Steve turned back as the motion of the door opening caught in the corner of his eye, and for a moment he was distracted by the matron of the house. He had been expecting a woman of later years, and although her hair had streaks of white in it, she looked young, maybe only a few years older than himself.

Her crisp, quick instructions snapped him out of his thoughts, and he nodded quickly, his upper body bowing slightly, and his hat sending sprays of water everywhere. "Thank you-- so much!" he said haltingly, barely turning before looking back and nodding his head toward her again.

Grabbing up Meri's reins, he clicked his tongue soothingly at her a couple times before leading her around the side of the house toward the stable. It took Steve about ten minutes to get Meri settled, hang her saddle and tack up, and brush her coat down to try and get as much water off her as he could. With a few last reassuring strokes and words of endearment, Steve braved the storm again, moving quickly toward the front of the house.

Out of habit, he knocked again, before remembering her words and slipping quickly inside, shutting the door behind him and leaving the storm outside.