After being missing for a space of time, Samantha makes her way to someone she knows can help — even if that person is currently on her two-legged mother’s bad list…
His perspective should be clear and simple, but it was neither of those things. Grant pressed his lips together as he crumpled the aluminum can in his large, calloused hands. He did not need complications, not at this point in his life. Rayvin Woods had been a stupid crush when he was too young and inexperienced to know any better. He was an intelligent man with willpower, not a horny teenager with his brain in his pants. He would take care of Rayvin, and that would be that.
The rustling sounds came closer, and a small shadow detached itself from the rhododendrons. Slinking along the base of the deck, it paused in front of him and meowed piteously.
“Hey, there, kitty-cat,” Grant murmured, crouching down and offering his fingers. He slowly and carefully set the crushed can aside to avoid frightening the animal. It bumped and nuzzled his knuckles, moving close enough for him to see a glittering golden tag. Gently catching its collar, he lifted the fluffy black creature up and cradled it in his arms.
“Well, you furry beast, where did you come from? Let’s see your tag, hmm?” He stood up so the engraving would be visible in the little light remaining from the sun. “Samantha.” Rayvin’s cat.
Her face surfaced in his memory again… The cat bumped his chin, requesting caresses. Automatically, he rubbed behind her ears. The corner of his mouth lifted in response to the grateful purr she emitted.
“Well, you may be a rescue animal, Samantha,” he muttered, letting the whole weight of the animal settle into his chest. “But you seemed to have survived the wilds of Talbot.”
She curled and undulated in his arms, rolling to expose her belly. Either her cat was one of the dumbest creatures he’d ever met, or incredibly intelligent. She didn’t know him from Adam, and her mistress clearly despised him. Yet she was entirely relaxed, letting him have his fill of her softness. Unless the cat had some mysterious talents of her own, and he’d been bewitched into her service. Her paw batted his chin.
“You’re weird, cat. What do you think you are, a kitten again?” She lifted her chin as his thumb rubbed the delicate bone just under the softest fur. It was no wonder he hadn’t seen her in the bushes; there wasn’t a spot of white on her. She was the perfect witch’s cat…
Keeping a firm grip on Rayvin’s cat, he descending into the yard to pour sand and water on the fire from the buckets he always kept handy. Satisfied that the embers were dead, he and the feline headed inside. Neither of them noticed the larger shadow that detached itself from the bushes in the failing light, slithering unhurriedly toward the house.
He slid the door firmly shut behind him, setting the animal on the floor of the kitchen. He filled one bowl with water, and another with some leftover pike from the fridge. Stroking her head as she indulged herself in the treat — Grant supposed that it wasn’t often any house cat was given free-range fish — he contemplated changing into his uniform for maximum impact at the hospital. No, that might lead to questions from his superiors. Off-duty he was, and off-duty he would remain. He sighed, straightening up, and reached for his keys.
“I’m going to get your mom, cat,” he told her. “Be good. No parties, and don’t wait up.”
As he left the room, leather jacket in hand, the cat suddenly left off licking the fishy residue from the bowl, sitting up in full alert. An ear flicked toward the gathering darkness outside. She hissed, baring her teeth and arching her back, as a shadow drew itself up on the deck and blotted out the last of the greying light coming through the patio doors. Red eyes gleamed down at her. The sound of the motorcycle starting up in the drive was almost loud enough to obscure the vampire’s quiet laughter. Almost.
At least the rescue kitty was safe! And that’s all we really want for any animal, isn’t it?
One more Samantha Appreciation post to go, in honour of the 10th Anniversary of the release of Wind and Shadow… in the meantime, why not add to your summer reading list? Download or order your own copies of the Talbot Trilogy today!
Book One: Wind and Shadow: in PDF, on Kindle, Kobo, Nook, Smashwords, or paperback
The prequel novella Mist and Midnight: in PDF, on Kindle, Kobo, Nook, Smashwords, or paperback
Book Two: Blood and Fire: in PDF, on Kindle, Kobo, Nook, Smashwords, or paperback
Book Three: Crystal and Wand: in PDF, on Kindle, Kobo, Nook, Smashwords, paperback!
Obligatory Sylvie photo time! My own dear little witchy kitty says hello. Grudgingly. And only when she wants to.
Meow!
Tori L. Ridgewood 