Just Like Cats and Dogs

by BA Tortuga

Sam shrugged, and the guy turned, blond dreads flying, one green eye and one blue eye twinkling happily. “Hey guys! I found some lost travelers! They looked like they totally needed a grilled cheese and bacon. I prefer a tuna melt, personally, but you can’t fight biology.”

  Bella made a tiny noise and lunged for the other little girl, then hugged her tight. “They have cinnamon rolls, Lisle.”

  “We do.” Gus stuck out a hand to the—well, the dude kitty. “Gus Fieri.”

  “Connor Ragbone. Stupid name, but I love it and no one forgets it. This your alpha, sweetie?”

  “No.” The slight teenager stared Gus down. “I don’t know this man.”

  Dude Kitty vibrated a little, the open, easy expression becoming something… intense. “No?”

  “We found Richie and Bella here in Reno. We live up above Winnemucca. Have a small young pack.” Gus nodded at Sam. “This is my mate, Sam.”

  “Your….” Connor tilted his head. “Whoa.”

  “Indeed.” Sam pursed his lips, a sure sign he was trying not to laugh.

  “Randi, they’re decent people.”

  “How do you know?”

  “You hitchhiked with him!” Richie pointed to Connor. “His eyes don’t even match!”

  “Don’t be a hater, kid. Heterochromia, I was born with it.”

  “Het-what?” Bella had one arm around Lisle and was chewing the fingers of her other hand.

  “Hey.” Gus knelt down by the booth. “No one needs to fight, okay? You must be Randi. Did you get a ride with Connor here?”

  “No.” She stared his ass down, her gray eyes big and unusual and full of bravado. “He bought us breakfast is all. I had enough money for a shower for me and Lisle but not enough for food.”

  “Well, I have a pack up the road. There’s a room and food, and we can figure out what to do in a safe place.”

  “I don’t—” Randi glanced at Richie, then Connor. “Help.”

  “They fed us,” Richie said, and Randi shrugged.

  “Connor fed us.”

  Sam looked to him, less concerned than curious. He doesn’t smell bad. He smells like a cat, but not sour, not wrong.

  Gus breathed in and out, slow and easy, until Randi was breathing with him. She needed to feel commonality with him, to see him as one of hers. “Connor can come with us, unless he had somewhere else to be right away. If he approves, will that help?”

  “I—do you mind, Connor? Just for a day or so? Just to see?”

  “Of course I don’t mind, honey. I got time to make sure my two new best girls are settled in and safe.” Connor never looked away from Gus, though, sizing him up.

  Gus didn’t back off, but he didn’t aggress either. Connor might just end up being helpful. “Thanks, man. I appreciate it.”

  “Not a problem. Sort of my job, huh?”

  “Is it?” Gus raised a brow. “Can’t wait to have a beer with you tonight, man.”

  “Sounds perfect. I’m in the blue Mustang with the flames. Who wants to ride with me?”

  “Me!” Richie gave Gus an apologetic look. “Sorry. It’s so cool.”

  “I want to ride with Gus and Sam,” Bella said. “And Lisle.”

  “I’ll go with Connor.”

  There was no way the two older kids would desert the youngsters, so that worked for Gus. “Here’s the coordinates,” Gus said, grabbing the pen from the bill and scribbling it on a napkin. “You’re welcome to follow us, but in case we get separated, I want you to find us.”

  “I’ll stick to you like glue, man. No worries. Do we need any supplies? I got some in the car, but nothing huge.”

  Sam cracked that smile Gus liked so much. “We just bought enough for a small army, and God knows Gus can drive to Winnemucca in a heartbeat. Let’s toodle. Anyone need to pee?”

  “Richie asked for a Sprite too. We have about two hours past here, so if you guys want a drink, get a small one.”

  “Okay. I’ll get drinks and all,” Connor said. “I could use some jerky.”

  “We’ll take the kids to the bathroom. Can you get that Sprite?” Gus held out a hand for Bella.

  “Ginger ale,” Richie said. “Please.”

  “He has acid belly issues,” Randi whispered.

  “Do we need to get some antacids?” He would get Connor to get some Tums. He pulled out a twenty and handed it to Connor. “Just get a variety?”

  “Ginger ale and other assorted things, coming up.” Look at that bounce.

  Do not look at anyone else’s bounce, Gus.

  Nope. You might kick me in the face. Gus secretly loved those tiny flashes of possessiveness.

  You know it. Your bounce-attention belongs to me.

  Bounce-attention?

  Sam pinned him with a grin. You know it.

  The kids didn’t try to escape while they were in the pot, and soon enough they were on the road again, the two older kids in the Mustang, Bella and little Lisle falling asleep almost immediately, propped up by one of Sam’s pillows.

  What a day.

  “Okay, I’ve texted Mom. She’s ready for company. Helena’s flying in tonight.”

  “Good deal. You’re a trouper, Puss.”

  Gus was ready for some serious downtime.

  “Uh-huh. Life just got a lot more interesting for us.”

  Gus shrugged. “Could be worse.”

  “You miss hunting rocks on your own?”

  “Nope.” Gus reached out for Sam’s hand. “I have a whole new life. A mate.”

  “More pups than we can count on two hands.”

  “God, yes.” Gus laughed, watching mile markers fly by. “We’re gonna need more cabins.”

  “I’ve already got some quotes coming in from the lumberyard.”

  “You’re a stud kitty.” Gus squeezed Sam’s fingers. “Pete is actually good at the building.”

  “Yeah, how shocking was that? I didn’t think he was good for anything.”

  They both hooted over that. Yeah, Pete had a calling besides taking naps. Who would have thought? “Gray will be good helping with the kids.”

  “Two of them are going to be able to help a lot on their own.”

  “I know. I just don’t want them to think we took them home to be babysitters.” He checked the rearview. Blue Mustang.

  “We’ll bring Lisle and Bella to our house, huh?”

  “I think so, yeah. If Randi wants to come too, she totally can.” They didn’t know a single thing about raising little girls, after all.

  “Maybe we’ll build some princess bunk beds.”

  Sam was such a dancing queen. He’d have the little girls outfitted in glitter and tulle in no time.

  “I heard that.”

  “Well, it was the obvious idea.” There. They turned off the highway onto a county road, and he gave plenty of signal for Connor.

  They were heading back home with four pups and a possibly psychotic or mercenary kitty, a bunch of yard art, and cinnamon rolls.

  Mona was going to be so pleased.

  Chapter Five

  “SO, YOU said you did this for a living?” Sam asked, handing beers to Gus and Connor, keeping one for himself.

  “I do. I find lost things. It’s a talent.”

  What the fuck did that even mean?

  Connor grinned at him, those odd eyes twinkling. “Just go with it.”

  “Where’s your family? Where are you from?”

  “We were in the mountains. Colorado, New Mexico, Texas. We wandered. A lot. My sister lives in Dallas, and I lived there a long time, so my y’all is totally authentic.” Connor’s grin was like a drug. “Think of it like a commune, y’all. Free love, free moving, free thought.”

  “Sounds dangerous for guys like us.” Gus sounded disapproving.

  Sam kinda liked the idea.

  You aren’t free loving, Puss. You’re mine.

  He liked that idea even better. If his bounce was all Gus’s, then Gus’s wag was all his.

  “I’m the kind of guy that lu
cks into our kind and helps out. That’s all.”

  “Where I come from, we’re sort of the bad guys. We being cats.”

  “Where are you from?”

  “New York City.”

  “Oh. Well, that’s way outside my territory. I never go east of the panhandle. Never.”

  “Is that like a superstition thing?” Gus asked.

  “Nah, just a territory thing. Innate, I think.”

  “Huh.” Sam blinked. He didn’t seem to have territory. “Well, thanks for your help with the kids.”

  “Anytime. Seriously. Thanks for letting me check y’all out. I couldn’t leave them without knowing.”

  “Hey, Randi wouldn’t have slept if you’d left.” Sam clinked bottles with Gus. “You could stay a few days if you like. If you spend any time as a kitty, this is a great place to run.”

  “Yeah? I’d love that. Seriously. I’d love that. I’m not your type of kitty, by the way. Bobcat. Big hands, big feet, super fuzzy.”

  “Cute!” Sam winked, playing with the guy.

  “I am. Utterly fucking adorable.”

  “God, you boys are so fucking loud.” His mom came over to sit on the porch with them. “Sammy, get me a beer.”

  “Yes, ma’am.” Sam stood and grinned. “My mom, the delicate flower of womanhood.”

  “Yeah. She’s fab. It okay with you if I stay a few days? Run some?”

  “Sure, honey.” Mom waved a hand in the air as Sam went by. “I sure appreciate you working with my boys on this. Those kids were desperate.”

  “Like I said, finding lost things is my specialty.”

  Sam chuckled, shook his head. Another kitty. Staying in his pack. Voluntarily.

  A weird little stoner psychic bobcat kitty. Go figure.

  He grabbed a beer out of the cooler just inside the back door, then brought it to his mom. Sam plopped down on Gus’s lap, figuring the guy already knew they were mates. Right?

  If he doesn’t, fuck him. This is where you belong.

  I know.

  He did. No question. Gus was home. Period.

  Gus kissed the back of his neck, silently praising him.

  Connor watched them, his little smile never disappearing. “You know, you boys need to plan out a few more buildings. There’s an outfit out of Texas that does these great corrugated metal cabins for less than a thousand.”

  “Can you cool them? Heat them?”

  Everyone started talking, and Sam caught sight of little Bella, standing there, wide-eyed. He held his arms open, and she came to him, climbing into his lap, and Gus held both of them easily.

  Poor kid. She didn’t know how to sleep in this new place. She’d lost everything, and she had no idea how she’d fit in now.

  Sam got that. He knew what it was like to be the odd one out.

  He had a feeling Bella would have an easier time than he had as a kid. He and Gus, they were making a place where no one had to be lost.

  They were building themselves a sanctuary.

  Exclusive Excerpt

  What the Cat Dragged In

  A Sanctuary Novel

  By BA Tortuga

  Don’t people know that cats and dogs don’t mix?

  Connor Ragbone finds things. Sometimes it’s gold, sometimes jewels, sometimes people. Set in his hippie ways, he never thought he’d find a pack, but with Sam and Gus and their goofy shifter family, he fits right in. Then he finds Brock.

  Shifter Brock Herman is undercover alone, working to break up a poaching ring. The last thing he needs is for Connor to wreck his sting. And now the crazy bobcat just won’t go away!

  The poachers lead Brock and Connor on a merry chase all over Western Colorado, looking for shifter bears, but it’s a lost pup who brings them back to Nevada and the pack Sam and Gus are building. That’s when Brock has to decide whether he still travels alone or if Connor and his crazy family are where his heart belongs.

  This follow-up to Just Like Cats and Dogs is a feel-good shifter romance novel where cats and dogs prove they can be way more than the enemies nature has made them.

  Coming Soon to

  www.dreamspinnerpress.com

  Chapter One

  “HOP IN, man. We ain’t got shit for time.” Connor was fairly sure that when the guys he’d knocked out with his drugged beer came to and discovered he’d untied the coyote shifter and plopped the skinny, bruised dude in his Mustang, they were gonna be pissed.

  Not as pissed as when they discovered that he’d taken their weapons and all their cash, but he figured he might as well be hung for a sheep as for a lamb. He had to fund his little lost-and-found business somehow, and he could sell all that shit.

  The coyote shifter guy blinked at him, settling into the passenger seat. “Who are you?”

  “Connor Ragbone. I find lost things. You seemed lost. Wanna get the fuck out of here?” Because Connor sure as shit did.

  “Hell, yes. These guys are poachers.” Coyote dude shook his head as if to clear cobwebs.

  “That doesn’t seem like a very nice thing to be.” He peeled out of the parking lot and tossed Mr. Coyote a pair of sweats. “There are flip-flops in the floorboard. Not fancy, but they’re clothes. You got a name?”

  “Jason. I—thanks. For finding lost things, I mean. Um, I can’t really remember where I’m from, though, so I have no idea where to go.”

  “That’s okay. I know a few places that are willing to give a guy a place to put his life back together.” Three or four that were willing and one in particular that totally needed a few more able-bodied males about.

  Connor wondered idly how wolves and coyotes got along.

  One way or the other, he needed to call his buddies Gus and Sam in northern Nevada and tell them he was coming. He’d get a hundred miles down the road or so and stop at a truck stop so Jason could shower. Because, wow, the guy was making his eyes water from the unwashed stench.

  “You mind if I open the window? No? Good.” He rolled the window down and sucked in a deep breath. Good Lord and butter.

  “Sorry. I know it’s bad. I haven’t been able to get clean for so long.” Cheeks pink, Jason ducked his head, clearly ashamed.

  “Hey. I been there. Like I said, lost things. You’re found now. There’s a truck stop in a few hours with clean, hot showers.” Truck stops were kind of marvels—food, bathing, silly sex toys, and weird tourist clothes.

  “That sounds like heaven. Well, that and some Twizzlers. Do you think I could have Twizzlers?” Jason asked, looking so hopeful when Connor glanced at him.

  Dude, this guy was way younger than he’d thought. Not as young as the teens he’d found along with Gus and Sam all those months ago, but not fully adult either. Those kids had a home now, and he had a feeling Jason was going to end up there too.

  “Yeah. Yeah, I’m craving some pork skins. Salty, crispy goodness. There’s some chocolate in the glove compartment, I think.” Was chocolate bad for coyotes? He knew it was for dogs, but surely in human form a coyote shifter could metabolize it.

  “I like chocolate. If I’m shifted, it makes me barf, but in human form I can mainline it.” Jason laughed, sounding lighter, more free already.

  “Go for it. I keep it for emergency snackage.”

  “Thank you.” The kid tore open the glove compartment and took maybe ten seconds to devour two candy bars. “Sorry. I’m just so hungry. They only fed me when they felt like it.”

  “You don’t have to apologize. You have anyone looking for you? Any family?” No one should go hungry just because people were giant dickheads. Hell, he was opposed to going hungry on general principles.

  “I don’t know?” Jason sighed. “I don’t think so. I was in… maybe Colorado when I was taken. I drifted a lot. When I started shifting, I freaked out, you know? I can’t—hormones were sucky.”

  Damn. Without a stable mentor, some shifters went whackadoodle when they began shifting in their teens. Kids needed a role model. Shifting was tough to control without guidance.

>   “Well, let’s get you fed, clean, and somewhere safe,” Connor promised.

  “Thank you. I mean really. You’re my hero.”

  He grinned. Yeah, but he had a feeling Gus and Sam might not be so pleased. Good thing he knew they would never turn down someone in actual need. They were following in Sam’s parents’ footsteps and taking in all sorts of misfits.

  Most of the people he dropped off left after a month or two, but one or two had stuck.

  Okay, maybe five.

  Connor grinned. Of course, he’d also stuck around for two months a while back and done a Habitat for Humanity-type build on three new cabins so folks didn’t have to share anymore.

  Now he had a cell phone and instructions to check in with his brother from another mother, Sam, once a week, no matter what, and he had a room of his own in the main house.

  How fucking weird was that?

  Connor was a nomad. He didn’t have a home. The closest thing he did have, however, was a weird cat-and-wolf combo who had the craziest, most amazing family Connor had ever met. And for whatever reason, Sam and Gus loved him.

  He headed out of El Paso, making a beeline north.

  The worry at the base of his neck didn’t ease until they were an hour into New Mexico. Maybe this guy wasn’t worth chasing, as far as the poachers were concerned, but Connor knew there was always a chance of pursuit.

  Jason sacked out on him about Anthony, so instead of stopping, he floored it all the way to Santa Rosa, which was a great place to grab a snack and shower. Tiny town. Easy to see someone coming, and with enough cell signal to call Gus’s pack and warn them there was incoming.

  “Hey, bud. You want to grab a shower?” Connor pulled into the truck stop, coasting to a parking space. “I need to make a few calls, and then we can have a grilled cheese or something before we get Twizzlers for the road.”

  “Burger?”

  “Totally.”

  They headed in, and Connor paid for Jason’s shower and a T-shirt for him to wear instead of the improvised hoodie. “I’ll be in the restaurant when you’re all set.”

  “Thanks, man. Really.” Jason headed off, flip-flops flapping.