Page 44 of Stilettos and Outlaws

Glowing red eyes appeared in the darkness.

Shit! “Gotta go, Mom.” Sticking my phone in my front pocket, I got to my feet cradling Miss Kitty against my chest. Just what I needed a hungry coyote. “Shoo! Go away.”

The coyote stared at us and wagged his tail.

Miss Kitty hissed a warning.

“You are not eating Miss Kitty. Go find a nice rabbit.”

The coyote whined and eyed the insulated bag.

“No, you can’t have the fajitas either.” Keeping an eye out for the Feds, I crept through the spooky orchard with the coyote trotting behind me.

Miss Kitty climbed up on my shoulder and hissed at the coyote.

I heaved a sigh. All I wanted to do was spend some time with Dante. I needed to know he was okay. I needed to touch him and the last thing I wanted was another clusterfuck.

The coyote kept following me.

I paused at the tree line and spotted Hank in his cart. I signaled him with my flashlight.

He zoomed over and tossed the coyote a dog bone. “There you go, Edgar.”

Edgar grabbed the bone and ran off.

“You named the coyote?”

Hank shrugged. “It gets pretty boring at night and the bones I give him, keep him from eating people’s pets.”

“True. I really appreciate your help, Hank.”

“I owe you for all the times you’ve saved my ass, but you are aware the kitten has been banned?”

I nodded. “I am. I didn’t realize the little stinker had stowed away.”

“Let’s take the stow away back to your car and you can change.” Hank handed me a bag. “It has a hazmat suit, a stethoscope and a fake ID card.”

Putting the insulated bag on the floorboard, I climbed into the golf cart and tightened my grip on Miss Kitty. “Wow, you got everything I need.”

“The thought of tricking those smug bastards, gives me a hard-on.”

I plastered a smile on my face. “Uh, huh.”

Hank hit the gas, and we flew across the parking lot.

Miss Kitty tunneled under my shirt.

I petted her. “How fast can the cart go?”

“I’ve had it up to 50mph.” He came to an abrupt halt by my car.

“Oh, that’s impressive.” I got out of the cart, unlocked my car door and peeled Miss Kitty off my chest. “You’ve got sharp little claws, sweetie.”

Meow!

I quickly put her in the car and locked the door. “Do not claw up my seats.”

Miss Kitty hissed.