I'm not complaining!! ;)
Penny was surprised at the friendliness this man was offering her. She was accustomed to a different world, a world where people were polite, not friendly. It was certainly a change, though not an altogether unpleasant one, however unsettling. While she knew she should probably head back home, she could tell she was in no condition to be riding at the moment. Besides, if he was offering to make sure her mare was still sound, it would probably be in her best interest.
"I suppose," Penny finally conceded, a bit hesitant still; it was not her nature to take risks. The offer of food, though, was tempting, particularly because she knew she'd feel a bit more settled with a bit of food in her stomach. "Yes," she finally uttered, nodding her head to emphasize her decision. "I think something to eat would be lovely." She glanced down at Lucky, who was still at attention, though not looking exceptionally nervous. It was a good sign, she noted, and she knew he would protect her should anything happen. It wasn't as if anyone would miss her at home; people rarely noticed her comings and goings.
When Gareth mounted and rode closer to her, Penny offered her hand for the stallion to sniff. "Hello, there," she offered softly, her voice barely above a whisper. With the amount of time she had spent in the company of her dog, she had developed a habit of speaking to animals.