Emily stared out of the window. It had been three days since Harun had left and it hadn't stopped snowing. She bit her lip. She hoped he was alright.

Emily turned her chair and looked at the little shape in front of the fire place. The small puppy was fast asleep.

A smile passed over Emily's face. Harun had brought in the animal just before he left.

"He needs someone to look after him, Miss Emily."

Her mother had thrown a fit when she first saw the dog. She had given a long lecture about animals in the house and how he would walk his dirty paws all over the carpet, but Emily had begged and pleaded until her mother had finally given in.

Even her grandmother had told her mother it would be good for Emily to take care of the dog. I would teach her responsibility.

So, she was allowed to keep the pup, if she took care of it herself.

She had named him Rowdy. For now the pup slept a lot, he was still young, Harun had already stated training him.

Emily smiled when Rowdy yawned and opened his eyes sleepily. "Hello Rowdy," Emily cooed, "did you finally wake up?"

The little dog rolled over and wagged his tail.

Emily giggled. "Come then. Let's find you a treat."

Rowdy barked happily and crawled clumsily to his feet, following his new boss towards the kitchen.

"Agnes," Emily called, "can you get Rowdy's bowl for me?"

Agnes turned with her hands on her hips. "No Miss Emily, you know what your mother said. He has to eat outside."

"But it's cold," Emily protested.

"He was raised in the stables, Miss. He can handle a little snow. You shouldn't be pampering him. He needs to run around on his own. It will help him grow strong." When she saw Emily's crestfallen face, she sighed. "I'll be right here, Miss. He'll scratch the door when he wants to come back inside. That young lad asked you to take care of the creature. That means you have to give it what it needs. You want him to grow strong, don't you?"

Emily nodded. "Yes," she said softly.

"Good," Agnes said, "I'll place his bowl at the door for you. You should go back inside Miss. Isn't it almost time for your lessons? I'll have your pup back inside by the time you finish." She put her words into action and held the door open for the dog to go through.

"Go on Rowdy," Emily told the animal, "go outside."

The dog slowly padded over to the door and started chowing down his food. The snow didn't seem to bother him in the slightest.

Emily sighed. She knew Agnes was right. Rowdy needed to run outside too. She knew Harun let him run around the garden every day. But she liked having Rowdy close. He had been a gift from Harun. She missed her friend.

Her grandmother was calling her from the hallway and reluctantly Emily turned her chair.

"Don't worry, Miss," Agnes assured her, "I'll keep an eye on the little thing. Go to your lessons."

Emily sighed. "Coming grandmamma!" she called.

***

He became vaguely aware of sounds nearby, but they sounded muffled, like he was somewhere under water or covered with many blankets.

There was a fog clouding his mind and he struggled to clear his head.

Slowly, the noises became more solid. Someone was throwing wood on a fire, then there was steering in a kettle, the raking sound of a chair against the floor. In the distance there was clinging of metal and he heard horses. A blacksmith?

His eyes fluttered open. He was lying on his back on a soft mattress with warm blankets covering him. Wooden beams were over his head. He smelled food. Soup?

Carefully he turned his head. The motion hurt, like someone was hammering on the inside of his skull and it made him dizzy. His body felt so weak. What had happened to him?

He must have made a sound, because a woman appeared in his line of vision. "Oh," she spoke, "you're finally awake I see. Hw are you feeling? What is your name?"

"What... where am... I?" he struggled to sit up.

The woman smiled at him kindly. "You are at our house. My husband found you in the snow a week ago at the forest edge. You were running a fever." She paused. "You look like one of those gypsy folk, but they don't usually travel alone."

He sighed and rubbed his eyes. "I left." He was about to say more, but thought against it. It was not the woman's business.

She nodded. "Well, you are welcome to stay for the moment. There's been a snow storm raging outside. No one's been able to travel for to days now." She hesitated again. "What do they call you? I'm Bonny. My husband's called Matthew. He's at the smithy right now, but he'll be back any moment."

He smirked at that. Was she afraid of him? It was somewhat laughable since he could barely move at the moment. "Milan," he lied. He would never give his real name to gadje. He didn't trust them. "You can call me Milan."

Bonny nodded. "Alright Milan. Are you hungry? I've made soup. It's probably the most your body can handle for now. You've been unconscious the entire week."

He nodded. Food sounded good and he'd need his strength back. He wanted to leave as soon as possible. Once the storm had calmed down, he'd be on his way.

Bonny walked over to the fire and filled a bowl with soup which she carried over to him. "Here you go. You should probably eat slowly. I'll see if I can find you some clean clothes. You and my husband are almost the same size."

As she was rummaging through a drawer, the side door opened and a man came in. He kissed his wife's cheek and then noticed his guest. "I see you are awake," he commented.

"His name is Milan," Bonny told him, "and you're going to let him eat in peace." She walked over to the couch and handed her guest a shirt and some pants. "There you go. I'll be right back." She disappeared into a small side room.

"I'm Matthew," the man introduced himself, "Milan, was it? You worried my wife you know when you wouldn't wake up. Good to see you back in the land of the living." He nodded at the bowl in his guest's hands. "The soup to your liking?"

"Yes, thank you."

Matthew nodded. It seemed their patient was a man of few words. "Your horse is in the barn. Don't worry about her. She'll be alright. We have hay to spare to last her through the winter."

A grateful look appeared on the other man's face and he nodded. "Good. She needed shelter. I will repay you."

"Don't worry about that," Matthew said, "get your strength back. The snow will hold on for a while longer. You're welcome to stay."

***

"Emily, please concentrate." Ruth Weston looked at her granddaughter with a stern expression. "The snow may have kept your teacher from travelling, that does not mean you should abort your lessons. Finish them please."

Emily sighed and pulled her gaze away from the window. "Yes, grandmother," she said. She tried to focus on the paper in front of her, but her eyes kept darting towards the window where her sister and Leah were playing with Rowdy.

The little dog was barking and nipping at the falling snowflakes. It made Emily smile. She wished she could join them, but until a path was cleared from the snow, she was stuck in the house.

"Emily, your assignment," Ruth pointed.

Emily sighed and looked at her grandmother. "Grandmother, do you think Harun arrived home safely?"

Ruth smiled at her kindly. "The roads were still clear when he left, sweetheart. The snow was not so severe. It is only a day's walk he will be alright."

"But Daniel said the roads are not safe," Emily's eyes held concern.

"If it is not safe, they can hire a coach in town," Ruth said, "Daniel gave them some money. Don't worry so much, child. Harun can take care of himself. You should focus on your lessons. He will be back before you know it." She pointed at the paper in front of Emily again. "Finish your assignment and then I will call in the girls for tea."

Ruth stood up and gathered her skirts. "I will be right back."

***

Daniel sighed as he rummaged through his papers. He had been locked away in his study since this morning. He had a lot of work to catch up to, documents to sign, manifests to check, wages to pay. The estate needed repairs, so he would have to search for craftsmen and the village needed support to get the villagers through the winter. The barn that held the food supply had not been rebuild yet and the harvest had been destroyed by the fire a few weeks earlier. With this early snow, he would have to make sure the villagers would have enough to eat. It was his responsibility as landlord.

He put a shipping contract aside and ran a hand through his hair. He needed to make preparations. Yesterday a courier had sent a message that Jacob planned a visit. He would stay a few days. Daniel was looking forward to seeing his friend again. He was rarely in the area. Jacob came from a middle class family, but his parents had still been able to afford their son's education. That's how they had met. The two of them, together with Christopher Longley, had shared quarters and after Daniel had been called home after his father's death, the three had kept in touch. He didn't see Christopher much nowadays, but Jacob was one of his closest friends.

Daniel pushed back his chair. He'd instruct the staff to prepare rooms for Jacob first. He needed some time away from this stuffy office.

When he opened the door, he came a cross his grandmother.

"Daniel," Ruth smiled at him, "I was just about to call in the girls for tea. Will you be joining us?"

Daniel smiled regretfully. "I wish I could, but I need to finish up the contracts and then I need to go out for a round of inspections."

"I'll have Anna bring some tea to your study then," Ruth said.

"Thank you grandmother," Daniel said gratefully. He kissed her cheek. "Have you seen Miles? I have some instructions for him."

"I believe he is in the kitchen. I will send him to you." She nodded at him and continue on her way.

Daniel retreated back into the study and sat down at his desk again. While he'd wait for Miles, he might as well finish some more work. He sighed and let his mind wander. Through the door he could hear laughter as Amelia entered the house. The happy barking of a small dog followed after and made Daniel smile.

The house had become so lively. He could hardly remember how things had been before. Something had been added to his life the day he had found Leah, something he hadn't known he was missing.

He couldn't imagine life without her now.

There was a knock on the door and Daniel cleared his throat. "Enter."

Miles stepped into the room and bowed. "You wished to speak to me, my lord?"

"Yes," Daniel nodded, "my friend Jacob Kirkland will be visiting us. Please make sure to prepare a room for him."

"Certainly my lord," Miles nodded.

"He should arrive tomorrow. He'll be staying several days."

Miles bowed. "I shall instruct the kitchen staff." And he retreated from the room.

Daniel sighed again as he looked at the stack of papers still on his desk. He couldn't concentrate. Perhaps he should take a break and have some tea after all.

He pushed away from his desk and left his study.

***

Elizabeth sighed as she looked at the grey sky. It didn't look like it would clear anytime soon. She looked back at her husband. "Do you have to go out now? It looks like more snow is coming."

George nodded. "That is why I have to see about the traps now, before the wolves have gotten to 'em." It wouldn't do them any good if larger predators would run off with his prey. He needed the pelts to sell and the meat would grand them food.

He was allowed to set traps in the forest. The old Lord Blackwood himself had granted him permission to keep the population of rabbits and other animals down to a certain level. A percentage of that he poached went to the Blackwood Estate. The pelts he could sell in nearby towns. It helped him and his wife through the winter.

He kissed his wife's cheek and pulled up his collar before heading out the door.

George shivered when the cold wind hit his face. In this weather, he'd rather sit in the kitchen at the fire, but he had work to do. Reluctantly he trudged towards the forest.

Memories of what had happened here some weeks earlier came flooding back. The little girl's screams haunted his dreams to this day.

None of the others had appeared to be affected by it. Especially William had been angry when the subject had come up. He had told George several times to shut up about it, but George could not forget. He and his wife had lost a child ten years prior to scarlet fever. Seeing that little girl on the forest floor... hearing her screams just before the end... George Filcher closed his eyes and shook his head to get rid of the image. Thinking about it would not change what had happened.

He kneeled down at the first trap. A rabbit had walked into it and he put it in the bag at his hip. The forest was silent. One by one he checked the strings he had placed and by the time he was finished, his bag was full. They would make for some fine pelts and there would be meat for a stew.

The village was still rebuilding the barn from when it had been destroyed by the fire. Most of the food supply had been lost, so the rabbits he had caught would be more than welcome.

Tomorrow a group would set out to the manor to ask lord Blackwood for help.

George took a deep breath and entered his house. His wife was at the table, kneading dough for the morning bread. "Any luck?" she asked and he held up the bag in answer.

Elizabeth nodded and focused on her task again. She nodded towards the fireplace. "There's some soup over the fire. Once you've cleaned them rabbits, I'll add the meat to what's left over and we'll have a nice stew tomorrow."

George nodded. "I'll salt the rest of the meat and let it dry to take with me on my journey."

"At least wait until the weather has cleared."

"I'll have to clean the pelts first and we'll see what aid the young lord will give tomorrow," George disappeared into a side room to put away his catch. He hung the animals from the rafters so he could clean them later and then poured himself some soup and took a slice of bread.

It was a cold day and he was grateful for the warm meal. He seated himself at the hearth and studied his wife as she placed the bread in a tray in the oven.

George finished his meal and sighed. There was still a lot of work to be done before he could turn in for the night.

Such was the life of the simple folk. There were rabbits to skin, pelts to clean and new traps to set.

He pushed his bowl aside and went back to work.