A Picture-Purrfect Christmas (A Klepto Cat Mystery Book 13) (9 page)

The girl moved through the living room toward the tree, which stood majestically to the right of the large staircase her eyes dancing from one ornament to another. Finally focusing on the angel on top of the nine-foot tree, she clasped her hands under her chin. “It is so beautiful…just like in old movies.” She turned to Savannah. “Did you decorate it?”

“Yes, my husband and I did it yesterday. Our friend, Charlotte, helped.”

Marissa smiled. “And Lily, did she help, too?”

Savannah rolled her eyes. “Oh yes, she did. She was a big help scattering decorations everywhere but on the tree, as you can imagine.”

Marissa laughed. “She’s so cute.” She focused again on the tree. “It’s like a Christmas wonderland in here.” As if she couldn’t take her eyes off it, she continued to gaze at the ornaments that were in all shapes, sizes, and textures. “I love the star…what’s it called?”

“Oh, the garland?” Savannah said, smiling. “Yes, I like that touch, too.”

Now speaking quietly, the child chanted, “A string of stars wrapped around and around a perfect tree, hugging it and all of the beautiful decorations.” Suddenly, Marissa lowered herself to the floor. “Hi Rags,” she said. “I missed you. How are you?” He rubbed repeatedly against her as she petted him and hugged him. “He’s purring.”

Savannah looked surprised. “Really? He doesn’t often purr loud enough to be heard. He only does that when he’s really happy and excited.”

“Purrrrrr,” Marissa mimicked. “Purrrrrr.” She giggled. “He tickles.”

Savannah was soon joined in laughter by Michael, who held Lily in his arms.

“Marissa, I’d like you to meet my husband, Michael,” Savannah said. Realizing that the girl was accustomed to more formal monikers for adults, she said, “He’s also known as Dr. Mike.”

Marissa stood awkwardly and greeted Michael. “I saw you here Friday. You’re a doctor?” she asked, tweaking one of Lily’s feet and smiling up at her.

He nodded. “Of veterinary medicine.” He put out his hand. “I’ve been eager to meet you. You’ve made quite an impression on several of my family members.” He chuckled. “… including Rags, I see.”

Marissa looked reverently at Rags for a moment. “Yes, I just love him. He’s awesome.” She glanced at Savannah. “I forgot to tell you I dreamed about him last night.”

“Rags?” Savannah said.

“Uh-huh. I was on a raft drifting around way, way out in the ocean and he swam out and jumped up on the raft with me. He kept me company while we just floated and floated and floated,” she said dreamily.

“Were you ever rescued?” Savannah asked.

“No. I woke up too soon. But it was a nice dream. I wasn’t afraid as long as Rags was with me.”

Michael and Savannah smiled at one another. Then he asked, “So are you girls going riding?”

“If I can drag her away from the Christmas tree,” Savannah said with a chuckle.

“It is pretty, isn’t it?” Michael said.

“It’s so, so, so beautiful.” She turned toward Savannah. “I’ve never seen a tree like this in a house—only a couple of times at the mall.”

“Do you have a Christmas tree at your house, yet?” Michael asked.

She lowered her eyes and shook her head. “We don’t celebrate Christmas. Mavis says it’s too much trouble. At our house, Christmas is just another day.”

Savannah and Michael exchanged glances.

“Can I take a picture?” Marissa asked excitedly. “Do you have one of those disposable cameras?”

“No, I don’t, but you can use my digital camera—the one Adam used the other day. I’ll go get it.”

After Marissa had taken several photos of the tree, Rags and the tree, and the Ivey family and the tree, Savannah snapped a few pictures of Marissa holding Rags in front of the tree, before saying, “Now, hon, how about we keep this camera here? It’s yours to use, but you can leave it here until you want to use it, okay?”

Marissa nodded. “Good idea. Things do go missing at my house.” She put her nose in the air. “Can I ask what smells so good?”

“Um, I don’t know,” Savannah said. “What does it smell like?”

Marissa tilted her head. “Maybe cinnamon. Yeah,” she decided, “it’s a cinnamony smell.”

Savannah smiled. “Oh, I made cinnamon rolls for breakfast. Would you like one?”

Marissa hesitated, then said, “I sure would. I didn’t get to the kitchen in time to eat this morning. I was busy getting ready.”

“You didn’t have breakfast?” Savannah asked, frowning.

Marissa shook her head. “No, Mavis has rules. By the time I got to the kitchen, all there was to eat was a handful of sugary cereal. Mavis said there was no milk.” She frowned. “…but I saw one of her nephews drink milk out of a carton a little while after that.”

Savannah grimaced before saying, “Well, our kitchen is open all the time. Come on; let me warm you a cinnamon roll. Would you like an egg? Bacon?”

Marissa’s eyes lit up. “Oh, I don’t know if I could eat that much. I’m not used to…”

“Well, let me fix it for you and you can eat what you want.”

After being seated at the kitchen table, Marissa focused on Lily as the toddler pushed a toy lawn mower around the room. “Lily walks very well,” she said. She then started laughing. “Oops, you ran into the doggie.”

The baby laughed, too. She then put her hands on her face and quickly removed them. As Marissa watched, she did it again.

“She’s playing peek-a-boo with me,” Marissa said, excitedly. “How cute.” She began playing peek-a-boo with Lily, both children laughing out loud.

“Ki-ki,” Lily said, pointing at Rags, who lay next to Marissa’s chair.

“Yes, that’s a kitty, isn’t it? You’re such a smart baby,” she said, “and so cute.” She looked at Savannah. “Do you ever put her on Peaches…that’s the horse’s name, right? Or is it Apple or Plum?” she said laughing.

Savannah chuckled. “Yeah, I thought about Pomegranate or Watermelon, but…”

“Uh-uh, not really,” Marissa said, a questioning look on her face.

“No, not really.” She continued as she set a plate of food in front of Marissa, “Her name is Peaches because of her color. But yes, I rode with Lily in the saddle once. She seemed to enjoy it.” After several minutes, she noticed that Marissa had slowed down eating. “Are you finished?” she asked.

The child put her hand on her stomach. “Yes, that was good. You made those cinnamon rolls?” When Savannah nodded, she said, “I’ve never had anything like them. They’re yummy.”

“You ate pretty well, there, girl,” Savannah said, picking up her plate.

“Oh, let me,” Marissa said, standing. “You shouldn’t have to cook
and
clean.”

“Never mind, you’re our guest. I’m glad you enjoyed the meal.”

“The sun’s out; why don’t you girls go play with Peaches?” Michael said. “Lily and I’ll watch from the porch.”

“Sounds good.” Savannah turned to their young guest. “Are you ready to ride?”

Marissa’s face lit up. “Sure.” Then, looking apprehensive, she asked quietly, “Ms. Savannah, can I use the bathroom first?”

“Yes, right in there,” Savannah motioned. She watched as Marissa walked away, Rags trotting along with her.

“So what do you plan?” Michael asked. “Are you just going to let her ride around in the exercise ring?”

“Probably. We’ll see how it goes.” Savannah put her hand on his arm. “Oh, would you get a couple of pictures of us? I think she’d like that.”

“Sure. Come on Lily, let’s get your jacket and a book. I’ll read you a story while we watch Mommy.” However, before Michael could leave the room, Rags suddenly roared in from the hallway and stopped in front of him.

“Heavens, Rags, what’s wrong with you?” Savannah asked, when she noticed him dancing around and meowing loudly.

“Yeah, that’s odd behavior,” Michael agreed. He looked down the hall. “He’s probably upset because Marissa closed him out of the bathroom. You know how insulted he gets when he’s excluded.”

When Savannah noticed the cat run into the hallway, then stop and look back at her, she frowned. “Michael, he wants us to follow him. I think something’s wrong.”

She headed quickly in the direction Rags had trotted, and that’s when she heard a faint voice calling, “Ms. Savannah. Ms. Savannah.”

Stopping at the partially open bathroom door, she said, “Marissa?”

“I need…a little help,” the child said.

Savannah’s heart sank as she opened the door. Rags darted in ahead of her and stood next to the girl who was sprawled on the bathroom floor. “What happened?” Savannah asked breathlessly.

“Oh, I can be so clumsy,” Marissa said, disgustedly. “I guess I tripped over the rug or Rags or something and down I went. I’m sorry, but sometimes I need help getting back up.” She looked at Savannah. “…if you don’t mind.”

“Certainly, hon,” Savannah said, helping the girl to stand. “Are you okay? You didn’t hit your head did you?”

“No, but I’m sure I’ll have a bruise. I always seem to have a bruise or two.” When she saw the worried look on Savannah’s face, she added, “I’m okay. Really. My legs just don’t always do what my brain tells them to do…know what I mean?” She stood in place for a moment before saying, “Good as new. I’m ready to ride now.” She reached down and petted Rags. “Did he come and get you?”

“He sure did. He was frantic that we follow him.”

“Good boy,” she said. “He’s like a therapy cat. I’ve seen therapy dogs on TV. They know when someone needs help and they go get it. Pretty awesome, isn’t it?” She thought for a moment before saying, “But I never heard of a therapy
cat
. Rags is different from any cat I’ve ever seen.”

“He sure is,” Savannah said supporting Marissa a little as they walked slowly back to the living room. “You know, he was a therapy cat in a children’s reading program last year.”

“He was?” she asked. “How did he do that?”

“He just sat with the children and listened to them read. Pet therapy is a way to help slow readers gain more confidence. They read more and begin to improve.”

“Awesome,” Marissa said.

“He also sometimes helps the sheriff’s department solve crimes.”

“He does?” Marissa said, her brow creased in disbelief. “Does he have a badge and a bullet-proof vest?”

Savannah chuckled. “No. But he does have a certificate of appreciation from the department and he was featured in a documentary.”

“Wow!” Marissa said, reaching down and running her hand along the cat’s fur as he continued to walk next to her. “He really
is
special, isn’t he?”

****

“This is so much fun,” Marissa said from atop Peaches as Savannah led the mare around the exercise ring. “I’ve always wondered what it would feel like to be in a saddle. I like it. I like it a lot. Makes me feel like a real cowgirl.” She grinned and hollered, “Yeee hawww!”

Both Savannah and Michael, who had walked out to the exercise ring with Lily, laughed.

“Want to take the reins, yee-haw cowgirl?” Savannah asked.

Marissa’s eyes widened. “Oh, sure. Are those the reins?” she asked motioning toward the leather straps lying across Peaches’s neck.

Savannah nodded. She lifted the reins and handed them to Marissa. “Now, loosen them when you want her to go forward. You may have to cluck a little. Pull back slowly when you want her to stop.”

“Cluck?” she asked, laughing. “You mean like a chicken?”

“Yeah, something like that,” Savannah said, also laughing. She demonstrated a clucking sound and Marissa copied it.

“Oh,” she said, surprised when Peaches took a few steps forward. She pulled back on the reins and the horse stopped. She then looked at Savannah and Michael and giggled.

“What’s so funny?” Savannah asked, laughing.

“She understands chicken language. I think that’s funny.” Leaning over and holding her stomach, she continued to laugh.

“I think Marissa swallowed a feather,” Michael said, chuckling.

“What?” she said, looking confused.

“Well, something’s tickling your insides,” he explained.

She looked at Michael and burst out laughing again. As her laughter began to subside, the child took a deep breath. Smiling, she said, “I don’t remember laughing so hard in…a very long time.” She looked at Savannah. “It feels good.” She struggled to contain her laughter, then said, “Now if I can stop laughing long enough to cluck, maybe I can get her going.” She loosened the reins, but before she could make the clucking sound, she started giggling all over again. Savannah and Michael joined her in laughter. All of a sudden, they heard a definite
cluck
and Peaches started to move forward, throwing Marissa off balance a little.

“Whoa,” she said, pulling back on the reins. The child looked around. “Who clucked?”

When they heard it again, Michael exclaimed, “It’s Lily!”

“Oh, my gosh,” Marissa shouted. “That’s funny. Lily is making the horse go?” She said to the baby, “Okay, cutie patootie, let’s cluck together.” Marissa made a few clucking sounds, encouraging the baby to follow suit, and soon Marissa was riding the mare around the ring by herself, Savannah walking next to her holding onto the lead rope just in case.

“She can’t use her legs to nudge her along?” Michael asked.

Savannah shook her head, then said to Marissa, “It might help if you lean forward a little when you’re signaling for her to walk.” She smiled. “That’s right, see how she gets the message that you want her to walk out?”

“She’s sure smart,” Marissa said, patting the mare’s neck.

After walking alongside the mare for a while, Savannah unsnapped the lead rope and let Marissa ride around the small corral on her own. She’d ridden in a circle by herself several times when Savannah asked, “Want to take a tour around the yard?”

Marissa looked out over the railing. “Sure, I guess.” And Savannah opened the gate and walked alongside the mare as Marissa rode into the yard, through the orchard, and down the driveway.

They’d done the loop around the yard twice when Michael rejoined them, calling out, “Are you ladies ready for lunch?” As he drew closer, he added, “I heated up the macaroni and cheese we had for dinner last night and opened a jar of plums.” He addressed Marissa, “Are you hungry there, cowgirl?”

“Yes,” she said, excitedly. “What should we do with Peaches while we eat?”

Savannah laughed. “Well, let Michael help you down and we’ll take off her saddle and bridle and put her back in the corral to rest.”