Missing

For eight days now my barn cat, Gray, has been gone.

Usually, he is there to greet me both morning and evening when I go to the barn.  For months he hasn't missed one single visit.  I'm sadly accepting that he has met his fate. 

Twice before I've had wild cats appear who could be tamed enough to pet, but who could never give up their wanderlust.  Those two, like Gray, were all older, and no longer spry when they disappeared.  I fear coyotes.

Sophie is the lone barn cat now, with Zoe sticking to the chicken coop.  We seem to have a vacancy for a young male cat.  I can almost guarantee one will appear.