Wild On My Mind

by Laurel Kerr

  Katie eyed him suspiciously, and Bowie held up both of his hands. “I promise, Katie. I will kiss a pig for you. You can check the site before you start.”

  “Fine. I’ll come tomorrow, and if you buy a webcam, I’ll get it set up then too. What times do you need help?”

  Bowie almost laughed at the question. Ideally, they’d have a list of trained volunteers who could help out when an orphaned animal arrived. Unfortunately, interest in the zoo had been slowly dying since its heyday in the seventies and eighties when Lou had run one of the more well-regarded sanctuaries for orphaned animals. Bowie needed at least five more workers 24/7, but he was lucky to find one, considering the small size of Sagebrush Flats. Instead, he only said, “An eight-hour shift would be great, but I understand if you can’t commit that much time. Any little bit will help, and we can be flexible with your schedule.”

  “I can generally start at eleven at night and leave early in the morning, but I’ll stop by around seven tomorrow to get oriented.”

  He stared at her in disbelief. “You want the graveyard shift?”

  “My mom still needs help with my dad during the day. Plus, I’ve always been a night owl who doesn’t require much sleep.”

  Something else clicked in Bowie’s brain. Katie was the daughter of Chief Underwood, the man who’d been shot in the chest by a former convict. No wonder she was back in town.

  “I was sorry to hear about your dad.”

  At the mention of her father, Katie’s expression softened. “Thank you.”

  “How’s he doing?”

  “Okay, considering everything that happened. His physical therapy is going well. In fact, I’m driving him there tomorrow morning.”

  “It’s nice of you to help your folks out.”

  Katie nodded again, and Bowie took a deep breath. He hated to derail the conversation now that it was going relatively well, but he couldn’t ignore the tension brewing beneath the surface. The woman didn’t like him, and he didn’t blame her. Not after what he’d done. If they were going to establish a meaningful rapport, he needed to apologize.

  “Katie, about what I did back in high—”

  Her entire body stiffened, and her eyes flashed just as they had the night before. “The only part about the past that I want to discuss is how you’re going to kiss that pig.”

  “Okay,” Bowie said in the tone he’d use with a skittish animal.

  Katie swallowed as she clearly reined in her temper. “Okay. I’m glad we’re clear on that now.” Then, with the same Amazonian grace he’d witnessed last night, she strode from his office. She didn’t slam the door, but the way she shut it showed that she hadn’t forgotten all the tricks he’d played on her.

  Bowie stared after her for a moment before groaning and dropping his head into his hands.

  What the hell had he just gotten himself into?

  * * *

  Fluffy watched the redheaded female human with interest as she left the zoo’s office. She wore a triumphant smile, which Fluffy easily recognized. He spent most of his existence pleased with himself, but he wasn’t sure how he felt when others experienced that emotion. But since he was feeling particularly self-satisfied at the moment, he decided he wouldn’t begrudge the biped her victory.

  Fluffy had escaped his enclosure in record time since the Black-Haired One had forgotten his shovel after he’d finished digging the trench to deepen the west wall. Fluffy had very quickly dragged the tool to the wall so that it formed a ramp. Within seconds, he’d scurried out of his enclosure. He’d already snagged a nice chunk of meat from Frida’s bowl. The old girl had taken a swipe at Fluffy, which he’d quickly dodged. He’d noticed that Frida hadn’t tried too hard to hit him. After all, their games were the most fun Frida had all day. Fluffy, though, had other adventures.

  Like this one.

  He fully planned to get into the general feed supply again. The redheaded biped had not properly shut the door. Fluffy nudged it open with his nose. He was just about to dart inside the storeroom when he noticed the Black-Haired One sitting at his desk. The human held his head between his hands, and he looked bone-weary.

  Fluffy cocked his own head. He enjoyed irking the Black-Haired One. He did not, however, like his human to appear so tired. It might delay the morning meal. The Black-Haired One suddenly straightened. Fluffy tilted his head to the other side. If he was not mistaken, he detected a bit of excitement shimmering beneath the Black-Haired One’s exhaustion.

  Fluffy smiled and thought of the redheaded female. Perhaps the Black-Haired One needed a challenge as much as Frida did. The idea pleased Fluffy. He would not mind if the Black-Haired One found a mate. They would produce more like the Wee One, which, in turn, meant more treats.

  * * *

  “So, your mom tells me you’re going to be working at the local zoo.”

  Katie glanced over at her dad as she drove him to his physical therapy appointment. Although Chief Underwood had improved since Eddie Driver had shot him, car rides, especially longer ones like this, wore him out. Katie knew from experience that he’d spend the trip home fast asleep. Even now, his lips were pinched from the effort of getting from the house to the car. But she knew better than to ask how her father felt. He hated the fact that he couldn’t force his body to heal faster, and he didn’t like to rely on his wife and children.

  Katie nodded in response to her dad’s statement as she turned onto the highway. “I’m heading over there tonight to watch over the cougar cubs I found two evenings ago.”

  Her dad frowned. “Don’t wear yourself out, Katie. You shouldn’t be hauling me around if you’re going to be watching baby animals all night.”

  “I have time to catch a quick nap between your appointment and when I have to leave for the zoo.”

  Her dad made a hrmph sound in the back of his throat as he sank into the passenger seat. If Katie hadn’t been driving, she would have leaned over and kissed him on the cheek. Her ability to charm her dad had always irritated Katie’s four brothers. While growing up, she’d wanted to trade one of the twins for a sister, but there’d been advantages to being the only girl.

  “You’re working too hard taking care of me,” her dad grumbled.

  “Dad, I’m glad to get out of the house and Sagebrush for a little bit. While you’re doing physical therapy, I’ll be having fun shopping. Besides, it’s always good to have some father-daughter bonding time.”

  Her father’s chuckle turned into a cough and then a wince of pain as he folded his arms over his chest. Katie jerked her head in his direction but quickly returned her attention to the road before her dad could catch her. He hated when she and her mother hovered. It invariably led to a declaration about him not being a wounded animal to fuss over. Since it wasn’t good for his healing body to get worked up, Katie just gripped the steering wheel tighter.

  When her father spoke again, his voice sounded a little strained. “After all the time you’ve been spending with me, you’d need a crowbar to pry us apart if we bond anymore.”

  Katie shook her head. “Dad, I’ve been gone for over a decade. I’m glad for this chance to catch up with you and Mom, even if it didn’t start under the best circumstances.”

  Her dad carefully cleared his throat. “It was a good thing that you did for your mother and me, moving back here. I don’t know how we could have gotten through this without you. I know it wasn’t easy when I first came home—all those bandages you helped your mother change and the errands you ran for us.”

  “It’s nothing, Dad,” Katie said. “You and Mom have always been there for me and the boys. It’s time we did our parts.”

  “I wish you hadn’t had to quit your job.”

  Katie sighed. This wasn’t the first time she’d had this conversation with her father. She knew it bothered him that she’d dropped everything to take care of him. She couldn’t quite get th
rough to him that there hadn’t been that much to drop. “Dad, I could have taken FMLA leave, but it was time for me to move on. That job hadn’t made me happy in years, and the shooting…it gave me the push that I needed. I should have done this years ago.”

  Her dad was quiet for a moment before he spoke. “Have you thought about sticking around? Your mother and I will be happy with whatever you decide, but it’s been nice having you here, even if I don’t like being the reason.”

  “I don’t know,” Katie said truthfully. “There isn’t enough work in Sagebrush for a business. I’d have to get other clients over the internet.”

  “Katie, you always could do anything you put your mind to.”

  To her horror, Katie felt tears sting the back of her eyes before she chased them away. Her dad had always believed in her, and so had her mom. But for years now, Katie had felt like she’d let them down. She’d done so well at Sagebrush High and then in college, but her life had stalled while working at the mulch plant.

  “I thought I’d be living in a major city by this age,” Katie admitted.

  “Have you tried sending out your résumé?” her dad asked.

  Katie nodded. “Every now and then, I take a look at job postings, but I haven’t really buckled down and submitted tons of applications. That changes now. I’m planning to build up my portfolio this summer and then start to look for a job in earnest this fall. That will give me plenty of time to research what advertising firms I want to apply to.”

  “Have you tried talking to Josh?” her dad asked, referring to Katie’s other best friend from college. “Isn’t he some tech wiz? Maybe he could put in a good word for you with some of his clients. Don’t you do some work for him?”

  “Yes,” Katie said. “I draw a comic that he posts on his cybersecurity firm’s website. His clients enjoy it.”

  “Then you definitely should see if he has any connections you can use.”

  Katie sighed. “I don’t know, Dad. It feels like cheating.”

  Her dad chuckled again, but Katie noticed he did so cautiously. “Most police chiefs’ daughters try to rebel a bit. You always went the opposite direction.”

  Katie shrugged. “I like rules. Rules are safe.”

  “Katie, I may have spent my whole career on the same police force, but even there, we had politics. People network all the time. It’s no different than neighbor calling upon neighbor here in Sagebrush. Talk to Josh. See if he can help you.”

  Katie thought about her dad’s suggestion. Josh had offered in the past to do just that. Maybe it was time to let him.

  Her father paused a beat and then asked, “Are you sure, kiddo, that you want to live in a place like San Francisco or New York?” The serious note in Chief Underwood’s voice caused Katie to stiffen. She felt her eyebrows draw down.

  “Yes,” she said. “I’ve been dreaming about it since high school.”

  Her dad didn’t speak for a moment. When he did, his tone was thoughtful. “I’ve always heard you talking about big cities like they were prizes, not places where you wanted to live.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “Did you know that I once was offered a job as a policeman in Denver?”

  Katie swung to her dad in surprise. “No, I didn’t know.”

  Her dad shrugged. “It happened before you were born. Luke was just a baby. Your mom said I could take the position even though it meant living away from both our parents. And I almost did. But then I realized something. I didn’t want to be a big city cop. I just wanted to say I was a big city cop.”

  “Ahh,” Katie said as her dad’s point became clear.

  “Once I figured that out, I never regretted my decision to stay.”

  “Do you think you would have enjoyed living in Denver?”

  Her dad gave that careful chuckle again. “Hell no. Sagebrush is home for me and your mother. Always was. Always will be. That doesn’t mean it has to be for you, but I don’t want you dashing off to a big city just because you think you have something to prove.”

  Katie fell silent as she mulled over her dad’s words. She’d never really thought about why she wanted to live in a West or East Coast city. Whenever she’d headed to downtown Minneapolis, she’d always felt a thrill of excitement—this sense that she’d arrived. But how long would that feeling last if she moved to a place like that? Was her dad right? Was she just chasing after a flashy piece of fool’s gold?

  Her dad reached over and patted her arm. “Think it over, kiddo. You’re starting with a clean slate, and you might want to give some thought about exactly what type of picture you want to draw.”

  Katie nodded. Regardless of the path she ultimately chose, her short-term goal remained the same. She needed to improve her own brand. Prospective employers and clients would want to see her work, and she needed to find opportunities in Sagebrush right now…even if that meant working closely with Bowie Wilson.

  * * *

  Katie managed to grab an hour nap after she and her dad returned home from his physical therapy. Her mom, being her mom, had packed Katie a snack to take with her for her first night with the cubs. As Katie walked across the zoo grounds, she felt transported back to grade school. The place hadn’t changed much. While not run-down, it teetered on the edge. Even back in the nineties, the buildings had felt like outdated throwbacks to the seventies. Only the obvious care that went into the upkeep saved the zoo from being a ramshackle mess. Someone had planted cheerful, inexpensive impatiens in big barrel-shaped planters, and the grass was meticulously mowed. Although the facilities might not have been freshly painted, there were no unsightly signs of disrepair.

  The zoo, at least, didn’t lack for space. The animal enclosures might look simple and utilitarian, but they weren’t the small cages Katie had seen in history books. She spotted several llamas and a camel chowing down on hay. At her approach, they all turned simultaneously to stare at her, but they didn’t pause in their chewing. Instead, the six of them stared at her with their liquid-brown eyes as they continued to move their lower jaws side to side in perfect unison. Bits of straw dangled from their mouths as they watched her intently. Although the llamas remained otherwise as still as sentries, the camel emitted a rumbling grunt. With a silly smile on its long face, it ambled over to Katie on long, knobby legs.

  “Hi there,” she said softly, pausing by the wooden rails of its pen.

  The camel blinked its long lashes at her. As if in greeting, it rolled back its lips and made a raspberry sound. Then, it stuck its chin over the top of the fence in clear demand. Katie reached out and scratched the animal on its fuzzy head, its fur coarse beneath her fingers. The animal breathed out a contented sound before it shuffled back to the hay bale. Katie waved goodbye, but the camel’s attention had returned to its food.

  When Katie next walked past a grizzly, the bear lifted her massive head and emitted a half-hearted sound between a grunt and a growl. The fur around her face was white, and one eye had gone rheumy. She looked so much like a grumpy old dog that Katie had to resist the urge to scratch the displeased bear between her ears as she’d done with the camel. Katie didn’t think the grizzly would appreciate the gesture, though. As soon as Katie passed the fence, the old gal laid her head back on her enormous paws with a beleaguered sigh.

  Behind the bear’s enclosure stood the main zoo facility. Via an earlier text message, Bowie had directed Katie to a small building attached to the back. Pulling back the door to the structure, she found a gangly, preteen girl sitting cross-legged on the floor. In the volunteer’s arms was one of the cougar cubs, eagerly sucking on a bottle. The other two snuggled against a medium-sized animal that looked rather like a plump kidney bean on stubby legs.

  The girl glanced up at Katie’s entrance, and immediately, a wide smile spread across her elfin face. For some odd reason, the child looked vaguely familiar to Katie, which made no sense. The g
irl would have been born shortly after Katie had left Sagebrush Flats for college. Since Katie had rarely visited in the intervening years, she would have had little opportunity to meet the youngster.

  “You must be Ms. Underwood,” the girl said cheerfully. “I’m Abby.”

  Ms. Underwood? Now she really felt old. “You can just call me Katie,” she instructed.

  The girl nodded and inclined her head to the cougar cub in her arms. “This is Tonks. Fleur and Dobby are sleeping on Sylvia the capybara. Sylvia likes to cuddle all the orphans.”

  Katie blinked at the rapid fire of information. Her brain settled on the first tidbit the girl had lobbed at her. “The cubs are named after Harry Potter characters?”

  The girl beamed brightly. “You’re a Harry Potter fan too!”

  Katie nodded. “One of the originals.”

  “I love the books,” Abby gushed. “My dad used to read them to me when I was little, but I’ve read the whole series myself tons of times.”

  “Who named the cubs?” Katie settled down next to Abby, who she guessed was about ten or eleven.

  “I did,” the preteen said proudly.

  “They’re good choices.”

  The girl beamed, but before she could respond further, one of the sleeping cubs began to stir. Its tiny nose twitched as it began to root against the capybara in a fruitless search for milk. Although almost two days had passed, the cubs’ eyes remained closed. The poor little tyke had trouble finding traction on the linoleum floor, and his hind legs splayed out behind him. Sylvia lifted her head and gently nuzzled the small kit. The baby puma quieted for just a moment before opening its pink mouth to utter a demanding mew. The capybara swung her large head to fix Abby with an imploring look.

  Abby laughed. “Dobby is hungry now too. Would you like to feed him? I helped Lou mix up the bottle sitting on the counter.”

  “I’d love to,” Katie said, quickly rising to her feet. She lost no time grabbing the bottle and scooping up the wiggling little fur ball. Katie settled down beside the girl, and the preteen showed her how to hold the cub properly. As soon as Katie placed the rubber nipple in the kit’s mouth, he began to suck eagerly, the sound echoing in the utilitarian room. Katie laughed as Abby giggled.