Disclaimer: I own nothing

Hey all, another early post but I have to meet the Mrs for lunch and then the cricket is on and you won't be able to drag me away from the TV. Aussie's won the one day series by the way, this is like a dead rubber they still have to play. Wish they could have played like this during the Ashes. Enjoy

Once the truck was loaded they climbed back in the cab, both very aware of each other. As they came to the first gate Tyler explained the importance of having the gate closed behind them. The track which led out to the back pastures went through many other paddocks. If you forgot to shut a gate and the herds got mixed up it could mean days of work trying to separate them. If the bulls got in it was worse.

"Bulls?" Olivia paused half way out of the cab, looking around frantically like she expected to be charged any second. Tyler laughed

"Relax" she choked down the chuckle when Olivia shot her a glare "There are no bulls where we are going"

Olivia breathed a sigh of relief and slid out of the truck. The gate was easy to operate, held shut with a chain which she slid off the latch then walked the gate open before closing it securely behind the truck and getting back in. It took them twenty minutes and several gates later to get to the pastures and to Olivia there looked like there was plenty of grass around to keep the cattle satisfied but Tyler informed her unless they got more rain soon the grass would soon be gone so they were supplementing it with the hay.

Pulling into the pasture she was quick to notice a line of cattle slowly trotting towards the truck and looked at Tyler intrigued.

"We only really come out here to give them feed in the truck. We check them and fences on horseback. They see the truck they know it means food"

"Oh" Olivia looked at the cattle again. Smart little buggers. Well maybe not so little.

"Ok, I'm gonna hop on the back and feed out some of the hay, we have a few herds to do. I need you to drive" Olivia's eyes went wide and she salivated at the thought. Tyler indicated the auto transmission which Olivia thought was cheating "Just put it in low and drive straight towards the herd, they'll get out of the way" she assured and Olivia nodded before they slid out of the cab together. Olivia quickly rounded the hood and slid into the driver's seat. She could barely reach the pedal and had to pull the seat forward a bit. Tyler gave the signal and putting the truck in gear slowly made her way.

2 months ago Olivia wouldn't have dreamed she would be doing this, she would have been bursting with energy and would have found this mundane and boring. That was the old Olivia, the new more relaxed Olivia found it quite, exhilarating. She was working on an honest to God ranch, not a dude ranch, a proper working ranch.

She had a slight nervous moment and touched the brakes as the cattle ran straight at the truck. Tyler lost her balance on the back and fell onto the stacked bales. Olivia bit her lip when she yelled at her not to brake and for God's sake don't accelerate or she'd fall out of the bed. She was very relieved when the large hulking animals ran either side of the truck and she looked up to see them running behind them, a few stopping here and there when Tyler threw out some hay. She was awestruck, one by the magnificence of the animal and two by Tyler and her fluid movement as she worked. Oh boy she was in so much trouble.

Finally Tyler called out and pointed to a gate at about two o'clock and told her to drive over to it and to go a bit faster so the cattle wouldn't follow. Olivia pushed the gear lever up into drive and accelerated slowly, driving through the paddock and looking in the rear view mirror realised the cattle had given up the chase and returned to the hay.

At the gate she put the truck in park and slid out of the cab. Tyler jumped down in front of her and she couldn't help but put her hand out and touch the corded muscles in her lower arm

"I'm sorry for braking, they just startled me a bit, I didn't think they were going to move"

"It's fine, I just wasn't expecting it, even a tiny touch of the brake or accelerator could throw me off the back which is bad enough, but with a herd of hungry cattle stomping over me" she pulled a face "I'd rather not"

"Oh God I'm sorry" Olivia shuddered to think she may have caused a nasty accident and was silently kicking herself when she felt two strong arms pull her into a hug and she sucked in a startled breath. Oh Lord that felt good, she felt surrounded, safe, secure and protected. On instinct she cuddled closer. It had been so long since she had been hugged, last time had been by Abbie, before that Alex. No offense to the ladies but it was nowhere near as good as this. Alex's especially were nice but she always felt like the protector in their friendship, enclosing her in a hug. The experience of being hugged was so new.

With all the electricity flying between her and Tyler it probably should have felt sexual but it wasn't it was just comforting and she let herself relax into it.

Tyler had only meant to give Olivia a small reassuring hug that all was well, she was warmed and surprised when Olivia leant into her and relaxed. The hug turned into a gentle embrace that after only a few hours acquaintance should have been awkward but instead felt so right.

Tyler stroked Olivia's back while Olivia pressed her face into where Tyler's shoulder met her neck and inhaled deeply, smelling a mixture of Tyler's own scent laced with sandalwood. It was a very heady smell. It was only when Tyler looked up and saw the cattle lumbering slowly towards them that she pulled back.

"We ah better get going, they're coming in for seconds" she nodded towards the cattle and Olivia hurriedly pulled back "You drive, it will be easier" Tyler told her.

Ok, now it was awkward, as Olivia got back into the truck and pulled through the gate as Tyler got it open and managed to close it in time. When Tyler climbed back into the truck there was a long moment of silence once Tyler had told her which way to go on the new track. Finally Tyler bit the bullet

"That was nice"

Olivia jumped a little, not expecting a conversation and shot Tyler a look. She was too smart to pretend she didn't know what Tyler was talking about

"Yes it was" she nodded and waited to see what Tyler's reply would be. She was a little wary when a slow grin spread over Tyler's face. Oh boy this was going to be good

"Shame we weren't naked though" came the smart comment and Olivia sighed. She could get mad at Tyler for ruining a nice moment with blatant sexual connotation or give as good as she got. She chose the latter.

"Hmm, maybe we can remedy that later tonight" she replied. Blue eyes shot to her startled and she tried her best not to laugh she really did but a little giggle escaped her lips and soon she had erupted into full blown laughter. Tyler shot her an amused look before reaching over and placing a warm hand on her thigh.

"Sounds good to me"

Olivia's head was spinning and she had to concentrate on the road not Tyler's hand far too high up on her leg. Those blasted sparks were back and shooting straight to her pulsating core which reminded her it had been for too dry for far too long. God if Tyler didn't remove her hand there wouldn't be any waiting until tonight, there wouldn't be waiting at all. The long back seat looked good right now.

"Tyler" she croaked

"What?" Tyler stroked her thigh and Olivia visibly shivered and knew that Tyler knew exactly what. She turned and shot Tyler a look only to find Tyler's eyes were now black with passion. Oh Hell.

"Please" she whimpered, having to brake in fear she was going to drive off the road

"Please what" Tyler growled as they came to a halt and she shoved the truck into park as she leant towards Olivia. Olivia threw caution to the wind, her need to feel Tyler's lips on hers far too strong and unshakable. She'd never felt this compelled before, she had no control. Raising a hand to cup the side of Tyler's face she closed her eyes and waited.