Marmie caught their running commentary as the vehicle rolled by: “I know it was here ‘fore the first snow. And I know it was at this end.” “Well, my father was looking for stuff, and he might have just pulled the pile to pieces looking. You know how he is.” “Then try underneath.”
Faber braked suddenly as a trio of orange-striped cats jumped out in the middle of the road just ahead of them.
“My word, do they often commit suicide that way?”
“My fault,” Whit said sheepishly. “Should’a told you to stop at that house on the left. That’s where I’m working and where you should start.”
“But if you’re working there, Whit, I don’t want to intrude …”
“I’m working outside, Marmie,” Whittaker said, opening the door of the vehicle. The cats emerged from under the ancient 4×4, prrrowing to him; two of them propped front paws up on his knees to be petted. The third spoke to him, then turned to wait at the passenger door. “You’re invited inside,” he added. “That’s good, believe me.”
“I’m always agreeable to invitations,” Marmion replied, signaling for Faber to descend, as well. “What a marvelous shade of orange,” she said directly to the cat. When it turned, tail tip idly swaying high above its body, she followed. “Mirandabelle Turvey-West would give her eye teeth for a hair dye that shade, just wouldn’t she!” she murmured under her breath.
The cat shot up the muddy steps. Marmion, eschewing Faber’s out held hand, managed to place her booted feet carefully in the drier spots.
The door opened as they reached the porch and one of the largest, most impressive-looking women Marmion had ever seen, with a complexion to die for and a smile that was the most beautiful thing so far about Kilcoole, stood in the opening.
“Slainte, Whittaker, Miz Algemeine, Colonel Nike, grand morning for a ride, is it not? I’m Clodagh Senungatuk. I’m that pleased to meet you. Come in. I’ve fresh coffee and some decent baking just out of the oven.”
Warmed by the welcome, Marmion held out her hand, to have it briefly but kindly shaken and given back slightly floured. Then Faber was met with the same cordial treatment.
“The new shingles got here first light, Whit” Clodagh said, “but you’ve time for a bite and a sup first.”
“Hey, that’s good,” Whit said with more enthusiasm than Marmion remembered him showing. “I can probably finish the roof today. Maybe I’ll just get started, Clodagh, and grab a bite later.”
With a nod to the other two. he tramped to the edge of the porch and hopped off. A brief explosive exhalation reached the others.
“Leg’s not good enough yet to be jarred by leaping as if he was young again,” Clodagh said, tsking-tsking as she shooed her bemused guests inside.
Marmion’s first shock at the interior dissolved with the scent of spicy warm bread and her instant realization that this small homeand home it definitely waswas actually highly organized and astonishingly neat if you looked past what might be cursorily dismissed as “clutter.” There were, however, more cats inside who, one after the other, strolled over to make personal evaluations of the newcomers.
“Did we pass? Marmion asked as Clodagh gestured her to the rocking chair and motioned Faber to a sturdy bench.
Clodagh delayed answering until she had served her guests coffee and freshly baked hot cinnamon rolls, and placed a pitcher of milk and a huge bowl of sweetener before them. Refilling her own cup, she sat across from Marmion, her elbows on the table, placidly smiling.
“I’ve always had a lot of cats around,” she began.
“All of them orange?” Marmion asked. “Or are they a singularly unique Petaybean breed?”
‘You could definitely say that.”
“I just did. My, these rolls are delicious,” Marmion said, lightly changing topics. “And thank goodness you know how to make proper coffee. Doesn’t she, Faber?”
“Yes, indeed, you do, Miz Senungatuk,” Faber said, smiling in that unexpectedly charming fashion that had disarmed many folk more worldly than Clodagh. Clodagh grinned and winked at him for his accurate pronunciation of her last name. That was another trait Marmion admired in Faber Nike. “Are you able to get regular supplies?”