by Patricia Fry
"What?" he asked.
"I took a look at your kitten, Sophie, last night and I could swear she looks more like…well…Sophocles."
"Sophocles," he repeated, frowning. "Do you mean as in the Greek playwright? But, he was a man."
Savannah smiled sweetly at her husband. "I know."
"Oh," Michael said. "Well, it's easier to make that mistake with a kitten than a full-grown horse!"
"You two are too much," Bonnie said, laughing out loud.
They'd been riding a little over an hour when Bonnie said, "We're coming upon the homestead. I'd really like to ride past it today and see what's on the other side."
"That's a good idea," Savannah said.
"Someone lives there?" Michael asked, disbelieving. He then answered his own question, "Yeah, I see chickens running around. Kinda rundown, isn't it? In fact, it's downright primitive."
As they rode slowly past the shack hoping not to be noticed, they suddenly heard a sweet voice call out, "Hello. Hello."
They twisted in their saddles and peered through the brush into the yard surrounding the shack. There, they saw an elderly woman in a flowered housedress, a denim apron tied around her and wearing sport shoes. A floppy pink hat sat atop her curly grey hair. "Hello," Michael said. "Elsie, isn't it?"
"Why yes, do I know you?" she asked.
"I'm Dr. Michael Ivey. You brought your…raccoon to me for treatment."
"I did?" she said.
"Yes, how's he doing?"
She walked toward the riders and squinted in an effort to see them more clearly. "Good," she said. "He's doing much better."
"You sure live far away from town," Michael said, looking around the area for a sign of some sort of transportation. "How do you get around?"
Her face brightened for a moment. She then frowned and said, "Oh, I'm sorry. I must go." She turned and walked swiftly toward the house and disappeared through the badly deteriorating front door.
"Well, that was weird," Bonnie said. "She didn't seem to remember us, did she, Savannah?"
"No, she didn't." Savannah frowned. "She seemed a lot different than when we saw her here last time. I guess living out in the sticks like this can do a number on your mind."
"Or maybe you live out here when you know your mind's going," Bonnie offered.
"Shall we move on?" Michael suggested.
"Hey, there's a fork in the trail," Bonnie announced. "Which way should we go?"
"Up into the hills or down? That trail probably leads toward the highway."
"Let's see where the low road takes us," Michael suggested.
After they'd ridden a short distance, Savannah said, "I still can't believe that's the same woman we met here last time. Remember how stern she was, Bonnie?"
"Well, how many elderly women named Elsie do you think live there?" Bonnie said, laughing. "She probably has that disorder—what's it called, where you have two personalities—polarized, polarization…or something."
"Bi-polar?" Savannah said, laughing.
"Yeah, that's it, bi-polar."
"This trail isn't as brushy," Michael observed.
Bonnie nodded. "Yeah, it must be used more often."
"That's how she gets to town, I guess," Savannah suggested. She pointed. "Hey, there are some horse droppings."
"Yes, that's what it is, all right, and not too old, either, would you say, Michael?"
He climbed down from his horse and took a closer look. "Yeah, taking into consideration the weather, I'd say it's no more than a day or two old." He picked up a stick and poked at the horse manure. "The horse isn't getting enough water and maybe not enough nourishment." He straightened and looked around.
"What are you looking for?" Savannah asked.
"I thought I heard something," he said. He concentrated and then shook his head. "I guess it was my imagination." While climbing back onto his horse, he said, "Shall we continue on this path or go back? I'm pretty sure the highway is just over that knoll."
"I'd like to find out for sure," Bonnie said. "You'd think I'd have a better idea about what's beyond our place, but I just haven't ridden out this way, much. I usually trailer some place to ride. Or I take students along the river on the easy trails. We stay closer to civilization for safety's sake."
"That's a good practice," Michael said. "When do you need to be back, Bonnie?"
She looked at her watch. "Not for a while. Let's continue on, shall we?"
They'd ridden for twenty minutes when Savannah said, "I hear cars…or the ocean."
"You can't tell the difference between the sound of traffic and ocean waves?" Michael asked, laughing.
"Well, no, not from a distance. Haven't you ever noticed how similar they sound?"
Both Bonnie and Michael looked at her suspiciously.
"It's true," Savannah said. "Now stop and listen. Is that the ocean or traffic?"
"It's traffic," Bonnie said.
"How can you be sure?" Savannah challenged.
"Because I happen to know the ocean is about fifteen miles west, that's how," she said, laughing good naturedly.
"Touché," Savannah said.
"Yeah, that's the highway, all right," Michael said. "So Elsie's place is a good—what—two or three miles by trail to the highway. That's what I call roughing it."
"Guys, I'd like to take that trail up into the draw back there," Bonnie said.
"What are you thinking, girlfriend?" Savannah asked.
"Just a hunch."
Savannah reined her horse around. "I'm game. What do you think, Michael?"
"I think I'm going to be awfully sore tomorrow. But what the heck, let's go. If Charming Charlie here can manage, I guess I can. He's doing all the work."
"Well, so much for that hunch," Bonnie said, about fifteen minutes later, as the threesome made their way back to the main trail.
"Yeah, there was sure nothing up that way—just more brush. Thank goodness for these chaps," Savannah said.
"Why do you think the animals would still be in this area?" Michael asked.
Bonnie lifted her western hat and repositioned it. "I guess because the guy keeps coming back. That fact bugs me. He must be hiding out somewhere nearby. Know what I mean?"
Michael nodded. "Makes sense, I guess. But that worries me."
"Why do you say that?" Savannah asked.
"Well, when the actions of a criminal start to make sense to you, there's gotta be something wrong, don't you think?" he explained. When he saw blank stares on his companions' faces, he said, "You know, then you are developing a criminal mind, right?"
Savannah and Bonnie looked at one another without speaking. Savannah shrugged her shoulders and rolled her eyes.
****
"How did it go Helena?" Savannah asked when she and Michael arrived home.
Helena took one look at the couple and waved her hand in front of her face. "Whew, you smell…horsey…" she said.
Savannah laughed. "Yes, I guess we kinda do."
Helena shook her finger at the two of them. "Don't you be picking up that sweet baby until you wash up," she scolded.
"Okay, I'll shower first," Savannah promised. "So everything went okay?" she asked.
"She's an angel," Helena said, smiling.
"I'm glad she was a good girl." She handed Helena a check and thanked her profusely.
"Any time, Ms. Savannah. Any time." Helena started to walk out the front door, then turned to Savannah. "I see you have a bambino cat—a kitten."
"Yes, did we forget to mention that?" Savannah asked apologetically.
"It startled me." Helena laughed. "I was reading a book to Lilianna when I saw the big cat come into the room. The baby saw him, too. He was playing with something under the sofa. I thought it was a toy, when all of a sudden out pops a small replica of himself. I couldn't believe it. I wondered, how did that happen? Did the big cat multiply? What will Ms. Savannah and Dr. Mike say when they come home and find another cat…like that one?" she said pointing an accusing finger at Rags
, who was sitting pertly on the coffee table.
Michael and Savannah laughed. She said, "That must have startled you. I'm sorry I forgot to mention the kitten. We found him alongside the road."
"Her," Michael corrected.
Savannah grinned. "No, I'm pretty sure he's a boy."
Helena waved her hand in the air. "Well, glad you know about it. Goodbye now," she said as she continued out the door.
"Take another look at him, Michael. He's a boy!"
"I don't think so, Savannah," he said.
****
After her shower, Savannah checked on their still-sleeping daughter and then went in search of her cell phone. "Hi Craig," she said once he answered.
"Hi, what's up? Did you two have a good trip?"
"Oh yes, I guess we haven't talked to you since we got back. We did enjoy ourselves. Brought home a gift for you—a wedding gift," she said mischievously.
"Oh?" he said.
"Yes, come by and I'll introduce…I mean show it to you."
"Uh-oh," he said. "I'm not liking where this conversation's going."
"Just a minute. Actually, I do have something that might interest you—possible evidence."
He perked up. "Really?"
"Yes. Michael, Bonnie, and I went out riding the trails behind Bonnie's house again and we found something that might belong to the rustler. By the way, do they hang horse thieves anymore?"
Craig laughed. "No, Savannah."
"Well, they should," she insisted.
"If only women and children were in charge of the world…" he lamented.
"What did you say, Craig?"
"Nothin', nothin'."
"‘If only…' you say? Don't you know that women are in charge…children, too. Around here, Lily calls the shots."
"She does?" he asked.
"Sure, she decides when we get up, when we stay home, when we can eat… It's all about her."
"Okay, okay. Can we finish this conversation later? I have work to do. You say you have something that might be considered evidence?"
"Yes, a bloody rag we found not too far from Bonnie's."
Craig was silent for a moment. Savannah heard him sigh. He then said, "Okay, I guess it can't hurt to take a look at it."
"Craig," Savannah said, "the guy was bleeding, you clipped Rags's claws, remember?"
"Yes and I have some DNA. It's just hard to imagine that a bloody rag found in the bushes in the wilderness could help tie up the loose ends in this case."
"Loose ends?" she said. "We don't even have any ends to tie, do we?"
He chuckled. "Actually, you're quite right. Quite right," he said. "Listen Savannah, I'll stop by later tonight, okay? In fact, Iris might come with me. We probably should start talking about the wedding. It's this weekend at your place, right?"
"Oh my gosh, Craig," Savannah said slapping her hand against her forehead. "I can't believe I forgot that."
There was dead silence, and then Craig asked quietly, "You're kidding, right?"
Savannah took in a deep breath. "Yeah, that's right," she said, in a non-convincing manner. "I'm kidding. See you later," she said, chuckling.
"Is seven okay?" he asked.
"Sure," Savannah said.
****
There was a rap on the door at seven sharp. Michael ushered Iris and Craig into the living room just as Savannah entered from the nursery, carrying the baby monitor.
"Bedtime, huh?" Iris said.
"Yes. She had a big day. She practically fell asleep while I was feeding her."
"Will she sleep through the night?" Iris asked.
"Well, that depends on what you consider the night," Michael said. "She'll sleep at least until midnight and usually through until three. But whether she'll sleep beyond that, is anyone's guess."
Iris smiled. "Who could be annoyed being awakened by such a sweet spirit?"
"Want to have a sleepover with Lily, guys?" Savannah offered. She then said, "Hey, come sit down; we have brownies and coffee. I also have blueberry cobbler and apricot cookies."
"There's more of that wine, too," Michael said.
Craig sighed. "Hmmm, hard decision."
"Did you make the brownies?" Iris asked.
"No, Max did."
"Then I'll have a brownie," Iris said smiling from ear to ear. "…and tea if you don't mind,"
"Sure. Craig?" Savannah asked.
"Oh, one of Max's brownies sounds good…and a cookie. Can I have that with the wine?" he asked.
"Why not?" Savannah said. "Michael, what do you want?"
"Guess," he said with a grin.
"Brownie and coffee?"
"Bingo."
Savannah laughed. "In case you two don't know what just happened here, that was an attempt at trickery."
"Trickery?" Michael said.
Iris and Craig looked confused.
"Yeah, trickery." Savannah grinned at Michael and said to their guests, "When he can't decide what he wants, he asks me to guess. He tricks me into making the decision for him. No matter what I guess, he says it's right."
"Clever," Craig said, looking over at Michael, who sat with a smug look on his face.
"Works every time," Michael said, grinning.
Savannah smiled and shook her head. "Why don't you all get comfy. I'll bring the dessert in."
"I'll help," Iris said.
"Thanks Aunt RisRis," Savannah said as the two women strolled into the kitchen together.
When they returned to the living room, the men were engaged in a conversation about modern-day rustlers. Craig was telling Michael that he had done some research and discovered that there are any number of reasons why someone might take livestock. Money, need (as in hunger), and revenge being the most prominent.
"They'd better not eat my horse," Savannah said, handing Craig a small plate with a brownie and a cookie on it.
Craig glanced up at her. "So what do you have for me?"
"Oh that's right," Savannah said, a mischievous grin on her face. "We have a wedding gift for you two."
"We do?" Michael said.
She nodded. "Yes, we do." She chuckled as she headed down the hallway.
After a few minutes, Michael said, "What is she doing in there?"
"Heck if I know," Iris said. "Maybe she's taking a nap."
"Here it is," Savannah chirped happily as she walked into the living room cradling something in her arms. Rags followed along trying to get a look at what Savannah carried. Without a word, she carefully handed Craig the kitten, who was twisting and turning in an attempt to remove the blue satin bow she had tied loosely around his neck.
"Ohhhh," Iris said. "How adorable. Where'd you get it?"
"Found him homeless, friendless, and hungry along Highway One. Michael named her Sophie, but then we found out he's a boy, right hon?"
He shook his head in defeat. "I guess so," he said.
Iris laughed. "Two veterinarians arguing over whether an animal is a girl or a boy?"
"Sometimes it's hard to tell," Michael said. "Right Savannah? Tell them about your mistake with horse gender," he teased.
"Never mind," she said, brushing him off. "Anyway, I've been calling this little guy Tommy."
Rags walked up to Iris and sniffed the kitten which she now held in her lap. "Well, let's take this big bow off and see what he looks like, shall we?" she said, trying to keep the kitten from squirming so she could find the end of the ribbon. Once he was free of the bow, Tommy sat on Iris's lap and looked up at her.
"Well, hi there, Tommy," she said, petting the fur on his head and along his back.
Rags, in the meantime, reached up with his paws on Iris's knees. He began batting at the kitten until Tommy rolled over on Iris's lap and pawed back at the much larger cat.
"He looks like a mini-Rags," Craig said, laughing. "Do you think he'll grow up to be that large?"
"It's hard to tell," Michael said. "He was pretty hungry when we stumbled upon him, but he seems to have a good-size frame."
"Well, if he grows up with Rags's skills, I just might be interested," Craig said.
"In having a cat?" Iris asked. "Are you serious?"
"Why not?" Savannah challenged. "You like cats. Remember how much you enjoyed having Dolly at your house when Colbi was…unable to take care of her?"
Iris smiled. "I sure did. And Willie liked her, too." She picked up Tommy and held him close to her face. "You really are very cute," she said. "Do you like dogs? We have a nice dog who seems to like little cats."
Savannah looked over at Michael, smiled broadly, and gave him a thumbs-up.
He smirked at her and rolled his eyes.
"What do you think, babe?" Iris asked. "How would you feel about adding a cat to our household?"
Craig shrugged. He reached over and scratched the kitten's neck. Tommy began to purr.
"He likes that," Iris said.
"He's just showing off," he said. "Let me see him." He took the kitten in his hands, holding him up so he could get a good look at him. "You are a cute dickens, look at the size of those eyes," he remarked.
Just then, Rags jumped up on the sofa next to Craig and sniffed the kitten. Tommy twisted in Craig's hands and grabbed at Rags with his tiny paws. "You're not afraid of the big bad Rags, are you?" Craig said, laughing.
"We can send you home with a litter pan, kitten food, and bowls, and a baby blanket that he enjoys curling up in," Savannah suggested.
Michael laughed. "Mentioning the litter box isn't a good sales tactic, honey." He leaned forward. "But how about this," he said, "we'll throw in free veterinary service for the first year."
"Sold," Iris said, smiling.
"I agree," Craig said. "The boys like animals and this one's pretty cute. Yeah," he said, "if you're serious about giving him to us, we'll take him."
Savannah blinked, her mouth agape. "Are you kidding?" she asked.
"What?" Iris said. "Weren't you serious about giving him to us?"
"Uh...well," she stammered.
Craig spoke up. "It's too late. Tommy's coming home with us."
Savannah and Michael grinned at each other. "Okay, then," she said. "I'll pack up his things."
"Before you do that, where's the evidence you were telling me about?" Craig asked.
"Oh this," she said, removing an envelope from a side table and handing it to Craig.
He took the envelope, studied it for a moment, and asked, "Savannah, did you take this envelope with you out there on the horse?"