Black Cat and the Accidental Angel (Black Cat Mysteries Book 3) (24 page)

But, Angel! How could he lose her now after all they’d been through? Black Cat shook the water from his coat.

She crouched on the ground, her eyes closed, water dripping off her little nose, like she couldn’t even feel the cold. She opened her eyes. “If you’re ready, we should get back. The babies will be frightened if they wake and we’re gone. We’re both soaking wet.”

Black Cat stood and gave his body another shake and his chest a cursory lick. He’d finish the job back at the house. “I’m as ready as I’m going to be.”

Angel picked up the nugget. She led the way back through the vineyard and slipped through the cat door. She put the nugget on the couch where John would see it as soon as he came home.

Black Cat lay on the blanket beside the warm stove while they groomed each other’s coats. His thoughts were muddled. Her confession left him speechless. How could it be true? People don’t come back to earth after they die, and even though they say cats have nine lives, it didn’t mean… It was all too confusing. He curled up, determined to sleep on it. Maybe things would be clearer when he awoke.

By the time John and Cindy returned from cutting wood, the warmth from the stove had almost dried Angel’s short fur, but Black Cat’s long coat was still damp and clung to his back.

He opened his eyes when John opened the front door. How long would it take before he noticed the nugget?

John laid his jacket across the couch. “Good Lord! Where did this come from?” He held the shiny nugget up to the light, his eyebrows jacked a half inch higher than usual. He turned it back and forth. “It’s a gold nugget.” He glanced around the room. Maybe he expected to see that leprechaun with a pot of gold jump out from under the table.

“Cindy. Do you know…? Where did it come from?”

She shook her head and shrugged. “Is it real gold?”

John turned toward the cats. He must have guessed the answer and then dismissed the idea as quickly as it came to his mind. He shook his head. “Impossible.”

Black Cat waddled over to the couch and rubbed against John’s ankle.

John ran his hand down Black Cat’s back. “Why, he’s soaked to the skin. You don’t think… No. It…couldn’t be…could it?”

“What, Daddy? What couldn’t be?”

“This is real gold, honey.” He held up the nugget. “It’s worth a lot of money. Black Cat must have found the nugget in the river and brought it back…but it’s too much to think… Why would he do that?”

John grabbed his jacket. “Come with me. Let’s go check it out.” He hurried out the door with Cindy running behind.

“That was easier than I thought.” Black Cat started toward the door. “Should I go with them? Maybe they won’t find the right place where we—”

“Come on back. They’ll find the right place. Don’t worry about it. I know…” She closed her eyes and tilted up her chin, like she was praying. She knew.

Black Cat turned back. “If you say so…” He went right back to sleep beside the warm fire filled with assurance. John would find the right place at the creek. He would salvage the gold and he would save his ranch. Angel said it was all part of St. Peter’s plan.

Black Cat shivered. Maybe St. Peter’s plan would save John’s ranch, but it brought the day that much closer when he would call Angel home…

Chapter Twenty-Five

R
umblings from John’s pick-up truck brought Black Cat to the living room window. He nosed the curtains aside, just as John turned onto the country road headed for the assayer’s office in Nevada City. They’d be gone for a while.
It’s up to me to take care of things until he returns.

Black Cat scanned the yard. It was a golden fall day. The oak trees had dusted the lawn with curled leaves. His head jerked up.
What a scathing idea! Wait until Angel hears!

Black Cat jumped down from the windowsill and sauntered over to the blanket were the kittens swatted each other’s tails.

Angel kept guard nearby, her face alight with mother’s love.
Oh, how I love her
.

“I have a wonderful idea.” Black Cat danced on his two front feet. “It’s a perfect day. Let’s take the babies outside
.
It’s time they learned about the outdoors!”

“Are you sure it’s warm enough? They’re only seven weeks old. What if they catch a chill?” Angel scooped Faith closer to her side. “This little punkin’ sneezed yesterday.”

“Don’t be such a mother hen. Of course it’s warm enough. Faith probably got one of Rambo’s hairs up her nose.”

“If you think it’s alright, but you have to promise to stay close and help me watch them. You know how they are. You can’t wander off on some wild squirrel hunt.” Angel gave Faith a motherly slurp across her back, knocking the baby off her feet. She tumbled and rolled.

Muffins jumped onto Faith’s head and a mock battle ensued, ears lowered, tail a-swish, and a stance assumed such as might be expected if the assailant were a buffalo, not a four-inch tall sister.

Rambo waddled over to Angel’s side. “We won’t wun away, Mama. We be good.”

“You see? They’re fine. They’ll love it outside. Come along, children. Papa is taking you for an adventure.”

What fun. The old man’s taking the kiddies for a walk.
With his head held high and a bounce in his backside, Black Cat traipsed out the cat door. The kittens trailed behind and Angel brought up the rear, grumbling. The kittens stopped short, bumping into each other when they reached the wooden planks on the small back porch.

“Oohh! Papa. What is that?” Rambo arched his back, his fur at half-mast.

“That’s a tree, son. Nothing to worry about. See? There are trees all around. Now, follow me around the house into the front yard. I’m going to show you something even more amazing. It’s called
grass
. You’ll like it.” He twitched a whisker, amused by his joke.

The kittens tumbled off the steps and trailed Black Cat down the sidewalk. He ambled along the side of the house, looking back every other step. The kittens spread out behind him and Angel took up the end, like a long and unwieldy parade. With each twig or leaf or rock, the babies had to stop to pat and sniff.

Black Cat’s eyes danced between the curious kittens. “See! I told you it was fun outside.”

In the front yard, the kittens stepped cautiously onto the tiny lawn, shaking each foot when it touched the grass. It didn’t take long before Rambo and Muffins were frolicking across the lawn.
Look at them. What fun they’re having, running and falling down
.

Faith hung back by the corner of the front porch.

“Come on over,” Rambo called to his shy sister. “We’re
pwaying
tag. You can be
it.
We’ll
wun
and you catch us.” He leaped at Muffins, but she evaded his attack and ran toward Angel.

Faith took one step onto the grass then turned and scrambled back to the front porch steps. “
Nuh-uh!
I don’t
wike
it squishing ‘tween my toes.” She hunkered on the bottom step, her eyes wary, as she watched her more courageous siblings.

“Leave her be, Rambo. She’ll come and play when she’s ready.” Black Cat moseyed to the edge of the lawn, turned in a circle and lay down in a patch of sun. He meant to keep a careful eye on the kittens, but the sun warmed his back and soothed him into a melancholy mood. His eyes grew heavy.

Rambo and Muffins cavorted across the lawn.

A shadow crossed Black Cat’s head, rousing his half-slumber. He looked up. High above the house, a hawk hung suspended in the air current, silhouetted against the sky, circling, drifting. Black Cat closed his eyes.
Ahh.
Such a beautiful day. Life is good
.

Angel’s shriek sent shock waves through his head. “Black Cat. Get Faith! Children! Run.”

Black Cat’s eyes flew open as his sense of security disappeared like a snowflake in a campfire. The hawk, no longer circling, was rocketing down toward the lawn, its talons outstretched!

Hearing their mother’s warning, Rambo and Muffins flattened themselves on the grass. Danger! Then the ancestors’ memories must have blazed into their consciousness. Run! Not even knowing why, or what danger might be present, the two kittens sprinted across the lawn and plunged into the bushes beside the porch. Safe! But, Faith froze and crouched, her eyes wide, her front legs spread.

Black Cat leaped to his feet as the hawk hurtled toward Baby Faith.
He streaked across the lawn, his legs churning, his heart pounding.
Baby Faith! I can’t make it!

He was supposed to be watching, protecting her. Angel said as much and he’d agreed. Then he lay down and went to sleep. Now, Faith would pay for his mistake. His heart wrenched as each bound brought him closer toward the killer.
Got
…
to
…
save her. Almost there
…
Not enough time!
Can’t
…
make
…
it
…

Black Cat leaped, just as the hawk gouged its talons into Faith’s back. He struck the hawk’s massive breast, knocking him sideways. Momentarily off balance, one set of the hawk’s talons slipped and missed its grip in Faith’s back.

Black Cat screamed and clawed at the bird. The hawk fell again, dragging Faith backwards with one hideous foot. Its huge wings beat against Black Cat, slamming him to the ground, fur and feathers flying.

Black Cat lurched to his feet as the hawk regained its balance and lifted off the ground, hovered in the air, then flapped across the driveway, clutching the thrashing kitten with the talons on only one foot.

Angel leaped toward the hawk, now five feet off the ground. She missed the mark and fell back to the grass.

The bird struck out across the yard toward the Emu enclosure, dangling Faith’s body beneath him.

Faith howled, her writhing and twisting preventing the giant bird from sinking his other talons into her body.

Fight, Faith. Fight! You might still have a chance.

Black Cat and Angel raced below, keeping pace with the hawk, now nearly fifteen feet up.
It’s too late. Too late
…

Angel screamed. “Faith, darling, mother’s coming!”

Oh, Angel. You know it’s hopeless.
Black Cat sprinted beneath the bird, keeping even with his squalling daughter. With every stroke of the massive wings, Black Cat’s hope for a miracle dimmed. The hawk rose higher and Faith’s cries began to fade.

Angel stopped near the Emu enclosure and collapsed, panting, trembling.

Black Cat raced on, his gaze locked on the hawk. Angel would never forgive him.
My fault! My fault!

Faith’s fading shrieks stilled the Emus as the hawk flew across the top of their enclosure.

My darling Faith. My baby!
Black Cat’s lungs ached. His head throbbed. He ran on, so wanting to stop and throw himself on the ground… Block out the horrible sight, but he had to go on. Little Faith might look down and take some momentary comfort seeing him beneath her. He wouldn’t stop until either the bird disappeared over the trees or he collapsed. His gaze never left his darling as each flap of the hawk’s wings carried her to her death.
My fault, my fault!

Faith fought on, twisting, struggling to escape her tormentor. How could she know that death was inevitable, even if she succeeded in freeing herself?

And, then her body plummeted down, down, jerking and twisting as she hurtled toward the ground on the far side of the bird enclosure. Her shrieks echoed through the afternoon sky and then grew silent.

Black Cat skidded to a stop next to the Emu’s gate, panting, unable to move. The stillness around him was almost palpable. Even the wind ceased to move through the trees. Somewhere beyond the Emu enclosure, near the vineyard, laid the crumbled body of his baby. He had to go to her. He had to bring her home. He glanced back toward the house where Angel lay huddled on the ground, still unable to move.

He turned back and steeled his heart for the ghastly task ahead. He had to find Faith’s body and bring her home. He wouldn’t leave her. The hawk might circle back to reclaim his kill. Or, she’d be prey to the tiny scavengers that scurried through the night.

Black Cat forced his weary body to take one step and then another, plodding around the enclosure. The Emus clustered next to the wire, their long necks thrust forward, fascinated by the unexpected drama of death playing out in front of their ugly eyes.

Clouds gathered in a blue sky overhead. The afternoon sun shone down on the young vines where John had trundled the soiled straw from the Emu enclosure to spread beneath the vines, to warm the roots and nourish the ground. Nearby, the scent of the pine trees filled the air and now that all was quiet again, the birds took up their songs.