking to his soggy fur. Everyone did get a shot of Suki sprawled on the floor staring at Buffy, who seemed to be as amused by the vision as the humans were.
Michael was first to speak. He approached the pitiful-looking cat, picked him up, and began brushing the kibbles off his fur. “Well, buddy,” he said, “that was lesson number one in the dating game.” He looked into Suki’s eyes. “Want my advice? Leave the women alone. As you can see, they’re nothing but trouble.”
Chapter Four
While Savannah and Gladys prepared breakfast the next morning, Michael entertained the children with one of Lily’s hand puppets.
“Good morning,” Savannah greeted when Kat entered the kitchen.
Kat nodded. “Yes, it is a good morning, thanks to you all. What a delightful household.” She took a deep breath. “It’s been a long time since I’ve heard the sweet voices of happy children before breakfast.” She smiled at Lily and Teddy. “They’re wonderful.”
“Yes they are,” Savannah agreed. She became more serious and asked, “How’s Suki?”
“Seems to be just fine,” Kat said. “You’d never know he…”
Just then, Rags tore into the kitchen past everyone and launched himself onto the windowsill perch. Before Kat could catch her breath, they heard a knock at the door. Savannah looked out. “Oh, it’s Auntie.” She opened the door. “You’re out early. Come in.”
“Thanks,” she said, stepping inside. She glanced around the room. “Yeah, I wanted to meet your guest.”
“Oh,” Savannah said. “Well, this is Kat Stockton…”
Margaret said a quick, “hi,” and looked around Kat’s ankles. “I meant the cat.”
Michael said, grinning, “This is Kat.”
“Yeah, K-A-T, I’ll bet,” Margaret said. “Well, I want to see the C-A-T.”
Taken aback by Margaret’s unusual entrance, Kat said, “He’s still up in our room.”
Margaret gazed at her. She offered her hand. “I’m sorry. Kat, it’s nice to meet you. I’m Maggie, Vannie’s favorite aunt. She told me you have a Savannah.” She grinned. “I’ve been around a lot of cat breeds and non-breeds over the years, but I’ve never seen a Savannah up close and personal.” She asked eagerly, “Can I meet him…I mean before everyone arrives for the meeting later?”
“Sure,” Kat said. “Come on, I’ll introduce you.”
Margaret seemed a little giddy. She covered her wristwatch with one hand. “Shall I remove my jewelry?” She looked down at her clothes. “Maybe I should empty my pockets. What about my shoes? Is it okay to wear lace-up shoes around him?”
Kat stared at Margaret for a moment. “My goodness, he isn’t that obnoxious—at least I hope not. No, you’re just fine. Come on.” She said over her shoulder, “We did learn last night that he can’t be trusted around hangers, though.”
Michael chimed in, “Or Himalayans.”
Margaret stopped and looked at Buffy, who sat on a kitchen chair taking a lick-bath.
Savannah chuckled. “Yeah, he tried to get fresh with her and she put him in his place.”
“Oh,” Margaret said, disbelieving. She tilted her head. “What happened with the hangers? Do you mean he pulls clothes off them?”
“Well, he has done that,” Kat admitted, leading Margaret toward the stairs, “but last night he somehow got caught up in one and darn near hung to death.”
Margaret frowned. “Really?”
“Yes, your niece resuscitated him—well, Savannah and Michael both did. They’re miracle workers. Maggie, I just can’t tell you how thankful I am.”
She slowed her pace to walk with Margaret when they reached the top of the stairs. “Only now I’m more worried than ever about how I’m going to keep him safe.”
“Hey,” Margaret said, “if Savannah has kept Rags living and breathing for all of these six or seven years, I’m sure you can manage with your cat. Rags is the most daring, creative, adventurous cat I’ve ever met. Has she told you all of the things he’s gotten himself into?”
“And gotten people and animals out of,” Kat said. “I’m reading his meowmoirs.” She faced Margaret. “Rags helped to save Suki’s life last night. He let us know something was wrong.”
Margaret nodded. “Yeah, that’s Rags—Mr. Busybody. But he’s just about as naughty as he is helpful.” She shrugged. “I guess it all comes out in the wash with him.” Margaret jumped just then. “Speak of the devil,” she said when Rags pushed past her into the room once Kat had opened the door. Margaret quickly picked him up. “Are you supposed to be in here, Rags?”
“I think he’s okay,” Kat said, closing the door behind them. She ran her hand over Rags’s fur. “They were playing together last night.”
“Oh,” Margaret crooned, leaning toward Suki’s pen and letting Rags go. “Isn’t he a beauty? Yeah, he sure has an exotic look to him with those long legs…” She faced Kat. “That’s the serval influence, I imagine.” She watched Suki for a few moments before saying, “Gosh, he’s striking. I love his spotted coat pattern.”
“Yes, he’s quite the handsome boy, isn’t he?” Kat said. “Want to see how agile he is?” She reached for the latch on the pen.
“I don’t know,” Margaret said. “Is it safe?”
Kat laughed and opened the door. When Suki darted out and began head-butting Rags, Margaret ran her hand over his fur. She grinned. “It’s like petting a baby leopard.”
Kat laughed.
Margaret asked, “How does he do as a travel companion?”
“Traveling with him is a challenge,” Kat admitted, “but so is staying at home with him. Other than the hanger incident, we haven’t had any problems this trip. The pen is a necessity, however last night he broke out.” She examined the lightweight chain she had added to hold the door closed. “I hope this will secure him.”
“It should,” Margaret said. She yelped, “Oops! Looks like they’re after something behind that nightstand.”
“Certainly not a mouse, in this house full of critters,” Kat said, chuckling.
“This time of year, it could be a cricket or a grasshopper,” Margaret suggested, “or a spider.” She moved the bedside table out from the wall a few inches, saying, “We’d better check and make sure it’s not a bee. Some cats are allergic to bee stings. Has he had an encounter with a bee that you know of?”
Kat shook her head. She moved closer to the two cats. “What are you guys doing?” She pulled Suki back. “I don’t see anything.”
“Yeah, I think it’s underneath there.” Before Margaret could move the table out farther, Rags pulled back, dragging something with him, and Suki quickly joined him to examine it. Margaret stared down at the cats and asked, “What is that?”
“Heck if I know,” Kat said. “At least it’s not an animal or an insect.”
Margaret squinted at her. “Are you sure? I can’t tell what the heck it is.”
Just then they heard a rap on the door. “How’re you doing in there?” Savannah asked, opening the door slowly and peering inside. When she saw the two women staring down at the cats, she walked in and closed the door behind her. “What do they have?” she asked when she saw the cats pawing at something on the floor in front of them.
“You tell us,” Margaret said. “They pulled it out from under that side table.”
“It’s not a rodent carcass, is it?” Kat asked. “It’s all furry.”
Savannah moved closer, her hands clasped at her chest. “I don’t know.” When she leaned over to get a better look, Suki grabbed it and ran under the bed. Rags followed. “Playing hard to get, are you?” she muttered. She eased down onto her hands and knees. “Let me see what you have,” she demanded. After reaching halfway under the bed and scuffling with the two cats for a few moments, Savannah edged out with their catch and leaned back on her heels. “It looks like a fairly old letter that’s covered with dust bunnies,” she announced, holding it gingerly between a thumb and one finger, trying to keep it out of reach of the two curious cats.
“Oh, probably just junk mail,” Margaret said, losing interest.
Savannah shook some of the dust from the sheet and studied it. “It’s addressed to you, Auntie.”
“Yeah?” Margaret said. “In what year? What were they selling? Evidently I didn’t want to buy it.”
“Looks official,” she said, scrutinizing the page.
“Gimme that,” Margaret snapped, tearing it from Savannah’s hand. “Twenty-twelve,” she read. “Yeah, it’s old.” She looked more closely. “Oh!” she carped.
“What?” Savannah asked.
Margaret turned to Rags. “You!” she shouted. “You’re the one who took this and caused me all that grief with the courthouse.”
“What are you talking about?” Savannah asked.
“It’s a jury summons. I never did get this. Don’t you remember that, Vannie? You had just left to go back to LA after taking care of me when I broke my foot, and all of a sudden there was this all-points bulletin out on me because I didn’t show up for jury service. I told you about that.”
“Oh, you’re exaggerating, Auntie.”
“Not by much,” she insisted. “They chased me down and interrogated me. I didn’t know what they were talking about. Of course they didn’t believe me that I didn’t get the notice.” She scowled at Rags. “You just about had me thrown in jail.”
“Jail,” Savannah said, “because you didn’t show up for jury duty?”
Margaret spoke more quietly, “Well, that and the fact that I maybe told them I’d sue them for harassment because I never got a notice.” She insisted, “I wasn’t about to let them bully me like that. And I was still not getting around all that well with my broken foot.” She faced Rags again. “And all the while this letter was hidden under there, probably where you put it. Rags, what makes you hate me so much that you want to ruin my life?”
By then, Kat and Savannah were laughing. Savannah said, “Oh, Auntie, he didn’t mean to. He didn’t know what it was; you probably left it where he could get it and...”
“I never saw it,” she insisted, “how could I leave it anywhere?” Margaret looked at Rags, who continued to stare up at the letter she held. She then looked into Suki’s eyes. “Well, you’re a beauty,” she said, “but take my advice and stay away from this bad-boy cat. He will lead you astray.”
Savannah dabbed at her eyes and attempted to curb her hysterics. “Hey, let’s go get breakfast,” she said. “Mom will wonder what happened to us. Come on, Rags,” she urged.
Kat put Suki back into his pen. On the way down the stairs, she asked, “So Maggie, this is your house?”
“It was for many years,” she explained. “Vannie and Michael bought it from me when they got married.”
When the women returned to the kitchen, Michael asked, “Are you going to adopt a Savannah, Maggie?”
“Well, he’s gorgeous, but no thank you. I have my hands full with the cats that come in and out of the shelter.” She feigned a glare at Rags. “And living next door to the likes of him.” She joined Rags at the windowsill perch and ruffled his fur. She looked out. “What’s he so interested in this morning? Probably those workers, huh? When will they be finished?”
“Supposedly today,” Savannah said. “They plan to start bringing in the horses around three this afternoon, after the cat alliance meeting.”
“Cool,” Margaret said. She looked at her niece. “Are you ready for the dust and activity and extra work?”
“I hope so.” Savannah held up the coffee carafe. “Coffee, Kat? Auntie
?”
Both women nodded. Margaret picked up two cups from the counter and held them while Savannah filled them. “Cream or sugar, Kat?” she asked.
“No,” Kat said, “thanks.”
“It’s buffet style this morning,” Gladys announced, gesturing toward the counter where they’d placed platters and bowls of fruit, eggs, applesauce muffins, and a variety of condiments.
Before anyone could pick up a plate, Michael shouted, “Watch it!” but not quickly enough, for Rags had run in front of Kat just as she turned toward the counter and she stumbled over him, falling to the floor.
“Oh no!” Savannah yelped. “Raaags!”
“Oh dear,” Gladys said, approaching Kat. “Are you okay?”
Kat struggled to sit up. “I think so. It was a soft landing—clumsy as hell, but soft.”
“Just sit there for a moment and make sure you’re okay,” Michael suggested. “You haven’t broken anything, have you?”
“No. Nothing’s broken. I’m just embarrassed, is all.” She looked in the direction Rags had run. “Sheesh, he is unpredictable, isn’t he? Where’d he go, anyway? I want to make sure he’s okay. I might have stepped on his paw. I’m just glad I didn’t land on him.” She shook her head. “He’s fast, like a streak of lightning.” She held her hand out to Michael. “Here, help me up will you?”
Michael and Savannah both helped, with Margaret supporting Kat from behind.
“You’re sure you’re okay?” Michael asked again.
Kat thought for a moment. “Yeah, everything seems to be where it’s supposed to be.” She glimpsed Rags in the dining room. “Oh, there he is. Is he all right?”
Once Michael was certain that Kat wasn’t hurt, he focused on Rags. “Come here, boy. Let me take a look at you. You’re okay, aren’t you?” He watched as the cat walked toward him, then he picked Rags up and ran his hands over his body. “Seems just fine.”
