Chapter 8
They started up the loft stairs and Amy called out "coming up !"
Finn took a deep breath and reached for Amy's hand when he got to the landing and stood beside her. She stopped and looked at him for a second and then deciding to take it she smiled as their hands joined.
"Come on in, Tim's washing up and changing for dinner." Jessica said waving them in "sit, sit, can I get you anything ? Water, juice ? Tea, hot iced? Coffee ? Beer Finn ?"
"Iced tea would be great Jess." Amy said siting across from Lyndy at the small table.
"That would be fine Jessica, thank you." Finn agreed.
Jessica turned and grabbed a pitcher from the fridge and brought it to the table. She smiled and grabbed two glasses off a shelf and her mug of coffee and joined them.
"Lyndy told me you three had an excellent day. You chose a really nice one weather wise, that's for sure."
"I've always loved that we touch provincial land and can just ride through, it makes for a really nice ride." Amy said pouring for Finn and then herself.
"We saw a caribou far away and Finn had binoculars !" Lyndy called out from the couch where she had moved.
"I've fallen in love with the wildlife around here." Jess said "It's all just there, coming from the city it's overwhelming."
"We're definitely fortunate." Finn agreed. "I should really dig out my camera stuff because the phones just don't do it justice."
"I can help with that." Jess said "I shoot film."
"I really haven't done it since high school and college, life took over and the smart phones."
"Anytime you want to ride out Finn, just let me know."
"Thanks Jessica."
Tim came out of the bathroom buttoning his shirt just then "ride out for what ?"
Amy looked up "Oh, Jess offered to help Finn get back into using a camera."
"Well she'd be perfect for it, are you staying permanently Finn ?"
"I may have to go back a couple times, I've still got stuff in Saskatchewan and my folks but Grandpa's pretty happy having me around and business seems to be picking up."
"And ?"
"And your daughter Tim."
Amy smiled "good answer."
"It's Lisa." Jessica said answering her phone.
"Tim just got done and the kids are having some drinks, how's 15 minutes ?"
She listened for a second and then nodded, "see ya then Lis."
Finn smiled and finished his tea as did Amy who looked over at Lyndy who was looking through one of Jessica's photo albums. "Lyndy, are you ready ?"
She nodded and Tim stepped over to help her with the heavy book. "Thank you Grandpa."
"You're very welcome sweetheart, done with your juice ?"
She nodded again and handed him her cup.
Amy stood and stretched and Finn stood a moment later. Lyndy got up and walked over to him then and put up her hand. He smiled down and put his out for her to take. "Your hand is hard."
"Those are called callouses Lyndy, they're from my work."
"From the big hammer ?"
Finn nodded "from the big hammer."
"Let's go down."
He smiled again and glanced at Amy who nodded to go ahead and watched as Finn took a step down and Lyndy jumping down the step he was on. Amy followed behind watching and smiling the whole way down.
Once on the barn floor they waited for Tim and Jessica before heading out with Lyndy reaching her free hand over to Amy so she would walk between them. When they were spotted from the porch where Lisa and Jack were sharing a bottle of wine Lisa got up and walked over to the top of the stairs with a big smile on her face.
"We're back Grandma !" Lyndy called out and broke away to run up to the steps and into Lisa's arms for a hug.
"I see, did you have a fun day ?"
"We did, we rode and saw a caribou and had a picnic and I picked flowers."
"You did ?"
"Yup, Hi GG !" She called out when she saw him and then ran over to get lifted onto Jack's lap.
Lisa waited and hugged Amy and then surprisingly Finn. "Welcome to our home Finn."
"Thank you Lisa, I'm sorry I don't have anything to offer."
"Considering you've been riding all day it's quite understandable Finn."
Jack gently put Lyndy down and stood with an outstretched hand "Welcome Finn."
"Thank you Jack, doing Ok ?"
Jack smiled "still getting up every morning. Can we get you something ?"
Finn smiled "Thanks, I'm fine, really."
"Come sit then, unless you're all starved Lou and Peter ran into town, they'll be back soon."
"Thank you Grandpa." Amy said and led Finn over to the small bench. Tim and Jessica sat on the other side of Jack and Lisa and Jessica thankfully accepted a glass of wine from Lisa once they sat.
"So as I recall your dad ran a lumber operation, how did you choose farrier ?"
"I don't know Jack, I've always loved working with horses and I really didn't want to spend a few more years in school after college and my dad had a friend who was retiring from being a farrier. One day Jim, Jim McKay was his name mentioned that he would love a young man to take over his business so I started working for him part-time and I loved it, nice folks, great patients, going from farm to farm and then decided that farrier school might be the way to go so between that and working part-time during and after college it just happened."
"You finished college ?"
"I did Tim, BS from the University of Saskatchewan. I majored in Animal Sciences thinking that veterinarian might be in my future but life took me this way, I love it."
"And this Jim ?"
"After farrier school we partnered up officially and on his 65 birthday he took me aside and said it was mine so I took it over. Funny thing is his grandson finished high school about then and I took him on as an apprentice, after time he did his stint at farrier school while working with me and now I'm thinking it's time to pass the business on to him. He's a good kid with a nice ranch girl and he's thinking of getting engaged, really the perfect time for it."
"Passed on from generation to generation, that's nice." Jack said.
"So that's it ? Just hand him the keys."
"Well no Tim, not really, I paid Jim his fair share for the business over time when I took over and James which he prefers over Jim, his namesake, has agreed in word for now to do the same for me. One of the reasons to go back is to make that official with the lawyers, accountants and clients. He's good at what he does, hard working and one of those guys everyone likes so I'm not seeing an issue with it."
Katie popped out with the message that her folks were delayed a little but were on their way back and seeing Finn and Amy sitting there came over to welcome them home. Lyndy had climbed up on Finn's lap as natural as could be during the conversation and she started with her.
"Hey Lyndy bug, have fun on your ride ?" She said leaning over to kiss her forehead.
"Yup."
Then surprisingly she leaned over and kissed Finn's cheek "Welcome Finn, it's good to have you here officially."
"Have I been unofficial Katie ?"
"Not to me." She said with a bright smile before leaning against the porch rail and then lifting herself to sit and balance.
"Well, with Lou and Peter on her way back I should get that grill going." Jack said standing.
"Can I help Jack ?" Finn said starting to stand.
"No, sit Finn but thanks, it just needs a light and some tending to burn the wood down, I set it up before."
"Lyndy, come get washed up for dinner." Amy said standing.
"I'll come too." Finn said standing along with Lyndy in his arms "Walk or carry Lyndy ?"
"Walk please." She answered and he leaned over to let her down.
Finn stepped back and let Lyndy and Amy lead the way. He glanced around as they walked through the house and noted that it was very much like his grandfather's with some exceptions, one of which his grandfather's had an air cooler which took care of any latent humidity. He stood outside the open door of the bathroom as Amy stepped in with Lyndy to make sure she washed properly and then washed herself leaving it free for Finn as she walked past him into the hallway.
"Let's brush out your hair while Finn uses the bathroom sweetheart."
"Ok Momma." Lyndy said walking into her room.
When he was done Finn waited and watched while Amy worked on Lyndy's hair, gently undoing her pigtails and working through whatever knots there were.
"Would you mind taking her back while I change my blouse and brush out ?"
"Not at all. Come on Lyndy." He said putting out his hand for her to take which she did with a smile.
"Hey." Amy said making him turn for a second and smile as she leaned up to kiss him lightly. He turned and she watched him walk away holding Lyndy's hand before going into her room.
"Hi Aunt Lou, Uncle Peter, you weren't here before." She said getting caught by Lisa and pulled into her lap giggling.
"Lou, Peter." Finn said with a smile.
"Where'd we lose my sister ?"
"Amy's brushing out her hair."
"So where did you end up today Finn ?"
"Well Jack, I guess it's part of the provincial lands, river side and posting rings driven in to the ground, nice trail along the water. I could maybe find my way back. Nice spot."
"I know the exact spot and I drove those posting rings in, it is a nice place for a picnic."
Finn smiled "Amy mentioned those rings were your doing, I wasn't sure if it was a family secret."
Jack laughed "It was a long time ago, Marion, my daughter, was just out of being a toddler, her first horse and my wife Lyndy wanted her to be able to take Marion there and feel good about the horses so I drove those circle posts in one weekend. Later on Marion would bring her friends down there for the day when they were teenagers and then Amy's crew, lot of horses have been tied to those posts."
"Sounds nice, where is this spot ?"
"I'll take you down one day Katie." Amy said coming though the screen door. Her hair was down and she was wearing a nice solid plum colored satin blouse and had changed from her boots to moccasins.
She leaned against the rail next to where Finn was standing and was mildly surprised when his arm reached around her waist. She instinctively moved a bit towards him which did not go unnoticed by the family.
"I guess that fire's down to a hot bed, Peter can I ask you to grab that tray of steaks on the counter ?" Jack called out fro just off the porch.
"No problem Jack." Peter said starting to stand.
Finn was too fast though "Stay Peter, I'm already up, I'll grab them Jack." He called back.
There are two way of doing this, you lift your hand off your partners waist or you run your palm across your partners back making contact the whole time which is what Finn did and what Amy was sure Lou noticed. For the record it once again sent shivers up Amy's spine.
"How's it going ?"
"It's going fine Lou, you two ?" Amy answered nodding at the two of them on the bench she and Finn were on earlier.
"We're good" Lou said nodding with Peter nodding along. "I never imagined the two of us dating again, weird huh ?"
"Are you dating Lou ?"
"Well, I guess Peter and I are a little different."
"Your 13 year old daughter by the man you're dating, who's your former husband is sitting next to you. I'm pretty sure you don't get to call that dating."
"I think she's got you there mom."
"Don't get me wrong, it's still just as weird but ….."
"I get it Amy." Lou told her. "We're working thing out, it's going well."
Jack used a poker to move around the coals and get the last chucks of wood nice and caught before dropping the grill a notch to heat up enough to sear the steaks.
Finn was there a few minutes later "Is it easier for me to hold the platter Jack ?"
"Can you handle it for a couple minutes ?"
Finn laughed, "I'm a farrier Jack, I look like Popeye without a shirt on."
Jack nodded "we usually go for medium rare, is that Ok with you ?"
"Perfect, I'm not fussy either way."
"You know Finn, I don't know if Amy told you about the whole business with your grandfather and me but….."
Finn smiled as Jack started forking steaks onto the grill "Jack, I really like Amy and Lyndy if the truth be told and Grandpa did mention he worked here back when and that you were circuit friends and Amy told me the rest. Do we have to talk about this ? Seriously two stubborn cantankerous old men holding a grudge for 70 years, it's ridiculous."
"Well, Amy already read me the riot act on that, I just wanted to let you know that I'm Ok with you two seeing each other."
"You know, this might be the wrong thing to say but it's not up to you or Tim or Lou or anyone but Amy who she sees. I have no evil ulterior motives in all of this and I'm not about to start defending myself and earning some sort of trust. She's not a child Jack and more to the point she's not your child."
"This looks serious." Amy said walking over and behind Jack to hug him. "Grandpa ?"
"It's nothing Amy."
"Finn ?"
"Forget it Amy."
"Forget what ?"
Jack pulled away slightly to check the meat "Finn was informing me that no one has a right to an opinion as to who you see romantically but you."
"Just out the blue ?"
"Not out of the blue, I told him that as far as I'm concerned I was Ok with you two seeing each other."
"Well, he's right there."
Finn looked down at the platter he had laid aside and the pooled blood the steaks had left "I guess this should either be washed and reused or there's a different serving platter."
"Come on, there's a serving platter and this needs to be washed."
Amy followed Finn into the kitchen and over to the sink where he took the platter and poured the blood under running water and reached for a sponge.
"I'll do that Finn."
"That blouse is way too pretty for dishes Amy, I'll be fine."
"Thanks, I'm glad you like it."
"I'm sorry Amy, maybe I shouldn't have gone there with Jack."
"It's fine, why did you though ?"
"Because this whole business just seems weird to me and I'm not that guy. I get meeting the family is important and shows intent and what's expected and Grandpa says now I have to invite you and Lyndy over and I get that but say my folks live in Saskatchewan and the truth is I'd love for them to meet you and Lyndy over time but their opinion won't change mine."
"What have you told them about us ?"
"I talk to them every few days actually, we're close and this last time telling them about today was a different conversation."
"How so ?"
"This conversation had feelings attached to it."
He said it wiping his hands with her pulling a platter out of the cabinet. She turned and looked at him for a second. 'What kind of feelings ?"
"The feeling that this was important, today all of it, you, Lyndy and this dinner, about how I'm starting to feel about you."
She lay the plate on the kitchen table and was facing him at this point.
"And how are you starting to feel about me Finn Cotter ?"
Finn smiled and took a step, closing the space between them and laying his hands on her waist before he leaned down and kissed her, pulling her closer and into his embrace.