Paws for Trouble

by Patricia Fry

  "Yes. That's made things so much easier for everyone, especially Adam."

  "And that's what's important," she insisted.

  Michael wrapped his arms around her and she snuggled into his neck. "This is just the best thing that's happened in my life since…well, since I met you," he whispered huskily.

  She kissed him and pulled back. "You've had some wonderful gifts in your life, Michael—meeting your son, finding your brother, our children. We certainly are blessed."

  "Yes, we are," he said, holding her tightly. "We are blessed."

  Chapter Six

  "So when's the boy getting here?" Gladys asked the next morning after Michael announced the good news about Adam to the rest of the family.

  "Marci said they've put a deposit on a house in Mason—just fifteen minutes away. Eric has landed a job with a company there, and Marci said there's a good school for disabled children. They do a lot of work with Downs children like their daughter, Rose."

  "How old is that child now?" Gladys asked.

  "Five or six," Savannah said.

  "Adam's going to live here?" Lily asked.

  "He'll live here more than he does now," Michael said. "He'll be here a lot more often."

  "How do you feel about that, punkin?" Savannah asked.

  "I like Adam. He's my brother," Lily said.

  "My brother," Teddy said.

  "Yes, he's your brother, too, isn't he?" Michael said, laughing.

  "To answer your question, Gladys, they could be moved in by sometime next month." Excitedly, Michael said, "He'll be here next weekend for the county fair. He wants to go with me while I make my rounds with the animals. He remembers us going last year and he thinks he'd like to get involved in a 4—H or Future Farmers project. He hasn't decided which animal he wants to raise yet. I figured if he hangs out with me over the weekend while I tend to the junior livestock, he might be able to decide. Then he can keep the animal here and take care of it. He's excited about that."

  "That would be fun for us all, "Savannah said.

  Michael nodded. He stood up. "Daddy's got to go to work and see what animals need help today." He kissed each of the children, then Savannah. He put a hand on Gladys's shoulder and she patted it.

  "Have a nice day, Michael," Gladys said.

  "Sure will. You, too." He stopped and asked, "What are you doing today? I've been so caught up in my good news I forgot to ask what you ladies have planned for the rest of your week."

  Savannah looked at Gladys and shrugged. "Nothing too much, I guess. We'll go wherever the children take us."

  Michael smiled and continued toward the door, but before he could open it, Margaret burst into the kitchen.

  "Oh," she yelped when she realized she'd almost run into him. "Sorry. Going to work, Michael?"

  "Yeah," he said, "that's where I was headed before I got mowed down. Got a bee in your bonnet, Maggie?" he asked, amused. "What are you all huffy about?"

  "We've been tagged, that's what!" Margaret spewed.

  "Tagged?" Michael questioned.

  "Yes, you know, as in gangster tagging." Her voice raised, she reported, "Someone wrote a note in paint on the side of our house. It's hideous, I tell you—hideous."

  "Hideous?" Gladys repeated.

  "Well, yes," Margaret said, "and embarrassing." She looked at Michael. "I came over to see if you have some paint and a paint brush."

  "What color?" Michael asked.

  "I don't care what color, just anything to cover the words. Everyone driving past can see it. We'll be a laughing stock. A few people have even slowed down and waved." She shuddered. "I'm humiliated."

  "What does it say, Auntie?" Savannah asked quietly.

  "I can't even repeat it," she said, pulling out her phone. She tapped on the screen a couple of times and held it for the others to see.

  Savannah gasped and covered her mouth with her hands.

  Gladys frowned. "Oh, dear."

  When Margaret showed Michael, he grimaced. "Well, that's pretty awful. Yes, come with me. I think I have enough paint to cover that. Who do you think did it? Who would do that?" he asked.

  "Heck if I know." She headed for the door. "Come on, Michael. Let's just get the paint and one of those rollers, so we can cover it fast."

  Michael opened the door for Margaret, then stopped and said, "Hon, call Scarlet and tell her I'll be a little late. Have her ask Pam if she can give the Hansen dog his meds. If he has no temp and he's pooped, he's good to go home."

  Lily giggled. "Daddy said poop."

  Savannah grinned at her daughter, then told Michael, "Sure, I'll call Scarlet. "No!" she cried, suddenly lurching forward.

  "What?" Michael asked.

  "Rags," she said. "He slipped past you." She opened the door wider. "Do you see him out there?"

  "No. He's not out here."

  She stepped out and pointed, "There he goes lickity—split to Auntie's." She shook her head. "Where there's trouble, he's on the scene. How does he know?"

  "I don't know. Well, make that call, will you?" Michael asked. "I'll help your aunt with the painting."

  Savannah nodded. "Yes. I'll be right behind you to collect our wayward feline."

  ****

  "Good work," Savannah said, admiring the paint job Max and Michael had done to cover the slur. She laughed. "Will you paint the rest of the house lime green?"

  Margaret scowled at her niece. "No," she complained. "As soon as the hardware store opens, I'll get a can of that taupe shade we have on the rest of the house and we'll repaint it. For now that horribleness is covered. Thank you, Michael for coming to our rescue."

  "Certainly." He shook his head. "I can't imagine who would do such a thing and why,"

  "Beats me," Max said. "Must have been a passing misfit with a spray can of purple paint and nothing better to do with his time."

  "Probably," Michael agreed. He asked Savannah, "Caught up with your cat, huh?"

  "Yes," she said, watching Rags as he wandered around nearby. "He must have known there was something going on over here. You know how he likes to be in the middle of things."

  "Oh yes," he said. He waved. "I'll see you all later."

  "Thanks again, Michael," Margaret called.

  "Come on, Rags," Savannah said, walking toward him. "Let's get back home so we can start our busy day."

  "You have a busy day planned?" Margaret asked.

  "Well, yes," Savannah said. "I have a lot to do after our crazy family gathering." She faced her aunt. "Although Damon and Colbi came over on Sunday and helped us take care of a lot of the clean up. Damon even wanted to mow the grass."

  "How nice of them," Margaret said.

  Savannah nodded. "It was a good family reunion, wasn't it?"

  "Mostly, yes," Margaret agreed.

  "Is your cousin still in jail?" Max asked.

  Savannah nodded. "As far as I know. I hope so." When she saw Rags jump up onto the porch, she followed him. "Don't want to lose sight of him. Come on, Rags. Let's get back to the house, shall we?" She watched as he leaped off the porch and chased something. "What are you after—that paper?" She caught up to him and picked it up. She started to hand it to Margaret when something caught her eye. She stared down at the document, then asked, "Did you guys see this?"

  "What is it?" Max asked, moving closer.

  She handed it to him and picked up Rags.

  Margaret sidled up next to Max.

  "'Get out. You and your cats are not wanted here,'" Max read.

  "What?" Margaret screeched. She glanced around. "Where did that come from? Who would…?"

  "Was Jake over here at all this weekend?" Savannah asked. "Do you think that's one of his practical jokes or whatever you'd call them?"

  Max stared down at the note and said quietly, "Maybe." He shook his head. "I mean, who else would do something like this? You're our closest neighbor. Who could we possibly be annoying or offending?"

  "Pshaw!" Margaret muttered. "So we were targeted and tagg
ed. It was probably a random hit. I say we go back to our work and our life and pay no attention to this intrusion."

  "Sounds good to me," Max said.

  He started to walk back into the cattery when Margaret added, "The only thing that bothers me is that Rags found the note." Max looked at her and she continued, "I don't know whether he puts the hex on things, or if he's drawn to things that are already hexed, but when Rags is involved, surely things will go south."

  "Oh stop," Savannah said. "Rags doesn't have that kind of power." She jiggled Rags a bit in her arms. "Huh, Ragsie. Come on, we'd better go home and get to work."

  "Yeah," Margaret said, "you've done enough damage here this morning."

  "Damage," Savannah said. "He doesn't even know how to use a paint brush, Auntie, or a spray can."

  Margaret waved her off, with a bit of sarcasm, "So you say…" She called out. "Bye, Vannie."

  ****

  "Darn it!" Savannah spat two mornings later after she returned from feeding the horses.

  Michael looked up from where he sat helping Teddy put on his shoes. "What?"

  "The horses don't have any water. Both lines have been cut."

  "What?" he asked, standing Teddy on the floor and watching him run into the living room.

  "Their troughs are both empty, and water's running all over the ground. I remembered where you put the valve for the outside faucets, and I shut it off. I guess we'd better get a plumber out here this morning."

  "Let me see what you're talking about. I might be able to fix it," Michael said, heading for the door. "Come on, show me."

  After checking the water lines, he said, "Yeah, I have a heavy load at the clinic today. Go ahead and call Ralph." He cringed. "If I didn't know better, I'd say someone did that on purpose."

  "Oh, I believe they did," Savannah said. "Both lines wouldn't burst or break like that. Looks like the job of a hacksaw, right?"

  He nodded. "'Fraid so."

  "Mommy!" Lily called moments later. "Mommy, I can't find my pink shoes!"

  "I'll be right there, honey!" Savannah shouted. "Close the door before…" She winced. "Here he comes. Hi, Ragsie," she said moments later, as he ran toward Peaches's corral. "It's muddy—watch out."

  The cat continued at a dead run, splashed through the puddle, and leaped up onto the top rail of Peaches's corral. There he stood, shaking one leg and then the other.

  Michael and Savannah chuckled.

  When Peaches continued to eat, Rags walked along the railing, across the gate, and onto the top of the feed bin. He reached out toward the horse as if he wanted to climb onto her back, but Savannah stopped him.

  "She doesn't want to ride you around right now. She's eating. Come on, we're going to have to haul water for the horses, and you need to go back into the house." Before she could get a grip on Rags, he jumped down into the feed bin and began digging in the hay.

  Peaches stepped back and snorted. She moved closer again and nudged him with her nose. Savannah laughed. "She doesn't want you in there, buddy." She tried to reach for Rags again, but couldn't get her hands on him, so she opened the gate and stepped inside the corral. As she drew closer, she realized that Rags had something in his mouth. She recoiled and speculated, "A rat?" When she got a better look, she said, "Oh, a piece of mail, maybe." She took it from him, opened it, and gasped. "Michael!" she called.

  "What?" he said from Gypsy's pen.

  She picked up the cat and walked out of the corral, carefully latching the gate, then trotted to where Michael stood. "Look at this," she insisted.

  "Good lord!" he exclaimed. He read, "'Your horses stink. They must go and so must you.'" He looked at her. "Where did you get this?"

  "Peaches's feed bin."

  He stared at it for a moment and muttered, "I wonder what it means."

  "I don't know." Savannah tilted her head. "Do you think it's the same person who painted those words on Auntie's and Max's house, and wrote them that crazy note? But I can't imagine anyone around here doing anything like that." She gasped. "You don't suppose Jake's out, do you?"

  "Why don't you check with Craig?" he suggested. "That would be my best guess. I mean, who else…?"

  When Rags began to wriggle in her arms, she said, "I'd better put him back in the house and start hauling water for the horses."

  "I'll help you," he said.

  She shook her head. "You have a busy schedule at the clinic. I can do it."

  "It's okay. I'll help you, then I'll go face my busy schedule. First, I need to plug Peaches's trough."

  "What?" she asked.

  "The plug in Gypsy's trough was missing. I imagine Peaches's is too. I fixed Gypsy's. Go ahead and give her some water. You should be able to hook a couple of those long hoses together and run water from that spigot near the orchard. Check it, will you?"

  After Savannah and Michael finished the task, he drove off to work and she returned to the house.

  "Where are your shoes, Mommy?" Lily asked. "Did you lose your shoes?"

  "They're all wet and muddy," she explained.

  "Why?" Lily asked.

  "Shoes dirty?" Teddy asked, running to the door. "See, Mommy," he begged, trying to reach the doorknob.

  She laughed, picked him up, and held him at the window. "See Mommy's shoes out there on the porch railing? They're all dirty. Mommy has to wash them."

  He stared for a few moments, then squirmed to get down.

  "What happened?" Gladys asked. "I thought you said there was no water. Looks like you found some."

  Savannah looked down at herself. "Yes, I got a little wet. Peaches wanted to play in the water, and she splashed me. I had to drag hoses across the entire property to fill the troughs. Yeah, there are some days when I wonder why I have horses at all." She shook her head. "I'm going to get into some dry clothes, then I need to talk to Craig."

  "Is there a problem?" Gladys asked.

  "I want to make sure Jake's still in jail. This latest prank makes me wonder." She placed the call. "Craig, I know this may seem like a strange question, but you still have my cousin behind bars, don't you?"

  "Of course, why? I told you I'd let you know if we release him, but that's not going to happen unless…"

  "Oh no," she whined. "Unless what?"

  "Well, if he can make bail…"

  "They've set bail for him?"

  "Yes," he said reluctantly, "but as I understand it, his family probably isn't in a position to meet it. It's pretty stiff." He coughed and cleared his throat. "Why?"

  "Well, I don't know if you heard about what happened at my aunt's place yesterday."

  "No. What?" Craig asked, with heightened interest.

  "Someone painted up the side of their house and left a note saying they aren't wanted here. It made a remark about the cats. So now Auntie and Max are worried that someone may hurt the shelter cats as well as their own cats."

  Craig was quiet for a moment, then said, "I guess she didn't report it."

  "Why would she?" Savannah asked. "It seemed to be a random act of vandalism. What can the sheriff do about it? But today…"

  "So it happened again?" he asked.

  "No, but something happened here. Someone cut the water lines at the corrals. The horses were without water."

  "Savannah, water lines break…"

  "They left a note, Craig. Rags found a note in Peaches's feed bin."

  The detective chuckled. "That cat…okay, what did the note say?"

  "That horses stink…"

  "Well…" he said, humor in his voice.

  "It also said they want us out," Savannah reported.

  "So someone doesn't like animals," Craig cranked. "Do you have any new neighbors out there?"

  "Not that I know of," she said. "Craig, you know how far we are from any of our neighbors. Auntie and Max aren't close to any neighbors except for us. We have that tract behind us—you know, far enough away you'd think that what we do here wouldn't phase any of them, unless…"

  "Unless?" he
asked.

  "Well, unless Rags is bothering someone, but he's not, and he doesn't seem to be the target of this hate or whatever is going on. I thought maybe it was Jake messing with us again, but if he's still in jail…"

  "He is," Craig said. "Why would he care if you have horses or your aunt has cats?"

  "I don't think he would, but he might still harass us like he seemed to be doing while he was staying here. He has some strange ideas, you know—he seems to be full of jealousy. Oh, and I don't think he cares much for animals."

  Craig took a deep breath. "Well, honey, I don't know what's going on with you and your aunt, but I doubt it has anything to do with your cousin. You two will have to look elsewhere for that hooligan."

  "Thanks a lot, Craig," Savannah responded with frustration. She quickly changed the subject. "Hey, did you and Iris hear that Adam will be spending more time with us?"

  "No," he said. "That will be nice. He seems to enjoy being with you two. You make a beautiful family. You get along with him, don't you?"

  "Oh yes," she said. "He is my son as far as I'm concerned. I adore that boy. It was actually Marci, his mother, who initiated this idea to share custody, and we're beyond pleased. In fact, he'll be here again this weekend. We're taking him to the county fair. He'll follow Michael around while he works with the junior livestock. Adam thinks he'd like to raise an animal for auction or for show next year."

  "Well, that's really nice. I'm happy for the boy and for you guys." He chuckled. "Just don't let him run astray like your cat does."

  "Oh, Craig," Savannah complained.

  ****

  The following Sunday evening Adam bubbled over with excitement as the family drove home from the county fair in Straley. He leaned forward in his seat. "I can't decide between a steer and a sheep. I want a big animal instead of a rabbit or a chicken. I'd use Rags as my project if they allowed cats, but they don't."

  "Thank heavens," Michael said. "Can you imagine taking Rags to the fair? No thank you."

  "You could show Peaches," Savannah suggested.

  "I thought about that," Adam said. "I talked to some of the kids there and it just sounds more fun to raise a calf or a lamb." He sat back against the seat. "I'm pretty sure I'd like a lamb." He leaned forward again. "What do you think, Dad?"