A Cowboy Firefighter For Christmas (Smokin' Hot Cowboys 1) (10 page)

When he heard the sharp demand of Mama Cat’s yowl and the plaintive mewling of kittens, he knew they were close. He dug his elbows into the mud and slithered into the crawl space underneath the burning house. He took short, shallow breaths to avoid the heat that could sear his lungs. He saw the gleam of cat eyes and counted three or four kittens nestled in an old towel. Mama Cat hissed at him. He tossed the towel over the kittens. He backed out, dragging the litter of babies with him while Mama Cat raced out ahead of him.

He took a deep breath of clean air as he got to his feet. He glanced down at the squirming bundle. And smiled. He’d saved lives. He couldn’t ask for a better outcome.

“Are they okay?” Misty hurried over to him.

“Think so. Let’s go have a look.”

He walked away from the heat, steam, crackling fire, and firefighters hollering to each other as they brought the fire under control. He gently laid his bundle on the ground. He flung back the hood of his parka and noticed Mama Cat intently watching him. He pulled apart the raggedy, dirty towel to reveal the kittens. Three small, furry faces—bright eyes slit in the sunlight—turned up to him. They looked none the worse for wear. He felt a surge of happiness that they appeared okay.

Unfortunately, the fourth kitten, a black and white tuxedo, lay unmoving on his side. Trey’s heart sank at the sight of the runt of the litter. The kitten was obviously in distress due to smoke inhalation, a situation that was regrettably much too common with birds, cats, dogs, and other animals in house fires.

Mama Cat butted Trey’s leg with her head, then gently picked up a kitten by the back of the neck with her mouth and headed for her nest in the bushes.

“Should we let her take them?” Misty asked, looking back and forth between the kittens and Mama Cat.

“There’ll be less stress on them if they’re with their mother. And I’m thinking she’s still nursing them.” He nudged the runt with the tip of his finger and got no response. “This one needs our help now.”

Misty carefully lifted the kitten and held him in the palm of one hand. “He’s not breathing well.”

Trey took off his bulky leather gloves and dropped them on the ground. He gently lifted the kitten from Misty’s hand. He placed two fingers on the kitten’s left side behind the front leg and shoulder. “He still has a heartbeat.”

“That means a chance to live.”

“I’ll do what I can for the little one, but—”

“Let me help.”

“Will you run to my pickup? There’s an unopened bottle of water in the cup holder and clean towels on the front seat. We need the water and a towel.” He gestured toward his bright red truck.

She took off toward his pickup.

Trey glanced around to check on the fire. Thankfully, they’d caught the blaze in time so it wouldn’t spread. He wanted to cheer, but he didn’t want to alarm the kitten he held or Mama Cat, who was moving the last of her healthy babies to shelter. He’d let Slim Norton know where his barn cats were and about the injured kitten. Who knew why the mother had decided to nest under the old house instead of in Slim’s barn, but there was no arguing with a cat’s logic. They did what they did for their own reasons. Even if Mama Cat moved her kittens again, she’d go to Slim for food and he could follow her to the kittens. All would be well there.

He nodded to several of his friends who’d backed away from the fire and were drinking from bottles as they watched the dwindling blaze. Water hissed as it hit the smoldering remains of what had once been a family’s home. Pops and cracks and groans and crashes filled the area as the house slowly collapsed in a blackened heap of debris, leaving one corner starkly upright. All in all, as a firefighter would say, it was a good stop.

He caught Kent’s curious look and held up the kitten. His cousin nodded in response. They all hated to lose vulnerable animals to fire, so folks would be glad Trey was doing his best to save the kitten while others kept the fire contained to the house.

He checked the little one’s breathing by holding his finger in front of the tiny nostrils. Not much breath at all. But the heartbeat was still strong.

Misty ran up to him and held out a bottle of water and a towel. “I got it all! What now?”

“Thanks. Need you to wet the kitten.”

“Just pour water over him? You’re sure that won’t hurt him?”

“Got to cool him down quick as we can. Then dry him.”

She sprinkled water over the kitten’s small body, and then gently blotted off the excess liquid.

“Thanks. I’m going to try AR. That’s artificial respiration.”

“You can do that with a cat?”

He nodded. “As soon as I get a good response, I want you to drive us to the vet’s clinic.”

“Me drive your big hulking truck?”

“Keys are in the ignition.”

“Okay. You keep the kitty alive, I’ll drive Godzilla.”

Trey chuckled as he glanced up at her. He was glad to see she was handling the fire so well. Her breathing might be a little ragged, but that was her only physical issue as far as he could tell. She’d bucked up here just like she had at the grass fire. Strong gal with a big heart.

He set the tiny kitten in the center of his big firefighter glove. The sight reminded him of King Kong holding tiny Ann Darrow in the palm of his hand. Could Trey save this little one? He’d never performed AR on a cat before, but he had watched training videos and he had to try. He wiped the sweat from his brow with a corner of his towel, unzipped his jacket, and knelt down with his bright parka flaring out around him.

He positioned the kitten so he lay on his side with his four legs extended on top of the glove. First, he opened the kitten’s mouth and tugged the tongue to the front of the mouth. Second, he gently closed and held the mouth shut. Third, he made sure the kitten’s neck was straight so the airway was open. Fourth, he stood up, lifting the kitty on his glove. He bent forward and sent a soft puff of air into the kitten’s nose, one breath every four to five seconds.

Now was the time for a Christmas miracle.

Morning Glory ran up to them, necklaces jingling around her neck. She leaned in close to the kitten. “Blessings on this sweet baby. Let the spiritual forces of this magical season of renewal and rebirth help this kitten find the strength to recover.”

“Thank you,” Misty said.

Morning Glory turned to Misty and gave her a quick hug.

Trey kept up the puffs of air, about the same strength as he would for a human baby, hoping against hope that it’d be enough. Soon he saw the kitten’s chest rise with his breath, then relax after his breath.

He gave Misty and Morning Glory a big smile before he went back to giving air to the kitten. At the same time, he experienced everything around him with the keen clarity that came in a crisis or emergency. He glanced up. Now that the house fire was under control, the firefighters had turned their attention to the kitten. He knew they were rooting for him to keep the little one alive.

“Vet now?” Misty asked as she picked up Trey’s extra glove.

“He’s breathing, so let’s go.”

“Blessings.” Morning Glory held up two fingers in the peace sign.

As Trey headed for his truck, holding the kitten in his glove, Misty raced ahead of him. He continued the AR as he followed her. She flung open the passenger door to his pickup and he eased onto the leather seat. She shut the door, and then ran around to the other side. She sat down inside, tossed his glove in the backseat, and started the engine.

“Where to?” she asked.

“Left on Wildcat Road.”

She headed downhill, obviously driving quickly but cautiously so as not to jostle the kitten.

He held the little one steady and kept up the puffs of air, grateful and amazed the kitty kept responding to him. Maybe Wildcat Bluff would get a Christmas miracle as well as a Christmas angel. He glanced over at Misty. Maybe the two came together.

When Misty turned onto the main road, he pointed toward a one-story, white cinder-block building in the distance.

“That the vet?”

“Yes.”

She gripped the steering wheel with both hands as she sped down the road well over the speed limit.

“How’s our boy?”

“Hangin’ in there.”

Misty covered the last distance, wheeled into the empty parking lot, scattering gravel, and pulled up close to the front door. She leaped from the truck, ran around the front end, and jerked open Trey’s door.

He dropped the glove so he could cradle the kitten in both hands. As he stepped down, he continued the AR. He quickly strode up to the building painted with bright murals of large and small animals—horses, cows, goats, dogs, cats, birds—in pinks, blues, yellows and other vibrant colors. A string of horse-shaped lights in green and red outlined the edge of the roof. A large silver-and-green wreath with a crimson cardinal in a shiny nest hung on the front door.

Misty opened the door for Trey, anticipating his every need, and he stepped inside. He heard her follow closely behind him.

“Trey, what’ve you got?” a tall woman with short steel-gray hair called from behind the counter as she jumped to her feet. She wore jeans and a T-shirt with a photo of a laughing horse, all big white teeth and flapping lips. “I heard about the fire.”

“Male kitten. Smoke inhalation.” He felt relief at the sight of Sue Ann Bridges, their large and small animal veterinarian. He’d feared she might be out on a call. Her assistants were well trained, but he wanted her for this kitten. Sue Ann was totally dependable and wonderful at saving animals.

“AR?”

“Yes.”

“Good for you.” Sue Ann quickly left the desk, disappeared from sight, and then opened the inner door. “I’ll say it again. You need to get animal oxygen mask kits for all the volunteers.”

“No money yet.” He followed her down the wide hall with Misty right behind him.

“Put them on your fire-rescue Christmas list.” Sue Ann opened a door off the hall and gestured inside. “Quick. Get that baby in my consultation room.”

Trey laid the kitten gently down on the examination table and stepped back. He bumped into Misty. He put an arm around her shoulders and tucked her against his side. She clutched his waist and squeezed in response. Felt right as rain.

Sue Ann expertly placed a small mask over the kitten’s nose and mouth, stroking his soft fur in comfort. “These kits come with three mask sizes to fit dogs, cats, ferrets, rabbits, guinea pigs, birds, and whatever other critter you might run across. Raccoon. Possum. Skunk. Folks save the lives of wild ones all the time and keep them at home.”

“Skunks?” Misty asked.

Sue Ann chuckled. “Good friends. Best if you take out their scent glands.”

“I’d think so,” Misty agreed. “They are pretty.”

“Sure are,” Sue Ann said. “But back to those animal oxygen mask kits.”

“They’re on our to-do list,” Trey said.

“Not high enough on it. Oxygen masks save lives. Animals are part of our families and deserve the same type of help we give humans.”

“I agree. But we’re tapped out of funds after the new station, apparatus, and computer system.”

“What about organizing a benefit for animal oxygen kits?” Misty asked. “I’d be happy to donate to the cause.”

“Who’s she?” Sue Ann glanced from the kitten to Misty and back again.

“Misty Reynolds,” Trey said. “And this is Sue Ann Bridges.”

Sue Ann looked up again. “You’re our Christmas angel?”

“I’m just here on vacation.”

“Good thing you showed up.” Sue Ann lifted the mask from the kitten’s face and set it aside. “You must’ve sprinkled angel dust over this baby, because he’s breathing on his own now.”

“Not me,” Misty said. “Morning Glory blessed him. You and Trey saved his life.”

“He’s not out of the woods.” Sue Ann cuddled the kitten in the crook of her arm and was rewarded with soft meows.

“What do you mean?” Misty asked.

“I can’t tell yet about the extent of his injuries.”

“But he’s breathing and he’s talking to you.”

“I know,” Sue Ann said in a soft, gentle tone as she stroked the kitten’s small head. “But it’s simply too soon to tell if he’ll make it.”

“You mean, don’t get our hopes up?” Trey asked.

“He’ll get the best of care. That’s all I can promise.”

“Thank you,” Misty said. “I’ll pay his expenses.”

“No, you won’t.” Trey glanced down at her with what he hoped she recognized as his no-compromise stare.

“It’s Christmas,” Sue Ann interrupted them. “This kitten’s health is on me.”

“Thanks,” Trey said. “I owe you one.”

“Now, who’s missing this baby?” Sue Ann asked.

“Slim Norton’s barn cat had a litter and hid them under Ole Man Winston’s house. That’s the building that caught fire.” Trey stroked a finger down the kitty’s soft back. “I’ll let Slim know one of his kittens is here.”

“She’s the mother who has fine polydactyl kittens, isn’t she?” Sue Ann checked the kitten’s paws. “Look at this baby. He’s got an extra dewclaw on every single paw. Special kitty.”

Misty reached out and tentatively touched one of the kitten’s oversized paws. “He’s gorgeous.”

Trey squeezed Misty’s shoulder, liking her better all the time. He had a soft place in his heart for a woman who loved animals.

“So Bert had another property burn?” Sue Ann shook her head as she stroked the kitten.

“Yep. But we kept the fire from spreading to the pasture or up to Slim’s house.”

“Good job.” Sue Ann turned to Misty. “You—Angel—see if you can finagle the powers that be to help us come up with those animal oxygen kits.”

“Stop right there,” Trey said. “Misty’s here on vacation. She doesn’t have time for that. I’ll see what I can do about a benefit.”

Sue Ann winked at Misty. “You gonna ride herd on him to get that benefit going?”

Misty chuckled. “Think it’s possible?”

“Right woman with wings?” Sue Ann laughed. “Might be at that.”

“Ladies, I’m still here, so don’t go talking about me behind my back.” Trey joined their laughter. “I said I’d see what I could do and I will.”

“When can we see this kitten again?” Misty asked.

“You just leave him in my hands. He doesn’t need to be stressed with folks looking at him and wanting to handle him.”

“You’ll let us know how he’s doing, won’t you?” Misty asked.

“Call the front desk or come by for an update.”

“Thanks.” Misty reached out and stroked the soft fur between the kitten’s eyes. The kitty looked up and licked Misty’s finger with his long pink tongue.

“Looks like you made a friend,” Sue Ann said with warmth in her voice.

“He’ll be fine.” Misty glanced at Trey. “Don’t you agree?”

“That kitten will do his best for you.” Trey knew it’d hit her hard if the kitty didn’t make it, but he had no power over life or death. He was just a cowboy firefighter who got lucky sometimes.

“And we’ll do our best for him,” Sue Ann said.

“Come on, let’s allow the little tyke to get some rest.” Trey steered Misty toward the door.

“We’ll know more in twenty-four hours,” Sue Ann called after them.

Trey glanced over his shoulder. “I’ve got you on speed dial.”

“And he’s got animal pet oxygen kits on his mind,” Misty added.

Trey chuckled, squeezing Misty’s shoulder. Christmas was shaping up to be quite the doozy. But if they could find a way to save kittens and other animals, nothing could be finer.