by Patricia Fry
“What?” Savannah insisted, holding her breath.
“After he set the traps, he went inside because he thought he heard a cat carrying on in there.”
“It was probably Rags trying to get his attention,” Michael said.
She nodded and continued. “He said all the black cats inside seemed to be okay, only he discovered something kind of weird.” She tilted her head inquisitively. “Vannie, did you notice that the black cats have been marked?”
“Marked?”
“Yes, he saw two of the adult cats with shaved patterns on their shoulders. You didn’t notice that? I must say I sure didn’t, but it’s so dark in there and they are black.”
“And they haven’t let us get that close to them,” Savannah said. She looked at her aunt. “What sort of pattern?”
“Some kind of crude pentagram. Luke thinks it’s an occult symbol, but it’s not one he’s familiar with.”
“Gosh, do you suppose it’s the same as this one on Rags?” Savannah shivered. “Ohhh, it creeps me out to think that someone who may worship demons had their hands on my cat.”
Margaret looked up at the bell tower. “It sure confirms that there’s something mysterious going on out here.”
“Well,” Michael said, “we found your cat. Think we should take him home?”
Savannah nodded. “I’d sure like to get his harness and leash back.”
“Do you want to go up those skinny stairs and see if you can find them?” Margaret teased.
Savannah glanced at the bell tower and cringed. “Maybe. But not right now. I just want to take Rags home and relax with him and my little girl today.” She turned to her aunt. “If you don’t mind.”
Margaret shook her head. “No. I wasn’t planning to stay long this morning anyway, and Luke should be here soon in case I need any help.”
“Okay then,” Michael said. “I’ll put him in the car and gather up my tools.”
Before walking away, Margaret asked, “Hey, Vannie, is Iris excited about going to that psychic thing next week?”
Savannah stared at her aunt for a moment. “I still don’t get why you’re not coming with us.”
“Too creepy and weird,” she said.
“But you seem so curious about what’s up in the bell tower. You have no fear when it comes to climbing that scary staircase to…to who knows where.”
“That’s different,” Margaret insisted.
“How?” Savannah challenged.
“Um…I don’t know. I guess because I feel sort of in control when I choose to explore around here. You guys don’t have a clue as to what you’ll encounter Friday night.”
Savannah lowered her brow. “Hmmm. I don’t get it. I sure haven’t felt in control of anything going on out here these last few days—Rags...” she laughed. “…the flashlight, that nasty attack bird, or anything else, have you?”
“Yeah, I suppose not. But I’m just freaked out about attending an organized black magic encounter, not knowing what in the heck might happen.”
Savannah grinned at her aunt. “Not even for the sake of research, huh?”
Margaret shook her head. “Not even…” She asked, “So is Iris going with you and Rochelle?”
“I don’t know. I haven’t told her about it. I thought I’d spring it on her Sunday. We’re meeting at Bud’s, aren’t we? I think Bud’s parents and grandmother are joining us.”
“That will be something different. Bud doesn’t cook, does he?”
“No, but his mother’s a good cook and I guess Brianna’s going to help her prepare something. Brianna mentioned beef pot pies and a garden salad.” She smiled. “They have a lot of greens in their garden right now.”
****
The Iveys arrived at the Bogart ranch shortly after church on Sunday. “Come in,” Edith Bogart invited. “Good to see you.”
Savannah smiled. “So nice of you to have all of us.”
“Oh, we love to entertain. We don’t do it often, but we’ve been looking forward to this gathering.” She turned to her husband. “Gunther, of course you know Dr. Mike. I’m sure you remember his wife, Savannah, and this is their daughter, Lily, isn’t it?”
“Yes.”
Edith smiled at the child. “Brianna speaks of her often.”
“Hello Gunther,” Michael said, shaking hands with him.
Savannah greeted him, as well.
Gunther then took Lily’s hand. “She’s a mighty fine filly.”
“How old is she now?” Edith asked.
“Two,” Lily said, holding up two fingers.
Edith chuckled. “Cute. And smart too.”
Savannah smiled, then she handed Edith a vase of spring flowers. “This is for you.”
“Thank you!” she gushed. “They’re beautiful, and perfect for our table this afternoon.”
Just then another woman stepped into the room and admired the flowers. “Aren’t they lovely?”
“Savannah, Dr. Mike, have you met my mother, Serena?”
“No. Nice to meet you,” Savannah said.
“Oma,” the woman said. “Everyone calls me Oma.”
“Okay, Oma it is,” Savannah agreed. “I recall my sister speaking of you.”
“Oh that girl—we sure do love her. She’s a jewel, that one.”
Just then Brianna stepped into the room and reached for Lily. “Want to see the piggies and horsies and duckies?”
Lily nodded brightly.
“Hi, Sis,” Brianna said, giving Savannah a one-armed hug. Brianna hugged Michael briefly, then bounced Lily in her arms and said, “Let’s go visit the zoo—the farm zoo.” Before leaving the room, she asked Savannah, “Want to come with us?”
“Sure.” Savannah glanced around. “Are we the first ones here?”
Overhearing this as he walked in, Bud said, “Yes. Isn’t that some sort of record? Aren’t you usually always late?”
“Since we’ve had Lily, yes, it seems so,” Savannah confessed.
Michael nodded. “So true. But today she was cooperative.”
“Well good; it’ll give us a chance to get acquainted,” Edith said. She turned to her mother. “Mom, would you make sure the salad’s tossed? I’m going to accompany these ladies out to the…” she paused and laughed, “…the farm zoo.”
“Yes.” Oma gestured dramatically. “Go. Take the little one to see the animals.”
Savannah gazed around the property. “You have a nice-sized place here.”
“It gets bigger all the time,” Edith said. When Savannah looked confused, she explained, “It’s so much work. But when we speak of—what do you call it?—sizing down, we decide we aren’t ready. With Bud’s help, we can still manage. But there will be a time when we’ll have to slow down.” She put her hand on Brianna’s arm. “Hopefully, by then, Bud will be ready to take a bride and they can run this place.”
Savannah glanced at her sister in time to see Brianna’s expresssion. Hmmm. I wonder what’s going on. I’ll have to get her aside and find out. Looks like maybe she’s feeling some pressure. I learned a long time ago not to back Brianna into a corner. She always comes out fighting or she runs away. Savannah studied her sister for a moment. I wonder which one she’s about to do this time.
“See the baby piggies?” Brianna chirped.
“Piggies,” Lily squealed. “Piggies, Mommy.”
“I see them,” Savannah said, smiling.
Lily gazed up at Brianna, a more serious look on her face and said, “Piglet.”
“Piglet?” Brianna repeated, giving her sister a sideways glance.
Just then, Lily pointed and shouted excitedly, “Horsie! See horsie, Auntie Bri?” She ran toward the corral. The others rushed to keep up with the toddler.
“You have a horsie, don’t you?” Brianna asked the toddler.
Lily opened her blue eyes wide, turned her palms up, and said, “Horsie all gone.”
Brianna looked to Savan
nah for an explanation.
“Oh, we’re boarding Peaches with Bonnie until after I have the baby. She’s making sure she gets her exercise and all. We were just out there visiting her a couple of days ago.”
“Peaches apple,” Lily chirped.
“You gave Peaches an apple?” Brianna repeated.
Lily nodded.
“Sounds like a fruit salad to me,” Bud said as he approached. “Hey Lily, want to see the baby cow?” Bud asked.
“Baby cow?” Gunther repeated sarcastically as he joined them.
“Well, she doesn’t know calf, yet, does she?” Bud asked.
Just then Lily pointed through the slats of a corral fence. “Calf,” she called out. “Baby calf.”
Bud and Gunther looked at each other and burst out laughing.
“She is a veterinarian’s daughter, after all,” Brianna said proudly. She then corrected herself. “Two veterinarians’ daughter.”
Bud put his arm around Brianna’s waist and pulled her to him. “Does that mean our children will use medical terms to describe their body parts?”
Brianna didn’t respond. Instead, she wriggled free of his grip, took Lily’s hand, and asked, “Want to see the baby duckies? Bud has baby duckies.”
“Duckling,” Lily said as they walked together across the yard.
“Yes, she’s a smart cookie,” Edith remarked.
When Lily heard this, she looked up at the woman and asked, “Cookie?”
Savannah chuckled. “Later, sweetie. We’ll have cookies later.”
Lily stopped and looked at her aunt. She pointed to something dangling from her jeans pocket and said, “Keys. Auntie Bri’s keys.”
“Keys?” Brianna repeated. “Oh yes, those are my keys.”
Lily looked up at her aunt, a hint of a pout on her sweet face. “My keys all gone.”
“You lost your keys?” Brianna asked.
She shook her head. “All gone,” she said.
Savannah chuckled. “Yeah, they went missing under rather strange circumstances. She brought them out with us yesterday while we were playing on the porch. She likes to pretend she’s unlocking the door, and she also uses them with her little princess car. She’s quite attached to those keys.”
“All gone,” Lily repeated, staring down at her shoes.
“Yeah, after we went inside,” Savannah continued, “she remembered she’d forgotten her keys and when we went out to get them, they were gone. Vanished, just like my bracelet and Michael’s tools.”
“You don’t have another…what was his name…Luke in your neighborhood, do you?” Brianna asked. “Wasn’t that the name of the kid who was helping himself to your trash and tools and things?”
Savannah nodded. “Yeah, it’s not Luke. He has reformed. I just can’t imagine what’s happening. I sometimes feel as though I’m going crazy.”
“Maybe it’s a raccoon,” Edith suggested. “We’ve had raccoons mess with things around here.”
Just then Margaret called out to them. “Hey, what’s going on out here, a treasure hunt?”
“Hi, Aunt Marg,” Brianna said. “We’re visiting the animals. Come join us.”
“I’m Edith Bogart,” the hostess said, offering her hand. “You must be these lovely ladies’ aunt.”
Margaret shook Edith’s hand. “Yes, I’m Maggie. Thank you for inviting us.” She glanced around the property. “You have a lovely place here.”
“Thank you.” When the conversation seemed to lag, Edith said, “Savannah was just telling us about missing things around her place.”
“Pshaw,” Margaret said, “did she tell you about her kleptomaniac cat?”
Edith’s eyes grew wide. “No. So is it the cat that took the bracelet, Lily’s keys, and the tools?”
Savannah shook her head. “I don’t think so. He’s never outside unsupervised. But on the off chance that he has been sneaking out, I did look through his stash.”
“His stash?” Edith asked.
“Yes, he hides things in a closet upstairs. Yesterday I found just the usual: used tea bags, a pot holder, some of Lily’s socks, her doll’s bonnet, and a few bills.”
“Bills that need to be paid,” Margaret asked, “or dollar bills?”
“Both,” Savannah said, laughing.
“So you’ve had something else go missing?” Margaret asked.
Savannah nodded. “Lily’s set of keys—you know how she used to like our keys. I put together a set for her with old keys that don’t go to anything. Now they’re gone.” She turned to her aunt. “So keep an eye out at your place.”
“Why?” Brianna asked. “Do you think Max took them?”
“No,” Savannah said definitively. “Auntie found my bracelet at her house a few days after it went missing. Remember, we talked about it last Sunday at the inn.” She poked her sister in the arm. “You thought one of us was into levitation.”
Edith glanced at Brianna, then said to Savannah, “Well that sounds like a real mystery, for sure.” She leaned toward the women. “You know, my mother is a bit of a seer. Maybe she can shed some light on what’s happening to your belongings.”
Savannah’s face lit up. “Oh, I’ll have to ask her. Hey, here she comes.”
“So how does the little one like the animals?” Oma asked. She stooped to Lily’s level. “Did you see the duckies, and the baby cow?”
“Duckling,” Lily said. She pointed toward the corral. “Calf. Brown calf.”
“Oh my, she is a smart one.” She looked at Savannah. “And she’s only two?”
Savannah nodded.
“Hey, Mom,” Edith said, “the Iveys are missing some things from their home. I told Savannah you might be able to give her a clue as to what has happened to them.”
Oma stood straight and looked at Savannah. After staring at her for a moment, she said, “Your cat takes things, doesn’t he?”
“Oh my gosh,” Margaret said, “you picked up on that?”
Oma laughed. “Well, Brianna mentioned something about it once.”
“Oh.”
“Do you have a bird?” Oma asked.
Savannah shook her head. “No, that’s about the only thing we don’t have. We have a horse, cats, a dog…”
“I see feathers. I can’t be sure if the image relates to Indians or birds—maybe a costume of feathers.” She let out a sigh. “I’m out of practice and looking forward to what comes of this festive gathering today. Let’s not dwell on what’s lost to us, shall we?”
Before Savannah could respond, Bud announced, “The Sledges and the Jacksons are here.”
“Oh, goodness,” Edith said, heading toward the house, “we’d better put the finishing touches on the meal and start serving.”
Once everyone had visited over mimosas and sparkling water, Edith invited their guests to be seated around two tables set up in their farm-style kitchen. Savannah, Michael, and Lily sat at the larger table with Craig, Iris, Edith, Oma, and Gunther. Margaret and Max sat nearby with Brianna, Bud, Colbi, and Damon.
“This is lovely,” Savannah said as she gazed at the feast arranged on the table.
“It sure is,” Iris agreed. She swooned. “I love a fresh garden salad.”
“You serve fresh greens at the inn, don’t you?” Savannah asked.
“As often as possible. But Edith, you have things in here I haven’t seen. I’d love to know what some of this is so we can plant it at the inn.”
“Mom’s in charge of the garden,” Edith said. “She can tell you.”
“Well, the gardener and I,” Oma corrected. She then said, “I saved the seed packets. I’ll get them after our meal and you can write them down.” She swallowed a sip of tea and added, “Or you can take the packets to get you started.”
“Perfect,” Iris said. “Thank you.”
“The meat…” Craig started, “is it from one of your…”
“It sure is,” Gunther said proudly.
“We grow real good beef around here. Pork, too.”
Bud heard his father’s brag from the other table and grinned in his direction.
Once Gunther, Craig, and Michael were in deep conversation about growing beef and other ranching issues, and Edith and Oma were discussing something, Savannah turned to Iris. “Hey, what are you doing next Friday night?”
“Um…nothing that I know of, why?”
With a sparkle in her eyes, she asked, “Would you like to go on a witch hunt?”
“Huh?” Iris said, almost choking on her food.
“Yeah, out at the seminary. We think there may be some sort of odd other-worldly or wannabe other-worldly activity going on out there.”
Iris dropped her fork, sat up straight, and said, a little too loudly, “I told you so.” When she noticed that Edith, Oma, and a few from the other table were staring at her, she slunk down in her chair a bit. When some of them went back to eating and chatting with their close tablemates, Iris asked quietly, “What’s going on?”
Savannah glanced around, then said, “Well, we think someone…or something has taken up residence in the old place and Rochelle is coming to help us ferret out whatever or whoever it is.”
Iris narrowed her eyes. “And you want me to…a…do what?” she asked suspiciously.
“Well,” Savannah started, trying to be inconspicuous, “she has signed us up for an evening of woo-woo adventure—maybe a séance or something that we believe will occur at the seminary.”
“Oh?” Iris said.
When Margaret overheard this from the other table, she said, “Yeah, you meet in a parking lot, hand over money, then you’re taken somewhere in the dark.”
“What?” Iris shrieked.
Edith shivered. “That sounds frightening.”
“What’s frightening about it?” Oma asked. “Sounds like the way Charmaine operates.”
When she saw that the four women were staring at her, she said, “But she’s a scammer if I’ve ever seen one.”
Edith smiled. “Mother spends a lot of her time exposing fakes—you know, through her blog.”
Savannah made brief eye contact with Margaret, then focused on Oma. “Oh, really? Fake psychics…that sort of thing?”
“Yeah, I believe in the supernatural, but I’m not holding to the hocus-pocus some of those phonies try to sell. No way.” Oma gestured toward Brianna and said, “That one believes.”