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“Lynette, I’ve got an idea where we can move your squirrels. Temporarily, until we find a more permanent place with plenty of trees.” I stand up and brush snow from my knees. “Did Harvey say anything about loaning out some of his cats?”
Harvey checks on Lynette every day. Not by phone, obviously, since phones attract aliens. He goes to Lynette’s house every morning with coffee from Britta’s, and at least once a week some ebelskiver too. Lynette used to come in herself, but she’s quit over the past year. Too many people she doesn’t know—potential aliens—have moved in.
“He did. He heard there was a mouse problem at your old auto shop, so he took at least a dozen over.” She turns her palm to a squirrel, and it jumps into her hand, then scurries up her arm.
When he’s perched on her shoulder, she stands. “He said he’s going back for them tomorrow.”
“Perfect.” I stare at the squirrel, half-envious he’s so comfortable sitting there and half-worried he and his buddies might be planning world domination with Lynette as their puppet. “If he gets them all out, we can take the squirrels to the trees behind the shop until we find a more permanent place for them—away from the aliens.”
Lynette smiles and nods, then stretches her arm toward the ground for the squirrel to run down and scurry away.
“Good.” I grin back at her, only slightly more pleased to be helping her and the squirrels, as I am at the thought they might make things hard for Cassie.
“Do you need a ride home? Or dinner?” I ask.
Lynette shakes her head. “I’m having dinner with my friends. They’ll take me home.”
I nod toward the squirrels who are now running around in the trees bordering Town Square. “Seems as though they’re finding their own dinner. Sure you don’t want me to take you home?”
Lynette looks at me like I’m crazy. “I’m not eating with the squirrels, Bear. With Adam and Evie.” She points across the street to the Garden of Eatin’.
“Got it.” I huff a laugh. “As soon as Harv’s cats are gone, we’ll move your squirrel friends. Do you have cages for these guys? Or do I need to get some?”
“I’m sure there’s something in my old barn that will work. Or maybe Harv will let me borrow his cat carriers.” Lynette has already turned back to her squirrels, watching them run up and down the tree trunks, chasing each other.
I leave her standing in the fading light of day. Clouds are moving in, and the temperature is dropping fast. I’m relieved Lynette has dinner plans with Adam and Evie, so she won’t stay out in the cold for too long. I also realize I forgot to talk to her about the pond. But that can wait another day or two until her squirrels are safe.
On my way to the parking lot and my Jeep, I text Georgia.
Tell Cassie I’ll help her take the cats back to Harvey. I need the shop.
Chapter 13
Cassie
By the time Georgiatells me Bear’s offered, I don’t need his help to take cats back to Harvey—who, I assume, must be Catman. I’ve already shooed them away to the empty fields behind the shop. After a little investigating about barn cats—thank you, Google—I know they’re good at finding their way back to their outdoor shelters, aka barns, so I’m sure Harvey will understand why I didn’t wait for him to come back. And the other two cat providers were fine with me letting them go.
But Harvey said he’d be back for his, which makes me nervous. I thought about delivering them, but aside from not knowing where Harvey lives, I had no way of getting the cats back to him unless I first caught them, and second, stuffed them all in my car and drove them back.
That prospect didn’t tempt me anymore than having Bear help me do it.
Two days later, however, when Catman shows up at my door looking for his dozen cats, I reconsider my impulsive decision. Harvey’s not too happy when I tell him his feline friends are out in the fields somewhere. His irritation only grows after his eyes drop to the empty box poking out of my trash.
“Did you feed them that?” He points an accusing finger at the box that held the cans of wet food I used to lure the cats out of the shop.
“Yeah, but just once. I haven’t fed them for a couple of days. Is that a problem, Mister…?” I drag out the word, leaving him space to fill in his last name.
“Harvey.” The name comes out sharp and clipped. “Just Harvey.”
“Harvey. I’m Cassie. Thanks so much for loaning me your cats.” I keep my voice measured and calm even as his chest rises and falls in anxious breaths. “I really appreciate it, but I couldn’t keep them all in the shop. But they’re around. They’ve been coming back, so if you’ll leave your address—and maybe a cat carrier or two—I can try to bring them back to you.”
Allthirteenof them.
I probably should have been more specific in my Facebook post about how many cats I wanted. I just never imagined someone would have a spare dozen or so cats. Or that he’d expect me to either keep them contained for days or else package them all up to deliver back to him.
Small town life may not be as simple as I imagined.
Harvey shoves his hands into his overalls and shakes his head. “Even if you catch them, they’ll keep coming back here. You’ve given them a taste of something different.” He points to the shop door. “They’re leaving you gifts to thank you.”
