Hotspur

CHAPTER 29

The horses calling over the pastures told the hounds what had happened. The news passed from animal to animal. Domesticated animals wished to protect their humans.

The wild animals, with the exception of the foxes, generally didn’t care what humans did to one another. Sister took care of the foxes, and they wished no harm to come to her.

Athena, Bitsy, and Inky sat protected under a heavy canopy of oak leaves.

“The killer’s come out of his lair,” Bitsy said. She had grown fond of some of the humans.

“Bad enough Nola was killed. Bad enough,” Inky repeated to herself.

Athena turned her head upside down, then right side up. “Cold-blooded. If we hadn’t sheltered in the Bancrofts’ barn we’d know who shot Ralph.”

“The humans won’t figure it out, will they?” Bitsy worried.

Athena breathed in, her huge chest expanding outward, parting her feathers enough to show the beautiful shaded variations underneath. “This is bad. Very bad. When a killer breaks cover like this he’s both ruthless and now reckless.”

“What about Sister? Is she safe?”

“Who knows?” Bitsy shrugged. “Any human who gets in the way is in danger, I would guess.”

“Pity you foxes can’t lead the killer to his death. It would be a fitting end,” Athena said.

“A lot of things happen during a hunt. Maybe we will get our chance,” Inky said, “if we can find out who it is.”

“Well, this is certainly a hunt. If a mouse sits stock-still, I might miss him. But if he moves, then I’ve got a chance. This human is moving.” Athena blinked. “He really has broken cover.”

“But he’s foiling his scent,” Inky said.

“He’ll make a mistake. He’ll come into view. I just hope the next human who flushes him out is ready.”