“Good kitty.Drink up.”While he spoke, Knox cupped his hands in the water and tried to rinse the worst of the filth out of the cat’s matted fur, while at the same time hopefully cooling it down.He wasn’t making much progress, so he peeled off his shirt, dunked it in the creek, and used it like a sponge.
The cat wasn’t going anywhere.It could barely stand on its own, but to his surprise, it appeared to appreciate the attention.No way was this a feral cat, which meant someone had done this to a pet.
Animal cruelty of any kind sickened him, but this was the worst instance he’d witnessed.
Laylee knelt down beside him.Very softly, she said, “Maybelline is secure and content to watch now that the cat is safe.Tank is being incredibly well behaved.”
He heard the tears in her voice but didn’t comment.Instead, he said, “Honey, I can see right through your clothes.”He kept his gaze on the cat as he explained.“The water … I guess it made the material mostly transparent.At least the white parts.”He felt like an ass mentioning it, but it was definitely a problem.
She looked at herself, huffed, and said, “You’ve seen me before.”
“Not in a park, and not when we have to walk back to my truck—where there are other people who havenotseen you.”He’d just as soon keep it that way.
“I’ll worry about that later.”She heaved a sigh.“The cat is responding.”
Knox glanced at her, but she was watching the animal.“Yeah, it is.”
“What can I do?”
He knew she wasn’t talking about her transparent clothes.“You’ve done it.”And damn, he was proud of her.“At first, I didn’t know if the cat would make it, but I honestly think it’s going to be okay.”
“How long do you think it was in that bag?”
Shaking his head, Knox said, “No idea, but it couldn’t have been all day.”With their recent heat wave, the cat wouldn’t be alive now if it had been in the plastic bag much longer.
“I saw Paul on the way here.If I hadn’t stopped to talk to him …”
“Don’t do that.You got here, you saved the cat, and we’re going to figure this out.”
For the first time since he’d arrived, the panic left her tone.“Like we figured out my pregnancy test?”
He gave a firm nod.“Together.”
In the quietest of whispers, she said, “I’m so glad you’re here, Knox.I was scared to death, and then I saw you and I knew it’d be okay.”
“It’s not the day I had planned, but I’m with you, so I’m glad, too.”He’d rather go from one chaotic adventure to another with Laylee than have a perfectly peaceful day without her.
He drew his phone from his pocket, swiped the screen to open it, and pulled up Marcus’s number before handing the phone to her.“Do me a favor and give him a call.Let him know what we found.Could be whoever put the cat there is still around.Doubtful,” he said when he saw her stiffen in alarm.“But we should report it anyway.”
Laylee nodded and put in the call.
Knox only half listened to her conversation with Marcus.To his amazement, the cat started to groom itself.The poor thing was weak, but the wild fear had faded from its eyes.
“Such a brave kitty,” he said as he gently stroked one finger over its head.
“Okay, just a sec.”Laylee lowered the phone.“Marcus said he can get us an emergency appointment with the same vet he uses, but it might be expensive.”
“Tell him to go for it.”
After she relayed the message, she said to Knox, “He’s on his way here to look around.He wants pictures of the bag, where I found the cat, and whatever other evidence we might have.Then he said ‘one of the guys’ will meet us at the vet’s office to take Maybelline and Tank while we go in for the appointment.”
She sounded awed, but the offer didn’t surprise Knox at all.Louder, so Marcus would hear, he said, “Thanks, man.Appreciate it.”
After she’d disconnected, Laylee handed the phone to Knox and reached out, oh-so-slowly, to touch the cat’s head.
Amazingly, it pressed up to her hand, stumbled, and turned to fully greet her.
Knox warned, “It’s covered with—”
