by Patricia Fry
“Yes,” Chris said, laughing.
“Maybe she thinks you’ll pay her,” Gladys offered.
Savannah looked at her mother and thought about what she’d said. “Yeah, could be, I guess. We’ll find out soon.” She looked at her notes. “Whew, we have a busy few days ahead. We may have to stay longer than we’ve planned.” She asked Chris, “Okay with you?” “Sure,” Chris said. “I’m have a great time hanging out with all of you.”
Gladys sat up straight and faced Savannah. “Oh, Vannie, I forgot to tell you. My house in LA is vacant, if you’d like to use it for your stay.” She waved her hand in front of her. “I don’t know why I didn’t think of it before this, but the Miller family moved out last week, and it hasn’t been rented yet. If you and Chris would like to stay there, I’ll ask my manager to hold off showing it until next week. However, my handyman will probably be around some—he’s my gardener, as well. He wants to do some repairs to the fence and some yard cleanup, if you don’t mind him puttering around while you’re there.”
“That would be fine—as long as people won’t be going in and out and letting Rags out.”
“No. As I understand it, they’re finished with cleanup inside.”
“Yes, definitely, we’d love to stay there. What great timing. Thanks, Mom.”
“Good. I’ll let the neighbors know you’ll be there.” Gladys smiled. “They keep a close eye on things.”
****
By the time Michael arrived home later that afternoon, Savannah had packed her bags, created a slow-cooker meal for supper, and she’d set appointments with three of the seven people she wanted to interview in Los Angeles.
“How’s Foxy?” Michael asked.
Savannah smiled. “Doing okay.” When Glori walked in and rubbed against Michael’s legs, Savannah addressed the cat, “Isn’t that right, nurse-kitty?” She told Michael, “She doesn’t leave the room much unless he’s sleeping. He must be resting now.” Savannah picked up Glori. “She’s such a good girl. Doing a good job. She really ought to get a bonus this year.”
Michael chuckled as he left the room. He’d been gone for just a few seconds when Savannah heard him shout, “No, Rags! What are you doing?”
Savannah made eye contact with Chris, and ran down the hallway to the office. “What happened, Michael?”
“Well, I guess he jumped up on top of the pen and scared Foxy. See, he’s hiding behind his litter box.”
“Poor kitten,” Savannah cooed. “He won’t hurt you, Foxy. He probably wants to get in there with you.”
Michael lifted Rags off the cage. “Come on, you big galoot. What do you think you’re doing?”
“Well, that is his pen, Michael. Maybe he heard us talking about our trip. He always spends time in his pen when we’re traveling.”
Michael shook his head. “No harm done.” He put Rags down and reached into the pen for the kitten. He examined him, saying, “Everything looks good. Glori’s doing her job, although it could have something to do with those pheromone plug-ins. That stuff soothes some cats. So glad it’s working with Foxy.” He removed the cone and looked into the kitten’s eyes. “There, is that better? I know you hate that thing. Hey, if you continue on this path, young man, you’ll heal up nicely.” He chuckled when the kitten pawed at his face. “Yeah, you’ll be just fine as long as you don’t overdo it.”
“So you think the pheromones work, do you?” Chris asked, peering in from the hallway.
“For some cats in some situations, sure. I’m awfully glad Foxy’s one of the success stories.” He held the kitten close and ruffled his fur with one finger, crooning, “I just hope something like this won’t happen to you again.”
“So you don’t think it was an accident?” Savannah asked.
“We’re looking into it. These folks are new clients, but they say they’ve had cats before. I’m checking with other veterinarians in the area to see what I can learn about them.”
“Then what?” Chris asked. When Michael looked at her, she said, “I mean, how do you handle something like this if you feel the home isn’t safe for the animal?”
“We call animal services and they run an investigation,” Michael explained. “If they determine it’s an unsafe environment for a cat or a dog, they’ll remove the animal from the home and place him with someone who will take care of him. In some cases the problem is pure ignorance, so they might mandate classes. Most people aren’t purposely abusive or negligent; they just don’t know.”
Chris smiled. “You’re certainly an optimist.”
He looked at her and said, “It makes for a happier life if you are.”
****
The dinner-table conversation that evening was lively as the Iveys and Chris shared animal stories. Chris was especially interested in some of the more recent activities Rags had been involved in. When there was a lull, Michael asked, “So are you ready for your trip? You’re leaving early tomorrow, right?”
Savannah nodded. “Yes. Around seven. We have two jam-packed days of interviews.” She faced Chris. “I’ll work on my list of questions when you take your turn at the wheel.”
This surprised Chris. “I’m driving? Sure, I don’t mind.”
“You have a driver’s license, don’t you?” Michael asked.
“Yeah. Even though I don’t drive much in San Francisco.” She explained, “I have a car, but I live close to where I work and traffic’s so awful in that area that I usually walk or take public transportation. I drive out to the country sometimes.”
“Wine country?” Savannah asked.
“Yes. I used to drive a truck.” She chuckled. “Well, for a short time. I made deliveries to businesses in the city.”
“Really?” Savannah said. “You’re a Jill-of-many-trades, aren’t you?”
“Pretty much. I worked a lot of different jobs in order to get to the place where I could work the jobs I wanted.”
“In the science field?”
Chris nodded while putting Teddy’s sock back on his little foot. She smiled and said, “You lost something, sweetie.” She glanced at Michael, then Savannah. “This project with Rags may be one of the most fascinating in my career so far.”
“No kidding?” Savannah said. “Well, let’s hope it’s at least interesting.”
Gladys giggled. “With Rags, how can it miss?”*
****
The following morning Savannah and Chris fixed breakfast an hour earlier than usual. Michael joined them for scrambled eggs with ham, a bowl of fruit, and English muffins with Savannah’s homemade peach jam. He asked, “So, do you have all of your stuff together?”
Savannah nodded.
He motioned toward Rags, who had jumped up onto an empty chair at the table. “And you’re taking him with you?”
Meanwhile, Chris took a picture of Rags with her phone. She laughed. “He’s a kick.”
Savannah lurched forward. “Oh, that reminds me that I want to take my camera. There may be some great photo ops where I’ll want better quality shots than I can get with my phone.” She responded to Michael’s question. “Yes, I plan to take him. I want to get pictures of him with his siblings. Might as well have him with us, in case I get that opportunity.”
“Then you’ll want the pen, won’t you? I’m taking Foxy and Glori to work with me this morning. I’ll bring home another large pen for the kitten to stay in overnight.” When Savannah looked quizzical, he said, “You can’t travel with Rags without a pen.”
“No. I guess I can’t. I was thinking I wouldn’t need it since we’re staying at Mom’s.” She decided, “Yeah, I’d better take it.”
“I sure would.” He tilted his head, listening. “I think I hear our children.”
“Oh, they’re waking up?” Savannah said, leaving her chair and walking toward the hallway. After a few minutes, she returned carrying Teddy. Lily skipped ahead of them with a blanket trailing behind her.
“Hi, punkin,” Michael said, taking Lily onto his lap. He reached
for Teddy. “Hi, buddy. How’s it going?” he asked, lowering him onto his lap as well. When Teddy took the last bit of scrambled eggs and ham from his daddy’s plate, Michael scolded playfully, “Hey, you, go get your own breakfast.”
Teddy giggled and Michael blew raspberries on his neck, causing him to giggle even more.
“What’s all the noise?” Gladys asked, walking into the kitchen. She kissed the top of Lily’s head, then Teddy’s. “Sounds like happy noise.”
“Yup,” Michael said after Lily had scooted off his lap. He stood up and put Teddy in his high chair. “Happy, happy,” he murmured. He helped Savannah prepare plates for the children, then he slipped into his lightweight jacket.
“Are you leaving already?” Savannah asked, pouring milk for the children.
“Yes, I want to check on LuLu. She had a bit of a rough time during surgery yesterday. Bud was going in to check her around midnight. I didn’t hear from him, so I guess she was doing okay, but I want to make sure.”
“Is LuLu a kitty, Daddy?” Lily asked.
“A doggie. A cute little poodle mix.”
“What color?” Lily asked.
“White,” he said.
“Does she have an owey?”
Michael nodded. “Indeed she does. One of her brother dogs bit her.”
“Oooh,” Lily moaned. “Poor LuLu.”
Chris grinned. “Do you think she’ll be a veterinarian?”
Michael and Savannah looked at each other. He said, “Could be. Lily, do you want to be a veterinarian?”
The four-year-old thought before saying, “Yes, and a mommy, and I want a ranch where I can keep ponies.”
“You’re an ambitious young lady,” Chris said, smiling.
Michael picked up a carrier and left the room, returning with Foxy inside. He put Glori’s harness and leash on her, and immediately Rags perked up. He ran to Michael and started rubbing against his legs. When Michael didn’t respond, Rags sat down and looked up at him, then walked around him and rubbed on him again. “Rags, just settle down,” Michael said. “You’re not going with me. You’re going on a road trip with Mom and Chris today. Glori has to go to work. You don’t want to go to work, do you?”
Savannah chuckled, then asked, “Who wants to help me feed Peaches and Gypsy?”
“Me,” Lily said, slipping down from her chair. “I do.”
“Me,” Teddy chirped, pushing against his high-chair tray.
Savannah lifted him out of the chair and he immediately ran toward the hallway.
“Where’s he going?” Gladys asked.
“Probably to get his boots,” Savannah said. “He likes to wear his rubber boots when we go out to the corrals.”
“Can I help?” Chris asked, “Although I didn’t bring my boots.”
Savannah nodded. “It’s okay. It shouldn’t be muddy.” After helping Teddy with his boots and leading him down the porch steps, Savannah said, “So what do you kids think about the new kitty?”
Lily looked up at her mother. “Where did Daddy take the kitty and Glori?”
“To work, where he and Bud can watch the kitty.”
“Why?” Lily asked.
“You saw the kitty. He’s hurt.”
“The kitty still has a broken leg?” Lily asked.
Savannah nodded. “Yes. And the kitty wants to play, but he’s not supposed to play until his leg’s all better.”
“Did Daddy say that? Daddy’s the animal doctor; did he tell the kitty that?” Lily asked.
Savannah nodded. “He sure did.”
“And Daddy’s going to watch the kitty?” Lily asked.
Savannah nodded. “And Glori. Glori’s the kitty’s nurse.”
Lily tilted her head. “Glori’s a nurse?”
“Yes, she’s Foxy’s nurse while he recovers.”
“Kitty broken?” Teddy asked. He became serious when he said, “My goat’s broken.”
“Your goat’s broken?” Savannah repeated.
“He broke it with his saw and hammer,” Lily said.
“You sawed your toy goat?”
Teddy nodded. “Leg broke, head broke.”
“That’s no way to treat your toys,” Savannah said. “Maybe we should take away your saw and your hammer.”
“Bad goat,” Teddy said. “He eat cow food.”
Savannah chuckled. “Oh, that was a bad goat, but we don’t saw up goats or cows or kitty cats.”
“They are a kick,” Chris said. “Such cuties.”
“There you are,” Michael said, joining Savannah, Chris, and the children at the corrals. “Helping Mommy feed the horses?” he asked.
“Hay,” Teddy said.
Michael nodded. “Yes, they’re eating hay aren’t they? I see that you have your boots on.”
“Horse boots,” Teddy said, pointing at them.
Savannah shaded her eyes. “I thought you left, Michael.”
“Yeah, I wanted to take a closer look at Foxy before we go. I’m concerned about the little fellow.”
“Why? Is he still too active?”
“No, it’s not that. He seems much quieter this morning. I think we have a better splint on him now; it took some ingenuity because of where the break is. Bud and I almost decided to take the leg off, and we might still have to if this attempt fails.” He leaned up against the corral rails while watching Savannah fill the water trough. He chuckled when Teddy floated a piece of straw in the tub. “It’s just that I wonder if Foxy’s being abused.”
“You’re still worried about that, are you?” Savannah asked.
He grimaced. “It’s something veterinarians face every once in a while—a sketchy case of possible abuse. It’s a real catch-twenty-two for us. We have to be real sure before we confront a client or call authorities, but dang it, we also want to stop any possible abuse before it happens. If we falsely accuse someone, we’re at risk for a lawsuit, so we have to be pretty darn sure.”
“What does Bud say? Wasn’t Foxy Bud’s patient?” Savannah asked.
“Yes. He’s the one who brought it to my attention. It’s the kind of break he has that concerns us. It’s one of those red-flag breaks. And this isn’t the first time he’s been taken to a veterinarian with an injury.”
“No kidding,” Chris said. “That does sound ominous. How old is the kitten, about three months?”
Michael nodded. “Thirteen weeks.”
“The fact that they’re getting him help must indicate that these people aren’t purposely hurting the kitten,” Chris suggested. “Do they have other animals?”
“No. Just this one kitten. I spoke to the owner last evening, and the strange thing is that I got an entirely different story about what happened than Bud did when they first brought Foxy in. Initially, it was the recliner chair. Last night the man said something about accidently stepping on the kitten.”
“That does sound suspicious,” Savannah said. “What are you going to do?”
“I’m not sure. Bud and I’ll discuss it. We’ll do whatever we think is best for Foxy,” he assured her. “Hey, I’d better get to work. Have a good day, ladies and kids.” He stopped and said to Savannah, “Drive safely. Have a good trip. I’ll check in with you later.”
****
“Come give Mommy kisses and hugs,” Savannah said, crouching with her arms open a while later as she and Chris prepared to leave. “Teddy, Mommy’s going bye-bye. Come give me huggies.”
Before the toddler could respond, Lily barreled into the living room and ran into her mother’s arms. “Bye, Mommy,” she said, hugging her tightly.
“Watch out!” Gladys called, laughing. “Here comes the tank.”
“Ooof,” Savannah said when Teddy rammed into her full force. She lost her balance and fell over.
Both children laughed. “Pig pile!” Lily shouted. “Grammy, come do the pig pile with us.”
Gladys continued laughing. “I don’t think so, but thanks anyway.” She reached for Teddy, then helped Lily up.
&
nbsp; “That was almost too much love,” Savannah said, lifting herself up off the floor.
“You have the most fun family,” Chris said, also continuing to laugh. “A little crazy with all the critters, but fun.”
Savannah smiled. She hugged her mother and each of the children, then picked up Rags’s leash and walked out the door behind Chris, waving and throwing kisses. “See you all soon. I’ll FaceTime you tomorrow.”
“He’s going to ride in the baby’s car seat?” Chris asked, watching Savannah strap Rags in.
“Yeah, Michael and I just discovered a few days ago that we could do this.” She stood back. “See, he’s confined, but still able to sit in the car seat on his blanket or lie on the seat. He can even ride on the seat back, if he wants to. So far it seems to work pretty well. Of course, he doesn’t fight being restrained. He’s used to the harness.”
Chris glanced at the house. “Won’t they need the car seat for Teddy?”
“Oh, this is an extra one,” Savannah said. “Yeah, Mom has the seats the children use in her car. They’re all set.”
Chris smiled at Rags. “He’s such a good boy. He’s confident, isn’t he?”
“Yes,” Savannah said. “That’s part of his large personality—his confidence.”
“I think that’s what attracts people to him most,” Chris assessed, “his confident nature. He’s not meek and mild and standoffish.”
Savannah chuckled. “No. None of those things.” She slid in behind the steering wheel and placed her phone on the console. “I want to talk to Marilyn, the gal at the shelter in LA. I’ll wait until we’re on the highway, then I’ll place the call.”
“Oh, you have the hands-free system in this car?”
“Yes,” Savannah said. “I don’t use it much, but we have it.”
The two women chatted as Savannah drove them through town toward the freeway, then Savannah placed the call. “Hi, Marilyn, this is Savannah. Is this a good time to talk, or do you want to call me back?”
“Yes, I can talk. What’s up, Savannah? You’re leaving to come down here today, right? And the DNA specialist will be with you?”
