Karen Anne Golden - The Cats That 02 - The Cats that Chased the Storm Read Free Page B

inventory. Printed on each page was the year 1929. Underneath the pages was a prescription pad with Dr. Harvey Smith printed at the top, address 201 Main Street, Erie, Indiana. But what interested her most was a box of foil labels with Colfax Medicinal Elixir stamped on them.
    “Interes ting,” she said. “What’s an elixir? Now I know where Iris has been getting this paper. What have we come across, magic cat?” Katherine asked. She placed the documents back in the box, put them on the dresser, then gently picked up Scout and took her to the bedroom. She tried to soothe the frightened Siamese, but Scout was more interested in looking out the window at the lightning as it danced across the sky.
    “It’s just a storm,” Katherine said comfortingly.
    Katherine checked the Doppler radar on her cell phone and was relieved that the storm would be ending soon. She sent Colleen a text.
    “Weird ghostly experience complete with cold air passing through me.”
    She didn’t expect an answer, but the phone immediately pinged a return message. “Where did it happen?” Colleen asked.
    “In the guest room where you stayed.”
    “Sounds like a ghost.”
    “Hope not. Not liking living alone in this house.”
    “Bringing all my equipment next time.”
    “Cool,” Katherine texted, then “Good night!”
    The house is so drafty, I’m sure the wind blew the door closed ,” Katherine reasoned. A loud, thunder clap rocked the room. Katherine and Scout dove under the covers, joining the other three who were cowering at the foot of the bed.
    Katherine sneezed, “Scout, I forgot to wipe you off.”
    “Waugh,” Scout protested.
    “Okay, it can wait till tomorrow.”
    *      *      *
    Early the next morning, Katherine was packing for her trip to Manhattan when the front doorbell clanged. She sprinted downstairs with four inquisitive cats following behind her. Peeking out the front door’s side light, she saw two women standing outside; one of them was holding a large floral arrangement in a colorful basket. She recognized the woman as the Little Tomato owner, Carol Lombard. Opening the door, she said, “Hi, Carol. Come in.”
    “Miss Colfax,” said the other woman, whose snow-white hair was pulled back in a tight bun. “We’re members of the town’s historical society. I’m the president this year; Carol is our treasurer. We were friends of Orvenia; she was a member of the board for a number of years.”
    “It seems every day I learn something new about my great aunt,” Katherine said. “Allow me to take your coats. Will it ever stop raining?” Katherine guided them inside, while making small talk.
    “Katherine,” Carol began, “Allow me to introduce you to Beatrice Baker.”
    Smiling at Beatrice, Katherine said, “I’m pleased to meet you, but my last name isn’t Colfax. It’s Kendall. My friends call me Katz.” Holding their rain gear, Katherine started to hang the coats on the Eastlake hall tree, but stopped when she noticed Iris crouched behind it. Iris seemed annoyed that Katherine had found her hiding place. Katherine grinned and hung the raincoats anyway.
    In the atrium, the women gazed in awe at the hand-carved oak acorns hanging from brass chains over the closed pocket doors. “I must apologize,” Carol said, “but we’re always speechless when we come into this house.”
    Beatrice peered down, over her glasses. “Oh, yes, the William Colfax house is the finest in our area.”
    Katherine motioned them into the parlor, and they all sat down. She asked Beatrice, “I’m curious. Why do you call the mansion the ‘William Colfax house,’ when my great aunt Orvenia lived here for decades?”
    “Well,” Beatrice began, “Once a house has been named, the name doesn’t change. Just the people who live in it.”
    “Interesting,” Katherine said curiously.
    Carol proudly announced, “We want to welcome you to Erie. Our local florist made this arrangement especially for you.” She