Read Online Identity by Nat Burns - Free Book Online

clean bottoms and eyes.”
    Liza tucked the lovable Caspurr into her left elbow and used the other hand to scoop fresh food into the cat’s dish.
    A small series of pained exclamations startled her, and she whirled to see that one of the kittens had decided to practice mountain climbing on Shay’s shoulder and scalp.
    “Ow! That hurts, you little monster.” Shay struggled to remove the mountain climber while simultaneously closing the cage so his three kitty siblings wouldn’t escape. The red tabby settled on Shay’s head like a Sunday-go-to-meeting hat, his brown and yellow striped tail dangling between Shay’s eyes. The kitten’s back legs scrambled for purchase on either side of Shay’s head, disarranging her long hair and shoving it into her face. Shay’s hand stayed its upward ascent, and she stood still as if disbelieving her predicament.
    Liza’s laugh bubbled up from deep within and although she fought to squelch it, it escaped nevertheless.
    Shay turned her cat-adorned head and looked at Liza, eliciting further laughter. Her face morphed back and forth between anger, embarrassment and laughter. Luckily, laughter won out this time, and she reached up to carefully remove the kitten and place him back into the cage.
    “I’m gonna call you Brown Sugar,” she crooned to the cat. “Cause you’re just so sweet.” Her voice dripped sarcastic saccharine. She pushed the disheveled hair back behind her ears and dabbed her fingers at her head searching for blood.
    “The Claw is more like it,” Liza offered, returning Caspurr to her freshened kennel and hurrying to help Shay handle the fast-moving bundles of fur.
    “So,” Liza sighed, watching Shay as they washed their hands later at the utility sink. “Are you ready for the dogs?”
    “Bring them on,” Shay said, laughing. “Let’s hope they don’t have spiny little needle claws.” She squeezed the soap and it slipped from her hands and flew high. Liza leaned and caught it before it hit the floor.
    Liza grinned as Shay blushed. She would never forget the sight of Shay wearing the kitten hat. “As accident prone as you seem to be, you should be glad we’re not working with any that bite.”

CHAPTER TWELVE
     
     
    By the time the two made their way outside with the dogs, the sun had mercifully moved lower in the sky. A cool breeze had found its way into the Gulf as well and had come inland. It teased at the sweat on Liza’s brow, and she pulled at the front of her T-shirt, tenting it as if to invite the wind inside.
    “It sure is a beautiful day,” Shay commented as they entered the fenced-in dog paddock.
    Liza breathed deeply, “It is that.”
    Although the two dozen or so dogs had been clustered around Carol at the far end, they quickly abandoned her and bounded over to Liza and Shay as soon as the gate slapped shut.
    Shay, the smaller of the two, almost lost her footing in the ensuing melee, but Liza steadied her as she reprimanded the animals. Shay took the onslaught in stride, however, and was soon on her knees with an arm slung around two of the dogs while others licked every inch of her face.
    “Well, it’s a cinch she likes dogs,” Carol commented as she approached.
    Hearing her, Shay stood and extended her hand even as the wagging tails of her new friends pummeled her sideways.
    “Hi, I’m Shay Raynor,” she said introducing herself to Carol before Liza had a chance.
    “Carol. It’s nice to meet you, Shay. Thank you for coming out to help with the dogs.”
    “I’ve always loved dogs. My mom handled Corgis so I never needed an alarm clock when I was growing up. I usually had a dog licking me awake.”
    Carol laughed as she fondled an Irish setter’s ears. “Story of my life. We always have a houseful. How many do you have now?”
    Liza, her senses strangely attuned to Shay, picked up the subtle pause before answered. “None. Too much moving around, I guess.”
    “Well, when you get settled, we have lots to choose from, as