A/N: Yes, I know. Bad, wicked author. What's it been? 3 months? Something like that. Well, I felt a pang of guilt every time I saw this betaed chapter sitting in my inbox, just waiting for me to set aside 5 minutes of my life to edit and post. So here I am. Much thanks to Pendragginink for her lovely beta job. Much appreciated, as usual. Otherwise I don't have another chapter written. No idea when I will.

Oh! For those of you who remember To Play With Fire (that one story that came to a major roadblock with Styler and Lynx where Styler is kidnapped by Chaia and Lynx goes to rescue him), you may be pleased to know I wrote another couple chapters on it. I won't be posting it on ff.n, but if you'd like to see it, let me know and I'll send it to you just the same.

Raleigh of Her Own Destiny

Chapter Nine

Going On

Rahlei was, of course, astounded when the innkeeper approached her with a job offer. He had turned her down only a couple of weeks ago, before she left Corus looking for work, and he had turned her down. His excuse for his sudden need of her was that one of his maids had eloped which, unbeknownst to Rahlei, was untrue. He was going to be hard put to find things for her to do even if there had been an eloped maid.

So unfortunately, Rahlei was put to doing the harder tasks that no one else wanted. The innkeeper felt bad about this, but there was nothing else for her to do. Rahlei didn't mind. She was used to hard work and appreciated being able to keep busy. She still thought of Ethan once in a while and wondered at times how he was faring without a cook and housekeeper.

Three weeks into her new job, Rahlei was wiping down the tables and sweeping the floors. It was close to midnight and she was to see to any travelers that happened by until the innkeeper returned from visiting his mother who was ill. He had left early that afternoon and hadn't known when he'd be back, asking Rahlei to keep an eye on things.

The door opened, bringing with it a gust of wind. Rahlei looked up to see a man clad in a cloak and wide brimmed hat.

It couldn't be…

"Well, if it isn't Miss Rahlei," he said taking his hat off.

"Mr. Banks?" Rahlei leaned her broom against the wall. "What brings you here?"

"Please, call me Cody," he said, bowing slightly. "And I'm just passing though. I'll be leaving in the morning. For now I would like a late supper and something hot to drink."

"Oh, certainly. Just a moment." Rahlei hurried off to get his food.

She flitted about the kitchen, scooping up a bowl of stew that was still left on the fire. She hastily cut a thick slice of bread and poured a cup of coffee. She brought them out on a tray and placed the food before him.

"Thank you," he said smiling at her in a way that made her heart flutter oddly.

"Welcome," she replied, wiping her hands nervously on her apron.

She picked up the broom that had been discarded upon his arrival and preceded to finish sweeping.

"Won't you join me?"

Rahlei stopped sweeping and looked at him. She must have had an odd expression on her face, for Cody laughed and said, "It's all right, I don't bite."

She blushed, leaning the broom against the wall and wiping her hands once more on her apron.

"Well, I suppose I could use a spell of rest," Rahlei agreed, sitting down across from him.

"You got work here then, I assume?"

"Yes, I did, thankfully. I don't know how I would have got to Port Caynn again. That was foolish of me to try," she added, tracing designs on the table with her finger and not quite meeting his eye.

"It was brave."

She looked up at him. "Brave?"

"Of course. I don't know many who would attempt to walk all the way to Port Caynn with not so much as a crust of bread."

"I had a crust of bread when I started," Rahlei said defiantly.

Cody laughed again. "Well, that's not quite what I meant, but you get the idea."

Rahlei nodded. "I do."

Silence fell for a moment and Rahlei twiddled with the corner of her apron.

"Were you coming from Port Caynn again?"

"Yes. I got a late start and had hoped to make it home before midnight, but I near fell off my horse, I was so tired."

Rahlei smiled at this.

"So, uh, where was it you were working before I found you the first time?" Cody asked conversationally.

"I worked at a tailor's before he closed."

"I see. And before then?"

Rahlei looked at him, cocking an eyebrow. "Is it any of your business?" she asked coolly.

Cody put up his hands. "No, no. Can't fault a man for being curious, though. Pretty lass such as yourself, in a place like this, sweeping floors. Doesn't seem quite right, so I wondered if there was a story behind it."

Rahlei leaned back in her chair, crossing her arms over her chest. "There's a story."

"Indeed?" he asked, lifting and eyebrow.

"Yes, but you aren't going to hear it."

"Ah." Cody nodded and smirked slightly. "I give in. Keep your secrets if you wish, fair lady, but know this." He held up a finger and sat straighter in his chair. "The longer you keep them, the more curious I become." He grinned at her.

"And curiosity killed the cat," she snapped, rising from the chair in annoyance.

"Perhaps," he replied, nodding. "But the dog has a boring life lying under the porch all day."

"Are you finished with your meal?" she asked icily.

"Oh, yes. Thank you, very much."

She took the bowl and cup and stalked off to the kitchen.

"I'll show you to your room," she said when she returned.

"I'd be much obliged," he said, giving her another heart-fluttering smile.

She wished he wouldn't do that. It made her nervous. She felt this man could see right though her, and she didn't like it one bit.

She led him up the stairs. "Here, you can have this one," she said pushing a door open.

"Thank you, Miss Rahlei."

She nodded, grateful that he could not see her blushing in the dim light.

"I'll see you tomorrow?" he asked, somewhat hopefully.

"Perhaps," she answered.

"Until next time, then?"

"Until next time," she agreed.

Cody closed the door and Rahlei went back downstairs to find that the innkeeper had returned. They passed a few polite greetings before Rahlei went to her room for some much needed rest and time to think.

Try as she might, she could not get to sleep. Thoughts of Cody kept coming to her. He knew nothing about her. Knew nothing of her past, her father, her husband… She found that refreshing and discouraging all at once. It was nice to be able to talk to someone who had no idea her father was a cruel man, though the average person wouldn't know it from his outward appearance. But it was also hard that he didn't understand. She had secrets, yes. But they were her own to keep. Her secrets brought up painful memories and feelings. Things she didn't want to think about. Things she didn't want anyone to know, let alone tell them about. Rahlei stuffed her face into her pillow, trying to shove away the image of Cody's face swimming in front of her eyes.

Why was he causing her so much turmoil, this man she had only met three times? How was it he was able to make her stomach flip-flop as though she had missed a step going down?

It was with these thoughts that Rahlei finally wafted off to sleep, only to awaken the next morning at dawn to continue another day of work.

Once downstairs, Rahlei was surprised to see Cody already awake and nursing a cup of coffee.

She tried to walk quickly past him, hoping he wouldn't notice her, but he was a born observer and quick to notice things.

"You're awake early, Miss Rahlei," he said, smirking over the rim of his cup.

"As are you," she replied crisply, turning to the kitchen to get her breakfast.

She allowed herself one small smile on his account as she ate a piece of toast. He was the only person that called her Miss Rahlei. She rather liked it. When she came out, he was still there, as though waiting for you.

He watched her as she performed her various morning chores. He sat sideways in the chair, his back against the wall, one foot crossed over his knee, surveying her without ever moving his head.

She found it extremely unnerving.

"Aren't you ever going to leave?" she demanded finally, stopping before him and placing her hands on her hips.

"Don't I have a right to sit here and drink my coffee if I want?" he asked, innocently.

She glared. "I don't appreciate you sitting there watching me."

"I'm sorry you feel that way," the man replied, though his eyes still smiled and he didn't look sorry in the least.

"Are you leaving soon?" she repeated.

"Eventually," Cody said, nodding his head with a shrug.

Rahlei huffed in annoyance and stomped out of the room. She heard him chuckle as she left, making her all the more angry.

She was busy hoeing the garden when he rode up on his horse – the one she sold him. Her temper added to the efficiency of her hoeing and she was already half done.

"What do you want?" she asked without looking up.

"My, you're getting rude."

"So are you," she retorted.

"True," he concurred. "I can be at times."

"Well, you've chosen the wrong lady to be rude to and the wrong day to be rude on. So if you'll kindly excuse me, I have work to do and I'd rather not be bothered."

"In that case, I shall not keep you any longer." Cody tipped his hat. "Good day, Miss Rahlei."

He clucked to the mare and set off at a trot down the road. Rahlei watched him go, her hand shading her eyes.

Good riddance, she thought with a frown, as he disappeared over the hill. Her heart somehow did not agree with her thoughts, however, and it set her ill at ease.