The wooded trail from the riding stables led to Jamacia Bay, and Danny let the chestnut mare choose her pace as they headed down to the beach. By the time the trail turned from dirt to sand, Danny's anger had cooled, and he pulled up his mount. Turning in the saddle, he saw Lindsey bringing up the rear, concentration evident on her face as she rode along. The salty seabreeze flicked strands of her honey-streaked hair across her face, and she pushed it away absently before glancing up at Danny. Once beside him, she gave him an expectant look.

"End of the trail?" She asked, hoping it wasn't.

"No way," Danny answered, and grinned.

"How's the saddle?"

"I'm doing better than I thought I would. We don't ride this way back home." She smiled a small smile.

"Having fun?" Danny asked, and was rewarded by a bigger smile.

"Yes," Lindsey said, and looked out at the ocean just ahead.

"Good," Danny responded, and cued the mare to walk on.

"Ever ridden on the beach before, Montana?" he asked, and she shrugged.

"If you can call a pony ride on Long Beach a true ride, then yes." She said, and Danny shook his head.

"Don't count." He stated flatly.

Grinning devilishly, Danny clucked to his horse, and sent the animal on at a fast trot. Lindsey squealed, telling him to slow down and wait for her. He looked back, his smile wide.

"Hang on with your thighs and keep your heels down! You're riding in New York now!" he yelled above the crashing surf.

They were on the beach in no time, and Danny urged his horse on, feeling the animal's power as it cantered along the sandy shore. The wind was cool in his face, and the surf bubbled against the dark wet sand as he rode along the water's edge. Lindsey's laughter filled his head, and he looked to his right to see that she'd caught up with him, and her eyes sparkled with excitement as she glanced in his direction.

"I thought you said you could ride!" He yelled, and gave his horse it's head.

Sea water sprayed up from the horses' pounding hooves, sparkling like crystals in the late afternoon sun. Beach goers stopped their games of volleyball and frisbee to stare at the two riders galloping along the coast line. Danny hadn't ridden in years, yet he felt like he'd not spent one day away from it. Lindsey's laugh was music to his ears, and he was glad to see her having a good time.

A good time with him.

The horses matched each other stride for stride, and they seemed to be enjoying the run as much as their riders. A large outcropping of rock loomed ahead, black and dangerous against the blue sky and golden sand. Lindsey saw them too, and slowed her horse to a trot as did Danny. At the rocks, they stopped, and Danny turned his horse to face her.

"There;" he said triumphantly,

"You've ridden a horse on your daddy's birthday today." He was glad to see Lindsey smile.

"I don't think I've ever thought of you as a horseman," she said, and Danny raised an eyebrow.

"Thank the girl I had a crush on in grade school," he began, and Lindsey frowned.

Danny shrugged, feeling suddenly shy and silly.

"I begged my folks for lessons, so I could have something in common with her," he explained, and added,

"Took them for a month; Dad got the bill, and that was that." He held made a cutting motion with his hand.

"No more. Not that I cared really; baseball was my thing."

They rode back the way they'd come, following the trail of hoofprints that pitted the wet sand. Lindsey was gazing at the ocean with a far-away look in her eyes. Danny watched her, and then turned his mount into the surf, riding out until the water lapped at the horse's belly. Lindsey's horse followed, and the she leaned over it's withers, stretching a hand to the warm atlantic water below. Danny grinned. The sun was setting, and he knew they'd have to head back, but just this once he wanted to forget everything else and stay in the little world they'd found for themselves. No one else was close; just them and the horses and the pounding, relentless waves upon the shore. Danny felt detatched from the rest of the planet, and wondered

if Lindsey felt the same. The horses snuffled and murmered to each other in equine language, and the wind grew cooler. Reluctantly, Danny broke the spell.

"Come on, Montana." he said gruffly,

"I'm starving."

Slowly, they walked the horses out of the water, and let them take the route back to the stables at their own paces.