Disclaimer: I own nothing, but some are mine so don't touch

Ok, so Laurel Hardy pointed out to me on several occasions that I hadn't really described Tyler too well. So for everyone out there I want you to think of a short haired, leaner version of Lucy Lawless back in her young days playing Xena. Instead of leathers she is in cowboy getup. Now you have Tyler. On with the story (I promise to do a better job at describing Alex's significant other, or I'll try). This one goes out to my fellow Aussies in QLD who after surviving devastating floods now have to survive the worst Cyclone in living memory.

"Base to Tyler"

They startled apart, breathing ragged as they stared at each other, both slightly disbelieving on what they had been about to do. No question they wouldn't have stopped at a kiss, the backseat would have seen activity it wasn't designed for (but admittedly most often saw)

"Base to Tyler"

Tyler growled and reached for the two way, she wondered yet again if she could kill her brother

"Tyler receiving"

"How's the feeding coming along"

"It's coming" Tyler had to bite back a growl as Olivia put the truck in drive and they headed off again. Yes unfortunately it looked like the feeding was coming and she definitely wasn't. Fuck.

"Alright, can you check the boundary fence with the Ballantyne's? Chase reckons some of our cattle have pushed it over a bit"

"Chase is an idiot" Since she returned to Calling 6 years ago to be the Sherriff he had been asking her out on regular occasions. Apparently lesbians just hadn't met the right guy yet and he was the guy for her. Tyler just rolled her eyes, more like he wanted a piece of Triple B.

"All the same check it out"

"Yes boss" Tyler snapped "Out"

Tyler hung up the handset and turned to look out the window. Olivia knew that just like her she was mad at the interruption, also keenly aware of what would have happened if they hadn't been interrupted. They only just met, no way were they ready for that, well not emotionally, physically her body was telling her she was very ready.

For the next two herds they remained quiet except for Tyler instructing her where to drive. They both needed time in their own heads. Tonight at dinner would be soon enough to get some of the mojo back, hopefully without distraction.

After the third herd was fed Tyler directed Olivia towards an outcropping of trees. As she drove closer she could see that the trees surrounded a large waterhole or very small lake. Tyler told her the lake was fed by an underground spring that fed down from the mountains. There was a solar powered pump which kept it aerated and it was full of trout. All kinds. Tyler promised to take her fishing on Sunday if she remembered. Olivia wasn't too sure about it. She preferred fish already dead, cooked and with chips.

Once she had parked in the shade Tyler grabbed the thermos and basket she had grabbed from the kitchen earlier and they strolled down to the shoreline and sat in the soft grass. Tyler opened the basket and pulled out a couple of travel cups. Olivia grabbed the thermos and steam billowed and she sniffed the lovely aroma of coffee.

She poured equal amounts into the travel mugs while Tyler pulled out sugar, small thermos of milk, cookies and a couple of muffins. If she ate like this every day she was here she would be rolling back to NY.

Within minutes they were sitting back, sipping their coffees and nibbling on their muffins. Tyler had loosened up enough to tell tales about growing up on the ranch and the mischief she got her brothers and sometimes her sisters into. She had been a dare devil, at least one broken bone a year and if they didn't make a trip into the emergency room in a particular month the hospital would just ring to check up.

The stories were humorous and the way Tyler told them, sometimes standing up to act them out had Olivia in stiches of laughter. Broken bones, and emergency room dashes aside it sounded like an idyllic childhood. Her smile slipped and she contemplated her coffee. Much better than her own.

Tyler saw Olivia's face become serious and sat down after her last demonstration of Callum being chased by their Angus bull. She waited until Olivia looked up before asking

"What, did I say something wrong?"

"No, oh no" Olivia shook her head kicking herself for spoiling the mood. "I'm sorry, I was just thinking it sounded like a nice way to grow up"

"Nicer than how you did I presume" Tyler guessed easily

"Yeah" Olivia sighed "My mother brought me up, I never knew my fa...sorry sperm donor. My mother was a mean alcoholic with periods of sobriety which never lasted more than a week, no matter how much she promised. I got out when I was 18. She died about ten years ago now, fell down the subway stairs drunk"

"I'm sorry" Tyler told her sincerely and Olivia shrugged

"Come on, this topic is morbid" she jumped up "We better go look at that fence line"

Tyler wanted to talk more but for now she gave Olivia some space. On an afternoons acquaintance she already knew a lot about Olivia. Tyler got the feeling it was all she may know for a while. Olivia wasn't an open person but liked to listen, she figured if she was patient enough she may be told in time. For now she'd work on bringing that protective wall down piece by piece.

She resumed driving, it was easier, as they drove out to the boundary and drove along the fence line. Unfortunately it appeared Chase was right this time as she caught some of the herd pushing on the fence trying to get to his weed infested paddock.

She shooed them away before trying to straighten some of the fence the best she could with the tools in her truck. She sighed, she would need to come back tomorrow or send some of the ranch hands with the correct tools.

For now she settled on herding the cows away from that section of fence before returning to the sheds. Upon return she saw 4 of their hands mucking out the horse stalls for the night. Tyler introduced Olivia to Slick, a tall thin man in his early 40's with slicked back hair. Adam, a stocky built man in his early thirties with hands the size of bear paws, TJ an African American, early twenties and very polite. Last but not least Jimmy, a wiley old coot in his 50's-70, no one knew exactly where. He had been a cowboy a long time if his bowed legs were any indication.

Olivia greeted them all warmly and stood around while Tyler told them about the section of fence and what was required to fix it. They assured they'd get on it first thing in the morning after breakfast. Adam then moaned about the poor food the fill in cook was making and asked about Tate and when she would be returning. Tyler assured them she would be back by Sunday evening. They grumbled good naturedly and Tyler left them with a laugh and a wave.

"Who's Tate?" Olivia asked, not being able to hide her curiosity

"The cook. Early twenties. I gave her a second chance when she needed it and she has repaid that well. She has grown up a lot, the guys love her and her cooking." Tyler shrugged "She won some tickets to see some British Chef who swears a lot in New York, she was so excited"

"Gordon Ramsay?" Olivia asked and at Tyler's nod grinned "That would be an experience. Alex likes to watch him. Don't know why, she can't cook worth shit, set her kitchen on fire once"

"Really?" Asked Tyler with a laugh "Another friend?"

"Yeah and our permanent ADA after Abbie left. She came back recently for a year but took off again, some diplomatic shit out in the Congo" she sighed and closed her eyes "Don't get me wrong, I applaud her and that country is a mess but we have enough problems of our own, we should try and fix those before sticking our noses into other countries problems"

"I take it you're pissed at her" Tyler raised an eyebrow and Olivia paused turning to look up at Tyler

"Yeah for a number of reasons. She will always be my best friend, but I can still be mad at her" she turned and started walking again "Enough morbid comments for today" she shot Tyler a teasing grin "I have a date tonight I need to get ready for"

Oh boy, one mention of the date and Tyler's body started to sing when it thought about desert.

"Wear casual, I'll be in jeans. Make sure you have your dancing shoes on"

"Dancing?" Olivia squeaked staring at her in disbelief and Tyler laughed and grabbed her hand, dragging her towards the house

"Just stick with me beautiful, I know what I'm doing" she promised as they walked in the side door and kicked their shoes off in the mudroom "Be ready at 6. I gotta go make some phone calls" and she strode off leaving Olivia staring after her.

Olivia decided that due to it being only 4.30pm a relaxing soak in the bath with the muscle relaxants she found in the cupboard was in order. Stripping down she sunk into the steaming water with a sigh and thought of the quick email she had sent Alex.

Hey Lex

Hope you are safe. Just wanted you to know I am in a town called Calling, Montana. Car broke down and Tyler (Sheriff Gates) picked me up and I am staying at the Gates family ranch the Triple B until the mechanic can fix the car, or maybe longer. I have a date tonight, with Tyler. I'm seriously attracted and have decided I am on holidays so am giving it a go. We're going to the local Bar and Grill. Anyway I have to go get ready. Speak to you soon

Liv x

Olivia chuckled as she wondered how long it would take for Alex to either email her back or try and call her. She didn't care, not tonight, tonight was all about her and Tyler.

By six she was dressed in her best pair of jeans, some heeled boots, shirt and her leather jacket. She stepped outside her room to wait just as Tyler stepped out of her room down the hall. Olivia about swallowed her tongue. Dressed in black jeans, black shirt, boots and hat Tyler looked good enough to eat. She decided right then and there, as her body hummed and her panties became decidedly wet, if Tyler was on the menu tonight she wouldn't be saying no.