But I feel I let this mommy cat down. It really seems to me she wanted me to help her with her kittens. Why on Earth did she lead me to them? I never heard of a stray doing that!! She stared at me until I sat in my car, then she walked away. What did she expect me to do?
She sensed that you could help her out that's why she lead you to them.
What she expected was for someone to help her with the kittens, she cant and a human could. Also, she likely smelled your kitties on yourself and knew it was ok to show you her kittens.

Sad.....

I fully believe in this fact because Cindy when she came to us in trouble (ready to abort her kittens) that summer afternoon, Cindy who was the neighborhood stray, knew instinctively that we (hubby and I) would help her.
Off to the vet we went that afternoon. The rest is history,
Cindy found her forever home with us.