Free Patricia Fry - Klepto Cat 03 - Sleight of Paw by Patricia Fry

“What is his favorite food, Savannah?”
    “Never mind, Michael. I’ll take care of the food situation. I think we ought to stop for dinner on our way home tomorrow evening. We can go to that chicken place that has kids’ meals. He likes that. He also likes hotdogs on a stick and hamburgers. Oh, he ate two helpings of my Texas hash last time he was here and he loves Jello. I’ll make him lots of Jello.”
    “And mac and cheese,” Michael added as they walked through the door into Adam’s newly renovated bedroom.
    “That’s right,” Savannah agreed. “I still have some of that crunchy cereal he likes and we can make Mickey Mouse pancakes.”
    Michael’s face lit up. “No, remember, he wanted horse pancakes last time.”
    “Oh yeah,” she said with a laugh. Then she frowned as she recalled, “It wasn’t easy making pancakes into a horse shape.”
    Michael laughed. “And after you made them, he didn’t want to eat the horse.” In a more serious tone, he added, “What a neat kid.”
    “He sure is,” Savannah agreed. “You just gotta love him.” She then thought of something else. “Bananas and carrots. Must have carrots.”
    Michael made a face. “Carrots? I don’t remember him liking carrots.”
    “He doesn’t, but he likes to feed them to Peaches.”
    “That’s right.” He looked down to see which of their household pets was asking for attention. “Hi there, Rags,” he said, reaching down and giving the cat a body rub.
    Rags saw Savannah sitting on Adam’s bed, one foot tucked under her, and he jumped up to join her. “So, what toys do we have here for him?” she asked while scratching the cat behind one ear. She grabbed the fur on both sides of his face, looked into his eyes and said, “Besides, you, Mr. Rags?”
    Michael walked over and looked at the books and puzzles stacked neatly on the wall shelf. He pulled out a drawer on a low chest and appeared to be taking inventory of the coloring books, crayons, and marking pens inside. He noticed a plastic box sitting in the middle of a child-size table off to the side, full of colored paper, pencils, plastic shapes, safety scissors, and other craft items. “Where’s his train set?” he asked.
    “You mean your train set.” Savannah chuckled. “I’m convinced you enjoy that more than Adam does. He only plays with it to humor you.”
    Michael looked stunned. “No way.”
    “Yes, way. He’d rather play with that farm set Auntie and Max gave him with all of those horses, cows, stock trucks, and stuff.”
    “Where’s that?”
    “Right up in the closet with the train set and race-car set.” She smiled. “I have a surprise for him this time. I borrowed a child-size saddle from Bonnie. I tried it and it fits Peaches—just barely.”
    “He’ll love that,” Michael said. He then turned abruptly and grabbed at Rags as he ran past him and out the door toward the staircase. “Uh-oh, what’s he got?”
    Savannah was busy wiping the carpet with a tissue and didn’t see her cat make his rapid exit. “What did it look like?” she asked.
    “Um, not sure.” He looked down at the spot on the carpet. “What happened there?”
    “One of the cats urfed up a fur ball.” She stood, deposited the tissue in a waste basket, and said, “I’ll go see what Rags has.”
    Michael walked out of the room behind her and they headed down the stairs. Rags had dropped his treasure at the bottom of the staircase. When he saw the couple moving toward him, however, he grabbed it and took off down the hallway, waking a sleeping Lexie along the way. The dog jumped to her feet and took off after Rags.
    “I think he went into our room,” Michael said. Sure enough, the couple found him sitting in their bathtub staring up at them. Lexie pranced excitedly around the room, looking at the cat and then up at the couple.
    “What is that?” Michael asked, looking down at the item lying in front of Rags.
    Savannah took a closer look. “Oh no. It’s what’s