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William instinctively stepped in front of Lucy and Mitzy.
“Who’s there?” Dixie shouted.
He glanced to where the gunshot had come from.
Dixie held the rifle in question.
“It’s us. William and Lucy,” he shouted back.
Lucy had the cat wedged against her side. The hissing, pissed-off cat apparently didn’t appreciate being squished against Lucy’s armpit since the pissed-off hissing continued with new vigor. He glanced to Lucy. The whites of her round eyes were huge.
“Are you okay?” He asked.
She nodded, holding the cat by the scruff of the neck tight against her chest.
“It’s the middle of the night.” Dixie’s tone was firm. “What the devil are you doin’ out here?”
“Cat hunting.” William gestured with his head to Lucy and Mitzy.
“Well, I’ll be a monkey’s unc—” Dixie started.
“Mom?” Jeff hollered from across the road.
“Oh, good, it’s a party.” William dropped his hands to his waist.
“She’s over here, Jeff,” Lucy said, her voice sharp.
Jeff trudged around the corner in a pair of plaid pajamas. His eyes grew wide when he saw his mother pointing the rifle at William. His gaze followed the barrel of the gun, landing on William’s crotch. Jeff coughed into his hand and glanced away. William adjusted his hands to cover the bulge. Jeff whispered something in Dixie’s ear before he patted her on the shoulder and moved her gun into his hand.
“Everything okay?” Jeff asked.
“Depends on your definition of okay.” William jerked his chin at Lucy. “Your mom shot at us. We caught a cat.”
“Warnin’ shot,” Dixie chimed in. “If I’da meant to hit ’em, I woulda.”
“Mom, we’ve discussed this. No warning shots.” Jeff glanced up to the starless sky. “No shots at all.”
“Protectin’ the place is my job. Is that Mitzy?” Dixie asked. “Thought she up ’n died, too.”
Lucy held the cat tight against her.
Mitzy rewarded her with a crazy cat smile.
“Can I keep her?” Lucy asked Dixie.
Dixie scowled. “I s’pose you ken keep the cat.”
Jeff rested a hand on his mother’s shoulder. “Let’s get you home, Mom.”
“Where’s your clothes?” Dixie jerked her chin at William before she shot an accusing glance at Lucy.
At least the present conversation had killed the punch of lust he experienced earlier. “I was sleeping.”
Dixie pointed at his crotch. “Syphilis is a reality. You’d best remember that.”
Jeff coughed again. William rolled his eyes to heaven. The awkward moment lingered until Dixie harrumphed, turned on her heel, and marched back into the darkness. Jeff followed.
The fur ball purred louder as William walked Lucy silently to the porch.
