by Leah Atwood
She smoothed her already-combed hair and looked in a mirror by the door to check the makeup she had not put on. Behave, my heart!
Christmas bells on the door handle tinkled a welcome. “Good morning, Matt.”
“Hey, I’m sorry to show up so early,” he blurted out, “but I’ve got a problem. I’m wonderin’ if you could help me. I, uh, don’t know anyone else.”
“Come in out of the cold. What’s wrong?”
“You’re not goin’ to believe this,” Matt said, clearing his throat. “Look what I found on my way home last night.” From the large pocket of his duffle coat he pulled out the cutest ball of brown, black and white fluff Rayne could ever dream of. “I found this puppy with his foot snagged in a drain gratin’. He was wet, muddy and shiverin’. I couldn’t just leave him there!”
“Of course you couldn’t!” Rayne reached out to take the puppy and cuddle him up to her chin. “Aw! He’s darling!”
“I saw a car pull away from where I found him. Probably some kids takin’ him for a joy-ride and dumpin’ him when they got tired of him.”
“That’s awful!”
“I named him Mister—sort of—until we find out if he has any owners.” Matt cleared his throat again.
“Kind of like you named Mama?” Rayne arched a teasing eyebrow at him.
Matt snatched off his cowboy hat and tapped it against his leg.
“You’re so very good at finding unique names for pets, Matt.”
He grinned, catching the gentle sarcasm of her words. He minutely studied the floor and rubbed his ear. “I have the other appointment this mornin’.” He cleared his throat. “I could be gone the better part of the day. I was wonderin’ if you’d keep him for me until I come home.” His words came in a one-word-pushing-the-next rush. “Just for today.”
Rayne’s face became thoughtful. Surely he wouldn’t be just using me? She stroked the puppy. Mister mewed in small-puppy delight and Rayne’s heart melted.
She burst out laughing. “We’re quite the pet-rescue couple, aren’t we?”
“Couple?”
“Noooo. I mean just two people—not ‘couple’ as in ‘couple’!”
“Oh.”
“You know. Two people who’ve fallen into pet-rescuing at the same time. That’s all.”
“Okay. Yeah, I get it.” Somehow, Matt looked a bit disappointed. “Anyway, if you could keep him today, I’d sure appreciate it. Otherwise, I don’t know what I’d do. Without a car, I can’t take him to an animal shelter.”
“You probably wouldn’t want to anyway, would you?” Rayne put Mister on the floor and smiled as he nosed around her ankles and then toddled off into the room.
“Not really. He’s awful cute. If I can’t find his owners I’ll take him home with me to my ranch.”
“Of course, I’ll keep him for you. It will be fun.”
Just then, Mama hissed from the corner of her basket. She leaped toward Mister, arched her back and gave him a swat. He yipped and dove under the coffee table.
“It looks like fun times have begun already,” Rayne said with a smile.
“I’m really sorry to saddle you with more pets,” Matt said with a rueful grin. “But there’s one good thing will come of it.”
“Oh yeah? What’s that?”
“I’ll get to see you again this evenin’.”
Rayne’s eyes grew round and sober. “Yes, you will. You seem to be developing a new habit.”
“A good habit, though. I’ll bring supper. Is take-out fried chicken okay?”
“Yes, of course. What time will you be here?”
“My bus gets in at five. I should arrive around five-thirty. Does that work for you?”
“Yes. Five-thirty, then.”
“I hope Mister doesn’t give you too much trouble.” Matt’s smile seemed a bit sober but cheerful just the same. He pulled a baggie of puppy kibble from his coat pocket and shook it. “To keep Mister happy,” he said, cocking his head to one side.
He’s irresistible. There’s no way I could tell him no. She took a steadying breath. “Thanks. Mister is grateful, I know.” She took the baggie. I hope my hands aren’t trembling. But, when Matt winked at her as he turned to go, her knees went so weak that trembling hands were no longer her sole concern.
By five o’clock Rayne had cleaned up two puppy puddles, in spite of several ten-minute runs in the yard. And Mama roamed the apartment meowing to be let out. Rayne stopped typing and gazed out the window above her laptop, remembering…
She had closed the door behind him. What’s with the trembling and weak knees, Rayne? She had headed straight for the coffeepot. You’ll take this cup black, girl! The first bitter swallow popped her eyes wide open and she shuddered.
She had determined to stay at her computer table until she produced a passable draft, but when she broke for lunch she’d written only three new paragraphs in her story. And even those she looked at with a jaundiced eye. How had Mt. Everest replaced Mt. Rainier in her story?
Rayne came out of her reverie with a jolt and she went to apply light makeup in front of her tiny wall mirror. Mama rubbed against her ankles and meowed pitifully. “I can’t let you out, Mama. I’m not sure you really belonged to Sasha, and if your real owners phone, then where would I be? Besides, there are cars in the streets and you could be run over. Then what would happen to your babies?”
Someone knocked.
“Hi Matt,” she said pulling the door open. Sasha stood round-eyed on the doormat. “Sasha! Come in!” Rayne stepped away to let her visitor in. Just then Mama hissed as Mister chased her around the corner. Rayne caught Mama just in time to prevent her dashing outside.
“I can’t stay.” Sasha seemed a bit short of breath. She stepped just inside the doorway and stopped. “I came to confess.”
“Oh?” Rayne urged Sasha a bit further inside and shut the door behind her. “Confess what?”
“I didn’t really tell you the truth. Cleopatra—Mama—is really mine. But I can’t take her. Cats are not really my thing—and with kittens….”
“I see. You mentioned it before.”
“Yes.” Sasha let out a huff. “I’m sorry, but I don’t like kittens. My mother had Cleopatra, and after Mom passed away I kept her because she was fully grown and house-trained. But kittens claw the furniture and get into things, don’t they?”
“Yes, they do.”
“I can’t—well, I’ve said that before. I work all day, so kittens are not an option.”
“So what are you asking?”
“Would you keep them for me, with Cleo—Mama, I mean—until they’re weaned? Then I’ll come and get Cleopatra.”
“It’s hardly fair, do you think? I get all the work, and you get the gorgeous mama cat in the end. It’s a lot of work to take care of kittens until they’re housebroken. And there’s also the expense. The kittens will soon be eating cat food.”
Sasha gazed at the floor as a red flush crept up her neck. “Well, I could take them to an animal shelter, I suppose.”
Rayne’s heart clenched. She couldn’t imagine these sweet kitties in cages—no matter how well they were fed and cared for.
Sasha shifted her feet and glanced at Rayne out of the corner of her eye.
Rayne felt like her eyes were as big as saucers and a lump seemed lodged in her throat, something she couldn’t seem to swallow.
“You wouldn’t want to keep them all, would you—even Cleopatra?” A look of desperation came over the woman’s face. “Would you be willing to keep her, too?” Sasha moved her feet again, twisting her car keys around one finger and clearing her throat. “I’m not really a cat person. After Mother died a few months ago, I just kept Cleopatra because—well, I didn’t know what else to do with her.”
“Oh!” Rayne’s polite smile widened. “I’ve begun to realize how much I would miss Ma—Cleopatra when someone claimed her.”
“Oh, thank you. You did say yes, didn’t you? I’d be very relieved if you’d take her
.”
“Yes, please! And if you have her bed, dishes, and toys at home, I’d be glad to take them, too—as a favor to you, of course.”
“Actually, I have them in the car. Shall I just bring them in?”
“That would be great, Sasha. I’ll be glad to have Ma—Cleopatra, the kittens and all their things.”
Sasha wrenched open the door and almost ran down the stairs to bring up the cat bed, dishes and food.
“MmHm. Just like I thought. Sasha intended for me to keep you all along, Mama.” Rayne chuckled but she chuckled softly.
When Sasha finally disappeared around the corner of the garage Rayne closed the door and picked up Mama. “You’re mine now, sweet kitty. Should we find a better name for you than Mama, do you think? But not Cleopatra.”
The door rattled under hammering knuckles. Rayne opened it and said, “No one else can clatter the hinges the way you do, Matt. Come in and hear some good news.”
“You sold a story?”
“No.”
“Didn’t I see Mama’s owner passin’ me on the walk like a whirlwind? You did say ‘good news,’ right?” His eyebrows went up. “Just tell me what happened.”
“Sasha has given me Cleopatra.”
“Cleopatra?”
“Yes. You know her as Mama.”
“Kittens and all?”
“Yes, kittens and all.”
“Well…” Matt rubbed his hands together. “That is good news, isn’t it?”
“It is. At least I think so.”
“How has Mister behaved?”
“He has ‘behaved’ twice on the floor.”
Matt winced. “I was afraid he would. Look, I’ll mop your floor after dinner.”
“It’s okay. I already cleaned things thoroughly. Your Mister thoughtfully piddled on the hard flooring rather than on the throw rugs.”
“Good.” Suddenly, Matt started a frantic search of the many large pockets in his coat. He yanked off his felt hat and slapped it on his jeans. “Oh no! I must have left the fried chicken on the bus.” He headed down the stairs. “It won’t take me but a jiffy.”
Rayne started to giggle.
Matt stopped and stared at her.
“Are you always this forgetful, Cowboy Matt?”
“No.” Matt blew out a heavy breath. “No, I’m not.” He chuckled but there no humor tinged the sound. “I guess I can’t run the bus down, can I?” He ran the fingers of one hand through his hair. “It’s just—it’s just this city is in such a whirl I can’t think straight. You rush here to make an appointment and there to catch a bus. There are people comin’ and goin’ everywhere and horns honkin’ and sirens blarin’.” He huffed again. “Here, I feel out of my element. Out of control kinda. In Montana I’m used to it bein’ quiet and peaceful with things goin’ along reg’lar.”
Rayne laughed outright. “Welcome to city life!”
“That’s just it. City life doesn’t seem…right—at all.”
“I just happen to have a couple of cans of chili. I could make it into a more robust dish by adding some ground beef and chopped tomato—if you could make it do for your supper.”
“But you fed me yesterday!”
“It’s okay. Sit down in the easy chair. You look frazzled. I’ll fix the chili and grate some cheese. Or do you prefer chopped onions?”
“Cheese is fine.” Matt flopped in the easy chair, weariness showing in every line of his face. “I’m sorry to unload on you. I really appreciate your doin’ this, and with a great attitude, too.”
“Chili is easy. Coming up in a sec. Shall I make coffee?”
“Yes please.” Matt scrubbed a hand over his face. “I don’t just want coffee—I need coffee.” Rayne chortled, but her grin faded when he leaned his reclined his head and closed his eyes. “I’m tireder ‘n I’d be at the end of a round-up,” he said.
Twenty minutes later they sat on either side of the low table, Matt in the easy chair and Rayne on a footstool pulled up close.
“May I say grace this time?”
“Mm.” Rayne took his hand. “Getting into practice, I see.”
Matt winked and then closed his eyes. “Lord, thank you for blessin’ us with another meal. Lots of people have only one meal a day. You’re good to us, Lord. And thank you for Rayne’s friendship. Amen.”
When Matt’s prayer finished, Rayne bit her lip to keep the tears she felt welling up from falling and she withdrew her hand—reluctantly.
They chatted over their chili. The day’s mail had brought Rayne a check for a story. Matt did not get the sale he’d anticipated. One of Rayne’s stories had been sent back home. She’d e-mailed another one. Rayne chuckled. “Neither of us has two pennies to rub together, and we’re perfectly happy, aren’t we?”
Matt seemed to ignore the first part of the sentence. “Yes, we are.” His eyes snared her gaze, held it and took on a glow—like candlelight. “We are indeed. And I particularly like the sound of that ‘we’.”
Rayne felt her cheeks flush with heat.
“We’d be perfectly happy, that is, if we could be in Montana.” His chuckle tumbled softly from his lips.
Rayne burst out laughing. “Aha! Seattle and its environs are getting to you, are they, Cowboy Matt?”
At her teasing tone, he glanced at her from under his eyebrows. “I’m not usually set off kilter,” he said, looking embarrassed. “I guess I’m just a country boy.”
“Here! Have some coffee. It’ll hearten you and set you right.” She saluted him with the coffee pot. “I can’t offer you cowboy coffee with the grounds settled with creek water, but this should help. I know what you mean. It took me a full six months to get used to the hurry-scurry of city life after the quiet of an African village mission station.”
He looked at her over his chili spoon. “It must have been a wonderful way to grow up. Tell me about it.”
She did. For an hour. She told him about her parents’ medical missions work and how she’d learned to dress wounds and dispense medicines in the clinic. With longing in her voice she told of her desire to help where her parents so desperately needed help; the mild rebellion at having had to totally change her lifestyle for one to which she wasn’t entirely reconciled. “You were there for awhile. You probably remember how everyone being overworked,” she concluded.
“Yeah, I do.”
“Why do we have to grow up and leave home to be educated and find our own jobs? I’d much rather have just stayed in Africa to help my parents, but ‘mission rules’ say kids over eighteen have to return home.” She heaved a heavy sigh. “And Dad needs help so badly at the hospital.”
Matt’s fingers closed over hers. “It will get better. It just takes time.”
“Yes, it will. It does take time. We’ll both adjust to city life. But you can always return to Montana. My chances of going home to Malawi are very slim. I guess I’m a bit homesick tonight.”
They stood and Matt held his arms open. Rayne stepped into his embrace. “Please don’t be lonely anymore,” he whispered into the hair near her temple.
“I’m not lonely…now,” she breathed.
He only nodded, his cheek ruffling her hair. He held her for a moment longer and then released her.
When he went to the door, she followed. He faced about and again took her gently into his arms, just holding her. As she slowly withdrew, he held her forearms lightly. His gaze skimmed over her face. Reaching toward her hair, he wrapped an amber strand around one finger, rubbing it with his thumb. “Like Midas gold at sunset,” he whispered, letting it slip from his grasp. With a finger he trailed a gentle caress down her cheek. He sighed and took her hand.
“Goodnight, Seattle Rayne,” he murmured. Reaching down, he picked up Mister and let the door close softly behind him.
Early Friday morning, Rayne rolled over in bed, rubbed her eyes and groped for her cell phone ringing a call tune on the bedside table. She glanced at the clock. Five-thirty. Who would be phoning this early? Mom and Dad? W
hat could be wrong? Matt’s number showed on her screen. She punched the talk button. “Hello?” She shoved the covers off, felt for her slippers, and found her wooly bathrobe.
“Rayne, I need to see you right away. May I come over?”
“Yes, if you need to. What’s wrong?”
“I’ll tell you when I get there.” The line went dead.
She dressed quickly and headed for the door when she heard footsteps on the stairs. Standing on tiptoe, she peered through the lace curtain. Matt stood on her porch facing away from the door, holding onto the rail, head hanging. A partly used bag of puppy kibble stood on the damp landing near his cowboy boots.
She cracked the door. “Hey, Matt.”
He swung around toward her. Two creases between his brows indicated his deep distress.
“Come in.” She grabbed a hairbrush and started brushing her hair. “What’s wrong, Matt? You look awful.”
“Yeah― ” His voice rasped to a standstill and he cleared his throat to speak again. “Mom just called. Dad had a heart attack in the night and she needs me.”
“Oh no! I’m so sorry.”
Matt brought Mister out of his coat pocket. “Would you keep Mister for me until I can get back here? I hate to saddle you with him again, but I don’t know what else to do. I’m flyin’, so I can’t take him with me.”
“Of course, I’ll keep him for you.” She snuggled Mister to her shoulder.
Matt pushed the bag of puppy kibble inside the door with his boot. “I realized on the way over here that I didn’t bring his bed and dish.” Keys jangled as he removed one. “Here’s the key to my friend’s apartment. Would you mind getting’ ’em?”
“Yes, I can do that.”
“Thanks. This has really blindsided me.” He shook his head. “Let me give you the address for my place.”
“Of course.” Rayne reached for pad and pencil. “You must be in shock. I bet you’re close to your dad.”
“Yeah― ” Matt blinked away the moisture in his eyes. “We’re very close.” He rubbed his chin. “I can’t imagine life without my dad.”
