"Is it? He's sure regal enough. Ain't ya," she said, stroking the horse's nose and smiling more.

"...'m sorry," she added, glancing over at Kate, "t'hear 'bout that. Lotta folks seem to've gone since winter. Name's Rogue." She stepped around the horse's head, ducked in curiosity and, it seemed, enjoyment at the attention, and offered her hand to the other woman.