by Patricia Fry
"I wouldn't be too sure," he said. "This little girl seems to have her own agenda. Actually hon, I saw what looks like a tattoo mark and an incision. It appears she has been spayed and fairly recently—like in the last month or two, maybe."
Savannah nodded. "That's what I thought. I'm really happy about that. I hated the idea of putting her under. Yay! You just made my day." She ran her hand over Lizzie's back and spoke quietly to her. "Did you hear that sweet girl—no cutting for Lizzie."
Michael winced. "Savannah, do you know what that means?"
"What?" she asked.
"She's social, she's litter-box trained, she's good with other animals and kids, and she's already spayed. There's no reason for you to keep her any longer, is there? She's ready to be re-homed. Although tomorrow, we might find a chip. She might already have a home."
"Oh," Savannah said, picking up the kitten and hugging her. "I'm sure there's a reason we need to keep her for a while longer—a good reason. I'm just not sure what it is yet." She snuggled with Lizzie and smiled coyly at Michael. "I promise I'll let her go. I'm just not ready yet." When he grimaced, she said, "Hey, maybe we can teach her some manners while she's here—you know about not diving into my dinner plate. Oh, and I want to try getting her to sleep in a cat bed so she's easier to find. I got one out of the closet upstairs and washed it. I'll see if she'll use it from now on." When Michael started to say something else, she said, "Oh here's Mom. Mom, guess what, Lizzie doesn't have to be spayed. Isn't that good news?"
"Why?" Gladys asked. "Are you going to breed her?"
"No," Savannah said, laughing. "She's already been spayed. Michael agreed that she's been spayed. She has the tattoo."
Gladys frowned. "A tattoo? What are you talking about?"
Michael and Savannah laughed. She said, "Near her incision. Veterinarians sometimes use a tattoo to show that a cat has been spayed." She held Lizzie up and kissed her cheek. "All we have to do is get your shots."
"And check for a chip," Michael reminded her.
Savannah thought for a moment, cradled Lizzie in her arms and said, "I doubt she belongs to anyone. I'll bet she was abandoned. How else would she end up out at the Randolph Ranch with all those other cats so far away from civilization?"
"It's not that far from civilization," he said. "The ranch house is maybe a mile and a half from the tract behind us. She could have walked that far. Or she might have ended up there by accident—you know, she hitched a ride or something." He chuckled. "Maybe when she stowed away in your car she thought you were taking her back to her home."
Savannah stared at the kitten. When Lizzie struggled to get down Savannah let her go and watched as she trotted after Rags, who was walking toward the kitchen. "Uh-oh," she said chuckling. "Look out Rags. Here comes the tornado."
Before she could stop her, Lizzie jumped on Rags's tail and began wrestling with it. Rags quickly turned to face the kitten and slapped at her twice. Once he seemed certain that he'd made his point, he continued on toward the feeding station.
"Now what's she doing?" Gladys asked, amused. "She's digging in the toy box. Oh!" she said. "She has the little stuffed pig Teddy picked out for Glori one day when we were at the mall. He thought Glori needed a pig toy." Gladys chuckled. "What's she going to do with that?"
"I wonder," Savannah said quietly, following the kitten. Gladys trailed behind. "Oops!" Savannah said, stifling a laugh.
"What happened?" Michael asked, joining the women.
"Lizzie got Rags wet!" Lily shouted. "Look, Rags is all wet!"
"He doesn't look happy," Michael said. "How did Lizzie get him wet?"
Savannah put her hand on his arm. "You're not going to believe this—it's as if she did it on purpose." She laughed, then explained, "Lizzie dropped the pig-toy in the water bowl and splashed him." Giggling, she added, "He's all bent out of shape."
"To add insult to injury," Gladys said, also laughing, "Lizzie attacked Rags's tail while he was trying to wipe his face dry."
"I can't stand it," Savannah said, picking up Rags. She grabbed a paper towel from the roll and began dabbing at his face. "Did she get the best of you, sweet boy?" she crooned. "Poor thing."
Michael ran his hand over Rags's back. "I think you've met your match, buddy. Sometimes the most dangerous adversary shows up in a sweet girly form and us guys just don't have a chance."
Savannah frowned at Michael. "What are you talking about?"
He shook his head in bewilderment, and walked back into the living room.
"Do you know what that was about?" Savannah asked her mother.
Gladys shook her head, and the two of them joined Michael and the children in the living room.
"So, Mom," Savannah said, "what have you decided about going to LA? I'll go with you if you need me to. I'd rather you didn't go alone."
"Thank you, Vannie, but that won't be necessary. I've made my plans. I'll fly down and meet Karl there. He's just finishing up some business. He has a condo outside the city with room for me. I think it'll work out okay. He seems eager to help me with my problem. I sure hope we can resolve it in one trip."
"Are you okay with the situation?" Savannah asked. "Do you feel comfortable staying with Karl?"
"Yes, I do. It might actually be good for us to meet on neutral ground to discuss a few things. Maybe we can knock two or more birds off the wire with one arrow."
"Huh?" Michael said, looking up from where he and the children were playing one of Teddy's games. "You're going hunting, Gladys?"
"Yes, actually," Gladys said, "hunting for answers and maybe peace of mind."
Savannah smiled at her mother. "When are you leaving?"
"First thing in the morning," Gladys said. "I'm meeting the police at the storage place tomorrow." She ran her hand over Teddy's blond curls. "Will you be okay without me, Vannie? You're awfully busy lately."
"Yes, I am." Savannah looked at her watch, then stood up. "In fact, I'm meeting Auntie in a few minutes. We're going to set the traps again with fresh food and all. I'll be back by five thirty and we'll have taco salad. Sound good?"
Gladys nodded.
Savannah hugged her mother. "I'll sure miss you and so will the kids, but we'll be okay." She pulled back. "It's important for you to make this trip, Mom. I know you won't rest until things are resolved."
"And until you find that old doll for Lily," Michael teased.
"Right," Gladys said. She asked Savannah, "How will you manage?"
Savannah smiled. "We'll be fine. Don't you worry about that. Gabby does some babysitting. I thought I might have her come over one day and play with the kids while I get some writing done. I don't know if I told you, but Rob sent my proposal for the new book to the publisher and he's eager to receive the entire manuscript. So I'm kind of on deadline with that."
Gladys pointed and laughed. "She brought you something."
"Huh?" Savannah said. She looked down in time to see Lizzie with a stuffed toy clenched in her mouth, and staring up at her with large round eyes.
Mew
Savannah smiled. "Lizzie, you have the softest voice. Your mews are as cute as you are. Now what did you bring me?"
"It's a hamster!" Lily exclaimed.
"A hamster?" Michael repeated, sitting forward so he could see it.
"I think you're right, Lily," Savannah said. "I've wondered what kind of critter this is. A hamster. Yes, that's probably it." She picked up Lizzie and snuggled with her. "And you brought that toy for me, did you? How sweet is that? Thank you, snuggle-bug." When she heard a horn honk, she released Lizzie to the floor. "That's Auntie. I'll see you all later."
****
The following morning Gladys had left to catch her flight to Los Angeles and Colbi had dropped Rosemary off with Savannah so she could check on the Randolph cats. When Colbi returned to pick up her daughter, she brought Gabby with her to help Savannah with her children while she got some writing done.
"Hi, sweetie," Savannah greeted when Gabby walked in.<
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"Gabby!" Lily shouted, running up and hugging her.
"Gabby!" Teddy mimicked, showing her one of his tractors.
The girl smiled widely. "Hi everyone. Are you ready to play?"
All three of the younger children began jumping up and down and cheering.
Colbi chuckled. "I don't know what you're so excited about, Rosemary. You're going home with me."
The three-year-old wailed, "No, Mommy. No."
"Okay, honey-bunch, you can play for another few minutes while I talk to Savannah. Then we're going to the store." With more enthusiasm, she asked, "Want to help Mommy buy groceries?"
"No!" Rosemary insisted.
"You can pick out a treat," Colbi said in a singsong tone.
"Cherries?" Rosemary asked gleefully. "Candy?"
"We'll see. Now you play while you can. I want to talk to Savannah."
The two women smiled at the children and Savannah asked, "So how did it go? Did you catch a cat?"
"Yes," Colbi said, smirking. "A pole cat."
"A skunk?" Savannah shrieked.
Colbi nodded. "And a small opossum."
"Good grief. How'd you get the skunk out of there without getting sprayed?"
"One of Mr. Randolph's ranch hands helped us," Colbi said. "There's a technique for working with skunks, it seems. No one got sprayed." She let out a sigh. "And there are still no cats to take to the clinic, so that's a bummer."
"Dang," Savannah said. "That is really odd. Did you see the cats?"
"Yes, they were swarming."
"Swarming?" Savannah asked, amused.
Colbi nodded. "You know how they do—they're like a swarm of wasps sometimes the way they slink through the brush and trees and all. It's heartbreaking not to be able to feed them." After thinking for a moment, she said, "But they must be eating someplace or they'd be diving into those traps for that stinky food, wouldn't they?"
Savannah looked sidewise at Gabby. "You're not feeding them are you?"
Gabby shook her head. "No, I'm following the rules. It's hard, but no, I'm not feeding them. They don't even act hungry."
"I agree, Colbi," Savannah said, "they have to be eating someplace else. But where?"
Colbi pointed. "Could someone in that tract over there be putting out food?"
"I can't imagine those cats going that far and then coming back again," Savannah said.
"Could they be filling up on rodents?" Colbi asked.
"That's doubtful, too, since there are so many cats. The barn cats have been on the job as mousers for a few years, according to Loretta." She looked at Gabby. "Do you see a lot of mice and rats around the place?"
Gabby thought, then shook her head. "I don't think I've seen any, but I've heard a big old owl at night."
"So the cats actually have help with rodent control," Colbi quipped. She put her hand on Savannah's arm. "By the way, I saw that small black cat with the diamond. I really think she's sick or hurt or something. She just doesn't act like the others."
"You think it's a female?" Savannah asked.
"I do," Gabby said.
Colbi nodded. "She is kind of delicate. Yes, I'd say female."
"But you couldn't get close enough to see what might be wrong with her?"
Before Colbi could respond, Lizzie walked into the room and dropped something at Savannah's feet.
Colbi sat back and lifted her feet. "Yikes, what is that? A gopher?"
Savannah laughed and ran her hand over Lizzie's fur. She picked it up and looked it over. "I believe this is an otter."
"Oh," Colbi said, relaxing, "a toy? A stuffed toy? Is it the kids' or the cats'?"
Savannah sighed. "Actually, around here the toys are sometimes interchangeable." She laughed. "The cats play with the dog toys and the kids' toys and the kids might play with one of the cats' toys." She scowled, "What I won't tolerate is anyone playing with my things, right, Lizzie?"
"Uh-oh," Colbi said, amused. "Has that adorable creature been getting into your stuff?"
"Let me put it this way," Savannah said, "nothing is off limits to her—at least in her world." She leaned forward. "I have this pretty round box of loose powder that I rarely use, but I keep it on my dresser because it's pretty. Well, this little thing thought it would be fun to play with the fluffy powder puff in there. She somehow knocked off the lid, and powder was everywhere."
Laughing, Colbi asked, "Did you see her do it?"
Savannah shook her head.
"How do you know it wasn't Lily or even Teddy? Sounds like something that might catch their attention."
Savannah grinned. "Because of the tiny powdery paw prints I found on my dresser and leading out of the room. When I located her, she was busy having a lick bath, and she smelled divinely like English lavender."
Colbi petted Lizzie. "Did you get into trouble, little cutie?"
"No," Savannah said.
"No punishment?" Colbi asked. "Not even a time out or a scolding?"
"Have you looked into those eyes?" Savannah challenged. "Look at that face and tell me you'd be able to utter even a cross word at her."
Colbi laughed. "I see what you mean. Oh, Savannah, if you keep that kitten, you're toast."
"Yeah, but I'm not keeping her. I'm her foster parent, remember?"
"Yeah, yeah," Colbi cranked. "Hey, gotta go. So you're setting traps again tonight?"
"You didn't reset them this morning?" Savannah asked.
Colbi shook her head. "Maggie wanted to give it a rest, but I think she wants them set tonight."
"Yeah, I'll see if she'll go out with me after Michael gets home." She added, "I'm taking Lizzie to the clinic this afternoon."
"Okay. Well, I'll get out of your hair so you can write." Colbi started to pick up Rosemary, then asked, "Hey, want to bring the kids by when you take Lizzie in?"
"Thanks, but I've already planned for them to spend some time at Barbara's daycare after their naps. I thought I'd get groceries while I'm out."
"With Lizzie?"
"Naw, I'll either bring her back home or leave her at the clinic. I have a feeling the techs will want to play with her."
Colbi shook her head and asked, "How do you do it all?"
Savannah thought for a moment, then said, "That's something I ask myself almost every evening when I think back about my day. I guess it's called, one foot in front of the other."
"And when it comes to writing," Colbi added, "it's butt in chair, fingers on keyboard, which is what I'll be doing most of the afternoon while Rosemary naps." She picked up her daughter, peered into the child's face, and said, "You will be taking a nap today, right?"
Chapter Five
Later that afternoon Savannah placed a call to Colbi. "Hi, is your butt in your chair?"
Colbi laughed. "Not in my office chair I'm afraid, but I did get some writing done. I have an article almost ready for one of my online clients. Right now I'm trying to get Rosemary interested in a story. It's about a cat and every time I read something about the cat, she jumps down and tries to engage Dolly or Lolly."
"Cute. She wants to involve the cats in the story—or act out the story with the cats," Savannah said.
"Right. So what's up? Did you get everything done today?"
"Just about," Savannah said. "I got to thinking about your concern for the little black cat, so when I took Gabby home, I looked in on it. I think you're right; it's injured. I checked out where I'd seen it sitting and found a little blood. I'm hoping like crazy that kitty will go into one of the traps overnight. If not, I think we should attempt to catch her. Auntie has a net and we've both been trained in how to use it safely."
"I don't think it will be too difficult to get close to her" Colbi said. "She shows a lot of interest in people, but I'd wear gloves."
"Of course, that's required with this sort of trapping. Want to go out there with me tomorrow? I'm taking the children to Barbara's daycare for a while."
"Yes, I think I can make it work. What time are you thinking?"<
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"Morning. Some time between nine and noon. Will that work for you?"
"Maybe. I'll text you later," Colbi promised.
Savannah had just ended the call and sat down where the children were playing with Play Doh when Michael walked in.
"Daddy!" Teddy squealed, running to greet him.
"Watch out for the hands," Savannah warned.
"Hands?" Michael questioned.
"Play Doh hands," Lily said. She asked. "What's in there, Daddy?" She scooted out of her chair and walked closer. "What's in the cage?" She peered inside. "Lizzie. Daddy, why's Lizzie in the cage?"
"Mommy brought her to the clinic for a checkup today and left her for us to play with. You wanted me to bring her home, didn't you?"
"Yes!" Lily squealed.
"Absolutely," Savannah said, taking the carrier from him and releasing the kitten. "How are you, sweet girl? We missed you." She picked her up and snuggled with her. "Although I must say it was calmer around here this afternoon without you getting into the powder and…" M/p>
"…toothpaste," Michael said.
"Toothpaste?" Savannah questioned.
He chuckled, "Yes, I didn't tell you about my close encounter of the furry kind this morning in the bathroom?"
"No, what happened?" Savannah asked, helping the children clean up the Play Doh mess. She followed Michael into the living room where he sat down to change into his flip-flops.
He chuckled. "Well, I thought I was alone in there when I see a pair of eyes staring at me from over the edge of the vanity."
"Rags?" Lily asked, sitting down on the floor near them with her doll.
"No." He nodded toward Lizzie. "Miss Big-eyes, there. I made the mistake of speaking to her and I guess she thought that was an invitation. So she jumps up onto the vanity where she could watch me more closely. She seemed pretty interested in my morning routine. So much so, in fact, that she attacked my toothbrush when I wasn't looking."
