It's been five years since Ty left Amy and Heartland, and Amy has all but shut herself up from the world. Now, a successful trainer and competitive rider who still treats abused horses with her mom's remedies, Amy believes she doesn't need anything else in her life. But when Ty comes back to Heartland looking for a job as a stable hand, will she keep him from seeing her true-self? Or, will she let him into her heart?

Prologue

"Hey Ty come on, the party is just getting started!" I call out, hoping to hear his voice saying something along the lines of Oh come on, Amy, you know I'm not much of a party-goer!" or something like that. As I entered the barn, however, I got a little worried when I didn't hear any kind of response. "Ty!" I called again, thinking maybe he didn't hear me the first time.

Still no reply.

Spartan, my black gelding, whickered from his stall, wanting some attention after the good job he did in the Fall Finale today. I walked over to his stall and patted him on the neck, checking his stall to see if maybe Ty might have been in there. He wasn't, so after spending a few minutes with Spartan, I checked all of the horses' stalls, before looking everywhere on the first floor. But he was no where to be found.

Maybe he's in his room I thought. He's probably tired after the long day.

And after all the practice you two have put in for this competition said a voice in my mind.

After turning off all the lights in the Tack Room and the office, I climbed the stairs up to the loft, praying that it would not be like the last time I visited Ty in his room.

I definitely don't need another vision like that again I thought, reaching the landing where his room was situated and knocked on his door. "Ty . . . it's Amy!"

There was still no response.

I grabbed the door knob and turned it, hoping he wouldn't be angry with me for intruding into his room. As soon as I opened the door though, I knew something was wrong.

The room looked the same as it always did, the bed was made and the light was on, but the drawers to the dresser had been flung open, as though Ty had been in a hurry to leave.

But . . . this doesn't make any sense . . . why would he leave without telling anyone I asked myself, entering the room.

Something on the bed caught my eye and I felt like a bucket of ice-water had been dumped on me.

Ty's black cowboy hat, the same one I had given him when he went with Grandpa on to the cattle drive, was sitting in the middle of his bed.

I closed the door behind me and walked over to his bed, a million thoughts running through my mind. As I reached the bed, I reached for the hat, and picked it up, finding a folded letter underneath it. I sat down on the bed, Ty's hat on my lap, and picked up the letter with trembling fingers. I felt nervous, like the letter was a poisonous snake about to strike. On the front, in Ty's handwriting, was the word, Amy.

I took a deep breathe and unfolded the letter.

Dear Amy,

If you're reading this letter than it means I'm already gone. I'm sorry about leaving like this, but . . . something came up, and . . . I'm afraid I have no choice but to leave without saying good-bye. Maybe someday I will be able to return, but . . . I'm not going to make promises that I can't keep. But, remember this, I love you. No matter what happens, I will always love you

Ty

P.S. Please tell Jack thank you for everything he has done for me.

I felt like I couldn't breathe; all I could do was sit there, reading the letter over and over again, trying to make sense of what was happening.

All I could think of was: He's gone . . . oh dear God in heaven . . . he's gone!

Tears began welling up in my eyes and I fought to keep them back, but it was no use . .. they kept building up, until I had to blink and they spilled over my eye-lids and slid down my cheeks. My heart felt like it was breaking in two, like some crazed ax-murderer had chopped my heart up like it was nothing. I felt sick to my stomach.

I wrapped my arms around my stomach, hoping it would somewhere calm it; but it only made it worse when I felt Ty's hat against my chest.

I don't know how much time had passed while I sat on Ty's bed, crying and rocking myself back and forth; all I remember was laying down on the bed, curling up into a ball, and lay with his hat and letter against my chest. My last thought before sleep claimed me was,

I love you too, Ty.