The Secret Claws

by Patricia Fry

  He waited for another rumble in the audience to subside, then continued, “But without Lois Lancaster, I’m afraid the show, if I may, cannot go on.” He explained, “There seems to be no record of who received the keys and what their gift was to be. Even her trusted attorney isn’t privy to that information. So ladies and gentlemen and gentle children, we are at a loss as to what to do. I’m terribly sorry, folks, to bring you all out under what could now be considered false pretense.”

  “Yeah, that sucks!” one man shouted.

  A woman called out, “You mean we came here for nothing?”

  Amidst the outbreak of angry voices, a couple of people burst out the doors and left.

  At the same time, Adam leaned forward and addressed Savannah, who sat in the row in front of him. “What about that list Rags found?”

  “What?” she asked.

  He pointed to her pocket and said a little more loudly, “That list of names.”

  She removed the piece of paper from her pocket, then asked the boy, “Do you think…?”

  He shrugged. “Go show it to the minister.”

  “What?” Holly asked Savannah when she saw her look of apprehension.

  Savannah leaned closer and whispered, “Adam thinks this is the list they can’t find.”

  Holly gasped, then urged, “Go tell the pastor.”

  “Should I?” Savannah asked. When Holly nodded briskly and motioned for her to go, Savannah stood. She excused herself from her pew and made her way through a smattering of people who had left their seats to share their frustration with neighbors or to walk out of the church. As she approached the altar and saw Pastor Sterling looking down at her suspiciously, she said, “I have something that might be important.” She held it up. “It could be Mrs. Lancaster’s list. We found it outside her son’s restaurant yesterday.”

  The pastor’s eyes lit up. He motioned for a woman in the front pew to approach. “Anna, please lead the congregation in song, will you?” When the woman looked confused, he said, “The show might go on after all.” He smiled at Savannah and led her across the stage, through a door, and into his office. “So what exactly is it that you have there, young lady?” Before she could respond, he asked, “Do I know you?”

  “No. I’m visiting with my family this week.”

  He motioned for Savannah to sit down on a small velvet chair and he sat across from her. “Then how…?” he started. He sat straighter and offered his hand, “By the way, I’m Pastor Andrew Sterling.”

  “Savannah Ivey,” she said, shaking hands with him.

  He looked at the paper she held. “So how did you…?”

  She smiled. “Well, our cat…”

  “Your cat?” he asked, puzzled.

  “Yes, he finds things, and he picked this up at the Bear’s Den Lodge.” She leaned in closer. “I think Mrs. Lancaster’s son dropped it.”

  He furrowed his brow. “Christopher?”

  “No, the other one. The one who rides the bike.”

  “Ohhh,” the pastor said, sitting back in his chair. “I see.” He frowned. “Makes sense.” He took the page from her and studied it for a moment, muttering to himself. “So these are the proposed recipients, but I still don’t know where Lois hid away the…” He focused on something on the piece of paper, then jumped to his feet. “…unless…”

  Savannah watched with interest as the pastor kneeled in front of a cabinet and opened one of the doors. He reached into the back of it, pulled out a large box, then rummaged around in his desk drawer until he found a key. Once he’d opened the box, he shouted, “Praise the Lord!” He smiled at Savannah. “And your cat, of course. Come, come. We can begin our program now.” He giggled with delight, saying, “And fulfill some dreams.”

  He stopped and looked down at the box. “On second thought, I’d better familiarize myself with what exactly is in here.” He looked at Savannah and suggested, “Why don’t you go back to your family and leave me to spend a couple of minutes with this information. I should be prepared if I’m to fill Lois’s shoes.” When Savannah stalled, he said, “Now go on. You don’t want someone to take your seat. I’ll be out in the shake of a…” he winked at her, “well, a cat’s tail.”

  ****

  “What happened?” Adam asked when Savannah rejoined her family in the pew.

  “Rags saved the day.”

  “Really?” Holly whispered.

  “How’d he do that?” Cassie asked.

  “Yeah, he isn’t even here,” Adam said.

  Savannah smiled. “You’ll see.” She looked at the open page of the hymnal Michael held and began singing along with the congregation.

  They’d just finished a rousing round of The Old Rugged Cross when Pastor Sterling returned. Everyone became quiet and the pastor began to speak. “And the show goes on,” he said dramatically. “I’m pleased to announce that because of an astute visitor to our village, we will be able to fulfill Lois Lancaster’s final wishes. I know how much she wanted to be here to do the honors herself.” He looked out over the congregation. “Most of you knew Lois Lancaster and her heart for philanthropy. Raise your hand if you’ve been touched in any way by Lois Lancaster.”

  Many people turned in their seat, trying to see how many hands went up.

  “By my calculations, that’s just about everyone who lives on the mountain or who frequents our village. How many of you knew her well?” After a moment, he said, “Not many of you. But she knew most of you well enough to arrange for this beautiful day of giving.”

  He chuckled. “It seems that this program was also made possible by a cat.” He paused while a few people commented among themselves. “Yes, it was a cat who found and somehow preserved the information we needed in order to move forward with today’s agenda. The young woman who brought me Lois’s original list of names probably isn’t even aware of how valuable that piece of paper is. Neither she…” he chuckled, “…nor the cat could have known the importance of the symbol on the bottom of the page. It clearly indicated to me where Lois had hidden away the envelopes of dreams, as she liked to call them, for today’s program, and I will do my best to follow through on Lois’s behalf.” He scanned the faces in the congregation. “Is Christopher Lancaster here?”

  “Yes,” came a voice from the back.

  “Oh, Christopher, would you come up here and help me with this?” The pastor welcomed the younger man to the podium and had started to introduce him when there was a slight disturbance at the back of the church. Several people turned when they became aware that the doors had opened. A man stood silhouetted against the bright sunlight. “Please come in and join us,” Pastor Sterling invited. When the doors closed behind the man, the pastor said, “Oh, Thad, it’s you. Come in. Can someone make room for Thaddeus?” The pastor squinted. “What is that you’re holding? Is that a cat?”

  Thad nodded and explained, “I think his owners are here. I didn’t know what else to do with him.” Several people snickered and made comments, and Thad added, “I found him in my boat on the other side just now.”

  When Pastor Sterling saw Savannah stand and motion to Thad, he asked, “Is this the cat who…?”

  She looked sheepishly at him. “Yes, I’m afraid so.” Amidst a lot of chatter and snickering, Savannah took Rags from Thad and settled back in her seat with the cat on her lap.

  Michael lifted Lily onto his lap and made room for Thad to join them.

  The pastor raised his hands in a gesture to silence the congregation, then he said, so as to be heard over those who were still chattering, “That’s the cat you can thank for what’s about to change your life.” To the pastor’s chagrin, the din in the room accelerated as people reached out to touch Rags. Some shouted, “Hallelujah!” and others came from their seats to get a closer look at the cat.

  “Okay,” the pastor said more loudly, “let’s get down to business.” He chuckled. “Or should I say pleasure? Please, can we have order?” It took a little coaxing, but finally
everyone became quiet and the pastor continued. “Lois Lancaster was a creative woman—always thinking. When she decided to reach out to the community in this most inspired way, even she did not know it would be her last act of giving. Until a few moments ago, no one knew what exactly she had planned. I was aware that she had chosen certain people within the community, but I didn’t know what she had in mind. She wanted to unveil her secret at the right time in her own way.”

  He shook his head slowly. “Even from heaven she has managed to maintain control and to present her wishes with…uhem…her usual flair and fanfare.” He held up the list Savannah had given him. “She told me just yesterday that this list was missing. But that’s pretty much all I knew. She wouldn’t even tell me where she had put the material for the unveiling. Lois had a plan and I was not privy, nor was anyone privy to what her plan was. She kept it a secret and even took that secret to the grave, except for the happenstance of a cat.”

  He choked up. “After the passing of our dear sister, Lois, I wasn’t sure what we’d do today. I prayed for an answer and for guidance. And I believe there’s a message of value to us all in the way things have played out today.” He smiled widely. “Isn’t God good? Even amusing.” He took a breath. “So, what is it we’ve been taught this morning? I’d say it’s patience. You will receive what you need in God’s time, not your time. You all know the truth in the statement, ‘God laughs at those of us who make plans,’ right?” He chuckled. “And God certainly does work in mysterious ways.” He gazed at Rags as the cat sat at attention on Savannah’s lap, taking in everything around him.

  Pastor Sterling flashed the list again. “So here’s the list brought by a currier cat presumably sent by God. I was thrilled to get my hands on this list, but just having the list wasn’t enough. The list told me who the recipients were, but there was more that I needed to know in order to carry on with Lois’s program.”

  The pastor paused as if holding back a rush of emotion. “And God bless Lois; even from the grave she made sure her show would go on.” He explained, “It took me a few minutes, but I finally figured out that Lois had left me a clear clue; it was as if she had expected that the angels would take her before this day.” He held up the list. “At the bottom of it is a symbol. I studied it and it finally occurred to me that Lois had made a crude drawing of a keepsake box she once gave me. She spent enough time in my office helping out and discussing church business that she knew where I kept it.”

  He chuckled. “She also knew that I hadn’t yet begun to fill it; it sat mostly unnoticed inside a cabinet in my office. When I saw the drawing of that box on this piece of paper, I took it from the shelf, opened it, and lo and behold,” he said, holding up a packet, “there were the materials she’d put together for today’s program.” He looked to the heavens. “Thank you, dear Lois, for not letting us down, even as you rest in God’s kingdom.”

  He dabbed at his eyes with a white handkerchief, then took a deep breath. “Okay, Christopher. We’re ready to take care of your mother’s final wishes.”

  “Wait!” a voice from the back shouted. “I should be up there with you. I’m her son, too. I deserve something from my mother—not these strangers. This is just not fair!”

  Meanwhile, Rags had become antsy. When he tried to climb over the pew in front of him, the people sitting nearby chuckled. Savannah settled him back onto her lap and tried to turn to see who was making the ruckus.

  “It’s that brother,” Holly whispered. When Savannah seemed puzzled, Holly explained, “The chef’s brother…the catnapper.”

  “Oh,” Savannah said, turning to get a better look. “I think you’re right.”

  “He’s the guy who attacked me!” a man shouted out. “That’s him!”

  A woman spoke up. “Yeah, that little jerk; I caught him breaking into my truck. He said he wanted my key.”

  When a man darted from his pew and angrily approached him, Paul Lancaster quickly pulled out a knife.

  “Oh my goodness,” Gladys gasped.

  Meanwhile, Craig left his seat, moved around behind Paul, and grabbed him. There was nothing Paul could do but drop the knife. Craig had started to lead Paul out of the church when the pastor shouted, “Wait! Let him stay.” He left the podium and joined the men in the center aisle. He motioned for Craig to move back, then he asked Paul, “Tell me what it is that you’re upset about. Obviously, you’re distressed about something. You’ve come to the right place, young man, if it’s peace you’re after.” He picked up the knife, closed it and handed it back to Paul.

  “It’s my mother,” Paul said, choking up. “She gave my brother everything he wanted and she wouldn’t give me a thing. Lord knows I need help.” He glanced around the room. “She’s giving strangers something—people she didn’t even know—not relatives—complete strangers. And she leaves me out in the cold.”

  “That’s not true, Paul. Your mother loved you very much, son, and she has provided for you in the best way she knew how. Will you come with me?” When Paul hesitated, the pastor put a hand on his arm. “Please, your place is at the altar with your brother and me. I think you will be pleased to know more about the heart of your mother—the woman who gave you your heart. Come,” he urged.

  The young man glanced around and finally admitted, “I’m not a believer in all this mumbo jumbo.”

  The pastor chuckled. “Maybe not at this moment, but I trust that you will be. Just come with me. Will you do that?”

  “Um, I guess.”

  “What if he gets out of hand again?” Craig questioned.

  “Leave it to me,” the pastor said. “I think all will be calm for the rest of the afternoon.” He smiled at Craig. “Go sit down now with your family and enjoy the program.”

  Meanwhile, Savannah continued to struggle with Rags. “I didn’t bring any treats,” she said to Adam, who was leaning on the back of her seat.

  Adam petted Rags. “He sure doesn’t want to sit still.”

  She continued to struggle with the cat when she felt a tap on her shoulder. She turned and saw a woman standing in the aisle holding a small dog in her arms. The woman reached out with a harness and leash. She asked, “Will he wear this?”

  “Oh!” Savannah exclaimed. She looked at the dog. “You took it off her?”

  “Yes. She’ll be fine. I only use it because that’s what people expect. Here, if he’ll wear it, you can use it.” She smiled. “Looks like you need it more than I do today.”

  “Boy, do I? And yes, he will wear a harness. He’s leash trained.” She cringed and said, “Well, he’ll tolerate a leash.” She smiled and whispered, “Thank you so much.”

  After getting Paul settled at the altar, the pastor approached the lectern again, cleared his throat, and said, “Shall we proceed? Here’s what we have—gifts for those of you who received keys. Hold your key up if you received one.”

  Everyone looked around and saw eight people holding up a key.

  “I count eight,” he said. Did some of you have the misfortune of losing or misplacing your key? Or perhaps it was taken.” He frowned. “I understand there was some activity Lois didn’t expect. Greed raised its ugly head and consumed some who are not enlightened—those who could not have known that the key was only a symbol and not very important in this whole scheme of things.” He asked the audience, “Who found a key, but lost it?”

  Two hands went up, then another, then three more. The pastor counted a total of twelve hands. “Good try,” he said. “I’m afraid the recipients of the keys are documented here and they will receive their due whether they have a key in their possession or not, and those who did not receive keys, well, you’ll walk out of here today in the same world you came from, only I hope at least a little more inspired, motivated, and encouraged.”

  The pastor waited a few moments for the congregation to quiet down before saying, “As for those of you with keys, hold onto your dreams, because they are about to be realized. Are you ready?” he bellowed
.

  Once it was quiet again, Pastor Sterling said, “Thad Christiansen, would you come forward?”

  Thad suddenly sat straight. He looked around. Michael patted him on the back and Savannah and Holly squealed quietly with delight. When Thad hesitated, Keith said, “Go for it, man.”

  Everyone watched as the young man made his way toward the altar. He took the pastor’s hand when offered, but remained silent.

  “You’re nervous, are you lad?” Pastor Sterling asked.

  Thad nodded.

  “Well, we’ll make this as painless as possible.” He chuckled, then asked more seriously, “Thad, what is your dream? I mean, what would you like to do with your life?”

  “Become a chef,” he said quietly. When the pastor seemed to be waiting for more, Thad added, “I’d like to study in a culinary school and get a job cooking for others.”

  The pastor removed something from a large envelope and placed it on the lectern. “Well, evidently Lois Lancaster knew that, and she saw the passion in you and the drive. And, Thad, she wanted to help you to achieve your goal. Here’s a check made out on your behalf to The Institute of Culinary Education. You’re set up to attend either the New York campus or the one in Los Angeles. There’s also a stipend here to help you with housing while you’re going to school.”

  When Thad started to speak, the pastor stopped him. “There’s more.” He handed him an envelope. “This is a credit card with enough limit for a plane ticket to either school you choose. Mrs. Lancaster says,” the pastor read, “‘Thad, I expect you to take it from here. I don’t want you returning to the mountain unless it is to open your own restaurant or you’re returning simply for a respite from a busy and wildly successful and satisfying life as a chef.’”

  The pastor looked into Thad’s eyes. “Can you live up to her expectations, son?”