High Plains Hearts by Janet Spaeth Page B

place of honor in the house, over the mantel in the living room.”
    Out of nowhere a yawn overtook her. With great embarrassment she covered her mouth and tried to stop it, but it was too late.
    “It’s almost midnight,” he said. “It’s time for me to go anyway.”
    He ran his hand over Cora’s smooth fur as the cat slept peacefully between them, her stomach distended with the salmon scraps.
    “She’s snoring!” he said softly.
    “She does that when she’s overindulged herself,” Tess said lovingly.
    “Well, here’s to a snoring night for all of us,” he said, standing up. “I don’t know about you, but I’m still stuffed.”
    “Me, too.”
    She handed him his coat. “Thanks for taking me to dinner. I apologize for the conversation getting so serious here at the end.”
    “No need to apologize. I’m just delighted to be getting to know you.”
    He touched her cheek with his fingertips. “Good night, sweet angel. I’ll call you later.” His lips barely brushed the top of her head before he turned and left.
    She couldn’t help herself. She yawned widely and openly.
    It had been a wonderful and strange night. And it was clear to her that she was falling for this man more quickly than she had ever imagined possible.
    Did people fall in love this rapidly? It was one question too many for her overworked brain.
    “Come on, Cora,” she said to the slumbering cat. “Race you to bed.”
    Even stopping to brush her teeth and wash her face, Tess won the race easily. Cora didn’t, in fact, try. Instead Tess padded downstairs in her robe and slippers, picked up the slumbering cat, and carried her upstairs.
    The two ladies slept, their tummies full of gourmet salmon. And both snored softly.

Chapter 6
    S aturday. Tess was usually up and around every day of the week by seven, but this morning Cora had to notify her the day had begun without her breakfast. Some loud meows in her owner’s ear and a few well-placed swats with a thick furry paw, and the situation was well on its way to being remedied.
    Tess was awake—sort of.
    She ambled downstairs in her robe and fuzzy slippers, yawning in the bright sunshine that flooded the dining area as Cora followed her, reminding her of her very important errand.
    She dumped a can of Meow Meals into Cora’s bowl and was met with disdain. Had the cat actually sniffed with haughty contempt over her food?
    “Come on, Cora—you’ve had Meow Meals every morning for three years. Are you all right?” Suddenly filled with concern, she knelt and put her hand on the cat’s brow. Maybe that wasn’t the way to test a cat for a fever. She’d never seen a veterinarian do that, at any rate.
    The cat gave her one long annoyed look and, turning her back to Tess, began to scratch the floor around her dish as she pretended to bury the food.
    “Oh, Cora, this is really too much.” She tried to pick up the cat, but Cora slithered out of her grasp and leaped to the floor with a thump.
    “I can’t figure out—oh, wait a minute—yes, I can.” She remembered the silvery heart filled with salmon scraps from the night before.
    Tess retrieved the package, now considerably smaller, and emptied it onto Cora’s plate. “I can’t believe my weirdo cat has a better memory than I do,” she told Cora, who was now gobbling the fish with relish, her earlier bout with hunger averted.
    She nudged the cat’s side with the tip of her slipper. “Just don’t get used to it. When that’s gone, it’s back to Meow Meals and Cat-Cat Yums for you.”
    She yawned and stretched. Coffee, that’s what she needed. The thought that Jake must have wonderful coffee every morning popped into her mind. He probably had all sorts of exotic varieties at his fingertips, and a grinder, too, she thought as she measured the store-brand coffee from the can. She did appreciate good coffee, freshly ground and brewed, but what she needed right now was immediate coffee.
    A shriek sprang from her lips as she noted