Cats in Cahoots (A Klepto Cat Mystery Book 18) Read Free Page A

be bored, right, Dad?”
    “I guess not, Son.”
    “So did you see the mom and dad?” Savannah asked.
    “Yeah, sorta, I think.”
    Michael play-punched Adam. “Kinda, sorta, you think?”
    “Yeah, well, I saw some adults. There were three of them—a man was cooking on a barbecue and a lady came out once carrying a baby. I saw another man through a window.” He looked up at Savannah. “Timmy told me he and the other kids like to come over here and climb around on Peaches. Did you know they do that?”
    She frowned. “No. I sure did not. And I don’t want them doing that. Someone could get hurt.”
    Taking on a more sober demeanor, Adam said, “Jacob tried to feed Peaches his sucker one day. I told Timmy that could hurt the horse and kids can only play with Peaches when there’s an adult watching.”
    “Good job, Adam,” Savannah said.
    “Know what Timmy told me? He said it’s okay just as long as he doesn’t get caught and so far he hasn’t been caught.”
    Savannah gritted her teeth. “Oh yes he has. He has just been caught and I’m going over there to have a little talk with his parents.”
    “Now, Savannah,” Michael said, in a calming tone.
    “What?” she snapped. “Do you want a child to get hurt over here? Or the horse? Oh no, we have to nip this in the bud.”
    He let out a sigh. Then focusing on what the boy was doing, he asked, “Combing her hair, huh?”
    “Yeah, she has bed head.”
    “Bad head?” Savannah asked.
    “No, bed head—you know, how when you get up first thing in the morning and your hair is all messy.”
    She chuckled. “Oh, yes, bed head.”
    “Straw head,” Michael said. When Adam looked puzzled, he explained, “Her bed is made of straw.” He looked at his watch. “Hey, kiddo, you’d better get cleaned up and packed. Your mom will be here in about forty minutes.”
    “Awww, there goes my best groomer,” Savannah whined.
    “I got a lot of the tangles out,” Adam said. His face brightened. “Hey, if you want help, just go ask those kids next door. They’d probably like to come out of that fence and comb Peaches.”
    “I’ll think about that,” Savannah said. She tousled the boy’s hair. “But no one can take your place, Adam.”
    He stood tall. “Yeah, I guess you’re right there.”
    Michael laughed. “Okay, super-groomer, let’s go get you cleaned up, shall we?”
    ****
    “Want me to go with you, hon?” Michael asked when he saw Savannah slipping into her jacket after Adam had left. “You’re going to the new neighbors’ right?”
    She nodded, then said, “No. Why don’t you stay with Lily?” She gazed out the window for a moment. “I think I’ll walk around to their front door rather than traipse through their backyard.”
    “All the way around to Maple Street?”
    “Yeah, I could use the exercise. Besides, I can cut through that empty lot between us and Auntie’s and I won’t have to go clear down to the highway.”
    When she turned to leave, Michael said, rather hesitantly, “Want a little advice?”
    “What?” she asked, taking on a slightly defensive stance.
    “Just be diplomatic like I know you can be, okay? We don’t know these people. We sure don’t want to get off on the wrong foot with a neighbor, do we?”
    “No, we don’t. But I want them to know that their children might be putting themselves in harm’s way by sneaking over here and messing around with Peaches. And I don’t want my mare to be in danger, either. Michael, one of those kids almost gave her a sucker—now that’s the kind of thing we need to stop before something awful happens.”
    “I know, hon. Just try not to let your emotions drive your message, okay?” He pushed his palms downward and lowered his voice. “Keep it low-key.” When he saw her narrow her eyes and look off into space, he said, “Uh-oh, I see your wheels spinning.”
    “Yeah, I have an idea—a peace offering.”
    “A peace offering?” he questioned.
    She headed toward the