“That’s something you never need to remind me of. I’ll be on high alert.” I push open the door, squinting against the morning sun, and I inhale so much fresh air it makes my lungs ache.
Taking slow, calculated steps so as not to step in anything questionable—though these Uggs are getting thrown out when I get home regardless—I walk around the side of the barn and am met by the most insanely gorgeous view I’ve ever seen. Sprawling fields blanketed in untouched, white snow. Distant trees and mountains provide small patches of colour amongst the vast ivory earth.
Just as I’m searching in the deep pockets of my overalls for my phone, the tiniest whimpering cry stops me in my tracks.
I swear the breeze, and the clanging of metal in the barn, and the distant horses all still in unison. The world’s so quiet, I can hear blood pumping past my eardrums.
The tiny sound rings out again, and I follow it until I find myself next to some sort of wood shed. The cries are undeniably coming from underneath it. Scrunching my nose, I pull out my phone and turn on the flashlight before dropping to my knees next to a hole that’s been dug under the shed.
“Hey, whatever’s in there, if you couldpleasenot launch out at my face, that would be great,” I call out, as if the critter inside understands me.
Pulse racing, I gulp and move closer.
An emphatic meow.
“Oh, you’re a cat!” I laugh a little to myself, thankful I’m not over here pestering a badger or some shit. Quieting my voice so as not to startle it, I attempt to call it out from its hiding spot. “Pspspspsps.Come here, kitty. Are you stuck under there?”
My flashlight catches on something, and I slide on my belly across the snow for a better view. Tucked at the far back, with fur plastered to its wet body, looking scared and much too small to be alone, is a tiny kitten.
“Come here, baby.” Against better judgement, ignoring the possibility of what else could be in the hole, I shove my hand in to grab the kitten. Falling short, I curse under my breath.
I gnaw at my cheek for a moment, then push up to my feet, announcing that I’ll be right back as I quickly shuffle away.
“Hey, do you have any cat food or something here?” I ask, storming into the barn.
Lucas looks up from his work, and confusion washes over his face. “Why are you so wet? Did you slip out there?”
I flap my hand to indicate to him that my current state doesn’t matter right now. “I was lying in the snow. Maybe some lunch meat in the fridge or something?”
“Making snow angels again?”
“Trying to rescue a kitten from under a wood shed.” Clearly, he’s not going to answer my question, so I head for the lunchroom to look for anything I can use as kitten bait.
Lucas is hot on my heels, abandoning the horse he was in the middle of shoeing. “A kitten? Show me.”
I lead him out to the shed, half-listening as he rambles about the number of barn cats, and how the kitten is probably perfectly fine where it is.
That is, until he drops to his stomach and peers under the shed.
“Well, Doodlebug. I think you’re right. That thing looks pretty small to be out here without its mama.” He furrows his eyebrows in thought as he stands back up. “You sure you didn’t see an adult cat around here at all?”
“Nope. If she was around, wouldn’t she come back when she heard her baby crying?”
“Eira, this might be a case for us to just let nature take its course…”
My jaw goes slack, and I stare at him with a burning sensation behind my eyes. Blinking back tears, I say, “We can’t just leave her to die. That’s inhumane.”
“Well…” He sighs and drags a hand down his face.
“Come here, baby,” I say to the kitten, crouching down and rubbing my fingers together in front of the hole, hoping to entice her out. Ignoring Lucas altogether. “Come on out. Promise I’ll take good care of you.”
Lucas grunts, walking away. And I swear to God, I will never speak to that man for as long as I live after this.
Tears prick my eyelash line, and I lie back down on the cold, compact snow. Like a strong, independent woman, I mutter some curse words about stupid men and get back to work trying to save the kitten. My shoulder’s pressed so hard against the shed wall, I’m afraid something might break, and my outstretched fingertips are barely able to stroke the kitten’s fur. Nowhere near enough reach to grab it.
I shuffle away from the shed with an exasperated, “Fuck.”
“Think cheese will work?” Lucas’s voice makes me jump, and suddenly he’s next to me, holding a slice of Kraft cheese.
