by Patricia Fry
Savannah smiled. "That would be great, Mom—just like old times." She looped her arm through her mother's and they headed toward the door. "Yes, let's go have cocoa." Savannah stopped and turned back toward her husband. "Want to join us, hon?"
"No, you two go on. Lily and I will finish our beauty rest." He started to lie down, but said, "Hey, why don't you take Sophie to her litter-box. She might want some warm milk, too. She's more active tonight—getting her kitten energy back."
Savannah reached down and picked up the kitten. "Sure, come on little one. Let's go play for a while."
****
"That was a fast weekend visit, wasn't it?" Savannah said as the little family headed home Monday afternoon.
Michael nodded. "Your mom sure enjoyed her granddaughter." He smiled. "She had fun showing her off to all her friends."
"Yes, I've never seen such a parade of people in and out of that house—not since she and Daddy used to entertain their bridge club and square-dance group." She chuckled. "Lily seemed to enjoy all the attention, too."
"Our little girl is a regular little social butterfly."
"Well, she's engaging. People feel special when she makes eye contact with them and smiles."
"Don't most babies do that?" Michael asked.
"No. I've noticed that there are shy babies and outgoing babies. But not all outgoing babies have the communication skills Lily has."
"Communication?" Michael questioned.
"Well, yes, she has a genuine way of communicating, just like some animals do." She reached over and smoothed the baby's hair. "I can't wait until she can tell us what's on her mind—I mean in words."
The couple rode in silence for a few minutes, before Savannah peered into the front seat. "How's Sophie doing?" she asked.
"Better than I expected. Since she's been eating regularly, I was afraid she'd be bouncing all over the car. She's just lying there on her back batting at…I don't know, maybe dust particles."
Savannah laughed. "Adam and little Rose gave her a pretty good workout when we stopped by there. She'll probably sleep the rest of the way home."
"Yes, those kids really enjoyed her. Tiger didn't seem too enthralled with her, though, did he?"
"No. I guess that's why Marci opted not to let Adam keep Sophie," Savannah said. "Heck, she's got her hands full with a busy toddler, an active nine-year-old, and Tiger. I don't blame her for vetoing one more bundle of energy in the household."
"I guess we have a new mouth to feed," Michael said.
Savannah grinned. "You don't sound too unhappy about that, Michael."
"I don't?" he said trying to sound perfectly innocent.
"Too bad my mom wouldn't keep her."
"Yeah, why is she so adamant against having a pet?" Michael asked, glancing in the rearview mirror at his wife.
She twisted a strand of her hair around one finger. "I don't know. I guess it's an aging person thing."
"Your mom's not that old."
"Well, it just seems as though she's getting more set in her ways. And she has a life—doesn't want to be saddled with pet responsibilities."
Michael glanced again at Savannah in the rearview mirror. "Sometimes, I can't say as I blame her." He paused and then asked, "So all has been calm with our animals since Friday night?"
"Yes, it seems so." She leaned forward a little. "Did I tell you they think they've confirmed which way the rustler is coming from?"
"No."
"I called Craig and he went out and looked around." She grinned. "You know, he's like some sort of Indian tracker. He doesn't miss much—seems to know where to look and what the clues mean…"
"And what he misses, Rags comes up with," Michael said, chuckling.
"You got that right. Hey, I wonder if Craig would like to have Sophie so he could train her to be his investigative partner," she said.
Michael shook his head. "I doubt it. There'll never be another Rags. He's one of a kind."
"Hey, stop!" Savannah screeched. "Turn around—go back."
Michael froze for a moment. "What's wrong?" he shouted as he pulled off the road into a side street.
"It's Peaches. I saw my horse back there, I'm sure of it," she said, twisting to look out the back window.
"Oh Savannah, you can't be serious. You're seeing things. How many horses have you seen on this trip that reminded you of her—even one in Beverly Hills…"
"It's her, I tell you. Turn around. Go back."
"What would she be doing here—sixty miles from home?" he asked.
"People haul horses all the time. The thief sold her and these people bought her. Dang, I wish I'd brought the bill of sale you got from Bonnie…wait, I have pictures of her on my phone. Oh Michael, I'm so excited. I may have found my horse."
Reluctantly, Michael turned the SUV around. "Where did you see…a…the horse?" he asked.
"Keep going, keep going," she instructed, watching out the car window. "There!" she shouted. "See, that's her, out in the pasture. Stop! Let me out," she insisted.
As soon as Michael pulled over, Savannah leaped out of the car and rushed to the pasture fence. "Peaches," she called. The horse continued munching on grass. "Peaches," she called again. Just then, a shaggy pony trotted up to Savannah seemingly eager for attention. Savannah reached over the fence and patted the pony on the neck. "Tell your friend over there I want to see her," Savannah said.
Just then, Michael joined Savannah at the fence. "Is it her?" he asked still not convinced she had located her mare.
"Sure looks like her. Look at the shape of that blaze on her face."
"Kin I hep ya?"
Savannah spun around to face a slight man of around eighty. He was stooped, missing several teeth, and wearing a tattered pair of overalls and a wide-brimmed hat. She stammered, "Uh…well…yeah, you can, as a matter of fact. I'd like to have a closer look at that mare out there, if you don't mind."
"What mare?" the elderly man asked, squinting into the sun.
"That one," she said pointing to the only full-size horse in the pasture grazing among several ponies.
"Do ya mean that thar gelding?" he asked.
By then, the horse had begun moving closer. It stopped again to bite at a tall weed and Savannah gasped. "Oh. I'm sorry. I thought it was a mare. My mistake," she said, feeling terribly embarrassed.
"No problem," the man said. "Are you lookin' to buy a horse?" he asked.
She shook her head. "No. Just admiring your…gelding, there. Pretty horse. Thanks, we'd better be going," she said stumbling toward the car and climbing in as quickly as she could.
When they were back on the highway, Michael glanced at Savannah in the rearview mirror. He began to laugh. He shook his head and laughed harder. He could see that Savannah did not share his view of the situation, but he couldn't help it. He laughed until he was practically doubled over.
"It's not that funny," she said, sounding annoyed.
"Oh I'd say it was. Cracked me up," he said. "A veterinarian who graduated at the top of her class and doesn't know the difference between a mare and a gelding?" When he noticed that she had begun to tear up, he said, "I'm sorry, honey. I know it was wishful thinking. Actually, he did look a lot like Peaches except his blaze was a little different shape and…he's a boy."
"I just hope we can find her. I miss her." She straightened her posture. "Did I tell you Bonnie and I are going back out on the horses? She's loaning me a pair of Barney's chaps. Hers would come to my knees; she's such a petite thing."
"Will Barney go with you?" Michael asked. "I don't like to think of you two girls out there by yourselves."
"I don't know." She thought for a moment and said, "I wish we could get Craig on a horse. I'd like him to come with us."
"What will you be looking for?"
"I'm not sure—evidence of someone living out in the brush, I guess. Ideally, we would find the missing animals."
"Oh, Savannah, that pig is probably long gone…and maybe the cow and chickens.
You might find the horse and goat, unless they butchered the goat, too. I'm sure someone's making use of the animals, either the thief, himself, or whoever he sold them to." He took in a deep breath. "It's a long-shot to think they're roaming around in the foothills."
"You could be right, but there are areas we haven't explored. He could have a camp set up somewhere and have the animals staked out there. I told Bonnie I'd like to go beyond the old homestead where that woman Elsie lives. Or come in from the other side of it and explore where we haven't been yet." She was silent for a moment, then said, "Michael, I have a hunch about that place. It keeps niggling at me."
"Sounds like a good plan, except…" Michael said.
"Except what?" she asked.
"Except I don't like the idea of you going off alone like that."
Savannah sat with her thoughts for a while, before saying, "Michael, why don't you ride with us?"
"What?" he said, making eye contact with her in the mirror.
"Bonnie has enough horses. Why don't you ride out there with us Wednesday? It's your day off. Auntie or Iris might be able to keep Lily company. If not, I'll ask Helena to come stay with her. What do you say? I know you can ride. I don't know why you don't."
"Yeah, I can ride. It just isn't something I enjoy enough to go to all the trouble. Horses are a lot of trouble."
"Tell me about it," Savannah said, sarcastically. "But the trouble is worth it to me. I love being around horses and riding them." When he didn't respond she asked, "So will you ride with us?"
"Heck, I might just do it," he said, "if Bonnie has an extra horse and saddle."
"Oh, that's my phone," Savannah said, pulling it out of her purse. "Hi Bonnie. How're things?"
"Pretty good, actually. Your fur kids are all doing great, now that we have Houdini Cat's number," she said with a chuckle. "Hey, are you home, yet?" Bonnie asked.
"No, we're about an hour away. Why?"
"Just wanted to report the latest. You know that boarder I told you about who doesn't like to pay his bill?"
"Yeah," Savannah said.
"Well, he shows up to ride his horse today—get this—wearing a bandage around his right wrist."
"What?" Savannah practically yelled into the phone.
"Barney confronted him and he told some cockamamie story about being thrown from his son's horse into some wire. Of course, Barney didn't believe him. He called and told Craig. Craig's going to follow up. Savannah," Bonnie said excitedly, "we may have solved the case of the missing animals. Now, if we can just get him to tell us where they are."
"Oh my gosh," Savannah said. "Michael, Bonnie thinks they have the rustler." She then spoke into the phone, "That's good news—at least potentially good news. Thanks for letting us know. Keep us posted, okay? Hey, we'll swing by and pick up the animals in, say, two hours. I'd like to go home first and feed Lily and get her ready for bed. We'll be there around seven-thirty. Is that okay?"
"Certainly. I'm sure they're ready to go home," Bonnie said. "I'll miss Buffy, though. She is one sweet cat."
"Hey, we have a gift for you," Savannah said.
"What?" Bonnie asked sounding suspicious. "Something I'll like?"
"Yes, if you like Buffy, you'll adore this gift."
"It's not a cat is it?"
"No," Savannah said. "It's only a kitten."
"No, Savannah. Thank you, but no. Not right now. I'm up to my ears in fur bodies."
"Okay. I'll find another victim…I mean loving home."
Both women laughed.
Two hours later, the Iveys drove into the B&B Stables carting three carriers in the back of their SUV.
"Any news?" Savannah asked as soon as she saw Bonnie approaching them.
"Yeah, but it's not good," she said.
She glanced at both Michael and Savannah and said, "Looks like he's probably not the culprit. The detective called us a little while ago. Evidently, the guy's wound isn't consistent with cat scratches, plus it's almost healed—happened more than a week ago."
"Oh," Savannah said, "that's disappointing."
"Sure is," Bonnie said. "Well, come on; let's load up your fur family."
****
Wednesday morning, Savannah greeted their housekeeper: "Come in, Helena. Thank you for entertaining our baby today."
"I'm happy to do it," she said. "She's good company. Okay if we go outside and enjoy the beautiful day?"
"Sure, she'd love it. The stroller is on the porch, if you decide to take her for a walk. She should be ready for a nap around ten. There are bottles for her in the fridge and chicken salad for your lunch, if you like. There's fresh bread on the counter. You have our cell phone numbers. Or you can call my aunt, if you need anything in a hurry. Auntie might come by to check on things, anyway."
"Good. I haven't seen Maggie in a while. I'd love to visit."
Savannah kissed her daughter and waved goodbye to Helena as she and Michael walked out the door. They arrived at the stables ten minutes later.
"Before we ride out, I want to show you guys what happened that awful night in the cat house," Bonnie said, leading the couple in that direction.
Michael chuckled. "Sounds like the name of a racy novel: ‘That Awful Night in the Cat House,'" he repeated.
"Well, it wouldn't make a believable story, that's for sure," Barney said, joining the trio.
"Hey, Barney," Michael said, reaching out and shaking the man's hand. "Are you going with us on the wilderness adventure?"
"No, not this time," he said. "Too much to do here." He added, as if confiding in Michael, "Glad you're going, though."
"Not sure I am," Michael said with a grin. "I haven't been on a horse in years."
When they reached the kennels, Bonnie faced Michael and Savannah. "I know you didn't have time to check this out when you picked up your critters, Monday, but we wanted you to see what happened here that night," she said. "Here's where the guy started cutting the wire," Bonnie said pointing to a large repaired spot in the heavy wire mesh. "Somehow either Buffy crawled out or the guy pulled her out. Rags was frantic. The hole wasn't big enough for him to go through, and he was smart enough not to try. He probably would have cut himself to pieces on that wire."
"Yeah, he's smart like a burro," Barney said.
"A burro?" Savannah questioned.
"Sure, a horse caught in wire will generally fight. A burro, once he knows he's in trouble, will stand and wait." He chuckled. "I came upon a burro caught in wire once. Guess he was trying to escape. When I cut him loose, he could barely walk. He was so stiff, I figured he must have been standing there for a day or more."
"I've heard of that," Michael said. "Never saw it happen, though." He pointed to the patched wire. "Hey, is that how the guy got cut?" he asked. "Are they sure the cat clawed him?"
"Yeah," Barney said. "They found no blood on the cut wire. Your detective…what's his name…Sledge?"
Michael and Savannah nodded.
"He took samples from your cat's claws. He had Bonnie Mae snip off the ends of them. I haven't heard what he found."
"Come in here and you can see how the cats escaped from the night-time enclosure to the daytime pen," Barney suggested. "See here," he said, "the big cat evidently lifted the door enough that he could get his nose in there and pushed his way through. The door stuck open and little Fluffy…"
"Buffy," Bonnie corrected.
"Buffy followed him out." He leaned down and pointed. "You see I secured it so no escape artist cat can open it again when it's locked."
"Good job," Michael said, kneeling so he could examine Barney's handiwork.
"I'm no carpenter, but this seemed to work, unless your cat was too scared to try his tricks again." Barney laughed. "He was a model boarder after that rampage."
"Well, we sure do appreciate you taking good care of them," Michael said.
Savannah nodded. "Yes, above and beyond."
Michael stood up and asked, "Are you girls ready? We should get on the trail before i
t heats up," he suggested.
"Yup," Savannah said as they walked toward the hitching post where three saddled horses stood tied.
"Michael, you can ride Charlie, there, the buckskin. Get on and let's check the length of the stirrups. Barney rides that saddle, so it should be a pretty good fit for you."
"Perfect," Michael said after mounting the gelding and standing up in the stirrups.
In the meantime, Savannah climbed aboard Wilson, and Bonnie, after checking the cinch, mounted Zeke.
"Happy trails, ya'all," Barney said with a wave.
The trio had ridden a mile when Bonnie, who was in the lead, saw something. "Whoa," she said. She jumped down off of Zeke, and started to reach into the brush.
"Wait, put this on," Savannah said, pulling a latex evidence glove from her vest pocket and handing it to Bonnie.
Bonnie forced her hand into the glove and then reached into the brush and pulled out a bloody cloth. "Could belong to the rustler," she said. She looked ahead. "Good, we're on the right track. Let's keep going."
"Here's an envelope," Savannah said. "Put it in there and I'll carry it back in my saddlebags. This might be useful to the case."
After Bonnie had remounted and the trio had traveled another half mile, Michael said, "Hey Bonnie, did Savannah tell you she thought she found her horse about sixty miles south of here?"
"No," Bonnie said, turning in her saddle and facing the other riders.
"Never mind," Savannah said.
"Tell me, Savannah," Bonnie prodded.
Michael laughed. "She saw this horse out in a pasture and claimed it was her mare. Made me stop the car. She got out and practically had the horse out of the corral and tied to the bumper, only…"
"Tsk, tsk. He's exaggerating, Bonnie," Savannah said.
"Only what?" Bonnie asked, eager to hear the rest of the story.
"Only, he was a gelding," Michael said.
"Oh no. How disappointing," Bonnie said.
"Well, Michael, I have a news flash for you," Savannah said with an impish grin.