One month later... The morning sun crested above the ocean waves and reached into the dark sky. The rays created a burning spectacle in the sky and the evening peace gave way to another day of unknown. Quietly the rays passed into the bedroom and brushed along her face. Taking a deep breath, Eve opened her blue eyes and felt the warmth caress her face. She sat up and felt the weight move around her legs. Looking down at the end of the bed, she found Tanner stretching his longer legs and yawning. The puppy had grown a few inches and looked up at her. He wagged his tail and she rubbed his fuzzy ear. She pushed the bedding off and walked into the bathroom. The maids had already brought up new water and heated the tub for her morning bath. Quietly she stripped out of her clothes and lowered herself into the warm water. Letting out a content sigh, she scrubbed her skin clean and washed her hair. As the suds rinsed out of her locks, she hummed a morning song her mother always sang. Lifting her hair out of the water, she rung the loose water out and grabbed her towel from the nearby chair. She stood up and wiped her skin dry as she stepped out of the tub. The towel was replaced by her soft robe and she ran the towel over her hair. Humming softly, she entered the bedroom and dropped the towel on top of the golden pup. He fumbled around for an exit and she laughed as she dug out the day's outfit. Hearing him sigh in relief, she smiled and pulled out the clothes. She slid into a pair of black dress pants and a white blouse. She took a seat on the bed and Tanner crawled over to her. He watched her pull on her socks and boots. When she stood up, he hopped off the bed and she walked over to her dresser. Running her fingers through her hair, she grabbed her hair tie and pulled the heavy locks out of her face. Tanner ran to the door as she gathered up the towel and hung it in the bathroom along with her robe. "All right." He let a quiet bark and scratched at the closed door. Smiling, she pulled the door open and he darted into the hall. As she pulled the door shut behind her, she heard his running disappear and caught sight of him disappearing around the wall. Shaking her head, she walked down the hall and left the West Wing. As she stepped into the main hall she saw the puppy disappear into the East Wing and sighed. A frown captured her face as she pursued the daredevil and spotted him slipping into the master bedroom. Her hand stopped on the door handle and she took a deep breath. She never came to this part of the castle and here she was sneaking into the man's room at dawn. Closing her eyes, she pushed the door open enough to slip inside and looked around. The room was dark with the windows covered and she searched for the troublemaker. Her eyes widened and she fought back the sigh when she found him creeping up closer to the sleeping man. "Tanner get down." She kept her voice to a mere whisper and the puppy looked over at her. He wagged his tail and crawled up next to a dark toned arm. Saying a prayer, she approached the bed and tried to keep her eyes away from the man. Tanner looked up from his perch next to the man's stomach and she frowned. He let out a yawn and she scooped him off the bed. The puppy let out a whine and she hurried back to the door. "What are you doing in here?" She froze at the door and looked down at the culprit. He wagged his tail and she took a deep breath. She heard the sheets rustle and knew he had to be sitting up staring at her. "Well?" His tone was cold but quiet and she carefully looked back at him. She found his hair still slicked back like always and he seemed wide awake. Tanner jumped out of her hold and ran across the room. She covered her face with her hand and sighed. The puppy hopped back onto the bed and made his way up to the man. Quietly the puppy curled up on his lap and looked up at him. Brown eyes met brown eyes and slowly Johnathan began scratching the puppy's ear. "Tanner get down." The puppy looked back at her and let out another yawn. She shook her head and looked up at the ceiling. "I'm sorry for waking you." "You didn't." Her blue eyes looked back at him and he looked down at Tanner. "I felt him get up on the bed before you showed up." She wanted to turn around and leave. He had been awake when she had gotten close to him and must have felt her barely touch him when she grabbed the little rascal. "If this is going to become a habit I will need you to keep him restrained." She slowly nodded and said "It won't happen again." Her eyes slowly slipped from his stone face and glanced over his broad dark and chiseled chest. Turning her focus back to his face, she tried pushing the power growing inside her aside. "I was taking him downstairs." His brown eyes never left hers and she watched him stop scratching Tanner. The puppy looked up at him and stood. Quietly he walked to the end of the bed and hopped onto the floor. He trotted up to her and she picked him up. "This isn't the first time he's been in here." She pushed the door open a little and said "I am sorry." Quickly she left the room and pulled the door shut behind her. Holding her breath, she walked to the stairwell and descended the steps. When her boots rested in the hall, she let out her breath and released Tanner. He trotted next to her as they walked into the kitchen and found Oric jotting something down on some paper. "What's that?" The man smirked and said "A good morning is a better thing to say first thing in the morning." "Maybe for you." She poured herself a glass of juice and took a seat across the counter from the cook. He looked at her and smiled. "Had an early conversation did ya?" She rolled her eyes and sighed "You can thank Tanner." Oric laughed and said "I knew that mongrel was good for something." Tanner gave a bark and the man continued laughing. He walked over to the oven and pulled out a container. Eve watched him set it on the stove and take the lid off. Tanner ran around in circles as the aroma filled the kitchen and Oric brought the food around to the puppy. When the food hit the floor, they watched the tan animal dive into his breakfast and his tail wag in glee. "So, what did he do this time?" "Made his way into the family wing." The cook smirked and rubbed his chin. He watched Eve drink some more juice and chuckled. "And yet here you stand in one piece." She shrugged and looked down at Tanner. The puppy was lost in his food and she closed her eyes. "Did you get an ear full for waking him?" "I didn't wake him." Oric raised a brow and asked "You managed to get that pup out of the Lad's room without disturbing him?" She finished off her drink and shook her head. Quietly she walked around the counter and submerged the glass into a sink full of water. "He said he woke when Tanner hopped onto the bed." "Now that doesn't surprise me. He never was much of a heavy sleeper." She washed the glass and rinsed it out. Oric picked up his pen and continued writing things down. "A list of groceries from the valley?" "Yes, but with the storm approaching by this afternoon it will have to wait until tomorrow." She smirked and said "I'll do it." He sent her a questioning look and shook his head. She put the glass in the strainer and watched him put his pen down. "No one is going outside this afternoon when that storm hits. It's suppose to be a nasty one." She leaned against the counter and crossed her arms. One brow was raised and she stared back at the old cook. "I didn't say I was going to be leaving for the valley this afternoon." He shook his head again and asked "And what will I say when you don't get back here before the storm?" "Scared of him?" He chuckled and said "The lad doesn't scare me. It's old Abigail that I don't like." She smiled and said "I promise to wait the storm out if it hits before I return." Oric went to hide the paper but she snatched it from him. He frowned and watched her kneel down next to Tanner. "Keep an eye on him until I get back." Oric grunted and she rubbed the pup's ear. Brown eyes looked up at her and she kissed his soft head. Quietly she stood up and left the kitchen. The sunlight began to pour into the downstairs as she made her way to the main doors in the hall. She pulled the doors open and stepped out into a warm morning. Walking down the steps, she made her way through the courtyard and down the gravel path to the stable. William was sitting outside cleaning some tack and smiled when she approached. "Riding Carina this morning?" "Yes." He stood up and followed her into the stable. Quietly she approached the black mare's stall and met the dark gaze. Carina welcomed her with a soft call and she rubbed the soft nose. Opening the door, she stepped into the stall and ran her hand over the mare's neck. William approached with her tack and she took it. "Could you grab some of Oric's saddle bags for me?" "Going inward?" She nodded and he walked down the aisle. Quietly she saddled Carina and slid the bridle over her face. The mare met her gaze and she guided her out of the stall. They walked down the aisle and left the stable. William brought her the bags as she adjusted the saddle. "Thank you." "Watch out for the storm." She secured the saddle bags and said "I will." He stepped back as she swung up into the saddle and caught the reins. The boy waved at her and she dug her knees into the mare's sides. They trotted down the gravel path and headed toward the valley. The morning sun rested on her face and the music from the animals rested in her ears. They galloped through the hills and slowly came upon the outlook of the valley. Carina stopped at the top of the hill and she scanned her eyes over the quiet place. Taking a deep breath, she guided Carina down the dirt path and to the town gates.