Baseball and Bad Guys by Bailey Booth

Author:Bailey Booth [Booth, Bailey]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Bailey Booth

Chapter Sixteen

“Will you try to talk to him?” I felt like a horrible pet parent for even asking.

My stomach knotted. Even with my homesickness, I didn’t want to let Lefty down. Or deal with the reporters when they declared Persephone and I to be frauds.

She gave Timmy one more look. This time, his eyes lit up when he saw her. He’d talk, that was, if I could get my little cat to do the same.

“I’ll try.”

“You’ll get all the treats later.” I kissed the top of her head, and started to lower her to the ground, but hesitated. I looked at Liz. “Is it safe to put her down?”

She nodded. “Just make sure she stays on the leash. Everyone’s in an enclosed area, but they’ll be curious about her.”

Persephone scanned the sanctuary once she was out of my arms. Her back was curved, and her tail was as rigid as a crank.

“Do they have skinks here?”

“Wouldn’t be surprised.”

Timmy smooshed himself against the gate that separated us.

“How old are you?” Persephone asked.

Timmy made a sound that sounded like a grunt.

“I’m nine. I can’t be your baby. I’m older than you.”

Timmy looked at Lefty, who had no idea what had just conspired between the two cats, so he gave Timmy’s head another pat.

“I should get back to the stadium.” Lefty shoved his hands back into his pockets. “I’d rather stay here, but…”

“Good luck.” I didn’t envy him.

Timmy’s gaze was glued to Lefty until he was out of sight. The tiger visibly deflated when he walked out the door.

“He’ll be back,” Persephone said. “He likes you a lot.”

It wasn’t the first time I’d heard Persephone comfort another animal. Although, at the shelter, she couldn’t make those kind of promises.

“Does anyone else from the team ever come by?” I was so glad to get Liz to myself.

“We host a charity with the players’ wives’ association every year, but otherwise, not often.” She picked up a bucket and offered Timmy a snack. That got Persephone’s attention. “Lefty’s a huge supporter of the sanctuary. He’s been a regular visitor here since his wife died.”

“Did you have a chance to meet her?”

Liz nodded. “She was pretty sick at that point. She wore a head wrap and she needed a wheelchair. But I could almost forget how frail she was watching the two of them together. They were so in love. He was a wreck when she passed. He’d come here, and he didn’t want to talk to anyone. He’d just watch the animals for hours.”

I’d expected to get more insight into the animals today, but I’d just learned a lot about Lefty. The man didn’t give up, and no matter how much he said it didn’t matter, he was in desperate need of a win.

We took a walk through the sanctuary, and Liz introduced us to the other residents.

“How many animals can you house here?”

“Not enough. We have ten habitats. We’re not a good fit for everyone—they have to be able to thrive in our climate. But

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