by Patricia Fry
"Yeah, a lion foot," Lily imitated.
Keith grinned at the girls as they huddled together. "Or it was a furry old sneaky, creaky dog," he said, tickling both girls to make them giggle.
"A dog?" Lily asked.
"Yeah, like maybe a dog named Lexie?" he said.
Lily looked more closely. "That's Lexie's foot?"
Keith nodded. "Could be." He suggested, "Wait there; I have something to show you." When he returned, he opened a small guide showing animal prints and together the trio attempted to identify the designs in the soft dirt.
It wasn't long before Savannah called, "Breakfast's ready."
Michael cautioned, "Don't say that too loudly, we might get some freeloaders."
"What's a freeloader?" Lily asked, joining them.
Michael poked her in the tummy. "Other campers who forgot to bring food, and who are hungry and want to eat our food."
"Oh," Lily said, looking around suspiciously.
"Oh," Bethany imitated.
"Did you find Teddy's truck?" Savannah asked.
"No truck," Teddy said, frowning. "My truck bye-bye."
Michael picked up the child. "Yeah, if we left it out, someone may have taken it. But who would come into our camp like that and run off with a little boy's toy, for heaven's sake?"
"A big man," Lily said, wide-eyed. Michael looked at her, and she explained, "A man's foot is in our creature circle."
"Critter circle," Bethany corrected.
"Are you sure one of us didn't walk across there?" Michael asked. "Or maybe Adam did. His feet are getting big."
"I didn't see anyone go in that direction," Holly said. She shuddered. "So you think someone sneaked onto our campsite last night and took Teddy's truck? Is anything else missing?"
Savannah shook her head. "I think we put everything either in the car or inside the tent. I missed Teddy's truck, darn it. I guess Tammy's advice is valid—keep our things locked up. Lesson learned, right?"
"Yeah," Keith said, "at Teddy's expense. Poor kid."
"He has other trucks locked in the trailer," Michael said. "I'll get one out for him after breakfast."
The two families finished eating and were cleaning up and planning their day when Jeff walked up. "Hey, your cat was at our camp again last night. This time I saw it and I can tell you it was your cat. You really shouldn't be letting that thing run around bothering other campers."
"Well, Jeff," Michael said, approaching him, "I told you once and I'll tell you again, it wasn't our cat. See that pen over there? Our cat spent the night inside that pen in the tent with us. When we got up this morning he was still latched inside there." Before the man could speak again, Michael said, "I have to admit that this cat is a troublemaker. He gets into more trouble than you can even imagine, but I know he has not visited your campsite since we've been here."
"I saw him, buddy," Jeff snarled. He pointed. "It was that cat. I heard something and looked out in time to see him running off with a package of freeze-dried bait." He smirked and said, "I'll bet he didn't eat any breakfast this morning."
"Oh yeah?" Michael said, stepping back. He nodded toward where Lexie and Rags were eagerly eating from their bowls. "He looks hungry to me." Michael faced the man again and suggested, "Hey, next time that cat visits, would you get a picture? If you still insist it was our cat, bring the picture to me, then we'll talk, okay?" He turned away dismissively. "Have a nice day."
"Okay, you jerk," Jeff said, "I will. I'll get a picture. You'll see what you're stupid cat's been doing behind your back."
Michael and Keith chuckled between themselves as Jeff walked away. Keith asked, "Are you sure Rags isn't getting out?"
"Sure am," Michael said. "He's blaming the wrong cat." He looked up to the sky. "For the first time probably ever, Rags isn't the culprit."
Savannah smiled at her husband, then asked for everyone's benefit, "What's it going to be today, a hike or fishing?"
"Hike," Cassie called.
"A hike sounds good to me," Holly agreed. "What about you, Beth-Beth?"
"What's a hike?" the child asked.
"A walk in the hills and mountains," Keith explained.
"Yes, a hike," Bethany said.
"Adam?" Michael prompted.
"I like both, Dad. I can't decide."
"Okay, then we'll decide for you. Let's take a hike. Does anyone object?"
Just then they heard a loud meow. Everyone looked at Rags and laughed.
"Was that his vote?" Holly asked. "Was it a yay or a nay?"
"Neigh?" Adam repeated, laughing. "Aunt Holly, that's what a horse says."
Everyone burst out laughing and Michael slapped Adam on the back. "Good one, Son." He added, "Okay, a hike it is."
"What are you going to do with this guy?" Keith asked, scooping up Teddy and lifting him over his head.
"We have his umbrella stroller and his carry pack. He'll probably walk part of the time," Michael said.
"And Rags?" Keith asked.
Savannah picked up a backpack. "He'll ride in this when he gets tired of walking."
"Can I carry him in that?" Adam asked.
Savannah raised her eyebrows. "Sure, if you want to, but I wouldn't advise it for too long. He's heavy." She asked, "Everyone got their hiking shoes on? Grab a bottle of water and a baggie of granola—I put cranberries, nuts, coconut, pumpkin seeds, almonds—all kinds of goodies in there. Everyone have a backpack?"
"Mommy," Bethany said, "would you carry my water and granola in your pack?"
"Sure, honey," Holly said.
"Are we taking a lunch?" Adam asked.
Michael tousled the boy's hair. "Hungry already?"
"No," he said, "but I will be."
Everyone chuckled.
"Well, I've been thinking ahead, too, and here's what I thought we'd do." Michael unfolded a small map. "Let's take this trail. It's suited to wheelchairs and strollers and it's not too steep, but there are some pretty views along there. So bring your disposable cameras. Everyone got their camera that Aunt Holly brought you?"
At that the kids scrambled to find their cameras. When they returned, Michael said, "Okay, moving right along." He pointed to a spot on the map. "See this? It's a fork."
"A fork?" Bethany questioned. "Is that where we'll have lunch?"
Michael chuckled. "A fork in the trail. We'll take this branch…"
"Tree branch?" Lily asked.
"Work with me, people," Michael joked. "We'll go in this direction, and voila! There it is…"
"What?" Adam asked, confused.
"Lunch, that's what," Michael said. "The Deer Lodge. That's where we'll have lunch." Referring to the map again, he added, "It should take us a couple of hours to get there, then we can eat and chill. After lunch, we can ride a shuttle back down here to the campground if you want to. Sound like a fun plan?"
Everyone cheered.
As the others milled around gathering their packs and filling them with water bottles and granola, Savannah looked at Holly. "Are you thinking what I'm thinking?"
"It depends," Holly said. "Are you thinking about the time we took the Jeep ride all the way to that mountain town—what was it called, Pine Mountain or Pine Crest or something? We got there tired, hungry, and almost out of gas, only to find the town abandoned. No food, no gas, no restrooms. That was an excursion from hell."
Savannah winced. "Yes it was. So do you think we should make some sandwiches?"
Holly grinned. "Let's do."
Chapter Seven
The families had been strolling along the trail with a frolicking dog, an inquisitive cat, a busy toddler, and four enthusiastic children for more than an hour.
"Two steps forward and one step back," Keith recited when Teddy turned and ran down the trail in search of a bigger stick.
"Big stick!" he shouted. "I want the big stick!"
"I'll help him," Adam offered, running after the two-year-old. "He found it right where he dropped it!" Adam called, taking the younger boy by the hand
and leading him back.
"Can I have my water now?" Bethany asked.
"Sure, honey," Holly said, removing her backpack and handing the child a water bottle.
"Me too," Cassie said, preparing to remove her backpack.
"Here it is," Savannah said, pulling the bottle from the outside pocket of Cassie's pack.
"Thanks."
"Want yours, Adam?" Savannah asked, reaching for his bottle.
He nodded. He took a long swig, then asked, "Do we have more water bottles?"
"Yes," Keith said, "and I hope you'll all be drinking them; this pack's heavy."
"So you have the water in there, huh?" Savannah said, grinning. "Hey, let's give the animals a drink while we're stopped. Adam, turn around and let me get their bowl, would you?"
She edged a collapsible bowl from the boy's pack and offered water to Rags, then Lexie. She took a long swig herself, then handed the empty bottle to Keith. "I'll take a fresh one now."
"Great," he said. "Anyone else want water, while I have the pack off?"
"Is Rags okay?" Holly asked as everyone prepared to continue up the trail.
Savannah gazed at him and chuckled. "Oh, it looks like he urfed up a furball." She kicked Rags's leavings into a shrub, then petted the cat. "Feel better?" she crooned. "Why didn't you tell us you had a tummy ache?"
"I doubt it was bothering him," Keith said. "Those urfy moments seem to come up sudden-like. He's okay. Only…"
"Only what?" she asked.
He frowned. "What's he up to now?"
"Does he want that disgusting thing back?" Holly asked.
"When Savannah saw the cat pushing his way into the brush near where she had deposited his furball, she tugged on the leash. He didn't budge, so she started to pick him up, then suddenly jumped back.
"What is it?" Adam asked moving closer. "A snake?"
Cassie backed away. "A bear?"
"Bear?" Bethany shrieked, grabbing Lily's arm.
Holly pulled the younger girls away from the brush and held them next to her while Michael and Keith moved forward to see what Rags had found.
"Pick him up," Michael instructed.
Savannah, not wanting to get any closer to the brush, tugged on the leash again, but Rags held his ground. So Michael picked up the cat and handed him to her.
"Got a light?" Keith asked, trying to see into the brush.
Michael retrieved a miniature flashlight from his pocket. "Will this do?"
Keith laughed. "Guess it'll have to." He shined the light into the dense brush, finally saying, "Good God!"
"What?" Michael asked, moving forward. He squinted into the brush, then spoke quietly, "Well, I'll be."
"What is it?" Savannah hissed.
"Can I see, Dad?" Adam asked.
"Lizard?" Teddy squealed. "Snail?"
"No, buddy," Michael said. "It's a cat."
"A mountain lion?" Cassie asked, jumping behind her mother and holding onto her.
"'Fraid not," Keith said. "Just an ordinary pussy cat." He reached into the brush. "Are you a nice pussy-cat?"
"Careful," Michael cautioned. "It could be injured or sick."
"Yeah," Keith said, "and certainly alone and far from civilization. How'd you get way out here?" he crooned, reaching into the dense brush for the cat. He motioned to the children, saying, "Quiet now. Let's see if she'll let me touch her."
Within moments, Keith stood up with a tortoiseshell cat in his arms. "She seems friendly. What in the world are you doing out here all by yourself?" he muttered.
"Gosh, she looks in good health, doesn't she? What do you think happened?" Michael asked.
Keith scratched his head. "Hard to say, but it appears she somehow became separated from her family. Poor thing. Savannah," he said, "let's give her some of that water."
"Sure." She released Rags to the ground and handed Adam the leash. "Hold onto him, will you?"
"Want some water?" Keith asked, lowering the tortie to the ground and pouring water into the collapsible bowl.
"Look at her drink," Adam said.
"Yeah, I wonder how long she's been out here," Keith said. "I wish we had something to feed her. How much farther to the restaurant, Michael?"
Michael looked at his map. "As close as I can tell, about a mile and a half."
"We can get her some food there," Keith said. "Didn't you say there's a town around the café?"
Michael nodded. He said, "We have cat food, don't we, hon?"
"Just kibbles," Savannah replied.
Meanwhile, Savannah and Holly exchanged looks and Holly said, "How about some cheese?"
"You have cheese?" Keith asked.
"We have ham-and-cheese sandwiches and peanut butter sandwiches," Savannah admitted.
"Why?" Michael asked.
"Just in case," Holly said flippantly. She dug into her backpack and pulled a slice of cheese off one of the sandwiches.
"Not too much now," Michael cautioned.
"How's this?" Holly asked, holding up a small piece of the cheese.
"Good. Break it into smaller pieces and see if she'll eat it," he suggested. "Let's give her some of those kibbles, too."
"Poor kitty," Savannah said. "She was hungry. I wonder if she'll ride in the pack."
"Probably," Keith said. "Let's give it a try."
"What about Rags?" Michael asked. "He's been on the leash for quite a while now. How about we put him in Teddy's pack and Teddy can ride in the stroller—or…"
"Yeah," Keith said chuckling, "put him in the stroller and Teddy in the pack. Take your pick."
Michael grinned. "I think I'd rather carry Rags. Teddy has become a tad heavier than the cat."
****
"The restaurant is open," Holly squealed when they approached the small community a short while later.
"Yay!" Adam cheered.
"Yay!" Bethany mimicked.
"I'm going to have a hamburger," Adam announced.
"Sounds good," Michael agreed. He looked around. "Hey, there's a store. Who wants to go see if they have cat food? I'd like to get something more substantial in this little girl's tummy."
"Cassie and I'll go," Adam said. He held out his hand. "Got money? How many cans?"
"Just one of those larger cans. Maybe two if they're the small ones."
Adam looked the tortie in the eyes. "What's your favorite—chicken, beef, fish?" He said to Cassie, "My cat, Tiger, likes chicken best."
"Then chicken it is," Michael said.
Within minutes, the families had fed the cat and offered her more water, then washed up and settled around a large table on the wooden deck outside the restaurant. Rags, who had also eaten a little lunch, slept in his pack on the floor, and the tortie lay on top of Michael's pack under his chair. Lexie sat next to Adam. They had just finished placing their order when the server caught sight of Rags peering out from inside the pack.
"You have a cat?" she asked. "Someone was in here a while ago looking for a cat. Did you find that one someplace?"
"No," Savannah said, this one's ours, but we did find a cat a little while ago." She pointed at the tortie. "That one."
"Oh," the server said. She pulled something out of her apron pocket. "This is the one that's missing. Yeah, looks like that one, doesn't it? Cool. Where'd you find it?"
"A mile or so back along the Ridge Trail," Michael said. He took the picture from Savannah and showed it to Keith. They agreed that the cat they'd found resembled the one in the picture. "Do you have information about the owner?" Michael asked.
The server nodded. "Yes, here's his cell phone number."
Savannah took the paper from her and glanced at it. She creased her brow. "This number looks familiar. Do you know this person's name?"
The server shook her head. "No. I think he told me, but I kinda forgot. I was busy when he was in here this morning."
"How'd he lose the cat?" Keith asked.
The server smiled. "Now that's an interesting story. He said he met up with a
wild animal on a hike with the cat—like a wolf or bear, or maybe it was a javalina."
"And the cat ran away?"
"No," she said. "He tossed the cat into the brush to hide her. He said he thought the thing might be after the cat and he wanted to protect the cat, you see. But when the thing ran off, then he couldn't find his cat. I guess this happened yesterday. He went out early this morning looking for her and he found his way here, hoping that she had, too. He's one of those extreme sports guys—you know, he doesn't stay in campgrounds. He camps in the wilderness, which in this area can be quite wild."
"Cody!" Savannah shouted. When the others looked at her, she said, "I think that's Cody's cat, Luna." She looked down at the cat and said, "Luna?" She laughed. "Did you see that? She responded. Oh my gosh, Rags found Cody's cat! That's why the phone number looked familiar. I talked to him just a few days ago. He called me with his new cell phone number and he said he was taking Luna somewhere, but he hadn't decided where yet. What a coincidence."
"So you know this guy?" the server asked.
"I think so," Savannah said, placing the call.
"Okay, I'll put your order in," the server said, walking away.
"Yes, please," Michael said under his breath.
Meanwhile Savannah said into her phone, "Hi, Cody, this is Savannah. Where are you?"
"Well, you probably won't believe this, but I'm hiking around in northern Nevada looking for my cat."
This cat?" Savannah asked, having texted a picture of Luna to him.
"Yes, that's Luna. Where did you get the picture?" he asked.
"I just took it with my phone," she said, chuckling.
Cody was silent, then said, "Do you mean…are you saying…?"
"Yes, Rags found Luna about a mile and a half from the Deer Lodge. We're here now having lunch with her."
"This is unbelievable!" he said. "Oh my gosh, I'm not too far away. I'll be right there. How is she?"
"Seems fine," Savannah said. "She was thirsty and hungry. She's sleeping now under Michael's chair. I'm sure she'll be excited to see you."
"Thank you, Savannah. Thank you so much. Oh, I just can't believe this. Hey, stay put; see you in a few."
****
The campers were still talking about the coincidence when they returned to their camp later that afternoon. Savannah quipped, "So, Rags, what do you think about Luna, the extreme adventure cat?"
