Chapter 6

Amy started her day early again on Sunday hoping to get her morning chores done and spend some time in the round pen with her new client horse Brandy before showering for what she was now calling her and Lyndy's date with Finn. She found herself antsy thinking about it but not in a bad way, more excited about the day than anything else. She smiled whenever Finn's face found her way into her thoughts which involuntarily brought about her thinking about his touch.

She wondered about her feelings as she drove Brandy around the round pen, watching her move, focusing on her muscles and gait. She was lost in her task and her thoughts and didn't notice that her grandfather had gone to the barn and minutes later, obviously having seen that the horses had been cared for came out to lean against a post behind her and watch her work.

She lost track of the time which caught up to her as Brandy slowed and she watched the tell tale signs of her slowing down, her heading turning slightly to Amy and her involuntary mouth movements, as if she were chewing. Amy was tiring but the signs were there and she stepped out one last time, grabbed her hat and turned the horse one last time watching her slow and stop and then turn towards her. She saw Brandy's ear's twitch for a few seconds and turned to place her back directly towards the horse. She caught Jack watching at this point but did not move or say anything.

As always, she heard Brandy's breathing and then the excitement in her built as she heard the tell tale sound of the horses' hooves moving towards her which always brought a smile to her face before she acknowledged the horse and the invariable hug.

"Good girl." Amy whispered as her hand began running up and down the horses muzzle. "How about we put you out in a meadow to relax for the day huh ?"

Jack smiled watching the horse respond to Amy's vocal pattern and nodding her head. He knew that Brandy didn't understand a word of it though he knew that a bond had formed between Amy and yet another in a long line of horses. He took great pride in the fact that his granddaughter was, as far as he and many others were concerned special.

"Good morning Grandpa, I'm sorry I didn't notice you."

"Don't give it another thought, I'd much rather you pay attention to what you're doing than me. Seems she's willing to be your friend."

Amy smiled one hand still stroking Brandy's muzzle "seems that way, I need to get her out on a trail tomorrow, fancy a ride ?"

"I'm sure I can fit that in, let me talk to Lisa first though. Lyndy's having breakfast with Katie, Lou and Peter."

"I'm just going to brush her down and let her into a meadow. It won't take long, I'll text Lisa and let her know."

She got back to the house about 15 minutes later to find Peter, Lou and Lisa sitting in the kitchen nursing coffees and sat to pull off her boots before turning towards the living room and seeing Lyndy in her PJ's sitting in Katie's lap in front of a DVD playing one of the Frozen movies.

Lyndy smiled and waved and Katie looked over and smiled as well.

Amy smiled back and turned back into the kitchen and joined the adults at the table after filling her mug.

"So what's your schedule today Amy ?" Lisa asked.

"Shower, dress, dress Lyndy, we'll get a nice picnic packed and wait. Finn will be here I assume between 10 and 11 and we'll head out. Lyndy wants to head to the water so that's a nice ride over to the Provincial lands. You all have plans ?"

"I have a few things to take care of at the dude ranch so I think Peter, Katie and I will ride that way and maybe continue on a little when we're done." Lou answered as Peter nodded.

"Sounds nice, Lisa ?"

"Fairfield, I have paperwork I've been putting off, pay some bills, typical Sunday stuff. Jack's going to make steaks for dinner so just sides when I get back. I think Tim and Jess are heading to the rodeo grounds."

Amy felt the phone before it rang and pulled it out of her pocket and smiled.

"Hey you, whatcha doing ?

"Morning chores, hey how late is this going to go later, I'd hate to just run out and trailering Night late and in the dark ?"

"Don't worry about it, we've got more than enough horses. You might consider chaps though."

"I'll throw my saddle and chaps in the back, do I need to bring anything ?"

"Nope, just bring you."

"Awwwww." Lou and Peter sighed together.

Finn laughed "There's a crowd there isn't there ?"

"Not a crowd exactly." Amy said laughing as well "See you soon."

"I'll text when I leave, bye Amy."

Amy hit the button and stuck out her tongue to Lou.

"Amy has a boyfriend." Lou sang.

"Ok, can we stop now ?" Amy said the blush rising in her cheeks.

"It's just nice to see this Amy peaking through the cracks." Lisa said patting her hand. "Your grandfather mentioned inadvertently seeing you two last night, he said you looked happy."

"I was happy, am, I uhm, well, I should take a shower."

Amy got up and put her mug in the machine after a quick rinse before walking back past the table where she stopped for a second to kiss Lou's head and reach around her for a hug which Lou reciprocated as best as she could. They didn't say anything, the moment spoke for itself. A moment later she stopped in the living room and leaned over to kiss Lyndy and then Katie.

"You have her ? I'm going to shower and get dressed."

Katie smiled and nodded "go ahead, take your time."

It was going to be a nice day and Amy chose a nice pair of Kime Ranch jeans which were her new favorites, dark blue tank top and a brand new plaid button down. Her hair was still damp so she decided on a simple pony tail. Next she dressed Lyndy in the same general get up and pigtails which fit nicely under her obligatory helmet. They'd both get chaps on in the mudroom and Amy would pack a cap for Lyndy to protect her from the sun when she wasn't riding. Amy would grab a white straw hat for herself.

"What would you like on your sandwich Lyndy, turkey and what ?"

"Uhm, pickles !"

"Ok, I'll slice a pickle and bring it but not on the sandwich, how's that ?"

Lyndy nodded exuberantly,

"Lettuce or tomato ?"

"Lettuce please."

"How about some mayo ?"

"Mayo not mustard."

"Ok, that sounds like a good sandwich. And we'll pack chips and some cookies. What kind of fruit ?"

"Clementines and apples for the horses."

"And I have some grapes for a snack and we'll bring coffee for mommy and Finn and water and juice boxes for you, how's that sound ?"

"Really good mom, but what does Finn want on his sandwich ?"

Amy stopped for a second and thought, "you know I have no idea, should we call ?"

Lyndy smiled and nodded.

Amy took out her phone and called up Finn's number and hit dial.

"Hey Amy, just getting ready to leave."

"Lyndy and I are making sandwiches and we have no idea what you want with your turkey."

She was on speaker and Lyndy piped in "we have mayo or mustard and lettuce and tomatoes but no pickles, we have those in a baggie."

"Hmmm, how about mustard and Lettuce and tomatoes and I'll have pickles from a baggie. Oh and chips !" He added the chips having heard that Lyndy loves them.

"Oh, we have chips, don't worry." Lyndy said.

"Sounds like a perfect picnic to me, just going to get boots on and grab my saddle, figure 30 minutes ?"

"Bye Finn." Amy and Lyndy said together and then laughed.

"See you both soon."

"Oh no, we forgot to tell him to bring a towel."

"We'll bring an extra towel sweetie, excited ?"

Lyndy nodded "I like Finn momma."

"I like him too Sweetie, now let's get these sandwiches made and load the saddlebags, can you get them, they're on the porch."

The saddlebags in question were canvas and thermal lined, lightweight, even with the plastic containers which fit neatly inside and easy enough for Lyndy to handle rather than leather saddlebags which she wouldn't. Together they wrapped and packed the food into the containers, fitting them into the saddlebags. Once done, Amy added some frozen sleeves and put bags in the mud room and then together they cleaned up the mess they had made.

Amy saw Finn's parked truck when she looked up from the sink and waited for the truck door to open only to hear the knock on the screen door frame.

'Hi Finn !'" Lyndy cried out "You can come in, momma's doing dishes."

Amy was done just about then and turned the water off as she saw Finn walk in cradling Lyndy with one arm while she hung on around his neck.

"Finn's here Momma !"

"I can see that Lyndy." Amy said reaching out for her and leaning in to kiss Finn while settling Lyndy in her arms.

"We ready ?"

"We are, Lyndy go make a pee before we go." She said putting her daughter down and watching her scamper off.

"Need the bathroom ?"

"No I'm fine" Finn said as Lou and Peter walked into the kitchen followed almost immediately by Katie pulling on a sock.

Amy smiled "Finn you remember my sister Lou I guess from the lumberjack competition and Katie, her daughter. And this is Peter my, I don't even know at this point, my ex-brother-in-law current suitor of my sister and Katie and Georgie's dad."

"Of course I remember Lou." Finn said tipping his hat "Peter, good to meet you." He said reaching out to shake.

"Katie, good to see you again."

"Hey Finn, into the lions den huh ?"

He laughed "I guess, you all coming along ?"

Lou laughed "Don't worry, heading the opposite direction."

"Finn you might as well drive your truck over next to the barn since you have that saddle and we'll meet you over there, here take the saddlebags, our jackets and the towels, we'll pack them at the barn." She said it loading each of the items which were in her and Lyndy's hands into the pickup.

"Which horses Lou, they're all out ?"

"Checkers, Trouble and Venus I guess."

"Want me to get them in ?"

"If it's not to much trouble or we can walk out to grab them."

"Let me just grab Spartan, I kept him and Harley close, I'll grab Shadow for Finn too."

She was quickly on Spartan having jumped up bareback and rode out the gate Peter had held open for her. She stopped at Finn for a second "How about you help Lyndy saddle Harley and I'll be back with the rest of them in a few minutes. Just a light brush should be fine."

"How about it Lyndy ?" Finn asked.

Lyndy smiled and nodded, then reached up to take his hand. Amy smiled as they walked into the barn.

She rode out and whistled once which was all it seemed to take for Shadow to raise his head and run over to nuzzle Spartan as Amy cut Checkers and Trouble from a small group. She was quite adept at herding the three back to the gate for Peter, Katie and Lou to grab then turned after Venus who was further out.

When she lead Venus and Spartan into the barn Finn and Lyndy were just finishing up Harley.

"He's all ready Lyndy," Finn said "why don't you take him out into the sun and we'll get Spartan and Shadow saddled."

Lyndy smiled and nodded at Finn, "hurry up so we can go !"

"Grab your helmet Lyndy, you know the rules." Said Amy leaning over to kiss Lyndy as she went by and led Spartan over next to Shadow to be saddled. There wasn't much room in the barn even with Peter saddling Trouble outside. Katie was finishing Checkers and about to lead him out when Finn followed Amy over to the saddles and pulled the one she was reaching for.

"Finn you don't have to." She said and was interrupted when he leaned across and kissed her.

"Don't have to what ?" He asked lifting the saddle gently over Spartan's back for her.

"Nothing." She answered with a smirk which was answered by his bright smile.

He spent a few seconds with Shadow letting him know that he was there and letting him get a good scent, then he patted her and lifted his saddle over Shadows' back.

"He's a good horse Finn, you shouldn't have any problems with him."

He tightened the cinch and adjusted his stirrups before turning to her. "I would expect nothing less from a horse trained by the Miracle Girl."

She blushed and smiled "ok, we're not going to use that any more."

Finn smiled and once again crossed his heart with a silent mouthing of "no more I promise."

He watched as she tested Spartan's saddle and put out his hand to her when they met in front of the two horses to lead them out. Taking it felt natural and right to her which struck her in a good way as their fingers entwined.

Tim turned the corner a moment later obviously heading to the loft and stopped "Oh hey, it's Finn right ?"

It was obviously a bit awkward that the couple had to let go of each other so that Finn could free his hand to shake Tim's but they did it. "Mr. Fleming it's good to see you again."

"Tim is fine Finn."

"Tim it is." Finn said letting go.

"Dad, how's it going ?"

"Great honey, just getting Jess and we're heading to the rodeo grounds, everything Ok ?

Amy nodded, "trail ride and picnic, see you for dinner ?"

"We'll be there honey, have fun today."

"Thanks." Amy and Finn said together and laughed.

"We should get going." Amy said starting to walk.

"Lion's den." Finn muttered following a second later and with Tim out of earshot.

Amy smiled "it won't be that bad."

"Promise ?"

Amy laughed "nope."