It's a Christmas Thing (The Christmas Tree Ranch #2)(29)

“Uh-huh.”

“Come on, you can help me make them.”

Clara climbed down from the chair and followed Tracy into the kitchen. “Do the kittens have names?” she asked.

“Not yet. Would you like to name them?” Tracy pulled a stool close to the counter and boosted her onto it.

“Can I really name them?” She spread soft butter on the bread slices Tracy had laid out.

“You can name them for now. When they go to new homes, their new owners might want to choose their own names.”

“When do they go to new homes?”

“Not yet. They still need their mother. But in a couple of weeks, when they’re old enough to eat solid food, they’ll be ready to go.”

“That’s so sad. Won’t their mom miss them?” Clara helped Tracy lay the cheese slices on the bread.

“Maybe for a little while,” Tracy said. “But she’ll be all right. Mother cats don’t keep their babies a long time like people do.”

“What’s the mom’s name?” Clara watched Tracy lay the sandwiches on the heated skillet.

“She doesn’t have a name. I just call her Mama Cat.”

“But why doesn’t she have a name?”

“Because I don’t plan to keep her after her babies are gone.”

Clara looked shocked. “But that would be mean, just to put her out.... She’d be so sad. And she might be hungry and cold.”

Tracy was beginning to feel like a monster. Clara was right. She hadn’t wanted a cat, but the sweet calico mother had found a home with her.

“You’ve got to keep her,” Clara said as Tracy turned the sandwiches with a spatula.

“I know.” Tracy sighed as one more chink opened in the armor she’d placed around her heart. “As long as she’s going to be mine, would you like to give her a name, too? A for-keeps name this time.”

Clara grinned and nodded. “Don’t worry, I’ll come up with a good one.”

Tracy cut the sandwiches into triangles, put them on a plate, and poured two glasses of milk. Life was full of surprises. Just like that, because of a little girl’s wisdom, a needy stray cat had become family.

When she’d agreed to help Rush and his daughter, she’d sensed that she was putting her fragile emotions at risk. Now that she’d learned the truth about their tragic relationship, those emotions were threatening to wash through her defenses and sweep her away.

But she couldn’t let that happen. She’d had enough trauma in her life. The last thing she wanted was more.





Chapter 7


After lunch, Tracy spread a blanket on the living room floor and put the kittens on it so Clara could play with them. The mother cat took a break to eat and use the litter box before curling up in a nearby chair to keep an eye on her babies. Murphy slept on, undisturbed by the cats or the little girl’s happy chatter.

At about six weeks, the kittens were old enough to play and explore. They climbed onto Clara’s shoulders, chased a string, nibbled her fingers, and purred in her arms. The little girl was all smiles and giggles.

“Are they boys or girls?” she asked Tracy.

“It’s hard to tell when they’re so little. But I think the little tabby is the only girl. The rest are boys.”

“I’ve got names for them,” Clara said, making a cradle with her skirt and putting the four kittens in it. “The black one is Midnight. The orange one is Ginger. The striped one is Tiger. And this one . . .” She picked up the little white cat and kissed its head. “This one is Snowflake, like my toy cat back at the ranch. They look just the same. But this Snowflake is real. I love them all, but I love him the most.”

“Those names are perfect,” Tracy said. “Have you thought of a good name for their mother?”

“Uh-huh. She has all the cat colors—white and black and orange. So, I think you should call her Rainbow.”

“Rainbow. I like it.” Tracy had been prepared to accept any name, even a silly one. But Clara had made a good choice.

Leaning over the chair, she stroked the calico mother’s soft fur. “How do you like your new name, Rainbow?” she asked.

Clara laughed. “Listen to her. She’s purring. She likes it.”

Rainbow jumped down from the chair, walked over to Clara, and gave an insistent meow.

“I think she’s telling you she wants her babies back,” Tracy said. “Let’s put the kittens in their box for now. We don’t want them to get too tired.”

They carried the kittens back to the laundry room and lowered them gently into the box. Rainbow jumped in after them, and they all settled down for a nap.

“Now what?” Tracy asked. “Would you like to change your clothes and play in the snow, or would you rather stay in and make some cookies?”

Clara yawned. “Could I rest a little bit first?”

“That sounds like a good idea. Would you like to lie down on my bed under a nice warm blanket?”

“Just for a little while.” Clara sounded sleepy. Tracy guided her to the bedroom, helped her onto the bed, and laid a pretty, quilted comforter over her.

“How’s that? Cozy enough for a princess?”

“It’s nice.” Turning onto her side, she noticed Steve’s photo on the nightstand. “Who’s that?” she asked.