He was fast to his word, she gave him that, within a few days, a visitor had returned to the Mousekewitz homestead. He had to come in the late evenings when he knew activity was going to be low and there wouldn't be many eyes on him as he entered Green River. Pulling a red wagon alongside himself, Cat R Waul made his way into the town, occasionally having to stop and slide up against a wall as he'd notice incomers every now and again.

He pulled up to the house and tapped lightly on the door with one furry claw. Mama Mousekewitz opened the door and walked out. The feline stood patiently as she looked over the items and rechecked her list, it was somewhat crucial to have some of the items and she was always a precarious one. He kneeled down and began pulling this and that out setting the larger groceries and such alongside the house when they wouldn't fit through the doorway. The mother finished emptying out the cart and looked up to the monocled cat and gave an appreciative smile.

She knew he didn't have to do this and she understood the risks he was taking by doing it so the least she could be for the feline was a bit grateful. If it was one thing Russia had taught her growing up, if you treat others kindly, they will do the same for you. Cat smiled back down at her and gave her a curt bow and turned to make his way out and depart. Looking in the window he saw Tanya looking at him, a grin on her face. He smirked and nodded to her as he continued on back to his homestead.

" Wait! Oh Waul a moment!?"

Waul turned to frown at Mamma Mousekewitz. He hoped she wasn't going to invite him to dinner. He had a feeling they wouldn't be eating anything he could palate.

" That cape. Take it off and leave it. I darn it for you. For your kindness."

Waul frowned and glanced at his cape noticing for the first time that it was somewhat tattered and his vest was ripped.

" Well bollocks." He muttered then quickly took his cape off to cover his course language and folded it the best he could to set it down.

" My thanks my lady." He bowed briefly over Mamma Mousekewitz's hand. She nodded to him giving him a rather fine courtesy before turning back to getting her things in order.

It took about an hour and a half to get back to his house walking. He didn't really mind, the exercise was good for him and it wasn't all that cold out anyway. Entering his house he light a few of the candles on the chandler in his living room and sat down in his favorite armchair.

He didn't expect his humans back for another day or so which meant he was able to fully enjoy the opalancy of the house. With a cat door for his use he had no problems eating.

Taking off his hat and rubbing the fur on his head he blew out a breath of air and sat in silence for a moment. He stared out the window at the darkened valley, many thoughts running through his mind.

This is the time to find whether she truly keeps her promise, but why
would she break it?

what does the rest of the family think of this?

He mulled the questions over and over in his head until he found himself getting quite tuckered out. Standing from his chair he walked over to his bed and began taking off his outfit. While a very dressy one himself, he never believed in wearing clothes to bed, that was just silly. Getting settled in, the debonair feline closed his eyes and drifted off to sleep.

* ***************************************************************
Tanya worked all day to help her parents get the store set up. Fieval had run off to tell Tiger about Cat. Thankfully Whiley had merely told him to keep a sharp lookout for trouble but that was all. She began thinking off songs she could sing to him. She wondered if he might like a Russian lullaby her mother had taught her. A shadow fell over her and she stood up and turned around. She nearly groaned. A large heavy set mouse grinned at her exposing some missing teeth.

" Why Mrs. Tanya! Yer as beautiful as a flower in the spring rain!" He shoved a handful of drooping weeds at her. Tanya took them and smiled at him strained.

" Thank you Mr. West ."

" Now now girl, told ya I don't stand on no formalities here just West will do ya. How bout we mosey over to the saloon there and I get ya a nice cool drink?"

" Mr West! How nice of you to come by." Mamma smiled at him her eyes sharp. She didn't like him though she couldn't put a finger on why. " Tanya very busy here sir we hope to be opening soon."

West took his cowboy hat off " Surely your daughter can break away for an hour? I won't brook no for an answer!" Suddenly Tanya found her hand locked around West's arm " C'mon girl let's take a walk round the town then if I can I'll help ya out some with some of that heavy lookin uh..." He glanced back " Pile."

Tanya swallowed knowing she needed to be nice. It wouldn't do to anger this mouse. He was the owner and voted mayor of Green River. He had the power to make their lives very difficult if he wanted to. It was near bed time by the time he returned her. She ignored her mother and father and crept up to her bed. She climbed in and sighed a tear tracing her cheek. West had done a well and good job of painting a bleak picture of her future.

She was no longer a child. One day her family would be gone. If she didn't marry and have some babies of her own, why she might wind up all alone. Tanya gritted her teeth. She had tried to talk about her desire to travel to be on stage and he had talked right over her bragging about how many women wanted to marry him. How rich he was how he could help her family if they married. Then to make it worse three other cowpokes had suddenly stepped in to offer her flowers. All three of them started boasting...well pretty much the same thing and had even decided to play a hand of cards to decide who could court Tanya. She had slipped away easily once that started they hadn't really cared. To them she was just a woman. That was it.

Tanya punched her pillow angrily. She was not just a woman! She had dreams and she was going to work on making them come true. Still she couldn't leave her family. Feeling lower than she had in a long time she silently cried herself to sleep.

Several hours later

The Mousekewitz daughter creaked open the cat door, slipping past the loose boards and into the large living room. She looked around the room a bit, noticing several different paintings with beautiful gold frames and books in shelves on the walls. She continued into the master bedroom where she heard a familiar snore protrude from the blankets of the bed. Shimming up the bedpost, she made her way onto the covers as seeing a large lump in the middle of the bed.

Grinning, she snuck her way under the covers and sheets and journeyed forward towards the dozing cat. It was immensely warm inside the bed, almost oven like as she crawled slowly up Waul's leg, up his thigh and around his groin carefully, falling over at this point in time would possibly be the worst way to wake a person in the morning.

She climbed up over his stomach and up onto his chest. His whole body seemed twisted almost in the shape of a C and she wasn't sure how he could be at all comfortable but the snoring told her he was indeed enjoying his rest. Taking a paw, she began scratching underneath the cat's chin vigorously to wake him up. A loud purring began as the cat came to, slowly opening his green eyes and focused in on her.

"Ah, someone has arrived a bit earlier than expected." He said, taking a peek from the covers to the window, checking whether the sun had even risen yet or not. Tanya rolled her eyes and laughed.

"Its the middle of the day Cat." she said. He smirked and rubbed his eyes with his furry paws.

"That being so, you could have at least waited for me to be dressed." He said rather humorously entertained, bringing out a claw to stroke the mouse's hair gently. Tanya managed to keep from blushing all too much as he petted her.

Cat R Waul shook his head to wake up and then ripped the covers off, allowing the full set of daylight to blind him. Groaning he cracked his neck and sat up and hopped off the bed, his tail lazily dragging off the mattress. Tanya was forced to hang onto the still warm sheet with all the bouncing.

"So what was the plan for today my dear?" He asked as he put on his white shirt, the pink/red vest over top of it and then his newly fixed cape. Tayna stood up on his knee as he worked on his foot cuff links. She handed him his monocle from the bedside table and watched him place it in his eye and hook up the delicate chain.

"Well I think first we should have something to eat, I'm hungry." He nodded in agreement, taking her in his paw like carrying a wineglass, the two made their way out of the bedroom and into the kitchen. He set Tanya on the counter and then went to work with some sandwich ingredients. He took a knife and cut a fraction out of his sandwich for the mouse. He brought both servings around onto the same plate and sat with her at the table.

Tanya took a nibble of the food before looking up at Cat again.

"Um..Waul, what is this?" He looked at her out of the corner of his eye,raising his pointer claw, he swallowed.

"Oh right...that would be rabbit. I take it your not familiar with the taste?" He said in an awkward voice.

She shook her head, still munching on the bread and lettuce, but pushing the meat away. He picked up the untouched meat and swallowed it dramatically. Tanya shook her head at
his antics and continued eating.

After finishing lunch the duo headed over to Cat's piano in the living room. He sat atop the bench and set her on the top of it as he began playing a few slow rhythmic notes, allowing her time to prepare her voice.

" So...what am I going to be graced with today? "

Oh it's a Russian lullaby my mom taught me. Is that ok? " She looked a bit anxious. Waul gave a smile and waved his hand. " That sounds jolly good, my dear jolly good indeed, please enrapture me with those beautiful pipes."

As she released her voice into the world, the monocole'd cat found himself entranced in her voice. Her melodic changes in tone caused his lip to quiver and a gentle tear spring from his eye as he took in her musical talent. He found himself leaning lazily onto his arm resting n top of the pillow feeling lost in a dream as his ears stayed perked to catch every single note. She finished off with a drawn out note, drawing a large smile onto the cat's face.

"That was what I've been waiting so very long for." said to her, giving her a small kiss on the cheek. She took her paws and pulled him by his whiskers softly back in to return the kiss, his furry face tickling her nose and cheeks.

He brought out a rumbling purr, his mouth parting ever so slightly to allow the sound to a pleased feline be heard. She snuggled her face into his furry cheek, running her paws up and down his face.

She broke away finally and looked up at him.

"I'm glad my favorite audience could enjoy it."

" Now if you'll allow me..." He ran his fingers along the keys of the piano. "Have you a classical favorite my dear? "

Tanya sat down eagerly. " Chopin! "

" Oh!" Waul pressed his paws to his heart " Chopin! Brilliant! Do forgive me I am no where as good as such masters but I like to think I'm adequate."

He plowed into Chopin's Nocturne and Tanya found herself sitting back entranced. It was beautiful and elegant at the same time nothing like what she had to listen to from the saloon.

They were so engaged in the beauty of the music they didn't notice a pair of yellow feline eyes peering at them behind the window.

This feline was was truly frightening as he was a desert cougar. He curled his lips up baring teeth almost longer than Wauls hands. His snarl was so low those inside didn't hear him but it was full of fury all the same.

" Why that uppity bastard! That's why we lost the town and the mice! That's why my half brother was banished!" His soft snarl faded away as he slowly stepped back from the window and turned to walk away his tail twitching in anger.