Chapter Seven #3
“Because I want to. Plus, I’m a crackerjack negotiator. And I admit, I’m curious about Ardella.”
“Well, okay then.” She grinned wide. “Today’s your lucky day.”
“Great!” he said. “And tomorrow’s game day. The guys need to be fresh and alert, so today’s practice will be short. That means we’ll be out of here by five, five thirty at the latest.”
“That’ll work. The vet closes at six but the receptionist said she’d wait around for me.”
He wanted to grab her and claim those sweet lips of hers. Unfortunately, sharing torrid kisses with Nurse Osborne right there on the football field would in no way be considered appropriate behavior.
With a nod, he turned and headed back to join the team.
* * *
Ardella was a real pistol.
Even taller than her cousin Marlene, Ardella wore her platinum-blond hair in a beehive worthy of Amy Winehouse complete with a ponytail that she combed forward over one shoulder.
That ponytail fell almost to her waist. She introduced herself and her husband, Earl, said they were new to Tenacity.
Retirees, they’d bought their house for practically nothing two years before.
“But things are looking good around here now,” Ardella declared. “Right, Earl?”
“Right, Sugar Bear,” Earl replied. He sat in a giant recliner with two cats in his lap watching infomercials on the big screen mounted over the fireplace.
Ardella had at least five grown cats—the two on Earl’s lap and three more that Finn spotted lurking under a table and peeking out from behind a sideboard.
As for the kittens, they were all shorthairs in a variety of colors.
They zipped around the living area, batting at shadows, knocking cat toys under tables and wrestling with each other.
Kenzie had a hard time choosing. Finn got a kick out of watching her cuddle each kitten, declare it the one…and then say the same thing about the next one she got her hands on. Finally, she settled on one of the two black cats and a gray tabby, both male.
“I’ve got an extra carrier I can sell you,” said Ardella. “Those kittens can share it for now. I also have a few cat toys you can buy off me. And a cute little cat bed. As for those kittens, fifty bucks each.”
Finn spoke up then. “Now, just wait a—”
Kenzie stopped him with a look. Then she smiled sweetly at Ardella. “Twenty each for these sweet babies of yours.”
Finn held his breath as the two women stared at each other, eye to eye and will to will.
Eventually, Ardella cackled out a laugh. “I’m a sucker for a real cat lover.” She flicked that long ponytail back over her shoulder. “Fine. Twenty each. And twenty for the cat carrier. Ten for the bed. The toys are five each.”
Kenzie took everything Ardella had offered. The two women hugged each other at the door.
“Bye, Earl!” Kenzie gave him a wave.
“You take care now!” Earl called back from the comfort of his recliner.
From Ardella’s house, they drove straight to the veterinary clinic on the eastern edge of town. Hoof and Paw Animal Care was run by two veterinarians. A married couple, the husband treated large animals and the wife was a small-animal vet.
By the time Finn and Kenzie got there, the office was closed for the day, but the receptionist, Anna, had stuck around as promised. Anna checked in the kittens and reassured Kenzie that they would be well looked after during their stay.
“I will call you as soon as the test results come in,” Anna promised. “That should be early next week. You should be able to take them home that day, unless they test positive. Then they’ll be staying with us a little longer for treatment.”
Outside, a warm wind was blowing and the sun had begun sinking toward the horizon. Finn caught Kenzie’s hand when they reached her car.
She gave his fingers a squeeze and then moved in close enough to lean her head on his shoulder with a sigh.
He asked, “What’s wrong?”
She made a soft sound low in her throat. “They’ve been mine for less than an hour and yet I miss them already.”
He pulled her close and stroked a hand down her shining hair. “You’ll have them back before you know it.”
“You’re right.” She smiled up at him. “I’ll get online tomorrow and order food, a litter box and all the cat gear I can think of.”
“Don’t forget to start thinking of names for them.”
“I’ve already named them.”
“Tell me,” he whispered in her ear.
“The black one is Tom and the tabby is Ed.”
Finn approved. “Solid, serviceable names.”
“That’s right. They’re regular guys. They like to bat their toys around and fake-fight with each other. If they were human, they would grow up to enjoy a beer at the Grizzly Bar.” She slanted him a sideways look. “I’ve got leftovers in the fridge.”
“Is that an invitation?”
She slid a soft hand up to wrap around his neck. “Come down here.” He could not obey fast enough. The wind blew around them and he kissed her slow and deep. Somewhere off toward the distant mountains, a hawk cried. When he lifted his head, she added, “Yes, that is an invitation. Follow me home?”
Gently, he guided a windblown lock of pale hair away from her lips. “I would follow you anywhere,” he said, and kissed her again.