AllFreeNovel
Share Us
I look over my shoulder at him. “Didn’t you hear that?”
The little yip sounds again and I think it’s coming from under the post office box. I crouch, bending at the waist as I tip my head, supporting myself with my hands. A little orange kitten with big eyes is crouched below the box, meowing and looking scared.
“Twyla, what the hell?”
I ignore Chase. I have to get this little guy or girl out of there.
“C’mere, cutie pie.” I reach one hand out close to the base of the mailbox.
At first the kitten steps back, but after ten or twenty seconds, it grows curious enough to walk forward.
“That’s it, sweetie. Come closer,” I use my most lilting voice. Eventually the kitten is close enough to sniff my hand. When it’s done, I pull my hand a little farther back, hoping to coax it out, and reach straight up with my other arm, purse in hand. “Chase, can you hold this for me?”
He takes the purse from my hand, and I get back to work. After about five minutes of coaxing, my legs are on fire, but the kitten is far enough out from under the mailbox that I can scoop it up.
“Are you sure you should be picking up strays?”
I pretend to cover the kitten’s ears. “Don’t listen to him. He’s just a grump.”
Then I look at Chase and laugh. The sight of a big guy like Chase with my evening bag in his hand is actually pretty humorous.
“What?” he grumbles.
“Nice purse.” I wink at him, and he rolls his eyes.
“What are you gonna do with that thing?” he asks, eyeing the kitten warily.
“I can’t leave it here. I’ll have to bring it in for the night. But there’s just one thing…”
He frowns. “Nope.”
“Chase, I can’t bring it to my place.” My voice holds a slight whine, but I don’t care. Chase is my only hope.
His frown deepens. “Why? He’s already got a cat.”
“Because it’s not my place and also because Kiwi will not take kindly to a new cat in her domain. She might rip it apart.”
He frowns and looks down at the little furball meowing in my hands.
“Plus, I doubt this little thing has had any shots. Until it’s looked at by a vet, it probably shouldn’t be around other cats.” I rub the top of the kitten’s head and it closes its eyes as though it’s the best thing ever.
“Jesus, Twyla.”
I give him my best innocent and hopeful expression. “Could it stay at your place overnight? I promise in the morning I’ll call around and find a shelter, check if anyone has reported him or her missing.”
“I don’t know anything about cats.”
I smile wide. “That’s why I’m here. I’m a fountain of information. I worked at a pet store in high school.”
He looks at me, then the cat, then back at me without saying a word.
“Please, Chase. We can’t leave it out here alone to fend for itself. It’s just a baby.” I stick out my bottom lip, holding the cat out like Simba fromThe Lion King.
Chase pinches the bridge of his nose and sighs. “I’m gonna regret this.”
“I promise you won’t. It’s just one night.”
He stares at me. “Is it gonna piss all over the place?”
