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“I overheard your grandma yesterday talking about the barn cats when she was at lunch with her friends and thought I’d make friends with them.”
“Winston escaped again, didn’t he?”
I pressed my lips together. “No.”
“Has anyone told you that you’re the most dreadful liar, Ellie?”
“They don’t need to. I already know that,” I admitted woefully. “I swear I don’t know how he got out. All the windows and doors were locked. I triple-checked before I went to bed.”
Max sighed heavily. “He hasn’t brought you any gifts yet, has he?”
I shook my head. “They’re usually crows and magpies when he does.”
“Well, at least he catches the vermin when he does hunt,” he muttered. “I suppose I’ll help you look for him, just in case.”
I blinked at him. “You’ll help me look?”
“I’m not pleased that he’s out again, so it benefits us both.” He glanced around. “And it’ll stop you slinking about the estate like you’re trying to break in and steal diamonds.”
“I’m not sure how to respond to that.”
“It’s merely an observation. You’d be an awful ninja.”
I eyed him. “At least I’d be a ninja with manners, unlike yourself.”
Max sighed. “Let’s get moving. I have things to do today that don’t involve tracking down your escapee feline.”
“Fine,” I mumbled, stepping away from the hydrangea bush.
Great.
I’d fallen at the very first hurdle.
Of all the gifts my mother gave me, why couldn’t her infallible ability to lie be one of them? My life would be so much easier if I could.
“I didn’t expect to see you running.”
I bristled. “Why? Because I’m carrying an extra twenty pounds I can’t run?”
Max blinked at me. “No. Because this is the first time I’ve seen you out this early in the morning in running gear.”
Oh.
Oops.
“Oh,” I squeaked out. “Sorry. I… Never mind.”
Have a few bloody triggers about that extra weight, apparently.
“Don’t worry about it. It was how I knew Winston had escaped. I’d have believed you more if you were in jeans and told me you were going for a walk.”
Bugger it.
Foiled by my own great idea.
“Sorry if that upset you,” Max said quietly. “I really didn’t mean it like that.”
“No. Apparently I just have some issues.” I forced a smile and looked away.
