Thanks as always for the many reviews - they are enjoyable to read! Here's the next-to-last installment...

Chapter 4

"I'm not getting on that thing!"

I'm standing here gazing up at the towering steel monstrosity that is otherwise known as a Ferris wheel. This was Danny's big idea, and I'm not liking it one bit. I haven't been on one of these multi-colored contraptions since I was sixteen; when my cousin Leroy rocked the seat until I nearly lost my
lunch onto dozens of innocent fairgoers below. Now Danny and I stand in its shadow, engaging in a verbal tug-of-war.

"But you said you liked rides," Danny grumbles, his hands on his hips. He looks cute when he pouts; but I refuse to let this fact sway my decision. I wave my hand impatiently in the direction of the less-threatening kiddie rides.

"I was talking about those ladybugs that hover three feet off the ground," I argue stubbornly. "I'm not comfortable getting on something that high, and that... portable." I glance nervously at the wheeled base of the ride, which allows it to travel from fairground to fairground all summer. It appears shaky and unstable at best.

"Argh, come on, Montana! It's perfectly safe," Danny pleads. "Look at all the people lining up." He looks adorably hopeful, so after contemplating it for a moment, I cave in and agree to ride. I suppose there are worse situations in life than being suspended several stories in the air with Danny Messer.

"Okay, okay, I'll get on," I relent with a groan. "But just one time," I add firmly as we get in line.

Danny looks pleasantly relieved, and he squeezes my arm. "Don't worry, we'll keep you safe," he promises, referring to himself and the stuffed walrus I am still cradling.

Something peculiar happens as we are waiting in line. We're next to board when Danny suddenly stops me, and allows the elderly couple behind us to get on instead. "We'll take the next one," he says, waving them on ahead. I study him curiously as I wonder what's up his sleeve, but his expression conveys nothing. Why is he being so particular about which seat we sit in? I just shrug, and then the operator points us to the next seat being lowered to the gate.

Danny climbs in first and I follow him, squeezing Mr. Walrus down on the floor between our feet. Immediately I search for a seatbelt but fail to locate one. Instead, I grasp the handlebar with my right hand and Danny's forearm with my left. He smiles, despite the fact that my vise-grip is most likely uncomfortable. The motor rumbles underneath us and we begin to rise, then stop after a few feet to allow more passengers to board. This routine continues several more times until each boxy seat is occupied. Then we pick up speed, moving steadily and smoothly without pause. In order to remain calm, I simply avoid looking down.

Danny casually places his arm on the back of our seat, just barely touching my shoulders. Ahhh - smooth, Romeo! It's just enough to momentarily distract me from the butterflies in my stomach.

"What a view, eh?" he asks. "You can see for miles."

I shake my head. "I'm not looking any farther than my own lap right now," I respond. Going up is rather exhilarating, but as we get close to the highest point my stomach flip-flops in expectation of the initial descent. This is perhaps the most frightening stage of the ride.

"I know just how to make you relax," Danny speaks up, and my imagination instantly produces unmentionable thoughts. He fumbles under our seat for a moment, then produces a brown paper bag from which he pulls two plastic cups and a glass bottle.

"What the --?" I ask, incredibly bewildered. Was this why he wanted us in a particular seat? Had he
stashed this here earlier? He passes me the bottle proudly, and I glance at the label as I accept it. I grin, realizing that it's watermelon wine.

"Where did you find this in New York?" Not only am I astonished, but I'm also touched that he remembered such a minute detail from our conversation yesterday.

"A little farmer's market in Queens," he beams proudly as he starts filling the cups. "I had to ask six different vendors before I found it."

"And how'd you get it here?" I stutter, still shocked. Why would he go to such trouble for me?

"Not for you to worry about, Montana," he winks, passing me a cup. He then fills one for himself, and holds it up in a celebratory toast. "Here's to doing it like country folk," he says.

"Cheers!" I tap my cup with his. We each take a sip, and I start to laugh at the face Danny makes. His lips are pursed and his nose wrinkles up. "You don't like it?" I ask. Already the tart liquid has created a warm buzz which begins to spread right down to my toes.

"I'm more of a Heineken guy," he admits, and I nearly expect him to yank a six-pack out from under the seat. He pours the wine from his glass into mine.

I'm beginning to enjoy myself, just a bit. Danny's little surprise made me forget my fears. The breeze whips through my hair as we circle up and down, and I enjoy being in such close proximity to him.

"Thank you, Danny," I say sincerely, sipping more wine. "This is just what I needed... a taste of home. It's bringing back some great memories." For the next several minutes, I tell him more about the fairs I went to as a kid.

"Were you ever Apple Butter Queen or something like that?" he asks with a teasing sneer.

"No," I laugh. "But my neighbor was the reigning Dairy Princess for two years in a row."

We chuckle, and are quiet again for a few moments before Danny speaks up. "If you miss it so much, why did you leave?" he asks simply. Little does he know how complicated it is.

"I just needed change," I explain. "In Montana, there wasn't a whole lot of crime… not serious crime, anyway. I didn't feel like I made a difference. I thought moving here and working on more high-profile cases would satisfy me, but here there is just so much crime. And the lab is so big… it's like I blend right into the woodwork."

Danny looks stunned. "Are you kidding me?" he asks. "You light up that
whole place, Lindsay. I don't think any of us can imagine it there without you now. At least, I know I can't."

Wow.

His revelation leaves me breathless. My heart flutters, yet I know it's not the variation in altitude. I turn to look at him, searching his face for any hint of mocking or teasing. He holds my gaze without flinching or looking away. In that beautiful blue, I see only sincerity.

The next few seconds move in slow motion, as if our bodies are swimming through glue. Danny leans in towards me, and I lean in towards him. Our faces begin moving together, like two magnets intent on a single destination: each other. Just as I feel the warmth of his breath on my face, and my eyes slip shut in anticipation of bliss, the ride comes to a sudden, jerky stop.

I gasp in surprise, jolting back into my seat. Danny peers below to see what caused the abrupt pause. "They're unloading," he tells me as a handful riders are returned safely to terra firma. It's awkward between us now - picking up where we left off obviously isn't an option. We're the last seat to be unloaded, but it doesn't stop as we approach the gate. Instead, the wheel starts to increase speed. We are quickly moving upward once again, and I panic.

"Danny! He forgot us!" I cup my hands over my mouth and start yelling down at the operator. "Hey! Stop! Let us off!"

Danny grabs my hand, and his touch silences me. "Shhh, Montana, shhh," he soothes. "It's okay. Look, I asked him to do this."

I swerve around to stare at him. "What do you mean?" I demand. "What's going on?"

"I'll tell you," Danny nods, looking at this watch. "We've got fifteen
minutes."

A/N: Finale chapter will be up in a few days. )