Danny sighed contently as he ate the last of his bacon and eggs and downed his juice. He was definitely enjoying staying with Lindsay's family, and he decided to savor each moment, not knowing how much longer he would be staying. It was Friday morning, and he was due back to work on Monday.

Danny watched Lindsay quietly across the table as she moved the food around her plate with her fork. Danny thought back to the conversation between Lindsay and Sarah yesterday. Sarah had asked Lindsay whether she would visit her father's grave, and Lindsay nonchalantly replied that she might. But then Sarah asked if Lindsay would visit her mother's grave, and Lindsay blocked the question. Danny noticed that when Sarah asked about her mother, Lindsay's eyes went cold and dark.

Danny had heard Lindsay mention her father fondly a number of times, but she never seemed to speak about her mother. He came to the conclusion that whatever secret Lindsay was hiding, whatever was haunting her, had to do with her mother.

"What are you staring at?"

Danny smirked as Lindsay playfully glared at him. "You."

Lindsay blushed slightly at the bluntness of Danny's statement and looked back down at her plate.

Kaylee came in through the back door. "Linds, I'm taking Buttercup for a ride today down the trail, I was wondering if you and Danny wanted to join me."

Lindsay hesitated and looked across to Danny for an indication of an answer.

"C'mon Linds, I know you've been dying to ride since you got back," Kaylee continued.

"What do you think?" Lindsay asked Danny.

"Sounds good."

Lindsay smiled and got up to put her plate in the sink. Danny followed her and they went out the back towards the stables. Lindsay stopped in front of a chestnut coloured mare. She clicked her tongue and the horse came towards her immediately. She stroked it gently.

"Danny this is Leila, Leila this is Danny. You'll have no problems with her, she's the tamest horse around."

Lindsay led the horse out of the stable and began putting on her saddle, explaining all the little pieces to Danny. Danny stood back with his hands in his pockets and watched as Lindsay moved about the horse.

When she was done she handed the reins to Danny. "Here, I'll be back after I tack up Fee."

Danny smiled and stroked the horse as he watched Lindsay approach the stable of a grey coloured horse.

Just as Lindsay finished preparing her horse she turned around to the sound of hooves and did a double take when she saw Danny trot past her. "You sure take your time Montana."

Lindsay quickly jumped on her horse and went after Danny. "Woah, wait a minute, you can ride?"

Danny stopped so Lindsay could catch up with him.

"Since when can you ride?"

Danny shrugged. "I took lessons for about a year when I was a kid. It was ages ago but I think I pretty much got it down pat. Told you I was a jack of all trades."

Lindsay smiled. "So when I was explaining all that stuff to you before, you already knew what I was talking about?"

Danny smiled and nodded.

"And you just stood back and let me do all the work?" Lindsay continued, her grin getting wider.

"You were so assertive and in your element, I didn't want to steal your thunder. Plus it's sexy," Danny admitted before taking off.

Lindsay giggled and went after him. They met up with Kaylee moments later and Billy who had decided to tag along. The four of them rode slowly down the trail.

"I can't believe you took riding lessons," Lindsay said to Danny as she rode beside him.

"It was when I was thirteen," Danny said, his accent flaring. "There was this girl at school. I had the biggest crush on her. She absolutely loved riding and I thought that if I learned how to ride I could sweep her off her feet and impress her. I begged my mother for a whole week before she finally decided to let me take lessons."

"So what happened?" Kaylee asked. "You get the girl?"

"Nah, she fell for my older brother Louie. She was more into the bad boy thing," Danny explained and Lindsay giggled.

"So how are you Billy?" Danny asked, wanting to shift the attention from himself. He remembered his hatred towards Billy when he thought Billy and Lindsay were an item, which had now dissipated.

Billy smirked. "Life's pretty good. I'm doing great at work, my health's up, and a met a little someone special the other week."

"Ooo do tell," Lindsay gushed.

Billy blushed slightly. "Well, uh, he's just moved from Australia to Montana. We met out at Devil's field; he has a property near there."

"What's his name?"

"Jamie."

The four stopped at an ice cream cart seller along the trail and all got ice cream cones. They strolled along happily, chatting for half an hour before coming to a fork in the trail.

"Which way should we go?" Kaylee asked.

"I'm gonna take this route," Billy announced, moving towards the left trail. "It's a shortcut back to my farm."

"How about I go with you Billy, and then meet up with Danny and Lindsay further down," Kaylee suggested, flashing Lindsay an all knowing smile. Lindsay simply nodded.

"Well," Billy got down off of his horse. "I've got a conference for a week down in Denver starting tomorrow so I guess this is goodbye."

Lindsay got down off her horse and embraced Billy. "See you next time."

"Oh so there's gonna be a next time?" Billy asked with a smile.

"Maybe," She kissed him on the cheek. "Look after yourself."

"Always do Lyn."

Billy went over to Danny and shook his hand. "Good to see you again Danny."

"Yeah, you too."

"Make sure you take care of her," Billy said as her mounted his horse and kicked off, disappearing with Kaylee down the trail.

Lindsay got on her horse and went down the other path with Danny.

"It's so peaceful out here," He commented.

Lindsay nodded. "Yeah, I always come out for a ride when I want to clear my mind, it's just so relaxing."

Danny squinted into the distance and grinned. "I bet you can't beat me to that small gate over there."

Lindsay squinted into the distance. "You mean that small grey blur?"

Danny grinned. "That's the one."

Lindsay immediately kicked her horse. "Let's go girl."

Danny saw Lindsay take off and went after her. "Hey, wait, I didn't say go!"

He grinned as he caught up to Lindsay. Lindsay couldn't help but smile as the wind blew through her hair and her horse went faster. She loved to ride.

Lindsay noticed Danny had caught up and was riding beside her. She poked her tongue out at him and smiled as she took the lead.

When she looked ahead she frowned. They were coming at a 1.5 metre high fence at full speed. If they didn't start slowing down they were gonna crash.

Lindsay pulled slightly on the reins, and her horse gradually slowed down. Danny whizzed past her.

"Danny!" She called; worried he was going to crash into the fence. To her surprise, Danny and they horse jumped and cleared the fence. Lindsay knew Leila wasn't a horse well known for jumping. Danny slowed down and returned to Lindsay, this time opening the gate. He had a look of sheer fear on his face and Lindsay couldn't help but grin.

"No way am I doing that again. From now on we're sticking to gateless, jumpless trails," Danny complained.

Lindsay laughed. "Come on, don't tell me you didn't find it at least a little bit fun and thrilling."

"Oh yeah, it was fun right up til the part where I lunged into the air and almost fell off. Damn this horse can jump high."

Lindsay grinned and rode slowly alongside of him. "Hey I'm as surprised as you are."

Danny's face fell. "You're surprised? You telling me I jumped that thing on a novice horse?"

Lindsay giggled. "She's not novice, she's just a little inexperienced at jumping."

Danny's lips turned up into a smile. "Doesn't matter, I won anyway."

Lindsay gasped. "I won, I was ahead of you."

"You stopped before the finish line, I actually crossed it, therefore I win," Danny said proudly.

Lindsay rolled her eyes playfully. "Ok, so what did you win?"

"You."

Lindsay blushed and looked down, both loving and hating the way Danny made her blush so easily.

As they walked along they came to an old cemetery. Danny watched as Lindsay looked out to the gravestones and sighed.

He hesitated slightly before speaking up. "Is this where your parents were buried?"

"No, they're at a cemetery near our old house. It's a small lot, but it was close to the house so…"

"How did your dad die?"

Lindsay looked up at him. "Horse accident. When I was 9, right before Kaylee was born we were all inside. There was an awful storm and one of the horses got loose. Dad went out alone in the rain to get him back. The horse was scared by the thunder and lightening, it kept bucking and rearing. My dad was trampled," Lindsay explained sadly.

"I'm really sorry Lindsay."

"It's ok, it was a long time ago and I've moved past it now."

Danny took a deep breath before asking his next question. He was almost certain he'd get shot down.

"What about your mom?"

Lindsay's head shot up to look at Danny, an unreadable expression on her face.

"That… that's the thing I haven't been able to move on from," Lindsay answered quietly in a shaky voice. Horse hooves could be heard in the distance.

"What happened?" Danny asked softly.

Lindsay looked at him with teary eyes. Her heart was telling her to let Danny in, but her head was telling her to keep him out.

She took a deep breath. In battles between the head and the heart, the heart always one in the end.

"Lindsay," Kaylee called as she approached, effectively interrupting them. She noticed the looks between Danny and Lindsay.

She bit her lower lip. "Sorry, did I interrupt something?"

Lindsay tore her eyes from Danny. "No, it's fine."

"I was thinking we should start heading back," Kaylee continued.

Lindsay nodded in agreement and began leading the way back. The ride back was relatively quiet, with Kaylee attempting small talk every now and then.

To a passer by it would seem that the three of them were enjoying a quiet, relaxing ride, however the tension in the air was thick.

When they got back, Lindsay took her horse into its stable. Kaylee appeared behind her.

"Did something happen between you and Danny out there?"

Lindsay glanced at her sister before looking out to watch Danny untacking his horse. He was not within ear shot.

"Why do you ask that?"

"Oh come on, I'm not stupid. I know I interrupted something," Kaylee continued.

Lindsay sighed, keeping her eyes on Danny who was now grooming his horse. "I- I think I was about to tell him what happened to Mom."

Kaylee gasped. "And I interrupted? God I'm an idiot."

Lindsay smiled slightly. "Don't worry, I'm glad you interrupted. I don't know what I was thinking. Danny and I have only been dating a short time, I can't tell him now, not yet."

"Of course you can. You've known Danny a lot longer than a month, he'll help you."

"I don't want to jeopardise our relationship."

"Danny cares about you Lindsay. I don't think anything could change the way he feels about you."

Danny came downstairs and looked around for Lindsay. He had gone upstairs to take a call from Mac and when he got back Lindsay was no longer sitting on the couch where he'd left her.

He went out the back door wondering if Lindsay was outside. When he stepped out, his eyes were immediately drawn to the purple/orange sky that was illuminated by the sunset.

"Isn't it beautiful?" Lindsay asked from where she was sitting on the porch.

Danny smiled and sat down next to her. "Sure is."

Lindsay sighed and rested her head on Danny's shoulder, loving the smell of his cologne.

"Earlier, before we got interrupted, you were telling me bout your mother," Danny gently reminded.

Lindsay's body stiffened and she lifted her head from Danny's shoulder. "What about your mother? You never tell me about your parents, why do I have to tell you about mine?"

Danny sighed. "It's ok if you're not ready to tell me. I just thought… you were finally opening up to me before."

Lindsay remained silent so Danny tried again. "I can help you Lindsay."

"I don't need you Danny."

Danny was taken aback by Lindsay's comment. He felt a sharp pain shoot though him at her words. He stood.

"If that's the way you feel right now then I'll leave you alone. But when you finally decided you want my help, I'll be right there, cos I'm not gonna give up on you Lindsay."

Danny's eyes shot open at the sound of a noise during the night. Lindsay had avoided talking to him ever since their talk on the porch. He was certain their tension showed at the dinner table. The emotional exhaustion had taken it's toll on his body, making it hard for him to fall asleep, so he was understandably annoyed when he was woken.

Danny heard the noise again and sat up suddenly when he realised it was coming from Lindsay's room. He grabbed his glasses and climbed out of bed.

Danny quietly opened his door and tiptoed across the hall to lean against Lindsay's bedroom door. The sound, which Danny had now identified as soft sobbing, could be heard clearly through Lindsay's door. Danny quietly but quickly turned the door knob and stepped inside, closing the door behind him.

Lindsay looked up at him from the bed with misty eyes and wet cheeks, holding her breath to stop the sobs from escaping. Danny swallowed slowly and crossed his arms over his chest. He desperately wanted to help her, but he needed her to ask him, he needed it to be on her terms. It didn't take long for Lindsay to speak up.

"Danny," She sobbed. "I need you."

That was all he needed to hear. He was at her side in a second with his arms wrapped around her shaking body. She sobbed into his chest as he gently whispered to her and pressed his body against hers.

"Shhh, it's ok Lindsay, it's ok."

Lindsay continued to sob, her hands clutching onto Danny's arms.

"T-Tomorrow I…" Lindsay said between breathes, but didn't continue.

Danny pressed his lips into Lindsay's forehead and pulled her down into the bed with him.

After a while Lindsay's body stopped shaking and her breathing returned back to normal, but she was still clinging tightly onto Danny.

"Tomorrow I'm going back to my old house, to my parent's graves," She whispered. "And I want you there with me Danny, I need you there… so I need to explain to you what happened when I was a kid."

Danny rubbed Lindsay's arm up and down supportively and kissed her forehead.

"I'm all ears."

Yep that's right, you'll find out all about Lindsay's past... next chapter. Reviews will definately inspire me to update quicker. I think the next chapter is the second to last. Hit that magic button!