Steve`s Country
For a smile as wide as a country sunrise
20/20 Investigations, Inc., Country Estate, Chapter 11.
After Mr. Cat whispered to Muffin both cats ran quickly down to the bedroom where the bodies were kept. They stood at the door and stared. The room was empty. Mr. Cat blinked his eyes in unbelief. Meow.=They were here when I came to look last time. Muffin went in and looked around quickly, then both of them got back to the library before Jessica returned. Meow, meow.=You sure Mr. Cat? Meow.=Positive for sure. Wonder why it take Jessica so long to get back here? Meow, meow.=I getting scared, how about you? Meow.=Yep, me too. Here come Jessica now. I can’t find him anywhere, she said. Meow, meow.=I have idea, in last case there was secret passage in library. Maybe my human found one and went inside but door close on him. Meow?=What is secret passage? Meow, meow.=It small, narrow, dusty hallway they used to build in old houses. Meow?=Why they want small dusty hallway? Meow, meow.=It not dusty when they make it, get dusty afterward. Meow?=Why they not clean it?
Okay you two, enough talking, you’re probably right Muffin, start looking for a doorway while I try to find a way to open it, said Jessica. Meow, meow!=Door here!, they both said at the same time. And I think I found how to open it, said Jessica. Yes, that’s it, she said as the bookcase door opened to them. Meow, meow.=Put on our headlamps. Okay, you each have one and there, you’re all set. And I have my flashlight here too. Okay, get going you two. Off went the cats and the door closed tightly. They turned around. Jessica wasn’t there. They looked at each other. Meow.=Me think this trap. Meow, meow.=Yep, it trap, probably what happened to my human too. You right about Jessica. Meow.=Yep, not Jessica at all, it twin Jessica, Candy. Meow, meow.=We follow passage, maybe lead us to my human. Meow.=We going to be ghosts yet. Meow, meow.=Yep, me think so too. Let’s go anyway.
They followed it a short way, then came to stairs leading down. Meow, meow.=We go down right along side of stairs, in case there trap along way. You first. Meow.=Me first? Okay, sigh. Meow, meow.=Stop sighing, it discouraging. Down they went and followed the passage a short distance to a door. Meow, meow?=How we open that? Have odd latch on door. Meow.=That for me, I good at doors. Up jumped Mr. Cat and the door opened easily for them. They entered the room slowly. It was full of boxes of all sizes and shapes. Meow, meow.=There my human in corner sleeping. They run over to me and Muffin starts slapping my face and Mr. Cat bites my leg. I try to yell but Muffin stuffed her tail in my mouth. Achh. Meow, meow.=You need to wake up, we in danger.
Meow?=How you get here? I was waiting for you to get back and was standing in the hall by the library door watching you go in the room and someone hit me on the head, it still hurts. What did you find out Mr. Cat? He just hung his head down, not a word. I thought that was it, I said slowly. Meow, meow.=Now all bodies in room are gone. What? How can that be? I know they were all dead, that means someone moved them. We have to get out of here fast. Meow.=Best way is way we come in, I think. You’re right Mr. Cat, so let’s get going. I followed the cats upstairs. How did you know to go on the side like that? We in so many passages and stairs always seem to be traps, but only in middle. Hmm, we’ll have to remember that one in future.
Now we have to figure out how to open this door. Meow.=Up high is latch. So there is. I hold Mr. Cat up as high as I can and he is able to stretch just enough to open the latch and the door opens easily with a little push. Jessica is not there which is good. My backpack is still there however, so I check and everything is in order. I take out my gun and get the cats set up with their slingshots. Don’t be afraid to use those slingshots, can you do it Mr. Cat? Meow.=Yep, I protect my Muffin real good. Okay, I have the steel balls ready for you, they’re heavier so you have to pull harder. Muffin has good experience with hers. Meow, meow.=Yep, me ready to protect both of you. Meow.=Me too, ready to go. We leave the library not knowing what to expect.
To be continued.
Steve and Muffin.
©2020 Steve McLeod.
Coffee with Steve, muffin And Friends #4.
Hello everyone and welcome back to another coffee time here at Steve’s Country! We have coffee to suit everyone’s tastes, plus we have tea, and herbal tea. Two of our teas, mint and raspberry leaf are available hot or cold. Plus we have regular iced tea as well, made the Canadian way of course. And it is a rather hot day, so the cold varieties will likely be popular today. I also have lots of just plain old ice cold water. Today we are at a beautiful spot along the river, further downstream than where I go for my walks. The river here is wider, as you can see in the following photos.
This is a nice picnic spot, mostly a place where people launch their boats into the river, but a delightful spot anyway, and not often used by anyone. They are busy mowing the grass but are nearly finished so they won’t interfere with our coffee time. We will most likely want to stay close to the trees for the shade anyway. However, there is lots of open grass area if you would like to lay in the sun and bake for awhile. I did bring some blankets to sit on, and there is some picnic table which we can move closer together for those who would rather not sit on the ground.
We are getting just a nice breeze off the river which actually does cool the area quite a bit since the water is still quite cold this time of the year. Hi Sheree, thanks so much for coming and wow, look at all the goodies you brought with you! Muffin spotted you quickly too I see. Hi Renee, nice to see you here today, and Tiffany too, thanks for both of you for coming. Hi Suni and Dee, you have traveled a long way, but I’m glad you came. Hi Jeanne, and Diane, glad you could both make it today. Hi Sophie, oh look, Muffin ran right over to you as soon as she saw you! Hi Buddy, Richard and Jim, wow, you all arrived at the same time. And here comes Mr and Mrs Holliman too, so nice you all could make it today. Hi Ribana, that was a long flight, I’m so happy you could make it.
Hey, look everyone, a single pelican soaring overhead, and there he goes upriver likely to join his friends at the dam. The pelicans enjoy fishing over there and sitting on the rocks too. And look down there on the river, a couple of double crested cormorants. One is swimming with his wings spread, they do that to help dry their feathers. They are not so waterproof as ducks.
Around here we should be able to find some wildflowers along the edges. Yes indeed, here are some Bicknell’s cranesbills, such a beautiful and delicate, tiny, lavender colored flower. It’s always fun finding them. And over here are some beautiful small wild lily-of-the-valley, a bright white and rather odd looking little flower. Just keep helping yourself everyone, there’s lots to eat and drink, unless Muffin gets to it first. Just joking Muffin! Muffin? AAAAAA, right on my leg! Guess she didn’t like the joke. Thank you once again for coming today everyone, I sure hope you all have enjoyed yourselves. Another nice attraction to this picnic spot, we don’t have to walk to get here, just drive right up to the spot and enjoy it! Just 6 days left. Have a wonderful week everyone and God bless!
Steve and Muffin.
©2020 Steve McLeod.
Steve`s Country 