“Was she angry?” Joe asked.
Pitt nodded. “Apparently. But she’s willing to forgive you if you’ll accompany her on an unsupervised field trip of her choosing. I believe you’ll be needing a dinner jacket.”
Joe sighed and then perked up. “The things I do for this agency,” he announced. “I really should be getting a PR check in addition to my regular pay.”
Kurt laughed. “Imagine that. All this talk about aliens, and a fifth-grade teacher is the one abducting you.”
“As long as it’s in the name of science,” Joe said.
Pitt laughed. “I’m proud of you all,” he said. “I’ll check in with you tomorrow.”
As Pitt signed off, Joe turned to Kurt and Hayley. “I guess I’m out of here,” he said.
Hayley stretched up and hugged him. “Travel safely,” she said with a laugh.
“Shall do.”
Kurt embraced his friend. “If you’re still in Australia when I get back to that side of the country, I’ll look you up.”
“When do you think you’ll get there?”
Kurt glanced at Hayley. “Depends how long it takes to walk across the continent.”
Joe laughed. “I won’t wait up,” he said, and then ducked out the door.
Left alone with Hayley for the first time since they’d met, Kurt took her by the hand and kissed her.
“Come with me,” he said, leading her out into the hall.
“Where are we going?” she asked suspiciously.
“On a little trip,” he said.
She stiffened. “I think I’ve done quite enough traveling for a while.”
He continued leading her down the hall. “Your friend Bradshaw sent me some tickets to the rugby match at the Perth Oval tonight.”
She dutifully followed him but seemed confused. “Tonight, under the lights?”
He nodded.
It was just past noon. “Aren’t we leaving a little early for that?”
“Not really,” he said, “considering the form of transportation I’ve chosen.”
He opened the door for her and stepped outside. There, waiting by the curb, was a Victorian-style carriage with a docile chestnut-colored horse standing patiently in front of it.
“This is Inchworm,” Kurt said, patting the glossy brown animal on the shoulder. “I’m promised he’s the slowest, most sure-footed horse in all of the western territories.”
Hayley grinned broadly and scratched the horse behind the ears. He whinnied and seemed to like it.
“Nothing wrong with being slow and sure-footed,” she said to the animal. “Or thoughtful,” she added, turning to Kurt.
He held her hand as she climbed in. “Watch your step,” he said. “Inchworm has never lost a passenger, and we don’t want to start with you.”
She settled in, smiling so brightly her cheeks hurt. Kurt climbed in beside her and took the reins as she investigated the picnic basket he’d packed.
“How long do you think it will take to reach the stadium?” she asked.