“That’sa good one…butRustyseems like it could be every red fox’s name,” she said, giving a small shake of her head.
“Well, let’s look at a list of fox names,” he suggested with a wink.
Shelaughed. “There’snot a list of fox names, but there are names that sound more fitting for a fox.LikeHunter,Spark,Blaze.”Thenames just spilled from her lips.
“I’lladmit those are good.Iwouldn’t suggest a proper name…likeWilliamorEdward.Istill likeRusty.Butif you don’t like that one or any of the others you’ve just named, there’sDart,Ashe, andFenton.That’sabout allIcan think of.”
“Ashe…Ilike that name.”
“Let’sthink about it for a little while.Tryit out and see how the fox likes it.Inthe meantime,I’mgoing to head over to the groundskeeper’s cottage.I’llbe back soon.”
Shewatched him leave the parlor and suddenly felt lonely.Whenshe turned back, the fox was staring up at her.
“Doyou likeAshe?” she asked.Hethumped his tail.Didthat mean he liked the name? “Ordo you preferFenton?”
Thefox smiled.Atleast, she thought it looked very much like a smile.Butmaybe it was a grimace.
“Fenton?” she asked again.
Hekept the smile…or grimace.
“OrAshe?”Shenoticed his tail thumped again and this time he twitched his nose. “Youseem to have different feelings about that name.AlthoughI’mnot sure which is better, a smile-grimace or a thump of the tail.Ordoes the twitch of the nose show excitement?Nomatter.Itappears we have narrowed the names down.So, let’s see whatLordScarboroughsays about it.He’llbe back shortly.”
Thelittle fellow’s ears perked up.
“Isee you like him.I’lladmit.Theman’s hard to ignore,” she said with a sigh.Theman was very hard to ignore.Butwith all that had happened in her life recently, the last thing she wanted was to be involved with a man.Notthat someone likeRowanwould even consider someone like her.Hewas no doubt used to spending time with very elegant and glamorous ladies.
Fifteenminutes later,Rowanreturned. “Thegroundskeeper seems to have gone home for the holidays.Butlucky for us, his larder wasn’t completely empty.”Hebegan to unload items from his pockets.Eggsfilled the inside pockets of his coat, bread from a large coat pocket, a few potatoes, carrots, two jars of what appeared to be two different types of beans, a wrapper that contained butter, and a small pail of milk.
“Whatwill we do with all of that?”Lucyasked.
“Eat,Ihope.”Hepatted his pockets as though searching for something else. “There’spart of a hoop of cheese here, somewhere.Thegroundskeeper had apparently just purchased it.”
“Buthow…Idon’t know what to do,” she croaked, suddenly ashamed to admit such a thing.
Hegave a half-smile. “Ican cook.Remember,I’ma soldier.Notonly haveIslept on the ground under the stars, butI’vehad to scrounge for food.”Hechuckled and looked at the small pile of food on the chair. “Inthis situation, this bounty is a veritable banquet.”
Apang of hunger hit her stomach, andLucyheard her stomach growl.Horrified, she looked up atRowan, who was wearing a smile. “Youheard that.”Itwasn’t a question.Shecould tell he had.
“Youcan’t blame that onJackthere,” he said, pointing to the fox, who incredibly was sitting next to the fireplace watching them with a curious expression on his sweet little face.
“NotJack.AsheandFentonwere the two names we were discussing.Doyou not like one of them?” she asked, happy to get past the embarrassment of her growling stomach.
“Youreally plan to name him?”
“Yes.Ido,” she said, crossing her arms. “Iname all of my animals.”
“Ivote forAshe.Consideringhe’s sitting in front of a fireplace,Ithink it’s fitting.”
Shelooked at the fox. “Doyou like the nameAshe?”
Thesmall fox opened his mouth, and a small sound that sounded a lot like a purr came out.
“Youwere right on two counts.Hisbowl is already dry.Thelittle fellow was thirsty, and it seems he likes that name,”Rowansaid. “Ashe,Ican replenish that water for you.”Hepoured more of the water from the pail into the bowl.
Thelittle fox immediately began lapping the water.Hepaused and gaveLucyandRowana look as if to saythanksand continued to lap the water.
Feelingrestless, she stood and hopped to the fireplace, thinking of pettingAshe.
