“You are going to love the city!”Amelia clapped her hands in delight and smiled at Milena widely. “It is near the ocean. Have you ever seen the ocean, Leah? So much water and so loud? And there are shops! More than in the town at home and music and oh! I can’t wait to show you everything!”

Daniel hid his grin behind his hand and looked out of the carriage window. It was a two days travel to reach their destination and he had booked rooms at a well known establishment that had a good reputation. They would stay several days. Enough time for Amelia to find a dress for herself and Leah while he himself would handle some of his own affairs. He would speak to his banker and oversee some of his investments. And of course, he would take some time to show Leah around.

He let his eyes rest on the girl, who was listening to Amelia’s rambling. He could tell she was far more please with Amelia’s excitement than with the prospect of dress-shopping.

It made him smile.

She was so different from the other women he knew. None of the young ladies he’d encountered would willingly help the stable  boy groom a horse.

As if feeling his gaze, she turned to meet his eyes. She was uneasy. He could tell by the way her hands fumbled and her eyes flickered.

He gave her a warm smile to comfort her, but she only looked down.

“… we arrive? Daniel?”

Daniel blinked and turned his attention towards his sister. “I am sorry. What did you say?”

There was an amused twinkle in her eyes. “I asked when we will arrive in the city. How much further is it?”

Daniel glanced out of the window again. “We should probably arrive before nightfall.” He grinned, “Don’t worry, little sister. You will be able to visit the shops tomorrow.”

Milena listened as the siblings squabbled with each other in a good-natured fashion. She looked out of the window at the passing landscape. She was nervous about the city. She didn’t like crowded places.
But she would go, if only for Amelia. Her friend was so excited.

Milena closed her eyes and enjoyed the small breeze that played with her hair. If she tried hard enough, she could almost imagine being with the kumpania, traveling the roads. She could almost hear Laszlo’s voice as he spoke to his horses, and Aranka singing. Sergei would tell one of his stories and Alec would tease Daria about Petsha. Would he have spoken to Cezar yet?  Did Daria wed?

“Leah.”

Milena turned to Daniel. He was looking at her with concern.

“Are you tired? It won’t be long now, I promise.”

She shook her head and cast him a careful smile. The look he gave her in return made her uneasy. It wasn’t that she didn’t trust him, but there was a warmth in his eyes that should not be there.

Only one other person had ever looked at her with such affection. And thinking about him hurt.

“Ah, how inconsiderate of me,” Amelia clasped a hand in front of her mouth, “here I am talking like a madwoman while you are tired. We will sleep in tomorrow. The traveling must have worn you out.”

Milena sighed. Traveling would never wear her out. It was the sitting idle that drained her energy. But she could not explain it to them and she did not think they would understand, so she smiled at them.
They meant well.
And she was grateful for their kindness.

Still, as she looked at the landscape outside, she knew her heart was somewhere else.

***

“Do you think it will rain?” Dalena peered through the small window of the wagon and pulled a shawl around her shoulders.

There was a chill in the air today. Dark clouds were packing together.

“Hm,” Nikolai nodded as he glanced at the sky, “a storm perhaps.” He flicked the reins to speed up the horse and smiled at Jasmina next to him.
Since they had been wed, she had lost nothing of her sharp tongue, but he wouldn’t want it any other way. He liked her fire.

“Tis not so bad, pena,” Jasmina told her sister, “we will find shelter before the storm breaks.”

Dalena sighed. “I hope you are right.” She leaned back, “I wish ‘twas still summer.”

Nikolai grinned. “Don’t worry, little one. Summer will return soon enough.” He clacked his tongue.

Their kumpania was traveling towards the coastline. There were less villages there, but more shelter against the winter storms. He like it there, the valleys with their rough nature and few people. It would be beautiful in summer.

He steered the horse down the trail towards the trees where the others were already waiting.

Dalena jumped down from the wagon and immediately walked up to her mother to help with the unloading of the wagon. With the threatening storm, it was necessary to get the camp in order as soon as possible.

“Oszkar,” Nikolai nodded at the leader of their kumpania.

“Nikolai,” Oszkar grinned widely, “how is that daughter of mine eh. Have you not tired of her yet?”

“Father!” Jasmina shrieked.

He laughed at her. “Jassa. Be a good wife eh. With that sharp tongue of yours, he might just decide to trade you in, eh and give you back to me.” He raised his eyes to the sky. “Oh mercy. I’m giving the boy ideas.”

Nikolai laughed. “Do not worry, Oszkar. I won’t burden you with her care.”

Jasmine narrowed her eyes at him “You are a horrible man! Why did I ever agree to marry you?!”

“Because you chased all the other men away with that tongue of yours,” Nikolai grinned, but when he saw her anger, he sighed, “you didn’t chase me away, ves’tacha.”

Jasmina’s anger vanished from her eyes upon hearing the affection in his voice, but she was not ready to forgive him yet. “I will be sitting with my sister tonight,” she said with her nose in the air. She stalked away from him.

Oszkar laughed out loud and slapped Nikolai’s shoulder. “She is your problem now, son.” And he walked away to supervise the camp.

Nikolai sighed deeply and untied the horse from the wagon. It was best to let his wife calm down before going after her.

***

Emily sighed as she rolled her chair across the empty parlor. The house was so quiet with everyone gone. It was been a while since she’d felt so lonely.
“Agnes,” she called when she saw the serving woman pass the room.

Agnes walked into the room and curtsied. “Miss?”

Emily bit her lip. Now that she had the maid’s attention, she wasn’t sure what she wanted to ask. “Where is my mother?” she asked.

“Lady Cecily went to visit the Clarkes this morning.”

“Oh,” Emily nodded, “and my grandmother?”

“I would not know, Miss.”

“Alright. Thank you, Agnes.”

The woman curtsied again. ‘Miss.” And she left the room to continue her chores.

Emily sighed. So she was truly alone today. What was she to do?
She looked up when Miles entered the room.

“Miss Emily?”

“Yes Miles?”

“Your teacher sent a  messenger, Miss. He has fallen ill and will not be able to hold your lessons today.”

Emily sighed. She usually disliked her lessons, but today they would have been a welcome distraction.

“He did however leave some assignments,” Miles continued. He brought forth a stack of papers.

Emily took them from him and studied them. Calculus, Literature and History. She sighed. “Thank you, Miles.”

The man bowed and left the room.

Emily stared at the papers in her lap. She didn’t want to do these assignments. She wanted to laugh with friends, but she had no friends.
No, that was not true, she told herself, she did have friends. But Leah had gone with Daniel and Amelia, and Jane was not here.

That left one.

Decisively, Emily rolled her chair towards the front door. “Miles!” she called and waited for the man to arrive.

“Yes Miss?”

“I’d like to go out please bring me my coat.”

“Out Miss?” Miles looked at her hesitantly. Technically speaking she was his superior and he shouldn’t question her, but he was not sure lord Blackwood would approve of this adventure. “You will catch a cold, Miss,” he said carefully, trying to dissuade her, “there is  a chill to the air today.”

“I will not go far. I just don’t want to stay in the house by myself,” Emily told him.

Miles hesitated once more. “Let me find your grandmother, Miss. Perhaps you can keep her company.” He hurried away.

“Ah  no... there is no need,” but he had already left. Emily sighed and turned her chair around. She wheeled towards the salon. “Agnes, could you bring my coat? I’d like to go out.”

“You shouldn’t go out in the weather, Miss Emily,” Agnes said, “it may rain. You’ll catch a  cold.”

“But I don’t want to stay inside.”

“I’m sorry Miss. Your mother would not approve.”

“My mother is not here,” Emily said.

“I’m sorry, Miss,” Agnes curtsied and she left the room.

Emily bit her lip. “I suppose I will have to let myself out then.” She rolled herself through the house towards the kitchen. Quietly she unlatched the servant’s entrance and rolled outside. With a determined expression, she started down the path towards the stables.

…

Harun was cleaning out a stable when he heard frustrated noises from the door. He looked up and gasped when he recognized the struggling person. “Miss Emily!” he called and he quickly put down his fork, “what are you doing? Let me help you.” He hurried towards her and pulled the buckets and brooms out of the way. “What are you doing here Miss? You should not be here.”

Emily sighed and now that her path was clear, she tolled further into the stables. “I wanted to visit you,” she said quietly, “everyone else has left and I was alone in the house, so I came to see you.” She looked at him with sad eyes. “Do you want me to go?”

“No, Miss, of course not.”

“I thought you would call me Emily,” Emily spoke softly.

Harun bit his lip. “I want to,” he admitted, “but it wouldn’t be right.”

“Who decided that?” Emily suddenly said in an angry tone, “why can’t you call me by name if I want you to? It’s unfair!” She glared at Harun. “If you won’t call me by name then perhaps I shouldn’t either. From now on, I will call you, sir. Good day sir!” She tried to turn her chair, but knocked over a broom instead. “Oh drat!” she cried.

She looked up when she heard a soft chuckle. “Do not make fun of me!” she said insulted.

“Hahaha,” Harun laughed, “sorry Miss, I can’t help it. I haven’t seen you angry before.”

“Well I’m glad your are enjoying yourself,” Emily huffed.

Harun shook his head, still grinning. “I have to get back to the job. Can you get to the house on your own?”

“Of course I can,” Emily threw her hair back and wheeled towards the large door of the barn.
On the doorstep she froze.
The rain was coming down in buckets. She could barely see the house.

Harun rushed past her and pulled the doors closed before the rain could come in.

The two stared at each other and Emily bit her lip. “So… I suppose I could stay here a while.”

Harun nodded quietly and turned back to the stable he had been cleaning. Emily followed closely behind. “You don’t mind me being here, do you?” she asked uncertain.

“No, of course not,” Harun answered her stunned. Why would she even think that? He walked out of the stall again and took off his jacket. “Here,” he said and draped it over her shoulders when he noticed her shivering.

“Thank  you,” she said shyly and she put her arms through. The jacket was nice and warm from his body and she pulled it closely around her.

She wheeled closer to watch him while he worked when suddenly a large head appeared in front of her face.
Emily shrieked and Harun hurried to see what had happened. He laughed when he saw Emily stare at the large horse that looked over his door.
“No need to be frightened,” he said, “he’s quite friendly.” He patted the horse’s neck. “His name is Storm. You can pat him.”

Emily hesitantly held out her hand and the horse sniffed it carefully before moving his lips over it.

Harun walked towards a large crate and filled a  bucket with a handful of grain and oath and a little water. “Here,” he placed the bucket in Emily’s lap, “he likes this. It’s a treat for him.”

Emily took a hold of the bucket and gasped when the horse dunked in its head to eat the treat. Carefully she lifted one hand and gently patted the animal’s forehead. She had never been this close to a horse before.

Harun smiled and turned back to the stall he had been cleaning.

Outside, the rain kept falling.

***

Ramiro sighed as he looked at the sky. It didn’t look like it would clear any time soon. He was currently sheltering under a tree, eating a loaf of bread and cheese. His horse was grazing nearby, hardly noticing the rain.

Ramiro clacked his tongue to draw his horse’s attention. “Come, Galbi,” he said and threw the last piece of bread towards the animal.

It had been a few days since he had left the kumpania. It had been a difficult decision, but he could no longer stay. Everything reminded him of Milena and it was driving him insane.

Of course, that also meant he was on his own now. He would need to find some work and the people in the area were not fond of the travelers. Perhaps he could chop some wood or sharpen knives, maybe work at a blacksmiths.
For now he would need to find a place to sleep for the night, but with this weather it was going to be a problem.

Galbi came closer and nudged him with her nose. Distractedly, Ramiro patted the animal. “Yes, I know,” he told his horse in a soothing manner, “we will find our way, girl.”  He sighed and leaned his head back against the tree. “I’ll find my way.” He sighed again and closed his eyes.

***

“Miss Emily!”

Miss Emily! Please come out! Where are you?!”

The servants had been in an uproar when they had noticed the girl gone. No one had seen her in the past hour and the lady Cecily would return home any moment.

What could have happened to the girl?

“She wanted to go outside,” Agnes said concerned as she glanced at the storm that was raging outside the window. “I said for her to stay inside.” She bit her lip and looked at Miles. “You don’t think she went on her own? Oh! What could have happened to her?”

“I’ll go see if I can find her,” Henry said. He pulled a sturdy cloak around himself and defied the rain in order to search for Emily. He didn’t want to begin thinking what might have happened. He was already envisioning a tipped over wheelchair and the girl face down somewhere in the mud.

If he would only find her in time.

…

“Miss Emily!” Anna ran across the first floor, “please Miss, this isn’t funny anymore. Please come out.”

“Anna!”

Anna froze on the doorstep of one of the bedrooms and turned to met Ruth’s gaze. “Lady Weston,” she lowered her eyes.

“What on earth is going on?” Ruth demanded, “what is that ruckus downstairs?”

Anna bit her lip.

“Well? Out with it.”

“We are searching for Miss Emily, ma’am.”

“Searching?” Ruth blinked her eyes in confusion.

“She… appears to be missing.”

Ruth pushed past Anna and hurried down the stairs. She called for Miles, who came running. “Ma’am?”

“What is this I hear about my granddaughter missing?”

Miles cleared his throat. “We can’t seem to find her, ma’am. No one has seen her in the past hour. She was supposed to be in the salon, working on the assignments her teacher gave her, but when Agnes was brining some refreshments, she was not here. Or anywhere else in the house.”

“Have you looked everywhere?” Ruth started pacing the room.

“Yes ma’am. We fear she may have gone outside. Henry is searching the premises.”

“Only Henry?” Ruth stalked towards the door, “bring my coat and tell the others to get one too. Everyone will help me.”

Miles bowed. “Yes ma’am.”

Ruth raised her eyes toward the ceiling. “Where can that child be?”

***

A laugh rang out across the stables.

Emily giggled when the horse stuck its big nose in her hair again and snorted. Her carefully pinned curls now hung lose down her face with pieces of straw sticking to the strands.

“No Storm!” Harun reprimanded the horse. He gasped and looked at Emily apologetic. “I’m so sorry Miss. Your hair! And look at our skirts!”

Emily laughed and her eyes were sparkling with amusement. “Stop worrying so much. I don’t mind. I’ve never been so close to a horse before. He is so friendly. A friendly giant.”

Harun laughed too and plucked some straw from Emily’s hair. “Well, at least I know who to call now if I need some help with feeding the horses.”

Emily smiled. “I would like that.” A faint blush spread across her cheeks and she lowered her eyes.

Harun’s laugh grew nervous and he too was blushing.

For a  moment, the silence stretched out between them, but it was soon interrupted by two men.

“Miss Emily!” Jonathan said startled. He walked towards the two with Henry in tow. “The whole house is in an uproar because of you! Everyone is looking for you.”

Emily flinched and her eyes went wide. “I… I did not mean to cause trouble. I only wanted someone to talk to.”

“You should return to the house, Miss Emily,” Henry spoke kindly, “you had us all worried.”

“I am sorry,” Emily said quietly.

“It’s quite alright, Miss,” Henry assured her, “just let me take you back now.”

Emily nodded and looked over her shoulder at Harun as Henry wheeled her away.

It wasn’t until they had reached the house that she realized she was still wearing his coat.