Being focused on how cold he was with the wind still whipping his bare skin, Stephen only had thoughts for getting them to shelter. He paid no mind to her arm around him, figuring she probably just felt more secure following him like that. And he didn't mind it anyhow.
He didn't see her reactions to their surroundings either, and he missed the real reason for her soft giggling when he finally looked down to her again. "We're almost there, our land starts where those trees are. Just across the water? It's right there," he offered as he pointed toward the small group of trees partially blocking the view of his home from their side.
For his family the home was actually quite large, but to include all of the offices and servants' quarters, it was a miracle everything fit into one building. The barn behind the house, however, was newly refurbished and, Stephen thought, quite an impressive improvement of its former self. At least the horses had all the space they would ever need and more, but the gaudiness of it all was something he was absolutely sure was really only meant to impress the women his brother courted.
Until Idris returned, though, Stephen saw no need to mind his baby brother, especially now that this mysterious quiet lady would be there. At least, he hoped she would for a while. "See that path there? We're going through there," he prompted while pointing toward the worn line that began at the tree line and would bring them around and through to the other side where the dark grays and browns of the home would be more visible.
"Now...um, I'll apologize in advance for my mother. I'd bet anything she's going to like you. A lot. She never had a daughter, so...most female company is welcome by her. With open arms. But at least she won't see you want for anything when I tell her how I found you," he chirped.
Leading them through and towards the house, he tensed momentarily when he noticed that his mother was sitting right by the front door. She was staring at him. No, this probably wasn't going to end well for him. "Momma, look who I found!" he called out to her, trying not to let the young woman on to the fight mother and son had had earlier.
"Why aren't you wearing a shirt?!" she shrieked back, causing Stephen to wince.
"She needed it! Not like I had a choice! I found her down by the beach!"
"The beach?! What were you doing all the way down there with a woman?!"
"No, found her at the beach! At the beach, Momma!" As he drew closer he finally continued and rushed to explain before she could cut him off, "She was cold and crying and I don't know why but she was alone and looked so upset...and I figured you'd be just the person to help pull her out of...whatever this is. She looked absolutely terrified."
His efforts did to calm that wild look in Anna-Marie's eyes, but the woman still kept a keen eye on the young lady only wearing her son's shirt for clothing. "She needs to be properly dressed," she grumbled as she stood up and flitted away from the door toward the approaching pair. "At least you had the mind to bring her to me."
The woman wore a simple brown dress, but it only did to draw out the blue in her eyes. She was small and her features were not nearly as sharp and fierce as her bark, but a frown was still there as she stood directly in front of Stephen to get him to stop as she glared up at him. "Stephen, run along. Just run along. Get dressed and tell your brother we have a guest." The last part was said with a friendlier look to Vanora as Anna-Marie reached out to place a hand to her shoulder.
With a roll of his eyes knowing that he'd narrowly dodged a bullet, Stephen did indeed release his hold on the stranger with an encouraging pat before he stepped around his mother to head off towards the house. "I'll be back soon, she'll take care of you," was all he left her with.
"Poor dear, you look so cold! I'll make sure we get you a nice bath going, and some fresh clothes -ladies clothes-, and hot food in your belly," the woman spoke while wrapping an arm around Vanora's shoulders to lead her after Stephen towards the house. "And if you want to stay, you're more than welcome to, dear. You can have a warm bed by a fire, too! In this weather it's such a dream... Oh, forgive me, I didn't even ask! Are you alright, dear? Did he forget to tell me you went and cut yourself on something? Got any bumps? Bruises? Scrapes? How are you feeling? Are you alright, sweetie? What's got you scared? That is, if my son's telling me the truth..." Anna-Marie looked at the young woman expectantly now as she closed the front door behind them and reached for a spare coat hanging by the door to drape over her for the time being.