Free High Plains Hearts by Janet Spaeth Page B

variety of flavors.
    “Fish Medley. Poultry Delight. Beefy Bouquet. Halibut Hearties,” he read. “Whatever happened to tuna, chicken, and beef?”
    “Well, it’s not that easy. Apparently combo meals have come to kitty land. You’ve got choices here of tuna and liver”—she shuddered—“or salmon and chicken on this row, or, ooh, now this sounds good: mackerel and cod with cheesy cheddar bits.”
    “Actually they do sound appealing.” He picked up a foil packet and studied it. “Hey, this one even cleans their teeth. Like dog bones but for cats, I guess. Wouldn’t that be neat, if you could just eat a snack, and you wouldn’t have to get up and brush your teeth because the snack’s already done it for you?”
    “Now there’s something for your cook to work on!” she said.
    “Which do you think Cora would like the best?” He walked a bit farther down the aisle and picked up a diamond-shaped package. “Here are some herbal treats.”
    “Trying to predict what Cora will like is folly. She’s fond of anything expensive. That much I know.”
    “These are $12.59.”
    “That’s expensive, I’ll grant you, but I don’t think herbal anything will fly with the lady, unless it’s catnip, of course. In which case, she’ll fly.”
    He picked up a basket from the end of the row and began throwing packets into it. She tried to intervene, but he continued until he had an assortment that filled half the basket.
    “Now to the toys.”
    They found the section with cat toys. Jake gave each one serious consideration and eventually selected several felt-covered, catnip-stuffed mice, some soft spongy balls covered with fuzzy metallic threads, and a windup mouse that Tess was sure Cora would bat into the wall and destroy within seconds.
    Then he chose an elaborate contraption that allowed the human to dangle a stuffed glittery toy from the end of a flexible stick. But more than that, a system of pulleys and relays changed the height and sway of the toy.
    He didn’t stop there. He added a scratching post, since Cora still had her claws, and a special tray for enjoying her catnip without spreading it all over the house. And, of course, a bag of catnip, guaranteed to make her a very happy kitty cat.
    Tess watched in amazement as the bill was totaled. “All this for Cora?” she asked. “I mean, I love her dearly myself, but this is too much!”
    He flashed her a grin as he signed the credit slip and returned his wallet to his pocket. “I like doing this. One day maybe I’ll have a cat of my own, and chances are I’ll spoil him or her instead. But for now, if it’s all right with you—and Cora—I’ll pamper her. Indulge me. I’m having fun.”
    She shrugged. “Well, okay. But you know she’s going to be awfully mad when all the treats come to an end.”
    “Why would they?” He thanked the salesclerk and picked up the bag.
    As they walked to the parking lot she tried to choose the words that would convey what she meant.
    “Well, someday you’ll, uh, I’ll, uh, we …” Her voice trailed off. The day he wouldn’t be stopping by every day to see her, surprising her in some way or another, was bound to come eventually. Putting it into words was painful, and the syllables caught in her throat like dry shreds of paper.
    He stopped and faced her squarely. “At this moment, Tess Mahoney, I plan to continue seeing you as long as I can. Yes, I’m growing very fond of you, and I do hope, fervently, that this relationship will grow and develop into something permanent. There. Does that explain it to your satisfaction?”
    Tess had the unshakable impression she was standing in the parking lot of the Animal Kingdom, her mouth open as if she were waiting for an out-of-season fly to come along. She tried to shut her mouth, but it wouldn’t cooperate.
    “Is that all right with you?” he asked.
    She tried to speak again, but she could only nod. She knew how she was feeling about him, and she knew how she hoped he