The Golden Cat(Herm Sherwood-Sitts) The Golden Cat
By Herm Sherwood-Sitts

One cool summer morning, she came down from the mountains. She was a creature of stealth, blending in with the golden prairie grass. Every once in a while you would catch a glimpse of sheen, from her beautiful, sleek pelt.
Not quite so stealth like, two kitten faces would pop up out of the golden forage. They were looking for mom, who was giving them a lesson on tracking. From the deep grass she assessed our yard and eventually walked out onto the green carpet. The two kittens came tumbling out after. Mom turned and gave them that scorned look of, “Knock it off!” The discipline only lasted for a moment and they continued rough housing.

I watched through the screen door, as momma mountain lion continued her cautious swagger towards the kiddy pool on the lawn. She stayed in the shade of the willow, to be less visible. While lapping up the water she was joined by her offspring. The big cats don’t usually visit in the daylight hours, but the temperatures have been in the high nineties by noon, for over a week. She then laid in the shade and licked her kittens until they were clean.
Lucky for them, my dad was not around. He had lost a Herford calf to them a week before. I am pretty sure he would have shot all three. If she was alone, I would have taken a shot myself. However, the kittens made my heart melt and there was no way I could do that.
After a bit, momma wandered back into the deep grass, with the kittens trotting along behind her. Within seconds they disappeared.
This is a secret we will have to keep. So please,
don’t tell my dad.

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