“We won’t get close.” He led her nearer to the pond.
She heard a low growl, then a splash, and stepped closer to Barry. “You be keeping him away from me.” Her gaze probed the bushes for Prince. She hadn’t seen him all day.
Barry laughed. “Just watch yourself around him, and it’s okay. Stay back though. He’s used to me bringing him something to eat, and he might get aggressive when he finds out I have nothing.”
Off to her right, she heard a soft sound. Was that mewing? “I think I hear a kitten.” She tugged her hand from his and started in that direction. If Barry had thrown another cat to the gator, she was leaving.
Barry called after her, but she continued on her mission. “Here, kitty kitty.” The mewing intensified and led her to the tiny cat. Kneeling, she reached out and touched the kitten which immediately moved closer to her. She picked it up. “It’s pure white.”
“It probably has fleas.” Barry’s voice held distaste.
“I’ll give her a bath.”
“You can’t possibly know its sex.”
“It’s so small, I just know.” She glanced around in the dark. “Are there more? Where are your siblings, your mama?” The cat mewed in her arms, a plaintive sound as if it were answering her.
“You should let it go.”
“I can feel her ribs. Poor little thing. I’m going to get her some milk.”
“Alanna.” Barry’s voice was stern.
Her arms tightened around the kitten. “I’ll keep her out of your way. She can stay in my room. I’ll put her food and litter box in there too. You won’t even know she’s in the house.”
She took off for the house without waiting for him to muster another argument. Whatever it took, she was keeping this kitten. She went up the porch and into the house. At least he wasn’t coming after her.
Jesse’s head turned as she went past the doorway into the parlor. “Is that a kitten?”
He was the only one in the parlor. The others must have gone on to bed. At least she didn’t have to explain the cat’s presence to Patricia. “Yes, she’s starving. I was about to get her some food.”
“She’s cute.” He followed her to the kitchen and went to the refrigerator. “How about some chicken? She’d like that.”
“Cut it into small pieces.” She watched him do as she asked.
What would he do if she stepped closer and ran her fingers through the curls at the nape of his neck the way she used to with Liam? Would she see Liam in his eyes when he turned to look at her? She yanked her thoughts back.
He brought the chicken on a paper plate he found in the cupboard. “Here you go.” He set it on the floor.
The kitten went to the food as soon as he put it down. “I’m saying it’s a girl, but I don’t know for sure.”
“We can find out.” He scooped up the kitten and turned it over. The cat howled in indignation as he probed. “It’s a girl.”
“How do you know?”
He shrugged. “I don’t know. But it’s a girl.” He set the kitten on the floor and she went back to eating the chicken in dainty bites.
Alanna watched the hollow sides heave as the small cat ate. “She was starving. Barry thought she might belong to someone, but I think she’s a stray. Hattie says they come and go.”
Jesse knelt and stroked the cat. “What are you going to name her?”
“I don’t know her personality yet. I’ll have to think about it.” Watching the man with the kitten, something lodged in her throat. She’d seen Liam sit like this with cats.
Her heart was knowing her Liam, but how was that possible? It was all too mystical to figure out.
He rose and his crooked smile came, the smile that was so like Liam’s. Her gaze fastened on his mouth, and she couldn’t look away. The curve of his lips straightened, and he stepped close enough to touch her. His hands came down on her shoulders. He bent his head toward hers.
She watched his lips grow nearer and she wanted to kiss him. Maybe a kiss would tell her the truth. She closed her eyes. “Liam,” she murmured. The sound of his name awoke her from her stupor.
She stepped back. “I’m sorry,” she choked out. “You can’t be Liam.” She scooped up the kitten and the food and ran for her bedroom. Even if Liam’s spirit was there, it wasn’t right.
Twenty-Eight
The kitten insisted on sleeping with Alanna. Every time she put the little rascal down, the cat clawed her way up the blankets to Alanna’s chest. Alanna finally gave up and nestled the tiny white cat close. Sometime near midnight she fell asleep.
It seemed she’d just closed her eyes when a shriek awoke her. She lay in the bed with her heart pounding out of her chest. Was it a dream or something real? Struggling to sit up, she realized the cat was hunched with her ears back. She’d heard something too.
She swung her legs to the floor and went to the window. The wail came again. From outside. She snatched up her robe and went to the door. Barry’s wide shoulders loomed in the hallway, and she clutched him with cold fingers.