A Christmas to Purr About (A Klepto Cat Mystery Book 22)

by Patricia Fry

  Michael, Keith, and Margaret all watched anxiously as Savannah made a call on her cell phone. “Hello, Bonnie. I need a big favor. Has Peaches had her breakfast?”

  “Um, yes. Barney fed her early this morning. Why?”

  “Bud’s stuck on the highway in the vicinity of the Dawson Ranch. He has the blood they need for Rags. He has to have more surgery and, Bonnie, it’s an emergency.”

  “Oh, my gosh.”

  “Would you saddle Peaches and ride like the devil over the hill to get that blood from Bud?”

  “Wouldn’t a dirt bike be faster?” Bonnie asked.

  “You’ve been over that hill. Do you really think a bike could handle it better than a horse—especially Peaches? She’s one sure-footed, strong, and fast mare. You’ve been working her this week, haven’t you?”

  “Yes, she’s in good shape. You’re right. If any horse can do it, Peaches can. I’m on it. I’m headed for the corral as we speak. Tell Bud to watch for me. I should be there in ten or fifteen minutes.”

  “Eight would be better.” Savannah then said, “Oh wait, Michael’s telling me something.”

  With renewed energy and hope, Michael explained, “Bud’s going to abandon his car and walk through the Dawson place to meet Bonnie. Where should I tell him to go? I’ll get permission from Raif Dawson for them to cross his land. We don’t want to be stopped by any locked gates.”

  “Let me ask Bonnie.” Savannah said into the phone, “Bud’s going to walk through the Dawson place and meet you. He wants to know where he should go. Where will you be coming from?”

  When Bonnie answered, she sounded winded. “I’ve put my phone on speaker while I saddle your mare,” she explained. She continued, “Tell him to follow the western-most fence line. Go through the gate and take the trail that heads north up the hill. It’s not quite as steep on that side. I’ll meet up with him on that trail.”

  Savannah relayed the instructions to Michael, then said to Bonnie, “Okay, someone will be at your place to get the stuff when you return.”

  “All right, I’m off. I’ll see you here in less than twenty-five minutes, if we’re lucky.”

  “Bonnie,” Savannah said into the phone, walking away from the others, “listen, I don’t know if it will work with a horse, but I want you to try something.”

  “Okay, I’m listening. We’re just leaving our property and heading out. Keep talking, Savannah.”

  “Well, the thing is, I’m pretty sure I can communicate with Rags using mind pictures. I want you to try it with Peaches.”

  “Uh, mind pictures?” she asked, her voice a bit shaky due to the bumpy ride.

  “Yes, imagine Rags in serious need of the blood and how important it is for Peaches to hurry back with it to save Rags’s life.”

  “Oh, okay. Got it,” Bonnie said. “Better hang up. The ride’s only going to get rougher. See you later, Savannah.”

  Savannah then heard her shout, “Let’s go, Peaches!”

  “Savannah, why don’t you and your aunt go out to Bonnie’s ranch?” Michael said. “We’ll keep a watch over Rags.” He kissed her. “I’ll see you back here in around half an hour.”

  “Yeah, let’s hope,” Keith said. “Hey, call us when you’re on your way back and we’ll prep.”

  ****

  Eighteen minutes later, Margaret and Savannah paced along the southern gate of Bonnie’s property, watching eagerly for a sign of her and Peaches. Savannah looked at her watch again. “Come on, Peaches,” she said under her breath. “Come on, you can do this.”

  “How long ago did Bud say he handed the stuff off to her?” Margaret asked.

  “Seven minutes.”

  “There!” Margaret said pointing. “There they are. Boy, look at your horse go.”

  “Yeah, she’s fast.” Savannah jumped up and down. “Come on, Peaches. Come on, baby.” She rushed to open the gate for Bonnie. “Good job!” she said, patting her friend’s leg as she trotted past on Peaches.

  “Here it is,” Bonnie said, reining in the mare and handing the blood to Savannah. “Good luck. We’re all pulling for Rags.”

  “Thank you,” Savannah said, taking the package and rushing with her aunt to the car. “I’ll drive,” Savannah announced, climbing into the driver’s seat of the Jeep Liberty and handing the package to Margaret. “Call Michael,” she instructed. “Tell him we’re on our way. It took us five minutes and thirty seconds to get here, so we should be back at the clinic by seven thirty-eight.”

  “Great,” Michael said when he met Savannah at the back door of the clinic and took the blood from her. He bit his lip. “Time to pray, ladies.”

  “I haven’t stopped praying,” Savannah said.

  “Did I see Craig’s car out front?” Margaret asked as the two women walked toward the waiting room.

  “I didn’t notice,” Savannah said. When they entered the room and she saw both Iris and Craig, she asked, “What are you doing here?”

  Iris rose and moved toward Savannah, putting her arms around her. “Oh, honey, I’m so sorry you’ve been put through this and that Rags has suffered.”

  “What do you mean?” Savannah asked, pulling away. “Did something happen while we were gone?” She gazed into the hallway. “Michael didn’t say anything.”

  “No, honey,” Iris said. “He’s still hanging on.”

  “He’ll be okay,” Scarlett said from behind the reception desk.

  “Oh, hi,” Savannah said. “You’re here early, aren’t you?”

  The freckle-faced receptionist nodded. “Yeah, Dr. Mike asked me to come in early and cancel some of his morning appointments.” She looked into Savannah’s eyes and said again, “I really believe he’ll be okay.”

  “How is he?” came a voice from the front door.

  “Colbi? Where’s Rosemary?”

  “With Damon. I heard Rags wasn’t doing well. I wanted to be here for you,” Colbi said quietly.

  Savannah wrapped her arms around her. “Thank you.”

  Stepping back, Colbi handed Savannah something. “From Dolly and Molly.”

  “Awww,” she said, holding it against her chest. She looked more closely at it. “A picture of our three kitties. That’s really cute.” She hugged Colbi briefly again. “Thank you.” She showed the photo of Rags with his feline friends to the others. When she looked at her aunt, she could see that she was struggling to hold back tears. She put her arm around her and they held each other for a few moments.

  “So how is he?” Colbi asked.

  “In surgery as we speak,” Savannah said. “Bud was stuck in traffic with the blood Rags needed, so they had to delay the surgery. My friend Bonnie made a record-breaking run on Peaches to get the blood from Bud. We just got back.”

  “I doubt Bud could have gotten it here any faster even if there wasn’t a wreck,” Margaret said.

  After thinking about it, Savannah agreed. “You might be right. The wreck might have been a blessing.”

  Colbi took a deep breath and exhaled. “Wow!” When no one spoke, she said, “Shall we pray? Come on, let’s form a prayer circle.”

  “Can I join in?” Scarlett asked.

  “Certainly,” Savannah said, holding one hand out to her. “Thank you,” she said, squeezing Scarlett’s hand. Savannah took Margaret’s hand and watched as the circle was closed. “Let me,” Savannah said, her voice cracking a bit. She spoke quietly. “God, please watch over Rags as he endures another surgery. Guide Keith’s hands in healing him and…” She paused. “…don’t let him suffer. Amen.”

  ****

  Thirty minutes later, Michael approached the waiting room. Savannah was the first one to see him. “Michael,” she said her voice filled with fear and anxiety. “How…?” she began.

  “He’s been through a lot.” He glanced around at the others and choked up. He swallowed hard. “We lost him on the table…” When the others gasped, he said more loudly, “but my brother was able to bring h
im back. Rags is stable.” He took Savannah’s hand and said in a strong voice, “For the first time since this ordeal started, he’s stable. We can’t ask for anything more at this time.” He ran one hand down Savannah’s arm. “I’d better get back.” Glancing around the room at everyone, he said, “Keep those positive, healing thoughts.”

  When the room became silent, Scarlett asked, “Can I get you some coffee, tea, water?”

  “Yes,” Savannah said. “That would be lovely. Let me help.”

  The group had been talking quietly, making phone calls, texting, and sipping their drinks for about forty-five minutes, when Savannah’s cell phone chimed. She looked at the screen and immediately started to tear up. Wiping at her eyes, she handed the phone to Margaret. “Auntie, I can’t see the screen. I think it’s a text from Marissa.”

  “Yes it is,” Margaret announced, smiling. “Want me to read it to you?”

  Savannah nodded. “What does that sweet child have to say? She’s one bright spot in the morning, isn’t she?” She turned to Margaret, then acknowledged the others in the room. “Did you know she got that operation on her legs? She’s recuperating at home now.”

  “Yeah,” Craig said, “she sent me another picture. This time it’s me with a whole bunch of cats. I sure hope that isn’t my future. Three are almost more than I can handle.” Craig smiled.

  “She is quite a kid, that one.”

  Savannah nodded. “What does she say, Auntie?”

  “Well, she says, ‘Hi, second Mommy,’”

  Savannah chuckled. “Cute.”

  Margaret read some more, “‘Ms. Shelly told me that Rags has been hurt. Someone stabbed him? How scary for Rags and for everyone who loves him, including me. I just know God will make Rags well. He’s too special to so many. I love you all and I’m praying real hard for Rags.’”

  “How sweet,” Savannah said, fighting back tears. Just then Michael appeared again, holding a cup of coffee in his hands. He glanced around the room and said, trying to sound upbeat, “Don’t you all have something better to do this morning than clutter up my reception room?”

  Savannah stood. “How is he, Michael?”

  He sighed deeply, avoiding eye contact with her. “Well…”

  Suddenly someone called from the back area, “Michael, Michael.”

  He glanced at Savannah, then turned and rushed down the hallway.

  “Oh, my gosh,” Savannah said, putting her hands up over her face. “This is torture.” She sat down, her aunt on one side and Iris on the other.

  “You need to relax, Vannie,” Margaret said. “Think of your baby boy. You can’t let yourself get all worked up like this.”

  Savannah took a deep breath. “I know.” She began to sob. “It’s just so hard. I hate thinking about what Rags must be going through.”

  “He’s in good hands, honey,” Craig said, reaching out and patting her knee.

  Just then Michael appeared again with a smile on his face. “He’s awake,” he announced. “He’s hungry. By golly, hon, I think he’s going to make it.”

  “Really?” Savannah said, feeling too weak and uncertain to stand.

  “Yes,” Michael said. “Keith said it was darn near a miracle. One minute he was practically non-responsive and the next, he was awake and ordering room service.”

  Everyone cheered.

  “Can I see him?” Savannah asked.

  “Yes,” he said, taking her hand. He put his arm around her and ushered her into the recovery room. “Rags, here’s your mom.”

  “Hi, Ragsie,” she cooed, reaching out and gently scratching the top of his head. “You look so much better. Look at his eyes, Michael. The life is back in him.”

  “Yes,” Keith said from behind her. “When I saw that, I knew he was going to be okay. I’ve seen very few turnarounds as dramatic as this one. It was as if…well, I can’t help but think there was some sort of divine intervention.”

  Savannah smiled. “Yes, there could have been.” She turned to Michael. “I think I know where it came from.”

  “Where?” he asked.

  She said quietly, “Marissa was praying for him.” When he looked puzzled, she said, “Shelly evidently told her what had happened and Marissa texted me this morning on her grandmother’s phone saying she knew he’d be okay because she was praying for him. That was about fifteen minutes ago.”

  Michael smiled brightly. “So Marissa has facilitated another Christmas miracle, has she?”

  “Indeed, she has,” Savannah said. “Indeed, she has.”

  “Well, let’s let him rest,” Michael said, walking with Savannah back to the waiting room.

  “He looks so much better,” Savannah announced to the others, smiling through her tears. She sniffled. “They think he’s going to make it.”

  “Oh, honey, that’s wonderful,” Iris said.

  Colbi rushed to embrace Savannah. “Such good news. Can’t wait to tell Dolly and Molly.”

  “Well, no reason to hang around here anymore, I guess,” Craig said standing up. He patted Savannah on the shoulder and winked as he walked past toward the exit.

  Just then, Savannah’s phone rang. “Oh, hi Bonnie,” she said. “Thank you again for making that amazing run. It looks like Rags is going to be okay.”

  “Excellent!” Bonnie said. “Did they use the blood?”

  “I don’t know.” Savannah turned and asked Michael, “Bonnie wants to know if you used the blood.”

  Both Michael and Keith nodded. “Sure did,” Michael said. “It was a godsend.”

  “Yes, they did,” Savannah said into the phone. “I can’t thank you enough for making that wild and crazy run.”

  “Savannah,” Bonnie said quietly, “it was all Peaches.”

  “Huh?”

  “I’ve never seen such heart. Girl, I think she knew that Rags was counting on her. I asked a lot of that mare when she was in training because I knew she had it in her. And she’s shown me a lot, but nothing like what she gave today.” She paused before saying, “You mentioned some sort of connection between the cat and the horse.” She spoke more quietly. “Savannah, when I started thinking hard about Rags and how vital it was for us to get that blood and get back here pronto quick with it—for Rags, that’s when Peaches really came to life.” She choked up, then said, “Maybe it was my imagination, but I swear Peaches understood that she was on a mission to save her friend.”

  “Oh, my gosh. So, you think Peaches knew Rags was counting on her?”

  “Savannah, I don’t know. But what I experienced out there this morning with that mare was definitely something close to a miracle. Like I said, she’s fast and she’s game, but I’ve never seen her exhibit so much heart.”

  Suddenly, Bonnie interrupted herself and said, “Hey, gotta go. Got drama on the back forty.”

  “Thanks again, Bonnie,” Savannah said before ending the call.

  “Now why are you crying?” Margaret asked her niece a few minutes later.

  “I don’t know,” Savannah said, laughing a little hysterically, “I guess I’m just a sucker for Christmas miracles.”

  Patricia Fry and Her Books

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  Other books in the Klepto Cat Mystery series

  Catnapped (Book 1)

  When Savannah Jordan agrees to help her aunt while she recovers from a broken foot, she doesn’t expect to walk into a mystery, become part of a not-quite-legal surveillance team, be kidnapped by a deranged stranger and meet a steaming hot veterinarian.

  Beloved neighborhood cats are missing—the community can only guess at their fate—and Aunt Margaret’s life is being threatened. Is it because she has a clue to the missing cats or is it something more sinister? Of cour
se, as in all of the Klepto Cat Mysteries, Rags, an ordinary cat with a most unusual habit, has a paw in saving the day.

  If you like light mysteries with only a little terror, if you’re infatuated by interesting cats and if you love a love story, you must read this book.

  Available at Amazon.

  Cat-Eye Witness (Book 2)

  Savannah and Aunt Margaret open the old Forster home to the Hammond Cat Alliance for a fundraiser to help rehabilitate the abused horses rescued months earlier from the catnappers.

  Before the afternoon is over, the collected funds go missing and someone is murdered in an upstairs bedroom.

  Suspicion surrounds Iris, a local waitress and Savannah’s new best friend. The only witness to the murder is Rags, Savannah’s cat. With the assistance of a cat psychic and Rags’s good friend, Charlotte (the young girl with Downs), the cat helps to “paw” the killer… but not before an attempt is made on Rags’s life. The case is solved only after Rags comes face-to-face with the killer for the second time.

  Detective Craig Sledge is new to this book, as is Damon, Iris’s errant son. Sledge finds this to be one of the muddiest cases he has ever worked, with inconsistent clues and no apparent motive. He’s constantly surprised, perplexed and impressed by the cat’s uncanny ability to come up with clues he has missed. His fascination with the attractive Iris Clampton also mystifies the detective.

  In this story, one of the rescued horses goes into labor and there’s a night of high drama at the ole corral as veterinarians Savannah and Michael work to save the foal. This experience renews Savannah’s deep interest in horses and riding, which ultimately serves to help her bond with a very important surprise character who finds his way into her life and Michael’s just as they prepare to say their wedding vows.

  While Rags is the animal star, he isn’t the only animal featured in this story. Layla is back in all of her tangerine feline beauty. And Rags makes friends with Buffy, a perky almost Himalayan cat and the inseparable duo, Walter, an all black cat and his sidekick, Lexie, a charming Afghan mix dog. Savannah’s new ride, Peaches, also debuts in this story. An incident with this mare adds another dimension to Savannah’s and Michael’s relationship. Can he hold her with open arms?