Patricia Fry - Klepto Cat 03 - Sleight of Paw

by Patricia Fry

  Michael raked his hand through his hair, looked over at his wife, and said, “But honey…”

  “Hi Dr. Mike,” Charlotte said. “Look, Ragth found wormth. Loth of them. They’re all wiggling around under thith tree. He likth to watch them wiggle.”

  “Worms?” Savannah said excitedly. “Look Michael, worms. See, this ground isn’t dead. There is life out here. There is no curse unless we choose to believe it.”

  “But what about the fact that no one ever had a child while they lived here?” Michael asked.

  “Coincidence, pure and simple,” she said. “Or, they simply believed they would be barren.” She tilted her head. “When the gypsies put the spell on the house, they probably made it known to the original Forster family. They knew there was a curse and they believed it. With each generation, the story became somewhat diluted. Auntie knew about the curse, but the details of it had been lost to history.”

  He shook his head, glanced around the small orchard and then looked over at his wife. “I suppose you could be right.”

  “Of course I am,” she said. And then she wrapped her arms around his neck and said, “Oh, Michael, I am so happy.”

  Chapter Sixteen

  Fall turned into winter and then spring. Brianna had finished her studies in Indiana and was busy applying as a geriatric physician in a variety of clinics and offices throughout California. She hoped to find a position somewhere near Hammond in order to be closer to Bud. They were both tiring of the long-distance aspect of their blossoming relationship. And, while Bud had his veterinary license, he was rather content working part-time on his folks’ ranch outside of Hammond and part-time as a vet tech for the Iveys’ clinic. Although, he knew that if he and Brianna were to marry, he might have to make some changes. His dad was talking about retiring in a couple of years. Did he want the full responsibility for the ranch? Would Brianna be contented living the ranch life? He knew he needed to take inventory of his priorities while also considering her dreams and goals.

  In the meantime, the clinic was getting busier and busier. One day Michael invited Bud out to lunch. “Listen Bud, I know you completed your veterinary studies some months ago. I suppose you’re dreaming of a practice of your own, and you will be an excellent veterinarian. I’ve valued you as an employee for the last…what has it been…four or five years?”

  “Yeah, something like that,” Bud said.

  “As you know, business is picking up. I’ve been thinking that we ought to hire another veterinarian. And Bud, if you would like the job on a part-time basis like you’ve been working, I want to offer it to you. I see it working into a full-time job in the near future—if that’s what you want.”

  “Gosh, thanks, Dr. Mike. I appreciate your confidence in me.” Bud sat back in the booth while their sandwiches were served. He looked at his plate for a moment and then said, “Can I think about it and, talk to Brianna and my folks? I’ll let you know.”

  “Sure, Bud. Not a problem.”

  ***

  “How are the Easter plans coming, honey?” Michael asked as he slipped into his flip-flops one Sunday morning.

  Savannah stepped out of the bathroom, pulled her hair back, and wrapped it in a knot. “I am having so much fun! I can’t wait to have the whole family together here for an entire weekend. It’ll be like I remember when I was a kid and all of us cousins came here and played. Some of my cousins have children now and Adam will be here. It is just going to be the most perfect Easter ever. We’ll have horseback riding, horseshoes, and of course an Easter egg hunt.”

  “You’re so cute when you’re excited,” Michael said, walking over to Savannah and tapping the tip of her nose. “So what are we going to do today? Do we have plans?” he asked, wrapping his arms around her waist and looking into her eyes.

  “Well, there’s a lot to do around here since our Big Sur trip. Gosh, I’m glad Bud stepped up to the plate and decided to work as a vet at least part time for us, so we can get away like that sometimes.”

  “Yeah, we’ve been so busy with the practice and finishing up some of the remodeling projects, the everyday upkeep is piling up around us. I don’t know when I last washed off the porch…”

  “And I’ve even neglected my sweet mare,” Savannah said with a frown.

  “Good idea to board her at Bonnie’s these last few weeks, don’t you think?”

  “Yes. But I want to bring her home as soon as possible—the weather is getting better, the days are getting longer…and I miss her.”

  “Meow.”

  “Hi Ragsy,” Savannah said as she spotted the cat rounding the corner into the room. “Yes, I’m going to feed you. Come on. Let’s go,” she said heading for the kitchen.

  After feeding the small animals, Savannah started the coffee, poured herself a glass of orange juice, and stepped out onto the porch. She pulled her sweatshirt around her, scrunched down into one of the cushy porch chairs and began scanning the horizon. Hmmm, don’t like looking out at an empty corral. Need to bring my horse home, she thought. She looked beyond the corral and toward the orchard she’d so lovingly tended these past months. I haven’t been out there in a while. Need to go check on things.

  She went back into the kitchen, donned her rubber boots, and walked out to the little orchard. As she approached, something caught her eye. What’s that? she thought to herself. A bump in the dirt. She walked closer. Lots of bumps in the dirt. She knelt down and picked at the dirt on one of the bumps. Underneath she saw a bit of green poking through. Green! It’s a sprout. My sunflowers are sprouting! Oh my gosh!

  She stood up and began running toward the house. “Michael! Michael!” she called.

  He swung open the kitchen door. “What?” he said, his brow furrowed in worry.

  “I have sprouts,” she said breathlessly.

  “You have what?” he asked.

  “Sprouts. My sunflowers are sprouting!”

  Michael stood there, a puzzled look on his face.

  “Come see, Michael,” she said turning and rushing back out to the orchard.

  “Well, by golly, honey, these are sprouts. And they sure do look like sunflowers.”

  “See Michael, the orchard isn’t dead. There is no curse.”

  Michael wasn’t completely convinced, however. It had been months since they’d decided they wanted a baby and still Savannah hadn’t become pregnant. He took in a deep breath and looked around, not knowing quite what to say to Savannah. Obviously, she is convinced, but I’m not sure I am, he thought. As Savannah flicked the crust of soil off several sunflower seed sprouts, gleefully counting after uncovering each one, Michael looked out over the horizon. Suddenly, his eyes caught a glimpse of something. Could it be? He stared for a moment and then, as if somehow drawn toward it, he began walking—slowly at first and then his pace hastened. He stopped, stunned for a moment, and then he called out, “Savannah! Savannah!”

  She looked up and saw him standing in front of one of the old fruit trees. He turned to look at her and called out again, “Come here; you’re not going to believe this!”

  Savannah hurried to her feet and rushed to his side as fast as she could go in her rubber boots. “What is it?”

  “Look…leaves. This tree is full of little leaves. It’s alive.” He looked around. “And this tree has a shadow of green, too. Look, is that a leaf unfurling there? Savannah, your orchard is alive!” he said, laughing out loud. He looked over at her and saw tears streaming down her face. He wrapped his arms around her and held her to him while she sobbed softly.

  She then pulled away from Michael, wiped her eyes, and stared at the trees. “This is incredible,” she said. “Oh my gosh, Michael. There is no curse, is there? Maybe there never was.” She then shook her head and said, “Then why…?”

  He held her to him resting his chin on her head. “I don’t know. I just don’t know, honey.”

  Suddenly, she pulled away and said, “Michael, what is the date?”

  “Um, the tenth isn’t it?”<
br />
  “It is? March tenth? Oh my gosh. I’m never this late.” She turned toward the house, held out her hand. “Michael come with me quick.”

  “What’s going on, Savannah. What are you late for? We don’t have to go to work today.”

  “Just come with me.” She led him into the house through the living room and into their bedroom, where she said, “Wait here.”

  He sat down and petted Rags, who was lying in the unmade bed. “What’s up, buddy?” he asked the cat, while scratching him behind the ear.

  “Okay, Michael,” Savannah said, rushing into the room. “Watch and see what happens.”

  “Watch what?” he asked. “What is that thing?”

  “A pregnancy test,” she said matter-of-factly.

  “What?” He jumped up from the bed and turned to face her. “Do you mean?”

  “I don’t know, yet. We have to watch and see if this thing turns blue. It’s supposed to take three to five minutes.”

  He raked his hand through his hair and asked, “How long has it been?”

  “Let’s see,” she said, consulting her watch, “one and a half.”

  Michael sat down next to Savannah and put his arm around her. The two of them stared for what seemed like the longest two minutes ever. Finally, she said, “It’s turning, Michael. I can see it turning blue.”

  “Yes, it’s blue—Oh my gosh, does this mean?”

  “Yes, it could mean that we’re finally pregnant.”

  “Should you see the doctor to be sure?”

  “Well yes, we’ll do that. But these home pregnancy tests, I’m told, can be quite accurate and you can get results immediately.” They both looked down at the strip again. She said, “Blue. Definitely blue.”

  “Does that mean a boy?” he asked.

  “No. These tests aren’t that advanced.” She stood up. “But Michael,” she said jumping up and down, “it could very well mean that we are pregnant. We’re going to have a baby.”

  “Wow! I’m speechless. A baby.” He stood and pulled her down on the bed with him, rose up on his elbows, and said, “I am so happy. Thank you.”

  ***

  “I’m seeing the doctor today,” Savannah announced. “It has been a month, and I want to make sure everything’s okay.”

  “Can I come?”

  “Well, you can if you want—in fact, why don’t you come and they can do the vaginal on you.”

  “Naw, I’ll pass on that one,” he said shaking his head.

  “Truly, there is no reason for you to be there today, I’m sure.”

  An hour later, Savannah walked into Michael’s office as he studied a chart. He stood immediately upon seeing her and walked swiftly toward her. “Well?” he asked.

  She didn’t even try to hide her smile. “Everything is great. Yes, we are pregnant. Oh Michael,” she said throwing her arms around him. “We could have a baby by Christmas. Can you believe it?”

  He pulled away from her and looked deeply into her eyes. Tears of joy rolled down one cheek as he said, “Yes, Savannah, I believe.”

  Other books in the Klepto Cat Mystery series

  Catnapped

  When Savannah Jordan agrees to help her aunt while she recovers from a broken foot, she doesn’t expect to walk into a mystery, become part of a not-quite-legal surveillance team, be kidnapped by a deranged stranger and meet a steaming hot veterinarian.

  Beloved neighborhood cats are missing—the community can only guess at their fate—and Aunt Margaret’s life is being threatened. Is it because she has a clue to the missing cats or is it something more sinister? Of course, as in all of the Klepto Cat Mysteries, Rags, an ordinary cat with a most unusual habit, has a paw in saving the day.

  If you like light mysteries with only a little terror, if you’re infatuated by interesting cats and if you love a love story, you must read this book.

  Cat-Eye Witness

  Savannah and Aunt Margaret open the old Forster home to the Hammond Cat Alliance for a fundraiser to help rehabilitate the abused horses rescued months earlier from the catnappers.

  Before the afternoon is over, the collected funds go missing and someone is murdered in an upstairs bedroom.

  Suspicion surrounds Iris, a local waitress and Savannah’s new best friend. The only witness to the murder is Rags, Savannah’s cat. With the assistance of a cat psychic and Rags’s good friend, Charlotte (the young girl with Downs), the cat helps to “paw” the killer…but not before an attempt is made on Rags’s life. The case is solved only after Rags comes face-to-face with the killer for the second time.

  Detective Craig Sledge is new to this book, as is Damon, Iris’s errant son. Sledge finds this to be one of the muddiest cases he has ever worked, with inconsistent clues and no apparent motive. He’s constantly surprised, perplexed and impressed by the cat’s uncanny ability to come up with clues he has missed. His fascination with the attractive Iris Clampton also mystifies the detective.

  In this story, one of the rescued horses goes into labor and there’s a night of high drama at the ole corral as veterinarians Savannah and Michael work to save the foal. This experience renews Savannah’s deep interest in horses and riding, which ultimately serves to help her bond with a very important surprise character who finds his way into her life and Michael’s just as they prepare to say their wedding vows.

  While Rags is the animal star, he isn’t the only animal featured in this story. Layla is back in all of her tangerine feline beauty. And Rags makes friends with Buffy, a perky almost Himalayan cat and the inseparable duo, Walter, an all black cat and his sidekick, Lexie, a charming Afghan mix dog. Savannah’s new ride, Peaches, also debuts in this story. An incident with this mare adds another dimension to Savannah’s and Michael’s relationship. Can he hold her with open arms?

  Some say this is a love story with a mystery in the background. And it’s a story of family and friendship as newlyweds Margaret and Max continue to be a meaningful part of Savannah’s and Michael’s world.

  Coming soon: A new Klepto Cat Mystery

  Undercover Cat

  A popular local journalist goes missing just before she has the opportunity to turn in her story exposing unscrupulous cat hoarders. Not only is Colbi a friend of Savannah’s and Michael’s, Damon (now out of prison and employed by the local newspaper) has a strong personal interest in her. In fact, Damon breaks some rules and some trusts in his search for Colbi.

  Is this a love connection? It’s doubtful because Colbi is a strong advocate for the feral cat population and Damon hates cats—or so he believes.

  Colbi’s rescue is almost too late. She needs time to heal both physically and emotionally. So the Iveys invite her to recuperate in their home. Just when Colbi begins to feel safe, a body is discovered in the Iveys’ orchard and Rags (their kleptomaniac cat) goes missing. Can someone in a nearby homeless camp shed some light on the evolving mystery?