Barn Cat! Where are you going?” Fern knew she didn’t have much time. “Look!” She pulled open her bag, rummaged around and pulled out the tin of tuna. “I have prime cuts of tuna in exchange for information!”
The cat stopped mid-stride and turned back around, eyeing the tin of tuna.
“A little human manners wouldn’t go far. How about a “ please, can you come here?”
Fern’s eyes widened in shock. Her attitude worked with the cat!
“Er, I’m, er, I’m sorry.” Fern stumbled on her words. Besides, Essie, she had never spoken with another animal before. “You can really hear me?”
“Of course I can. I just chose to ignore you. But you mention tuna, lady?”
“Yes, yes! Here it is.” Fern held out her hand, lowering herself to the ground whilst the cat cautiously approached. He sniffed her hand.
“Not bad. Good choice. So what do you want?”
Fern backed up against a little alcove and the cat came closer, eyes still on the prized tin.
“Well, first of all, my name is Fern Amesbury. And in case you’re wondering why I can converse with you, it’s because I’m a witch.”
“Seriously? Good for you.”
“Do you have to be so standoffish? I’m trying to make an effort here.” Fern frowned and crossed her arms.
“Fine. Whatever. How can I assist you, Fern Amesbury?”
It was no use trying to be friends. He clearly wasn’t interested and Fern was on borrowed time.
“Okay, well, here’s the thing. Do you know anything about the sheep that have been poisoned?”
The cat looked around before he answered. “Yeah, I heard about that. Not that we talk to each other, but we were naturally sorry to see them go.”
“Did you see anyone suspicious on the farm?”
The cat thought for a moment. “Well, we’ve seen that Angela Barker on the farm a few times – albeit, whenever the Sir and Lady are out.”
Fern nodded, not wanting to interrupt. She waited patiently for more information, but he didn’t comment further.
“Well, do you know who else had access to the sheep over the past few days? Could someone have snuck into the paddocks?”
“Highly unlikely. As you know, Sir Chesterton is very proud of his sheep. He’s the only one who feeds them at mealtimes.” He yawned and licked his lips. “Then again, I do have my own thing to do, so I haven’t exactly been monitoring their every movement.”
“Of course.” Fern knew that she was out of quota with her questioning. “Well, thank you for your time.” She popped open the ring pull on the tin and pushed it towards him.
“Thanks, Fern Amesbury. Feel free to drop by with this anytime you want.”
Fern smirked as she watched him tuck into the tuna.
“I’ll be off now. See you around Barn Cat.”
He didn’t bother to reply, too busy enjoying himself.
Fern crept out of the Manor and back onto the road, her head awash with jumbled thoughts.
She was excited to get home and report back to Zinnia and Essie.
Chapter Eight
W hen Fern reached home , she found Zinnia and Essie sitting in the front room, with the log fire roaring in the background.
“Hi. I’m back.”
They both looked up, relief washing over Zinnia’s face.
“Oh thank goodness, Fern. I was beginning to get worried.” She pulled off her reading glasses and put down her book. “How did it go?”
Essie also looked at her expectantly and Fern removed her coat, muttering a few words under her breath. The cupboard under the stairs opened and her coat and scarf flew over to the pegs, hanging themselves up on the hooks.
She took a seat on the single armchair.
“Well, it was certainly productive. I found out why Lady Cecily was in my back room.”
“Why?” Zinnia asked, “and how did she defend herself about being caught red-handed?”
“She was a little…uptight at first, but she soon confessed. Turns out she’s got a thing for my orchids and was searching for soil samples.”
“What?” Essie spoke, surprised. “Soil samples? What a strange
The cat stopped mid-stride and turned back around, eyeing the tin of tuna.
“A little human manners wouldn’t go far. How about a “ please, can you come here?”
Fern’s eyes widened in shock. Her attitude worked with the cat!
“Er, I’m, er, I’m sorry.” Fern stumbled on her words. Besides, Essie, she had never spoken with another animal before. “You can really hear me?”
“Of course I can. I just chose to ignore you. But you mention tuna, lady?”
“Yes, yes! Here it is.” Fern held out her hand, lowering herself to the ground whilst the cat cautiously approached. He sniffed her hand.
“Not bad. Good choice. So what do you want?”
Fern backed up against a little alcove and the cat came closer, eyes still on the prized tin.
“Well, first of all, my name is Fern Amesbury. And in case you’re wondering why I can converse with you, it’s because I’m a witch.”
“Seriously? Good for you.”
“Do you have to be so standoffish? I’m trying to make an effort here.” Fern frowned and crossed her arms.
“Fine. Whatever. How can I assist you, Fern Amesbury?”
It was no use trying to be friends. He clearly wasn’t interested and Fern was on borrowed time.
“Okay, well, here’s the thing. Do you know anything about the sheep that have been poisoned?”
The cat looked around before he answered. “Yeah, I heard about that. Not that we talk to each other, but we were naturally sorry to see them go.”
“Did you see anyone suspicious on the farm?”
The cat thought for a moment. “Well, we’ve seen that Angela Barker on the farm a few times – albeit, whenever the Sir and Lady are out.”
Fern nodded, not wanting to interrupt. She waited patiently for more information, but he didn’t comment further.
“Well, do you know who else had access to the sheep over the past few days? Could someone have snuck into the paddocks?”
“Highly unlikely. As you know, Sir Chesterton is very proud of his sheep. He’s the only one who feeds them at mealtimes.” He yawned and licked his lips. “Then again, I do have my own thing to do, so I haven’t exactly been monitoring their every movement.”
“Of course.” Fern knew that she was out of quota with her questioning. “Well, thank you for your time.” She popped open the ring pull on the tin and pushed it towards him.
“Thanks, Fern Amesbury. Feel free to drop by with this anytime you want.”
Fern smirked as she watched him tuck into the tuna.
“I’ll be off now. See you around Barn Cat.”
He didn’t bother to reply, too busy enjoying himself.
Fern crept out of the Manor and back onto the road, her head awash with jumbled thoughts.
She was excited to get home and report back to Zinnia and Essie.
Chapter Eight
W hen Fern reached home , she found Zinnia and Essie sitting in the front room, with the log fire roaring in the background.
“Hi. I’m back.”
They both looked up, relief washing over Zinnia’s face.
“Oh thank goodness, Fern. I was beginning to get worried.” She pulled off her reading glasses and put down her book. “How did it go?”
Essie also looked at her expectantly and Fern removed her coat, muttering a few words under her breath. The cupboard under the stairs opened and her coat and scarf flew over to the pegs, hanging themselves up on the hooks.
She took a seat on the single armchair.
“Well, it was certainly productive. I found out why Lady Cecily was in my back room.”
“Why?” Zinnia asked, “and how did she defend herself about being caught red-handed?”
“She was a little…uptight at first, but she soon confessed. Turns out she’s got a thing for my orchids and was searching for soil samples.”
“What?” Essie spoke, surprised. “Soil samples? What a strange
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