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Callum reached over to give him a pet too, and got swiped by an angry paw, which scratched his hand.
‘Je-sus!’ Callum snatched his hand back.
‘Mummy says you shouldn’t say that.’
Callum looked at Fergus. ‘Pardon?’
‘That’s what she tells Daddy if he uses that word. I think it’s swearing.’
‘Ahem, well, she’s right. That was, er … very naughty of me. Um, you won’t tell your mum that I said that – will you? It’s our secret, eh?’
Fergus narrowed those big brown eyes, and seemed to consider it for a moment. ‘Okay. But you mustn’t say it again. Unless you’re saying a prayer. That’s what Mummy told Daddy.’
‘Of course. I promise,’ said Callum in relief. He looked at the cat, all mush in Fergus’ little arms, and frowned. Callum’s hand stung where the cat had scratched him. He looked at the cat and thought,Don’t blame me.It’s your fault you got into the van, fell asleep, and woke up hundreds of miles from home.
‘Can I keep him?’ Fergus asked.
‘What?’
Fergus was already opening the van door. ‘I’m going to ask my mum.’
‘No – wait!’
Surprisingly, the cat stayed in his arms as he walked at a pace to the farmhouse.
Callum quickly followed.
Chapter 31
‘Mummy, Daddy! Look what I found in Callum’s van.’
Callum stepped into the farmhouse. ‘I think I should put him back in the van.’
When Beth and Jack saw the cat, they readily agreed. ‘Son, we can’t have a cat on the farm. We’ve got chickens to think of.’
‘But I want one.’
‘How about a dog?’ Jack said.
‘Jack!’
He looked at his wife.
Fergus turned around and thrust the cat at Callum. ‘I’m getting a puppy! Yippee!’ While Fergus did a happy dance around the kitchen table, Jack got the evil eye from his wife.
Callum looked at Dickens. He expected that any minute now, the cat in his arms was going to lash out again. ‘I think I’ll go and put the cat back in the van.’ Callum made a hasty retreat, not only because he didn’t want to be attacked again by the cat, but also because he realised Jack was in trouble for suggesting a pet dog.
Oh dear, thought Callum.I definitely should not have dropped in unannounced. He glanced at the food on the table on his way out and wondered if he was still welcome for dinner. He hoped so. He was starving.
On his way out, Jack passed him a bottle of water and a small plastic bowl. When Callum had raised his eyebrows, Jack sighed and said, ‘For the cat. He must be parched.’
Callum stared at Dickens as he hot-footed it back to the van. He briefly put him down to see if he needed a toilet break, which he imagined was long overdue. Not surprisingly, he did. Dickens took more time clearing up his mess, attempting to bury it under a mound of earth. Callum scooped him up, quickly opened the van door, and gingerly placed the cat inside, along with a bowl of water. He thought he really should buy some cat food; Dickens must be starving too.
Callum shut the cat in the van and checked that all the windows were securely shut. Dickens sat in the driver’s seat and looked at him through the window. He hissed.
Callum took a step back, forgetting for a moment that there was a window between him and the grumpy cat. ‘Yeah, well, sorry but you’re going to have to stay there until I get back. I’ll bring you some leftovers.’
Callum retreated from the van, wondering whether Dickens was going to be a problem. How would he drive the van know there was a grumpy cat prowling around in there? Callum heaved a sigh. Unless Dickens was going to curl up and go to sleep, like he had been on the whole journey from Scotland, Callum knew he’d probably need to buy a cat carrier to be on the safe side.
