OK I had to post this to get it out of my head. SO as much as I told myself NOT to have two stories at the same time I do now oh well. I will post the next chapter to my other story soon. This one has NO relation what so ever to ether of my other stories. And I didn't have this story Betaed so lots of mistakes have been made.
This takes place about 6 years after she died. Jack and Lisa are married. Lou Peter and there Daughter Catherin live at Fairfield. Amy and Ty are engaged and building their own house and barn.
Disclaimer- If I did LOTS of things would be different. Like; Blare would have never been born and Chase would have be hit by a BIG bus. (So there would be no "Mood Swings")
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Marion Fleming sighed as she crossed the Canadian Border; she was finally home no more 'Mary Morgan'. She could go back to being Marion Fleming. The US Government had told her she could return to her old life any time she wanted. She would eventually of course, but she couldn't just walk back in to her family's lives they thought she was dead for the last 6 years. She thought back to the day she had drove down to the states to do a clinic, she wouldn't accepted if Heartland hadn't needed the money so badly. And while she was in Portland she had witnessed the murders of two teens by a gang of drug dealers. And she had testified ageist them, "That was the stupidest thing I ever did." She told herself. It had put her in danger, so the US government put her in the witness protection program.
Though the car crash wasn't the original plan it worked and while her funeral was being held and her daughter was in the hospital, she was on her way to Texas. Her hair had been cut short and died red, she was given a pair of glasses and a job as a Funeral Director, all though she hated the job it paid quite well, way better than the pay at Heartland. She wasn't recognizable not really she had dropped her accent and tried very hard to perfect the Sothern Kentucky accent that the government suggested she have. She drove like this for hours with her thoughts spinning in several directions.
At last she drove in to the familiar town, most of the stores where still there with the familiar faces she had known all her life. "I hope no one recognizes me." She thought. Although she would eventually reveal herself she was going to lay low for a while. She took a deep breath got out of her Car and walked in to Maggie's. She sat down on a chair and looked at the menu. "Still the same things," She thought.
"What can I get you?" Ashley asked.
"Coffee." Marion almost laughed at the sight of Ashley Stanton working at Maggie's.
"Are you just passing through?" Ashley asked as she returned with her coffee.
"No I'm going to say here in Hudson."
"Oh well then welcome. I'm Ashley O'Dell. And you are?" Ashley being overly friendly hoping for a big tip.
"Mary Morgan." Marion said with her perfected Kentucky accent.
"Nice to meet you." Ashley said as Amy walked in and sat down.
"Ash are you almost done with your shift we are going to be late for our dress fitting. Lou is meeting us there" Amy said.
"I've got five munits left. You know you better watch it or you'll turn in to bridezilla." Ashley joked
"Even if I do I won't be nearly as bad as Lou, she was a monster when she married Peter."
Marion listened to the conversation, "My Lou is marred and Amy is getting married. My little girls are all grown up. I've missed out on so much." She jumped when a cowboy sat down next to her. She glanced at him through the corner of her eye, "Tim?" Shortly it wasn't the man who broke her heart so long ago. But her thoughts where confirmed when Amy walked up.
"Hay dad."
"Amy, I drove by the construction site this morning and noticed that your barn already built but the house is only half way finished."
"Oh well I suppose the builders are moving faster on the barn, I can't imagen why. But it's completely finished, Ty moved in their so that Grandpa can hire someone else. Since he was so busy and could never help. But the house will be finished before the wedding because I'm NOT living in the barn." Amy grinned
Ashley taped Amy on the shoulder, "We're going to be late bridezilla." She teased.
Amy smiled, "Ok I'm coming. By." She hugged Tim and then Ashley drug her away chatting with her about wedding details.
Marion stared at her empty coffee cup, "So much has changed. Tim is back. Amy is getting married and Lou is marred. And dad, his problem hasn't changed at all." She paid for her coffee and walked to her car, "What is your plan now?" Her inner voice asked. "Well you need a place to stay and a job." "Where?" "I suppose I could work at Heartland as a stable hand. And stay in town." She tossed around several other ideas but her thoughts always went back to Heartland. "I haven't worked with a horse since I left; even if I just cleaned stalls for miumum wage I don't care I miss the horses." She turned the car key and drove towed Heartland.
She pulled in the drive way, "Years, I've been gone years and nothing has changed." She whispered. She saw Jack chopping wood, "Just like the old days." She put her car in park and took a deep breath. "Remember your name and accent." She walked towed Jack.
"Can I help you?" Jack looked at her puzzled.
"Yes, my name is Mary Morgan. Um I heard you might need a new stable hand, and I'm here to apply for the job."
Jack looked at her, "I can't pay you to well."
"I don't care. Look I know I don't look like it but I work hard I grew up on a horse farm back in the states but when we went bankrupt I moved to the city. I can do the work of a man; throw hay, move feed, whatever you need me to do."
Jack looked at her, "I'm going to give you a chance." He looked at her, she looked familiar.
"I can start right now. What do you want me to do?"
Jack smiled he liked her, "Stalls need cleaned."
"Ok. Thanks…" She faltered on what to call him. "What he hasn't introduced himself yet, you don't know his name."
"Jack Bart let."
She shook his hand firmly and started off towed the barn.
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Jack was fixing his tuck when Lou and Amy pulled up. As soon as they pulled up Amy jumped out of the truck. "How was the dress shop?"
"Good, I've got to go work with Vault. This wedding has my schedule all messed up and with Ty doing summer classes, Caleb rodeo'n every weekend, and Malory on that summer tour with her parents I can't keep up."
"I realize that. That's why I highered a new hand."
"You did?"
"Yes, she just showed up here and asked for a job."
"And you just gave it to her just like that?" Amy said in disbelief.
"Yes. I don't know why but for some reason I liked her, she was bold but quiet." Jack said
Amy nodded and jogged off to the barn. A soon as walked in the barn she noticed that almost all the stalls where cleaned. She saw a small red head cleaning stalls at the end of the barn. "Hi."
Marion jumped, "Hi."
"So you're the new stable hand."
"Yea, I'm Mary."
"Amy. So how much do you know about horses." Amy asked her critically; though she trusted Jack it wasn't like him to hire a stranger.
"I was raised on a Quarter Horse Farm, we bread roping horses."
Amy nodded then turned to Vault, "Come on bud let's see if I can saddle you today." She took him out and when she returned an hour later frustrated. "Why won't you let me saddle you?
Marion looked at the horse; she noted the brand on his shoulder. "Trace the brand." She muttered.
"What?" Amy looked at her.
"Trace the brand back to the owner finds out what might have happened in his past." Marion said deepening her accent.
Amy smiled, "Of coerce! I don't know why I didn't think of it. The answer to horse's problems lays in the past."
Marion smiled "She remembers everything I taught her." "Well that sounds way more professional but yes."
Amy smiled agen, "Thanks. Could you put him away for me please I'm going to go figure out who used to own this guy." Amy handed the horse to Marion. Then jogged off to the house.
Jack was helping Lisa with dinner; Lou was talking on the phone with a client and bouncing her daughter Catherin on her hip. Jack looked at her, "How was Vault?"
Amy sighed, "The same as when he got here. But that lady you highered had an idea about tracing his brand. And she has all the stalls cleaned faster than Caleb ever did. I think I'll actual plan my wedding without rushing because I have barn work to do."
"That's good, I don't know why I hired her but I had a feeling she would be a big help around here with the upcoming wedding and all."
"Invite her in for dinner, I made plenty." Lisa said.
"I will." Amy said before turning to the lap top.
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Marion stood grooming one of the horses, she was completely engrossed in talking to him and didn't notice Amy walk in. "You're such a good girl aren't you."
"Talking to yourself?"
Marion jumped; Thank goodness my accent is a habit." She taught. "Oh no just the horses, I always have it's just a habit."
Amy smiled "No I do it too. It's just something us crazy horse people do."
Marion smiled, "Yea that sounds about right."
"I was just looking for Caleb have you seen him?"
"Yes he's out back."
Amy smiled, "Would you be interested in staying for dinner?"
"I wouldn't want to intrude."
"You wouldn't be Caleb is staying too. There's plenty of food."
"Ok sounds good."
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Marion walked through the back door behind Amy. Jack was making a salad. Amy looked around, where's Lisa? And Lou?"
Marion frowned "Who's Lisa?"
"Lou is with Cat. And Lisa is in the back on the phone yelling in French."
"Oh." Amy nodded her head and smiled when Lou came in with Catherin in her arms, "Someone's getting fired." She and Lou snickered.
Lisa walked in just in time to hear Amy's comment. "Oh yes several someone's got fired!"
"Trouble in France?" Lou asked
"Yes." Lisa turned and looked at Marion. "You must be Mary. I'm Lisa."
Marion shook her hand, "Nice to meet you."
Lisa smiled, "Likewise." She caught a glimpse of the oven, her pie was on fire. "Jack! You could have taken the pie out of the oven!" She rushed over to the oven and pulled out a burnt pie. "Shoot. Well unless you want to eat this, dessert is out of the question."
"Lisa, I'm sorry." Jack put his arm around her and kissed her on the head.
Marion watched, "God so many changes Lou has a daughter. Amy's getting married and Dad has a girlfriend."
Lisa looked up at him, "I know. I think we have some Ice-cream in the freezer."
Amy groaned, "Lisa, I'm never going to fit in my wedding dress."
Lou shook her head, "Not true. You can eat all you want; you'll lose it because you're obsessing about the wedding."
Lisa smiled, "I've tested it. Twice. You lose weight when you get married and gain if you get divorced!"
Lou smiled, "Remind me not to get divorced."
Marion cringed inwardly at the thought of divorce. "It was not fun that's for shore."
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So tell me what you think I had to wright it before I wrote chapter 3 of Family Secrets. I promise I have NOT Abandoned it, I have the chapter almost finished. Thanks for reading and I am only continuing IF i get some feedback. I just had to post this chapter before I finished the other one. This was ALL I could think about.
