Chapter 21

The crowd dwindled away once the leftovers were cleared. Renata had all the help she needed from the students who volunteered to clean up the kitchen and to minimally police the lawn and porch where guests had taken to eat. In the end, Amy found herself sitting on the porch with Lyndy on her lap, Renata in a rocker and Finn on the porch swinging quietly watching a beautiful Alberta sunset until Lyndy yawned and Amy suggested she get some good-night hugs before heading to her new, never slept in bed in her new, never slept in room.

Lyndy, being both excited and tired needed a song and two bedtime stories before Amy was satisfied that she was truly asleep. They had already decided that Lyndy would sleep with her old baby monitor, that they had pulled from storage, for the first couple weeks until she was comfortable in her new surroundings. At Amy's insistence they had also installed a stair gate so that Lyndy wouldn't accidentally fall and made sure there was a night light in the hallway.

"Lyndy all settled?" Renata asked from her spot on the porch when Amy came out.

"So far so good and here's the proof." Amy answered her placing the monitor between them on a small table. "Just for the first week or so."

"She was Ok with that?"

"She actually loved the idea, I'm more concerned with her waking up confused than I am of her being scared of a new place."

"Makes sense." Finn added.

"I should leave you two alone, I think I'll dig into my newest novel and get some rest."

"You don't have to leave on our account Renata."

"Thank you Finn, but it has been a long day and those kids'll be hungry early enough."

"I'll see you in the morning Renata, sleep well and thanks for everything."

Renata smiled at Finn and leaned over to kiss Amy's head before heading through the screen door.

Amy looked over at him and returned his smile when Finn smiled at her and tapped the swing beside him.

"You and this swing." She said moving under his arm as she snuggled against him.

"I've always liked swings."

"So it seems. And now that I'm here Mr. Cotter, what have you got in mind?"

Though their days were usually quite busy and often exhausting with Amy in her various roles at the center and fitting in horses for her business. Finn's business schedule was also filling up as his reputation and recommendations grew. The couple typically ended up like this, on the porch after dinner with Lyndy and Renata until they were both alone and on the swing, necking.

"Well" Amy thought to herself, "not quite as insistent as teenagers" and they took breaks, often long ones where Amy just lay back in Finn's powerful arms, often with her eyes closed sometimes even nodding off that way. "Yup, really not far off." She knew deep down that the choice to advance their relationship physically was hers to make. Finn was nothing but respectful of this decision and she wondered how he felt about it. There was no reason for it, she had decided, she wanted the physical contact but she wondered about it and how it might change their relationship and then of course, there was Lyndy.

"I told my mom you couldn't make it next weekend."

"How'd she take it?"

"Oh she understood, the kids and the center are your priority."

"It's just next weekend with Renata gone; we'll get out there together soon."

"Don't give it another thought Amy, really, Grandpa and I'll drive over Friday afternoon and come home Sunday morning, just so she can get her hugs and see that I'm really fine."

Amy nodded "I've got to get to sleep."

Finn kissed her head and agreed "Yup, me too. Ready to spend the night in your new home?"

She was quiet for a moment and thinking back weeks later wondered where she got the courage to say it though in the end she was glad she did.

"I wish you were staying with me."

"Amy?"

"Do you need me to say it again?"

"No, I don't need that and I wish that too Amy."

"This isn't the week but soon?"

"Soon, would make me very happy, I can do soon."

"Soon is good." She sighed leaning up to catch his lips for a second before standing to walk him down the short staircase to his truck.

Wednesday was as hectic for both of them as could be with a late emergency that pulled Finn to Oketoks. He felt bad because with Caleb away with the rodeo students, Cass and Carson were coming to an early dinner and he wanted to be there and just couldn't make it.

After dinner they moved out to the porch where they joined Renata who was sitting with a cup of tea. Lyndy and Carson immediately took off to the barn to see the horses.

"Finn?" She asked.

"Emergency in Okotoks."

Renata nodded "How have you been Cass?"

"Actually, I'm doing pretty good, the extra staff is working out well and I'm loving spending time here with the kids. They're a good bunch, Scott agrees."

"Lyndy's loving it and we haven't even been here a week yet." Amy added.

"The students have really taken to her." Renata agreed. "They love having her around and since they and Lyndy just love riding off on the trails, well, looks like a match made in heaven."

"She goes on and on about them and Logan and Michelle, she's floating on clouds."

"So she doesn't miss being at Heartland?" Cass asked.

"Heartland's a working cattle ranch; Lou, Lisa and Jessica have their own things and Grandpa and my dad have the herd along with their other stuff and frankly even Katie has her stuff. They all pitched in with her but I think she feels like here she has her place with me. I'm sure she misses them on some level but as we all know, they're just down the road and she knows that."

"And Finn and her?"

"She adores Finn and Al for that matter. Finn's great with her and he's a good listener."

"And you and Finn?"

Renata laughed "I think on that note I'll let you two talk, Amy's already got my opinion and I need to make my rounds, I'll make sure your two little ones aren't causing any mischief."

"Thanks Renata."

Renata smiled at both and put her hand on Amy knee and squeezed. "Goodnight you two, I'll send the kids back before I head to bed."

Cass smiled, moved over on the bench and nudged her "So, Finn?"

"I sort of mentioned I wouldn't mind him staying over."

"Like a slumber party?"

"No Cass, I think he got the point."

"Hmmm, but it didn't happen that night?"

"It was the first night here, Lyndy's first night, it wasn't the right timing, but I made it clear that it's what I want."

"And his reaction?"

Amy sighed "It's obviously what he wants as well Cass, I love whatever limited physical time we've had together and I want more, just, I don't know, some details to work out."

"Timing details."

"Lyndy details, you think she'll be OK with him being here, with me I mean?"

"I think she'll be fine but probably won't understand the, uhm, let's call them deeper implications. I mean she's seen you two together, kisses, holding hands, arm in arm?"

"Of course, even called me on not kissing him one day when my hands were full and insisted I do that later on."

"I'm happy for you Amy, I think you two are great together and it's amazing that Lyndy agrees."

"And Renata for that matter." Amy answered.

"I like her."

Amy smiled "I like her too."

The truck pulled up as Cass was loading Carson into the back seat and strapping him in. Both Amy and Lyndy were standing there waiting to wave goodbye when Finn walked over and scooped up Lyndy who was giggling when he kissed her cheek.

"We missed you."

"I know sweetheart but I had a sick horse to help."

"It's Ok, momma told us."

"Hey stranger, I didn't expect to see you." Amy said coming over.

"I wasn't going to stop unless you were out here, I'm pretty beat."

"I'm glad you did."

She smiled as Finn put Lyndy down and leaned over to kiss her.

"So am I, if only to say I'm sorry to Cass."

"You're forgiven Finn, we all understand emergencies, but he's out and I've got to get him home, thankfully Caleb texted that he's on the way home there so maybe I won't have to do the whole carrying thing. C'mon give me a hug and a peck."

They all waved as Cass pulled away.

"Staying for a bit longer?"

"I really wouldn't be good company and I'm sure I don't smell the freshest. How about I pick up some dinner for us tomorrow though considering I'll be away most of the weekend?"

"Lyndy?" Amy asked.

"Pizza and garlic knots!"

Amy smiled "You heard her, 6 o'clock OK?"

"6 will be fine." He answered leaning over to kiss Lyndy's head and then gently kissing Amy.

There were no real leftovers to be had as they finished off both the pizza and the knots and with Lyndy in bed and Renata having excused herself for the evening Amy took her spot next t Finn and snuggled into his side. Once again, their occasional kisses were soft and not insistent but with what she had said the other night they took on a different meaning to her and she found her body reacting in a way it hadn't felt in a long while.

His rough beard and calloused hands didn't bother her though the heat rising in her body did as did the goosebumps that rose with their closeness. She found that she was breathing heavier and paid attention to each of his small caresses. It was becoming almost uncomfortable for her albeit almost in a good way. She found that she was craving his touch and wondered how long this now spoken yet unspoken separation between them would last.

"Thinking deep thoughts?"

Amy sighed at the question "I guess, just thinking about you being gone for a few days."

"Sounds serious."

"I'll miss you Finn, I kinda like having you around."

"Just as confirmation, I like being around and it's just the weekend, how about I promise to be here same time on Sunday, dinner on you?"

"Sounds good to me and please text me now and again?"

"I promise to do that."

"Cup of tea?"

"I'd love one and then I think I should head home, I've got a long drive tomorrow."

They sat, once again snuggled against each other on the porch and finished their tea. Finn yawned which elicited a giggle for Amy "Bored?"

He laughed "Not bored, just tired, I should go." He said as she straightened up and turned to take his cup before putting both on the little table alongside the bench they were on.

They walked down the stairs hand in hand and then Amy switched both her hands around his arm and leaned against him.

When he turned to her his arms moved around her waist and hers up to cup his neck.

He smiled and leaned down to kiss her lips and then moved to her forehead where he kissed her as they held each other.

"Let me know if there's anything you want me to bring Sunday."

She sighed and smiled then whispered, "How about you bring an overnight bag?"