He'd yet to return the borrowed horse he'd used to get out to the ranch and even though Percy wouldn't say anything, Tristan felt bad keeping the animal for so long. He smiled in greeting to the boy who came out to meet him and met Percy inside the stable as he dismounted from his own horse and led him to a stall. "Mind if I keep him here for a while?" he asked, knowing Percy would agree. "I've got some business in town that'll take me a while to see to." Percy laughed and brought a fresh bucket of water over to the stall. "I just about didn't recognize you without your fancy clothes on." Tristan adjusted his hat and pulled the collar of his coat up to break the wind drifting through the stable. "I barely recognize myself, truth be known." They talked about nonsensical things for long minutes before Tristan was able to get away. The moment he stepped onto the wooden sidewalk that flanked the storefronts, his eyes immediately sought out the stagecoach station. He knew Emmaline was going to be upset and he couldn’t blame her for being so.
