As his face turned beet red, McKinnon's fist bunched up and his body coiled like an overdrawn bowstring. Struggling for control, he just muttered, "I'm not even going to dignify that remark with an answer. But I will tell you this. If I hear you've repeated it anywhere, I'll flatten you. Got that?"
Turning on his heel, he stalked out of the mill and roared off in his truck, his order forgotten.
* * *
When McKinnon's housekeeper answered the door several hours later, Charly was dismayed to find that he was in Toronto and wasn't expected home until much later in the evening. She had been so sure she would see him.
Hiding her disappointment, she went out and began her inspection of the barns and outbuildings. He had a very well run business and the standards of maintenance were high, so she didn't really expect to find anything to report. In fact, she was wondering why they had even put the file out. As she was about to leave the straw mow, she heard the distinct but weak mewling of very young kittens. Memories of searching them out in her father's barn came flooding back, and she set her clipboard and purse to one side, and then began moving quietly towards the sound.
It only took her a moment, because mamma cat had heard them as well and was on her way to feed them. Charly couldn't resist taking them from their hiding place and cuddling them for a few moments. One in particular caught her fancy. He was all black, a little larger than the rest, and much more aggressive.
"So, little Bagheera, you're going to be king of the jungle, are you?" He looked up at her with large, liquid eyes, blinking, but lying still in her hand.
"Tell me, where's McKinnon? Why hasn't he called me? I thought maybe we could be friends, but it looks like I was very wrong. I suppose socializing with an employee is just as much a no-no here as it would be in a big city office. But damn it, I enjoy talking to him."
The kitten was squirming to get his lunch, so she placed him down beside his mother, and laughed when he tried to walk and toppled over in the straw. He was soon eagerly feeding with his siblings.
"Bye, little Bagheera. Grow strong and catch lots of mice." She spoke softly as she gathered up her things and went out into the sunshine. She didn't hear the footsteps pause at the far end of the barn, nor see the tall figure standing so quietly, just listening.