Cut and Run 6 - Stars and Stripes

thanked them for treating the cats well, wished them both the best in life, and apologized for taking so long. He ended by saying, “Nice car.”
    Zane looked out the window of the back door, frowning. “Nice car,” he said, beginning to smile. His father had made good on his promise to have the Mustang delivered to Baltimore. That would ease some of Ty’s distress.
    He opened the package from Cross and slid the contents onto the counter. A picture frame slid out. It matched the frames on Ty’s walls perfectly, down to the color and style of the matting. In it was a photograph of the two massive orange cats, green eyes staring at the camera like they could burn a hole through the lens.
    Ty reached for the picture. He was close to tears, but he was smiling too.
    There was more in the package, and Zane dumped the rest out. Several heavy metal emblems slid onto the counter. Ty picked one up, turning it over. They were classic Mustang emblems, the patina and weight marking them as originals and not recasts.
    Ty began to laugh, shaking his head. “Bastard,” he said, almost fondly. “Somewhere there’s a Shelby owner who is very pissed off right now.”
    Zane reached under Ty’s chin to lift his head and meet his eyes. “I’m sorry about Smith and Wesson.”
    Ty gave him a sad smile and nodded. “I knew he’d come get them eventually. I’m sorry your mom’s a raging bitch.”
    Zane shrugged. “We all have our little problems.”
    Ty snorted and stepped closer, resting his chin on Zane’s shoulder with a sniff.
    Zane hugged him tight. “I have something that might make you feel better.”
    Ty turned his face into Zane’s neck and inhaled deeply. “Does it involve you in a Stetson?”
    “That too.” Zane moved away, heading for the bags they’d dropped at the door. He rummaged through his laptop case and came out with a thick plastic protective sleeve. He couldn’t help but grin when he handed it to Ty.
    Ty took it warily. He’d no doubt been expecting something fun like glow-in-the-dark spurs or a stolen lasso. He popped the sleeve open and pulled the contents out without asking any questions. As soon as he saw the picture, he began to laugh.
    Zane grinned wider. Before they’d left Texas, Tish had sent it to the house as a thank-you and Harrison had brought it to Zane along with the legal papers. It was a picture taken by one of the Roaring Springs interns when Ty had visited the second time. In the photo, he stood inside Barnum and Bailey’s enclosure, and all that could be seen was the side of his face and his broad shoulders, his stance wide to hold the weight of the tiger. Barnum was standing on both feet, hugging him. The tiger’s massive paws held onto Ty’s back and his head rested on Ty’s shoulder. His floppy ear lay against Ty’s hair.
    Zane had laughed and laughed when he’d seen the photo, and he hadn’t been able to resist making a call to the sanctuary.
    Ty looked at the picture for a long time, a melancholy smile on his face, before he lifted it to look at the papers underneath. He frowned before looking back up at Zane, mouth open.
    “You adopted Barnum?”
    “And Bailey.”
    “Zane!” Ty lunged at him and gave him a ferocious one-armed hug, forcing him to stumble back.
    “Thank you,” Ty whispered against his ear.
    “Anything you love that much . . . it’s worth any price.”
    Ty stepped back, his eyes shining. “I love you.”
    Zane smiled, and then rolled his eyes as Ty practically vibrated in front of him. “Okay, go hang up your kitty pictures and pet your car.”
    “Thank you!” Ty said in an excited rush as he bounced away.
    Zane watched his lover go, the smile still playing at his lips. He shook his head and laughed. Life with Ty. He was in for one hell of a wild ride.

I would like to acknowledge the staff and volunteers at the International Exotic Animal Sanctuary in Boyd, Texas. They do amazing work to provide a permanent sanctuary for big cats that have been abused, abandoned, neglected, or saved from dangerous situations, and they have been working tirelessly to improve the plight of these magnificent creatures since 1988.
    I went to visit IEAS while writing this book, and I was surprised to find a real-life Barnum the Bengal tiger there! Over sixty animals are being cared for in this amazing facility, and the price is high to give them the lives they deserve. If you’re interested in helping, or just finding more information, you can go to