She had been working for Lorn for a few months now and was finally able to shed the dark clothing that was associated with mourning. It had been over a year since her husband passed away. She was blossoming into some semblance of happiness again. But Karen had been careful to keep her distance from him... Lorn. Ahh, Lorn, someone who she never tired of looking at whenever she had the chance. Of course, she had been keeping herself busy enough that she wouldn't have time for things like riding lessons...

But now she yearned for interaction with him. She finally made time for learning to ride a horse.

She walked toward the stable after leaving the babies at the main house like Lorn had invited her to. It was the first time she would leave the babies with anyone else besides her former neighbor, and she was fine with it this time. She felt the butterflies in her stomach as she waited for him to show up, reaching out to pat the forehead of one horse that looked to be docile enough for her to handle.

He wasn't there yet, she was alone so far, and so she talked to the horse in a soft murmur, "Do ye think I am a bad person fer admirin' him?" she asked the beast as she rubbed its velvety snout. "It's been over a year now and I've been so alone. I miss my Harold but... He's gone and never comin' back and... do ye think he'd forgive me if I loved again?"

She sighed and hugged the horse around its neck.