Free Willow the lonely kitten by Tina Nolan Page B

Okeham” – Eva typed the correct address on the order form, pressed Send, then turned off the computer. She was about to switch off the lights when the phone rang and she picked it up.
    “Hello, this is Cath Brown,” the voice said.
    “Hi, Cath. This is Eva. Do you want to speak to Mum about Oliver and Peggy?”
    “No, I just need you to pass on a message.” The owner of the pony sanctuary sounded as if she was in a hurry.
    “Go ahead,” Eva said.
    “I’m not sure, but I think I’ve just heard a kitten in distress.”
    “Whose kitten is it?” Eva asked, ready with pencil and paper. She planned to write down exactly what Cath told her.
    “That’s the problem – I’m not sure who it belongs to. I was out fixing the fence at the bottom of one of my fields and I heard it miaowing inside a cottage down the lane from me – there were no lights on in the house or any other sign of life.”
    “You’re sure the owners aren’t out at the supermarket or something?” Kitten , Eva wrote. Empty cottage.
    “I’m sure,” Cath replied. “In fact, I know that the people who lived there moved out earlier this week. That’s why I was surprised to hear a kitten crying, and why I thought I should let you know. I’m afraid I have to go out now – a work thing – otherwise I’d have taken a look myself.”
    “Can you give me the address?” Eva asked, writing again as Cath spoke. Willow Cottage, Leebank Lane.
    “Like I said, I might be wasting your time, but I’d rather be safe than sorry.”
    A kitten crying inside a lonely cottage down a dark lane, in the middle of winter – this certainly sounded worrying. “Thanks, Cath. I’ll tell Mum.” She hung up and ran across the yard to find Heidi.
    Her mum listened carefully, then nodded. She reached for her jacket. “Come on, Eva, let’s take a look!”

    The drive to Leebank took twenty minutes along narrow roads that curved and rose and twisted and turned. Heidi’s headlights drilled through the darkness, lighting up the stone walls to either side.
    “Cath did warn me that there might be nothing wrong,” Eva told her mum.
    Heidi indicated, then turned down Leebank Lane. “Let’s hope that’s the case,” she said quietly. “But meanwhile, we’ll check anyway. There’s Cath’s place on the right – see the sign by the gate?”
    Eva nodded. “She told me Willow Cottage is further down the lane. Slow down a bit, Mum, so I can take a proper look.”
    The car bumped and shuddered along the rough track. “I’ve never been down here before,” Heidi admitted.
    “There’s something up ahead!” Eva pointed out. “A gate on the left and a farm track. Hang on, Mum – this could be it!”
    Heidi braked and turned on to the track. Now their headlights revealed a low stone building and a sign on the gatepost that read “Willow Cottage”.

    “Come on!” Eager as ever, Eva jumped out. Heidi pulled a torch from her pocket and together they approached the house. “It looks deserted,” Eva whispered.
    Heidi listened then agreed. “I don’t hear a kitten, do you? Maybe Cath made a mistake.”
    They listened again. A strong wind blew through the trees behind the house.
    “Did you hear that?” Eva cried. Above the gusting wind she thought she heard a high, miaowing cry. It was muffled and faint, but definitely there.
    Heidi nodded. “Let’s go round the back.”
    Eva ran ahead, stumbling against a rusty tractor parked at the side of the cottage, then picking her way over a pile of rubble.

    “What a mess,” Heidi muttered as she followed. She flashed her torch beam around the overgrown garden and the twisted willows growing by a stream.
    “Over here, Mum – I’ve found the back door.” Eva’s eyes had grown used to the darkness and she could now make out an old wooden porch. Once more she stumbled in her hurry to reach the door.
    Miaow! Miaow! There was no mistaking it now – there was a kitten here in this lonely place, and it sounded as if