Hearts in Motion by Edie Ramer

Author:Edie Ramer
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Blue Walrus Books
Published: 2013-06-29T04:00:00+00:00

16

Why are they sleeping in different rooms? Quigley asked.

In the hall, between Mom’s bedroom and the living room, Minnie stretched. It was the time of the night when the moon was the highest and the humans were sleeping.

But as Quigley pointed out, not in the right places. After all, Mom and Holden wanted to sleep together. She and Quigley could smell it. Even Lion, sleeping as soundly as the humans now, had smelled it.

They’re humans, Minnie said. They do things that don’t make sense.

We should jump on top of him. Quigley peered into the living room, where Holden stretched out on the couch, breathing heavily in sleep. Wake him up so he’ll go into Mom’s room.

It’s not that simple with humans. You never know what they might do.

I still think—

The bed in Mom’s room squeaked, then creaked. Sounds of her getting off it.

Minnie sat up, fully alert. Mom was awake. She did that sometimes at night. Then she would sit on the living room chair and take turns petting her and Quigley while she read a book. Sometimes she put the book down and just petted her. It was their time together.

A strangled yelp came from Mom’s bedroom. Minnie and Quigley jumped up. As they dashed toward Mom’s room, the mattress squeaked again; Mom collapsing onto it. Behind them, the couch creaked; Holden getting up.

It didn’t stop Minnie. It was a fact that humans were slower than cats, and she needed to see what was wrong with Mom.

Quigley leaped on top of the bed before her, beating her by a head. But she came up after him and knocked him off. He yowled as he tumbled to the floor. She ignored him and craned her face in front of Mom’s. Mom sat on the side of the bed, one knee up to her chest, holding her hands over her toes and saying bad words under her breath.

Heat streamed from her skin. Minnie liked warmth, but this was too warm for humans. Mom smelled of pain and confusion and something more.

She took another sniff, and she knew.

The mating scent. Even with her hurt toes, Mom wanted to mate.

Minnie put her paw on Mom’s cheek to calm her, to try to take the hurt away, as Quigley pounced on the bed again, and running footsteps pounded on the hall floor.

Is she all right? Quigley asked. Is she?

She ignored him and continued soothing Mom with her soft paw as Holden burst into the room and flicked on the lights.

“Abby!” he called. “What’s wrong?”

As if he didn’t notice her and Quigley, he blundered to the side of the bed and leaned over Mom. Minnie hissed at him to stay back, letting him know she was handling it.

She didn’t want him in Mom’s room. He upset Mom. Men always upset Mom. She was better off without them.

Human females didn’t seem to realize that males were only needed for impregnating them. After that, what good were they?

Not glancing her way, Holden put his hand on Mom’s shoulder, his face close to hers.

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