"By god, boy! You nearly gave me a heart attack when I saw you in my granddaughter's clothing!" Lady Lelynn said as she finally returned upstairs and walked into the room. Abel had already removed the wig and dress, replacing them both where he had found them.

He turned when he heard her, smiling, though he felt like doing anything but. "I apologize for borrowing those things without asking. I panicked when I heard him knocking."

The woman flicked her wrist as if she didn't care, then hobbled into the room with a slight bit of extra pep to her movements. "It is fine, dear. I believe your story, by the way. No one would be able to fake being of the other gender so well without a good amount of training. Did you see how smitten he was? The crazy tweet did not even notice that you were wearing shoes in the darkness up here!"

Abel was shocked by her words, but even as he stared at her wide-eyed, his worry was slowly ebbing. She hadn't given him away to Kirin, but he definitely couldn't stay at her home any longer. He didn't want to cause her any problems with the man and also didn't want to be there when he returned.

"Yes. Well, um, thank you very much for believing me and making Kirin leave. I will leave you be now and continue on my way."

"Oh! But my granddaughter will be having her coming-out night soon! You must stay!" the woman said, hobbling up to him and taking one of his hands.

"You want me to be there? But I do not even have a coin to my name, what good will I be to your granddaughter?" Abel asked awkwardly, wanting to pull his hand away but knowing better.

When the woman shook her head, his brow furrowed, confused. "Abel, my granddaughter passed four months prior from a bout of unknown illness. It would mean the world to me if you gave me back that one night that I had dreamed of for her."

Why would she ask that of me? I am a boy!

He wanted to scream his thoughts to her. It hurt to even be asked to do such a thing again. If he went to another coming out, then Kirin would definitely show. Father would be ecstatic if I returned with the lawman on my arm. Shaking his head, Abel looked up at the ceiling and heaved a tired sigh. When he looked back down at the woman, she was grinning like one would expect from a witch. All toothy and maniacal.

"Come downstairs and finish your supper?" she suggested with a slight raise to her brow.

Stomach growling, Abel looked down at his shoes. He was hungry, and after helping him so much, she deserved to have her request thought through thoroughly. "Okay, Madam."

She clapped her hands once and headed for the door, her cane clacking on the wood as she moved and Abel followed. For the remainder of the night he was lost in thought, sparing glances toward the door as he went over so many different possible scenarios that could play out between each second that passed and each day in the future.

"You look exhausted, Abel. Would you like to go upstairs and rest for the night? That pesky crow will not return until at least late morning. I have a knack for hiding his fugitives, so I know he will come back... along with that fact, he is quite taken with you."

Abel shook his head. "He should not be, yet he has barely treated me like other criminals."

The woman leaned forward, her smile stretching her thin, worn lips. "Do you know, Abel, that when people truly fall in love, it is not with that person's outer appearance, but what they have on the inside?"

"But, Madam, I am a boy. It does not matter if he falls in love with me. It cannot be."

Instead of agreeing with him, Lady Lelynn tilted her head and leaned back, crossing her arms over her bosom. "Would you not approve of his ministrations while being Anastasia if he were to understand that you were a male?"

The question caught him off guard. Quite like most of the woman's words, in all honestly.

"Of course I would not approve of such things. I do not want his attention in any form. I just wish to be free of my current predicaments and begin working toward a real life for myself."

The woman's eyes lit up as he spoke, the look in them making Abel slowly stop talking.

"I believe I have quite the deal for you if that is your goal, young man."

Uh-oh. Why do I have a feeling that this is going to be a trap? Abel thought to himself.

"What do you have in mind, Madam?" he asked hesitantly, not really sure that he wanted to know.

"Well, I have quite the place here."

When she didn't continue, Abel nodded, shifting in his seat uneasily. "Yes, Madam, you do have a very nice home and vineyard."

"Indeed. Well, as my poor daughter has left this world far earlier than I, I now have an issue concerning who will run this place when I am unable."

Abel put both of his hands on either side of him on the chair he sat upon, then hunched slightly with a shrug. "Madam, do you mean you wish to hire me to help you manage your land?"

It was a very kind gesture and one he would have to think deeply about if she were in fact offering it to him. It would begin the security he so wished to have with his life. And yet, it was much too close to the lawman's land at the same time.

"Yes, Abel. But what I am speaking of is more long-term. The deal is this and you may take it or leave it after a night of rest and thought. You will work for me for a few coins a day. Learn the land and the way it is worked. Then, after you fulfill your coming out as my granddaughter, I will sign the entire estate over to you, as a male, in my will."

Silence took over as Abel just stared, mouth agape at the aged baroness. He couldn't even get a thought out of his head beside the single word "What?"

"I am not getting any younger, Abel. Even though I am still quite the catch for an older gentlemen, they aren't worth my time when my beautiful grapes are in season."

She clapped her hands in front of her once, a gesture Abel was beginning to understand as some sort of finality to a conversation or request. "So, you will get some rest upstairs tonight and then give me your answer tomorrow. That pesky finch will not return until at least late mornin' so you need not worry about him slipping into your room while asleep."

The idea of Kirin anywhere near him was unsettling, but considering the way the woman had handled him earlier, she could obviously manage the lawman quite easily. Shaking his head, Abel reached up to the cold food on his plate and slowly slipped each item between his lips, chewed, then swallowed.

After washing everything down with a cup of water, he pushed his chair back and dismissed himself with a quiet "Thank you for your hospitality."

The woman smiled and nodded, taking a sip from a glass of wine she had poured while Abel ate. Turning from the table, he headed upstairs and back into the room that had belonged to Lady Lelynn's granddaughter. Looking around, he now understood why everything looked so tidy. The room had not been lived in for several months. It was a little unsettling to sleep in a room where someone had likely passed, but he could tell that it had all been cleaned several times over considering that there was not a speck of dust anywhere and it smelled of lavender. After taking a few deep breaths to calm his nerves, Abel returned the dress, wig, and other garments he had borrowed to their proper places. He then removed his shoes and walked over to the bed to slide beneath the covers. It took less than ten minutes for him to lose consciousness, the bed silks comfortable and cool against his warm skin.

"Anastasia, please come downstairs soon. There is a sprightly peacock here wishing to speak with you," Lady Lelynn said from the other side of the door before Abel heard her hobble back down the stairs. Groaning under the blanket, he wished he could stay in bed longer, but after tossing his covers aside and looking out of the window, he realized that he really did need to get up. Kirin was likely downstairs, already waiting to try to win his affections, no doubt.

There are so many things wrong with this situation.

Unfortunately, he could do little about it at the moment except play along. Shaking his head at the absurdity of the whole situation, Abel slid from the bed and hurriedly began to look through the closet. He found a gorgeous day gown that would easily reach past his ankles and took it down from where it hung. Draping that across the bed, he walked over to a small wash basin that lady Lelynn had seemingly filled while he was asleep.

I do not need to worry about Kirin walking in, but I am not too sure I trust the baroness, either.

He found it slightly humorous that she had thought ahead, but after a moment, he decided that he would be grateful for the chance to wipe away the days of dirt that clung to his skin. Once he was cleaned up and he had washed his face, Abel felt a great deal better. Since he had run the cloth over his entire body, he had stripped his remaining breeches. The thought to put them on again emerged, but he quickly decided against it. If Kirin would be snooping about him for what he assumed was going to be quite a good while, he didn't want him to chance seeing the men's clothing beneath the gown if it rose from a wayward gust of wind or movement.

Walking back over to the bed, he carefully tugged the soft purple gown over his head. He glanced down once it was settled, frowning at his complete lack of a bosom. Father had all of my dresses altered or stuffed to appear that I had breasts... Worried, Abel searched the room until he found a drawer with stockings. The front of the dress was decently ornate so after stuffing a few of the stockings down his chest, he actually made it appear that he was somewhat endowed.

I suppose I will be a late-blooming young lady, he joked, grinning as he pulled on a pair of the stockings to cover his feet, then slid them into a pair of matching purple shoes. After a full body check, he walked over to the wig and gently lifted it up to place on his head. It fit perfectly, just tight enough to remain secure if he had to run or move abruptly.

After one more check, he calmed his breathing and slowly opened the door. The hallway was empty and the walk to the stairs gave him a chance to think up the answers to a few questions the lawman might ask of him. When he finally stepped down from the last stair, he felt two sets of eyes immediately on him. Forcing his own to lift, Abel first noticed Lady Lelynn in a soft white dress, staring at him with such love that he almost felt the need to run back up the stairs. Forcing his attention away from her, he looked at the lawman.

He cleaned up and shaved...

Seeing the man's lips stretch into a warm grin, Abel made sure that his posture was appropriate and walked over, offering his hand to Kirin. "Good morning, sir," he said as the man took his proffered hand and pressed a soft kiss to the back of it.

"Good morning, Miss Lelynn."

Abel's breath caught as the man smiled at him, his eyes far softer than they ever were for his male self. He opened his mouth to continue speaking, but Lady Lelynn cut him off with a brisk wave of her hands toward the kitchen.

"Breakfast time. Anastasia, will you please go prepare some food while Lawman Squire snoops about, looking for his little runaway?"

Grinning impishly, Abel nodded and curtly headed for the kitchen. "Yes, Grandmum!"

He saw Kirin try to follow from the corner of his eye, but Madam Lelynn quickly swatted his backside with her cane and pointed for him to go upstairs in order to search her home for the boy that was right in front of his eyes. After a longing stare his way, Kirin ran up the stairs, his boots making loud thumping sounds on the worn wood as he swiftly set about checking the rooms.

"Such an oaf, that one. Cannot even see what is underneath his own nose," Lady Lelynn said with a thin smirk.

Abel snickered under his breath as he got busy searching the baroness's cabinets until he found a large old pan, some spices, and a bit of butter. "I am afraid that I do not usually partake in normal breakfast fare. There is some beef in the icebox and quite a few leftover biscuits."

Having been brought up with specific items for breakfast each day, Abel was a bit surprised by the woman's lack of eggs, but he just shrugged off the inconvenience and decided to have some fun.

"That is quite alright, Madam. I enjoy a challenge. Do you happen to have any milk or cream, as well as flour or corn meal?"

"Yes, dear, one moment," the woman said as she got busy retrieving small containers. One had about a cup of cream settled in it while the other held a large amount of fine flour.

"Perfect. Thank you, Grandmum," Abel replied as he heard Kirin come back down the stairs.

Turning back to the stove that had already been stocked with wood and lit earlier, Abel started cooking a few small portions of the beef he'd taken from the icebox. While he worked, he heard Lady Lelynn send Kirin off to the back of house to retrieve some of the apples he had given her. Once he was gone, she slid next to Abel and inhaled the smell of the cooking beef.

"My my, that is quite a lovely scent, Anastasia."

Abel pursed his lips and nodded. "I added some of the salt and pepper I found, along with some cumin. I hope you do not mind."

"Of course not, dear, but what do you plan to do with the cream? I have never seen someone cook meat with cream."

That made Abel grin at her. "I know a very good use for the cream. Let me show you," he said, excited to showcase some of the skills he had learned. After removing the meat from the sizzling pan, he slowly began adding small spoonfuls of cream and flour. It took quite a few minutes to get the roux correct, but then it finally started coming together as he stirred with the spoon in his free hand.

Hearing Kirin saunter back into the kitchen, Abel glanced over his shoulder, keeping his gaze from meeting the man's in case the bright green color gave him away. In his hands were four apples, which he promptly began rinsing in the sink. While he was busy washing, then slicing the fruit, Abel returned to his cooking. The roux was finished so he carefully got down three big plates and added the meat and biscuits. He then poured the roux over everything, leaving just enough space untouched for the apple slices Kirin had cut.

When he took the food over to the table, Abel noticed that Kirin had pulled up an extra chair so that they could all eat together. Grudgingly, he also noticed that Lady Lelynn was already seated in her normal chair next to the wall, leaving him to sit by Kirin. Forcing down his dislike for the situation, he set two plates down, one in front of each of them, then went back and got his own before settling into his seat.

"So, Lady Lelynn, when are you planning Anastasia's coming-out evening?"

Biting his tongue, Abel kept quiet and just nibbled at the meal he had made, knowing that he had no right to speak for himself in the conversation.

"I have settled on Friday. I will have to go to town later today and set up the arrangements, but I believe everything will be squared away in no time at all, Sir Squire."

"Very good," Kirin nodded as he looked down at Abel, the feeling of his gaze on him making Abel inwardly fidget. He did not want the man to show up, let alone try to win his hand. And to heck with all of it. He had not yet agreed to the baroness's offer, either.

"I must continue searching for the young man who slipped away from me, but because he has left my horse here, I do no suspect him being able to get very far quickly. I should be able to make the event."

I have not even moved from in front of you the entire time. You just refuse to see me as anything besides a criminal or possible wife.

"Perhaps you are just underestimating him, Sir Squire," Abel said quietly.

The silence that followed told him that he should have likely not spoken, but he wasn't interested in being a timid young lady any longer. He had taken his dress off for the last time when he'd left his first coming out. I will not be a dainty young lady groveling for a husband any longer.

"Hmm, perhaps. He is an interesting young lad. Quite gifted at making up falsities," the lawman returned, a hint of curious humor in his voice.

Abel felt his teeth grinding together as his heart sped up, eager to return the verbal spar. Luckily, Lady Lelynn stepped into the conversation, redirecting Kirin's attention to her. "You always find the most interesting criminals, Sir Squire."

Kirin gave a sarcastic snort after eating a piece of apple. "Right. And you, my lady, tend to attract the most cunning of them who manage to sneak away. Then invite them in for dinner."

Lady Lelynn shook her head and tossed an apple slice at Kirin's head, forcing the lawman to snap his hand up to catch the flying fruit. "You know very well that I keep a pistol in the pocket of my dress, and that I know how to use it quite well."

Well, that is good to know.

Feeling more than a little unsettled, Abel slowly pushed his chair away from the table and hurried to the sink in order to wash his empty dish. After a minute, two more were set in front of him, along with silverware that he silently scrubbed.

"How old is your granddaughter again, my lady?"

Hearing Kirin's voice directly behind him had Abel's shoulders stiffening, though he tried his hardest to keep the action from being caught. When Lady Lelynn didn't reply, the lawman stepped even closer, then leaned over so that the warmth from his cheek tickled Abel's.

"How old are you, Anastasia?"

Abel swallowed, feeling sweat begin to trickle down his back. He then heard the click of a pistol being cocked and expected it to press against his back at any second. Except, when he heard a frustrated intake of air hissing through Kirin's teeth right by his ear, he realized exactly what was happening.

"Sir Squire. I believe you have overstayed your welcome. You are harassing my granddaughter and I would appreciate it if you would leave."

Kirin started to speak, but he was cut off and moved forward to press against Abel's back, likely trying to avoid the gun near his back.

"You are on my property, and I will not allow you to harass anyone who calls it home. No matter how long they have been here. Now then, please leave. If you have questions or would like to speak with myself or my granddaughter again, please do so another time, and without a negative attitude."

Abel knew that Kirin had figured it out, but with a gun to his back, his hands were tied. He grudgingly leaned back and, after blowing out a frustrated breath, stomped out of the house with a promise to return later that night with a warrant of arrest.