Mist on the Meadow Read Online Free Page B

interested in her money.”
    “Bullshit.”
    On the off-chance his uncle could expedite
things, Wolf asked, “Do you know where I can find a Kundigerin ?”
    Uncle Pete backed away as the blood drained
from his face.

Chapter 4
    “A cat?” Marissa’s mother said quietly to
Uncle Balt. “Are you sure that’s such a good idea?”
    “Look at the two of them together,” he
replied.
    Her mother chuckled. “There’s no denying the
cat has certainly taken to her. She can’t even seem to put it down
without it climbing back up to her shoulders. Has he been fixed?
You might have it declawed.”
    “That would be inhuman,” Marissa said. “How
would you like someone to cut your fingers off at the knuckles?”
She scratched behind Hex’s ears. “And yes, he’s been fixed.”
    Her mother shook her head and turned away.
Marissa began to hum to the cat, which lay draped across the back
of her neck while she washed the supper dishes. Her mother and
Uncle Balt sang along. “ Du, du, liegst
mir am Herzen. ”
    Her mother grabbed a dish towel and handed it
to Marissa. “Wait. Did you say you got this cat from Mrs.
Harper?”
    “Her grandson. You know she died, right?”
Marissa asked.
    “Gerda Harper?” her mother asked Uncle
Balt.
    “Yes,” he answered with a sly smile.
    “She raised show cats.” Marissa’s mother
scratched the top of the cat’s head. “But this can’t be one of
them. This cat has straight ears.”
    Marissa pulled the cat off her shoulders and
nestled him across her arm. “What do you mean?”
    “Mrs. Harper bred Scottish Folds. Their ears
fold over, but not always, if I remember correctly. He gave it to you?”
    Marissa’s heart skipped a beat. Surely Wolf
Harper would know the value of such an animal. “Maybe this isn’t
one of them.” But he’d mentioned the cat’s lineage. The breath went
out of her. “I thought it was your run of the mill domestic cat. I
can’t accept a pure bred cat and not pay for it.”
    Uncle Balt reached up to stroke the cat. “He
needed a good home. He’s found one.”
    “But if he’s valuable—”
    “Would you feel more comfortable speaking to
Mr. Harper again?” Uncle Balt’s eyes twinkled in that way they did
when he knew something she didn’t.
    Marissa narrowed her eyes. “You spoke to him
at the café. You’re the one who arranged all this. Did you pay for
this cat?”
    Uncle Balt shook his head. “You cannot put a
price on a cat such as this.”
    Marissa held the cat in front of her face. “I
don’t think I can keep you, Hex.”
    “Call this Mr. Harper tomorrow,” her mother
suggested. “I’m sure you can work something out.”
    “I don’t have his phone number,” Marissa
replied.
    Uncle Balt held up a finger and pulled the
directions to Harper Manor from his pocket. “But I do.”
    Marissa set the cat on the floor and walked
over to the phone. “Then we’ll settle this right now.” She dialed
the number before she had a chance to change her mind. As the phone
rang, she wondered what she should call him. Wolf? Mr. Harper? He
answered, and Hex chirped at her feet.
    “Wolf Harper.”
    Fine. She wouldn’t call him anything. He’d
identified himself. “Mr. Harper,” she rolled her eyes as soon as
she’d said it. Oh well, decision made. “This is Marissa
Maitland.”
    “How’s Hex? Is he okay?”
    Marissa couldn’t bear to look at Hex, worried
she couldn’t give him back. “He’s fine, but Hex is the reason I’m
calling. My mother was telling me that your grandmother was a
breeder, and I thought I should have paid you for Hex. Is he one of
her show cats?”
    “He is a Scottish Fold, but he’s pet quality.
Did you want his papers?”
    “What does that mean, ‘pet quality’?”
    “It means he has a pedigree, he’s cute and
he’s cuddly, but he isn’t worth anything as a show cat, or even as
a stud. I did tell you he’s been neutered?”
    “But he’s still worth something to people who
are interested in