Whiskerful Thinking

by Patricia Fry

  Michael smiled at the toddler. "Was it a fox, Teddy?"

  The boy shook his head and shoved a slice of strawberry into his mouth.

  "I don't think so," Savannah said. "I'm pretty sure it was a man creeping around out there. If what I saw in the dim light was correct, he had a beard and he was wearing a brown or tan jacket and a knit beanie. When I saw that man just now, I wondered if it could have been him."

  "So you think he's our thieving prowler, do you?" Keith, asked.

  Holly glanced toward the man and hissed, "He's coming over here."

  Savannah held her breath as the man she'd been eyeing walked up to their table.

  "Is this your cat?" he asked. He kneeled next to Rags. "I've seen him around the campground." He smiled at Savannah. "It's not often you see a camping cat."

  When the man seemed to be waiting for an explanation she said, "He doesn't like to be left behind when we go somewhere."

  "And he's so naughty," Michael joked, "we can't find anyone to take care of him." The man cackled. He petted Rags, then stood up. "Well, I think it's nice when a pet gets to hang out with his family even away from home. It makes them more well-rounded."

  "That he is," Keith said, "well-rounded." He nodded toward Savannah. "The cat's had such an interesting life that she's written books about him."

  "No kidding," the man said, grinning at Savannah.

  She squirmed in her seat. Not wanting to strike up a conversation with him, she simply nodded, then began cutting Lily's fruit into smaller pieces.

  "He's right friendly," the man said, watching Rags rub against his legs. When no one responded, he said, "Well, I'd better get a move on. Thanks for letting me make friends with your cat. By the way, I'm Freddie. Been making my home here for the last three months. Sure do enjoy meeting folks and their animal friends." He looked at Savannah. "What's your name? Maybe I'll look up your book."

  Reluctantly, she replied, "Savannah Ivey."

  "And these are your children?" He addressed Lily. "What's your name? Do you have a name as purty as your mom's?"

  "Lily," the child said quietly.

  "Yes, that is a pretty name. Lily is a flower, you know." He motioned toward Keith. "Is this your pop?"

  Lily shook her head. She pointed at Michael. "That's Daddy." Acknowledging Keith and Holly, she said, "That's my aunt and uncle."

  He looked across the table at the other two little girls. "And you are?"

  "Cassie," the eight-year-old said. She nudged her sister. "That's Bethany."

  When the man stared down at Adam, he sat up straighter and prepared to speak, but Lily beat him to it. "That's Adam and that's Teddy; my brothers."

  Freddie motioned between the children. "So you're cousins? I never had a cousin," he said. "Is it fun having cousins to go camping with?"

  Almost all of the children nodded.

  Lily said, "We saw a bear and a raccoon."

  "Two raccoons," Bethany corrected. "We feed animals at night and look at their footprints in the morning." She widened her eyes and added, "Wild animals."

  "Yeah," Cassie said, "Once we saw wolf prints."

  "That wasn't a wolf," Adam said. "It was Lexie."

  "Lexie?" Freddie asked. "What kind of animal is that?"

  "Our dog," Adam explained, motioning toward Lexie, who lay behind Michael's chair. She ate the food we left for the wild animals."

  Freddie laughed.

  Meanwhile, Savannah impatiently scooted her chair away from the table and started to remove Teddy from the high chair. "We'd better get back to camp." She asked curtly, "Is everyone ready?"

  Freddie stepped back. "Well, nice meeting you all. Hope you have a great time here."

  Michael acknowledged the man and watched him walk away. "What was that about?" he asked Savannah. "You were borderline rude."

  "Michael," she hissed, "I'm certain he was sneaking around our camp last night. It was him. What do you suppose he was doing? I'm going to talk to the Babcocks."

  "Who?" he asked.

  "You know, Tammy and Dave, the couple across from us a ways."

  "Why?" he asked.

  "I want to find out if they're missing anything. It sure looked to me like he was going through their stuff."

  "Maybe it was a bear," Keith suggested. "By the size of him and the color of his clothing, he could be mistaken for a bear in the dark." He thought for a moment and added, "Or vice versa."

  Savannah shook her head. "It was him. I'm sure of it." She looked down at Rags. "But I'm confused."

  "About what?" Holly asked.

  "Why was Rags so cordial to him?"

  "Why wouldn't he be?" Michael asked. "He likes a good fur-ruffling."

  "But Rags doesn't like criminals—you know, bad people—people who do bad things. You've seen him growl and back away from strangers for no apparent reason. Often we find out later that the man or woman has harmed someone in some way." When the others seemed skeptical, she said, "I know Rags. He has built-in criminal-detection radar."

  "Really?" Keith said, amused.

  "You've read his memoirs, haven't you?" Savannah asked.

  Holly laughed. "His meowmoirs? Yes, we have."

  "Then you guys know about his knack for reading people, and I have to say I've never known him to be wrong." Savannah stared in the direction Freddie had gone. "That man behaved like a thief last night. I'm sure it was him I saw creeping around the Babcock's campsite, yet Rags didn't react to him at all. That's just plain weird."

  "Maybe Freddie has made friends with Rags behind our back," Michael suggested. "He sneaks up at night and feeds Rags treats before he goes out on his burglary spree."

  "Into our tent?" Savannah screeched. She wrapped her sweatshirt around herself more tightly. "He'd better not be doing that."

  "Or," Keith said, "Freddie isn't the culprit who's terrorizing the campground and making off with our belongings."

  Adam looked around at the others. "I think he's nice."

  "Me too," Cassie agreed.

  "Have you children met him before?" Michael asked.

  Cassie shook her head.

  "No," Adam said.

  "Oh," Savannah said, pointing. "There are the Babcocks."

  "Looks like Tammy's coming over here," Michael said. He greeted her with a smile.

  The round-faced woman acknowledged Michael and the others, then crouched next to Holly. "Are you folks missing anything this morning?"

  Savannah responded, "I don't think so, but I was going to ask you the same thing."

  "Really?" Tammy said. "Well, it's the strangest thing. We left a cooler out last night." She looked sheepish. "I know it's against the rules. We stayed up kind of late and I forgot to drag it inside. A rack of ribs and a pound of bacon are gone, plus a blanket that I'd draped over a chair to dry yesterday."

  Savannah looked toward the door where she'd seen Freddie go and said, "I think I know who's taking all that stuff that's gone missing."

  "Who?" Tammy asked.

  "Now, Savannah," Michael cautioned, "you don't know that for sure."

  "Yes, I think I do know—" she looked down at Rags, "…except…"

  "What?" Tammy asked.

  "Well, I thought I saw a man snooping around your camp last night when I was up with our son."

  Tammy gasped.

  "He came in here a while ago and introduced himself to us."

  "Did you ask him if he took anything?" Tammy asked.

  Savannah winced. "No. I wasn't absolutely sure, but the more I think about it…"

  "Who is it?" Tammy asked, looking around the restaurant. "I mean, a few campers are missing some pretty expensive things. Tad, over the knoll from us, has to go into town and try to find another bicycle pump." She motioned across the room. "Someone took the Campbells' kids' plastic ride-on toys and some of their dog's food."

  "Really?" Holly said. "Did you know that family on the other side of us lost a bundle of wood and all their s'mores ingredients?"

  "Yes," Tam
my said. "So who is it, Savannah?"

  "I think his name's Freddie, only…"

  "That older gentleman with the beard and beanie?" Tammy asked.

  Savannah tilted her head. "You know him?"

  "Well, I've met him. He's a pretty friendly old guy. Loves the dogs." She grinned down at Rags. "And the cats, I suppose." She frowned. "You think he's the one taking stuff? What would he want with kids' toys, that horseshoe set that went missing, and the Levens's first-aid kit?"

  Savannah shrugged. "I don't know, but it sure looked like it was him sneaking around your camp last night."

  Tammy stared at her for a moment. "Well, we'll keep an eye on him." She looked around the table. "Does anyone know where he lives? Is he camping here, or what?"

  "He says he's living here, but I don't know where that might be," Savannah admitted.

  "We can ask around. Someone might know."

  Holly said, "I thought he was the camp host or something—you know, like the greeters they have at some department stores. He seems to be familiar with everyone."

  "But why…" Savannah started.

  "What?" Tammy asked.

  "Well, I just wonder why our cat likes him."

  Tammy looked down at Rags. "Why wouldn't he?" She chuckled. "Did Freddie take something from him?"

  "Not that I know of," Savannah said, "but Rags is usually a pretty good barometer when it comes to human nature. He's been tested often over the years, and I can't remember a time when he was wrong. So the fact that he seems to like Freddie really puzzles me."

  Tammy stared at Savannah for a moment. "So what do you think he was doing in our camp, if not taking those things?"

  Savannah shook her head. "I sure don't know."

  "The mystery just gets more mysterious," Holly said.

  Savannah looked down at the cat. "Rags and I have been involved in some convoluted cases. I'm sure that between all of us campers and Rags we will resolve this one. Let's keep our eyes and ears open."

  "Will do," Tammy said. "Take care, guys. Enjoy your day."

  Savannah called after her. "You too." She watched as Tammy joined her husband at a table across the room, then she saw a familiar figure. It's that Freddie guy, she thought. I'd sure like to know his story. So where exactly does he live? In a camper? What was he doing late at night snooping around other people's camps? The fact that some campers' things are missing from there is even more suspicious. But Rags did not react negatively to him at all. That is puzzling.

  "I'll bet Freddie did it," Savannah said quietly, as the two families walked back to camp after breakfast.

  "What?" Michael asked. "Did what?"

  "He let Dean Martin out of the trap."

  "Dean Martin?" he repeated. "What are you talking about?"

  Holly laughed. "That's the name of the cat we caught last night."

  "Dean Martin?" Keith repeated.

  "Yeah," Holly said, "Dino."

  "Hmmm," Keith said. "I guess if Freddie has been around here for any length of time, he probably knows…" he chuckled, "the king of cool."

  "What?" Holly questioned.

  "That's what he was known as," Keith explained, "the king of cool."

  "Freddie?" Adam asked.

  "No, Dean Martin," Keith said.

  "Who's that?" Cassie asked.

  "Yeah, who's that?" Adam asked.

  Savannah smirked playfully at her brother-in-law, then answered the children, "That cat we caught last night."

  ****

  The women and children had been working on crafts around the camp table for an hour or so when they heard a loud metallic snap.

  Cassie jumped. "What was that?"

  Lily grabbed her mother's arm and Bethany looked at Holly for reassurance.

  "The trap!" Savannah exclaimed.

  "Holy moly," Holly said, "I thought it was a gun. That was a sharp crack, wasn't it?"

  Savannah slid off the bench seat. "Let's go see what we caught." When the children scrambled to get down, she said, "You all stay here. I'll go get the trap and bring it closer. Then you can take a look, but you need to do it real quietly, okay?"

  "Want help with the cage?" Holly asked.

  "I might." Just then Dave Babcock walked past.

  He waved.

  "Hey, Dave," Savannah called, "could you help us with something?"

  "Sure," he said. He chuckled. "Have the guys abandoned you this morning?"

  She nodded. "Yes. They're fishing."

  "That's where I'll be in about…" he looked at his watch, "fifteen minutes. So what do you need?"

  "Well, we caught a feral cat and…"

  "A what?" he asked.

  "A feral cat. You know, a homeless cat," Savannah explained. "There's a woman here who cares for a colony of cats and this one got away from her. He's been causing a few problems here in the campground, and I told her I'd catch him and bring him to her. We just heard him, or some other animal, trip the trap, and I want to bring it closer to our camp."

  "Oh," Dave said. "Well, show me what you have."

  Savannah led Dave to the trap. She took one look and said, "Yes, that's him. Let me cover him with this towel. Could you move him up there next to our tent, please?" She asked. "Sure would appreciate it."

  Dave stared down at the snarling cat. "Is it safe?"

  "There's a handle on top," she said. "If Holly and I were to carry it, we'd have to each take an end, and that could be hazardous. But if you grab the handle, towel and all, there should be no problem."

  "If you say so," Dave said, gingerly following her instructions.

  "Put it right here," Savannah said as they returned to their campsite. "Thank you so much."

  "You're welcome," he said, turning to walk away.

  Holly called, "Hey, come back up here this evening and we'll buy you a beer."

  "Thanks," Dave said, waving.

  "Now what?" Holly asked when Savannah picked up Teddy.

  "The kids wanted to see him." She motioned. "Come on guys. Hold hands, and be quiet. One look and then I'll cover him back up so he won't be frightened." When she saw Cassie holding back, she asked, "Are you coming?"

  "No, I'm good," she said.

  "I see cat," Teddy chirped.

  "Me too," Lily and Bethany chimed.

  "So what do you think?" Savannah asked, walking the children back to the table moments later.

  "That is one scary cat," Bethany said.

  "'Cause he's scared," Lily explained.

  Teddy curled his fingers to look like claws and growled.

  "Is that what the cat sounds like?" Holly asked, chuckling.

  "Yes," Teddy said, snarling again.

  ****

  The fishermen returned mid-afternoon eager to show off their catch.

  "Can we have fish for dinner?" Adam asked. "We have enough fish, don't we, Dad?"

  "Enough for dinner tonight and breakfast tomorrow," Michael reported.

  "Yay!" Adam and Cassie cheered.

  "How about fried potatoes to go with the fish?" Savannah suggested.

  "And corn on the cob?" Holly added.

  "Sounds good," Keith agreed. He looked at Holly. "Are you gals going someplace? We just got back."

  "That's why we're going now," Savannah said, dangling the car keys in her hand.

  "Where?" Michael asked.

  "Well, we'd like to deliver the cat," Savannah explained.

  "You caught him again, did you?" Keith asked.

  She nodded.

  "Daddy," Teddy called, "kitty mad." The toddler imitated a snarling cat once again.

  Michael and Keith laughed.

  "Did you call LouAnn?" Holly asked.

  Savannah nodded. "She's eagerly waiting for him."

  "What if he runs away from her? How's she going to keep him there?" Holly asked.

  "I saw a large catio off to the side of her house. I imagine she'll keep him in there until she can get him to the vet and then while he recuperates. After that it could be a ch
allenge keeping him home, but she may have some tricks up her sleeve." She nudged Holly. "Well, let's go deliver Dino to his new home."

  "Maybe he'll sing her a song tonight," Keith joked.

  "Yeah, that might not be so pleasant," Michael said. "From the sounds of it, this guy's not the crooner his namesake was."

  "Michael, would you put the trap in the car, please?" Savannah asked.

  "Sure," he said, walking away.

  She opened the back of the SUV, then called Adam aside and said quietly, "We thought we'd celebrate your dad's and uncle's birthday tonight. What do you think?"

  "Yeah," Adam said.

  "Got your gifts ready?" she asked.

  He nodded. "Do we have cake?"

  "How about s'mores?" she suggested. "The girls voted on s'mores."

  "Yeah, I like those," Adam agreed.

  "Good." Savannah pointed. "I left some construction paper and stuff on the table there, if you'd like to make cards. You bought gifts at the little store, right?"

  He laughed. "Yeah, that joke box for Dad and that metal puzzle for Uncle Keith."

  She squeezed his shoulder and said, "Perfect," before joining Holly in the car.

  ****

  Minutes later, Savannah waved to LouAnn.

  "You got the rascal, did you?" LouAnn asked, walking toward the car.

  "Yes. We had him last night, but someone let him out. We think it was a man named Freddie."

  "Freddie?" she repeated, appearing stunned.

  "You know him?" Holly asked.

  LouAnn nodded. "Do I know him? I was married to him."

  Savannah and Holly exchanged looks.

  "Why do you suspect Freddie?" LouAnn asked. "And what's he doing here, anyway?"

  Holly shrugged, then said, "Savannah saw him sneaking around someone's campsite last night."

  "What?" LouAnn blurted. "Why would he do that?" Her demeanor softened when she asked, "How does he look?"

  Savannah thought, then said, "Well, he was wearing a beard, has longish hair, and he wore a knit beanie and a kind of sloppy brown jacket."

  "What?" LouAnn said.

  "That doesn't sound like my Freddie. Are you sure?"

  "Well, he introduced himself as Freddie, and he sure was interested in my cat."

  "Pshaw," LouAnn spat. "He doesn't care about cats. That's what broke us up mostly, was the cats."

  "That's odd," Savannah said.