A/N: This is a companion piece of sorts to 'Come Ride With Me' and is partially inspired by the songs referenced. There's also a fleeting reference to Chapter 2 of my story 'Terms of Endearment,' but you don't need any 'backstory' to understand this :) The title comes from the song of the same name and it was meant to be much more light-hearted than it turned out to be...Anyways, hope that you enjoy it :)

Disclaimer: I own nothing.

Back In The Saddle Again

…
I will ride, I will fly
Chase the wind
And touch the sky
-'Touch The Sky,' Julie Fowlis
…

At first everything had been so different: instead of a riding habit, she wore jodhpurs and instead of riding side-saddle, she rode astride.

But then she had found her rhythm and she had realised just how much she had missed horse riding.

She had had a privileged, but unhappy childhood and ever since she got her first fat little pony, riding had been her escape.

She could remember riding for hours, sometimes racing with her beloved older brother, but most often by herself: galloping off into the unknown.

Those stolen moments on her much-loved mare, Guinevere, were some of the happiest of her life and the only time she felt truly free and alive.

Then Albert had left for university and her parents, fearful of her recklessness, sold Guinevere.

She never forgave them.

Now, as she was once again on horseback and galloping across the landscape, all of that pain along with a sense of freedom and escape came back.

Only this time she wouldn't have to go back, this time she truly was free.

Galloping behind her, but on a slower steed, Eric sensed the change in his child and felt a twinge of unease.

He had given in to Pam's wheedling and agreed to go horse riding, he had even bought her a horse of her own, but ever since she stepped into the stables something had changed.

She wasn't his Pamela; she had retreated somewhere that he couldn't reach her.

He had hoped that her strange silence would dissolve once they were out on the horses, but she'd broken into a gallop almost the moment they'd set off and he'd been doing his best to keep up ever since.

"I think we should start back," Eric called out, concerned by the change in her.

"Just a bit further," she called back, bending low over her horse's neck and urging it on.

"Pam!" he yelled, making her name sound like a command, but she ignored him and urged her horse even faster.

Eric had had enough, dawn was approaching and if she kept going she'd end up killing herself.

Eric's sudden appearance in front of her horse caught both it and Pam off guard, resulting in her toppling off as it reared in fright.

"What did you do that for?" she demanded, sitting up and spitting out dirt.

"We have to find some place to go to ground," he told her evenly.

Pam looked up at him with wild eyes and for a brief moment he thought she was going to attack him.

"Pam?" he asked, holding his hands up in a placating gesture, "Is everything all right?"

He watched as she looked around her, losing her wild edge, "Everything's fine," she assured him.

Eric continued to eye her warily, "Why are you looking at me like that?" she asked, attempting to make her tone light.

"Because I'm not sure what just happened," he told her, taking a step towards her.

She gave a small shrug, avoiding his eyes, "Nothing happened."

"Pam…" he began in a warning tone, but she cut him off.

"Eric, just drop it, ok?" she snapped.

Eric pursed his lips slightly as he looked down at her, he remembered the last time she'd been so defensive and decided to drop the subject.

She would tell him in her own time, she always did.

"Enjoy your ride?" he asked after a long moment, holding out his hand to help her to her feet.

"I did," she replied, taking his proffered hand, "until some idiot jumped out in front of me," she added.

"I was concerned you couldn't stop your horse," he told her as they took hold of their horse's reins and headed back to the stables.

Pam raised an eyebrow, "Admit it, you just don't like to lose," she teased.

Eric looked at her seriously for a moment, "All right," he conceded, "I admit, there are some things that I never want to lose."

"Like what?" she teased, coming over to take his arm.

Eric raised both eyebrows and looked down at her, "Oh," she said quietly.

Eric smirked, "Oh," he mimicked, kissing her forehead, "you silly girl," he murmured.

Pam rolled her eyes, but made no comment as they continued to walk arm-in-arm back to the stables.

…
And if the situation
Should keep us separated
You know the world won't fall apart
And you will free the beautiful bird
That's caught inside your heart
Can't you hear her?
Oh she cries so loud
Casts her wild note
Over water and cloud
That's the way it's gonna be, little darlin'
We'll be riding on the horses, yeah
Way up in the sky, little darlin'
And if you fall I'll pick you up, pick you up
-'The Horses,' Daryl Braithwaite
…

A/N: I may continue this to include their conversation about what happened, if people want, but it seemed to stop there for me. I just can't see Eric pushing Pam, he'd know that she'd tell him in her own time.