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“You’d almost have to think Ashton wrote this,” Bec said at last.
Lily shook her head. “He mentioned that Henry was missing the other day, but he didn’t hint that he knew Henry was here. If he does know, he’s a fantastic actor. No, I don’t think it’s Ashton who’s leaving the notes.”
Bec looked worried. “I’m almost wishing …”
“Wishing what?”
“That we didn’t have Henry,” Bec said softly. “I can’t believe I said that. I don’t want him to go back to the farm, but … I don’t know what the solution is.”
“Taking him back would be the easiest thing to do,” Lily replied. “I’m getting weary of sneaking around trying to hide him from everyone. And I don’t like the thought of going to jail if we get caught with him.”
“That’s only because you’re getting along with Ashton now,” Bec replied. “You no longer have the same motivation to keep Henry out of his clutches.”
“It’s not that,” Lily said. “It just feels wrong to have him here. And while we can both argue that we didn’t really steal him, I doubt that a police officer would see it that way. Besides, at the end of the day, he’s Ashton’s. Not ours. Not the neighbor’s. And we just took him.”
“Of course we didn’t steal him,” Bec said scornfully. “We just gave him a little vacation … until he can find a safe place where he won’t get turned into sausages.”
Lily sighed. “But your little act of mercy is having unwanted consequences on our lives,” she said. “How long can we continue to hide him without getting caught? Do you really want to go to jail?”
“Of course not. I just wish my friends would come back so I could take him to a safe place and be done with it.”
“But could you really live with what you’d done?” Lily argued. “Ashton has suffered loss and inconvenience because of what we did. It doesn’t sit right with me.”
Bec sighed. “This is the problem when you involve someone who doesn’t share the vegan ethos,” she muttered. “They fall over when you need them.”
Lily shook her head. “We’ll probably never agree on this, Bec. Sorry. I just think you should take Henry back home, confess to Ashton what happened, and bear whatever consequences come our way. Even if it means shoveling pig manure.”
Bec wrinkled her nose. “Not funny. And even if I wanted to take him back, I can’t. I still don’t have a trailer.”
“Ashton does.”
Bec shook her head. “Uh-uh. I’m not ready to let Henry go back to the farm and get murdered. I’ll think of another way out.”
“Well, it had better be soon or we’ll both end up in jail.” Lily stared out the window at Henry as he lumbered through the yard. “I saw Winifred yesterday. She told me she visited Gloria in hospital, and Gloria is expecting to get her jaw brace off next week. She’ll be able to talk then, and the whole world will know what we did anyway. We’re doomed.”
“Not yet, we’re not,” Bec said determinedly. “I’ll think of something.”
“Well, it had better not be another one of your crazy ideas,” Lily retorted. “They’ve just gone from bad to worse lately.”
Bec stuck out her tongue in Lily’s direction. “Don’t doubt me. You’ll see, and then you’ll have to admit how brilliant I am.”
“So are stiletto heels. But it doesn’t mean that cows should wear them. Use your brilliance wisely, Bec.”
Bec huffed in frustration and headed for the door. “I’m going to feed Henry,” she said. “Let me come up with a plan for his future.” She paused. “Have you fed Peter and Paul?” she asked.
“Yes, I was just over at Winifred’s. That’s how I found the note on the doorstep.”
“Good, that’s one thing I don’t have to do. Peter and Paul were singing their little hearts out when I went over there last night. I love canaries.”
“Well, you’re welcome to enjoy them for another week or two until Winifred comes home again. She said she’s not sure how long she’ll be away.”
“She deserves a nice visit with her daughter,” Bec said. “I don’t mind caring for her pets until she comes home.”
Lily gave her a pointed look. “Let’s hope it isn’t too soon,” she said. “That’s one less person we have to worry about when it comes to Henry.”
“Oh, Winifred isn’t nosy, and she’s quite hard of hearing. I don’t think she’ll notice Henry.”
“Not until Gloria can talk, and then the entire town will notice Henry.”
