Well, after some calling the cat emerged from under the bus and, sure enough, it was the same calico cat that had befriended us in Russelville!
We called Ivy Cove to inquire if the kitten was still there, and they said she was no where to be found. We let them know that she was safe and had somehow hitched a ride with us.
Now, where this cat hid during the journey, and why she didn't make her escape when we stopped for lunch, is beyond me. But apparently she had her sights set on a new home.
So, the Horner bus household now has another member...... Ivy