Disclaimer: The characters and places of Hope Island do not belong to me. They are the property of PAX TV, Lions Gate and Paramount. I am just borrowing them with no intention or desire for profit. This is strictly for fun.
Now let us go to that quaint little village by the sea…
Daniel Cooper jerked awake, the bone chilling sound of his dream still echoing in his ears. The young minister shivered as he shook his head, trying to clear the remnants of his dream from his mind. He jumped in surprise as a branch rubbed against his bedroom window. Getting up, he padded silently on bare feet to look outside. The wind was picking up and as he watched, it started to rain. Memories of the last storm flashed through his mind.
He rubbed his arms as he remembered returning home the next day, only to find a tree in his bed! He had felt numb as he stared in shock at the apparition, thinking it shouldn't be real and would go away. Unfortunately, the tree was very real and remained, a solid presence. It had taken quite a bit of work to remove the large tree from his bedroom. If he'd been here... If it hadn't been the rehearsal dinner for Kevin's and Molly's wedding... If everyone hadn't insisted that he remain at the Widow's Walk... If was one of the most powerful words in the English language and watching the new storm, he felt every ounce of that power.
He shivered again as the foghorn filled the silence of the night. He looked up at the dark, stormy night sky whispering a thank you to God. He could have died in bed that night, never knowing what happened until it was too late. He closed his eyes and took a deep breath, trying to slow the too fast beating of his heart. He felt an almost overwhelming need to move and shifted restlessly. Troubled brown eyes blinked open and Daniel watched the rain increase. He couldn't stand here! He couldn't stay still. Hope Island was still recovering from the storm. The church was repaired, his home was once more livable, but ... Water still stood in the remains of Brewster Estates. The ground was saturated with it. There would probably be flooding tonight as well. Kevin would not welcome his presence if he went to town and the police sergeant had to go out. If he could make it safely down the hill...
He had to do something. Abruptly, he turned away from the window. If he couldn't help the islanders physically, there was still a way he could help. He would pray. He quickly changed into jeans and a shirt, pulling on his socks and stomped his boots on his feet. He tugged a sweater over his head, grabbed his yellow slicker and headed for the door. He would pray in the church, carefully not thinking about fleeing his bed and bedroom. Pulling on the rain slick, he stepped outside, just as a clap of thunder rumbled in his ears. The sky flashed and he seemed to feel the storm's power all the way down to the soles of his feet.
He knew it was his imagination, this storm did not have the power of the last. The thunder rolled over him and there was another flash of lightning. As he blinked his eyes to rid them of the afterimage, Daniel realized he'd seen something out of place. The minister wasn't sure what he had seen, but he knew he needed to investigate.
He turned back inside and felt his way to the kitchen drawer holding the flashlight. Finding it, he pulled it out and turned it on. Walking back outside, the beam cut through the gloom. It didn't have the power of the lighthouse's beacon, but it was comforting none the less. Cautiously, Daniel made his way toward the fence at the edge of the hill. The railing was there to prevent anyone from falling down the steep side. He remembered standing there and looking at Hope nestled below and the bay with the boats going in and out of the small harbor. The beautiful sight always filled him with pleasure and peace. Tonight, he would not be able to see so far and it would be far from peaceful.
He stepped carefully, feeling the water splashing away from his feet as he walked. Grateful for the waterproofing of his boots, he turned the beam of light further out, seeking whatever had caught his eye. The light passed over a flash of white and he turned it back, looking closely. He stared puzzled at the small mound of brown, black and white splotches. Blinking his eyes to clear them of rain, he realized he was looking at fur. A dog? No, a cat! He went to his knees, reaching for the still form. There wasn't any response and sadness tugged at his heart as he realized the cat was dead.
Daniel felt the sting of tears burn his eyes, but they remained unshed. He wondered if the large cat had been the source of the noise that had shattered his sleep. Thinking about it, he now recognized the echo he'd heard as he wakened had been real. He placed the flashlight on the ground, the beam pointing toward the pitiful pile of fur. The minister reached out to gather it into his arms, determined that it wouldn't remain out here alone in the face of the elements. He would take it inside. He could bury it in the woods come daylight. As he picked it up, he saw a tiny movement where the cat had lain. He shook his head and blinked. His heart went to his throat and he gently laid the cat aside. A kitten! Automatically, he moved to pick it up. He stared at the tiny, blind, newborn kitten as it lay in the palm of his hand. A kitten! He looked at the dead mother and whispered softly. "I'll take care of your baby. I promise." Knowing that the living was more important, he cupped his other hand over the tiny bit of life. Were there any more? He pulled the hand with the feebly moving kitten close to his body, even as he searched with sharp eyes for any signs of littermates. He picked up the flashlight and gave a thorough search of the immediate area around where the cat had lain. Another tiny spot attracted him. He immediately dropped the flashlight and reached out to find himself holding another little kitten. He held his breath, anxiously wondering if it was still alive. He released it in a gasp as he felt a tiny movement. Carefully, he slipped the two tiny kittens into his coat pocket, praying that he would not suffocate them in the process. He picked up the flashlight and searched again. How many? How many kittens had the mother birthed before her untimely death? A movement of dark on dark and he found himself cupping a third. This one was slipped into his pocket to join its siblings. Any more? Daniel looked up at the dark sky. "It would be nice if I could see better right now, God." The minister turned to his search once more.
As if in answer, lightning bolt flashed after lightning bolt, bringing the dark night to almost daylight clarity. By that the flash of the last bolt, Daniel scooped up a fourth kitten, this one seemed solid black. He waited silently for the next strike. Another flash and nothing. Another and still nothing. If he didn't see any more by the next bolt, Daniel vowed to head inside, very aware of the little lives in his pocket. He gently placed the fourth kitten inside it and waited. Another bolt and he saw something. A touch and he knew this one had not survived. He bowed his head as a tear joined the rain running down his face. Giving himself a shake, he snagged the flashlight and climbed to his feet. Six lives. Two were no more and he could do nothing for them until the day dawned. Four lived for now and needed immediate help. Newborns would need food.
He staggered slightly as the wind strengthened and pushed against him. He wove back and forth like a drunkard as he was pushed about by the storm. He stumbled up the steps to the parish house and his hand snagged the handle of the kitchen's screen door. He pulled it open, almost falling inside as the wind tugged the door out of his hand. The storm was getting worse. He turned and grabbed hold of the screen door, struggling to pull it close against the wind. Finally, getting it in place, he immediately put the small hook in the eyelet to hold it and closed the inside door against the elements.
Daniel turned on the light and grabbed a dishcloth. He immediately began pulling kittens from his pocket. He checked them anxiously as he placed them on the cloth and was happy to find they were all still alive. One moved feebly as he watched, pushing against its sibling. Milk! They needed milk! They also needed to be dry and warm. He almost dithered as he remembered he didn't have any milk left in the refrigerator. Even as he thought about it, he was fetching a large, clean towel and placing it in a pan to warm on the wood stove. Milk? Where was he to get milk or something close enough for the kittens to survive the night? Even as he thought about it, he knew the only thing he could do was to call someone in the township of Hope. But who? He gently rubbed each kitten dry and wrapped it in the folds of the warmed towel. Tenderly, he brushed one finger over a tiny head. He examined his newfound charges carefully. The last one he had found was black and was female. Two of the others were mottled brown, black and white like their mother, one male, one female. The other was a male that was mostly brown with black markings. Every one of them seemed to have ringed tails, the black one seeming to have black on black like a black leopard would have spots.
Trying to see outside, Daniel reached for the phone on the wall and sighed as he realized the phone lines were out again. He would have to walk down. How was he to get them all safely down the hill? It would be dark and slippery and the wind would want to blow him every which way. He would need both hands free. Thinking, Daniel went to look in his drawers. He examined his sweats, looking for one ... There! The oversized gray sweatshirt had kangaroo pockets for warming the wearer's hands. It would be perfect to hold the four little kittens safely - He hoped. He went and placed it in the pan to warm on the stove, being careful to position it so the pocket would absorb the most heat. As the man waited, he tried to think, a stray memory niggling at the back of his mind. He smiled as he remembered the last baby left in his charge and wondered if he was going to be as inept with the kittens as he was with Moses. It had taken time to learn how to tend his young charge, but learn he had. By the time, Baby Moses was returned to his family, he'd become very adept at changing diapers and fixing baby bottles, at burping and... Baby bottles! Memories of a container of baby formula filled his mind and he began yanking open the doors of the kitchen cabinets. Hastily searching, he left his kitchen in disarray as he pulled out items searching for the baby formula. He had no idea if it was still good, but surely it would be better than waiting for him to reach town and it would be better for all of them if he didn't try to make it down the hill in the dark of night with the storm strengthening. A surge of triumph went through him as he found his prize. He tried to find the expiration date, but the lights chose that moment to join the phone. The kitchen was plunged into darkness.
"Thanks a lot, God. You could have better timing." Or... "Are you trying to tell me something?" Daniel glanced outside. He fumbled around until his hand closed over the flashlight. He flicked it on and noticed the light was dimming. Time for the hurricane lamp. He placed the precious box of formula on the table and got the lamp, already primed and ready, out of the pantry. He grabbed a match from the container on the wall beside the wood stove. Raising the glass dome, he struck the match and lit the wick. He breathed a sigh of relief as the flame grew and adjusted the wick just the way Ruby had shown him. He looked at where his new charges lay and spoke out loud. "Okay, let's see what we can do about feeding time." He grabbed a saucepan, expertly mixing water and formula, placing it on the wood stove to warm, replacing the pan with the sweatshirt with the saucepan of formula. He was very grateful for that wood stove. Almost anything else would be useless to him right now. Bottle? Well, no he didn't have any bottles and if he had, he was afraid the would be too large for the tiny newborns. He needed something smaller. A vague memory of a story book he'd read as a child about feeding a puppy with the finger of a glove for a nipple stirred in his mind, but he had a suspicion that wouldn't work either. He needed something... smaller. A little baby doll bottle might work, but he didn't have any. A medicine dropper? Did he have a medicine dropper? He grabbed the flashlight and went to search, hoping the batteries would last long enough. He made a mental note to get more batteries. He searched the medicine chest in the bathroom, finding an empty bottle of something. He couldn't read the label anymore, but it did have the medicine dropper he had been searching for. The flashlight gave up just then and he had to feel his way out of the bathroom, toward the flickering light in the kitchen. Adding bulbs for the flashlight to his mental list, then another flashlight, Daniel removed the dropper from the bottle. He needed to sterilize it without boiling over the formula. How? With a shrug he grabbed another pan, filling it with water. He put the dropper into the water and saying a prayer that he wasn't doing anything too foolish, shoved the pan, water, dropper and all, inside the wood stove.
Feeding the kittens was an exercise quite unlike any other he'd ever experienced. Not even taking care of Moses had prepared him for this. As much formula, if not more, ended up on him as in the kittens. By the time he was done, he had four sleeping charges and his clothes were covered in an interesting pattern of drying baby formula. At least, the formula hadn't seemed to make the kittens sick and they actually appeared to be a little stronger. He stretched out on the couch, the hurricane lantern nearby, the wick turned down to conserve the oil. He sighed tiredly as he laid his head on the arm rest, his arms carefully cradling the kittens on his stomach. As he listened to the rain on the roof, Daniel's eyes drooped and finally slid shut. Man and kits slept peacefully for the moment.
Soft noises woke the slumbering preacher. What? Daniel looked around in surprise. The light of the hurricane lamp brought a stirring of memory and he dropped his head back, grateful he hadn't sat up as he remembered the kittens. They were making soft sounds and cries. Time for another feeding. He carefully collected the kittens and placed them on the middle cushion. A whimper said that at least one didn't like losing their warm, breathing pillow. Daniel smiled, then frowned slightly. They should have 'gone' by now. Babies did that a lot, surely kittens would too, especially newborns. Maybe he better spread some papers for them, so they wouldn't 'go' on the couch. He did just that, then looking at the small pile of kittens looking uncomfortable and forlorn on the crinkly paper, felt his heart soften. He carefully made a nest out of the towel and left them there to warm up the formula. Once feeding time was done, Daniel knelt on the floor by the couch, carefully stroking each little head with a finger. They were so tiny! He could easily hold a single kitten in the palm of his hand. Why hadn't they pooped yet? He fretted and touched one little tummy, feeling carefully. His nose wrinkled as the little one experienced a bowel movement. Oh well, he supposed he had wanted that to happen. He gently rubbed each kitten's tummy until they had all relieved themselves. Daniel went and fetched a clean cloth to replace the soiled one and made them a new bed with it. He used a wash towel to clean the kittens, shifting them to their new bed. Finished, he immediately dumped the dirty towels in the laundry basket.
The minister sighed as he remembered the mother and the kitten that hadn't survived. He needed to move them. He couldn't just leave them outside like that, but where? He didn't think he should put them in the church and he didn't think he wanted to bring them into the house. He had no idea how much the babies could sense. Their eyes were still closed, but he didn't want to subject them to that. The small greenhouse would have to do. Daniel climbed to his feet, reasonably certain he could leave the kittens alone long enough for the move. The night had lightened, daybreak was coming and it should be enough for him to see his way there and back. Daniel shrugged into his slicker and went outside. He hated touching the dead, wet fur. It was so different from the little bundles of life in the parish house. He carried mother and son to the greenhouse, laying them just inside on a canvas cloth. His hand lingered on the mother's head and he pulled the kitten close to her. His head bowed as he prayed to God for them, thinking surely He would care for them as He did the fallen sparrow, adding another soft plea for the tiny survivors. She had done as much as she could, he would have to see to the rest.
Daniel wondered where she had come from. He had met most of the pets and their owners on the island. He didn't recognize the mother. He found a collar around her neck and unbuckled it, hoping it would have a clue to her owner. He carried it inside, hoping to be able to read the markings. As he sat on the end of the couch, holding it to the light of the hurricane lamp, he frowned. There didn't seem to be any owner's name. All he could read was Puget's Sally on a plate embedded in the collar. That had to have been her name. He wondered briefly what breed she was. He didn't know much about cats, but he didn't think the owner of a purebred would allow her to wander about, especially if she was about to have kittens. Was she unwanted? But surely, if she'd been abandoned, they would remove her collar first. "Well, Sally, it's not much help, but I'll try to find your master or mistress. And I'll do what I can for your babies too." The minister returned to his tiny charges, cuddling them against his body for warmth. He waited patiently for day to come fully. Once it was light enough, he could make it down the hill safely and find out how to tend the kittens properly. Kevin would look for the owner. He prayed that he would have more success than his search for Moses' family. Resolution to that crises had come when Melissa had stepped forward at church to reclaim her son as her husband, Mark, held their other small son and watched.
As soon as it was light enough, Daniel Cooper set off down the hill. It was slippery with mud and cluttered by broken branches and leaves torn from the trees. He walked carefully, not wanting to fall on the precious cargo in his sweatshirt's pocket. It didn't matter, he still slipped and found himself sliding on his rear end. He managed to snag a branch, bringing himself to an abrupt halt. He sat there for a moment, his head hanging down, panting. Once he had recovered his breath, Daniel pushed himself to his feet. Mud caked the back of his jeans and his hand was stinging, but the kittens were safe and that was all that mattered. The young minister resumed his cautious trip toward town. It was a relief to reach level ground and he looked around, checking for damage. Everything looked as normal as it ever did in Hope. He hesitated, uncertain which way to turn. He needed to get food for the kittens, but he also needed to ask Kevin to try and find the mother's owner. Oh well, he might as well speak to Kevin first. That way he could head home straight from the store. He wondered if any of the phones in town worked. He desperately needed advice on how to deal with the newborn kittens. Somehow, he didn't think Doctor Lily Watson's medical training covered kittens and there wasn't a veterinarian on Hope Island. Maybe he should go to the mainland. He thought about that as he walked into the police station. "Kevin?" The silence was broken by a thud.
"Oww!" Kevin sat up, rubbing the back of his head. Daniel's call had startled him and he had hit his head on his desk.
"Are you all right?" Daniel asked, torn between concern and laughter.
"Yeah," Kevin said. He stopped rubbing the sore spot and dropped his hand. "Hi Daniel. What can I do for you? Is there another tree in your bedroom?" He'd been surprised to hear about the tree and was glad Daniel hadn't been there when it came down. Heck! The whole island felt the same way. Alex had been kind enough to put Daniel up at the Widow's Walk. Molly had told him that she hadn't made any complaints and wouldn't let Daniel pay for it, even though he offered. Not that the minister could afford a room at the tavern and inn, $60 a night was outside of his budget. Hope Community didn't have a large congregation after all and with all of the church repairs and then the parish house too, no, Daniel couldn't afford to stay at the inn. It was nice of Alex to put him up. Molly had said they were 'attracted' to each other. He was a bit surprised, but not that much. Daniel was good for Alex. She needed someone steady and reliable, someone who would be there for her, not like that Steve guy. And it was good for Dylan too. Still, the Widow's Walk was fully booked for the next week. He hoped it wasn't another tree.
"No, no trees, Kevin." Daniel smiled, but he quickly turned serious. "I found a dead cat last night. I was hoping you could find her owner." He pulled the collar out of his pants' pocket. "Here, she was wearing this."
"Daniel, I don't think a dead cat is really important at the moment." Kevin started, then stopped as the reverend shook his head.
"She just had kittens, Kevin. I need to find the owner." His brown eyes looked at the other man, the appeal in them clear and undeniable.
How could you deny your best friend, the person who had stood as best man at your wedding, who helped anyone without question and with his whole heart and soul? How could he deny a man who had told his father 'no' because he believed his place was on Hope Island? Especially when that man had wanted his father's approval for his entire life and had never gotten it before. "Kittens? Daniel, she may have been abandoned. Some people don't want pregnant cats or dogs for that matter," Kevin told the minister.
"Yeah, but they usually don't leave a collar on them. Please, Kevin, could you at least ask around?" Daniel reached under his coat and pulled out a tiny ball of fur.
Kevin felt his heart melt as he stared at the kitten with its eyes still tightly closed, its ears flat to its skull, too young to be without its mother yet. He stiffened and stared in concern as he noticed something else. "Daniel! Your hand!" He reached for the other man's hand, turning it slightly so he could see more clearly in the light. "What happened?" He asked as he stared at the red marks, the drops of blood dried where the skin had been scraped and torn.
"I slipped in the mud," Daniel shrugged. "It's not that bad, Kevin."
Kevin muttered something under his breath, then sighed. "I'll ask about the mother, if you get Doctor Watson to check your hand."
"Deal!" Daniel agreed quickly before the police sergeant could change his mind. It wouldn't cost him much to visit Doctor Watson and it wouldn't hurt to ask her about the kittens while he was there.
"All right," Kevin accepted the collar, examining it. "Puget's Sally? That's a funny name. Nothing about the owner though." He caught the look on Daniel's face. "I'll check! I said I would check it out and I will. Oh, what did she look like?"
"She was brown with black stripy markings and white splotches. Her tail looked kind of like a raccoon's, brown with black rings. She was pretty big too, she had to weigh at least eleven or twelve pounds."
"That is big. She sounds distinctive enough. I don't remember her, but I'll ask around. Maybe she belongs to someone visiting from the mainland." Kevin finished writing the description in his pad. "Um, what are you going to do with her, uh, body?"
"I thought I'd bury her and the kitten in the woods. There's a real pretty spot that overlooks the bay."
"Kitten? One of them..." Kevin watched as Daniel absently stroked the head of the kitten he held with one gentle finger. It was so tiny!
"Yeah, a male."
"How many survived?"
"Four, two of each. Know anyone who knows anything about taking care of kittens?"
"Kittens? Yeah, sure. Newborn kittens? That's a whole different subject, Daniel."
"That's what I was afraid of," Daniel smiled ruefully. "Well, I'll go visit Doctor Watson now, so you'll know I upheld my part of the bargain."
"Okay, I'll ask around while I check storm damage from last night." The redhead smiled, his eyes twinkling. "And I'll ask if they know how to take care of newborns while I'm at it."
"Thanks, Kevin! I really appreciate this."
"Was there any damage to the church or parish house this time?" Kevin asked as he followed the minister outside.
"No, not really. Just a few limbs and leaves. Nothing like last time. See you later, Kevin!" Daniel slipped the kitten back in with its littermates and turned toward the island's medical clinic. He hoped the doctor was in.
"Yeah, later, Daniel!" Kevin headed for his police truck to make his rounds and fulfill his half of the bargain he'd made with Daniel. He climbed in, not feeling very hopeful about finding the owner, but knowing he had to try. He just hoped the other kittens survived.
Daniel entered the clinic calling out, "Doctor Watson?"
"Here, Daniel." The doctor came out of the back wiping her hands on a towel. "What can I do for you today? Are you feeling sick?"
"No, I feel fine, just a little tired." He smiled at her inquisitive look and explained. "Not enough sleep last night."
"Yes, I'm sure that storm kept a lot of people awake. It will be awhile before they forget."
Daniel shook his head. "Not entirely the storm's fault, Doctor. I found a dead cat. She'd just had kittens." He pulled out a kitten. He had a feeling he would be doing a lot of this today.
"Oh, how cute," Doctor Watson exclaimed as she reached out and gently touched it, "poor little thing. How many?"
"Four," Daniel answered. He wondered if this was how new parents felt answering questions about the baby. Did they ever get tired of answering the same ones?
"What did you do to your hand?"
"Scraped it grabbing a tree when I slipped in the mud." He gestured at the back of his jeans.
The doctor wrinkled her nose at the mud caked there and wondered how she'd managed to miss it. "All right, let's get you cleaned up and I'll check your new 'babies' out," she responded briskly.
"Yes, ma'am." Daniel followed her to a bathroom. Between the two of them, they managed to scrape a lot of the mud off his jeans. Daniel washed his hands using the anti-bacterial soap the doctor gave him. He followed her to an examination room and stood awkwardly in the middle. He didn't want to sit down and get anything dirty. Doctors tried to keep their work areas painstakingly clean and he didn't want to give Doctor Watson more work than he had to. She worked very hard for the islanders and didn't have a medical assistant or nurse to clean things up for her. It didn't seem fair for him to give her more just for looking at a scraped hand. He really didn't need a doctor for something so minor...
"Sit down, Daniel," Doctor Watson told him.
Daniel looked around the room uncertainly.
"On the exam table," she pointed and waited.
With a silent sigh, the minister complied. He sat patiently as she checked his hand, cleaned it even more and rubbed ointment into it. "There, that wasn't so bad, now was it?"
Daniel thought it sounded like she was talking to a recalcitrant child. He gave a mental head shake. "No, it wasn't and it was hardly necessary, Doctor."
Doctor Watson smiled. "True, it wasn't. Let's check your new babies out." She placed a small scale she usually used for things other than patients on a nearby table and put a towel on it. Daniel watched as she carefully adjusted it to account for the weight of the white towel. "There, all set. Let's see them."
One by one, Daniel pulled the tiny kittens from his kangaroo pocket. They squirmed around on the towel and made tiny noises as they were weighed. The doctor wrote down weight, sex and a brief description of each kitten. Just like they were new patients, the minister thought and smiled. Each little one was cuddled by both of them before they were done. The little black female clung tightly to Daniel's thumb as if she didn't want to let go.
"You know, they may end up imprinted on you, Daniel." Lily smiled at the younger man's startled look.
"Do you think so?" Daniel rubbed the back of the black kitten.
"It's a distinct possibility. From what you said, the mother didn't live long enough to do much more than birth them." She laughed softly as Daniel held the kitten in his hand closer to his body. "And it's not like it hasn't happened before. Don't worry, it will be all right."
"I don't know how to take care of them or how to teach cats things they need to know." Cats did things that he didn't have a clue about how to do, like hunt. How was he suppose to teach them to hunt? Or maybe he shouldn't want them to know things like that. Still, it was part of the nature of cats. How did he teach them to clean themselves and to use a litter box or ... What was he suppose to feed them anyway? The formula didn't seem to have done them any harm, but did it have the nutrition they would need to grow into big, healthy cats? He began to feel somewhat panicked as he thought of all the things he would need to know and didn't.
"Daniel, have you eaten today?" She eyed the tall, lean man speculatively.
"Um, no ma'am, not yet," the minister answered truthfully, wondering what the doctor was up to now.
"Why don't you go get a bite at the Widow's Walk? I'll make a call to someone I know on the mainland about how to care for the kittens."
"I can't take kittens into the Widow's Walk... Can I?" Daniel asked uncertainly. He knew Blue had been there, but that had been when the restaurant was closed. There were health regulations about animals in shops and restaurants. He didn't want to get Alex in trouble. ... He especially didn't want to get the fiery redhead in trouble.
"Not into the restaurant, no, but I'm sure they can arrange something. Now go on."
"All right, Doctor Watson, I'll get a bite to eat. Thank you for finding out how to care for them."
"You're welcome, Daniel." She got on the phone as the minister headed out the door and turned toward the Widow's Walk. Daniel stepped inside the tavern/inn and stopped, hovering in the entryway. He craned his neck, hoping to spot Alex or Molly. Seeing Molly serving a couple from the mainland, he raised his hand to catch her attention. She glanced his way and nodded. Finished with the couple, she hurried over to the minister.
"Daniel, what is it? Why are you out here?" She asked, concern and curiosity evident.
"I have a bit of a problem, Molly." He smiled to take the seriousness away from his words. He gently pulled one of the kittens out of his pocket. Molly (naturally) promptly oohed at the sight, then visibly collected herself.
"No, Kevin would not want a cat."
Daniel chuckled softly, "I'm not looking for someone to adopt them, Molly. I want to get something to eat and I don't think they belong in there." He pointed toward the tavern.
"Them? They? Exactly how many kittens do you have, Daniel?"
"Four. They were born last night. The mother died and they're much too young to be on their own. Doctor Watson is checking on information about taking care of them. Kevin promised to try to find the owner and is also asking about advice."
Molly laughed quietly. Daniel thought it was a very musical laugh. He hoped Kevin knew how lucky he was to have her for his wife. But then, Kevin was madly in love with Molly. He would treasure her for both their lives and she, him. That was how it should be. Marriages would last longer if they had the foundation of friendship and love that Molly's and Kevin's did. "I would love to see that, Daniel. Why don't you sit here?" She pointed at a chair in the lounge on the other side of the hall. We can set up a table and I'll bring you lunch."
"Thanks, Molly. I appreciate it. Now that I think about it, I'm starved!"
"Well, we can't have that, can we? New 'moms' need to keep up their strength." Molly was sorry the kittens had lost their mother, but she knew they were in good hands. Daniel would be very conscientious about taking care of them, possibly even at the expense of his own health. We'll need to keep an eye on him, she thought to herself as she went to get a small table. If necessary, I'll get the others together and we'll set up a rotation, just like we did with Moses. Pleased with the thought, she carried the table to Daniel. She paused in the doorway, smiling at the sight of the man gently stroking the kittens laying in his lap. They were so cute together! She cleared her throat. "Should I bring milk too?"
"I think we better wait for the instructions from Doctor Watson, Molly."
"So, what do you want? I can get you a menu."
"What's the special today? Never mind, it doesn't matter. I'm hungry enough to eat almost anything. Just bring it and coffee, please."
"One special, coming up!" Molly went to get the food. Finding Alex in the kitchen, she immediately pulled her aside. "You'll never guess what Daniel's doing now!"
"Daniel?" Alex looked curiously at the blonde. "What's he up to now?"
"He's got kittens!"
"Kittens? Where did Daniel get kittens?"
"They were born last night. The mother died and now Daniel is taking care of them. Isn't that sweet?"
"Sweet? That's one word for it," Alex muttered.
Molly gave the redhead a sharp look and punched her in the arm. "Alex!"
Unable to keep it in any longer, Alex grinned widely and laughed. "All right! All right! This I have to see, Moll. Where is he?"
"He's in the sitting room waiting for lunch. He has the kittens and they are so cute!"
"Well then, let's not keep the man waiting." With a wicked grin, Alex grabbed the tray Molly had fixed while they talked and led the way, sweeping through the double doors. She strode briskly through the tavern, making a beeline for the sitting room.
Both women stopped outside the door to the room. Giggling softly and shushing each other, they peeked inside. There was Daniel with his lap full of kittens. They were moving around a little bit and one seemed to have latched on to one of Daniel's fingers, seemingly determined to hold on to him. Both women burst out laughing. Startled, the minster looked up, expecting Molly and realizing there was too much laughter for one person. Seeing Alex looking at him, the mirth filling her dancing eyes, he felt a slow blush heat his face. Swallowing, Daniel looked down at the kittens in his lap. He focused his entire attention on getting the little black kitten to let go of him.
Still chuckling, Alex strolled over with the food tray. "Nice family you have there, Reverend."
Not having a clue as to how to respond, Daniel continued his patient coaxing of the black kitten.
Alex touched his shoulder. "Go wash up, you can leave them here. I promise that Molly and I will keep an eye on them. They'll be safe." The redhead folded a towel on the table next to the tray and plucked one kitten from the man's lap.
Finally looking up, Daniel caught the soft, warm look in her lovely blue eyes. "Thanks, Alex."
"No problem. Go on."
Under Molly's amused gaze, the couple successfully transferred the tiny balls of fur to the towel. She hid her smile behind her hand. Daniel thought he heard a soft squeaking protest as he stood. He obediently went to wash his hands. He knew you didn't argue with mothers when it came to washing up, not your own and not someone else's. Some things were just universal. Returning to the sitting room, Daniel smothered his own laughter as he saw the two women were totally focused on the kittens. He could hear their soothing croons from the door. "Thanks for watching the kittens, ladies."
Alex jumped slightly, then smiled wryly at him. "You're welcome, Daniel. If you'll excuse me, I need to get back to work."
"Yeah, it's pretty crowded, especially considering the damage from the storm. Where did all these people come from?"
The redhead's brow puckered. "You know, you're right. We shouldn't have so many people here after such a major storm. I wonder why." She shot a concerned look at Molly.
"Yeah, it is odd. I think most of them know each other, Alex. At least they seem to."
"Hmm... Keep your ears open, Moll. Something is certainly up. Busybody mainlanders. They're probably going to tell us how we can do things better." She looked and sounded thoroughly annoyed at the thought.
"Maybe, maybe not," Daniel said, trying to remain neutral. "Don't condemn without evidence, Alex."
"I won't, but I sure can be suspicious!"
Daniel smiled as the women got back to work. He dug into the food. He found he was very hungry and the food was very tasty. "Boris outdid himself today," he told the kittens.
Nub entered the tavern and blinked at the size of the crowd. Some of them were islanders, but there were a lot more strangers, mainlanders, than he would normally expect. He glanced around and thought about coming back later. Alex and Molly looked really hassled. He turned around to do just that, when he caught sight of Daniel eating lunch by himself in the sitting room. His curiosity tickled, he walked over to join the preacher. "Good morning, Reverend Cooper."
Daniel looked up and smiled at the younger man. "Good morning, Nub. Keeping busy?" It was a shame about Brian. The loss was affecting not just the mayor, but Nub, his daughter and his new son-in-law. He wished he could do more to get the man back on his feet. Brian was keeping up a confident front, but if you looked closely, you could see how much the setback hurt. Molly and Kevin would be very glad if he got back to normal and left them alone. It couldn't be easy on the newlyweds and their relationship. Being newly married was enough of a challenge without adding a broke father/father-in-law to the mix, especially since he'd lost his home and was staying with them.
"Yeah," Nub responded as he sat down next to him, "with most of the phone lines down, I'm running messages again." He looked in surprise at the kittens curled up on the towel, next to Daniel's plate. "Kittens?! Where did they come from, Daniel?" He stared at them wistfully and folded his hands in his lap, trying to keep them away from temptation.
"I found them last night," Daniel told him. He sighed unhappily. "Their mother died during the storm."
"That's awful! Poor things."
Daniel could see the pain and sympathy in the blond's face. "Yes, it is awful, but we're going to take care of them, Nub."
"What are you going to do with the mother?" Nub looked up into the taller man's face. Daniel didn't shout or hurl what his mother called fire and brimstone at the members of his congregation. Nub had stopped going to church before he came to Hope because of an experience with that. He was glad he'd started going again after Daniel came. He was proud to be the head usher. It was an important responsibility and he tried to perform his duties well. Daniel hadn't even said anything about his watch cap not belonging in church. For that and more, Nub was grateful. The minister was a good friend. Not just to him, but to Brian as well. He had managed to put aside their rocky start and accept the brash, proud man as a friend. Not many got past Brian Brewster's front of slick salesmanship and arrogant pride. Even a lot of the islanders were put off by it. Daniel had worked his way past it all to see something of the inner man who had opened his heart to a lonely, young man. Nub was glad Daniel Cooper hadn't held Brian's schemes against them. He'd felt so guilty at the pain and betrayal that appeared in the newly ordained minister's face when he found out that the petition calling him to Hope was fake. That scheme had worked for the better when Daniel decided to stay. If for nothing else, Brian should be remembered as the man who'd brought Reverend Daniel Cooper to Hope Island. It had made such a difference over the past year for the islanders in so many ways!
The minister hesitated, not wanting to tell Nub about the dead kitten. Nub possessed such a kind and gentle heart. Still, he also held a deep faith and belief in God. Nub might be young, but he had an intrinsic wisdom that was tied intimately with his innocence. "I'm going to bury her and their littermate in the woods behind the church." He saw Nub was watching him intently. "You know that place where you can look out over the bay?"
Nub nodded thoughtfully. "There's a big rock where you can sit and watch the birds and the boats and the animals. There are a lot of ground squirrels there."
"Yeah, that's the place."
"It's a good spot for her, them. They'll like it there. I'll help you," Nub offered a bit anxiously. Would Daniel let him help? More than anything, he liked helping people, but especially his friends. "I can make a cross."
"That's a good idea, Nub. Thank you."
Nub smiled at Daniel. He looked at the muddle of kittens. "What are their names?"
Names? Daniel hadn't even thought about that. "I don't know. I haven't named them."
"It's important they have names," Nub spoke firmly. Names were very important because they helped you remember.
"You're right. We'll have to be sure we name them properly." He smiled warmly and was rewarded by a warm and happy look from Nub.
"Dylan will help!"
"Dylan will help with what?" Dylan Stone looked back and forth from the two men as he walked into the sitting room. Nub and Daniel were two of his best friends. He had other friends, but except for Rebecca, they were his best. For all that Nub was a grown up, he played like a kid. And Daniel was more than just a friend, he also helped with advice and words. He made some of the pains go away, the happy moments happier. For a moment, Dylan wistfully thought about Daniel Cooper as his father, but he pushed it away. Daniel was a friend. He was also his minister. For a second, he was diverted by the realization of how good that made him feel. Until Daniel came, he had never been to church and he hadn't a clue what church and religion were really like. The other kids talked about it, but his mom didn't go so he didn't either. Until Daniel... It filled a spot he hadn't realized needed feeling. It was a relief to give some things up to a higher power. It was nice to be able to talk to a man too. His mom was great, but some things... Well, some things you just didn't talk to your mom about. Daniel was great for that, too! It was good to be able to have man to man talks. Not even Nub could do those as well as Daniel did them.
"Name the kittens," Nub pointed to the pile of fur on the towel.
"Kittens?" Cool, Dylan thought, then swiftly buried it. He wasn't a little kid anymore. So were kittens cool? He had an image to uphold after all. He walked over, trying to be casual, even though part of him was jumping with excitement. There they were in a pile, all on top of each other. How did they manage to breathe like that? They looked funny with their eyes tight shut and their ears plastered down. "Why do they look like that?"
"Like what?" Nub asked, his head cocked to one side, examining the kittens with a critical eye, wondering what he'd missed.
"With their ears plastered down like that," Dylan pointed at the one on top.
"That's because they were just born last night. Their eyes haven't opened and they don't hear anything yet." Daniel explained with a gentle smile.
"Really?" Dylan smiled and thought that was pretty cool. "Where's their mother?" He looked around expecting a momma cat to come out from under the couch or something.
Daniel's smile vanished. "She died during the storm."
Oh! That wasn't cool. That was sad. "I'm sorry," Dylan responded softly.
"Me too." Daniel sighed. "Doctor Watson is trying to find out how to take care of them. We, Nub and I, are going to bury the mother and the, um, the kitten that didn't survive."
"I can help!" Dylan offered anxiously. He didn't like it when Daniel was sad. "I'll help you name them too."
"Thank you, Dylan, Nub. I appreciate it." Daniel smiled a bit ruefully. "I have a feeling I'm going to need all the help I can get."
"Have you ever had a cat?" Nub asked.
"No, Nub. I didn't have any pets when I was growing up. Dad said we moved around too much. It wouldn't be fair to them." Both Nub and Dylan looked unhappy at the words so Daniel hastened to follow up. "I did have a lot of fun with some of my friends' pets though." He grinned as he thought of one friend's African grey parrot and the words they taught him to say. If his dad had ever figured that one out, he would have had his hide. But he hadn't and they'd moved again less than a year later. He wondered what had happened to that particular friend. Gary had been a great guy and fun to hang out with. He also met with his parents approval which wasn't always an easy accomplishment with his dad. He wondered what had happened to the parrot. Parrots could live a long time. Did Gary still have him? Was he embarrassed by the words they had taught him? He wished he could find out, then dismissed the thought. He had no way to track Gary down. He wasn't even sure he remembered his last name properly. He'd only heard it a couple of times. Gary's parents were of a more modern way of thinking and had insisted he call them by their first names. He'd just managed to get used to that when his father got a new parish and now it made it hard for him to remember their name.
"Cool!" Dylan exclaimed as he gently stroked one of the little kittens. "I've never seen a cat like that. Look," he pointed to the black kitten, then ruffled its fur. Both men saw a wave of white hidden under the black fur.
"I've never seen a cat like that either," Daniel admitted, puzzled as he examined the kitten. "Maybe it will turn white as it grows up."
Nub frowned slightly, trying to remember something. "I know! I've heard of it, but I've never seen it. It's a smoke I think, a black smoke. Um... Maine coon cats have that."
"Maine coon?" Daniel asked, curiosity tingeing his voice. "Do they have rings on their tails?"
"Uh, yeah, I think so." Nub smiled as Daniel gently lifted a tail, looking at the rings around it.
Daniel crooned to one kitten that was waking up, "So you're a Maine coon, hm, kitty?" He laughed lightly, "Or at least, part Maine coon."
"They need names," Nub said firmly.
Daniel looked up at a noise and smiled upon seeing Doctor Watson. "I think right now, they need something else. Doctor?"
"Well, I talked to my friend on the mainland. He faxed a few things about taking care of newborn kittens, Daniel." She smiled as she joined them. "By the way, you don't want to give them cows milk. At least, not unless you have nothing else."
"No cows milk. Got it. What about the baby formula? Will that be a problem?" Daniel looked anxiously at the kittens.
"No, it's all right as a substitute. Tom included a recipe for something called kitten glop, but you can get formula at a pet store. He listed a couple of brands that work fine, but he says the glop works very well and gives him the least trouble."
"How often should I feed them?" Daniel placed the awake kitten into his lap where it started kneading his jeans.
Doctor Watson glanced at the papers in her hand, "Every two to three hours I'm afraid, Daniel, probably until they're about three weeks old. You also need to keep them warm."
The minister glanced at his friends and reddened slightly, "What about a, um, litter box?"
"Litter box, litter box," Lily Watson glanced through the papers, "Ah, here we are! You can introduce them to a litter box in their third or fourth week. Put them there right after a feeding and they'll eventually get the idea. Tom also suggested making a box for them, warmed by an electric blanket or a water bottle. He said put an upside down tissue box in it."
Daniel looked at her in surprise. "A tissue box?"
"Yes, they'll sleep in it and hide."
He looked over the kittens. "All of them?" A tissue box seemed kind of small for four kittens.
Lily smiled. "Guess you're right. It would have to be a pretty good sized tissue box. Still, you get the idea. He also recommended getting a pair of fuzzy mittens or gloves." She laughed outright at the look on the others' faces. "To pet and rub the kittens. They'll make your hands feel like 'mommy'."
The look on Daniel's face was indescribable. "Oh," he said quietly, "I'm afraid I don't have any fuzzy mittens." He glanced out at the sunny spring day. "And I think it's the wrong time of year to buy a pair."
"I bet I can find some in lost and found," Dylan offered. "Should I go look?"
"You do that, Dylan." Doctor Watson answered. She called after him as he ran off to do just that. "Make sure they're large!" She laughed again as Daniel looked up at her. "Well, you do have large hands, Daniel," she pointed out.
Daniel looked down at them and grinned, his eyes twinkling. "I guess I do at that, Doctor."
"Lily, Daniel. Why don't you call me, Lily?" She handed him the papers.
"All right, Lily, thanks" Daniel answered, smiling.
"I can help with the night feedings, Daniel," Nub offered shyly.
"I appreciate that, Nub. At least it will only be three weeks." He glanced at the papers in his hands. "I guess I better work up a new shopping list."
"Well, I'll leave you to it. Good luck, gentlemen," Lily called over her shoulder as she left.
Daniel glanced over some of the pages that Doctor Watson--Lily--had left for him covering the care of his new charges. One brow rose as he read the ingredients in kitten glop. While they didn't sound hard to find, he couldn't recall seeing all of them at the Islander General Store either. "Someone may need to make a trip to the mainland for some of this," he told Nub.
Nub frowned thoughtfully. "The ferry only has one more trip today. I guess I could get a ride with one of the fishermen though."
"Well, you could always use Emily," the preacher answered.
"You'd let me take Emily to the mainland?" The blond sounded surprised that someone would let him go out alone with their boat. Especially a boat like Emily, Nub thought. Daniel had inherited her from Judge Bradley. Perhaps the minister didn't know how truly valuable the old, well-kept boat was.
"Of course I would, Nub. I know you'll take good care of her and wouldn't do something reckless or foolish."
Nub blushed at the simple words of trust. "If I ever took Emily out, I would take very good care of her, Daniel. She's a great boat."
Daniel grinned. "You're right. She is a great boat and you'd probably take better care of her than I would, Nub. You have more experience with boats than I do. Let's make a shopping list and see what we can get from Ruby and Bonita. If we don't find everything, you can take Emily and get the rest."
"All right," Nub sat a little straighter. He found a pad and pencil on one of the end tables. "Shoot."
The minister smiled and looked at the papers. "First, at least a couple of hot water bottles."
"Check"
"Hmm... How about baby blankets and towels?"
"Check."
"Some boxes for them to sleep in."
"Boxes. Check."
"Large cans of evaporated milk. I guess at least a couple of them. Uh, not Milnot.
"No Milnot. Got it."
"Plain yogurt, not the diet kind."
Nub made a face at that. "Okay, got it."
"Real mayonnaise."
The blond looked startled. "Is there any other kind?"
Daniel shrugged, "Real mayonnaise has to be made with eggs and vinegar."
"Oh? All right."
"Uh, where were we? Karo syrup."
"Check."
"Knox gelatin."
"Why not Jello?" Nub asked plaintively. He liked Jello!
"I don't think Knox is flavored, Nub. I mean we don't want the glop to taste like cherry, do we?"
Nub considered that, "I guess not. They might not eat it then. What's next?"
"Eggs. That looks to be it, unless we get bottled water and I don't see why we should do that. I expect Doctor, uh, Lily would have mentioned it if we should use bottled water."
"Okay. I got it all down, Daniel."
Dylan ran back in the room. "I found some!" He waved a pair of very bright multi-color mittens in the air. "Mom helped me find them. I hope they fit."
Daniel stared at the mittens in shock. He tried to think of something to say that might get him out of this. Oh, he bet Alex had helped! In the back of his mind, he heard her laughing. It's for the good of the kittens, Daniel, he thought to himself. Even though he felt like cringing, he bravely spoke up. "Well, there's only one way to find out if they fit." He accepted the mittens. Desperate brown eyes met the guileless blue eyes of Dylan and Nub. He took a deep breath. Please don't let Father Mac or someone else catch me wearing these. Silent prayer sent on its way, he pulled one of the mittens on his right hand. As bad as they looked to his eyes, he had to admit they fit fine. Feeling the softness of the inside, he touched it with his other hand. They were certainly fuzzy enough. He didn't think he'd ever had such soft, fuzzy mittens when he was a kid. Daniel smiled and nodded approval to his eager audience of two. He stroked one of the kittens in his lap. Maybe it was his imagination, but it seemed to press back against the mitten, appreciating the soft caressing touch. "Looks like we have a winner, Dylan."
Dylan beamed at the words. "I almost thought we didn't have anything, but then Mom pulled out another box of older junk and we found these. I knew they'd work!"
"Well and what have we here?"
Daniel closed his eyes for a moment at the sound of that familiar Irish accent. Looked like God intended for him to learn more than just taking care of newborn kittens today since his fellow cleric had arrived to see kittens and mittens in spite of his silent, desperate prayer. "Good day, Father Mac."