Vixen Hunted (19 page)

"That would be
more convincing if you weren't drooling," Timothy said. "Sounds like
you have a plan."

She wiped her mouth
with the back of her hand and glared long enough to drive her point home.

"Not really."
She sipped her tea. "At least, not yet."

Timothy sighed.
"Shefar asked about the river stones. I saw several people wearing them
today."

Kit nodded. "Good.
I thought they would jump on the idea with the festival."

"So that was your
plan?"

"People like to
buy worthless things at festivals. I guessed the stones would work. I need a
bath." She threw off the coverlet and stretched. Her ears strained to
touch the ceiling. "I am feeling much better now."

"It was all only a
guess? After spending all our money?"

"I am a lucky and
cunning fox. You look passable enough to be seen in public with your darling
wife."

"And who might
this 'darling wife' be? I only know of a red-headed trickster who plans on
swindling people."

"This trickster
merely wants people to enjoy the festivities. You are going to have to practice
your dancing if all goes well." She stretched hard enough to pop.

"Dancing?"

"I do feel better.
Those cake things were really good. I want more of them. You are going to be a
merchant, a rich merchant in the next few days." She tied her headscarf.
"I am done with walking and with smelling like a shepherd. There are only
going to be carriages and baths in the future for this fox."

Timothy's hands stopped
moments away from wiping honey on his new trousers. He settled for his old
clothes. They needed to be washed anyway. He replaced his empty plate on the
tray and stepped toward the door. Kit's brow furrowed.

"Where do you
think you are going?" she asked.

"I assumed you
wanted to go out."

"Hmph. Trying to
guess my mind and guessing right. First, I am going to sell the rest of the
stones. You are going to have my bath drawn and find more of these cake
things."

"I should
go—"

Kit crossed her arms.
Her ears twitched under her scarf. "Some things are wifely duties, like
earning money."

"I don't
think—"

"If you are good,
I might buy you some books."

There was nothing for
it. He might as well play along. "Oh boy! I would like that, Ma!"

Kit grimaced.

Timothy savored the
small victory and mocked a bow. "I will leave negotiations to you but for
a glimpse of your tail."

Kit lifted her chin.
"I am best at negotiations, after all." She bounced from the bed and
smoothed her blouse, her tail pushing at her skirts. "New clothes are also
in order." She pushed past him, laid a hand on the door knob, and smiled
fangs over her shoulder. "Ruffles suit you."

Chapter 12

Tera clasped her shawl
as the wind threw a few brown leaves into the garish press of people. Even the
poorest turned out in brightly colored rags for this festival. Didn't they have
better things to do? They should be praying in the church.

"It is nothing but
an excuse to drink and eat too much." Tera tapped her foot.

Balwar and Guillermo
insisted that Tahd would be in this town. They followed the stories of a kind,
red-haired girl and a strange lamb. That little girl, Gristle or whatever her
name was, was smitten by the demon. The Jesuits claimed Tahd would track her
the same way. Was Brother Tahd really the heretic Balwar and Guillermo claimed
he was?

"A demon would
enjoy this sinful festival, but Timothy will be saved. I have faith in that.
Mother Mae will have to repent of her lies when I return with Timothy."
Tera understood how a young man like Timothy could be seduced by the fox,
especially after all Tera had seen of the demon. Many men must have fallen for
that fox.

Tera imagined Timothy
lying with the red fox, the fox's white skin pressed against the boy's tan. Its
small chest buried into the boy's just as…

"Stop it. You are
about God's work." She slapped her cold cheeks. "It must be the
stories Brother Guillermo told me that made me think of such evil
possibilities."

"I see the hunt
has a hold on you too, Sister."

Tera whirled to see a
scarred face under a forest green hood. "Brother Tahd!"

"She is in this
town."
He scanned the people milling about on the street. A strange
gleam burned in his eyes.

"I already heard
gossip about a beautiful red-haired girl who must be sold to pay off her
husband's debt," Tera said. The festival brought more gossip than people.
This or that noble found with a seamstress. This merchant lost everything
gambling. A cute red-haired girl sold to pay off her father-in-law's debts. No,
her husband's debts. No, she saved her husband from a slave camp.

"It is a cunning
cover." Tahd's gaze roved.

"But wouldn't it
draw attention?"

"Exactly. Hiding
in plain sight is one of the best tactics. But it doesn't matter. This is where
the hunt ends. It has gone on as long as I can allow it. She will not run. Not
now. The moment I love and hate is coming."

His lips peeled back to
reveal white teeth. "She won't be able to run anymore after I catch her.
She won't need legs for what I have in mind. We can't let such excellent prey
disappear forever." He flowed into the crowd and vanished.

Tera's blood iced.

"There you are,
sister." Balwar appeared from the crowd.

Tera squeaked. Did they
all have to sneak around?

"We were right. A
man matching Valador's description was seen by the militia, as was a red-haired
woman. Is something wrong?"

"N…no. I am just a
little cold."

"It is too cold
for autumn." The Jesuit glanced at the sky. "In any case, once
Brother Guillermo returns, we can speak with the diocese and get the town's
militia to help us track down the heretic."

The look in Tahd's
eyes…Tera shivered. Maybe the Jesuits were right after all.

Kit's tail wagged. She
wore a new blouse that matched the color of Timothy's shirt. Delicate lace
lined the long sleeves and adorned her chest, and she wore a new pair of light
brown leggings. A half-eaten plate of flat cakes lay in her hands, and honey
pooled on one side of the plate. Kit ran a finger over the rim of the nearby
honey pitcher. A golden rivulet slid down the pitcher and caught the fire
dancing in the hearth. Her ears fluffed. Timothy picked at the ruffles in his
shirt. Fool things.

"How did you do
it?" Timothy held up a gold coin. "I could eat well for a year with
just one of these."

More coins cascaded on
the table. The pool of honey trapped a few of them.

Kit failed to hide a
satisfied smile behind her cup. "There are at least fifteen of those,
shepherd."

"I know. I see
them. But how? Why? Why would anyone pay that much for just a few bags of
rocks?"

"It is your wife's
excellent acting." Kit laid an arm over her forehead. "Oh, thank you
kind sir! With this much we can pay off the debt and more besides." Her
lower lip quivered.

She lowered her arm and
deepened her voice. "I cannot see a lovely lady like you needing to work
to pay off such a debt. My family founded this town to provide work so such
evils are no more."

"He didn't really
say that." Timothy studied one of the gold coins.

"Nope! But I am a
good actress, yes?" Kit licked honey from a finger.

"It still doesn't
make sense. They are just rocks."

"Don't ask me.
Humans are strange. Diamonds and rubies are just rocks, yet people buy them for
a lot of money. Money is just metal. I like this festival! There is a lot of
honey!" Kit smacked her lips.

"Diamonds and
rubies are just rocks," Timothy said. "I hadn't thought about it that
way."

"And they are more
common than the rocks I sold. I said I was tired of walking. I just made sure I
won't have to anymore!"

"I wouldn't have
thought about selling rocks."

Kit shrugged and her
tail slapped the air. "I am a fox, after all. If it helps you feel better,
I do think you are smart in a bookish sort of way. You are just not usefully
smart like me."

"If you are so
usefully smart, why didn't you do this before you met me? You could be a rich
merchant."

"A lonely
merchant." Her ears wilted. "I…I didn't want to take this journey
alone."

"Sorry."

She leaned back in the
chair and laughed, and the chair's back legs complained. Her bare feet barely
missed the honey solidifying on the table. "Today is not a day for that.
Today is a day that starts our carriage rides, hot baths, and beds without
fleas!" She smirked. "Besides, I am rather fond of you and your
awkward, shy habits. I am fond enough that I just might want you to keep me
warm one night."

Timothy felt his face
heat. "I would suffer from frostbite with your cold feet against me."

Her smile widened. A
sharp tooth escaped her lips. "You are still trying. You do have the
cutest face when it flushes."

The chair thumped. She
pressed her knees against her chin. "Did you find the location of my town
yet?"

"I…I haven't asked
around yet."

Kit leaned back in the
chair again and sighed. "Your one job." She tisked.

"About that—"

"Oh!" Coins
tingled. Kit rummaged through the bag. "Here it is!" She held a cream
envelope between two fingers.

"What's
that?" Timothy took the dense weave paper. The letter smelled faintly of
roses. "This is an invitation to a ball."

"The Founder's Day
Merchant Social Ball. Shefar gave me the invitation himself. It's tomorrow
night." Kit held up a finger. "And guess what?"

"Absolutely
not." Timothy tossed the invitation on the table. "You still have
people trying to cut off your ears and tail, remember?"

"So you forbid
me?" Kit's eyes smoldered. Her finger stabbed the table.

"Tahd is here. If
it keeps you safe, yes, I forbid you to go." Timothy clapped his mouth
shut. Wrong words. Those were definitely the wrong words.

"Oh yes! My
mistake." Kit slid to the floor and snatched his hand. Honey stuck to her
fingers. She looked up at him through her bangs. "I am sorry, husband. I
forget myself. Should I cook you something, or would you rather we work on a
child? I am barefoot already. Is it okay that I made you this money? I am just
a stupid girl, after all."

Timothy groaned.
"Would you stop it? You know I don't think that of you. It is just not
safe to mingle with so many. What if you are discovered? Someone could just
accidentally step on your tail, or a gust of wind could reveal your ears. What
if Tahd is there?"

She returned to her
chair. "This is a chance for me to find out about my home. Someone there
must have heard of the name."

Timothy sighed.
"And you will not pass up a chance to preen and prance. When is this
ball?"

"Well, it is fun
to dress up. Tomorrow night." Kit put a hand on Timothy's shoulder. He
knew she could feel the scar's ridges through his shirt. "I am touched by
your concern." Her fingers dug into his shoulder. "But do not treat
me as a child. I am only a little less fond of you for thinking I like to preen
and prance. I only like to preen, thank you."

She relaxed her
fingers. "Have you thought that I want him to find us?"

"Do you
mean?" Timothy went cold. Could she do that?

"No more. No more
running for you either. I just might decide I am not fond of you after all if
you do."

"Is that all I had
to do to escape your paws?"

Kit lightly backhanded
his nose. "I don't think I will ever let you escape my paws. You are too
fun and cute in a dry, fuddy-duddy way." She slid the coins into the
purse, licking one of the coins coated with honey.

Timothy grimaced.
"That coin is probably filthy. Are you going to lick the table too?"

She closed the
drawstrings on the purse. "You sound like your mother." She
hestitated." Sorry, I shouldn't have said that. See? Apologies are not
hard when you say something you should not."

"I think I saw her
the other day."

"Who haven't you
seen? I doubt she would leave her room." Kit traced a finger over
Timothy's stubble. "I rather like you with this fur."

"I do need a
shave." He rubbed the stubble on his chin.

"You will
not!"

"As you command,
my princess."

"Will my knight
escort his princess to the banquet hall?" Kit asked.

Timothy stood and took
her hand. "Most assuredly, my lady. What does your heart desire?"

"Honey cake
things!"

"Perhaps you had
enough honey? Your hand is a little sticky."

"Nice way to spoil
it, Timmy. Now where'd I put that skirt and damned scarf?"

"We really should
let Cat out of the stable next time we go out."

Kit clapped her hands.
Her tail stood upright. "We can take her to the ball!"

"That wasn't what
I meant."

"We can be the
eccentric couple!"

"Like we need to
draw more attention to ourselves." Timothy had no choice but to swim the
current now.

"Stop worrying. I
have a plan. At least, I will by tomorrow. Ah! There is my skirt. I much prefer
these leggings. They are more comfortable for my tail."

"Your tail looks
happier. So are you ready now?"

Kit pulled her blouse
over the skirt and tied the headscarf. "I need a hat."

"Don't tell me.
One of the floppy ones."

"Okay! Let's eat
some more honey cakes!" She slipped her hand through his arm. Together
they walked toward the laughter and conversation below.