Page 7 of Pine Creek Lodge
As she sat there, gently petting the kitten and listening to its quiet purrs, she marveled at the unexpected turn the evening had taken. Sofia Holloway, the ice queen who barely spared her a glance most of the time, had melted at the sight of this helpless creature. It was like catching a glimpse of a completely different person - one with a heart capable of tenderness and concern.
The kitten's eyes were more alert now and darted around the room, taking in the new surroundings with a mixture of curiosity and apprehension.
"You're quite the little survivor, aren't you?" Nat said softly, scratching under its chin. It responded with a purr that seemed far too big for its body. "Where did you come from? Where’s your mum?"
Sofia reappeared, her wet hair pulled back in a messy bun and dressed in soft-looking loungewear.
"How is she?" Sofia asked, her eyes immediately going to the kitten in Nat's arms.
"A little better, I think. She's stopped shivering, at least. And she's been purring up a storm."
Sofia nodded, a flicker of relief passing over her face. She moved closer, perching on the edge of the coffee table across from Nat, her eyes never leaving the kitten.
"I can take her to my parents' house tonight," Nat offered, breaking the silence. "She can stay there until we've found the owner."
To her surprise, Sofia shook her head. "No, it's okay. She can stay here." Her brow furrowed. "But she needs food. Do you know anything about caring for kittens?"
Nat shook her head. "Not really. But we can look it up. She took her phone out of her pocket and started scrolling. "Based on her size and the fact that her eyes are open, she's probably around 3-4 weeks old. That's good - it means she's old enough to eat solid food, but we'll need to soften it."
“Good.” Sofia met her eyes. "Do we have any canned tuna?"
Nat nodded. "In the pantry. There should be some in water, not oil."
"Perfect," Sofia said, standing up. "I'll get it. Can you bring her to the kitchen?"
Nat followed Sofia, the kitten still nestled securely in her arms. “Here, you hold her. I know where to find it.”
Sofia took the kitten while Nat opened a can of tuna, drained off the water, and mashed it up.
"Okay," Nat said, turning to the kitten with the bowl in hand. "Let's see if she'll eat."
Sofia set the kitten down on the kitchen island, and Nat placed the bowl in front of it, and they both held their breath, waiting to see what would happen.
For a moment, the kitten just stared at the bowl, its little pink nose twitching as it sniffed the air. Then, hesitantly at first, it took a small step forward. It gave the mashed tuna a cautiouslick, then another, and suddenly it was eating in earnest, its face practically buried in the bowl.
Nat laughed at its enthusiasm. "I guess she was hungry," she said, glancing up at Sofia.
Sofia smiled - a real, genuine smile that transformed her entire face. Her eyes were crinkled at the corners, and there was a softness to her expression. “Thank God,” she said. “That’s a relief. Poor little thing. I wonder how long she'd been out there."
Nat shook her head. "I don't know. But she's safe now, thanks to you."
"Yes, well," Sofia said, her voice regaining its usual coolness, "I couldn't very well leave her out there. She can sleep with me tonight so she’ll feel safe. If you could track down the owners tomorrow, that would be great."
"Of course not," Nat said, knowing that was easier said than done. What did she expect her to do? Go door knocking? The kitten was too young to be chipped, but perhaps the local vet had an idea. "Um, your dinner is ready, by the way. Whenever you're ready to eat."
Sofia glanced toward the dining room as if just remembering that dinner was a thing that existed. "Right. Thank you." She hesitated, looking back at the kitten. "I think I’ll have my dinner upstairs and I’ll take her with me.” She rolled her eyes. "I don’t know why I keep referring to her as a girl, it might be a boy.”
"Well, I get a girl vibe from her too,” Nat admitted. “I’ll bring your dinner upstairs along with some water and food for…” She smiled. "I think she needs a name.”
Sofia nodded, a smile tugging at her lips. "You're right. How about Moxie?"
"Moxie," Nat repeated, testing the name out. "I like it. It suits her."
Chapter Six
Nat pushed open the door of The Copper Kettle, the last café on her long list of commercial establishments. She stomped her boots on the welcome mat, shaking off the snow.
"Hi there," she said, approaching the counter where a young barista was wiping down the espresso machine. "I'm sorry to bother you, but I was wondering if you could help me with something."
