The Promise

Chapter 1

Nineteen Years Ago – Ty and Amy's Wedding Day

Amy: Ty, you are my best friend. And I promise to love you and cherish you.

Ty: Amy, I've never had a better friend. I promise to love you, laugh with you and to comfort you.

Amy: I promise to grow along with you and to be willing to face change when we both change.

Ty: I promise to share my hopes, my thoughts and my dreams as we build our lives together.

Amy: When you need someone to encourage you, you will always have me.

Ty: When you need a helping hand, you will always have mine; because from this day forward, you do not walk alone.

Amy: My arms will be your shelter; my heart will be your home.

Ty: I promise to love you, with all I have to give.

Amy: and all that I have to give.

Together: In the only way that I know. For I carry your heart, I carry it in my heart; always and forever.

Nineteen Years Later – Present Day

"Relax Lyndy; keep your hands still. Let Nightshade lead; trust him. Let him have his way for now. And don't forget to breath," encouraged Amy to her strong-willed seventeen-year-old daughter.

"But mom, he's not doing what I want him to do."

"That's alright; the most important thing right now is for Nightshade to know he can trust you and you him. Maybe that's what he wants you to do. With some horses, it takes time and patience to establish a connection."

Amy and Lisa watched as the type A daughter / great grand-daughter bit her lower lip in an effort to follow her mother's advice despite her natural impulses. Given to her for her recently celebrated birthday by Lisa, Nightshade was a two-year-old Colt with a will equal to her young master's. Both horse and rider wanted to lead in their own way. It was up to Lyndy to gain her steeds confidence and trust through establishing a relationship as opposed to force.

"You'll get there Lyndy, I know you will."

"Thanks Lisa and I know I've said this a dozen times, but Nightshade is the best gift I've ever received."

"You're welcome honey; I'm glad you like it."

"Her mother's daughter," commented Ty as he joined his wife outside the round pen while Lyndy continued to work with her new horse.

"That wouldn't be so bad would it?" mused Amy as she leaned in to kiss her husband.

"No; if she turns out to be half the lady her mom is, she'll make her mark. Not to mention her great grandmother," continued Ty as he flashed a smile to Lisa.

Amy smiled at Ty's compliments knowing his sincerity. Gazing up at him, she marveled at though now in his mid-forty's, her husband remained painfully handsome. A hint of grey around the temples were masked by his lean and fit body and his ever present penetrating green eyes. The same eyes that had captured her attention from the start and eventually her heart.

"How's the battle going today Lyndy?" Inquired Ty as he observed his daughter.

Lyndy was the spitting image of her beautiful mother both in looks and temperament. Her straw blonde hair that always seemed to be in and out of place at the same time was tucked under a well-worn black Stetson. Adorned in faded blue jeans and scuffed boots, Lyndy preferred clothes that suited the functionality of a ranch as opposed to catching the attention of a young cowboy in town. She was equally at home on the ground or in the saddle and her trim and work-hardened figure also mirrored her mother's. She could ride a horse like she was born to it; and in many ways she was. Eager, stubborn, loyal and passionate; Lyndy never did anything half way. She'd rather spend the day on their ranch around animals than with her girlfriends scoping out guys at Maggies.

"Frustrating dad! Every time I think he's ready to join up, he goes off on his own like he doesn't want to be with me."

"You'll get there honey; just keep at it. You should have seen your mom the first time I watched her try and join up with her horse Spartan. She actually stomped her feet and yelled at him when he wouldn't cooperate."

"No way; mom yelled at a horse?"

"Screamed is more like it."

"What was it; what did she scream?" asked Lyndy beginning to giggle.

"I don't remember all of it but it was something like, I WAS JUST TRYING TO HELP YOU. IT'S NOT MY FAULT."

"Mom, did you actually scream that at your horse?"

"I did, laughed Amy. I was a couple of years younger than you at the time but just as impatient. Your Grandma Marian and I had rescued him from an abusive piece of trash who lived not too far from here and there for a while, I thought Spartan to be a lost cause. In fact, he was almost put down but I didn't want my mom's death to be for nothing so I decided to work with him. Eventually, he did finally join up though and turned out to be the finest horse I ever had," Amy said with a touch of sadness.

"What did you do to finally have him trust you?"

A wistful look came over Amy's face as her thoughts returned back to that day so many years ago when she first worked with Spartan.

"It wasn't any one thing but something in particular seemed to seal the deal."

"What?"

"I gave him some candy."

"Candy; you gave him candy?"

"Yup, and it worked."

"You think it would work with Nightshade, inquired Lyndy with renewed hope and enthusiasm?"

"You never know. Run into the house and get some."

Without another word Lyndy vaulted over the round fence and went racing into the house hoping to find some candy that would entice Nightshade.

"I think she has even more energy than you did at that age," commented Ty.

"You may be right. I can't keep up with her. Where's Jackson off to?"

"Out with Jack herding the cows; where else?"

"I should have known. If he's not out with you on a call he's with Grandpa."

Smiling at Amy's knowledge of their son, Ty replied, "Off to the clinic, see you tonight."

"OK, love you."

"Love you too."

"Bye Lisa."

"Goodbye Ty. Be careful."

Jackson Clark Borden was fifteen years old but with his height and rapidly maturing looks, could easily pass for eighteen. Like his sister, he loved the outdoor life Heartland had to offer. He lived for weekends, summer vacations and afternoons after homework so he could be with his father on a Vet call or his great grandfather tending the herd or other tasks around the ranch. Like his older sister, Jackson was fiercely independent but mindful of his elders. Not only was he tall for his age, he had begun to fill out physically and was uncommonly strong and was not past wrestling steers when given the opportunity.

Jack observed his great grandson with unabashed pride as his namesake circled the herd atop his mount accompanied by Sam, his ever-faithful Border Collie mix. From his father, Jackson had inherited his rugged good looks and sense of adventure. His keen love of animals and all things outdoors had been passed down through his mother. His size seemed to be all his own but the beyond-his-years physical strength came straight from Jack.

"Grandpa, there's a stray up on the ridge, I'll go get him. Come on Sam," Jackson exhorted his two-year old canine devotee as Jackson kneed his horse in the direction of the outlier cow followed closely by Sam eager to round the maverick calf back to the main herd.

From the time he formed his first words, Jackson had called his great grandfather, grandpa; most likely from hearing it so often from his mother's lips. Though both parents explained that Jack wasn't his grandpa but his great-grandpa, Jackson never altered how he addressed Jack; and to Jack it made no difference.

Jack deeply loved all his great grandchildren, but none in the family doubted the special place Jackson occupied in Bartlett patriarchs' heart. Like a sponge, Jackson soaked up all Jack could teach him; always yearning for more and Jack never disappointed.

All the missed time Jack never experienced with a son of his own or even his adopted son Ty, he seemed to make up for with Jackson. Jack was never too busy or tired to accommodate the boundless energy possessed by his great-grandson. And though Lisa often commented about, "having to make an appointment to spend time with her husband," the family knew that deep down, she secretly was grateful for her great-grandson's endless thirst to be with Jack when his father wasn't home due to his Vet responsibilities. Lisa marveled at how the time Jack and Jackson spent together seemed to keep her husband young in mind and body.

Tim had never been the son Jack hoped he would be and though Jack had immense love and respect for his adopted son and grand-daughter's husband, Ty was already in his twenty's when he came to Heartland. Jack was part of his great-grandsons life from the start and cherished every moment he could spend with his apt pupil.

Though the boy dearly loved his mother, there was nothing he craved more than spending time with his father or Jack and often both at the same time. He had already announced to the family his intent on following is father's footsteps on becoming a Vet while Lyndy wanted nothing more than to train horses.

"Mom, I think it might be working," Lyndy whispered as Nightshade eagerly lapped up the sugar cubes offered by Lyndy.

Smiling at her daughter's apparent success, Amy replied, "keep at it Lyndy, you're making progress. Talk to him now. Let him know how pleased you are with him and then give him some more."

The sound of a vehicle approaching Heartland diverted mother, daughter and Lisa's attention as they observed a full-size pickup kicking up a swirling cloud of dust in its wake as it rapidly approached the ranch.

"He's going awful fast," Amy muttered under her breath as the now identifiable Ford F-150 came to a screeching halt by the round pen.

Emerging from his truck, a barreled chested man appearing to be in his mid to late fifties strode toward where Amy and Lisa stood with obvious purposeful intent like he owned the ground he walked on. Skipping conventional pleasantries, he addressed the ladies with a deep, gravelly voice.

"I need to speak to Jack Bartlett; where is he?"

A/N: This story will be an attempt to forge some new ground in Heartland fanfiction. Some of it may be disturbing but hopefully, enjoyable. Review comments positive and negative are welcome.