The afternoon sun began to set and he opened his eyes. The early evening breeze swept across his face and he sat up. He spotted Solomon grazing a few feet away and stood up. Walking over to the stallion, he rubbed the strong neck and swung up into the saddle. As he spun the stallion toward home, he spotted the doctor's coach parked by the circle in front of the castle. Pressing his legs into Solomon's sides, he let the stallion take him back. They galloped across the field and the wind blew in his hair as they approached the stable. Solomon's hooves echoed on the path to the stable and he saw the stable boy waving at them. He slowed the stallion as they approached and swung off his back when they stopped. The boy caught Solomon's reins and he patted the stallion's neck. "Do you want me to tend to him, my Lord?" "Run on home and get your dinner." The boy smiled up at him and took off down the path. He watched the child disappear and felt eyes on him. Solomon stared back at him and he said "Don't look at me like that." The stallion snorted and he said "Not every boy should be forced to grow up too soon." He felt the soft nose nudge his head and he pushed the snout away. Quietly he led the stallion into the stable and down to his stall. Solomon let out a sigh as he entered the box and he removed the bridle. Resting it on the stall door, he unfastened the saddle and pulled it off the strong back. Quietly he picked up a grooming brush and ran it through the chestnut coat. He listened to the stallion's content sigh and groomed him until his coat held a shine. He put the brush away and closed the stall for the night. Picking up the tack, he carried it down the aisle to the tack wall and hung it up. He glanced back at the horses and closed the stable up. Quietly he made his way up to the castle and opened the main door. The place was quiet as always and he made his way up the stairs. Reaching the second floor, he walked to his room in the East Wing and shut the door behind him. He slid his shirt off and walked to his private bathroom. Splashing some cold water on his face and chest, he dried himself off and returned to his room. He grabbed a navy blue shirt from his closet and slid it on. Quietly he ran his hand through his hair and left his room. Closing his door, he heard footsteps from down the hall and looked toward the West Wing. He found the doctor and Abigail approaching him and met them at the stairs. "I see you finally decided to return home." His eyes rested on the older woman and the doctor chuckled. "I'll be back in a week to check in on her. Until then I pray no one ends up dead over this ordeal." He watched the two of them descend the stairs and quietly followed them. Abigail escort the doctor outside and he made his way into the parlor. He found the place quiet and glanced at the setting sun. A knock came from behind him and he looked over his shoulder. Leon nodded to him and said "Welcome back. I hope you are hungry after that long ride." "You didn't tell anyone where I went." The butler smiled and said "I only report to you." He shook his head with a ghost of a smirk and the man walked with him down the hall. They entered the dining hall and he found Grace and Christopher already seated. The two looked up at him when he took his seat and Leon walked to the kitchen door. "I will alert Oric that you're ready to eat." The man disappeared into the kitchen and Christopher looked back at him. "Where were you all day?" He ignored the jab and heard "Brother, that is quite enough." The siblings exchanged a look and he leaned back in his chair. The atmosphere was the same in this place and he regretted leaving the hills. Silently he watched the two siblings and finally saw Leon reappear. The man held the door open and Oric brought out the dinner. "I hope you enjoy." Johnathan caught the glint in the man's eyes as he disappeared into the kitchen with Leon and fought back a frown. Quietly they ate their food and dinner ended when the sun was almost gone. Grace slowly stood up and looked at him. "I'm going to retire early tonight. We've been quite busy while you were gone." He watched her leave and heard "Now that she's gone, tell me where you were at." "It doesn't concern you." Christopher stood up and said "I'd think otherwise. Tell me what is going on Johnathan." "What are you talking about?" The man slammed his hand on the old table and said "There's been a doctor here two times today on top of once last night and get this, I actually heard laughter coming from that kitchen this afternoon." His eyes narrowed and he slowly rose to his feet. "I assure you I don't know what you're talking about." "Oh?" "But I am going to find out." Christopher sighed and said "Maybe you shouldn't. Maybe you should let whatever happened today continue. We all know this place is like a museum these days." His eyes snapped to his cousin and the man shut up. Christopher slowly lowered his head and left the room. He watched the man disappear up the stairs and listened to him disappear down the hall. The door opened into the kitchen as he gathered his glass and Abigail stopped. "Now don't even think about it. Go for a walk or something." He didn't budge and she said "We've got it under control. You don't always have to do the dishes up after dinner." He watched the woman disappear into the kitchen and let out a sigh. First laughter and the look in Oric's eyes. Now he was being kicked out of his own kitchen by Abigail. Frowning, he walked along the table and stopped outside the door. "You're almost as bad as him. Get back on that stool and stay put." "Oh lighten up Abigail. Tonight has been a breath of fresh air. Don't go ruining it with that old attitude of yours." "Oric!" He pushed the door open slowly and found the man staring down at the woman with a smirk on his face. She frowned up at the cook and he looked back at the counter. "See? I told you if you just stand up to her, she'd back down in a heart beat." "So you did." The soft voice stopped him from advancing and he glanced over at the counter. Seeing the blonde woman at the counter drying some dishes was a surprise. The last time he saw her, she was lying in the West Wing recovering from nearly drowning. Her eyes turned to him and he found himself looking into eyes just like the ocean. "Eve? What is it?" She put the plate and towel down before bowing slightly to him. He couldn't believe what he was seeing. Slowly she straightened and went back to drying the dishes. His eyes narrowed and he stepped completely into the room. Oric stopped him from rounding the counter and he looked up at the cook. "I thought Abigail told you not to worry about this tonight. Go on and get out of here." His eyes narrowed and the cook glanced back at Abigail and Leon. The two were watching from the table and he looked at each of them. "Explain." Abigail took a deep breath and said "She woke up this afternoon while you were out. The doctor is pleased with her progress and apparently Oric has found a new food tester." "You know the rules." He heard the door open behind him and watched the blonde woman walk over to the table. She began gathering the dishes and he walked back into the dining room. "Did you not just hear me?" She looked up at him and said "I heard you." His jaw tightened at the calm reply and he watched her look at him. Her eyes caught him off guard again and she quietly headed to the kitchen. "No guest is allowed in the kitchen." She stopped at the door and said "It was a honor meeting you as well." She pushed the door open and it closed behind her. The quiet remark was the first actual slap in the face he had received since he was little. He wanted to wrap his hands around her small neck and strangle her. "What is wrong with me?" All the frustration disappeared when he heard Oric laughing like he hadn't laughed in ten years. He even heard Leon and Abigail joining in and the sound was foreign to him. Quietly he turned away from the kitchen and walked down the hall. He approached the door and walked outside, hoping that this woman, this Eve, would stop plaguing his mind.