Kristoff woke up early with the rest of the men the next morning. He rested against the pillar on the porch, his jaw set tightly. He was still upset about not getting to go on this trip to the high mountains. He was probably one of the most qualified men here.

"Don't forget to feed the chooks, bandicoot." Hans laughed as he jumped onto his horse. He clicked his tongue, trotting it to the rest of the men. As he left he began to imitate a chicken, flapping his arms and bocking.

Kristoff kept his hat low and went to saddle up Jackson's horse. He stood outside the gate, hoping maybe Jackson would change his mind once he saw Kristoff. But, he was too busy talking to Anna as they walked out of the house. "Perhaps next time?" She asked.

"No, no way." Jackson smiled. He opened the gate, walking toward his horse. "Goodbye, Daughter."

Without another word, Jackson took the reins from Kristoff and hopped onto his horse. He clicked his tongue and rode through a group of chickens. They went flying, startled by the horse.

Anna looked to her left, seeing Kristoff still standing there. His eyebrows were furrowed over his brown eyes and his blonde hair was sticking out from under his hat. She could tell he was clearly upset and didn't want to talk so she went back inside.

Kristoff watched them ride off, hearing Hans's chicken calls echoing in the distance, followed by laughter.

xxx

Later that day, Anna tried playing the piano. Her fingers smashed on the keys harshly as she tried to play Fur Elise. She had a lot on her mind. She couldn't focus on the piece.

She stopped, upset with the noise she was making. "Really, Anna, you're attacking that piece with all the sensitivity of a road mender," Elsa said from the window. She took a deep breath, walking towards the piano. "Now let's begin again, shall we? And this time con amore."

Anna let out a sigh and rolled her eyes. Again? Really? "And spare me the affectations of martyrdom," Elsa added. Anna had been playing this piece for weeks. She should have it mastered by now. A knock came from the door. "Come," Elsa said.

Kristoff appeared, carrying a tray for tea. The cups clinked as he tried to keep study. "Ah. Hello, Kristoff." Elsa greeted.

"Ma'am," Kristoff replied. "Uh, Cassandra said I should bring this up to save her legs." He explained as he entered the room.

"Your timing is Anna's salvation." Elsa smiled.

Anna rushed from behind the piano to Kristoff. "Hello." She said, grabbing the tray from his hands. She was afraid he was going to drop it from all the shaking he was doing. He was a worker after all. Shouldn't he have sturdier hands?

"Will you join us for tea?" Elsa asked as Anna set the tray on the table.

"No," Kristoff said. Realizing how rude he sounded, he added on. "I can't, Mrs. Hume."

"Oh, nonsense." Elsa waved away. "Male company will be a pleasant relief in this hothouse of female emotions." She explained. She turned around, looking over her shoulder. "Anna, pour the tea. I'll go get another cup."

Elsa left the room, leaving Anna and Kristoff alone. Both of them could feel the tension growing as each second of silence passed. "Do you mind?" He asked, stuffing his hands in his back pockets.

"Oh, no. Why should I?" Anna asked, beginning to pour the tea.

Kristoff looked down. There were plenty of reasons for her to mind. Clearly, her father didn't like him. He was from the high country. He was also the one who pushed her down in public.

He walked away, looking at the piano. "Well," Anna began. "We're both feeling sorry for ourselves today." She picked up a cup and walked to Kristoff. "Neither is where we want to be." She said, handing him the cup.

"Yeah," he agreed, taking the cup. "I think they're trying to make a butler out of me." He said, bringing the cup to his lips.

Anna chuckled, beginning to pour another cup. "Well, they're trying to make a lady out of me."

"They won't have no luck," Kristoff replied. She was too strong-willed to fall into that category. She wasn't afraid to speak her own mind and wanted to be doing jobs meant for men.

Anna's head shot up, glaring at him. "Thank you very much." She said.

Realizing how she took it, he began to correct himself. "Oh, hang on. That's not what I meant-"

"And they won't make a gentleman out of you either." She fired back, narrowing her blue eyes at him.

Kristoff looked down, setting down his cup. Again, he admired the piano. It was made from expensive wood and looked brand new. Noticing his interest and wanting to clear the air, Anna spoke up. "Do you play?"

"Yes. Just a bit." He answered. Anna was surprised by this. She didn't expect that from him. "Before my mum died she was starting to teach me."

Anna bit on her lower lip. She had no idea that he lost his mother too. She grabbed her cup and walked towards the piano. "Do you miss her?" She asked.

Kristoff paused, thinking about it. He could say no and act as it happened a long time ago or he could tell her the truth. "Yeah. Yeah, I miss her." He said.

"I never knew my mother," Anna replied. That caught his attention.

"I'm sorry." He said. He truly did feel sorry for her. It must be so strange to never meet one of your parents. Anna stayed silent. "I bet she was pretty." He said. Anna looked up, her eyebrows furrowed. "Like you." He smiled.

Anna gently smiled. "Oh, thank you, kind sir."

Afraid he might say something to mess up the conversation again, Kristoff tossed back the rest of his tea. He rushed to put it back on the tray. "Thanks for the tea." He said, rubbing his hands on his pants. "Anna." He said. Was it suddenly warm in there? "I've got a few jobs to finish before dinnertime." He said, pointing towards the door.

Anna watched him rush out the door and quietly leave. She trailed her hand on the piano before sitting down again. This time, she tried Fur Elise again and it came out smooth and connected.

Elsa quietly entered the room, hearing Anna's improved playing. She smiled, glancing towards the door. It was almost as if Kristoff had put a curse on the girl. Something strange was definitely happening between the two.

xxx

Kristoff had grabbed some more hay to feed the colt. He entered the stable, smiling as he went to the colt's stall. Something about being around these horses just made him so much happier.

Wanting to see Kristoff again and knowing where to find him, Anna went to the stables. She rested her hands on the fence, watching Kristoff working with the colt. "He's a pretty thing." She said, making Kristoff jump. He wasn't expecting to see her here. But, he was glad to see her.

Kristoff smiled as the colt began to eat his fresh hay. "There's not a mean bone in his body."

"Hans'll find one," Anna said, climbing the fence. She rested her elbows on top, smirking down at Kristoff. He furrowed his eyebrows. "He does all the breaking round here." She explained.

"Hans?" He exclaimed. Even saying his name out a bad taste in his mouth. And ugh. That jerk broke in the colts? Were they crazy around here?

"You've got to be firm with a young horse." She said, mimicking Hans. That was along the lines of what he said to her whenever she told him he was being too rough with the horses.

"But not cruel. You work with a horse, not against him." Kristoff said, shaking his head.

"Really?" Anna asked, smiling.

"That's what my father taught me." He said, nodding his head. His father was a crafty mountain man. He knew better than anyone how to break a colt well.

"This is not just a mountain brumby," Anna replied, folding her hands. She was hoping to get a rise out of him. Maybe even get him to do something crazy with her.

Kristoff snickered. "It's no different."

"Are you saying you could break this horse?" She asked.

Kristoff turned and looked at her. His face was as serious as death. "Yes."

"Well?" Anna grinned.

Kristoff knew what she was implying. She wanted him to break in this colt. "What about your father?" He asked.

Anna shrugged her shoulder. She had this all planned out. "He'll be away for more than a week. If the job's done before he gets back, what can he say?" She asked.

A smile crept onto Kristoff's face. He knew he shouldn't, but he was really tempted to. He wanted to break in this horse and show them that he was just like one of them. He knew how to tame horses and ride them better than anyone else.

Anna folded her hands upwards, resting her chin on her fingertips. She knew she had him hooked.

xxx

So the next day, Kristoff began breaking in the colt. Anna would stand outside of the fence, watching him work with the horse. It was amazing how quickly she could spot the differences between Kristoff and Hans.

Hans was a brute to the colts when he broke them in. He used whips and shouted at them. It would take a while for the horses to let him ride them, but he was the only one here who knew how to do it, so they let him do it however wanted. Even if it seemed wrong.

Kristoff was gentler on the other hand. His motions were not intended to frighten the colt or make the colt obey him. Instead, he seemed to be showing the colt that he meant no harm. That he wanted nothing more than companionship.

By the first day, the colt was eagerly warming up to Kristoff. He even let Kristoff touch him. Anna was impressed by how fast Kristoff could work. It seemed like a miracle.

Soon, days were going by and Anna and Kristoff began spending more time together. They found out that they actually had a lot in common and enjoyed being together, as rough as their start was. They began sitting closer to one another when they sat on the fence watching colt. They even began looking at each other more often.

Eventually, the colt allowed Kristoff to ride him. The thousand-pound colt was officially broken in and by a mountain man. Anna happily watched from the sides as Kristoff trotted the horse around in a circle in the fence. She couldn't believe he actually did it.

One night, before Anna's father was expected to come home, Kristoff and Anna led the colt out of the fence. The bright sun was setting behind the mountains, casting eerie shadows. At first, the horse was frightened, scared of the dark silhouettes. But, Kristoff was able to calm him down. Then he, Anna, and the colt had a memorable evening walk around the countryside.

Once they returned from their walk, Anna went back inside as Kristoff put the colt away, he couldn't help but to pause and listen to her playing in the piano. The ah she played made his heart beat out of control. He looked out of the stable, hoping to maybe get a glance of her at the piano. Unfortunately, the shades were drawn, but at least he could still hear her song.

Inside, Anna couldn't help but think of Kristoff. At first, she had thought nothing of him. He was just another worker her father had hired. But now, she thought everything about him. The way his brown eyes lit up when he smiles. His gentle hand holding hers. She couldn't wait to see him again.

~~~~~~~~~~