“I’ll check the riding arena before I head back to my office, but if he were here, he would have heard me calling him.”
“Does he come when called?”
“Yes.”
She looked around the stable as if trying to figure out where the dog might be. “Will Maximillian obey or do tricks in the hopes of getting food?”
“He likes both treats and attention.”
Kat reached into her coat pocket and crinkled something. The noise sounded like a candy wrapper. “Some animals associate sounds with food and come running.”
No dog appeared.
She continued the crinkling and then stopped. “Looks like he’s somewhere else.”
That was where Gill wanted to be. Somewhere else. Far away from her.
Seeing Kat put him on edge. He didn’t like the feeling. Nor did he like her walking around the grounds by herself. She had just arrived. She couldn’t know where she was going and would only end up lost or getting in the staff’s way.
“Where’s Sophie?” he asked.
“Around.”
“Where?”
“Somewhere.”
Kat’s evasive answer added to his suspicions. The woman was definitely keeping secrets.
Sophie stepped out of the last stall on the end. “I’m right here.”
Gill couldn’t remember the last time his sister had been to the stable. She no longer rode horses. She’d taken up mountain biking because of Bertrand. “What were you doing in there?”
She touched her left earlobe. “I was showing Kat around and thought I’d lost an earring.”
“Gill’s dog is missing,” Kat offered.
Sophie shook her head. “Maximillian is always running off. Thank goodness the castle is walled or he’d be long gone.”
“You said this is a new habit?” Kat’s voice sounded different, almost clinical. “Have you taken him in for a checkup recently?”
Gill balled his hands. “Maximillian is up to date on his visits and vaccinations.”
Kat rubbed her chin with her gloved hand.
“He’s a healthy dog who gets plenty of exercise and attention,” Gill added.
“A little defensive, are we?” Sophie teased.
He didn’t need both of them getting on him the way they used to at camp. “I’m going back to the castle.”
“If we find Maximillian, we’ll let you know,” Kat said.
Sophie nodded. “Otherwise, we’ll see you at dinner.”
“Thanks for the warning.” Gill noticed Kat staring into the riding arena. “See something?”
Her gaze narrowed. “An orange-and-white dog ran across the arena with an apple or ball in his mouth. I think it might have been yours, except…”
