Chapter 8: My Home

About a week later, Mitch and Amy met for a picnic lunch at the same place she'd parked her truck on Mitch's property before. Mitch had a blanket spread out in the bed of his truck, and they shared a scrumptious lunch while sitting on the tailgate and catching up. Once again, they fell into easy conversation. As they reached a point of comfortable silence, they laid back for a while to enjoy the sunshine on their faces and cloud-gaze. They argued teasingly about what the various cloud shapes were, and Mitch reached over to take Amy's hand. They turned and smiled at each other, then Mitch sat up and pulled Amy up beside him. Mitch felt his heart beating rapidly and his stomach churning, but he knew he had to express what he was feeling. He slid off the tailgate and stood in front of her. He took both her hands in his, and Amy noticed that they were slightly damp.

"Amy, I never dreamed that day that you began to help me with Maverick that we'd ever be where we are now. I mean, you were happily married, and I was just beginning to pick up my life after serving in Afghanistan and losing Zach and my mom having her stroke. And so much has happened in between. But these last weeks of getting to know you more have been the best of my life! This all seems to have happened so quickly, but it just feels right." Amy felt much the same and looked Mitch directly in his eyes giving him a smile that transferred to her eyes expressing agreement as she ever so slightly nodded her head.

Mitch reached over and brushed a strand of Amy's hair back, then cupped her cheek.

"Amy, I've felt a hole, something deeply missing in my heart ever since coming back from Afghanistan. I've been longing for that emptiness to be filled for a very long time. Over these last weeks, you've shown me what real love is. What it is to be accepted for myself and have someone really want to get to know me. What it's like to have an easiness with each other without there being constant conflict. What it's like to be patiently listened to and share common dreams together. You've been excited about exploring new things together. You respect my opinion and admire the things I'm good at yet fill in the gaps with things I'm not so good at. You are so beautiful, Amy…so caring and loving, and so very talented and an incredible mom! You complete me. Amy…you are my home. I love you, Amy Fleming Borden!" Mitch slowly leaned in and hesitated for a moment to see if Amy was ready to receive his advance. Amy glanced up at his lips, panicked and lightly placed her palm on his chest holding him back for a moment; Mitch froze and waited, saying a silent prayer, as Amy closed her eyes, 'Ty, is this too soon? I feel like I'm betraying you. Am I? Yet, if it were reversed, and you had lost me, I know I'd want you to love again. I believe you want that for me.' Suddenly, a peace washed over her, as if she felt the warmth of Ty's hands from behind her on her shoulders gently pushing her forward. Mitch had been holding his breath but hadn't moved. Amy opened her eyes and looked up seeing so much love reflecting from those azure pools of blue that her heart couldn't help but respond. She slowly moved her hand up his chest to the back of his neck and gently pulled his head toward her. Their lips met, and Amy felt like she was home again after such a long season of emptiness, sadness and heartache. She allowed herself to give in to the touch of his lips. Wow! She'd always suspected that Mitch was a good kisser, but never in her wildest dreams would she have imagined such a kiss. His lips caressed her's so lovingly, so tenderly. And as he dared to deepen it, Amy's heart melted, and sparks shot to her toes and the tips of her fingers. She drew back ever so slightly, looked into Mitch's deepening blue eyes and said almost in a whisper, "I think I'm falling in love with you, too, Mitch. And I wasn't sure I could ever feel this deeply again after Ty. But I can really see a life with you."

A broad smile began to make its way across Mitch's face, the kind that radiated from those starry blue eyes and lit up his whole countenance as he drew Amy into a warm, sheltering hug. There they stayed holding each other for a long time slowly realizing they needed to head back to work, but both were reluctant to draw this most special moment to a close. Mitch slowly backed up a step, gently kissed her once again, then cupped her cheek rubbing his thumb across it and said, "See you soon! And if you think the time is right, I'd love to spend some time with you and Lyndy?"

"I think that would be a wonderful idea! Of course, you know once that happens, the cat is out of the bag. By the way, I should tell you that Grandpa knows about us. He came to look for me that morning we met when I used the excuse of riding fences, and he saw us from the hill. I found out when I got back to the barn, and he was there. But he promised to keep our secret until we are ready to make it known. By the way, he approves of us!" Mitch was beyond thrilled to hear this!

"As far as Lyndy goes, how about if we take in the Calgary Stampede on Saturday? I think that should be far enough away and big enough that we aren't likely to run into anyone we know. I'm really anxious to see if Lyndy remembers you."

"That sounds great! I'm a little anxious about whether she'll remember me, too, but I know it's our next step. I already love that little girl so much! And I can't wait to get to know her better!"

"Mitch, I don't think you have anything to worry about. Even if she doesn't remember you, you've always been so good with kids that I don't think you and Lyndy will have any problem bonding with each other."

"I hope you're right! I guess we need to meet somewhere rather than me picking you girls up?"

"Yes, until we are able to let my family know, I think that's best. But after Saturday, that will be a must. How about Lyndy and I drive to your place, and we go from there? That way, no one will be likely to see my truck."

"That sounds good."

"Mitch, I may still have a little further to go than you, but I'm getting there!"

"You take all the time you need. I'm not going anywhere."

They shared one more very tender kiss before leaving with each thinking Saturday couldn't get there soon enough! As Amy drove home, she recalled a conversation with Lou when she'd told her – "If you're going to lock lips with someone, you could do a lot worse than Mitch. He's not exactly hard on the eyes." And she smiled all the way home.