Chapter 7

They rode slowly, Amy and Lyndy side by side when the trail allowed for it with Finn riding behind. When the trail narrowed Lyndy rode between them. Amy was reluctant to have Lyndy any way other than these for two reasons. She felt more comfortable able to keep an eye on her and almost more importantly Spartan and Harley had been trail riding side by side for almost 15 years. They knew each other intimately.

They had been riding slowly enjoying the views for about 40 minutes with one stop when Finn spotted a Caribou across a ravine up the slope of a mountain which fascinated Lyndy and Finn pulled out a pair of binoculars. Amy turned around soon after "About 15 minutes or so more, you ok back there ?"

Finn smiled "I'm great."

"Enjoying the views ?"

Finn's smile broadened "the view is amazing."

It took just a brief second for her blush to rise and her eyes to pop wide with a bright smile "you behave yourself back there."

"You just pay attention to the trail Ms. Fleming." He said smiling back and twirling his finger around.

They could hear the water before they left the woods though the path got noticeably brighter as they got closer. When the trail passed into the clearing they were about 20 yards from the water and Amy led them down to a more rock free grassy area near the water where they could stop and set up a relatively flat blanket to sit on. She'd been coming here almost all of her life and this was their spot. There were four iron rings pounded into the ground a few yards away that were always there as far as she remembered, her Grandmother Lyndy had insisted that they be there and Jack complied. She never knew why she had them installed but thanked her silently whenever she was there.

"We'll tie them off on those rings after they get a drink." Amy said getting down only to see Finn lifting Lyndy off of her saddle and holding her until she was steady on her feet after the long ride.

Amy led Spartan and Harley down to the water and let them go and Finn followed with Shadow. Lyndy was leaning over the water staring down.

Amy reached into Lyndy's saddle bag and pulled out her cap. "Sweetheart, get out of that helmet and put on your cap and well get those chaps off in a few minutes."

They turned from the water when the horses did and walked back to the rings.

"Convenient." Finn said grabbing a long lead from his saddle bag and tying off Shadow and then Harley while Amy saw to Spartan. There was nice long grass for them to graze on or lie down.

"They're great, Grandpa put them in, my grandmother's idea. I've been coming here all my life."

"It's a nice spot and a nice ride out here."

"Let's lay out the blanket, hungry ?"

"Getting there, can't wait to taste your cooking."

Amy giggled "oh stop, I get by."

Finn stopped and took Amy's hand gently turning her to him.

"Can I help you sir ?" She said smiling as his arm moved from her hand to around her waist and he leaned over to kiss her gently.

She sighed and leaned up to kiss him again, "still feel like you're in the lion's den ?"

"Not when I'm alone with you and Lyndy."

"Lyndy, let's get those chaps off and you can help with the blanket."

"Can I take my boots off momma ?"

"We can do that but no going near the water alone and watch your step and it's may I take my boots off."

"Can I pick flowers ?" She asked pointing to the edge of the woods where there were several plots of wild flowers growing.

"May I pick flowers Lyndy not can and yes but stay out of the woods, we need to see you.''

"Ok Momma."

"She's a great kid Amy."

"She is and it's been hard over the past few years getting her to this point."

"I can't imagine how hard that's been but it seems you've got it under control so far."

"It's been a hard and lonely few years." She repeated.

They were sitting and Finn reached across and took her hand.

"You've made a difference Finn, I hope you know that."

"You're beautiful Amy, have I mentioned that ?"

She smiled, it was exactly what she needed to hear at that point "not specifically but thank you, you're kind of nice to look at yourself you know."

They watched Lyndy as she skipped back holding a small bouquet of flowers and Amy reached into one of the saddlebags and grabbed a tall plastic cup she had packed.

"I've got it Amy." Finn said getting up and taking the cup from her hand, getting a smile in return.

She watched him walk to the river's edge and kneel down to fill the cup halfway as Lyndy stopped and kneeled on the blanket and held out her hand to Amy.

"Those are beautiful Lyndy, Finn's getting some water for them."

"Let's get them in here Lyndy." He said getting back down on the blanket and holding out the cup for her to fit the stems into. "Let me get a flat rock to put them on so it won't tip over." He added standing again and heading over to a pile of rocks at the river's edge where he hoped to find what he needed.

"Why don't we get lunch ready sweetheart ?" Amy said to Lyndy who nodded and held the cup waiting for Finn's rock.

Minutes later he returned with several rocks and set up a nice stable flat surface just off the blanket where Lyndy carefully put down the cup and smiled at Finn.

Amy pulled the thermal bags over and pulled out the thermos and a thermal cup, a juice box, 3 plates and three rectangular plastic boxes which she laid out along with napkins and three covered cups that they would use for water. She also took out a canteen and had Lyndy hold out her hands to wash them before handing it to Finn who poured for her and the she poured for him. They used the same towel.

That done, Finn grabbed the box of sandwiches and had Lyndy choose hers as Amy opened the chips and put some on each plate followed by a few pickle slices one of which Lyndy popped into her mouth immediately followed by a chip.

"Sandwich please sweetheart."

Lyndy smiled and stuck her thumb up before swallowing theatrically and reaching for the plastic bag on her plate.

"Your sandwich Ok Finn ?"

"I'm trying to decide if this is actually the best sandwich I've ever eaten."

Amy laughed "stop, enough mustard ?"

"It's really fine Amy, how's your sandwich Lyndy."

"Really good, I'm hungry."

"Me too." Amy agreed.

They ate quietly and with some small talk when Finn asked Lyndy to tell him about school and Miss Clarissa and she went on for quite some time. He didn't take his eyes off of her as if every word she said was so important to him. He commented appropriately and Amy could see Lyndy so happy at her audience. When they were done Finn walked her over to give the horses their apples while Amy cleared away the empty bags and took the plates down to the water's edge to rinse them.

"What should we do now ?" Lyndy asked.

Finn looked at Amy who tilted her head for a second "how about we take a walk to work off some of our lunches and then we can come back and dip our feet to cool off."

"Ok, let's go that way." Lyndy volunteered pointing upstream along the water.

"Get your boots on Lyndy and Finn and I will take the horses down for a drink before we go."

Lyndy nodded, sat down and reached for the socks tucked into her boots. Amy smiled and turned to the horses with Finn right alongside her.

"Having fun ?" She asked as they let go of the horses and Amy showed them silently to the water.

Finn paused for a second "I am and to be honest I really didn't know what to expect, I've never dated a woman with a kid, she's great Amy but it's unfamiliar territory."

She laughed and reached out to take his hand "For me too and from what I can see you're doing great. She loves an attentive audience."

"Oh that, it was great. Huxley ?"

"His name's Huxley, his mom's nice."

"Has, uhm, Lyndy, mentioned us at all ?"

"She hasn't aside from the excitement of today and mentioning that she liked you. The kisses, touching, really nothing."

Finn nodded and was quiet, then took a second to pat Spartan who was next to him. "What do you think ?"

"I don't know, maybe I can try to ask her without making a big thing of it."

With the horses tied off and everything put away they left with Lyndy skipping her way in the lead along a trail that seemed almost natural and had always been there in Amy's memory. Every now and then Amy called out reminding Lyndy not to go to far ahead. Soon She and Finn were back holding hands behind the little girl which didn't seem to mark any difference in her behavior at those moments when she turned back for reassurance. At one point the trail headed into the woods which sloped and came close to the water at that point and Amy called out that Lyndy should just follow the trail which would come back to the water in a little ways.

They followed behind her into the woods as she skipped along and Amy felt Finn's thumb absently rub against her hand.

"We hold hands a lot."

Finn was immediately self-conscious and started to let go when she stopped him and reinserted her fingers through his "I like it Finn, I didn't mean anything by it, just an observation."

"Uhm, sorry ?"

She smiled and reached over to kiss him "Nothing to be sorry about, uhm, we're good Finn."

He lightly squeezed her hand when she said it "Nice to know."

"You're, uh good ?"

"Better than good Amy."

It was a nice long walk and agreed by all that a snack of some cookies before the water was needed and Amy pulled out the container and handed both Lyndy and Finn one of Lou's special giant oatmeal raisin cookies. Lyndy had already pulled her boots and socks off and was trying to turn up her jeans and eat at the same time.

Amy smiled and put her cookie down on the container "come here miss impatience." She said folding them up a few inches. "The water's still high Lyndy and probably a little cold, you Ok with that ?"

Lyndy nodded and took another small bite of her cookie. Seeing Finn pop the last bit of his into his mouth Lyndy pointed "if you're coming in the water you should take your boots off Finn."

"And my socks I guess." He said smiling and shifting to pull off one of his boots and then the other. Amy watched as he pulled off his socks and folded them into his boots. "What ?" He said seeing that Amy was watching him.

"Nothing, nice feet."

He laughed "is that a thing ?"

"Never was actually, just never seen them before."

He looked at her and smiled.

"What ?" She said finishing her cookie.

"Let's see 'em Fleming !" He answered leaning back on his elbows and stretching out his feet. "Get 'em off."

Amy smiled and leaned back using her feet to kick off her well worn boots. While this happened Lyndy leaned back and put her foot against Finn's "You're feet are big !"

Finn laughed "My feet are bigger than yours Lyndy but just the right size for me. Yours still have some growing to do."

He watched as Amy pulled off her socks and then fully exposed wiggled her toes. "So ?"

"Small but, very nice feet."

"Not so small." Amy said and without thinking placed her foot against Finn's and immediately thought of the intimacy that action had as her body reacted. She wasn't sure how Finn felt about it before Lyndy cut in and interrupted her train of thought "Finn's are bigger, a bunch bigger, are yours gonna grow too Momma ?"

"I don't think so sweetheart, I guess Finn will always have bigger feet than me. Water ?"

Lyndy nodded and they all stood and then a moment later Lyndy held up her hand to Finn as they walked down to the water. Amy smiled seeing Finn open his hand to take Lyndy's and watched Lyndy start to skip and dance and Finn holding on and then twirling her around.

The water was fun and they got wet with a little splashing and dancing around. They weren't soaked by any means and after all stretched out on the blanket letting the sun dry them a little before it became time to head back on the trail. They rolled up the blanket and gave the horses one last drink before getting them saddled and attaching the saddle bags. It became pretty obvious as they were heading back that Lyndy had lost her steam and they stopped at a small clearing where Amy was surprised to see Finn lean over and grab Lyndy in front of himself which is what Amy had prepared to do herself.

"I've got her Amy." He said without a thought as Amy nodded and got Harley on a long lead. They didn't stop for views on the way back and even without that it took almost an hour as their pace was slow and steady with Lyndy and Finn doubled up.

When they came over the last rise that put the ranch house compound in view, they saw Tim walking towards the barn where they were heading and Jack out in front of the house doing something with the barbecue grill and saw him wave. Amy waved back as they pulled up at the barn doors.

"Everything Ok ?" Tim asked seeing how they were riding.

"We're good Tim, can you take her ? She's been asleep for almost an hour."

Amy dismounted as Tim reached up and and Finn handed Lyndy down somewhat waking her.

"Hi Grandpa, are we home, I have to pee." She asked groggily.

"Let's get that taken care of then" he said to his granddaughter, "How about I take her up with me, Jess is upstairs."

"Thanks Dad, we'll get the horses brushed down and stalled and come up for her." Amy answered as Tim strode away to the stairs leading to the loft.

They worked quietly unsaddling the horses with Finn getting his back in his truck bed before each brushing down their horse and both working on Harley. Finn helped Amy getting them some mash and making sure they had water before he followed her out to check on the rest of the herd. It was getting late and Amy decided to get them all back which wasn't hard as they hadn't really wandered far. She saw that the horses the other group had ridden had already been stalled and it wasn't long before all their charges were either back in the barn or alongside in their outdoor stalls. Once again walking back to the barn Finn put out his hand for Amy to take. As their fingers joined she took a step closer and asked "have a good time today Finn ?"

He stopped and after letting go of her hand placed both of his on either side of her waist and without a word pulled her to him and kissed her. It was not like their other kisses, this seemed more intimate and her body reacted by almost melting against his and goosebumps rose up her spine. He pulled her closer when their lips came apart and held her body against his. She could feel his racing heartbeat and as they finally let go of each other she looked up "so that's a yes ?"

"That was more than a yes Amy, way more."

"Way more." She agreed with whisper as their arms crossed behind them and she leaned into his side. "Lion's den ?" She asked stopping at the foot of the staircase heading up to the loft.

"Bring it on." He said as they headed up the stairs.