Zane gave the cards back to Claude. “Take your marked cards and peddle them on boys your own age.”
“Hey, mister,” Claude said as he slipped the cards into his pocket, “do you and the lady want to see some kittens? I’ll show you where they are for three pence.” He held out his hand.
Brina stepped closer to him. “A kitten?”
“Two of them.” He held up two fingers. “Soft as the hair on a baby’s face, my mum always says. And the momma cat is friendly.” He continued to hold out his hand.
Zane looked over at Brina. “You want to see them?”
She felt a leap of delight. “I’d love to if you think itwill be all right. I haven’t seen a kitten in—well, a very long time.”
“How do I know you won’t take my coins and run?” Zane asked the lad.
“I give you my word,” Claude said, lifting his chin proudly.
Zane reached into his pocket and pulled out a small coin. “I’m going to give you one. If you really have a kitten you can show the lady, I’ll give you the rest.”
Brina slipped her hand around Zane’s arm and smiled. It felt good to touch him. He laid his hand over hers and gently squeezed. They followed Claude a short distance down a side street before entering an alleyway. At the end of it was a small, rundown shed. The door was missing, and the roof had caved in. Claude scrambled underneath the two steps and out of sight.
All was quiet for a few moments, and then she heard several soft meows and his hand shot out from under the step holding a small gray kitten with the biggest, most beautiful gray eyes Brina had ever seen. Its belly, neck, and paws were white as snow.
Zane reached down and plucked the kitten from the boy’s hand and gave it to Brina.
She took the squirming ball of fur and immediately put it up to her neck so she could feel its softness and warmth. The kitty pawed at her chin and wiggled. Its meow was so faint, she almost hadn’t heard it. She felt such joy just holding the thin, soft-as-a-tuff-of-cotton body close to her.
“Do you want me to bring the other one out?” Claude called from underneath the dilapidated porch.
“Yes, of course,” she answered the lad.
Zane looked at her, and for a moment she could have sworn he saw the love she was feeling for him shining in her eyes.
Chapter 22
Zane shut the ledger and pushed back his chair. “I think that settles it, Uncles.”
“Settles what?” Hector asked from his seat across the massive oak desk.
“Your tutelage. I have now been through every account book, looked over every contract, and been briefed on every tenant. I know where every piece of property is located, the size of it and approximate value, and the type of land it is: grazing, waste, fertile, or inhabited. I will continue to seek your guidance in the future when needed, but for now, I see no reason for you two to make daily visits.”
Uncle Syl shifted in his chair and sniffed. Uncle Hector tapped his cane once on the floor as they looked at each other for a considerable amount of time. Surely they had known this time was coming, but clearly not that it would be today.
Finally, Hector’s chin bobbed. “What about thefamily?” he asked. “Many requests have been made of you that you haven’t addressed.”
“That’s true. I’ve delayed that until my review of everything was finished.” There were so many different family members asking for favors of different magnitudes, he didn’t remember them all. “I admit this is a way the two of you can continue to help me.”
Hector glanced over at Sylvester, and they both smiled, thinking that would signal a reason to maintain their routine.
“Put together a list for me of all the people and requests that have been made so far. In fact, make me a list of all my relatives and what relation they are to me. Are they second or third cousin—niece, aunt, or uncle. You know what I mean. All of them. My mother’s family as well. Once that is done, I’ll set aside a time to meet with you and go over everyone’s requests.”
That wasn’t what they wanted to hear.
Hector’s brows grew closer together by the second. “I’m not sure I know the names of all of them.”
“Neither do I,” Uncle Syl said, looking puzzled by the thought of what Zane suggested. “You know how it is. Cousins, nieces, and nephews get married and have children, which makes you have more cousins, nieces, and nephews. How far down the family tree do you want us to go?”
“As far as you think is necessary. I’ll leave that decision to the two of you. I would also like a recommendation from you as to the merits of their requests.”
Sylvester was the first to give in. He bowed from his lower back toward Zane. “We’ll get it done. Your great-aunt Imogene will probably know everyone in the family. If not, she’ll know who does.”
