Nathaniel came up behind me and put a hand on my shoulder. “Everything okay?”
“Yes, just thinking about how fortunate we are to have so many good friends.”
“We certainly are.”
I turned around to face him and looped my arms around his neck. “Think they’d miss us if we didn’t go back outside?”
“Probably. You came inside to get the food for everyone.”
I punched his chest. “Spoilsport.”
He laughed and leaned down to kiss my cheek. “Let me help you carry this out and later tonight I’ll make it up to you.”
“Deal,” I said.
We carried trays of sandwiches, fruit, and cheese outside. Our guests already had drinks and were spread out around the backyard. Everyone who loved Jeff and Dena had shown up. Daniel and Julie were talking with the couple in question. The four of them stood near the garden, and once Daniel saw us, he waved and they all headed our way.
“Food looks great,” he said.
“Dig in,” I said. “There’s plenty here and more inside if this runs out.”
I set the trays down on the table and started passing out plates.
Dena rubbed her belly. “Good because the
baby’s hungry.” Jeff came up behind her and kissed her head. She leaned back against him.
“Everything’s so peaceful here,” Jeff said. “This is an outstanding property. You’re going to love it here.”
“We already do,” I agreed. “I love coming out here and just enjoying the stillness.”
That stillness was suddenly broken by a sharp cry.
“Oh my God. Snake!” Lynne pointed toward a large oak tree about twenty feet from where we were.
We all looked in that direction. I couldn’t see a snake, but I certainly saw something. But from where I was, it appeared more like a ball. A ball that was twisting and turning and fighting with something.
Dena gasped. “It’s a kitten! It has a kitten!”
As soon as she said it, I saw the frightened eyes surrounded by matted fur. My hand flew to my mouth.
“It just fell from the tree,” Lynne said. “Has the snake killed it?”
“Not yet, but probably very close.” Cole had been talking with Kelly, but he walked toward Nathaniel. “I’ll get it. Do you have a shovel?”
Nathaniel nodded. “Come with me.”
As the two men ran toward the garage, we all watched, helpless.
“I hope it’s not too late,” Dena whispered.
I thought as long as the snake was writhing around the way it was, the kitten was probably still putting up a fight. As long as the snake didn’t stop, there was still breath left in the cat.
Cole appeared, shovel in hand, and headed toward the snake. Nathaniel was right beside him, also holding a shovel. They approached the fight, planning what they are going to do.
“I’ll go for the head,” Nathaniel said. “You try to get the kitten.”
The two men worked in unison, on opposite sides of the snake, not talking much, but moving together in a way that almost looked choreographed.
“If I get a clear shot, I’m going for it.” Nathaniel’s shovel hovered near the snake’s head.
I held my breath. Odds were good the kitten wasn’t going to make it. By now we could see that the snake was tightly wrapped around it. Even if it was still living, which seem impossible, there was no telling how long it’d been without oxygen.
“Almost. Almost.” Nathaniel shifted his weight. “Now!”
He attacked the snake and within seconds, Cole attempted to grab the kitten.
“Got it!” Cole finally said. “Still alive.”
“Thank goodness,” Lynne said.
“He’s really shaken up.” Cole came toward us, kitten in hands, while Nathaniel disposed of the snake.
“I would think so,” I said. “Being attacked by a snake. Do you need anything?”
“No, he’s still running on an adrenaline high, trying to get away from me. Poor thing’s going to crash later.” Cole tried unsuccessfully to get the kitten to calm down. “I hate to put him down. He’ll run off and we’ll never see him again. He needs first aid, someone to love, and a bath.”
“Good luck giving a cat a bath,” Dena said.
“Hand him to me.”
Everyone turned to where Sasha stood across the patio from Cole. She’d been so quiet all afternoon, I’d forgotten she was there.
She crossed the patio to Cole and held out her hands. “Give him to me.”
Cole was fumbling, trying to keep the kitten from falling. “I thank you for your offer to help, little one, but this cat’s feisty.” He raised an eyebrow. Her bulky jeans and slouchy shirt couldn’t hide the too-thin frame and the dark shadows around her eyes. “With all due respect—”
“I said give him to me,” Sasha repeated in a firm voice. I didn’t know about anyone else, but I didn’t know Sasha could be that forceful. She motioned with her hands again.
Cole must not have known she could be that forceful, either. His eyes grew wide with shock and he nearly lost his grip on the wiggling creature in his arms. “Sasha,” he said in a low voice.
But Sasha was determined and without waiting for him to offer or agree, she simply reached for the kitten and took him. Gathering the frightened animal tight to her chest, she dropped her face into his fur and whispered things I couldn’t make out.
Cole didn’t move from where he stood, though I wasn’t sure if it was because he was still in shock over her actions or if he wanted to be close in case she needed him.
After a few minutes she lifted her head and Cole laughed. “Bloody hell, he’s purring.”
Sasha only beamed in response as Cole reached out and stroked the kitten’s dirty fur. “How did you do that?”
“I don’t know,” she confessed. “I just saw him struggling and then he was free, but he didn’t know it. I think it’s because you’re a bit intimidating, Sir. And I thought to myself, ‘I know exactly how that kitten feels,’ and I just had to hold him and tell him. I had to let him know he was safe and everything was going to be all right.”
“Damn,” Nathaniel whispered so they couldn’t hear. “I didn’t know she could speak that many sentences at one time.”
“You and the kitten are kindred spirits, little one. That was good thinking,” Cole said, and locked eyes with Sasha. The look that passed between them was so intense that for a second I couldn’t breathe and my skin prickled with gooseflesh.
“Wow, I’ve never heard him call anyone ‘little one’ before,” Daniel said. “Wonder what that means.”
“Nothing,” Julie whispered. “It means nothing. He called her that the first time he met her. Right before you whipped Peter.”
We’d been whispering so Cole and Sasha wouldn’t hear, but watching them, I thought we could have been yelling and they wouldn’t have paid us any attention. They were speaking softly, the kitten held between them. Then Sasha suddenly looked our way.
“He’s a stray, right?” she asked, looking between me and Nathaniel. “He’s not yours?”
“No,” Nathaniel confirmed. “We only have our dog, Apollo.”
“I can keep him?” She was no longer the determined woman who’d confronted Cole, but once more tentative and unsure. “I’d like to have someone to care for.”
“I know the feeling,” Cole mumbled behind her.
“Of course,” Nathaniel said, and then smiled. “We just won’t tell the kids. Elizabeth would love a kitten, but we can’t have one with Apollo around. He’s too old and set in his ways.”
“Thank you,” she said, and dipped her head into the kitten’s fur again.
“I think,” Nathaniel said in a soft voice so Cole and Sasha couldn’t hear, a slow smile covering his face, “I’ve just decided who I’ll recommend to have retrain Sasha.”
Julie and I spoke at the same time.
“Oh, hell no.”
“That might be the worst idea you’ve ever had.”