"Well," Nick smiled and leaned up against the fence in the corral and pushed up his hat. "Good morning Mother. What can I do for you this morning?"

"Good morning," Victoria smiled. "I'm just going to go for a little ride this morning. I felt like getting out and getting some fresh air."

"Well now," Nick straightened his spine and grinned. "There is no better way, that's for sure. I will go saddle Misty Girl for you."

"Thank you," she nodded and chuckled as she watched him head for the barn. "You know," she said when he reappeared a few minutes later. "I wouldn't mind a little company if you have nothing better to do."

Nick frowned when he noticed that his mother's tone seemed like more of a polite brush off than a real offer. "Nothing better that's for sure, but I do have a few things that I need to get done. I'm sorry."

"Oh don't be," Victoria took the reins and waved to signal her indifference. "You just looked so hard at work when I got here."

Nick grinned. "You can't hardly begrudge a man a moment's rest when he catches sight of a lovely lady heading in his direction can you?"

Victoria mounted her horse and looked down at her middle child. "No, I suppose I can't," she smiled wide and spurred her horse toward the gate.

Victoria rode at a quick trot up a short hill and looked back at the ranch. It was always so lovely in the fall. The leaves were changing and everything was so full of color. There was an early chill in the air, but nothing overwhelming. She ambled down toward the river and pulled Misty Girl to a slow walk along the bank. She loved this valley. She thought of all the years that she had been here and all the memories she had made with Tom and the children. She thought of how she and Tom had taken this ride so many times together. She missed him always, but today she felt particularly lonely without him. She couldn't decide if it was just a bad day or because all the children had been home for the past week. She loved when they were all together, but somehow, after a while, having them all together made her painfully aware of Tom's absence and made her miss him all the more. Even Heath had been able to tell that something was amiss with her. That morning at breakfast he had tried to ask her about it and she had grown agitated. Victoria loved Heath and she felt badly she had snapped at him. She looked out at the river and decided she would apologize when he came in for lunch later.

"Thomas Barkley," she said as she pulled Misty Girl to a stop and stared out at the open prairie. "I miss you my love. But, I'm ok and you better just remember that until I get to where you are."

She took one last look around, wiped a tear that had managed to escape, took a deep breath, and finally spurred her horse to home. Just taking the ride that she and Tom did to get away from it all; just talking to him made the loneliness dissipate and she began to feel like herself again. In a way, she was glad Nick had declined her offer to join her on her ride. She prodded Misty Girl to a trot and then to a gallop. She had been riding out to her private place for nearly forty-five minutes, it would only take her twenty-five to make it back if she kept this pace. She felt the chill in the air and her lungs burned with the cold autumn breeze. She loved it. She loved this valley, she loved her home.