"I guess Uncle Joe was right again." Lindsay said looking out the window at just after 8 the next morning, snow flakes were drifting down.

"You're going to have to keep your promise to make snowmen with the kids." Lynne told Danny.

"What time do these kids get up?"

"I wouldn't plan on sleeping in tomorrow." Lindsay told him.

"They'll probably be here around ten." Lynne stated. "There should be enough settled by then."

"You'll get to meet Adam." Lindsay leant against the counter sipping her coffee.

"Should I be concerned?" Danny inquired.

"You survived meeting the rest of the family." Lindsay replied. "Adam is almost as big a push over as Dad."

"Those girls have him wrapped around their little fingers. It's going to be interesting when they start dating." Lynne commented.

"Can you imagine Clay with Gracie?" Lindsay smiled.

"So other than building snowmen, what do you two have planned for today?" Lynne asked.

"I thought I'd introduce Danny to Daisy and then go and show him the house."

"You might need these." Lynne handed her some keys. "We've been keeping the engine ticking over."

"Thanks Mom."

"Daisy is your horse right?" Danny recalled.

"Yes. Grab some of those sugar cubes."

CSI NY CSI NY

"Hey baby." Lindsay as she gently rubbed Daisy's nose. "I missed you."

"You can take the girl out of the country." Danny joked.

"Just ignore him." Lindsay told her horse. "You can't help that you're rather old and rather dopey can you?"

"How old is she?"

"About 17." Lindsay replied. "But she could live another fifteen years. I would take you for a ride but it's too cold. I'll bring you back in the summer."

"Okay." Danny agreed.

"Take off your glove and just hold a sugar cube on a flat hand." Lindsay instructed.

"She won't bite will she?" Danny asked hesitantly.

"Not likely, she's a big softy." A man voice said from behind them.

Danny turned around to see a guy stood there holding a bale of hay.

"Hey Pete. Merry Christmas" Lindsay smiled.

"Hey Miss Lindsay. Merry Christmas to you too."

"Danny this is Pete, Pete Danny." Lindsay introduced them.

"How ya doing." Danny greeted him.

"How is your Mom doing?" Lindsay inquired. "I heard about her surgery."

"She's doing much better." Pete replied. "Almost as good as new." He replied. "She liked the card you sent her."

"Wish her happy holidays from me."

"I will." Pete replied.

"How's Daisy been doing?" Lindsay asked.

"She's still gets stubborn in cold weather. But she's generally still a pushover for a carrot or a sugar lump."

"She always was." Lindsay rubbed her nose.

"The kids ride her." Pete told her.

"I know."

"I just brought her some more hay; I already mucked out her stall." Pete explained.

"What time did you get up?" Danny asked.

"Five-thirty like always."

"Five-thirty?" Danny repeated.

"Ranches don't stop just because it's Christmas." Pete told him. "The animals still need taking care of."

"We'll come back later." Lindsay suggested. "Come on Danny."

"I don't think he likes me." Danny whispered when they were outside.

"Some people here aren't that fond of big city folks."

"Big city folks?" Danny repeated.

"You asked." She shrugged.

TBC