The Corral Cat Caper (Klepto Cat Mystery Book 7)

by Patricia Fry

  The Corral Cat Caper

  A Klepto Cat Mystery

  Volume 7

  by Patricia Fry

  The Corral Cat Caper

  A Klepto Cat Mystery

  Volume 7

  Author: Patricia Fry

  ISBN: 978-0-9911065-9-2

  All rights reserved

  © 2014 Matilija Press

  Chapter 1

  "My horse is here! My horse is here!" Savannah shouted when she saw Bonnie’s truck pull into the driveway, a horse trailer in tow.

  Michael smiled. "Mommy’s excited," he said to their four-and-a-half-month-old daughter, as she sat propped in her new baby recliner chair next to him on the wide porch. Lily enthusiastically slapped her little hands against the tray in front of her.

  Michael watched as Savannah hurriedly pushed the wheelbarrow out of the corral and turned off the water that had been running into the trough. "There goes Lexie," he said to the baby when he saw their Afghan-mix dog rush out to meet whoever would emerge from the truck and trailer.

  "Hi girlfriend," Savannah called as Bonnie parked the rig.

  There was no response.

  Savannah walked closer to the cab of the pickup, one hand shading her eyes from the morning sun. "Bonnie, is something wrong?"

  "Yes, I'm afraid so," she said, opening the door and easing herself to the ground.

  "You've been crying," Savannah said, reaching out and touching her friend's arm. When she noticed the dog dancing around their legs, she said, "Settle, Lexie." Savannah glanced down to make sure the dog had obeyed and then she asked her friend, "What's happened?"

  Bonnie shook her head slowly. "It's Peaches. She's missing." Before Savannah could respond, Bonnie said, "I'm so sorry. I wanted to bring her back to you before anything happened."

  Savannah stood stunned. "Someone took her?" she asked weakly.

  Bonnie managed a slight nod. "We don't know how it could have happened. We put her in an inside stall…and this morning…she's gone." She buried her face in her hands and sobbed quietly.

  Savannah reached out and put her arms around her friend, resting her chin on Bonnie's head.

  "What's wrong?" Michael asked as he walked up carrying Lily, a look of concern on his handsome face. He reached down and petted Lexie as she rushed to greet him.

  "Michael," Savannah said, pulling back from Bonnie, "someone took Peaches. Oh my gosh, she's gone." She put both hands on Bonnie's shoulders and asked, "Who would take her? Why?"

  Bonnie couldn't respond. She gulped a quick breath. "I'm so sorry, Michael."

  He furrowed his brow. "Savannah told me you were having a problem with rustlers. And now they've taken Peaches?" He ran one hand through his straight dark-brown hair. "Now that's just…" he thinned his lips "…well, damn," he said. He looked hopefully at Bonnie, "Are there any clues?"

  She shook her head. "None that we've found. We had the sheriffs' department out after our livestock started going missing. They haven't come up with anything." She brushed a black ringlet away from her chocolate brown face and said, "Like I told Savannah on the phone yesterday, we don't know if we're being targeted or if there's a rustling ring at work in the county."

  "But, you haven't heard of anyone else missing livestock, have you?" Michael asked.

  She shook her head. "No one seems to be bothering the Simpsons west of us." She paused. Taking in a deep breath and stretching to her full height of five feet, four, she suggested, "It could be someone who isn't satisfied with the results of my horse training methods—they're angry because they aren't winning ribbons." She slumped her shoulders, saying, "I just don't know. I've gone over the possibilities in my head a hundred times."

  Michael looked down at Bonnie and asked, "How long has this been going on?"

  "A week or so. First it was a goat—one of my milkers," she said. "Then a cow we had running in pasture. Initially, we figured the animals had somehow breached their enclosures. But when a feeder pig went missing, we were pretty sure someone had taken them. And now your horse…I'm just sick," she said.

  "Didn't you hear anything…or see anything?" Michael asked. "What about your dog? She's a pretty good watchdog, isn't she?"

  "Yeah, that's a puzzle, right there," Bonnie said, wiping her eyes with her sleeve. "Bella comes in with us at night, but she lets us know when there's a coyote on the prowl or if someone's snooping around the place. We had a vagabond hanging around a while back and Bella always alerted us when he'd come too close to the chicken house. We'd turn her loose and she'd chase him away. Lately, though, we haven't heard a peep out of her at night."

  "Michael, Peaches was inside last night. Someone went in the barn and took her," Savannah said, tears welling up in her eyes.

  Breaking the ensuing silence, Michael, unable to think of anything else to say, said, "Well, the good news is that you aren't finding them dead."

  The two women stared at him. "What's good about that?" Savannah asked.

  "Well, there's always the chance that you'll find your horse and the other animals, like we did the missing horses that crazy guy in the canyon was taking a couple of years ago."

  "Oh my gosh," Bonnie said, "that was a mess. I ended up with some of those horses, remember?" She furrowed her brow and glanced at Michael and then Savannah. "I wonder if it might be him…"

  "Naw, he's dead," Savannah said. "It must be a new rustling ring or an awfully hungry individual."

  "What does your husband think?" Michael asked.

  "Barney is as baffled as I am and as the sheriffs' deputies are," she scoffed.

  Savannah sucked in a breath and clenched her teeth. "You know what, I'm going to tell Craig about this."

  Bonnie tilted her head. "Craig?"

  "Detective Craig Sledge," Savannah explained. "He's a friend and he has solved a lot of crimes in this jurisdiction."

  "I guess it's worth a try," Michael said, "but I'm not sure he's keen on livestock issues. In the meantime, I'll ask around among our clients at the clinic to find out if any other ranchers are having problems with rustlers."

  "Oh that would be wonderful, you guys," Bonnie said. "We feel so…violated and vulnerable." She stared down at her boots. "If we lose our boarders, we may have to sell out." She looked up at Savannah and Michael. "And we have to tell our boarders what's going on. This is not something we can keep from them."

  Just then Lily began to fuss and squirm in Michael's arms. Savannah reached over and took her from him. "I think she's hungry. I'd better go feed her." She looked at her friend. "Bonnie, I'm so sorry this is happening to you. I don't hold you responsible. Let's just see what we can do to stop it and to, hopefully, get the animals back." She hugged Bonnie with her free arm.

  "Ouch!" Bonnie yelped.

  "Uh-oh." Michael grasped the baby's hand. "Lily has her hair. Sorry about that," he said as he released the last strand of Bonnie's jet-black hair from Lily's grip.

  "It's okay," Bonnie said smiling at the baby. She took Lily's pudgy hand and kissed it. "She's a doll." She then glanced at Savannah and Michael. "Thanks, you guys." Tears filled her eyes again. "I…I just don't know what to say." She quickly turned toward the truck, climbed in, and pulled out of the circular driveway.

  "Craig called," Michael said after he and Savannah had waved a sad goodbye to Bonnie. "He and Iris are coming over in a while. I hope that's okay." When he noticed Savannah staring at the empty corral, he said, "Come on, hon. We'll find her. Don't worry." They walked up the porch steps and Michael opened the side kitchen door. "Whoa, what was that?" he asked.

  "Rags!" Savannah squealed. "He ran outside." She turned in time to see him leap off the
porch and scamper across the lawn. "Rags, come back!" she called.

  "Where's he going?" Michael asked. He then said, "Well, I'll be. Would you look at that?"

  "He misses her, too," she said, choking up.

  Michael hugged Savannah to him, kissed the side of her head and then strode toward the large grey-and-white cat who was sitting on the corral gate post as if waiting for the horse to appear. Michael picked him up. "Sorry Rags, old boy. She's not home yet." He petted the cat and murmured, "Yeah, we know she's your pal. We'll bring her home." He made eye contact with Savannah, who was walking toward him with Lily still in her arms, and added, "You can count on it."

  As they headed back to the house, Michael asked, "Did you hear me say Craig and Iris are coming over?"

  "Yeah. Sure. Any special reason?" she asked.

  "He says they have something for us."

  Once inside, Michael placed Rags on the floor. The lanky cat promptly jumped up on the kitty window perch Michael had installed and stared out toward the corral.

  Savannah ran her hand affectionately over Rags's body before carrying Lily through the dining room and living room toward the nursery.

  Twenty minutes later, Savannah joined Michael in the living room, baby monitor in hand. "Is she sleeping?" he asked.

  Savannah nodded. "Yup, naptime." She peered out the window. "Here come Iris and Craig." Opening the door, she said, "Hi you two, come on in." Before the couple could enter, Savannah and Iris embraced. "You look happy," Savannah said, glancing from one to the other of their guests.

  Iris and Craig smiled briefly at one another.

  "You look like the cat that ate the canary," Michael said, joining them. He motioned with one arm. "Come in. So what brings you out on a Sunday? Shouldn't you be working?" he asked while closing the door.

  "Yeah," Savannah said, in an attempt to lighten her own mood, "who's feeding the citizens and catching the criminals?"

  "Is there no rest for the weary?" Iris asked, pretending to be offended. "It's our day off."

  Craig nodded. "We actually have the same day off once in a while." He put his arm around Iris and squeezed her shoulder a couple of times. "And we'll be doing more of that in the future, right, babe?"

  "Right," she said, smiling and patting his hand.

  Savannah and Michael looked from one to the other of their guests. Then Michael asked, "Hey, want something to drink?" He turned to Savannah. "What do we have?"

  "Oh the usual," she said. "…iced tea, lemonade, coffee…"

  "Anything stronger?" Craig asked, winking.

  Savannah frowned. "Strong? Do you mean like liquor? Sure, I guess. Are we celebrating something?"

  Iris and Craig grinned at each other. "Yes," she said. "Yes we are."

  "All right, then," Michael said, "let's break out the hard stuff—do we still have a couple of beers?" he asked.

  "Beer?" Savannah scoffed. "What about that sweet wine we bought last year for a special occasion and never drank?" She motioned for their guests to follow her. "Let's go check it out."

  As they entered the kitchen, Craig asked, chuckling, "You haven't had a special occasion in a whole year?"

  Savannah and Michael locked eyes. "Gosh, that is a sad state of affairs, isn't it?" she said.

  Iris noticed that Savannah seemed to be choking back tears. "What's wrong?" she asked, her voice gentle.

  Savannah waved her hand in front of her face. "Oh, I'm sorry. I don't want to rain on your parade."

  "What is it, Savannah? What happened?" she asked.

  Suddenly the room grew silent. Michael walked over to Savannah and wrapped her in his arms. "Her horse is missing," he said quietly. "She just found out—evidently someone took her."

  "Oh no, Savannah," Iris said. "I'm sorry to hear that. You must be devastated. I know how much you enjoy her."

  "Someone took her from your corral?" Craig asked, looking out the large kitchen window. He noticed the cat staring out the window, too, and he said, "Hi Rags, what's eating you?"

  "He does look down in the dumps, doesn't he?" Iris agreed.

  Savannah pulled away from Michael's embrace, dabbed at her eyes, and took in a ragged breath. "He misses her, too. He saw the horse trailer pull in earlier and he can't figure out why it didn't produce Peaches. He's been just sitting there watching and waiting."

  "He even escaped earlier," Michael said. "He ran out to the corral to see for himself if she was in there."

  Just then Rags jumped down from the perch and disappeared into the next room.

  "Poor guy," Iris said, following him with her eyes. When he was out of sight, she turned toward Savannah. "So did someone come in your yard and take her?" she asked.

  "No. She was still being boarded at the Teagues' stables. Bonnie was supposed to bring her home this morning. Instead, she came and told me my horse had disappeared." Savannah turned to face the couple. "Craig, I'm hoping you can help us out. Bonnie and Barney have had several animals come up missing. They don't have a clue as to what's going on, and the sheriff doesn't seem very interested." She stared at him before asking, "Would you…? I mean, I'd sure appreciate it if…"

  "Sure, honey," he said. "I'll take a look around her place, if you want."

  Savannah rushed toward Craig, threw her arms around him and said, "Thank you, Craig. Thank you." She pulled back, and looked at Iris and then Craig before saying through sniffles. "So, enough about me. Did you say you're celebrating something? What is it?" she asked while dabbing at her eyes.

  "Give us something to toast with and we'll tell you," Iris said playfully.

  Michael reached into a cupboard. "I'll get the glasses."

  "Let's use the pretty ones," Savannah suggested. "The ones Auntie gave us for a wedding gift."

  Once the wine was poured and the two couples had clinked glasses, they were about to take a sip when sounds came through on the baby monitor.

  "Oh this couldn't be more perfect," Iris said, setting her wine glass on the kitchen table. She clasped her hands together. "The baby will be in on our surprise, too. I'll help you get her," she said, following Savannah toward the nursery.

  "I just put her down," Savannah said. "Maybe she'll go back to sleep. She's been a little fussy, today."

  "How old is she now?" Iris asked. "Five months?"

  Savannah nodded. "Just about."

  "She's probably teething."

  Savannah stopped so abruptly that Iris bumped into her. She turned and looked at Iris. "Teething? Really?" she asked. "It never occurred to me."

  "What did you think, that you'd have her fitted for dentures on her fifth birthday?"

  Savannah laughed in hushed tones as they continued into the nursery. She glanced over her shoulder at Iris, "No," she whispered. "I was enjoying her baby stages so much, I forgot to plan for things like teething, crawling, and walking."

  "And potty training, dating…" Iris added, laughing.

  "Funny," Savannah said, picking up the baby. "She rolls all over the place now—you ought to see her when we put her on the floor. We have to continually move her blanket to keep her on it." Savannah held Lily tightly and the baby rested her head on Savannah's shoulder, continuing to cry softly. "Are you still sleepy, huh, little one?" she cooed.

  "Poor baby," Iris said. "Are you getting some teeth?"

  Just then, Lily stopped fussing. She pushed back against Savannah with her hands and twisted around in her mommy's arms so she could see Iris. She made eye contact and smiled.

  "Oh, look," Iris said. "She heard my voice. You adorable thing, you. Come see Aunt RisRis."

  "Aunt RisRis?" Savannah questioned as she handed the baby over to her friend.

  "Yeah, that's what my nephews used to call me," she said in defense of the title.

  Savannah wiped Lily's chin with a cloth diaper. "Well, Aunt RisRis," Savannah said with a laugh, "how would you like to change little LilLil. I'm dying to find out what we're celebrating."

  As Iris placed the baby on the changing table, Sa
vannah noticed that their Himalayan-mix cat was still in her pink canopy bed. She leaned down and petted her plush fur. "You're falling down on your job, there, Buffy," she said.

  Iris glanced down at the cat. "Yeah, doesn't she usually come tell you when naptime's over?"

  "Uh-huh," Savannah said, standing so she was eye-level with her equally tall friend. "I guess Buffy figured this was a false alarm. Like I said, I just put Lily down."

  After a few minutes, the two women entered the kitchen with the baby.

  "Short nap, huh?" Michael said.

  Savannah nodded and smiled impishly. "RisRis, here, thinks she's teething."

  "RisRis?" both Craig and Michael said in unison.

  Savannah laughed out loud. "Yeah, she says she's Aunt RisRis."

  Michael raised his eyebrows. "Okaaayyy." He took a sip of the wine and then said, "So you think she's getting teeth? Oh that could hurt."

  "Believe me, it does," Iris said.

  Everyone looked at Iris and Michael asked her, "You remember cutting teeth?"

  "No," she said laughing and shaking her head. "I remember nursing a baby that's cutting teeth."

  "Ohhhh," Savannah said, her pretty face scrunched into a frown. "Never thought about that."

  The room fell silent and then Craig said to Iris, "Well, we're all here together now; what do you say we share the news?"

  Michael chuckled. "Share the news? What is this some sort of religious recruitment?"

  "No," Iris said. She started to place the baby in her recliner chair, stopped, and said, "Lily, you have a new chair." She glanced at Savannah. "What happened to the cradle swing thingy?"

  "She flat outgrew it," Savannah said, laughing. "This is the next step for infants who are starting to sit up with help."

  "Well, it looks comfy," she remarked as she slid the baby into the seat. She then headed for the door into the dining room. "We have something for you. I'll go get it." In a few moments, she returned and said, "Craig, I can't find it. Do you have it?"

  He shook his head. "No. You put it in your purse, didn't you?"