Page 29 of Ladybird

“Luke, you can’t bring that cat in here,” gasped Regina. Already, her birds sensed the feline and even though they were hooded, they started to become restless.

“Inky won’t hurt them,” said Luke, petting the cat. “She’s a good girl.”

“Nay, you don’t understand. These are hunting birds, Luke. They hunt prey bigger than that cat. This isn’t a safe environment for Inky.”

“She’s right,” said Roger. “You’d better take the cat back to the barn.”

“Nay,” protested Luke. “I am bringing Inky with us.”

“With you? Where are you going?” asked Regina.

“On an outing.”

“What kind of outing?” she asked.

“The one that we’re going on with you. That is why Sage sent me to fetch you.” He reached out and took Regina’s hand, pulling her toward the door.

“I’d better get back to work in the stables,” said Fred. “My grandfather won’t be happy that I’ve been gone so long.”

“Yes, you’d better,” said Regina as Luke pulled her out the door and to a horse and wagon that was waiting. On the bench seat sat Sage and Robin. Their one-and-a-half year old little boy, Martin, was sitting between them.

“Hello, Regina. Hurry up and get in the wagon,” instructed Sage.

“What? Why?” she asked, thinking this was so odd.

“We are going on a little outing and taking you with us since it is such a nice day,” Robin told her.

Regina considered getting away, but then thought she’d be in the way since Sage and Robin might want to be alone with their child. Just their little family. “Thank you, but I think I’ll stay here.”

“Inky and I are going.” Luke jumped in the back of the wagon and put the cat down in the hay that was covering the bottom of the cart. The cat batted and swatted at a fly and jumped up in the air, landing covered in hay.

“Please, Regina,” begged Sage.“You seem upset today and I think some time out in the fresh air and open areas away from the castle will be good for you.”

“Unless you’re forgetting, I spend time in open areas and in the fresh air every day with my birds,” she told her sister-by-marriage.

“Today you’ll do it without your birds,” Sage told her. “Now get in.” She said it in such a commanding tone that Regina obeyed, climbing in the back of the wagon with the boy. The cat hurried over and settled atop her lap.

“Oh, my, you’re a friendly one,” she said, running her hand over the kitten’s back as Robin drove the cart and they started to move.

“Yes, I’ve been called friendly on more than one occasion by a pretty woman,” came Hunter’s voice as he ran up behind the wagon and jumped up. He pushed in right between her and Luke and sat down. “However, I can’t say I’ve ever heard those words about me coming from your mouth before.” That silly grin was on his face again. The three of them sat on the back of the wagon with their feet dangling over the open end.

“Hunter, what are you doing here?” asked Regina, still petting Inky.

“Same as you,” he answered, taking the cat from her and putting Inky on his lap. When he did so, his hands brushed against hers, sending a spiral of excitement shooting through her.

“We’re going on an outing to eat food down by the creek,” Luke blurted out.

“Me, too,” Hunter answered, running his fingers through the cat’s fur, making the thing actually purr. The feline rubbed up against him.

“You weren’t invited,” said Regina, her heart racing just being so close to him.

“Hunter, aren’t you supposed to be hunting down thieves today?” Robin called out from the front of the cart.

“I invited him, dear,” Sage told her husband. “Everyone needs to stop and eat.”

“Of course,” mumbled Regina, knowing Sage was trying to get her to gush over Hunter the way the other ladies did this morning in the solar.

Regina looked over at the pregnant woman and mouthed the words what are you doing?