Quietly the children disappeared as they made the walk back to the gate. Their mounts stood waiting silently next to the guards and he watched her quietly approach the black mare. Carina lowered her nose into the bundle she held and sniffed. The mare shook her head and looked back up at Eve.

She slid her free hand along the mare's ear and Carina settled down. Quietly she walked along the horse's side and took a deep breath. A hand appeared on her left and she met the brown gaze. Silently she placed her free hand on the saddle horn and placed one boot in the stirrup. He caught her other boot as she pulled herself up a little and guided her up into the saddle.

She relaxed on Carina's back and watched the man join Solomon. The stallion snorted into his shoulder and he met the dark gaze. Silently he swung himself up into the saddle and grabbed the reins. He found the guards watching with smirks and wheeled Solomon away. The horses trotted away from the town and he glanced back at his riding partner.

The woman held the puppy firmly in her arm and Carina moved along without a fit. He turned his focus back to the front and let Solomon begin the climb into the hills. The stallion tossed his head as they came over the top and he pulled the beast to a halt. He glanced back at Eve and found her right behind him.

"Problem?"

He shook his head and flicked the reins again.

"Just making sure you weren't lagging."

She smirked as Solomon began trotting again and let Carina follow the stallion at her own pace. Her attention was on the little bundle in her arm sound asleep. She needed a place that she could heal this puppy and not be interrupted. She felt the afternoon rays dancing on her face and looked up toward the looming castle. Her eyes settled on the shoulders of the Lord and she felt some relief.

He didn't have to let her help Tanner but he did. His assistance with her mounting back in the valley confirmed he wasn't a complete statue yet. That thought brought a smirk to her face and she pushed it aside as they trotted down the old path to the stable. William ran out of the stable to meet them and she pulled Carina to a stop. The boy caught the mare's reins and she swung herself to the ground.

Her boots hit the gravel and she was surprised to find the puppy still sound asleep. William glanced at the bundle and the Lord brought Solomon over to them.

"Is he still sleeping?"

She looked into his brown eyes and said "For now."

He walked Solomon into the stable and William followed with Carina. She followed the two and watched the Lord have no problem getting the stallion into his stall. William on the other hand was dealing with a mare who refused to move. She smirked and handed the boy the puppy.

"Be careful with him."

William looked down at the small head and watched her grab Carina's bridle. She stroked the mare's face and slowly walked her into her stall. Carina snorted as she removed her tack and set it aside.

"You're not a tough girl."

The mare snorted into her face and she pushed her aside. Grabbing the tack, she left the stall and locked the door. William came up to her and they exchanged their loads. Taking the puppy into her arms again, she watched the boy put the tack away.

"Where do you plan on keeping him?"

She glanced over her shoulder and found the man leaving Solomon's stall. The stallion was asking for some attention and the man ran his hand along the stallion's nose.

"I am still thinking."

He scowled as he pulled away from the stallion and walked past her. She followed him out of the stable and he stopped walking a little ways down the gravel drive.

"Just keep him out of the East Wing."

She watched him continue his walk and followed him up to the castle. They entered through the main entrance and he retreated up the stairs. Sighing inwardly, she walked down the hall and made her way into a loud kitchen. Pushing the door open, she found Abigail and Oric at each others throat.

"I told you he was taking care of her!"

"I don't care! They're late getting back!"

"Woman! I think Jonathan can handle the responsibility!"

"Just like he can handle all his other responsibilities!"

She rolled her eyes and cleared her throat. Their eyes snapped toward her and their next words were let in their mouths.

"We're back."

Oric smiled and Abigail let out a relieved sigh. The woman quietly approached and looked at the bundle in her arms.

"What are you carrying?"

She pulled Tanner closer to her and said "Something some children gave me."

The woman looked at the bundle harder and she slid past her. Oric took one look at the bundle and smirked.

"How on earth did you convince him to let you keep it?"

"He wasn't going to deny the children from seeing the little thing."

Abigail came over to them and asked "What is it?"

Slowly she pulled the blanket back and showed them the dirty little head. A few cuts still lingered on his face and some dried blood covered the side of his face.

"The poor thing."

Eve looked back at Oric and asked "Anyway I can get a warm tub of water brought out to the stable?"

He nodded and said "I'll even get something for the little guy."

Abigail studied the puppy and asked "Does he have a name?"

"We think it's Tanner."

Quietly she covered the puppy back up and left the kitchen. She walked through the quiet hall and disappeared outside. Moving down the front steps, she left the front courtyard and retraced her steps back to the stable. Hearing the soft horse calls as she approached, she slid into the warm stable and made her way to Carina's stall. The mare greeted her at the door and looked down at the puppy.

"Oh come now. You know he is safe here with you."

Carina snorted but nudged the little creature. Quietly she unlocked the stall door and slid inside. She rested the puppy in the corner and slowly began removing the blanket. Finding his entire body covered in dried blood, cuts, and bruises left her in pain and she slid her hand along the dirty coat. Carina slowly approached them and lowered her head to look at Tanner better.

"We have to fix him up."

The mare snorted again and she rubbed the velvet nose.

"Eve?"

Standing up slowly, she slid out of the stall and found Oric holding the tub of water and a bag at the end of the aisle. He smiled when she met his gaze and waved him her way. Quietly the man approached and looked into the stall.

"Is she going to be okay with this arrangement?"

She looked back at Carina and said "I believe so."

He carried the tub into the stall and she held Carina back as he lowered it onto the floor.

"I have some soft food in my bag here. I hope you can get it down the little guy."

She nodded and walked him out of the stall. He looked back at her and she saw a smile cross his face.

"It's good what you're doing."

"Thank you."

"Don't worry about the lad. He'll come around."

She smiled and watched the man disappear outside. Taking a deep breath, she closed the stall door and turned back around. She walked over to the corner and knelt down next to Tanner. Taking a deep breath, she looked into the bag and found a wash cloth and scrub along with the food Oric brought her.

"Thank you Oric."

Silently she soaked the wash cloth and felt Carina watching her. She gently rubbed the warm cloth along the puppy's face and began removing the dirt and blood from his coat. Slowly the grime gave way to a light brown coat and she grabbed some straw. Running it gently over the puppy, she dried his coat and dug into the bag. Finding some soft food, she lifted Tanner into her arm and began pushing the food into his mouth.

He slowly began chomping on the food and she helped him swallow by stroking his throat. After she got a handful of bites down him, she lowered him back into the warm straw and looked up at Carina. The mare nodded once and she smirked. She placed her hand on the puppy's head and closed her eyes.

She put him into a deep sleep free of pain and nightmares for the night and stood up. She slid the bag strap over her shoulder and grabbed the tub. Leaving the stall, she lowered it and locked the stall behind her. Carina came to the door and she rubbed the mare's face.

"I'll be back first thing in the morning to check in on both of you."

The mare nudged her hand and she picked up the tub. Carrying it outside, she made her way around the castle and onto the beach. She dumped the water into some sand and walked to the kitchen door. The sun had already disappeared for the day and she quietly slid inside the room. Oric looked up from wiping down the counter and met her at the door.

He took the tub and asked "How is he?"

"Resting."

"Good."

He put the tub in the sink and began washing it.

"I can do that, Oric."

"Nonsense. You just sit down and when I finish here I'll make you up a plate."

She slowly took a seat at the counter and lowered her head. She worked her fingers up and down her neck, relieving the taunt muscles.

"You hungry?"

Looking up, she found the cook watching her and offered him a smirk.

"Don't kill yourself over it."

The man laughed and put together a plate. As she waited, she rested her chin on her hand and closed her eyes. Everything was becoming extremely complicated and she was beginning to wonder if she could do her job. The plate hitting the counter brought her out of her thoughts and she looked up at Oric.

"You look worn out. Eat up and head on up for bed."

She smiled and said "Just thinking."

The man shook his head and said "You'd be surprised how much you and the lad are alike."

She took a bite of the warm food and let it slip down her throat. It warmed her stomach and loosened her stiff muscles with its aroma.

"He's always deep in thought. I swear his head will explode if he doesn't stop thinking so much."

She laughed and the man joined her. Slowly she worked on her food and when she put the fork down, the man took her plate.

"Now, get on up to bed before you drop."

Eve watched the man clean up the dishes and slowly slid to her feet. She walked to the door and pushed it open. The entire place was quiet and she glanced back outside. The sun had been missing longer than she thought. Footsteps approached from the end of the hall and she found Leon and Grace approaching.

"We were wondering if you were going to be joining us tonight or bedding with the horses."

She smirked and Grace wrapped an arm around her shoulder. The woman walked her down the hall and they stopped at the bottom of the stairs.

"Would you like to take my guest room? Being in the West Wing is so lonely."

"I'm fine."

"Well, then I won't be moving her clothes."

She glanced at Leon and he said "I helped Oric unload his items this afternoon."

She let out a moan and Grace laughed.

"Don't worry about my cousin. He'll catch on eventually but it won't be your head he'll have."

"I didn't want Oric to do this though."

Grace smiled and said "The man has a big heart. He can't help it."

She nodded and heard "Are you coming upstairs?"

"I will soon."

The young brunette nodded and said "I hope you don't stay up too long."

She watched the woman climb the stairs and caught Leon watching her.

"I hear you were in the stable all night. Anything I should be aware of?"

She smirked and said "In time."

He chuckled and walked down the hall to the kitchen. She let out a sigh and glanced at the parlor to her right. The door was ajar and she saw some light coming from underneath. Shaking her head, she quietly made her way upstairs and walked to the West Wing. Having this end of the castle to herself made thinking easier and she didn't feel like she was being watched when she was in the room.

Silently she pushed her door open and slid inside. She left it cracked and walked over to her bed. Sitting down, she slid her boots off and let them rest on the floor. Standing up, she pulled her hair loose and picked up a robe laying out on her bed. The shopkeeper must have thrown this in with her other clothes and she closed her eyes.

She was going to have to find out how bad this would cost and come up with the funds. Running her fingers over the soft warm dark green material, she walked back to her bathroom and closed the door. A tub was waiting and she tested the water. It was still warm and she guessed they filled it after everyone else had eaten. She lowered the robe onto the floor next to a clean towel and began slipping out of her clothes.

Standing in the dark room naked, she stepped into the tub and slowly lowered herself into the warm water. Every inch of her sighed in relief as the water slid over her and she leaned her head back on the tub. Closing her eyes, she let all her worries slip away as she dreamnt of being back home. As the water began to cool, she washed her skin clean and slid out of the tub.

She wrapped the robe around her and tied it at her waist. Picking up her clothes, she carried them into her dark room and placed them on her bed. She folded them up and moved them over to her dresser. Leaving them for the morning, she walked over to her window and pulled the heavy curtain back. The moonlight hit her face and she closed her eyes.

Unlatching the windows, she pushed them all the way open and heard the evening waves in the distant. Taking in the evening air, she walked back to her giant master size bed and sat down in the middle. The warm sheets pressed into her legs and she rubbed her hand over her neck again. Slowly she slid off the bed and walked over to her wardrobe. She opened the two cherry doors and found a night shirt and her other clothes already hanging up.

Grabbing the shirt, she closed the wardrobe and walked over to her bed. Laying the shirt down, she untied her robe and slid it off her shoulders. She grabbed her shirt and pulled it over her head. It came past her hips and she placed her robe on the bench at the foot of her bed. Pulling her bedding back, she slid into the warm bed and covered herself up.

Curling up on her side, she closed her eyes and took a deep breath. Slowly she succumbed to sleep and forgot her door was still cracked open. She didn't notice the shadow just outside her room that had been watching her since she had come upstairs. The door opened a little more and he walked to the end of the bed. He watched her sleep and slowly came around the side of the bed.

She looked at peace and not distant with thoughts as she did a few minutes ago. He studied how the moonlight danced in her hair and rested on her soft complexion. Slowly he slid his hand through the soft golden locks and pulled his hand back. He walked to her window and looked out at the night sky. A frown captured his dark features and he left the room, closing her door behind him without a sound.