The horse was a good one, a sturdy animal with lots of endurance, but on the way back to Amberly in a small hamlet of Dutchers mill the animal was obviously exhausted.

As Rafeal led his horse towards the liverly he noticed the Flying Horse Inn. He wondered if the man he was searching for was laid up here, no one had seen him in Rivers Edge, and he knew that they were still looking for him after talking to a courier that worked for Swensens.

There was no sign of him in Arcadia or any of the small towns to the south or east, but Dutchers Mill was only three miles from Amberly. No one had thought to look here he would wager it was too close, no one in their right mind would hide here.

He decided to just blend into the wall sit back and see what he could learn. There were some youngsters in the pub, a woman, a couple of older parties.

"That damned man he used me, him and Mr. Peter Smart," the serving girl complained.

"That young man was no good him and his high flootin ways, all those airs, that kid of his sure could play the violin, shame the kid was so upset about his mama

Well he left his mama and he and Mr. Smart could have taken me but oh no.

Rafeal smiled at her a little later when she came over, he had not tried to charm a woman into his bed for a long time once he met Lissa he had not thought much of other women. She looked clean, kind of sweet, and still young.

He could not believe his luck when she told him all the rooms were full but she could find a place for him to sleep, in her chambers.

Marian was very upset over Julius sticking her with Ross all last night and part of today who just cried for his mother, then when he and Smart returned today they took off without her.

After making love with her, they talked and slowly he got out of her what he wanted. That was where Julius and his friend Mr. Smart were headed. They had said Boston, but they were headed to Luna Bay.

He fell asleep satisfied in more ways then one, there was something about this woman he promised her he would come back if he survived. She believed him, he must be some kind of a bounty hunter or law man.

He thought he would always love Lissa but Marian, her heart was as broken as his, and there was something there, something he knew might get him killed, but he wanted a family and a real home.

Marian watched him ride off and smiled, something told her on the worst night of her life, when she had thought of jumping into the river the right man had riden into her life Miguel what a nice name.

Rafeal rode to Luna Bay, he knew it well it was close to where the ship had been anchored, the chanel was deep enough there to bring a pretty good sized ship in there.

It was a long ride, but shorter then the racing ride he and Lissa had made so long ago.

His child, Lisa had said it was a boy, he would be about ten, this little boy Ross was only five, the poor child must be terrified. Part of him hoped he could catch this man, and get the child back for Lissa, the other part hoped he would not then he would never have to see her again.

Rafeal found the stable in Luna Bay, and the lad there introduced himself as Darren Hazard

"Darren I need a stable for my horse and I will need a fresh horse and equipage of some kind can you have it ready quickly," Rafeal asked.

"Of course, the black is our best horse," Daren said.

The town had grown since his trip here around eleven years ago with his father. But it was still small, and he couldn't help but notice the two heavily laden wagons near the dock. Marian had said they had two wagons and one had a wheel that didn't match and the other one had a triangle shaped rip in the canvas cover.

There was Julius and a bearded fellow he assumed was Mr. Smart talking to a sailor. The boy was wandering a little ways away.

The child looked a bit tired but as if he wished he were not here.

Rafeal touched the handle of his rapier. He could grab the boy and run, but the poor child would be scared senseless.

He watched the men and edged closer to Ross.

The men were arguing with a man, presumably the ships captain.

He watched as the boy wandered towards him.

"Ross, I am a friend of Delilah's," Rafeal said, watching the men and glancing at the boy.

The boy blinked at the stranger, he looked at his father then back at the man.

"Your mum sent me to get you, see that stable over there, my horse is the dark gray . .

My mum, the boy said, and Rafeal thought for a moment he was going to scream.

"Yes please hurry," Rafeal said, he only meant for the boy to walk away swiftly.

The boy started to run, if he had walked, things might have been different.

Julius saw him and looked up and yelled, "Ross!"

Ross screamed, "No I want mother."

Rafeal sighed, this was not going well he rushed towards the stable.

"Ross, come here or I will get my boot strap," Julius growled.

Let the kid go," Peter laughed, thinking the kid was more trouble then he was worth.

"NO! He is my son, besides the little brat is going to be great, it is all the rage of Europe for small children to play Bach." Julius shouted.

Rafeal ran towards the stable, Julius ran too.

Here luck was finally with him the child was hidden, and no one else was around.

Rafeal whipped out his rapier, Julius saw it and threw a punch, which knocked off his wig and hat, but left him unscathed. Rafeal grabbed his hat, it was too dear to loose.

"YOU!" Julius said furious, and a bit afraid, "You are dead!"

"What's going on?" Smart asked, and was ignored.

"Really, I don't feel dead, go on or I will run you through." Rafeal said thinking he would back down, most men were cowards especially pampered rich boys like Julius.

Julius was so angry he wasn't thinking or he would have ran like a puppy facing a huge fighting dog.

Julius wondered where he had came for he never liked Rafeal, Jamie had favoured him over himself, a man of good breeding.

Rafeal was toying with him, he had never liked Julius, and had not been upset when his father had robbed his family to fund their ship.

"Smart help me out here," Julius cried, realizing he was overmatched.

"Leave it Mr. Smart, I would really hate to leave you both gutted on the streets of this fair town," Rafeal threatened.

He fought back, Rafeal did not want to hurt him and he could have, Julius was a bad swordsman. He finally knocked the sword from Julius's hand and scratched his face.

Julius cried out then he ran like that puppy.

"Would you like a taste of my steel Mr. Smart, I believe that is your name," Rafeal asked.

"No sir," Smart said thinking who the hell was this guy, he turned quickly and followed the wailing Julius off towards the dock. Rafeal knew if they had any friends in those seamen he would be in trouble.

Darren brought the horse and rig, and said, "All ready sir."

"Thankyou, I will be back in a day or two for the gray,"

"You hurted my father," the boy said.

"Yes, and I am sorry but . . ." Rafeal started.

"I am not sorry. My father was mean to me, can we go see my mum now please mister,"

Rafeal helped him into the rig.

"Sure," Rafeal said.

"Good I am sure glad I am going back home, my father just yells all the time, I would rather weed the garden and be with mum," Ross sighed.

Delilah was back at her house, Maylissa was with her and when they heard the horse and equipage they wondered who it could be.

"It is Ross, someone has found him." Delilah cried.

Rafeal walked towards the women.

Delilah rushed to him and hugged him and thanked him not recognizing him.

"Thank you, I am so glad to see my son," Delilah said.

"Father was mean to me mum," Ross said.

"I know you are home and safe now. How can I ever thank you, Mister . . ." Delilah said.

"I am just a friend of Lissa's," He said and shrugged.

Lissa came to him and studied him and smiled.

"If I wasn't married I would take you back in a heartbeat," Lissa said.

Rafeal smiled and said, "I believe you, I could not ask for more, but I would like to see my son, he does not have to see me."

Lissa sighed, she supposed she owed him.

"I will bring him to Fame's hill tommorrow for a picnic lunch," Lissa sighed, thinking what could be the harm.

He nodded and smiled.

That night Philip was closing up the pub when he noticed the stranger had not left or taken a room.

"How much would you take to leave your wife and this town and never come back?" Rafeal asked.

"More money then you would ever have stranger," Philip laughed thinking what a strange question. He was truly happy, something money couldn't buy. He had long talks with his half brother on this subject after Oly died and Todd was being pressured by Lewis to take the chair of Swensen and sons. Todd was truly happy as his own innkeeper.

The stranger left but he was smiling and Philip wondered about it, but soon he found himself thinking about Maylissa she must be exhausted and most likely be asleep when he came home.

He hoped she was back from guarding her sister, he had asked Tristen to go over there and relieve her just a bit ago when the pub emptied out.

The next day after seeing his son and retrieving his horse, he went to the Flying Horse. Marian was waiting with open arms.

"I can not believe you really came back," she said.

"I am going to stay here a couple of days and rest up my horse before I return to Portland, I think we need to get to know each other, maybe you would like to come with me." Rafeal said.

"Good," she said, she was not going to rush into something again.

Marian smiled, and the two of them kissed.