on the stoop as the menacing shape approaches her. It suddenly pounces onto the back step and she cannot control the gasp that escapes her lips. She’s not been as frightened as this since she was on-board the Strumpet and Black Zack and his first mate were fighting over her fate.

Bea’s gasping has an effect she didn’t, couldn’t have imagined. It causes her stalker to jump back in surprise. And to whisper her name. In a voice she knew well.

“Johnny? Is that you?” she whispers back as he falls on his rump at the bottom of the steps.

“Yes it’s me, you little minx,” he returns with a smile. “And it’s a good thing it is me, girly. Aye, a good thing indeed. You’d best be locked up inside yer rooms on a night such as this.”

Johnny stands up, only to get punched lightly in the arm by Bea. “And who are you to say what’s best for me and mine? You scared me down to my soul, and that’s a fact, Johnny. But I’d be the first to say that I’m glad it be you who do the scaring and not someone else. I’d come out since it was such a nice night, and I’d gotten a bit of a headache and eyestrain from the work I was doing.” Thinking for a moment, she continues, “And just what, praytell, are you doing sneaking ‘round the Vixen like this? You coming round for a reason, boyo?”

Beatrix waits for an answer to her question, arms crossed in front of herself, a curious (& a bit mischievous) light glinting in her eye.