AN: Hey guys I have a new chapter for you! Hope you like it, it's a bit longer than the last one.

Diclaimer: I don't own any of the Rangers Apprentice stuff, the only thing I own is the books that I bought from Borders.

Arriving later than they had planned due to Tayrn not being able to ride very fast, Jackson motioned for them to stop at one of the trees near the house. Dismounting he took the bridle off Meric and loosened the girth before turning to Tayrn.

"Don't you dare try getting of that horse without my help." He said sending her a look that told her he meant business.

Tayrn paused before sending him an equally demanding look saying "I can do it by myself, thank you very much!"

"I think not," Jackson, said as he walked over to her and took the horses reins in his hands before continuing, "Do you see any step stool, no, you are not getting of that horse without my help. I don't want to have to deal with a hurting Tayrn, I remember during training when you broke your wrist from that one fall and I had to deal with you the entire time it healed. So don't give me any of this 'I can do it myself' stuff, okay!"

Tayrn let out a sigh of defeat before saying, "Fine, you can help me get off."

Jackson let go of Ahlerich's reins and moved farther down the horse's body so he could reach Taryn. Reaching up and wrapping an arm around Tayrn's waist, he slid her off, gently steading her against him and then setting her up right on her feet.

Taryn could feel the strength that Jackson used to keep her upright, when he had brought her down she had grabbed his upper arm to steady her against him. She could feel his muscles flexing as his arms where still wrapped around her. 'I never really noticed how strong he is. Maybe it's because I never really felt it.' She thought as she just stood there in his arms.

Jackson made no move to let go of Taryn. In his mind this is exactly where he wanted her. Where he could protect her and keep her safe, where he could make sure that what he wanted would come true.

Taryn looked up when she felt Jackson slightly tighten his arms aground her. Catching his eyes she saw something in them that had her thinking back to a conversation she had with an old friend about the way a man looks at you.

Pulling back and out of his arms she cleared her throat and said "Thank you Jack for helping me down. Lets head over before they start and pay our respects to his family."

Jackson could only nod, thinking about what had just happened or in his case what he could only wished had just happened.

"You go one ahead, I'll finish with the horses and meet you over there, lord knows you don't need to be straining yourself with unsaddling the horses." Jackson said, hoping she would take him up on the offer so he could clear his mind.

Smiling Taryn nodded patting Ahlerich on the neck before turning and heading over to the cabin that was a few yards away.

"What am I doing, I'm not supposed to fall in love with her." Jackson said to himself once Taryn was far enough away she wouldn't hear him talking to himself. "He said not to become attached with the target. If only she hadn't run then she would already be in his possession and I wouldn't have to worry about falling for her. Stupid Ranger wasn't supposed to be there. She was suppose be coming home alone, not with an escort."

Taking Ahlerich's reins and pulling them up over his ears and unstrapping the chinstrap he gently took the bridle of the old horse before reaching back to unchinch the girth. Grabbing the saddle and blanket in one he pulled them of the horses back and set it on end before turning to the old horse and petting his forelock, saying "I just have to play it cool, and make her feel safe, I'll move tonight, while she's still weak. Then all will be back on track."

All the while not realizing that the horses weren't the only ones listening to him. (Almost though about ending it here, but decided to make it a little longer)

As Taryn walked up to the cabin's open door she kept running through what she was going to say to Mark's family, 'Hi, I'm Taryn, I'm the reason that your son is dead.' or 'Hello, I was with your son on the day he died and I ran away and didn't try and help him.'

"No none of those will work, Jackson said not to blame myself anymore." Taryn said under her breath. Walking up and knocking on the doorframe she noticed a familiar looking cloak among the people who were gathered in the smallish room.

"Please come in." Said an elderly woman who looked to be in her midsixties. The woman had greying hair that was pulled into a loose bun on top of her head. Taryn entered the room feeling a bit like she was on display. The woman who had spoken stood up from the chair that she had been sitting in and crossed the room to greet Taryn.

"My name is Agatha, this is my husband Warren." Agatha introduced herself and motioned to a man that was sitting across from someone Taryn couldn't make out because his back was turned away from her and his hood was pulled up. But she could tell that whoever it was it was a Ranger due to the clock he was wearing.

"I'm Taryn, my friend Jackson is getting our horses settled and will be coming in a few minutes." Taryn said as she shook hands with Agatha.

"Nice to meet you Taryn. If you're here because of the funeral, I'm afraid you're a bit too late. We changed the burial time to this morning. I'm sorry. I know you were wanting to be here for it." Agatha said as she crossed the room to sit back down in her chair.

The man who was seated across from warren stood up and turned finally showing Taryn his face. In one smooth motion he pulled his hood back to reveal the same grim face that she remembered and had come to respect.

"Hello Taryn." He said.

"Hello Halt."

AN: OHHH whats going to happen? If ya'll have any ideas about what you would like to see as the story goes on, message me and let me know, also I apologize for the lack of Gilan in the last few chapters, I just felt like I needed to have more of a build up to when they meet again.