Read The Christmas Cat for Free Online Page B

the ceiling with several platforms as wellas a crow’s nest on top. However, the upholstered furniture must’ve been preferable to the cats because everything was scratched and threadbare. Apparently the cats didn’t understand the rationale of “scratching posts.” Except for Harry. Garrison caught Harry working over the giant post with great vigor as he headed out to get his cat posters printed.
    “Good kitty,” he said as he passed through the living room. Harry turned and peered at Garrison with intelligent green eyes, almost as if he understood. “Take care of things while I’m gone,” he told the cat.
    After getting a bite to eat and some posters printed, Garrison returned to Gram’s neighborhood and began putting them up here and there.
    “What’s this?” a young woman on a bicycle asked him.
    He smiled at her. “Free cats,” he said cheerfully. “You interested?”
    She got off the bicycle and studied the poster. “As a matter of fact, I’ve wanted a cat for years. And I’ve been promising myself to get one ever since I got settled in a real house.”
    “Are you settled in a ‘real’ house now?” he asked in a teasing tone.
    She nodded. “I am.”
    “Well, I have a nice selection of cats to choose from.” He explained about his grandmother and how the felines had been her beloved family.
    “Was your grandma the Cat Lady?” Her brows rose.
    “I suppose some people called her that.” He gave the nail head one last whack then turned back to the girl. With her dark brown ponytail and expressive brown eyes, she was strikingly pretty. “Did you know my grandmother—the, uh, Cat Lady?”
    “No, but I heard she had a lot of cats. Like twenty?”
    “As far as I know, she only had seven—at the most. Although I’ll admit that’s more than enough.”
    “Oh, well . . . you know how rumors go,” she said apologetically. “This is a pretty tight-knit neighborhood. People talk.”
    “Yeah. Anyway, my grandmother passed on last week. It’s up to me to find good homes for her cats.”
    “I’m sorry for your loss.” She looked genuinely sympathetic.
    “Thanks. I realize my grandmother was old and she was probably ready to go . . . but I still miss her.”
    “Well, if these cats are as nice as you say, I might be interested in giving one a home,” she proclaimed. “But I’d like to meet the cats first.”
    “No problem.” He frowned and pointed to a bullet on the sign. “But you have to live in this neighborhood.” He made an uncomfortable smile. “My grandma has a whole list of requirements for potential adoptive homes.”
    “Well, that’s no problem. I live just a few blocks from here.”
    “Perfect.”
    She stuck out her hand. “I’m Cara Wilson,” she told him.
    “Garrison Brown,” he said as he clasped her warm hand. “Pleased to meet you.”
    “So is this a good time to see your cats?” she asked hopefully.
    “Absolutely,” he said eagerly.
    “Great. I’m taking my break. Not that I’m really locked into a schedule. You see, I mostly work from home. Except for once a week when I have to go in for planning meetings.”
    “Well, there’s no time like the present.” He grimaced to remember the condition of the house. “Although I should warn you my grandmother’s place is, well, a little catty . . . if you know what I mean.”
    She chuckled as she tucked a long strand of shiny chestnut hair behind one ear. “That’s okay. I had a great-aunt who used to keep cats. I totally understand.”
    After Garrison told her the address, she said she’d drop her bike at home and drive her car over. “Just in case I get to bring the cat back home with me.”
    As he hurried back to Gram’s, he felt greatly encouraged on two levels. First of all, he might’ve just found a home for another cat. That took the cat population down to four! But secondly, and probably even more significant, this girl had really caught his eye. Not only was Cara very pretty, in a