by Patricia Fry
"Thanks," Cheryl said. She cringed. "Oh, I hope she stopped in over there and your aunt is keeping her safe."
Savannah removed Rags's halter and picked up her phone. "Hi, how are you?"
"Okay," Margaret said. "How about you? You have company, I see."
"Yes, Rob and Cheryl are here. Listen, Auntie, we're missing a cat. Can you watch for a sweet dark tabby kitten? Well, she's nearly a year old now. She's part Maine coon, but actually looks like she could be full-bred. We think she escaped from the house earlier. Can you keep an eye out for her? She's just about as precious as they come," Savannah added.
Cheryl smiled painfully.
"Precious and naughty, huh?" Margaret asked.
"Naughty?" Savannah questioned.
"Yeah, if she escaped."
"Maybe a little adventurous," Savannah said. "I just hope she doesn't run into trouble before someone finds her."
"I'll go out and look around," Margaret said. "I'll get Max to go with me."
"Thanks so much, Auntie." Once she'd ended the call, Savannah faced Rob and Cheryl. "My aunt and uncle are on it. If she made her way to their place, they'll find her."
"Thank you," Cheryl said weakly.
Just then, Savannah shouted, "No, Lily!"
Everyone turned to see what had happened, but it was too late. Lily had opened the kitchen door, giving Rags just enough time to leap from the windowsill perch and scamper out into the darkness.
"Darn it!" Savannah said. "Lily, what were you doing?"
"I was looking for Gidget," Lily said, tears spilling from her blue eyes. She took a ragged breath. "I thought I heard her outside, Mommy. I'm sorry."
Savannah wrapped her arms around the child. "It's okay, honey," she soothed. "Everything will be okay."
When Lily continued to sob, Michael picked her up and walked with her into the living room, where Gladys was watching Teddy play with one of his trucks.
Savannah sighed. She glanced around to make sure there were no other cats lurking nearby, then she opened the door and stepped out. Cheryl followed her. "Rags!" Savannah called. "Rags!" she shouted more loudly. "Darn it, anyway." She picked up her phone. "I'll let my aunt know there are now two renegade cats running loose."
****
"We might as well go to bed, hon," Michael said later that night. "It's after eleven thirty."
"And leave the cats out?" Savannah complained.
"Rags has spent the night outside before," he reminded her. "He knows where we live. He'll be okay." Michael looked at Cheryl and Rob. "And if he has found Gidget, she'll be okay, too."
"I sure hope so," Cheryl said. "I'm so worried. Is it okay if I sleep on the couch?" she asked. "Then I can get up and check on the cats. I know I won't be able to sleep, anyway."
"Sure," Savannah said, "if it'll give you some peace of mind."
"I won't get peace of mind until Gidget is back in my arms," Cheryl moaned.
Rob rubbed her back. "Want me to stay out here with you, babe?"
"Would you?" Cheryl asked.
"I'll get some blankets," Savannah offered. After she'd dropped sheets, blankets, and pillows onto the sofa, she said, "Wake me, Cheryl, if they come back, will you? Like you, I'll probably be awake most of the night, anyway."
"Sure," Cheryl said. "I just keep visualizing them walking up the steps out there and knocking on the door."
Just then, they heard what actually sounded like a knock. "Is someone at the door?" Michael asked. He looked around to make sure no cats had followed him, then opened the door slowly. "Max!" he exclaimed.
"I saw the lights on and thought you might still be up and still be worried," he explained.
"Did you find them?" Savannah asked eagerly, motioning for him to come inside.
Michael closed the door after him.
"Maybe," he said. He frowned. "Maggie told me you're missing two cats, Rags and a dark-colored tabby. Well, I went out one last time just now to check for any intruders in the cat pens, and I saw something."
"What?" Cheryl asked.
"I'm pretty sure it was them. I saw just a streak. It or they disappeared through the outside door as I entered the cattery from the house. By the time I made it to the door, they were gone. I didn't think it was Rags at first, since he usually doesn't dart away from me or Maggie. He's kind of a regular here, you know—or he was for a while there—but he may have reacted to his friend's fear and high-tailed it out with her." He chuckled. "One thing I can tell you is they look healthy—at least they sure got up some speed as they ran out the door. I'd hoped they'd come back over here, but I take it you haven't seen them."
"No," Savannah said. She opened the door and called, "Rags, are you out there? Gidget! Come in, you two. Raaags!" She stepped back inside. "Nothing. Darn it." She put her hand on Max's arm. "Thank you for letting us know. We were just getting ready to call it a night. Say a prayer that they're waiting for us to open the door first thing in the morning, safe and sound."
"I sure will," Max said. "Sorry I wasn't able to capture those rascals."
"You did your best," Michael said.
"Yes," Cheryl said. "Thank you."
Chapter Three
"Anything?" Savannah asked when she found Cheryl in the kitchen making coffee the next morning.
Cheryl dropped her shoulders and shook her head. "No." With a little more enthusiasm, she said, "Rob wants to go out this morning and look around. He doesn't think they could have gotten far. Cats don't typically walk far, do they?"
"It depends on their motivation," Savannah said.
"Well, Rob thinks the cats may have spent the night right on your property, curled up in the back of Michael's truck or on the porch swing or something."
Savannah peered out the window. "Let's hope so." She opened the kitchen door and scanned the area as far as she could see. "Not on the deck furniture," she reported with a sigh.
"Yeah," Cheryl said, "we looked around on the porch already. Didn't see a sign of them."
"No cats?" Michael asked, joining the women.
"No," Savannah said, closing the door and picking up Teddy, who had run up to her. "Rob could be right, Cheryl. They may have hunkered down out there someplace. Let's hope so." She handed Teddy to Michael and said, "Let me get the kids settled with some breakfast, then we'll go outside and look around."
"They could be darn near anywhere," Michael mumbled.
Savannah had begun to cut up some fresh fruit when her phone chimed. She wiped off her hands and quickly picked it up. "A text from Auntie. She wants to know if we found the scoundrels." Savannah typed, "Not yet. Getting ready to go hunting."
"Dang," Margaret typed. "I'll go out and check our pens."
"Thank you," Savannah wrote. When she saw Cody and Rob step into the room, she said, "Morning, guys. I hope you all got some sleep."
"Still no cats?" Cody asked.
"No," Savannah said.
Rob shook his head. "Well, Rags has done this before, and he always comes back. Hopefully he'll keep our little girl safe."
Savannah winced. "Or she has a bee in her bonnet and she's leading him astray."
"She does have a little mind of her own," Cheryl admitted. "We've seen her bully poor Miss Kitty something awful."
Savannah let out a sigh. "Let's just hope that whatever adventure they're chasing, they're staying safe. Please, please," she whimpered.
****
Savannah, Cheryl, Rob, and Cody had been searching and calling for the cats for about thirty minutes when Savannah received a call. She looked at her phone. "It's my aunt. Hi," she answered.
"Vannie, you need to get over here right away."
"What is it, Auntie?" Savannah asked alarmed. "Why? What's going on?"
"It's Rags and the Maine coon cat. Hurry. You're not going to believe this."
"You found them? Are they okay?" Savannah asked.
Rob and Cheryl rushed to her side in anticipation. Cheryl asked, "Where are they? Are they okay?"
&nbs
p; "Just get over here," Margaret insisted.
"We'll be right there," Savannah said, ending the call. She took a couple of quick breaths, saying, "My aunt found the cats. Come on!" She started to walk toward Margaret's and Max's house, then stopped. "Maybe we'd better take a car. Anyone got keys?"
"I do," Rob said. "Hop in."
"Hurry, Rob," Cheryl pleaded. "Ohhh, I just hope our baby's okay."
When Rob pulled into the Sheridan's driveway, he said, "There's your aunt. What's that she's looking at. It's Rags, isn't it?"
"Yes," Savannah said, quickly exiting the car. "Rags!" she called.
"But where's Gidget?" Cheryl asked, sounding panicked.
"Right here," Margaret assured her. She put her hand up indicating that the others should slow their pace.
Savannah was first to reach the porch where Margaret stood waiting. She kneeled and petted Rags, checking him over as he stood up and walked back and forth in front of her, meowing. "Where's Gidget?" she asked, looking around.
"This is the part you're not going to believe," Margaret said, grinning.
"I've never seen anything like it," Max added, chuckling.
Margaret motioned toward a small basket. Inside was the Maine coon kitten curled up rather awkwardly.
"Gidget," Cheryl cried, reaching for the cat.
Margaret stopped her. "I wouldn't, if I were you. I'm pretty sure she's been injured."
"What's wrong with her?" Rob asked, moving closer.
"If I were to guess, I'd say it's a broken leg," Max said. "She doesn't seem to be in pain as long as she lies still." He shook his head. "But can you believe that cat? From the looks of it, Rags has been pulling her along in that basket from who knows where for much of the night." Max carefully tipped the basket. "See how it's all worn on this bottom edge?"
"What?" Savannah yelped. "Rags pulled that thing with her in it? From where, I wonder? Where were they?"
"Home in a hand basket," Rob said, snickering.
Max laughed. "That's not quite it, Rob, but funny, nonetheless."
"My poor little girl," Cheryl gushed, dropping to her knees next to the basket. "A broken leg?"
Max nodded. "I think so.
Cody moved closer. "Let me take a look."
"Why?" Cheryl challenged, maintaining her position next to Gidget.
"I'm sorry," he said. "I'm in my fourth year of veterinary school, I can probably give you a diagnosis—related to the leg, at least."
Rob put his hands on Cheryl's shoulders and encouraged her to move aside.
"Yeah, I'm afraid the man's right," Cody reported. "Broken. And I see puncture wounds around the hip area there—maybe bite marks."
"By the way, guys," Savannah said, "this is Cody Byrd. Cody, this is my aunt and uncle, Margaret and Max Sheridan."
Margaret looked at him wide-eyed. "One of the boys who was in that cave?"
Max shook Cody's hand when he stood up. "And a veterinary student?"
Cody nodded and glanced at the cattery. "Looks like you have a nice setup here."
"Thanks. Want a tour?" Max asked.
"Sure would," Cody said. He looked at Rob and Cheryl. "You'd better have Dr. Mike meet you at the clinic. She's going to need treatment."
Cheryl kneeled next to Gidget again and gently petted her head.
"Thank you," Rob said, crouching next to Cheryl.
"Come on," Max invited, leading Cody into the cattery.
Meanwhile, Savannah called her husband. "Michael, we found them. Cody and Max are pretty sure Gidget has a broken leg and maybe some bite wounds. When are you leaving for work?"
"You're at your aunt's?" he asked.
"Yes." She glanced around at the others and saw Rob snapping pictures of the cats. "We can meet you at the clinic. We're in Rob's car."
"Okay," Michael said. "I'm leaving the house now." As an afterthought, he added, "Try to keep her still for the ride. Can you borrow a carrier or a bed, where you can make her comfortable?"
Savannah chuckled. "She's about as comfortable as she can get right now, in a basket. She doesn't seem interested in moving. Michael, you're not going to believe it when you see it."
"Oh?" he said. "Well, I'll see you in a few, then."
"It's a wonder Rags didn't take her to the clinic," Rob said, snapping another couple of pictures.
Savannah looked around. "Yeah, maybe the accident happened closer to home than to the clinic, so that's why he brought her here."
Margaret stared down at the cats. "I sure do wonder what happened."
"There are some secrets cats simply won't share," Savannah said. "They're good secret-keepers."
After looking at the two cats from a couple of different angles, Rob said, "Savannah, I'd like to get a picture of Rags pulling her in that thing. Want to help me with that?"
She shook her head. "I think we'll be good just to get a picture of him sitting next to the basket. Let's not press the issues, shall we? We don't want her to try climbing out of there."
"Okay," he said, snapping a few more pictures. "Let's get her over to the clinic. He reached down to pick up the basket, but backed away when a car pulled up close to the Sheridan's house.
"It's Damon," Savannah said. "Hi," she called, when he stepped out of the car. "Everything all right?"
"Yeah. Just following a tip," he said, walking toward her.
"A tip?" she questioned.
He looked down at the two cats. "Is that the basket? I heard there was a cat out this way someplace pulling a basket behind him." He shook his head. "So it was Rags? How about that?" He stepped back and took a couple of pictures. "Who's the cute cat in there? Is something wrong with it?"
"Max and Cody believe she has a broken leg," Savannah explained. "We're taking her to see Michael now."
"She's our kitten," Cheryl said. "She and Rags ran off last night, and we found them over here just now."
Damon petted Rags and shook his head. "Incredible. Savannah, you should write a book," he joked. "Oh that's right, you've already done that."
He looked at Cody when he and Max returned to the porch. "Hey, Cody, right? You're looking some better than when I last saw you."
Cody, reached his hand out. "Cody Byrd, soon to be author." He nodded. "Yes, I was one of the chumps down in the cave last week. I vaguely remember you asking me questions. You're a reporter?"
Damon nodded. "You look good, man. Didn't know you'd been hanging around here."
"I wanted to talk to Savannah," he said. "I'm leaving today. I have a cat that's probably eager to get out of the house. She likes my parents, but I think she gets a little bored being inside all the time."
Damon smiled.
"Are you going with us, Savannah?" Rob asked as he gently placed the basket with Gidget in it on Cheryl's lap.
"I was," she said, "but I think I'd probably better get back to the kids. You know how to get there, don't you?"
Rob nodded.
Savannah ran her hand over Gidget's head. "I hope everything goes well. Poor little thing."
Rob started to drive out of the driveway when he stopped and backed up.
"What's wrong?" Savannah asked when Cheryl rolled down her window.
"I think she wants Rags," Cheryl said. "She's getting all antsy."
"Oh," Margaret said, "she probably doesn't like the car ride."
"She rode fine from LA," Rob told her. "Bring Rags over here, and let's see if she settles down. I'm just afraid she's going to try to get out of the basket and hurt herself."
Savannah picked up Rags and carried him to the car window.
"That's it," Cheryl said. "See how she's relaxed? Can we take him with us?"
"Well, I think I'd better go with you if he's going. Let me call Mom." As she put the phone to her ear, she quickly asked her aunt, "Do you have a harness and leash I can borrow?" She then said, "Hi, Mom. Michael probably told you that we found the cats. Listen, Rob and Cheryl want Rags to go with them to the clinic. Gidget gets upset when he's out of
her sight."
"No problem, Vannie. You go; we're fine. I have no plans today."
"Thanks, Mom." She took the harness from Margaret and fitted it to Rags, then climbed into the car with Rob, Cheryl, and Cody.
She tried to hold Rags back while she fastened her seatbelt, but he was determined to sit on the console closer to Gidget.
"He's okay," Cheryl said. "She's calmer when she can see him. Let him ride there."
****
"He what?" Michael asked, stunned when Savannah told the story as she knew it.
She said, "Yes, Rags evidently pulled Gidget in that basket from we don't know where to Auntie's and Max's. People along the way evidently saw the two cats, and someone called the paper. Damon came out and took pictures. I guess other people took pictures too, so it may go viral on the Internet. Anyway, we're pretty sure she has a broken leg. Poor thing."
Michael shook his head. "Well, bring her in here, will you?" He stopped and pointed. "We'll use that first exam room." Before walking off with the others, he petted Rags. "Just when I think I've seen it all with him…" He scratched his head and asked, "He pulled that basket in his mouth? That would put a lot of stress on his teeth." Michael picked up Rags and joined the others in the exam room. Before looking at Gidget, he opened Rags's mouth. "Looks like he got a few small lacerations from the sharp edges of that strap. I guess it used to be a handle over the top of the basket. His gums might be sore for a few days. But he looks okay. No loose teeth." He shook his head and patted Rags, then said, "Now let's see what's going on with the little one."
After examining her and taking an x-ray, he confirmed, "Yup, broken, but not misaligned. I don't think it will inconvenience her all that much to wear a support on that leg while it heals."
"Thank heavens," Cheryl said, petting Gidget. "You're going to be okay," she murmured into the cat's fur. She asked Michael, "What do you think happened?"
Cody stepped up and asked, "Did you see those wounds? They look to me like bite marks."
"No," Michael said. "She's so full of fur. I was thinking she'd been hit by a car or was caught in some sort of machinery, but, yeah, it looks like her fur has been wet in this area, doesn't it?" He asked, "Where'd you see the puncture wounds, Cody?"