Feline Fatale

1

A snowdrop peeked out, a little white bloom surrounded by glistening snow. Two inches fell last night. The six-petaled flower was protected by the farmhouse overhang.

Mary Minor Harry Haristeen knelt down to examine its pristine beauty.

Spring. She smiled. Snow or not.

Eventually a palette of color . . . peach, yellow, pink shimmering purple, and subtle lavender . . . would fill the yard, pastures would begin to turn electric green.

Those bulbs she planted will all come up once it s really spring, Tucker, the corgi, informed the Irish Wolfhound, now mostly grown but still a puppy at a year and a few months.

She spent a lot of time digging last fall, the handsome fellow replied. But she can t eat flowers. So much effort.

Pirate, everything doesn t need to be food. She likes color. Fragrance. Humans are like that.

Oh. The big fellow sniffed the tiny bloom while Harry watched.

The summer screened-in porch was closed in winter with wooden siding, and windows to allow light in. The animal door remained in the wooden door to the kitchen. The screen door was removed, replaced by a solid door to the outside. This, too, had an animal door.

A gray cat head pushed out the flap, but nothing else. Pewter, the large gray cat, hated the cold. I am not getting my paws wet.

Who asked you to? Tucker sniffed.

Everything is more fun when I m involved, came the saucy reply.

You are mental. Tucker sounded authoritative, then under her breath whispered to Pirate, Nuts.

Oh, the big youngster again said.

Mrs. Murphy, the pretty tiger cat seated on the old wooden bench alongside one wall, advised Pewter, Don t get her started. She s been in a mood since you snitched her dog biscuit. You don t even like dog biscuits.

Was fun to hear her whine.

Are you talking about me? Tucker asked.

Pewter pulled her head back in, relieved to be away from even a brief time in the cold. Dogs aren t worth talking about.

Deciding

Rita Mae Brown and Sneaky Pie Brown, a tiger cat rescued from the local SPCA, have collaborated on numerous Mrs. Murphy mysteries; they are involved in many local events to raise money for animal shelters. Rita Mae Brown also writes the Sister Jane Arnold Outfoxed series and the Mags Rogers series, and has authored the memoir Animal Magnetism. She and Sneaky Pie live with many other rescued animals.