Hi this is my first Heartland fanfic and I hope you willl all enjoy it. I just feltthat Lauren Brooke left us all hangingin the final book. So this is howI envisioned one of the ways the books could have continued.I promise that it will get better.

Disclaimer: I do not own Heartland or any of its characters they belong to Lauren Brooke

Summer was heaving in and out of the air as Amy Fleming hurried towards the stable. The grass was still wet from the morning dew and it was seeping into her sneakers. Her grandfather had let her sleep late, but now there was no time to help out with anything, feeling a sense of guilt her footsteps quickened towards the barn. Joni was all ready done with the stalls and Ty was leading horses out.

"Need help," she said, walking over to Ty.

Ty smiled warmly at her and she pressed a kiss on his lips. "I like having you home," he said, handing her the lead line to Nightshade.

"Hello, handsome," she said, stroking his black velvety muzzle.

"Ty," called Lou with her hand resting on her rotund stomach. "Martin Sinclair is coming in twenty minutes for Shooter?"

"OK," he called back.

Amy watched Lou waddled back towards the house. She turned her attention to Ty who looked stressed out. He was running his hand aggressively through his hair and chewing his lip.

"Hey, take a walk with me," she said taking his hand and leading Nightshade with the other.

"I can't I have so much to do," he pulled away but Amy held on tighter.

Amy shoved the lead line into his hand. "You two are taking a walk. Go do some join up and then maybe take him for a walk by the brook. That's an order. I'll take care of everything else."

Ty arched an eyebrow. "Don't you have a class at eleven?"

"Actually at noon and all I have to do is run to my laptop. How late can I be? Go," she said, shooing him.

"But Sinclair is coming at-."

Amy shoved him away. "I know. Time to relax you've been running things for the past year. You need a break." She walked back to the barn and found Shooter lazing in his stall. The thirteen two Welsh pony had come to Heartland from a livestock auction. On spring break Amy had gone with Ty and immediately the chestnut had caught her eye. She brought him home and Joni and Amy had worked hard to make him into a bombproof pony that a child would love. She saw a little girl come bounding through the aisle with a huge beach bag basically engulfing her.

"Hi Joni!" she exclaimed running towards Shooter's stall. "Hi I'm Lexi!" She held out a carrot that Shooter eagerly ate.

"I'm Amy. Are you the lucky girl who gets to take Shooter home today?"

"Yea, I brought him all this," she said pulling out purple glittery bell boots and matching shipping boots. Then she pulled out a dark purple fleece blanket.

"Wow," said Amy overemphasizing her amazement. "Did you get all this for him?"

The girl nodded. "I just-," she tried to hold the blanket up but collapsed into the shavings, giggling.

Amy couldn't help but smile with pride as Shooter merely snuffled the young girl's hair disinterested in her crazy behavior. Soon he was dressed and ready to go with a very happy girl leading him towards the trailer. Amy was walking on the other side, making sure everything went smoothly.

"Look daddy!" she exclaimed. The man was on his cell phone, he merely waved in recognition before returning to his phone call.

"He never cares," said Lexi her eyes almost brimming with tears.

Amy's heart broke as she sympathized with her. How many times had she as a child thought that the same about her own father? Even now she sometimes doubted his love for her. Amy closed the ramp and then knelt next to Lexi.

"I know it doesn't seem like he does but I promise you he loves you," said Amy.

Lexi took the lead line from Amy wiping away a stray tear. "Promise?"

"Would I lie to you?" asked Amy, tickling her.

"No," she squealed.

"All set?" asked Mr. Sinclair, getting into the black Escalade.

Amy looked down at Lexi. "Yep," chimed Lexi, running into the passenger seat.

"You don't handle him by yourself when you get him home, promise."

"Pinky swear," said Lexi holding her pinky. Amy laughed and linked pinkies with the girl.

"Ms. Fleming," called Mr. Sinclair, he handed her a bill. "Thank you for your help."

"This isn't necessary," she started but he gave her a wave before driving off, ignoring her protest.

Amy looked at the one hundred dollar bill. She and Lexi had only ever spoken over the phone when Lexi needed information for a class project. While Amy was away at college Lexi had visited and had fallen in love with Shooter. Amy had been hesitant to let a child adopt Shooter but when Joni explained how he would be at a large stable with plenty of people to help Lexi. She had to relent. Now, watching that girl's eyes light up as Shooter snuffled her hair or giggle when he stomped his hooves because he wasn't use to the shipping boots; she knew it was the best decision she could have made for everyone involved. She slipped the bill into her jeans and then continued to orchestrate the ever buzzing farm.

"Grandpa," she said, hugging him as he walked out with two cups of coffee.

"How's my girls doing?" he asked, motioning to Lou who was massaging some liniments into Sugarfoot's back.

"I think she's tired of being pregnant," said Amy with a smile looking down at a clipboard. She downed her coffee and then handed Jack the empty cup, giving him a kiss on the cheek in exchange. "Thanks, Grandpa, but I still have so much to do before my class."

"You know you can take a little time to go riding. I saw Ty go off earlier maybe you could join him?" he proposed.

"I wish, but I promised Ty I'd take care of things and I miss being involved. It's a nice change."

"Well you tell me if it gets to be too much." He squeezed her shoulder before inhaling deeply. "Well, I'm going to go take a walk around and see what needs repair."

Amy was too captivated with her clipboard to notice Jack's concerned parental gaze at Amy's ever increasing work load.

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