Page 21 of Suddenly Entwined

Lou glances down at her boots. “No,” she says, voice small.

Everyone has met a Milly before. Unfortunately, they don’t stop being that way when they turn ten.

“Pfff, who needs horse riding when you have Murphy here?”

I give him an affectionate pat and I’m pretty sure he burps.

“Murphy looks fat.”

I cock my head to the side. He sort of does. But if my job was to stand there and look cute while people fed me, I’d be too. I’m already over this snobby girl routine. I crouch down, careful to keep my feet firmly planted.

“Lou, I’m having a lot of fun at your birthday party. I’m super glad you invited me.”

She smears a line in the mud with her boot. “Really?”

I nod vigorously. “Should we track down that hot chocolate your dad promised me?”

“Milly!” Louisa gasps, glancing over my shoulder. “You shouldn’t be over there!”

I twist around so quickly I almost lose my balance. The girl has climbed right over the fence.

My heart pounds with surprise. “Um, Milly? Climb back over here right now.”

She gives me a snotty look. “You’re not my mom.”

My jaw drops. Oh, she’s a real piece of work.

“I want to see the animals closer. Don’t worry, I’m experienced.”

I turn, ready to call for Berg’s help but he’s all the way over at the present table now.

“For the love of…” I throw up my hands and turn back to try a little more negotiating with the know it all. Then I see it.

“Louisa,” I breathe. “No, no, no.”

She’s climbed over the damn fence too.

“Lou. Lou, honey? Climb back over right now.” I stride back to the pen, sick with worry.

Milly gives me a snide look. “You’re not her mom either. Louisa doesn’t even have a mom.”

I am utterly dumbfounded by her comment. Suddenly, I’m glad Berg wasn’t nearby to hear that.

“No. No, I'm not. But I am an adult.”

Why is nobody at this event watching their children? Is the hot chocolate spiked?

“Wanna see him run?” says Milly to Lou.

Run? Oh, no.

“Okay.” Lou nods, her eyes round with interest.

“Louisa, um…” I wrack my brain for Berg’s last name, “Louisa MacMillan,” I hiss. “Get your cute little butt out of that pen right now.”

This is definitely a middle name situation, but I don’t know it.

Milly raises her hand, and like it’s in slow motion, I watch her smack it down on Murphy’s butt. Haunch? Flank? But Murphy doesn’t run. He lets out an angry bray and kicks powerfully, narrowly missing Milly. The little girl screams and retreats in fear. But Murphy is still pissed about the proximity of the tiny people in his pen, and he’s not finished. I’m over the damn fence in a flash, and the next thing I know, I’ve tackled Louisa out of the way, directly into a deep puddle of mud and only god knows what else. A wince in pain as my shoulder connects with something hard and sharp, but I hug Lou tight anyway, ignoring it to make sure she’s safe.

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