The hot sun was sinking, its rim touching the treetops. Leah knew not much daylight remained, so when Edward dropped her off at the Kingsley Mansion gate, she skirted around the property to the very place she disliked the most.

She lifted the latch to the white wooden gate and pushed it open. A delicate scent caressed her senses as she walked the brick path winding through the rose bushes planted strategically on each side. Most of the thorny branches held small buds, but a few were decorated with velvet rose petals.

On a normal day, the rose garden caused her pain, but today, nature and peace soothed her troubled soul. Her thoughts whirled with the words she'd heard in church that morning; A huge part of her regretted leaving, even if meant causing Wren to work on his day off. She wanted to know more of Wren's God and of the sacrifice made for her.

She frowned as she thought of Edward's reaction, so different than her own. After they had left, the guard had been silent most of the day. Even when they visited Fiona, he seemed distant.

"Penny for your thoughts?"

Wren's teasing voice did funny things to Leah's stomach. She whirled, delight filling her as she met his darkened, green eyes. "Wren! You're back!" On instinct, she reached and clasped his large hand in two of her small ones, her excitement pouring into her actions. Tingles blazed up her arm, causing the heiress to realize what she had done. Still, she grinned, gripping it tighter and watched as surprise, then tenderness flooded Wren's expression.

"Did you miss me?" He asked, teasing.

"I did and I do! I wish Samantha would go home so things can be normal again."

"That makes two of us." Wren gave her small fingers a gentle squeeze before tugging his hand free, leaving Leah with a feeling of emptiness. She would have been quite content to hold it the entire evening!

"Where is Charles? I thought he would be with you by now."

"He messaged and said his parents were having a business meeting; He couldn't miss it."

"He needs to miss it! He agreed to take care of you and all he has done is hide in his office!"

Leah looked up, surprised at the vehemence in his voice. "Are you worried about me?" Her brows narrowed. "I am capable of taking care of myself, you know. I don't always need a person standing over me and -"

"I'm worried you'll be lonely." Wren interrupted her small tirade.

"What?"

"Fiona's not here and now..., neither am I. I'm not worried about you being alone. I don't want you feeling alone."

Nothing could have prepared the heiress for the overwhelming rush of emotions surging through her. Her father never cared about her emotional state; it had always been her physical. He wanted her safe, but never regarded the toll his limits put on her. Now, she stared up at the young man gazing down at her, touched and in awe.

"Don't leave me after this year is up, Butler Wren." Her words were a mere whisper.

Now, Wren was startled. "Princess..."

Leah swallowed hard but raked together every ounce of courage she could grasp. "I want you to stay with me. Please? I'll be eighteen and I've considered learning business to help Daddy with his hotels. I don't plan on having a butler or a nanny, but I'll need a bodyguard. Would you consider the position? I get a significant amount of money when I turn eighteen. It would be plenty to pay a decent salary and I will earn more and -"

Once more the butler interrupted her rambling. "I'll think about it. Okay?"

Leah melted under his soft smile, hope stirring. "Okay. I guess I can be content with that." She turned to walk further into the garden before spinning so fast, Wren almost bumped into her. She refused to let their close bodies distract her as she eyed him. "Think about it very hard!" She cracked a grin as Wren's laughter filled the garden.

"I promise. I will."

He was still chuckling as they fell into step together, walking slowly. Dusk settled around them, but neither were anxious to return to the drama waiting inside the mansion.

"So, you should be off restrictions in a couple days, right?" Leah said.

"Yep, though I think I'm fine. My cut is healing," Wren waved a hand at the small bandage still on his head. "and I really don't have any side effects. My concussion was minor. How was Fiona today?"

"She's doing so much better! I wish you could see her. She's walking around the halls several times a day and the shoulder wound is healing well. Or, so the doctor's said."

"That's wonderful."

A comfortable silence fell between the two, and when they came to a wood bench, sat on it. The evening turned gray giving one last warning of night's imminence. A cricket chirped its high vibrations and chorus frogs sang from the distant pond, their song riding the breeze to be heard far and near.

"It was special having you at church today."

Leah was looking at the stars dotting the sky, but turned to Wren, serious. "I want to know more. Will you teach me?"

Wren didn't hesitate. He didn't even appear surprised from what she could see in the dimming light. "Absolutely. Why don't we start a Bible study in the evenings once Samantha is gone?"

"That would be amazing. I was wondering though...could you give me a copy of the words to that song -- How Great Thou Art? It really touched me and I'd like to have it."

"It's a beautiful song, isn't it?"

"I can't even explain what it did to me." And, she really couldn't explain it; it touched her somewhere deep, uncovering emotions buried long ago. "I think that's why I'm in this garden again. I hate this place, you know?"

Wren sat up straight from his previous slouched position. "How could you hate this place? It's the most beautiful spot on the mansion grounds!"

Leah's heart squeezed and she was thankful her expression was hidden by the night around them. "This was my mother's garden. At least, that is what Hilda said. Father keeps it maintained in memory of her."

"Why would you hate something so special?"

Wren's soft tone pulled at her hidden emotions as it always did. Anger simmered as she thought of the woman she barely remembered. She faced Wren, his silhouette the only part visible. "Because she abandoned me. Why, would I want to remember a woman who walked away from her own daughter?"

"She left you?"

Tears came, but she refused to let go. "Yes. When I was five. I remember chasing her car out of the gate, but she didn't stop. It's one of my few memories I can remember of her, mainly because of the nightmares I had every night for years after. It was always the same thing...mother's car turning from the driveway. "

"Leah..." Compassion stirred in Wren. His hands burned to pull her to him, to hug away her pain. "I'm sorry. We can leave if you want?"

"No. I - I think its time I faced her... or at least what I have left of her."

Wren pondered her words. " Yes, I think so too." He leaned back in a relaxed stance once more, surprised when Leah did the same. He decided he imagined she was closer than before. "My mother left me too. Just in a different way."

He appreciated Leah's silence; it was as if she knew to let him organize his thoughts.

"She died six years ago. Cancer."

"I'm so sorry, Wren. Were you close?"

Wren nodded, memories bombarding him. "Yeah. I miss her every day. You know, I have a lot of regrets in my life, but one of the biggest was not being there for her when she died."

"Where were you?"

Tension stiffened Wren's shoulders. "Being absolutely stupid." Bitterness riddled his words. "She never knew I became a Christian either. I wish...I hope, Jesus told her. The Bible says the angels rejoice when a person accepts Christ...so I comfort myself she was celebrating with them."

A small hand slipped into his, and needing comfort, he squeezed it, rubbing his thumb over her soft skin. He stared at their joined hands, noticing how well they fit together.

"I've enjoyed this," Leah allowed herself to fall against her former butler and rest her head on his shoulder. She didn't know where her courage to do so came from, but she refused to move, even when he tensed. She was pleased when, little by little, he relaxed once more.

"Me too."

They sat on their bench, enjoying the closeness of the other but neither admitting it aloud. It was enough they were together.

******************************************************

Smiling ear to ear, Leah lifted her hand to wave once more to her butler standing at the base of the mansion's winding steps. "Sleep well, Butler Boy!" She whispered in a loud fashion. As she hoped, he chuckled at her weak attempt of quietness.

"You too, Princess."

Why did she melt when he said her nickname? It didn't use to affect her. "But, he didn't say it in the same way he does now," She reasoned and knew it to be true. Before, it had been his way of teasing, reminding her of their ordeal in the forest. But now, it rolled from his tongue with a tenderness that made her knees buckle.

Smiling one last time, she bounded up the steps, her energy fueled by her happiness. As she thought on their garden snuggle, she decided maybe Samantha coming wasn't a terrible thing after all. They would have never had a garden meeting if not for her.

"Don't you look delighted."

Leah's grin didn't disappear despite Samantha Queen leaning against her doorpost. "I am delighted," She grinned, closing the distance between them, and opening her door. "I just spent the most lovely day with your butler. I think he's warming to me a little."

Samantha's eyes glittered as the words she had used that morning were flung at her. Leah stepped inside her room, but the red-headed girl slapped a hand on the closing door, forcing it ajar. "Did you organize my -- road trip -- today?" Anger grew when Leah smirked.

"Be ready, Samantha Dear. I'm going to take your butler from you."

With that, the door shut, and a bitter girl was left standing alone.

*********************************

Removing her green pendant from her neck, Samantha sat at her vanity, letting the gold chain slide through her fingers. It landed with a clank on the smooth wooden surface of her desk. The stone set beneath the golden wiring carried much wealth; she should have handled it gently. But, the red-headed girl carried no appreciation for all her possessions. Thankfulness wasn't a trait that she possessed, nor one she desired to acquire. Green eyes lifting to the mirror standing on the vanity, her brows narrowed as she glimpsed the sneer tainting her beauty. Reaching to touch a frown line, she rubbed her fingertip across it, trying to smooth it away.

"This place hasn't been good for me," she muttered, and her frown deepened. "This is all Leah's fault!" Her nails dug into her palms as her fists clenched.

Leah had always been fun to bully, submissive and surrendering to her every demand. She had expected the same attitude this visit but was finding the Kingsley heiress to be a completely different person. She leaned forward and spoke to her reflection in the mirror. "What has made her change?"

Images of Wren Adams tainted her vision. Her thoughts cleared as her anger dissipated, and she lifted the necklace once more, letting the green pendant dangle from her fingers. "Destroy the reason and I destroy her confidence." She thought and smiled. Only time would tell which girl was taking the butler. The game was not over this night. And Samantha Queen loved games.