THE PARK

Stefan's night was restless.

Even the alcohol couldn't stop it.

Sleeping in the couch alone, thinking about the damsel in my room.

That feeling... of her soft porcelain skin in my arms when I caught her before the floor and her hair.. those sweet smell of roses and lavender still lingers in my nose.

And her reaction when she's awake... is priceless!

Those green emerald prominent eyes showed her beautiful soul.

I truely wanted to smooch her.

But...

I'm holding my horses.

I'm always patient to everything.. also to women.

I do not want to be advantageous of her vulnerability.

I have high regard to all women.

And... I'm already dopey.

We surely have more time and days together.

And more time and days to become acquainted with.

I find her very interesting.

And I doze off.

Mikael arrived early in the house.

He woke me up from the couch.

"Stefan.. Stefan.. Hey wake up! Why are you on the couch?"

I'm startled.

I slowly get up and brushed my hair with my fingers.

"Younger brother, why in hell! we have a girl visitor in my room without my knowledge?" I said in a calm and controlled voice.

"This is my house and nobody asked my permission?!?" I added.

Mikael flashed a guilty look on his face.

"I'm sorry Stefan... It's just that.. I couldn't..

So, you see Uncle Charles..given me an order to take her from the Port of Anchorage and keep her safe until the investigation on the House of Oblonsky be completed...But Uncle Charles thinks that she's an imposter, claiming as the Last Heiress." he explained.

"That's insanity! It's been decades that the House of Oblonsky diminished. How could this be happening? We all know that all of them were killed even the maidservants? "

I exclaimed.

"I will be communicating with Uncle Charles soon. Hence, the investigation is still in progress, we do our best to accommodate her ...the best that we can." I added.

Mikael nodded in response.

I called Olivia, the house keeper to serve breakfast.

And called Lilian to relay a message to Beatrix to freshen up.

And the latter bow down in respect and followed my order.

We are settled in the dining table and talking.

When...

The shattered vase caught our attention.

My Goodness! that's my precious collected vase from Soufflenheim. That cost me a treasure!

Mikael knows how they are valuable to me than anybody else.

He tapped my shoulders to console me.

I suppressed my feeling of repugnance.

Then, Mikael approached Beatrix to ushered her in her seat.

We completed our breakfast when Beatrix appeal to have a tour around Seward.

I called Olivia to have the hostler ready two horses for a ride today.

I walked outside in the courtyard where the horses are readied by Peter.

"Your highness! Stygian is ready for you to ride" he cheerfully said.

"Thank you Peter!"

Then... I saw Beatrix approached Winter, feeding and caressing her.

She acts like a genuine royalty.

"She's Winter." I told her while I regard her posture and attire.

She turned around and I asked while looking at her delicate feet.

"Aren't you not changing your footwear?"

"No, I don't mind wearing my sandals" Beatrix answered.

And I asked her again "Aren't you not cold? Please wear something"...his eyes surveyed my outfit...then continued .."WARM".

Then she said...

"Oh I'm so sorry Your Highness...just give me a minute!".

And she run back inside the house.

While waiting for her... I called out Olivia to ready our camping bag and lunch boxes.

Then Peter approached me and asked "Do you want to feed Stygian.. Your Highness?"

I nodded.

While feeding my horse and caressing him.

I heard footsteps coming from my back.

I turned around and see her standing in the courtyard.

She looks like Aphrodite, the goddess of beauty.

"You look stunning My Lady! Are you ready?" I asked teasingly.

"Yes, I am.. Your Highness! " she bow down.

I approached her and whispered in her ears "You don't have to bow down..My Lady! Next time you do that...you will be in my bed." Then I took her right hand and removed her hand glove then kissed it as a respect.

I smiled flirtatiously while looking at her red face.

"I love seeing you blushing..My Lady!" I added.

She grabbed her hands and she advanced, approaching Winter.

Peter helped her cinching up and settled.

She graciously steadied herself on top of the mare.

I put up the camping bag and our lunch boxes in the inside the saddle bags and quickly ride into my horse and slowly moving ahead.

While she followed through.

We started our journey.

We passed by the Millionaires Row mansion houses.

Then, the coffee shops, the souvenir shop and the meat shop.

And greet the people of Seward and I assured Beatrix that we will visit the shops next time.

I pointed the Resurrection Bay and and the mountain slopes.

Then, I stopped..prompted her to halt.

"My Lady! we are very lucky to have beautiful weather today. It's perfect for a hike." I exclaimed.

" Your highness, we have our horses with us. Why are we hiking? she annoyingly said.

"Ah yes My Lady..indeed! You will see later" I flashed my teasing grin.

It would be a great joy to have more time with her in the wilderness.

I gently put inward pressure or a foot cue to Stygian to increase his speed.

And Beatrix followed.

How did she managed to learn horse back riding? I'm impressed!

We arrived at the entrance of Exit Glacier in Kenai Fjords National Park.

The signage welcomed us.

There are few houses of natives inside the rainforest.

The rainforest is composed of Setka Spruce trees and Mountain Hemlock trees.

Mikael and I, used to hike the trail for seven to eight hours during summer time but it's all worth it, everytime we reached the summit.

The hike starts from the valley floor, up to the top of the trail. The trail is atrocious for the horses shoe.

Thus, we need to leave our horses due to the difficult trails ahead.

I have decided to meet Oscar, a long time friend and a native to help us with the horses.

The natives planted the trees in the rainforest and they helped maintaining the cleanliness of the Park.

They also helped tourists with the trails and they report to the Park Rangers for any accidents and sightings of the bears in the area for safety.

I stopped in front of his house and so as Beatrix.

And she's a little bit confused.