Chapter 28 Two of Pentacles reversed

Two of Pentacles reversed, Eight of Wands reversed, 4 of swords

Time passed without meaning for Cassie and Miss Priss, only marked by the changing seasons. She lost her appetite for everything, spending more and more time working and escaping into the words of the worlds she read aloud. Her love of books came through in her tone as she voiced them as apathy settled over the rest of her life. The only thing she looked forward to was when Erin and Nick came on the weekends for brunch, and once a month when Tim would bring her grocery order and they would talk over lunch while his granddaughter played or napped. Tim was supposed to come tomorrow with her order and she was making Hjalm's favorites for him. He loved food as much as she did, and Cassie hoped the weather wouldn't keep him away. She was lonely.

Cassie felt weak when she saved the last recording of her current project and realized she had been working for almost nine hours with only one break to go to the bathroom and refill her large, lemon-water water bottle. She needed to eat before she started editing the recordings. Going into the kitchen, she started the coffee pot. She didn't like to drink coffee when she was recording because the caffeine changed her voice.

"Miss Priss, would you like an omelet?" The cat didn't come. "Priss. Kitty, kitty. Priss?" Guiltily, Cassie poured water into the empty cat fountain. "I filled your water, Priss... Come, Miss Priss?"

She couldn't find her cat inside the cottage or in either sunroom. She went out to the garage, opening the door and turning on the light. She worried for Audie; he had gotten very fat after his favorite cow died, so she made him go for walks with her. She bought him from the Ranch when Tim told her he would have to be retired because she feared retired meant turned into hamburger.

"Miss Priss?" Her cat wasn't in the garage. She rarely came there after Niko left to live in the wild. Cassie began searching the valley shouting for her cat. The bull was in the meadow.

"Audie, have you seen Priss?" Cassie didn't think it was odd at all to talk to the almost two-thousand-pound bull like a person. She talked to her animals far more than all the humans she knew put together. He snorted as she rubbed his cheek then looked toward the path to the seep and her stone bench.

"Okay, thanks. She probably fell asleep again. She's going deaf, you know." Cassie continued to scrub with her nails around the base of his horns. The bull lowed his appreciation in a deep tone. "You're welcome, spoiled boy."

Laughing, she wandered toward the seeping spring, humming happily. Her voice was too tired to sing. Miss Priss lay asleep by the little pool under the seep.

Cassie petted her gently to wake her. "Come on, Miss Priss. Time for lunch, you lazy old lady." The cat was unresponsive. Shaking her slightly, Cassie began to panic, "Priss, wake up."

Miss Priss inhaled deeply but didn't move. Cassie picked her up, clutching her to her chest as she ran down the path.

"Ohgawd, hang on, Priss."

After she carried the cat back to the house, she called the clinic, interrupting the receptionist, "Erin? I need to talk to Dr. Erin King!"

"One moment. please." The hold music seemed to last for hours.

"Hello? This is Dr. King." Her brother's voice was the only thing keeping her from sobbing hysterically.

"Come home now. Something is wrong with Priss." She panted out in desperation. "She won't wake up."

"I'm coming to get her. Meet me out front."

She hung up and picked up Miss Priss as gently as she could, then hurried out. She ran to the gate. A few minutes later, she climbed into Nick's truck, clutching the limp cat to her chest.

"What are you doing?" Erin asked in surprise.

"I'm going with her," Cassie insisted.

"Cassie, you can't there are..."

"I'm going with her!" Cassie shouted.

Erin inhaled and exhaled. "Okay." Texting Nick, before he turned around and drove back to the clinic. Nick waved them to come in the side door and ushered them into a room. Cassie tried her best to ignore the voices from the other rooms. Nick stepped out as Erin began to examine Miss Priss. He put oxygen on the cat and left. A minute later, Erin came back in and took the cat's blood with a syringe then put a drop on a testing strip and in a machine.

He scowled at the number then asked Cassie, "What did you make for breakfast this morning and how much did Priss eat?"

"I... uhm, nothing. I was busy but there is always kitty kibble out. She was out of water. I found her by the little pond under the seeping waterfall." Cassie worriedly ran her hand over the cat's side. "What's wrong with her?"

"She is developing diabetes. She has lost a lot of weight but her blood sugar is very high. I need to run some blood test but at her age... If you want, I can make certain she doesn't suffer," Erin offered gently.

She stared at him in horror. "You mean kill her."

"No," he objected to her accusative tone, then admitted, "Well, yes, but she wouldn't suffer."

"No." Cassie snapped adamantly. "Fix her."

"Sis, she's not a machine. She's a twenty-two-year-old cat," Erin reminded. "This isn't something that can be fixed. She will have to go on a special diet and have insulin shots every day and her blood sugar measured regularly which means pricking her paw and squeezing out a drop of blood. She will begin to hate you for hurting her every day. Do you want that? Do you want her to be hurt every day for the last two years of her life? Because that is the median survival rate."

"I can't lose her yet," Cassie insisted, she sobbed once harshly, then begged, "Please Erin, please. You have to save her."

In resignation, he nodded and looked at the cat sadly before leaving and coming back with a very thin syringe. Gently, he gave the cat the shot in its abdomen. In a few minutes, Miss Priss mewed pathetically into the mask as she revived. Cassie cried in relief.

"I'll get Doc McConnell, he can explain to you everything you need to do," Erin announced and started to leave.

"Why don't you explain it to me?" Cassie demanded, suddenly afraid of being in the room alone with the elderly veterinarian that she hadn't seen without Fern. She missed Fern, and her visits with them.

"Because I think it's cruel. Animals don't understand the way people do; you can't explain to her why you are stabbing her with a needle every day." He held up his hand, forestalling her retort. "Don't. I love Miss Priss too. She's my hero because she saved you from that maniac, but I don't agree with this line of treatment." He closed the door.

Cassie leaned over the examination table and held Miss Priss as the cat purred. "I'm sorry, Priss, I can't let you go. I don't want to be alone." She was still bent over the cat when Doc McConnell came in.

Nick drove her back to her cottage with medications, syringes, and a very expensive bag of kitty kibble.

"Nick, do you think I am cruel to put Miss Priss on insulin?"

The blond cowboy veterinarian sighed. "I don't know. Miss Priss doesn't seem like she is suffering now, but eventually, she will. Diabetes causes a lot of health problems for cats. She'll drink more and want to overeat while she is on insulin. You need pay closer attention to her and to prepare yourself that her end is coming."

"Is Erin mad at me?"

"Darlin', he doesn't want her to suffer or for you to watch it." Nick got out and came around to open the door for her because she was holding Priss.

"I can't lose her; I'll be all alone." Cassie whimpered as large tears fell on her cat's fur.

"You're not alone, Cassandra. You never will be again," promising, Nick helped her out then he carried the rest of the stuff inside. "You need to make her eat something then let her rest."

As she watched him go, she wept. Miss Priss settled herself in the window in her perch and went to sleep. Cassie sat beside her petting her then got up to make omelets. She thought about everything Doc McConnell said as she cooked. She needed to pay more attention to Priss and work around the cat's medical needs. Her workaholism needed to end or she would lose the best companion and friend she ever had.

~~~~

Tim carried in her groceries as Cassie held Sheridan. The child played with the beads on the beautiful scarf he brought back from the Olympics for her.

"I'm glad you like it." He grinned at her and for a moment she thought she would swoon like the women in the clean romances she was voicing.

"I do and so does Sheridan. Thank you again. Do you need help?"

"No, I think that's everything." He inhaled appreciatively as he took Sheridan from her then asked, "What's for lunch?"

"Fried, pickled fish called stegte sild, and fish cakes called fiskefrikadeller, with carrots and cabbage. They are favorite foods in Denmark," she revealed, then asked, "Has the bakery reopened?"

"Not yet, they are having a wedding for Milli and Mack then they will be open again. The new building looks like a smaller replica of the old one," Tim revealed as she quickly put the groceries away while he talked about the new building and that the baker, and her husband had honeymooned someplace she had never heard of.

"I am so glad everyone recovered." Cassie sincerely meant it, but it broke her heart that the building from the 1880s had been destroyed. Her late grandmother Adeline loved the old place so much. "Let's eat... Is your cousin sad that she married someone else?"

Tim kept her up on all the local news and gossip. His cousin had become sheriff after the previous sheriff was almost murdered. Lloyd and his deputies brought down a fledgling cartel who also kidnapped Tim's daughter. She was rescued safely. The last criminal of the group bombed a vineyard and the town's bakery with the baker and the sheriff barely escaping. She couldn't believe such things happened in the tiny community.

It made the world seem so terrifying but there were also the wonderful stories. The Olympian diving coach and the billionaire developer who reconciled and got married then went with their diver daughters to the Olympics. Tim's own daughter went as an alternate and he talked about the amazing time they had. The former Sheriff and a retired rescue pilot, whom Tim once loved and then betrayed in high school, were having their first child after a tumultuous romance. A wildfire was escaped by the Sheriff's son and the Coach's daughter by the valiant sacrifice of the girl's late grandfather's old cattle pony. There were many people in the community he mentioned so she didn't feel so isolated because it was like she knew them through him, but mostly, Tim talked about and treated his granddaughter Sheridan like she was the most precious thing in the world. Cassie realized she was falling in love with him, but as with Hjalm, she didn't dare tell him, least she ruin her only friendship so she asked about another person he had mentioned.

"Are you going to the community wedding with Audra?" She asked about the blind goat keeper and cheese maker as she set Sheridan in the highchair by the small, round, breakfast nook table she had in the front sunroom.

"No, Audra can't be in places where pictures might be posted to social media. She's... she's like you. Only officially," Tim revealed quietly as he carried the plates and silverware. He didn't tell her he had a date flying in from Arizona, a VLA astronomer named Lesley Arbuthnot that he and Lloyd rescued from sex traffickers while on vacation with Tiana in Malaysia fourteen months ago.

"Witness protection?" Cassie blurted out when she realized what he meant. Suddenly, she was more worried about Tim spending time with the other woman than jealous. She went back for the food, carrying the fried pickled herring and steamed vegetables to the table.

"Her husband was a US Marshal and died in a home invasion in front of her and her daughter. The killers weren't caught and because of who he was and what she did as a whistleblower against Big Pharma, they put her in witness protection." Tim sighed, following, "She is so worried about her daughter being killed. They've been almost killed several times." He picked up the basket of bread and the one of fried fish cakes and took them to the table.

"How horrible." Cassie felt for the woman she had never met and would probably never meet. "Can't they protect her?" She brought the lemonade pitcher and glasses.

"Dozens have died protecting her. She cost them billions and they are willing to spend anything to kill her." He revealed then shook his head, holding Sheridan's sippy cup for Cassie to fill. "I shouldn't be talking to you about this. Audra says they have killed everyone who knows where she is."

"You can talk to me if you need to, Tim. The only person I would tell is Miss Priss, and she doesn't gossip like she used to." Her response and quirky smile made him chuckle.

He looked her up and down then scowled slightly, "Have you lost weight? You shouldn't be trying to lose weight; you're perfect the way you are."

Cassie swallowed under his appraising look and sat down by her plate. "I'm fine, let's eat."

"Cassandra, what's wrong, darlin'?"

"I just forget to eat. Miss Priss almost died because I spend nine to sixteen hours on voicing books and forget to fill her water or cook meals. I didn't realize she was becoming diabetic or that the kibble was causing her kidney issues because of her age." She put her hands over her face. "I'm such a bad owner. She saved my life and I let her get sick."

Tim watched her then tentatively put a hand on her arm. He had never touched her before except an accidental touch now and then when they were trading holding Sheridan. "She's very old and it's not your fault about that. Now why are you forgetting to eat? It isn't healthy."

"I start voicing a new story and I lose myself reading it." She looked up at him then admitted, "I miss... I miss having friends and going places. I miss not being afraid that he will find me and kill me like he did Shivonne."

"Grandma Fern told me you were getting therapy. Isn't it helping?"

She shook her head, pulling her arm away, and picked up the pieces she had deboned before she fried them for Sheridan. "Here sweetie, try this. And this is called fiskefrikadeller. Can you say that?"

Sheridan stuffed the fried fishcake in her mouth making happy sound as she ate. "Good, fiska... del?"

"Fiskefrikadelle, fis-ke-fri-ka-del." Cassandra sounded out the word in her musical voice.

Tim spooned some vegetables onto his plate, and then put some of the carrots, cauliflower, and cabbage on Sheridan's plate too. He put them on Cassandra's plate last. "Eat, I'll deal with the foodie nomster."

"Nomster, not monster?" Cassie laughed as she asked, to hide that she felt hurt by the criticism of her forgetfulness to eat and his dislike of her losing weight. She thought men liked thinner women.

"She noms everything," Tim revealed with a smile then they all ate in silence.

Finally, she asked, "What else did Grandma Fern tell you?"

"Uhm, that you have PTSD from the night your friend was murdered and think the killer may have killed the detective on the case and is impersonating a woman to try to find you." Tim tried to sound compassionate as he offered, "I want to help you recover if I can."

Cassie shrank down on herself. "Nothing helps. Therapy, medications, hospitalizations, I've done it all. It doesn't help because he's still out there." She glanced at him with tears in her eyes, "I'm not crazy. He's still out there, and he is looking for me so he can add me to his collection."

"He won't find you here," Tim vowed. He didn't think he had ever seen anyone so terrified. "Cassandra, tell me what you need."

Her chin trembled as she almost said, love me like I love you, but instead she spoke the words, "Just be my friend and don't judge me like Erin does."

"Darlin', I would never judge you... I have my fair share of mistakes and suffering, mostly because I was stupid when I was younger." He held out his hand to her hoping she would take it.

She looked at it and just when he was about to pull it back, she took it. His thumb gently rubbed across her knuckles in a comforting manner. "It will alright. You're safe here."

Sheridan leaned forward reaching for more fish cakes, screeching, "I want nom fiska del cake! Nom nom."

Startled, Cassie jumped, clenching her fists in front of her, but Tim laughed, "And that is why we call her the Nomster. I blame her Aunt Willow."

Pressing her hand over her heart Cassie giggled nervously, then corrected the toddler, "It's fiskefrikadelle, fis-ke-fri-ka-del."

She and Sheridan spent several minutes saying the Danish word back and forth. Tim grinned, watching them as he took all the plates except Sheridan's and began washing them. He came back as Cassie was wiping Sheridan's face.

"Do you want to go for a walk after lunch?" Tim asked. Suddenly, he didn't want to leave.

"Walk, yes." Sheridan clapped as her grandfather picked her up, then demanded, "Sing, sing, sing, please."

Cassie patted her cheek. "Yes, I promise to sing for you."

They walked around the meadow, petting Audie where he laid in the sun. The autumn afternoon was warmer than usual. She sat down on the stone bench below the seep to watch the few remaining hummingbirds as Tim stood swaying with Sheridan. Cassie sang softly and it echoed off the stone walls. Soon, Sheridan was asleep on his shoulder.

"You're magical," Tim insisted in a whisper, "She never goes to sleep this quickly."

"Glad I could help. Do you want me to make a recording so you can play it for her at naptime and bedtime?" Cassie offered.

"You are so sweet. I would appreciate it, but honestly, I don't know if it is the music or the food," Tim admitted as they walked back to the house and his SUV.

As he put Sheridan in her carseat, Cassie asked, "Do you miss your classic truck?"

"I still have it. I only got this so I could drive Sheridan around and keep her safe," Tim revealed as he straightened and gently closed the vehicle door. He turned and looked at her, appreciating how beautiful she was inside and out, and how much she cared about him and his life.

"Cassandra, when is your birthday?"

"May Day. Why? When is yours?"

"I missed it. Mine is January 10th." He looked chagrined, then announced, "Next year on our birthdays we should do something fun."

"Really?" She was surprised as her heart swelled hopefully.

"Really. Friends should celebrate each other's birthdays."

"They should," she agreed then she realized how close to him she was standing and backed up a few steps. "So we had Danish this month, what would you and Nomster like to try next month?"

He grinned, "Dealer's choice. You're the cook, you pick the cuisine." He went to his door then tipped his head at her. "How do you know so many different recipes?"

"I have voiced several cookbook audiobooks and the only way to be certain the cookbook is worth doing is to try the recipes," Cassie admitted embarrassed.

"If you liked them, they must be amazing because you are an excellent cook. Send me the names of the books, if I am going to cook for you for your birthday, I need to start practicing now. I don't want you to waste away, you're too pretty for that." Flirting, he grinned at her handsomely. "See you soon, Cassandra."

"Bye, Tim." Blushing, she watched him drive away. She giggled as she went inside. Passing Miss Priss, she patted the cat, "He said I was pretty."

Days turned into weeks and the usual slowing of contract offering came. Since she had completed all the contract recordings she had to the end of the year by the end of the month, she had nothing to do but wait for the holidays to pass. All her time was spent with Miss Priss or wandering around her little canyon or grooming and exercising Audie the bull. More than once a week, she found herself standing at the gate and looking to see if she could see Tim's SUV at the Rocking M Ranch. Nick and Erin brought out her next grocery order. Except for the emails about recipes, she didn't talk to Tim, and it grieved her that she was too anxious to go see him. She decided to get him a Christmas gift, a new cream-colored, fur felt Stetson hat in the size she remembered Grandma Fern telling her. The gift would cost a thousand dollars with shipping, and she hopped he didn't think her too forward. 

Pulling her tarot cards, she got two cards for a celebration and one for a generous woman. So she ordered the hat and a gray cat plushy with a twenty minute sound chip. When Tim and Sheridan came with her before Christmas groceries, she would have gifts and make them a proper English Christmas Feast. For the first time in years, she decorated for the winter holidays.