I would like to say thank you to everyone who has reviewed this story since I began it: -

Prplerayne, TivaFanGirl1, TAsolo, afrozenheart412, Brichen86, JaydenBell, CSI-babe1, FoxPhile, Texansweetheart, Edward-and-bella-forever, Coffeemilkshake, Nerwen Aldrion, hickroo, lilybean123, carly-babes11, BlackRose86

And especially: -

prplerayne, for the offer of help. Its going ok at the moment but I may still take you up on it at some point if that's ok.

Brinchen86, for the encouragement and always reviewing really quickly and positively.

JaydenBell, for the really perceptive comments and noticing all the subtle period details I am trying to put in, please call me on it if you see anything out of place.

And finally, afrozenheart412, for scarily managing to predict exactly what's going to happen next. At least that means the narrative plot must be making some sense.

More disappointment for our favourite guy…don't worry it's all going to come to a head soon, I promise, I know, I've already written it.

Chapter 7

Danny approached the truck still bleary eyed at 7.55 the next morning and found Jem already waiting there in the driver's seat.

"No Lindsay yet?" he enquired, and then turned his head to peer at the front door of the main house.

"She'll be here," Jem answered wryly, then closed his eyes and tipped his head back, sunning his face in the warm June day. Despite being a Saturday they would usually have been working today, however, with the summer on its way there was less to do in the fields and it was up to nature to make sure the crops had enough sun and water to grow. They would be spending the next few months doing anything else that needed work on around the ranch, Mr Monroe had a list as long as his arm of fences to mend, roofs to fix and errands to run. As a consequence of this, their working week had been cut from six days to five, but don't get too used to it, Mr Monroe had warned Danny when he had told him this, make the most of it now 'cos as soon as the harvest has to come in, it'll be six days a week, fourteen hours a day.

It was just after eight when Lindsay strolled out of the house; Danny leant against the side of the truck and watched her saunter across the dusty surface of the driveway whilst Jem started the truck. Conceding the front seat to Lindsay he took his seat in the back of the pickup and settled in for what was going to be a bumpy forty-five minute trip to the nearest town.

Danny was being lulled to sleep by the rocking motion of the vehicle half an hour later when he was jolted awake by the pick-up coming to a sudden and sharp halt. Upon opening his eyes however he found that they were not in the bustling city of Bozeman as expected by still in the middle of nowhere.

"What's happened?" he enquired, sliding back the window between the cab and the back.

"I forgot the papers that need sending for the new tractor", Jem announced with a sigh, "I'm really sorry you two, we're gonna have to go back. They have to go out today."

"We're really close to town though," stated Lindsay, "its only another mile or so. I'll get out here and walk"

"I dunno, I don't feel right leaving you alone on the side of the road like that", Jem looked doubtful.

"I won't be alone…Danny will come with me, won't you Danny." She had turned on him, imploring him with her eyes, and he was not about to say no to her.

"Course".

And so it was with a cheeky grin that Danny found himself all alone, wandering along a dirt road in Montana, with a pretty girl on his arm and the rays of the sun on his back. The day was going to be a hot one, they could tell that from how warm it already was for nine in the morning. However, the slight breeze kept them comfortable, not to mention Danny was admiring the way it picked up her long hair making it dance, and wafted her subtle scent towards him. They meandered slowly through the long-grass just off the road, pausing every now and then when Lindsay bent to pick a flower she was absent-mindedly collecting into a little bouquet.

"Hey, I know that one", Danny exclaimed, examining the little pink flower she had just plucked from the ground.

"It's Bitterroot", she answered, "Montana's State flower".

"I think my Ma has some in her gardens back home", he said.

"The Indians used to eat them apparently", Lindsay went on, she scrunched up her nose, "I never know if that's true though."

"Lets find out what it tastes like then", and before she could stop him he had swallowed the little flower whole.

She stared at him, her mouth gaping, he broke into a grin and she began laughing, her mouth still agape.

"Not really that nice", he commented, "I wouldn't recommend them".

"Well no", she shot back, giggling a little now she had come to her senses, "since what I meant was they ate the roots".

He laughed, and took her arm, placing it carefully in the crook of his own. They carried on walking towards town, chatting and laughing. She asked him more about his mother and is home. He in return listened to her answer questions about what she hoped for the future and what it had been like growing up in such a rural place.

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It was some hours later, when they had both separated to do their shopping and Lindsay had met up with Jem that Danny finally made his way towards the spot where they had agreed to meet when they were finished.

As he turned the corner he saw Jem on the porch of the carpenter's store and picked up his pace to see if he needed any help with the fencing order being loaded. After Danny had helped load up the timber Jem introduced him to the other man who was helping them.

"Nice to meet you", Danny responded as he shook hands with the other rancher. He gave him a cursory glance. This man, Robbie, it turned out had known the family since childhood; he was a local boy who now worked on the farm he was to inherit. He was shorter than Danny and had the stocky, built look of someone who had been doing farm work all his life.

"What about you Danny?" Jem asked, squinting slightly in the mid-day sun.

"Uh…sorry, what?" asked Danny as he tuned back into the conversation.

"There's a dance next week here in town, you coming?"

This was the first that Danny had heard of it, and he hesitated for a moment, thinking for a moment maybe he could ask Lindsay. His heart dropped at the next words though.

"You're still taking Lindsay then?" Jem asked Robbie.

"Of course", he answered, with an air of harshness "she promised after she cancelled on me at the last one".

Jem looked a little unconvinced, and quickly glanced at Danny,

"Still…you might want to check with her".

Robbie seemed to consider this for a moment, and looking confident that any girl would want to go out with him, headed inside.

Through the grubby window, Danny watched, his heart aching as Lindsay chatted with her old acquaintance. At one point he seemed to get a little bit close to her and she gently laid a hand on his chest. He took a slight step back. He could not hear their conversation; at one point her eyes flickered to the window, but Danny was not sure if she saw him there watching. She said something to him, and although the smile on her face did not quite reach her eyes, she nodded her head lightly and laughed with him.

He was an idiot. She was obviously spoken for; she had already had a partner to go with. And Danny didn't think he could manage a whole night of watching her in someone else's arms.

Please review. What do you like? What don't you? Can you see any mistakes 'cos I would rather you told me as they always drive me mad in fics.

Hello, is there anyone out there?