Bauer's frame filled the entirety of the doorway to his cottage as he stood and sized up his most recent visitor.  Things weren't looking good for her.  She was polite, which was good, however she hadn't made sure to be someone he was already familiar with, a fairly major negative trait to have in Bauer's eyes.

"Oh, and Mrs. Muller asked me to bring this to you."  She held up a basket she had been holding, the smell of fresh baked pastries wafted out of it.  "She said not to be intimidated by how you carried yourself, that you were a kind and gentle soul."

Bauer deflated a bit with a sigh, his expression softening.  "Thank you.  Since you came all this way, would you like to step inside for some tea?"  The tone he spoke in said 'But it's fine if you'd rather get back to the town before it gets late'.

"I would love to, thank you!"  The squirrel didn't seem to notice and giddily squeezed past him into his home.

Bauer put a kettle on while his visitor commented on the various plants that filled the cottage.  She spoke about her own experiences using and tending to the ones she could identify, she asked questions about the ones she did not and, most importantly to Bauer, listened to his answers.

Still, he was wary about her sudden presence.  Too many visitors had come to try and pry all of his secrets from him, to discover ways to aquire some fairly potent and difficult to find plants.  He didn't appreciate people trying to encroach on his business, or on the town in search of these finite resources.  Bauer had selfishly laid claim to the lands surrounding the village and, in a way, to the village itself.

So while he answered her questions, he only gave out so much information before guiding the topic away from anything he didn't feel comfortable divulging.  His guest either didn't notice or didn't care because she never pressed the topics.

Finally, as the forest began to darken from the setting sun, their conversation wrapped up and Bauer led her to the doorway.

"I really enjoyed talking with you Mr. Emmerson.  Is it alright if I come by tomorrow if you're free?"  Her sweet smile made it hard for him to flat out deny her.

"You never gave me your name."

The girl looked genuinely shocked, gasping.  "Oh!  I'm so sorry I completely forgot to introduce myself!  Please, call me Sammy!"

Bauer grunted.  "Hm.  It was a pleasure.  I'm busy tomorrow."  He ushered her out the door and began to shut it, pausing with just enough room to stick his head out.  "But I'll be in town after noon for a bit.  You can speak with me then.  Have a good night."

The door clacked shut.