AN: So the next chapter a day after I published the last one, lucky you guys! I felt bad for not writing for so long, and I missed it. This chapter is relationship development. Meg and Harm need to become comfortable. Thanks for the reviews, I really love them, you guys are amazing :)
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Harm awoke to the smell of pancakes cooking and the pleasant realization his dreams hadn't been interrupted by nightmares. Meg's nightmares had improved since they set out for her home. Harm took the leisure of lying in bed for a minute or two, just happy to relax. The past few weeks had been stressful to say the least. Harm rolled out of bed, throwing off the covers with a barely concealed yawn. Boy did that food smell good. He strode toward the shower, in a rush to get ready for the day, and downstairs.
By the time Harm came down, running a hand through his wet hair, Meg was the only one left at the table. Her plate was almost empty. Her mouth full, she gestured to a plate beside her. It was piled with pancakes. "Mum said you won't have to complain of starvation here." She spoke around her full mouth.
"No, I won't." He gazed at the full plate in amazement. "You'll have to roll me home." He pulled out a chair and she pushed his plate over to him. Harm shovelled the food into his mouth with gusto. They ate in a comfortable silence.
Meg stabbed the last bite of pancake and wiped up as much syrup as she could get off her plate. Settling back in her chair with a sigh, Meg smiled. "Boy was that great." Harm grinned around a mouthful of food. "I'll take that as a yes Harm." She picked up her plate.
Harm swallowed. "Where are the others?"
"The boys are working, and Mum drove in to town to pick up some groceries." Meg smiled at Harm all of a sudden timid. "She packed us a picnic lunch, suggested we take a ride out on the ranch."
Harm nodded in enthusiasm. "Sure, sounds great." He went back to his food.
Meg grinned. This was going to be fun.
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Waiting for Harm at the yard, Meg rechecked that she had packed their lunch in her saddle bag. Her horse nickered at her. Reached across Meg rubbed her mare's nose. "Hey Jenny-girl." The horse gazed at her in response.
Harm walked towards Meg looking apprehensive. "I've never ridden a horse called Bullet before." He lead the big black gelding. "He better not travel as fast as one."
Meg laughed. "Afraid you can't handle him Harm?"
"No." Harm instantly replied.
"Then what's the problem?"
Harm looked at the horse, the horse regarded him. "I'm more unsure about safety. The evidence speaks for itself."
"What evidence?"
Harm gestured to the horse.
"You just gestured to of him."
"Yes!" Harm nodded enthusiastically. "Exactly. He has it out for me." The horse nudged Harm's back friendlily.
"He certainly seems to like you." Meg chuckled.
Harm glared at the horse. "Look what you did, you ruined my argument." The horse nudged Harm again, almost shoving him over. "What do you want?" Harm stared at the animal in a mixture of amazement and irritation.
Meg mounted her horse with ease. "Harmon Rabb doesn't like horses, well, well, well." She smiled.
Harm mounted with more difficulty. "I like horses that like me." He looked up as Meg laughed at him, pure joy on her face at his discomfort. Surprisingly Harm found himself captivated by the beautiful picture she made atop that horse. She was stunning. Shaking the distraction out of his head Harm guided his horse out into the ranch. "Come on slow coach!" He yelled over his shoulder. He heard a yell of aggravation from behind him and then he watched as Meg galloped past him. "Hey wait for me!"
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They ended up meeting Dan on their ride and sharing their lunch with him. Meg and Harm laughed and joked. The banter flew comfortably between them. Dan just observed, interrupting once or twice. Occasionally he would smile when Harm teased Meg, or he when caught Meg glancing at Harm with more than just friendship in her eyes. He saw Harm watching at Meg when she laughed as she fed Jenny a carrot. Dan pondered on these facts he had gleaned and wondered if anything would come of the attraction he saw.
Harm glared at Meg. "I declare the court adjourned due to lack of relevant evidence from the defendant."
Meg turned to Dan. "What do you think?"
Dan looked up from his daydreams. "Harm's right." The frustration on Meg's face made both men laugh, she didn't lose a fight well. That's what made her a hell of a lawyer. Her grew red as the two men enjoyed her anger.
"It's not funny." She mumbled. "I bet Dan didn't even know what we were talking about and took Harm's side just to spite me." Dan had the grace to look ashamed. She was right on the button.
Harm beheld Dan looking a tad guilty, but still smiling. Meg was glaring at the both of them, her lips in a cute pout. He snickered. "You two guys know everything about each other, don't you?"
They both nodded at him. Dan smiled at something. "Did you ever hear about the time Meg tried to take her pony into the church claiming its soul needed to be saved?" Dan chuckled.
Meg leaned over and put her hand over his mouth. "What about the time you put on Mum's dress and heels and walked around the neighbourhood selling flowers?" She retorted.
"Truce?" Dan held out his hand.
"Truce."
Pity, Harm would have like to hear both stories.
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Later that night over dinner, stories were told about everyone's days. The boys readily accepted Harm into their little gang after Dan supported him. Mrs Austin served food and was a peacemaker in all the family arguments. She took her daughter's side in almost everything to provide 'balance'. Meg could fight her own battles though, and Harm saw how this family had made her who she was today. As he watched her laugh and joke with her brothers, he hoped the nightmares were a thing of the past.
Bidding everyone an early goodnight Harm made his was up to the guest room. Collapsing on the bed Harm sighed. Today had been wonder. He really had fallen for Meg, and hard.
On the other side of the house Meg was sitting on a fence watching the horses. Today had been amazing for her. The worries of the past few weeks had stayed in Washington and she was beginning to see the old Meg in herself again. She also saw hope that Harm might love her, this her, or the version of her he had loved. She herself was certainly developing feelings for him.