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The ride to town took less than five minutes normally, but on this fall day, since she had a little time to spare, she made a right instead of the left to town so she could motor past her neighbors’ homes and around Bonnet Island to see if anything had changed since the last time she’d made the trip. More trees had lost their leaves, the peak of autumn color past, but it was still fall out, and something stirred in her chest, melancholy maybe, or outright fear. Time was marching on so fast, and she knew it would increase the older she got.
A minute later, up ahead she saw the village dock, and Gus Hebert waited at the end of it; he’d heard her leave Bayou Cottage ten minutes before.
“I was gettin’ ready to come after ya,” he said, bending down to catch her line.
“I went on the tour,” she said. “Marty Figer’s burning trash again. I thought I could smell it.”
“Ugh,” Gus replied, pulling the skiff to the ladder. “I’ll say something to him.”
“Please do. He’s afraid of women,” Maggie said, snickering. “I walked by his place with the dog last week, and the man ran into his shack when he saw us coming.”
Holding out his hand, Gus looked away when Maggie climbed the ladder, both for respect and because her blouse was cut a little low for a town visit.
“What you doing here, anyway?” he asked.
“Kelly Casson asked for help to move some animals out today. The vets offered to board a few while she finds homes.”
“You need my truck, give me a shout,” Gus said. “I’m thinking of bringing a cat to the shack here, too. I’ve got a mouse.”
“I have mice, too,” she said. “Maybe I’d better get a cat as well.”
“Let’s get siblings,” Gus said, laughing, his shoulders shaking up and down.
They high-fived, and she nodded toward town. “I don’t know how long I’ll be. If she wants your truck, I’ll send you a text.”
He pulled on the brim of his Giants cap, trying not to watch her walking down the dirt path. Maggie was so cute. She could be his granddaughter. But he was still a man. Quickly looking away, he shook his head and reached for his phone. He needed to see Grace ASAP.
Cypress Cove Rescue resided in a former storage building belonging to the First Methodist Church that was the Cypress Cove Community Center. Unfortunately, the community center needed the space leased to Kelly for the rescue.
“We feel just terrible about kicking you out,” Wendall Harry said, not really sorry at all. The dogs barked constantly, and he was trying to build a following of self-help groups to serve the community. Growling dogs weren’t conducive to the welcoming atmosphere he hoped to convey.
A group of men waiting for their AA meeting to begin stood around outside, smoking and chatting, when they saw Maggie approach, and quiet immediately fell over them.
“Hello,” she said, nodding her head.
They were somewhat intimidating, but she was used to them now after living there for a while, and found it was better to acknowledge them, then run. Rounding the corner, Kelly had the back of her van open and was loading mewing kitties in carriers inside.
“I really appreciate you helping,” Kelly said. “My volunteers have flown the coop.”
“Ugh. I guess they’re looking for other opportunities?”
“Who knows. I’m about ready to kill my sister-in-law. She’s suddenly too tired to help out.”
Kelly’s sister-in-law was Maggie’s best friend, Annie, who had married Kelly’s brother the month before. She was pregnant and worked full time at the social services office in the county seat.
“Annie works during the week. What can I do to help?” Maggie asked, hoping to avoid a gossip session.
“Follow me,” she said, entering the building. “Let’s transfer some of these kitties from cages to carriers. Then we can take them to the clinics. Justin said they’ll take five cats, and Ted LeBlanc will take the rest. He has an empty RV on his property, and he has it plugged in for power. The only problem is they’ll have to stay in the carriers, so we’ll use the larger carriers for the cats that will stay at Ted’s.”
The women worked side by side for an hour until the van was full. She had a dozen cats, all ticked off, in carriers. The caterwauling commenced, and Maggie laughed out loud.
“I’m glad we only have to go a few miles,” Kelly said, chuckling.
When they reached the Chastains’ clinic, Justin was just leaving the barn for the office, looking larger than life. Kelly whistled.
“I know,” Maggie said, grinning, and thought,And he’s all mine.
Maggie didn’t really know Kelly Casson well, only seeing her when she volunteered at the rescue on the few Saturdays that Annie was there, a chance for them to help out and spend time together.
