by Patricia Fry
As soon as Michael eased the car to a stop, Savannah jumped out. “Luke, wait!” she called. By then, Luke had slipped on his backpack and picked up the carrier. “Stop!” she shouted.
“Luke!” Michael called. “We’re here to help you.”
But, like a scared rabbit, he darted off into a stand of trees.
“Luke, you’re going to kill her if you don’t stop!” Michael shouted angrily. When he didn’t hear anything, he continued, using a more gentle tone, “She’s not out of the woods. She needs care, Luke.” He continued talking as the couple walked in the direction Luke had gone. “Son, she may have seemed fine earlier, but you’ve probably noticed she’s getting weaker. She needs rest, Luke. That jostling could cause her to hemorrhage.”
Still, there was no response.
“Luke, we only want to help you,” Savannah said with as much compassion as she could muster. She hesitated before saying, “The people at the cat ranch are ready to take care of your feral cats.”
Suddenly, they heard his voice. “I don’t want to go to school. I don’t fit in. You just don’t understand. It’s torture for me.”
Savannah looked wide-eyed at Michael. She then went out on a limb, saying, “We do understand, Luke. Maybe traditional school isn’t for you. I get that. But if you’re going to be on your own, you need to find a way to make some kind of life for yourself. You can’t hide and rely on what you can pilfer from neighbors forever.”
When there was no response, Michael said, “A man’s gotta do what a man’s gotta do, kid. You need to face life head-on or…” he hesitated, “or you’ll become a victim.”
Savannah gave her husband a sideways glance before saying, “Let us help you, Luke. Please.”
“And Sunbeam,” Michael added.
The couple stood silently waiting, watching, and listening. After an agonizing several minutes, they heard the crunching of leaves. The sound came closer and closer, then Luke appeared from behind the trees walking slowly and clutching the carrier to his chest.
Savannah stifled her urge to rush to him. Instead, she stood still as he approached and stopped in front of them, hanging his head.
“Let me take a look at her,” Michael said, easing the carrier out of Luke’s arms. He placed it on the ground, opened it, and reached in. “We’d better get her back to the clinic,” he said quietly.
“Is she…?” Luke started. “She seemed better last night… I thought she…”
“I know, son.” He shook his head and spoke compassionately, “But moving her…it was too soon, Luke.”
“God,” he said, dropping to his knees next to Sunbeam. “What have I done?” He started to sob. “All I wanted was to find a safe place for us.”
Savannah put her hand on the boy’s shoulder. “And then what?” she asked. “Have you thought ahead to what a life of hiding out would be like?”
He shook his head. “No. I just thought…I thought things would change.”
“Things change, Luke, when we do something to cause a change,” Michael said. “You’re in charge. Your life is in your hands—you have control. But you have to choose wisely in order to create the changes you want.” He smiled at the young man. “Come on. Let’s go back to the clinic. While she’s healing, we’ll talk about your future.”
“Yes,” Luke said. “I guess I can use some help. I never thought about all those things you talked about just now.”
Savannah and Michael smiled at the boy as he stood and picked up the carrier.
****
“Good morning, June,” Savannah said into the phone the following day. “I have someone I’d like you to meet. When would be a good time for us to bring him over?”
“Oh, the young man you told me about? I expected to hear from you yesterday.”
“Yeah, we had a bit of a setback with him and his cat. But things are back on track now and I’d like him to see your ranch and meet you and Nola.”
“Certainly. Can you come for lunch? Then we’ll arrange for a tour of the place. Now what does the lad like to eat?”
“Gosh, I don’t know. He’s been on the streets for a while. He’s probably not fussy.”
“I think the cooks are fixing Philly cheese steak sandwiches today and potato salad.”
“Well, if Luke doesn’t like that, we can feed him peanut butter and I’ll eat his sandwich.” Savannah heard June chuckle, she then said, “Sounds wonderful. Shall we come around noon?”
“Yes, and bring the cherub, will you? I haven’t seen her in much too long.”
“Sure will. Thank you.” When Savannah ended the call, she said, “Michael, it’s all set. Lunch today at the cat ranch. Can you join us?”
“I wouldn’t miss it.” He kissed her. “See you later.” He then picked up Lily and snuggled with her for a moment. He pointed to the toy she held. “Is that your piggy? Can you say, piggy?” he prompted.
“Pig,” she said. “Pig.”
He kissed her cheek. “Very good.”
“She’s invited to lunch, too,” Savannah said. “June wants to see her.”
“Nice,” he said, tickling the toddler and making her laugh. He placed her on the floor with her toys and started to leave, then turned. He cleared his throat and ran his hand through his straight dark-brown hair. “Um, okay if I bring Luke here to clean up? I…kinda think he could use a shower and some clean clothes.”
Without hesitating, she said, “Sure. I don’t know why I didn’t think of that. Do you have something he could wear?”
“Maybe. My clothes might fit length-wise, but they’d probably be baggy on him.”
She laughed. “Isn’t that the style for teens these days?”
“I guess so.” He thought for a moment. “We could wash his clothes.”
She nodded, then looked at the clock. “How about if I pick him up around ten and take him shopping for some new duds?”
Michael’s face brightened. “Good idea, hon…if you’re sure you don’t mind.”
“Not at all. I’ll check with him in a while and see if he’s up for that. I guess it depends on how Sunbeam’s doing.”
****
“It’s been a long time since I shopped in a store like this,” Luke said as he followed Savannah and the baby into a department store later that morning.
“Do you know what size you wear?” she asked, leading him into the young men’s clothing section.
He examined a couple pair of jeans. “I’d better try them on. My old clothes are kinda big on me now.”
“Okay, choose something you like and you can take a couple of different sizes into the dressing room.”
After a few minutes, Luke appeared smiling and holding up a pair of trousers. “These fit.”
“Did you find a shirt you like?” she asked.
“Yeah, it’s between this red and green one and the blue one. I like them both.”
She nodded. “Then we’ll get them both. Now grab a couple of packages of shorts and one of socks.” She looked at his feet and shook her head. “Luke, you could really use some new shoes. Let me see the bottoms of those.” When he lifted one foot, she frowned. “You’ve worn holes in them. How long have you been on the streets, anyway?”
“A couple of months, I guess. I walk everywhere, you know.” He looked sheepish. “Until I borrowed that skateboard for a few days.”
“Well, bring that stuff and let’s go to the shoe department, shall we?”
“Oh, I don’t know…this is going to cost a lot of money. I can’t ask you to…”
“You’re not asking me. I’m offering. Besides, everything you picked out is on sale and I have a coupon right here. Come on, let’s go find some shoes, then we’d better get home so you can clean up.”
Forty minutes later, Luke stepped out of the bathroom at the Ivey home, showered and wearing his new clothes. His hair was wet and slicked back.
“You look great, Luke. I wouldn’t recognize you if
I saw you on the street.”
He smiled. “Yeah, big difference, huh? Gosh, that shower felt good.” He glanced around the room. “It feels good to be in a regular house. It’s so big.”
“Yeah, compared to your tiny trailer.”
He laughed. “I bumped my head every time I got out of bed.” He looked up at the high ceilings and laughed. “That wouldn’t happen here.” His gaze stopped in the doorway to the dining room. “Hi, Smokey,” he said.
“That’s Rags,” Savannah corrected.
“Yeah, sorry. Hi, Rags.” He kneeled down and petted the cat. “I named him Smokey when he came to visit me. He’s really a nice cat.”
“Except when he disobeys me and runs off,” she joked.
“Who’s this?” he asked, when he noticed a pair of bright-blue eyes peering out from the pink canopy cat bed.
“Ki-ki,” Lily chirped.
He smiled at her. “It sure is a kitty.”
“Her name’s Buffy,” Savannah said.
“She’s awesome. Can I pet her?”
“Sure. She loves attention.”
While scratching Buffy under her chin, Luke looked around. “Where’s your dog?” he asked.
Savannah frowned at the boy. “That’s right, you probably saw Lexie in the yard when you came here to…”
He winced. “Uh, yeah, I guess I did.”
“She’s out in the dog run. Want to bring her in? She’ll probably be glad to see you.”
He smiled. “Probably,” he said, before heading out the door.
“Luke, close the door behind you,” Savannah called. “The cats aren’t allowed outside.”
He stopped and glanced down at Rags. “Yeah, I forgot. Sorry.”
Luke had been playing with Lexie for a few minutes in the kitchen when Savannah said, “Oh, Michael’s home. Hi, hon,” she greeted when he came through the front door.
“Hi,” he said, picking Lily up and raising her high in the air before placing her back on the floor where she’d been playing with one of her dolls. He kissed Savannah, then peered toward the dining room, feigning a puzzled look. “Who’s this dapper young man?”
“Hi, Dr. Mike. It’s me, Luke.”
“Well, I almost didn’t recognize you, there. Good job,” he said grinning. “I like your new duds.”
“Dr. Mike,” Luke said hesitantly, “how’s Sunbeam?”
“Still doing well. She’s alert and seems to be resting comfortably. I’d like to keep her under observation for another day or two, but I see no signs of internal injuries.”
“That’s great,” he said, visibly relaxing.
“Is everyone ready to go?” Michael asked. He rubbed his hands together. “I hear we’re having Philly cheese steak sandwiches. My favorite.”
“What’s that?” Luke asked, frowning.
“If done right, probably the most delicious steak sandwich you’ll ever eat.”
Luke’s eyes lit up. “A shower, new clothes, and a steak sandwich…life can’t get much better than that.”
Michael and Savannah laughed as they began to prepare Lily for their outing.
****
“Wow! This is some place,” Luke said as Michael pulled into the grounds of the Balcomb estate. “It’s a cat ranch?”
Savannah nodded. “Yeah. Nice, huh?”
“Makes me want to be a cat,” Luke quipped.
“Maybe in your next life.”
He looked at Savannah in an attempt to determine whether she was serious or not. “Thank you again for letting me clean up at your house,” he said before getting out of the car. “And for the new clothes. I wouldn’t want to show up at a place like this all grungy.”
“Hello,” came a cheery voice from behind them as they strolled up the walkway.
Savannah turned. “Oh, Nola, hi. How are you?” she said, hugging her.
“Good. And you guys?”
“Super. Nola, you remember Michael.”
“Oh yes, I’m a regular at the clinic with the new feral cats that come in. Good to see you, Dr. Mike.”
Michael nodded. “You, too, Nola.”
“Nola, I’d like you to meet Luke. He’s come to check out the facility. He has some cats he’s concerned about.”
“Wonderful. Welcome, Luke. Come in,” she invited.
“June, the Iveys are here,” Nola announced as they stepped into the cat room. “And this is Luke. He has some cats he’d like to talk to us about.”
Luke reached out to shake June’s hand. She took it and looked into his eyes. “So you like cats, do you?”
“Oh yes, ma’am. I sure do.” He gazed to his left, where he could see a few cats resting on an array of cat trees and lounging in hammocks. “Gosh, look at this room. It’s great.”
“It’s the cat room. Isn’t it nice?”
“Yes. And your cats are so…so amazing.”
June nodded. She pointed. “That’s Mazie Mae there in the tunnel and Tabitha Tabby over there. Oh, there’s Marmalade Jam up on top of that thing.”
“Wow! I’ve never seen a place like this. And look, they can go outside without actually being outside.”
“And vulnerable,” June added.
“Yes, vulnerable.” He turned to her, “I lost a couple of my cats already. I heard an owl out there one night when I stayed with them. And I saw a coyote a few times.”
“That’s sad,” June said.
“Yes, I’m worried about the kittens that are coming. Two of my cats are going to have kittens, I’m pretty sure; I don’t think they’re getting fat on the food I’m feeding, because it’s hard to find food for them.”
“I understand,” June said. “It sounds like you’re doing the very best you can with the cats. God bless you.”
He looked at the Iveys and back at June, saying quietly, “I think He has.” When June looked confused, he explained, “God has already blessed me.”
She reached out and took one of his hands. Smiling, she said, “Yes, I’m sure He has.” She gestured with one arm. “Shall we have our lunch?” Winking in Luke’s direction, she added, “I asked the cooks to bake an array of cookies for our special guest. I know how growing boys…um, young men…like cookies.”
“You bet,” Luke said, his eyes wide.
As the hungry group stepped into the dining room, they found a table set for six. “June!” Savannah exclaimed. “You have a high chair.”
“Yes, for my grandnephew and his baby sister, who should be joining the family in a few months.”
“Oops. Sorry,” Luke said when he ran into the back of Nola. He laughed a little nervously. “I…I was…uh…gawking, as my grandmother would say.” He glanced around the area. “This room is awesome. And look at all that food!”
“Yes, there should be plenty,” June said, allowing Nola to help her ease into a chair at the head of the table. She patted the chair next to her. “Luke, please sit here, would you?”
“Uh, sure…yeah,” he muttered, slipping into the chair she indicated. After taking several bites of his sandwich, he said, “This is really good.” He looked around and asked, “Who made it?”
June chuckled. “The cooks.”
When Michael saw the confused look on Luke’s face, he said, “Mrs. Balcomb has servants who help her out around here so she can concentrate on taking care of the cats.”
“Oh,” Luke said, taking another bite of his sandwich and gulping from his glass of soda.
Michael leaned over and said quietly, “Slow down, man. You’ll make yourself sick.”
Luke looked at him and nodded. Lowering his sandwich, he glanced around the table, then said quietly to Michael, “Sorry. Guess I just got too hungry.” He picked up the sandwich again and repeated, “It sure is good.”
June smiled. “And there’s plenty. No one leaves this table hungry.” She placed her tea cup in the saucer. “Luke, I hear your cat is in the Ivey Veterinary Hospital. How’s she getting along?”
“That’s good news,” she said with sincerity.
“Yes,” Nola agreed. “We were so sorry to hear about her accident.”
June smiled at Lily, then said to Luke, “I hear you’re responsible for saving our cherub.”
“Huh?” he said after swallowing.
“Lily. You pushed her to safety when that car ran amok. What a brave thing you did.”
Luke looked down, then took a sip of his soda.
“We’ll be forever grateful to him,” Michael said, choking up.
Obviously embarrassed, Luke mumbled, “Anyone would have done the same.”
“I’m not so sure about that,” Savannah challenged. “That was some mighty quick thinking on your part. I’m just so thankful you saw what was about to happen.”
“God put you in the right place at the right time,” June said.
Luke smiled at Lily, who was babbling in baby talk, then continued eating his meal.
After devouring several cookies and drinking a large glass of milk, he sat back in his chair and wiped his mouth with a napkin. Suddenly noticing that all eyes were on him, he squirmed a little and said, “Oh, is everyone waiting for me?”
“Yeah,” Michael joked, “I thought you were going to eat the flower arrangement there.”
Luke looked confused. “Huh?” He then grinned. “Oh, it’s a joke. I get it.” He pointed. “I didn’t eat that much, Dr. Mike. Look, there are cookies left. I didn’t eat them all.”
“Why not? Aren’t you hungry?” Michael teased.
“Not anymore,” the boy said, grinning widely.
Nola rose from her chair. “Well, how about we take that tour, then?”
“There’s more?” Luke asked.
“Yes, we have a colony of cats outside. We want to show you the unique enclosure we’ve designed for them.”
When June noticed Luke’s expression, she added, “Enclosures to keep them safe while still giving them a great deal of freedom.” She addressed Savannah and Michael. “Come take a look. You’re not going to recognize the ravine cats. They’ve blossomed tremendously since we established Ragsdale’s Cat Ranch.”
