The delivery boy was still missin', an'- while I feel downright awful for sayin' this- I'm actually happy he's gone.

While I'm not one for cursin' a poor boy's health, I sincerely hope he stays away, at least for a few more weeks.

Because with him gone, I get t' make the deliveries.

An' the shop's best payin' customers just so happens t' be the Ghost Bees.

An' Bardroy is the Ghost Bees' chef.

Perhaps it was a familiar face, or just the fact that there's someone else from America here, but I started wantin' t' see Bardroy every week when I made my delivery.

It was stormy today, somethin' you never really saw too much of in Arizona, but saw a lot of in England. Oh, but I loved the rain.

Pullin' up t' the mansion, I didn't see the Bee Keeper's face pokin' outta the front door, so I just drove around t' the side like I did last week.

A familiar figure was leanin' outside the door t' the kitchen, his eyes closed an' smoke swirlin' up from the cigarette in his mouth. Beside him was a smaller blonde boy with wide an' excited eyes.

Bardroy's blue eyes snapped open as I pulled up, an' that familiar grin spread across his face.

He waved and began walkin' towards the carriage as I hopped out, my boots sinkin' into mud. The boy followed behind him.

"Hey there, Bard!" I grinned. The man nodded in a friendly way t' me, then presented the smaller boy. "Nevada, this is the gardener, Finny. Finny, this is Nevada Tilly."

Finny was a bit smaller than I was, which was sorta nice as I went t' shake his hand with a friendly "How'd'y do."

The boy grabbed my hand in both'a his an' started shakin' it vigorously.

"'Ello! I'm Finny! Are you Bard's friend from America? I 'aven't been to America before! What's it like? Did you grow up on a farm? Is it true that there're Indians everywhere? Why is your accent so weird? How-"

"Alright, I think that's enough!" Bardroy shouted, pullin' Finny's hands away from mine.

I was glad that he did. My arm felt like it was gonna tear off at any moment.

I put on a shaky grin an' rubbed my wrist an' shoulder as politely as I could. "That's quite the grip y'got there, Finny. Reminds me'a my three little brothers. The rascals would try an' pull my arms off whenever they could."

The boy just beamed up at me an' Bardroy patted him on the back. "Why don't ya save Miss Tilly the hassle and go bring the meat inside, eh Finny?"

Finny jumped up an' laughed. "'Kay!"

I watched in awe as the boy balanced the heavy box on his head like it was a feather an' run inside with his arms splayed out t' the sides.

I stared after him, but was brought outta my stupor by a fat drop'a rain splatterin' on my nose.

I glanced up just as the sky cracked with thunder an' lightnin' an' it began t' pour.

Bardroy cursed an' spat out his now soggy cigarette.

"I should go." I chuckled, turnin' back t' the shop's carriage.

A hand clasped 'round my arm stopped me an' I looked up at Bardroy's grim face.

"It's only gonna get worse, and the roads are dangerous in the rain. I'll help ya bring your horse to the stables, but you're staying 'ere."

I felt myself blush at his closeness, but I nodded anyway an' helped unhitch the horse an' guide it t' the Ghost Bees' stables.

By then Bardroy an' I were soaked t' the bone an' our feet kept sinkin' into the ground.

Makin' our way t' the kitchen door again, I tripped on somethin' an' found myself face down in the mud.

I shot my head up an' gasped for air, then snarled at Bardroy who had started laughin' every time I tried an' failed t' get up.

An idea came t' me an', with a smirk, I grabbed the cook's ankle an' pulled him down into the mud with me.

Bardroy gasped as he was splattered with mud an' I laughed, pointin' a finger at him.

My triumph was short lived, though, as a ball'a mud exploded against my face.

I growled an' scooped up my own ball'a mud, chuckin' it at my friend's face.

As you can probably image, it turned into an all-out mud war.

By the time we were satisfied, Bardroy an' I were absolutely covered in mud an' the rain was poundin' us even harder.

Walkin' up t' the kitchen, our laughs were cut short as the door slammed open, revealin' a mighty pissed off Bee Keeper.

"Bardroy, you should have started preparing the young master's lunch an hour ago." He said in a calm voice that sent terror coursin' through my body.

He turned t' look at me an' smiled. I shivered. "Miss Tilly, I will permit you to stay in the manor until it is safe to drive again, but you will act your age and be a dignified young lady. Are. We. Clear?"

I gulped. "Y-yessir."

Sebastian looked both'a us up an' down before sighin'.

"Now both of you come in and, please, for goodness sake, take a bath."

He turned t' walk back into the mansion an' Bardroy an' I gave each other one last grin before followin' him inside.