Identity (7 page)

Shay studied Liza’s sweet face, with its corona of unruly blond hair. “I might do that, Liza.”

Liza nodded and smiled as she leaned one shoulder against the side of the wood-shingled building. She made it evident she would wait there until Shay made it safely to her car.

CHAPTER ELEVEN

“He’s just so bad-tempered…I guess the tumors must hurt him,” Christine said sadly. She was securely holding a bedraggled hunk of Himalayan cat. The animal was clearly uncomfortable. He was eying Liza as if she could serve as his blood-filled breakfast.

“I can see that. So is Patty going to put him down?”

“I’m afraid so.” Christine sighed. “There’s no way we could place him. Any family that took him would be shredded in no time.”

“He’d probably run away too, be back on the streets. Shame, though.” Liza carefully reached out. The cat squalled an angry warning. She drew the hand away.

Christine loosened her paralyzing grip on the wriggling cat’s neck and returned him to his cage.

Animals didn’t seem to be close to Christine’s heart, but Liza could tell she was a hard worker and that counted for a lot. Paul had called Ro yesterday with a progress report on the first two days and he was happy with her energy, her initiative and her attendance. Liza felt a great sense of relief upon hearing this. The New Life gals had been burned before when recommending homeless people for local work.

“So how’s the job working out here?”

“I like it,” Christine replied, wiping her gloved hands on a paper towel. “Rosemary sure has this town in hand, doesn’t she?”

 “She sure does,” Liza said, laughing. “She knows everyone and is great at networking. Better than me, that’s for sure. Must be from all that time in college.”

They walked toward the dog kennels, and Liza bent to scratch Maizie’s ears. Maizie, a beautiful Sheltie mix, had quickly become a shelter favorite. The dog leaned her head closer to the cage wall to ensure that Liza’s fingers could reach as much ear as possible. The surrounding dogs set up a chorus that was deafening.

“You’re no slouch either from what I hear. Is it true you provide food for all them dogs?”

Liza stood and Maizie’s tail wagged her body as she waited for Liza to resume the attention or open her cage. Liza smiled at her eagerness. “Later, Maizie girl. We’ll be back.”

“Not exactly,” she responded loudly to Chris’s comment as they moved along the noisy row of kennels. “Our company, Meadows Produce, provides vegetables to this mill near Greenville. They use the carrots and squash and whatnot to mix with the meat products. Part of the meal is then sent here for Carol and Paul to use for feed. We also barter produce for the trucking so there’s no cost there.”

They stepped through into a hall leading to the quieter office area.

“What does the mill charge for the feed?” Christine asked as they entered the office.

Paul Critchfield, the tall, thin shelter director, answered without lifting his balding head from the account books. “She won’t tell. It’s their donation and she won’t even let us know how much they give. Weird.”

“I think it’s kind of cool. Like a big charity mystery,” interjected Carol, his wife.

Liza paused just inside the open office door, listening as the frantic barking died down to indignant chuffs in the kennel area. She studied Paul and Carol. She’d known them since she was a kid. They never seemed to age. Carol was big into yoga and Liza surmised that in it she’d found a fountain of youth. Paul was simply one of those old hippies who only improve with age. They’d been running the animal shelter for as long as Liza could remember and did it very well. Active in soliciting local support, the Critchfields and the shelter were icons, a prime example of excellent management.

“Well, thanks for that, Carol. Truth is, our fields produce so well, if we didn’t donate, some of it would go to waste. It’s a win-win for both sides.”

“I knew the little animals did, but I didn’t know dogs and cats eat vegetables,” Christine said, shaking her head. Her dark salt-and-pepper hair had been pulled back into a ponytail. Liza noticed a curved scar that ran along her hairline, a scar usually hidden when her hair was down.

Liza realized at the same time that she had finally become accustomed to Christine’s missing teeth and no longer even noticed the lack.

“They do, dogs especially. It’s healthier when there’s a good ratio of veggies to meat. It gives them a lot of the nutrients they need,” Liza responded.

“If I had my way about it,” grunted Paul, turning away from his books and facing them. “I’d have a vegetarian shelter.”

“Why can’t you?” Christine looked surprised.

“Some shelter owners do, I bet. The local SPCA group funds us, though, and their vet recommends a mix,” he added. “Dogs and cats are carnivorous, they say, but I have friends who feed vegetables only. Their pets are fine.”

“Well, at least using Green Pride’s feed we get some veggies into them,” Liza offered.

Carol rose from her desk and stretched gracefully. “Okay, Chris. It’s time to let the dogs out for their run so we can clean the kennels. Are you ready?”

Christine nodded and moved toward the door.

“Oh, Carol,” Liza said. “I invited someone to come by and help with the socialization. Her name is Shay, and she claims to like the little beasties. I know you’re always short on volunteers so maybe she’ll become a regular.”

“That would be great,” Carol said as she entered the main hallway releasing a torrent of expectant dog sound just outside. “Do we have any paid positions, Paul?”

Paul shook his head in the negative. “Nope. Chris got the last one. April’s moving in February so you can have her check back then.”

Liza laughed cheerfully. “You guys are something else. I hadn’t thought about a job for her. I don’t even know what she does, or if she’s currently working. I’ll let her know, though.”

Paul nodded. “Good. We don’t have that slot filled yet so tell her soon.”

“You mean Ro hasn’t sent someone over yet?” Sarcasm dripped from her voice.

“Not yet,” Paul said as he moved to follow his wife.

“Can you do cat care today, Liza?” Carol called back to her.

Liza nodded and waved her on.

Half an hour later, Liza was pleasantly surprised to see Shay drive up. Liza watched as she got out of the car and walked around, studying the shelter buildings. Seeing Shay made her feel warm in the heart region, but she didn’t take the time to ponder it now. She closed Caspurr’s cage with a whispered apology and headed through the office.

“Well, hello. You made it!” Liza welcomed Shay as she entered through the double-paned glass door. She wanted to hug her but refrained. “Welcome to the Maypearl Animal Shelter.”

“It’s so nice,” commented Shay as she looked around. “I especially like the way it’s laid out so you can see the kennels as you drive up.”

“It’s a cool design. Al Jonas, over at the sawmill, got his sons together and they did it all in their spare time. He said he wanted people to see the animals right away…so they’d adopt them.”

“That makes sense. Has it been working?”

Liza shrugged. “We seem to do okay. More get taken home than put down. Always a good thing.”

Shay twisted her hands together nervously. “So, how can I help? You said something about walking dogs?”

“Yep, but it’s mostly just companionship. You pet them and give them atta girls and atta boys when they fetch and carry. Stuff like that.”

“Hmm, my favorite activities,” Shay replied.

“Well, Chris and Carol are already running the dogs while they clean so we have cat duty first. That way the dogs’ll be calmer when we get to them. You like cats, right?”

“Absolutely. We always had them when I was growing up.”

Liza tilted her head and smiled at Shay. “Good. Come with me.”

Shay followed Liza into the cat area and immediately began cooing to the responsive cats. Even the pain-wracked Himalayan almost warmed to the redhead.

“I’m working on Caspurr’s kennel over here. There’s only one more. Can you do the kittens on the end there?”

“Sure. I just love the little guys,” Shay replied, her voice eager. “What do you want me to do exactly?”

“Just feed and water and replace the litter. You can use this cleaner on the litter pan. Then you kind of look the cats over and make sure they have clean bottoms and eyes.”

Liza tucked the lovable Caspurr into her left elbow and used the other hand to scoop fresh food into the cat’s dish.

A small series of pained exclamations startled her, and she whirled to see that one of the kittens had decided to practice mountain climbing on Shay’s shoulder and scalp.

“Ow! That hurts, you little monster.” Shay struggled to remove the mountain climber while simultaneously closing the cage so his three kitty siblings wouldn’t escape. The red tabby settled on Shay’s head like a Sunday-go-to-meeting hat, his brown and yellow striped tail dangling between Shay’s eyes. The kitten’s back legs scrambled for purchase on either side of Shay’s head, disarranging her long hair and shoving it into her face. Shay’s hand stayed its upward ascent, and she stood still as if disbelieving her predicament.

Liza’s laugh bubbled up from deep within and although she fought to squelch it, it escaped nevertheless.

Shay turned her cat-adorned head and looked at Liza, eliciting further laughter. Her face morphed back and forth between anger, embarrassment and laughter. Luckily, laughter won out this time, and she reached up to carefully remove the kitten and place him back into the cage.

“I’m gonna call you Brown Sugar,” she crooned to the cat. “Cause you’re just so sweet.” Her voice dripped sarcastic saccharine. She pushed the disheveled hair back behind her ears and dabbed her fingers at her head searching for blood.

“The Claw is more like it,” Liza offered, returning Caspurr to her freshened kennel and hurrying to help Shay handle the fast-moving bundles of fur.

“So,” Liza sighed, watching Shay as they washed their hands later at the utility sink. “Are you ready for the dogs?”

“Bring them on,” Shay said, laughing. “Let’s hope they don’t have spiny little needle claws.” She squeezed the soap and it slipped from her hands and flew high. Liza leaned and caught it before it hit the floor.

Liza grinned as Shay blushed. She would never forget the sight of Shay wearing the kitten hat. “As accident prone as you seem to be, you should be glad we’re not working with any that bite.”

CHAPTER TWELVE

By the time the two made their way outside with the dogs, the sun had mercifully moved lower in the sky. A cool breeze had found its way into the Gulf as well and had come inland. It teased at the sweat on Liza’s brow, and she pulled at the front of her T-shirt, tenting it as if to invite the wind inside.

“It sure is a beautiful day,” Shay commented as they entered the fenced-in dog paddock.

Liza breathed deeply, “It is that.”

Although the two dozen or so dogs had been clustered around Carol at the far end, they quickly abandoned her and bounded over to Liza and Shay as soon as the gate slapped shut.

Shay, the smaller of the two, almost lost her footing in the ensuing melee, but Liza steadied her as she reprimanded the animals. Shay took the onslaught in stride, however, and was soon on her knees with an arm slung around two of the dogs while others licked every inch of her face.

“Well, it’s a cinch she likes dogs,” Carol commented as she approached.

Hearing her, Shay stood and extended her hand even as the wagging tails of her new friends pummeled her sideways.

“Hi, I’m Shay Raynor,” she said introducing herself to Carol before Liza had a chance.

“Carol. It’s nice to meet you, Shay. Thank you for coming out to help with the dogs.”

“I’ve always loved dogs. My mom handled Corgis so I never needed an alarm clock when I was growing up. I usually had a dog licking me awake.”

Carol laughed as she fondled an Irish setter’s ears. “Story of my life. We always have a houseful. How many do you have now?”

Liza, her senses strangely attuned to Shay, picked up the subtle pause before answered. “None. Too much moving around, I guess.”

“Well, when you get settled, we have lots to choose from, as you can see.”

Shay laughed and knelt to hug a retriever mix they called Bundy. “I’ll keep that in mind.”

“Look at you!” Carol cried explosively. Shay and Liza looked up in surprise, soon realizing Carol was talking to one of the dogs. “You’ve rubbed a bare spot on your ear.” She was chiding a young Jack Russell terrier. “Now we’ve got to go treat it.”

She scooped the dog into her arms and hurried away. “I’ll see you ladies later. Let me know if you need anything!”

“Whirlwind,” Shay commented dryly.

“Yes,” Liza agreed with a sigh.

Shay cooed to her circle of dogs, scratching behind every ear presented while Liza led a second gang a short distance away for a game of fetch. Hours passed as the two worked the dogs. Eventually the entire group reclined on the grassy expanse, sweating and panting, pleasantly exhausted.

“Well, that was fun,” Shay said, holding her heavy hair off her neck. “It sure gets hot here in crazy Alabama.”

Liza smiled, surprised that Shay recalled their conversation at Dooley’s.

“Yep. I like the heat, though. There’s something so much more alive here than in colder places.”

Shay leaned back and rested her weight on bent elbows. “How do you mean?”

“Things don’t die out. Bugs, plants. You know. I like that. Plants grow all year in the South.”

Shay swatted at a fly and laughed. “Yeah, and we mustn’t forget the bugs.”

Liza joined in the merriment. The sound caused one of the dogs to rise and meander over to lick at Liza’s nose.

“C’mon, Scarlet. It’s too hot to be carryin’ on that way.” Liza nevertheless scratched the dog between the ears. Scarlet closed her eyes and leaned into Liza’s hand. “I think border collies are some of the friendliest dogs, don’t you?”

Shay squinted at Liza. “Yeah, I do. But you know she’s an Aussie cattle dog, right?”