Shadows of the Redwood - By Gillian Summers Page 0,49

a hug, surprising her. “I’m going to keep you safe,” he whispered.

Keelie’s legs became boneless. She pulled away from Sean and they grinned at each other. His eyes were bright.

Laurie gave a thumbs-up. From inside the car, Risa scowled and punched the back seat with closed fists.

Sean opened the passenger-side door. “Milady.” Knot jumped in, his big orange butt taking up the entire seat.

Laurie shook her head. “You two, let’s get going. I need a coffee.” She climbed into the driver’s seat.

“Move over.” Sean leaned down and glowered at Knot.

“Knot, you can sit with me, my love,” Risa said.

Knot scooted over and Keelie sat down next to him. He narrowed his green eyes as he looked her up and down, as if he was thinking that maybe she should ride on the hood.

As Sean walked around the front of the BMW, Laurie gazed down at Knot. “Is Keelie mean to you?”

Risa tipped forward, her hands on the back of the seat. “She’s mean to him. She calls him Snotball.”

Knot placed his paw on Laurie’s leg as if confirming that what Risa said was true: Yes, she’s so mean to me. You should try living with her.

Sean got into the back and closed the door. Keelie pulled the seat belt around her body. “He bit me.”

“It was a love bite. Cats bite you as a token of their affection.” Laurie cranked the car.

“You can forget the milk.” Keelie glared down at the cat, who looked ahead.

Risa patted Knot on the head. “I’ll buy you some cream.”

Keelie snorted. “Let’s go get that coffee.”

In the mall parking lot, Laurie held her designer bag open. “Knot can ride inside like those little yappy dogs do.”

“How are you going to keep him inside the bag?” Keelie asked. “We can’t handcuff or tape him down.”

Glaring at Keelie, Knot sank his claws deeper into the seat upholstery, refusing to be manhandled into the pocketbook.

Risa leaned over and scratched him under the chin. “If the kitty gets into the bag, then he gets his milk-milk.”

“Milk-milk?” Keelie nearly gagged.

Sean was out of the car. “Ladies, we need to make this a short trip. Last night, I told Lady Keliatiel and Sir Davey I’d make sure you got home safe and sound.”

With a nod to Sean, Knot stepped into Laurie’s bag with his tail held high. He stuck his furry head out and blinked his eyes at Keelie.

Laurie lifted the pocketbook and gave it to Keelie, her face red from straining. “See, no prob, but you can carry your cat.”

“Let me,” Sean reached for the bag, but Knot growled in protest.

“No, he’ll bite you,” Keelie took the bag from Laurie.

Knot purred. Keelie wondered if he was kneading his paws like a superhappy kitten. What was he doing to Laurie’s stuff? She wouldn’t think about that.

At the mall, once her refuge of happiness and retail adventures, Keelie shuddered at the alien artificiality of the stores. Laurie chattered on and on about which stores had the best sales. “We need to find La Jolie Rouge.”

Knot traveled contentedly in the bag like a pampered lap dog. The bag straps dug into Keelie’s shoulder, and she was sure that she’d have rub on some Achy Bones Salve once she was back from this shopping trip.

Inside Starbucks, Laurie continued to prattle as they waited in line to get their coffee. Keelie was so tired that she couldn’t focus on Laurie’s words. Of course, Laurie was talking non-stop and Keelie had had an emotional afternoon.

She definitely needed a coffee to help her reenergize. Maybe six shots of espresso would do the trick. It had to have been going back to the house. Who wouldn’t be wiped after an emotional experience like that?

A huge bump appeared on the side of the bag and then rolled around, accompanied by loud purring. It made the buckles and pockets pop and rattle. Knot must be doing somersaults inside. Two girls behind Keelie stared at the bag strangely. She grinned.

A pop hit jingled from inside the bag.

“Keelie, hand me my phone, would you?” Laurie was almost at the counter.

Keelie stared at the heaving bag. She was already limping. What would happen if she stuck her hand in there? She’d return to the redwoods in an ambulance, thanks to Knot her so-called guardian. “Why don’t you let your voicemail catch that?”

The phone abruptly stopped ringing. “Meow?”

Luckily, Laurie didn’t hear that, thank the tree rings. Keelie wondered who Knot was talking to.

The Starbucks barista was a bored, purple-haired girl. She acted like she