Claws for a Cause (A Klepto Cat Mystery Book 15) (4 page)

“Come take a look, Jack,” Michael said sternly. “It’s a lamb-clipped gray standard poodle, just like the one your wife owns.” Michael motioned to Bud. “We’d better get her to the clinic.”

In the meantime, Jack walked up to the dog and slumped. “Dear God, it’s Polly. I could have swore it was a wolf.” He stiffened, glanced around the yard, and lifted his rifle menacingly. “It was a wolf. I know it was. It could still be around here somewheres.”

“You’ll do no more shooting tonight,” Max said, walking up to the armed man and taking the rifle from him. He emptied the gun and handed it back to him. “If either the Iveys or I ever catch you doing that again, we’ll have you arrested. Now help these men load your dog into the truck. Then you’d better go home and explain to your wife what you’ve done.”

“But the wolf…” he started.

“There is no wolf, Jack,” Michael said, after he and Bud had made Polly comfortable in Bud’s SUV. “You were shooting at your dog. She often comes over here to visit Lexie about this time of evening.”

By then, Savannah had located another flashlight. “What are you doing?” Michael asked, when he saw her heading out into the darkness.

“Checking on my mare. I want to make sure she wasn’t hit.”

“I didn’t shoot no horse, ma’am,” Jack said. “I’d never shoot a horse.”

She turned and glared at the man. “But you probably never thought you’d shoot your own dog, either, did you?”

“Yeah,” Margaret said, “You don’t know what you’re shooting in the dark. What’s the matter with you, anyway, Jack?”

“It’s those damn wolves. I’m afraid they’ll kill what cows I have left. They’re my livelihood, you know.”

“Have you seen a wolf around here, Jack?” Max asked. “I mean clearly, without any doubt, an actual wolf?”

After hesitating and looking down at his feet, he said, “No, can’t say as I have.” He looked up. “But I’ve heard…”

“You’ve heard rumors with no truth to them. That’s all. If you’d stayed at the rally today and listened carefully, you would have learned…”

“I don’t need no educatin’. I know about wolves—lived in Wyoming. They introduced the wolves back into the wilds there. There was all sorts of stories of wolves attacking cattle.”

“Stories?” Margaret said. “Rumors? Jack, grow up. Stop listening to rumors; start listening to fact. Open your mind and get informed.”

Michael shook his head as he walked past the others into the house to retrieve his heavy jacket and returned carrying Bud’s, as well. Tossing it to him, he said, “Well, Dr. Bud, let’s get this dog some help, shall we?” He called out to Jack, “We’ll meet you at the clinic.”

****

“You had a late night,” Savannah said when Michael joined her in the kitchen the following morning.

He yawned. “Sure did.”

“How is she?”

“It was touch and go there for a while, but I think she’ll be okay.” He chuckled. “I’m not too sure about Jack, though.”

“What do you mean?”

“When Frances gets her hands on him, who knows what’ll happen. Hopefully, she’ll pistol-whip some sense into him, the paranoid bas…”

“Michael,” Savannah said, motioning toward Lily, “little ears.” She then asked, “How long will Polly be at the clinic?”

“She can probably go home today, why?”

“I want to take Rags to see her, but I guess we can wait until she’s home. I should pay Frances Parsons a visit, anyway.”

“Why?”

“Why what?”

“Why do you want Rags to visit Polly?” When she didn’t respond, he squinted his eyes and asked, “Why are you looking at me as if I’m from outer space?”

“Well, sometimes I think you are.”

“Huh?”

“Michael,” she said, hands on hips, “Rags is worried about her. He found her last night, remember? You know how sensitive he is. He won’t rest until he knows Polly’s okay.”

Michael smirked, then glanced around the room. “Oh Rags, there you are. Listen, Polly’s okay. You can relax now.”

She laughed. “Don’t be silly. That won’t cut it. He has to see for himself.”

“Savannah, Savannah,” Michael said, shaking his head.

She let out a deep sigh. “Didn’t you hear him last night?”

“When? I was out half the night, remember?”

“Oh yes, I guess you were. Well, he paced, he ran across the bed I don’t know how many times, he jumped up on the dresser twice that I know of and knocked things down. I heard him tearing through the house. He was a wreck and I don’t think he’ll calm down until he sees for himself that Polly’s okay. So please let me know when she goes home and I’ll call Frances to see if we can pay Polly a visit.”

He chuckled to himself. “Wife of mine, if I’d known what I was getting into when I allowed you to bring your dowry into this marriage, I’d…”

“Dowry?” she said laughing. “What dowry?”

“Your cat.”

“You’d what?” she asked, wrapping her arms around his neck and looking him in the eyes. She pulled back. “Before you answer that, remember all the good things he’s done—he saved that poor sick Himalayan that was catnapped, he’s found clues to several crimes, oh…and he saved that woman from the burning mansion, told you and Max where Auntie and I were when that awful man…”

What could Michael do but grin and shake his head in defeat.

****

Late that afternoon, when Michael returned home after doing Sunday rounds at the clinic, Savannah asked, “So did you release Polly?”

He nodded as he removed his shoes and slipped on his flip-flops—a daily ritual of his, no matter the season. “Frances wanted her home. Since she’s a retired nurse, I’m sure she can handle the pup’s follow-up care as well as we could at the clinic.”

“Okay, I’m taking Rags over for a short visit right now,” she said as she dressed the cat in his harness. She took the leash in one hand, grabbed her car keys and a plate of brownies, and headed for the door.

“You’re driving that short distance?” Michael asked, standing at the doorway with Lily.

“Yes,” she said, frowning. “It’s too cold to walk. See you in a bit.”

“We’re going to see Polly, Rags,” Savannah said as they pulled out of the driveway. “Polly’s going to be okay and I want you to see her so you’ll sleep tonight.” She glanced at the cat as he stood on the passenger seat, his paws on the dash, peering out through the windows.

“Here we are,” she said when they pulled into the Frances Parsons’ driveway. “Come on boy, let’s go see Polly.”

“Hi Savannah…Rags…” Frances said as she opened the front door wide. “Polly’s expecting you.” When she noticed the plate Savannah held, she asked, “What do you have there?”

“Brownies with chocolate chips and walnuts,” Savannah said, smiling.

“Ohhh, wonderful. Thank you,” Frances said taking the plate and placing it on a side table. She pointed toward the hallway. “Polly’s resting comfortably on her futon.”

“She has her own futon?” Savannah asked.

“Sure, doesn’t Lexie?”

“No, just a regular dog bed.” She then asked, “How’s she feeling?”

“Seems pretty good. The bullet,” Frances said angrily, “went into her hindquarters, so she’s on three legs for a while, but seems to be adapting.” She turned to Savannah. “I don’t think she’ll be escaping to your place anytime soon.”

“Probably not, but I can bring Lexie by to sniff noses with her occasionally. That’s all they do is sniff noses, then Polly heads back home.”

“Funny,” Frances said, ushering Savannah and Rags into the den. “Polly, honey, you have company. Rags came to make sure you’re okay.”

“Hi, Polly,” Savannah said, moving toward the dog. She knelt and reached out to pet the Poodle’s face and ears. But Polly was more interested in what was on the other end of the leash Savannah held.

As Rags moved closer, Polly began wagging her tail and whining a little. “Just lie still, sweet dog,” Frances crooned. “Let Rags come to you.”

Savannah lifted the cat and placed him near Polly, who whined and licked him a couple of times.

“Well, I think that did it,” Savannah said when the cat jumped off the futon and sat down next to her. “He just needed to see for himself that she’s okay. This is the most relaxed he’s been all day.”

“Well, good,” Frances said, reaching out and petting Rags. “Thank you, dear boy, for helping to save Polly. You’re one smart cat, aren’t you?” She then scowled and said, “Now if I can just keep my husband from destroying all our animals with that darn gun of his. Savannah, it’s as if he thinks he’s living in the Wild West.”

Savannah frowned. “Is this something new, Frances?”

“Yes,” she said, after thinking about it. “Ever since this wolf business came up, he’s gone off the deep end.” She spoke more quietly, adding, “Last month, he nearly shot at a kid on a bicycle?”

“What?”

“Yeah, one of the Bronson boys heading home from his job at the supermarket in the evening about dusk. Says he thought he was a wolf.” She hesitated before saying, “I’ve wondered if it has something to do with that fall he took off his mule. He says he wasn’t hurt, but he doesn’t remember anything that happened from the time he hit the ground ‘til he showed up here an hour later, walkin’ the mule.”

Savannah put her hand on the woman’s arm. “Frances, you’d better get him to a doctor. His actions have become dangerous. He’s going to hurt someone. Tell the doctor about his fall.” She hesitated, then said, “I think someone needs to take that gun away from him.”

“I agree. Our sons are coming next weekend to have a talk with him. I haven’t even told them the worst. When they hear he chased down and shot poor Polly, they’re going to be furious. They’ll make sure he gets on the right track.”

“And keep him away from that group of ranchers who are out to annihilate the wolves. He seems to be easily swayed, lately.”

“Isn’t that the truth? Will do my best, Savannah. Thank you for letting me talk at ya. And for the brownies.”

****

“Seen any wolves lately?” Margaret asked a couple of mornings later, when Savannah answered her phone.

“Don’t even joke about it, Auntie. I’m already worried about leaving Peaches while we’re in Hawaii.”

“I thought you were going to board her at Bonnie’s stables.”

“Yes, I am. But if there are wolves here, there are wolves there—in fact, it would be even more likely there because the stables back up to the dense wilderness.”

“Vannie, have you even talked to anyone who has seen a wolf close to a local ranch?”

Savannah hesitated before saying, “No. I guess poor Jack Parsons got me skittish about the whole thing, which is a shame. I sat and listened to the experts speak and then I fall apart when a senile old guy starts making up stories about wolves.”

“And even mistakes his own dog for a wolf,” Margaret added. “How is that dog, do you know?”

“She’s going to be okay. Rags and I went over to visit her a couple of days ago. That was a good move. He settled down as soon as he saw that she was all right. Can you believe that cat?”

“Honey, I’ve never believed some of the things your cat does, even when I’ve seen it with my own eyes.”

Savannah snickered. “Michael said he wishes I hadn’t come with a dowry.”

“Dowry?” Margaret repeated.

“Yeah, Rags.”

“Oh, I’ll bet he does,” she said laughing. “He’s quite the mischievous cat, that’s for sure.” She paused, then said playfully, “You’re taking him on your trip, aren’t you?”

“To Hawaii? Are you crazy?”

“Just trying to make my load easier. I never know what I’m going to find at your house when I show up to feed animals and clean litter boxes.”

“Oh, come on, Auntie; what trouble does he cause when we’re gone? Things are always calm when we return.”

“Yeah, but not because Rags didn’t try to create a problem.”

“What problem?”

“Well, you may remember the time he took my keys while I was throwing hay to the horse and walking Lexie. I was late for a meeting and when I finished, locked up the house, and got in my car, I realized I had no keys. I couldn’t get back in, I couldn’t drive anywhere and Max was gone someplace, so I couldn’t even get into my own house to retrieve another set of keys.”

“Oh yes, don’t remind me. But Auntie, you learned something that day, didn’t you? You learned not to leave your purse down where he can get to it, and to always zip it up—he can’t unzip yet.” She laughed. “It didn’t help that you were using a key chain with a stuffed bird or bear or something on it. He thought it was a cat toy.”

“So true. I don’t think I told you about the time he threw a flower vase at me.”

“What? You’re making that up.”

“No, I’m not. I was cleaning their litter boxes, as a matter of fact, in the service porch and next thing I knew, I was drenched and surrounded by flowers. Luckily, the vase missed me. Yeah, your cat was on the washing machine watching me and pushed off that vase you’d left there.”

“I’m sorry. I know he can be a pain. But he sure was cute when I took him to see Polly. He let her lick him, then he was ready to go home.”

Margaret was quiet for a moment, then asked rather hesitantly, “So, Vannie, Michael hasn’t said anything about wolves around here, has he?”

“No, why would you ask? You haven’t seen one, have you?”

“Actually, I thought I did, just down the highway from here, walking out in that dry field.” She paused. “It could have been a dog, but darned if it didn’t look wild.”

“Was it a coyote?”

“I don’t think so. This animal was more filled out than the coyotes we see around here. It really looked like a wolf. Would you ask Michael if there have been any reports? Maybe I’ll call the farm bureau.”

“Why? What will you do if it
is
a wolf? We know they’ve been introduced back into the wilds here.”

“I don’t really know. It just gives me the heebie-jeebies. They’re big and capable of…”

“There haven’t been any reports of wolves attacking humans, have there?”

“No, but you sure don’t want to leave Lily playing out in the yard.”

“Oh Auntie, now you have me frightened again.”

“Sorry, Vannie, but it’s wise to be alert. Actually, we’ve had coyotes around here for years. I see them fairly often, don’t you?”

“Yes—at least a couple every month.”

“They’re wild animals and they haven’t bothered anything but a chicken or a stray cat now and then,” Margaret reminded her.