Alexis and the Lake Tahoe Tumult - Erica Rodgers [3]
“That’s so cool!” said Bailey. “I want a bobcat!”
“Well, some people do keep them as pets, but it’s dangerous. They are wild, no matter how sweet and fluffy they look. See Bubbles’s poufy paws? The claws in them are three inches long and could cut your throat in seconds.”
Bailey backed slowly away and coughed.
“Oh, don’t worry,” said Karen. “He won’t hurt you. We’ve had him for years. But that is something you need to remember while you’re around the other animals in our sanctuary. No matter how cute they are, they’re wild. They will react according to their instincts, no matter what your intentions are. Things like bats and raccoons can give you rabies, not to mention nasty scars. The owls’ talons aren’t very friendly either. If you’re going to do this documentary, you have to remember to follow our rules, and never—never—approach any animal without us. Got it?”
“Yes, ma’am!” said Alexis. Bailey nodded her head so fast Alexis thought it might pop off. Alexis dug her little pink notebook out of her backpack. She wanted to write down the rules Karen gave her, as well as any information that might be great for the documentary.
Bang! Suddenly the door behind the desk burst open. A tall man in a flannel shirt stumbled into the room, his eyes bulging.
“Karen! The deal’s off! Call those kids, and tell them that they can’t film here! The mountain lions are out of their cages!”
Mischief and Mystery
It was obvious from the look on the man’s face that he hadn’t known the girls were there. He glanced around frantically.
“It’s okay, Jake,” said Karen. “Let’s go get those cats back in their cages!” The two owners turned and ran out a back door.
“Wait!” said Alexis. “We can help!”
“What?” shouted Bailey, glancing at Bubbles nervously. “Didn’t you hear? They said mountain lions!”
“I know! Come on!”
Before her father could stop her, Alexis followed Karen and Jake out the back door. Bailey was just behind. They followed a trail in the snow to a small barn structure not far away. Alexis reached out to open the door, but her father’s large hand pushed it shut again.
“Dad!”
“Listen first, then open,” said Mr. Howell. “The last thing we want to do is let a sick mountain lion out of this barn.”
Alexis was shocked. She thought for sure he was going to keep her from going in.
She and Bailey crept closer and put their ears against a small crack in the wood. They only heard the tramping of heavy boots and Jake’s and Karen’s panicked voices.
“Get that one! He’s by your elbow!”
“No! Ow! The other one! She’s too high up. You’re going to have to get the ladder!”
But Alexis couldn’t figure something out. She couldn’t hear the mountain lions at all. Bailey seemed to be thinking the same thing.
“What? No ripping of claws? No earth-shattering roars?” she asked. Alexis shrugged and pushed the door open enough for the three of them to slide through. Just as she entered, something landed on her head and leaped ten feet to the top of one of the cages. It looked like a ball of fur with a tail.
There were six of them, and they were everywhere.
“They’re kittens!” cried Bailey. “How cute! Come here, kitty, kitty. Come here.”
Another ball of fluff tore by them, snagging Bailey’s shoelace with a tiny, sharp claw.
“Oops. I forgot they had those things,” said Bailey.
Alexis watched as Karen and Jake chased the litter of mountain lion cubs around and around the barn. They managed to get one back in the cage, but when they opened it again to put in another one, the first one escaped.
“It’s useless!” cried Karen. “We’ll be doing this all day!”
Another cub leaped from a rafter onto Alexis’s head. This time it tried to stay put, but it was too heavy and slid to the floor instead.
“Ouch!” Alexis cried. “What’s the deal?”
Bailey, who was reaching behind a barrel for one of the cubs, looked around.
“Lexi!” she cried. “It’s your hat! The kittens like your hat!