Claws for a Cause (A Klepto Cat Mystery Book 15) Read Online Free Page B

on.”
    “Hi, Sis,” Savannah said, embracing Brianna. She then gave Bud a quick hug around the neck.
    “Are you here to learn how to protect your livestock, Cowboy Bud?” Michael asked as Brianna reached out for Lily.
    “Something like that,” he said. “My folks are concerned about the animals on our spread and I think it’s a good idea to learn what our options are.”
    Bud looked at Michael, cocking his head. “You don’t have livestock—well, except for the horse.”
    “Right,” Michael said. “But as you know, we have a lot of clients with livestock. I’ve patched up a few just this week—you went out on a call or two, didn’t you?”
    Bud nodded. “Yeah, one was a gunshot wound.”
    “What?” Savannah and Michael said in unison.
    “Yeah, the rancher went after something he saw in the dark and ended up shooting his own steer. It was superficial, but hey, we can’t have that sort of nonsense going on.”
    Before Michael could comment, a middle-aged woman with short-cropped hair took the stage. As the woman urged everyone to find a seat, Savannah glanced around the room. She made eye contact with her aunt and her husband and waved. She poked Michael, saying, “There are the Gilberts and the Petersons.”
    Michael nodded at a couple of people he knew.
    Soon all the seats were taken and several people stood along the walls. The audience seemed to be listening carefully to the speakers and watching the film intently—each with his or her thoughts on what was being presented. But not everyone was assimilating the information in the same way. Before the last speaker could be introduced, a man shouted out from the back of the room, “Yeah, but you can’t guarantee me the wolves will leave my sheep be. My only guarantee is a bullet!”
    Another man bellowed, “I agree. I have the right as a property owner to protect my livestock from any and all predators, whether you slap a protected label on ‘em or not!”
    Savannah leaned toward Michael. “Hey, isn’t that Jack Parsons from the place just north of us?”
    He nodded, saying under his breath, “Showing his ignorance.”
    The commentator attempted to quiet the rumble in the crowd when a burly man sitting near the front hollered, “That’s right! And you ain’t showed me nothin’ here that’ll change my mind, neither! If them wolves or any other animal threatens my livelihood, I’ll handle it like I always have—with a bullet!”
    At that, several people rose and headed for the door, while the majority remained in their seats, stunned at the outbursts.
    Once the rabble-rousers had left and the room became quiet again, the speaker addressed the group. “Thank you for remaining seated. We have one additional presenter we’d like to welcome. It’s unfortunate that we scheduled him last. With the others gone, I believe he’ll be speaking to the choir,” she said, chuckling a little. “Please welcome John Berry. He’d like to share with you a few success stories from our files, showing what can happen when we use more eco-friendly tactics to protect our livestock from wild predators.”
    The meeting ended at three forty-five and everyone slowly moved out through the double doors and toward their cars.
    “What did you think?” Savannah asked Bud. “Will your parents be willing to use some of the tactics they talked about here today?”
    “I’m pretty sure they will. In fact, we already do, but that was a good refresher course. What they shared today will help Dr. Mike and me better inform our clients, too.” He looked despondent. “But how are we going to educate those with closed minds?”
    “Good question,” Michael said, shaking his head. “I mean, we’re talking about what—one family of wolves in the whole state? What are the chances they’d even come anywhere near civilization? What we’ve got going on here is a near panic situation based on insane rumors.”
    “Auntie, Auntie,” Lily chirped.
    “Hi, sweet pea,”