"What's the matter with you child? You don't like my cooking these days?"
"I'm sorry, Maria. The food as usual is delicious. It's just that . . . I haven't any appetite."
"Why not? You have your brother back, so what is it that is causing cush a meloncahly look? Ach regardless of the reasons, you need to eat to keep your strength up. The Señora and I have a surprise for you, but you will need to finish your dinner."
Alannah gave her a blank look. "A surprise? What kind of surprise?"
"Ah, you'll have to finish your dinner if you want to find out. Otherwise you'll get nothing from me."
When she was done, she followed Maria out the back door where a smiling Patrick waited for her. She followed him outside and up the trail that led to the utility buildings, and there before the shed was the old buggy she had seen when she got the bicycle, only now it was clean, freshly oiled and painted a dark forest green. The small 2 seater buggy was hitched to an beautiful Clysdale. That horse stood an enormous 18 hands high and was perhaps the most beautiful horse she had ever seen, he was mostly white with black markings. As Alannah approached the horse stopped chomping on the grass and looked up at Alannah with a curious look. Even the red leather upholstery of the seat, even though it was a little cracked and faded, had the appearance of being new with the oil.
"Remember this?" Patrick said, with a very wide and beaming grin.
"Patrick! What on earth? The buggy looks amazing, I hope you didn't go to all this trouble just for me." she said with tears of joy in her eyes.
"It was no trouble at all, and it was my pleaseure to give something back to you for everything you have done here for us." he said, "Oh dear Alannah, I didn't mean to make you cry! It was really the Señora's idea." Taking the horse by the bridle, he said, "this fellow is a good horse, his name is Dutch. The Señora thought that he would go well with the old buggy. He's not what built for speed, but he has a lot of stamina and will be a good horse for you. This way you can visit Anya whenever you wish."
"Oh Patrick!" Alannah exclamined giving Patrick a very big hug.
"It was nothing miss, I thought you should have a little freedom and I am happy that you like your gift. Dutch is useful for another reason as well, this horse knows his way around Los Anteas, all the way to Port Lira."