Without having to think, Frank's heart moved him a step forward, his hand holding the Stetson stretched out. It was a gesture that propelled Jazira into his arms which immediately wrapped around her stiff frame.

She whispered in a tight voice, "If you are a dream, it is too cruel."

"Hey," Frank said gently.

His mustang nickered and Jazira realizing it was not the Hidalgo of her dreams exhaled deeply and began to cry softly on Frank's shoulder. He tightened his grip as she trembled, her long hair brushing against his hands. She smelled like fresh hay, leather, and spices. Something in a dormant recess deep inside of him stirred. Jazira pulled back from him, wiping her eyes. Still in disbelief she asked,

"Can it really be you, Hok'shel'ato?"

The name, the gentleness, the rhythm almost made Frank reach for her again, but he looked at the sad eyes that needed reassurance. Instead, he stretched out a hand and brushed away a tear with his thumb. He humored,

"Folks always say I don't look like myself in a suit."

Jazira smiled even as tears spilled out over the long lashes covering her downcast eyes. Frank shifted his weight and bent his head to catch her eye. When she looked up again she asked in wonderment,

"How is it you have come?"

With that question Frank avoided her gaze and when he glanced down he saw her bare feet and smiled. As he raised his eyes to hers again he said steadily, "I was fixin' to ask you the same question."

He looked into her eyes and waited. Jazira caught her breath, blinked and looked over at the stable that was quiet once more. She half turned to look back at Frank and said warmly, "You have traveled many miles. The story is too long for someone hungry and tired."

She faced him saying, "I'll go to the house and bring you something to eat."

But she made no move to leave him. Frank tossed his Stetson on top of his jacket laying on the ground and placed his hands on his narrow hips. He looked into her eyes saying assuredly, "No, I'm okay." He nodded his head in the direction of the house and the light still shining from the corner room and he asked, "Is that Lady Davenport's room?"

Jazira knew the answer without having to look, "Yes, she is up late into the night." She paused and then added, "I knew Lady Davenport was expecting someone, I didn't know it was you."

Jazira was looking away from Frank, she was looking past him, at the mustang. Frank looked at her knowing she had answered her own question about why he had come. He said slowly sarcastically, "I guess with her kind of work, she has to stay up late."

Jazira's smile reached into her eyes. She suddenly asked, "What has happened to the painted stallion?"

Frank followed her gaze to the mustang and he answered simply, "It was time for him to be free."

Jazira looked up at him with eyes glowing with delight. She looked back at this new mustang and then laid a sympathetic hand on Frank's arm saying as she tilted her head up at him, "Then, you too have had great loss in your life."

Frank knew that, without even attempting to, Jazira had lassoed his heart. As she had told him once, 'I feel you truly see me when others do not.' Frank had missed Little Brother.

Jazira's hand slipped down Frank's arm and into his hand. She tugged gently,

"Come, you are tired. Sleep in here tonight, the grass will be wet in the morning."

Frank turned and reached down to pick up his jacket and scoop up his Stetson, then he followed Jazira into the stable. He counted eight stalls and one whole large corner for Al-Hattal who was still standing waiting for his sister. Jazira walked ahead of Frank and he couldn't help noticing she still had that enchanting sway as she walked. Her voice broke his thoughts,

"I sleep out here every night." She reached up and nuzzled Al-Hattal. "He's the only thing that reminds me of home. . ."

Frank finished the sentence, "And of your father."

Jazira looked at him quickly and as her eyes filled with water she turned away and nuzzled Al-Hattal again. Frank put a tender hand on her shoulder and nodded to where her shoes were laying on top of the hay and he said genuinely, "I've traveled a lot of miles to find out what happened to him."