Today’s #1lineWed THEME is all about the CATtitude, whether it be a CATastrophe, CAT nap, CAT burglar, CAT got your tongue, or a CAT’s relationship with curiosity, today is CAT Day. In my current Red Dirt Royalty WIP, Cooper goes eye to eye with a cat who will be named Lucifer because…reasons. 😆 This is from the 2nd chapter, during a Cat 4/5 hurrican in Beaumont, Texas.
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A brutal 18 hours later, Coop and Gil were headed back to the rescue command post set up for this part of town. Exhausted, hungry, and desperately craving dry clothes, he was lost in his thoughts.
“Hello?”
Was that a voice? He cut the engine and let the boat drift.
“Somebody out d’ere?” Gil called.
“Help! Over here.” A husky—and vaguely familiar—female voice that held only a hint of panic called out.
As the boat drifted toward the sound, Coop saw a light waving frantically. “We be comin’, cher!” the toolpusher yelled.
Coop started the engine but didn’t gun the throttle. In the dark, they couldn’t see what lay hidden beneath the murky water. He steeree propeller and discovered an extended cab pickup with only six inches of window and roof showd gingerly around a corner hoping there wasn’t a submerged street sign that would take out Thing above the rising water. Three women, four children, two dogs, and a drenched cat huddled on top.
The woman with the flashlight, and familiar shape, shouted instructions. “My truck is in the middle of the street. To my right, there’s a compact car submerged. My left should have a space clear enough to bring your boat alongside.”
All traces of panic fled as she took charge. Coop pressed his lips together to hide his grin. She wore a yellow slicker with reflective tape and as she turned, he caught the emblem and writing on the back. His storm chaser. Her wet hair was pulled back in a ponytail but long tendrils had worked free to plaster against her cheeks. He recognized the jut of her chin, the rounded cheeks, and the determined set of her shoulders. He liked women with attitude and Britt had it in spades.
Britt handed her flashlight to a boy of about twelve and dropped to one knee to help guide the boat. Willing hands helped the children and dogs into the boat, then the women. Only the cat refused to move. While Gil handed out blankets, Coop considered the situation. He was not a cat guy but this thing was big, black, with glowing yellow eyes and it looked like it could take on a gator. He glared at the cat. It glared back.
“I can leave you for gator bait, or you can get in the boat,” he said, challenging the cat. “Your choice.”
The storm chaser snorted. “You really think talking like that to cat is going to work?”
“You’re more than welcome to reach over and grab the thing, weather girl,” he shot back. “Last chance, cat.” He waited a few seconds then placed his hand on the truck’s roof and pushed off. Before he could react, the cat was climbing his arm like it was a tree, then scurrying down his back to settle in the space beneath his seat at the back of the boat.
“Huh,” Britt said. “I’m impressed.”
So was he, even more than the previous night when she’d fallen asleep in his arms.
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So, do you have any cat shennanigans in your WIP? Do you like cats? Have a favorite cat book? Share!
Silver James 