Page 6 of Jack Raider

“Because I don’t want to take care of her anymore,” she said bluntly. “She pees everywhere now. No bladder control. You should just give her a shot and put her out of her misery.”

I gaped at her. “Mable!”

“What?” She waved a hand. “She had a good life.”

Istared.When had Mable gotten so… so…ruthless? Was this what aging did to people?

“If you don’t want to take care of an animal,” I said carefully, “thenwhyare we going to get another one?”

“A kitten isdifferent,” she huffed. “Kittens like to play. They pee in their box like they’resupposedto.” Then she shot me a look. “Eloise, if you found yourself aman, you wouldn’t have to live through other people’s lives. What’s taking you so long? Your grandma is worried you’ll be a spinster.”

I groaned. “Oh, not this again.”

“What about that boy you dated in high school? He was a nice young man.”

“He’smarried, Mable.”

She waved dismissively. “Fine. What about some of Nate’s friends? I was at your sister’s wedding, and those Navy SEALs wereextremelyattractive. If I were twenty-five again, I’d give those young ladies a run for their money.”

I laughed. “Ibetyou would.”

“Seriously,” she continued. “You shouldconsiderit.”

“I don’tneeda man, Mable. I need avacation.”

She snorted. “Same thing.” I shook my head; she wasn’t making any sense.

By the time we got to the shelter, I was already regretting this trip.

“Mable, youknowI hate coming here,” I reminded her as I parked under a tree. It’s depressing. I want to take all of the animals home.”

“I know,” she said. “Because you have so much compassion. You feel things other people don’t.” She patted my arm. “Why don’t you just stay in the car? I’ll run in and grab a kitty real quick.”

I eyed her suspiciously. “Are you sure?”

“Positive.”

I sighed, leaning back in my seat as she hurried inside. She wasn’t in thereten minutesbefore I saw her running back toward the car.

Running.

Ateighty-two.

She was either about to collapse or she was guilty of something.

“That was fast,” I said as she slid into the seat. “Did you already fill out the adoption papers?”

She buckled her seatbelt. “Let’s go. I need to use the bathroom. I don’t like using other people’s bathrooms.”

My eyes narrowed. “Mable… where is the kitten?”

She grinned and opened her oversized purse.

Three kittens stuck their heads out.

“Mable,” I gasped, “you adoptedthreekittens?”

“They’re sisters,” she said innocently. “I didn’t want to separate them.”

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