“And those other ones that are likeostriches.”
A blank stare until finally the priest said,“Emus?”
“Yeah.Emus.”Lucas wanted to crawlunderneath the car.
“Why are we talking about emus?”the priestasked, but he didn’t seem upset.In fact, he looked a bit betterthan he had when Lucas had first approached.
“I’m not sure.”But there had to be more.This conversation, such as it was, seemed to be doing the priestgood.So Lucas needed to keep it going.“Because they don’t fly, Ithink.And neither does this turkey vulture, right now.But we’rehoping he will someday.We’ve got his wing splinted, and the vetsaid it was a clean break.”
The priest was looking at Lucas prettyintently now.“You really enjoy this, don’t you?Working here?Terry was right when he set this up for you.”
“Yeah.He was right.I mean, I needed a job.Butthisjob?It’s great.I owe Father Groban a lot.”
“What about if it were a different kind ofjob?If you were still helping animals, but not as directly.Likeif you were working in the office of a charity that funded placeslike this.It’s important work, and somebody needs to do it.”
“It wouldn’t be the same.I mean, thisjob—I’m good at this.”It felt strange to say it, but he was prettysure it was true.“I’m not saying I’m special or anything, but Ilike the animals, and they like me back, usually.And I can dorepairs and stuff, and do most of the heavy lifting for Elise.That’s what I can do.In an office?”He made a face.“I get whatyou’re saying.It’s important work.But I wouldn’t be as good atit, and I wouldn’t like it as much.”
The priest sat there as if Lucas had saidsomething profound and the words needed to be carefully considered.Finally, he nodded.“I know what you mean.”And then another of hishead shakes, trying to get his mind back to the current time andplace.“So, would I be able to see this vulture?He soundsinteresting.”
“Uh, no, actually.He’s still pretty freakedout, not eating or anything.We’re giving him some quiet time.”Andit was absurd that Lucas had somehow found himself in a positionwhere he was trying to entertain the mysteriously upset brother ofthe man he had killed, but apparently that was his role for theday.So he said, “There’s a baby raccoon, though.Her paw is messedup so Elise says we won’t be able to release her.She says shewouldn’t survive in the wild.”It was wrong for Lucas to find anyjoy in that situation, but he couldn’t help smiling as he said, “Sowe get to play with her.She’s really cute.”
“I saw her last time I was here,” the priestsaid.“But I think she wasn’t feeling well?She was justsleeping.”
“Yeah, we were having trouble getting herfood figured out.We were trying to wean her off formula but shedidn’t respond well, so we had to mess around a little.She’s goodnow, though, if you want to see her.”
The priest opened the door of his car.Forthe first time, Lucas noticed the lack of a clerical collar.Blackshirt, sure, but it was open at the throat and hung loosely over apair of jeans instead of being tucked in to black dress pants.Wasthis how priests dressed on their days off?Did priests even getdays off?
But those were questions for another time.“We’re still watching what she eats,” Lucas said as he led the wayup toward the barn, “so no treats.You don’t need them, anyway.Shewants to play.She’s really curious.”He glanced over toward thepriest, his own curiosity disguised by responsibility.“You’re notwearing anything too shiny.That’s good.She’s kind of…Elise saysshe’s a gold digger, always chasing after jewelry.”Was thatappropriate to say in front of a priest?It didn’t seem to havecaused offense.“And she tries to take whatever it is, even if it’sattached to you.She bit Alex, trying to get his ring off.Not tobe mean, just…well, I think she was trying to chew through hisfinger.”
“In the nicest possible way,” the priest saidwith a grin.
“Just an animal doing her animal thing.Can’texpect different.”And then, in case it sounded like he waslecturing the priest, he quickly added, “That’s what Elisesays.”
“Elise is a smart person,” the priestreplied.
They were inside the barn now and Lucas ledthe way to the tall wire cage in the corner.It had a trap doorthat connected to a similar enclosure outside the barn, and bothparts were filled with logs, rocks, and other things to climb on.The little raccoon was nowhere in sight, but as soon as Lucas ranhis fingernails over the wire, there was an answering call fromoutside and a black-and-grey streak charged inside and toward thecage door, chittering excitedly as it came.
“She’s kind of hyper,” Lucas saidapologetically, but the priest was laughing as he bent down to pokehis fingers through the wires of the cage.
“She wants out.Can she come out?”
“Yeah.Absolutely.”Lucas worked the latch onthe cage door then reached up to the second fastener, the onesecurely out of reach of tiny, clever fingers.As soon as the doorwas ajar, the baby raccoon pushed it open far enough to squeakthrough.The priest sank down to sit cross-legged and the animalscampered up into his lap and started investigating.
“She’s not shy,” Lucas said quietly.
“She’s lovely.What’s the problem withher?”
“Her back foot,” Lucas said, and he gentlylifted the squirming animal and twisted her around so the priestcould see the malformation.“It slows her down when she’s climbing.And see how the toes are curled around so the tips of the claws areright against her skin?We can keep them trimmed here, and if shedoes cut herself we can keep the wound clean and uninfected.In thewild, Elise says she probably wouldn’t have a chance.”
“What’s her name?”
“We’re not supposed to name them, not untilwe’re sure they’re going to survive and sure they’re going to bepets.That’s what Elise says.She says when you name something youget attached, and we’ll wear ourselves out if we get attached toevery animal that comes through the gate.”
“I guess that makes sense.”The priest lookeddown at the raccoon, then back up at Lucas with a grin.“So, what’sher name?”
Busted.Lucas grinned back.“Rascal.”Hewiggled his fingers in front of the raccoon’s face and then heldthem still so she could catch them in her tiny hands.
“Rascal,” the priest said quietly.“I likeit.”He let Lucas replace the animal in his lap.“She’s lucky,” hemused as the raccoon inspected the placket of his shirt.“She founda good place.”
