What If: Chapter 2

Ty stood watching Marion as she turned the corner and disappeared from his sight. He had never known anyone like her in is life she had just given him gas and a phone then drove away expecting that he would follow the map to her home. No one had ever shown that type of trust in him and he was not sure what to do about it. He wanted more than anything to get in his truck and drive to Vancouver and get lost in the city.

He had just finished putting the gas in his truck when a car with two girls pulled up. "We heard you were out and just wanted to see if it was true."

"How did you hear about me being out? I mean I only left the facility less than an hour ago."

"You know how news travels on the street someone saw you riding in a truck with a lady and it just got passed on. Then Jim saw you walking into your house and sent us a text so here we are. How would you like to go celebrate your release? Sue and I have a little something for you" she said with a smile as they both lifted their shirts and flashed him.

Ty looked at the girls and gave them a big smile and said "I am right behind you."

As the girls drove away Ty got in his truck and started to follow them. He had a good idea where they were headed and what awaited him at the other end of this short drive and he was ready to have a little fun. It was owed to him after all he had been in custody for almost a year now and all because he had tried to stand up to his step dad for beating his mom.

Ty followed them to the house and as they jumped out and ran back to help him get out of the truck showering him with kisses and whispering what they had planned for him.

Ty's mind was going a thousand miles per hour. Here he was and as Sue walked up to the truck with the beer he was ready to head into the house and partake of all the pleasures being offered. This trip to what was it she had called it Heartland would just have to wait or maybe it would never happen. But right now it did not matter there were more important things to take care of.

They walked into the house and Ty looked around and could see that the girls did not live here alone and from the looks of things the other occupants were not other girls.

"Who does that stuff belong too" Ty asked.

In a light hearted reply Mary said "those belong to the guys we live with but if you want we can throw them outside and they can get them when and if they show up later", she said gathering up the things tossed around the room. "We would rather be with you anyway. "

Just then the phone in his pocket rang he looked to see who was calling but he was afraid to answer it so he let it go to voice mail . He saw it was from someone called Amy. Then the phone notified him that someone had sent a text. It was Amy again and is said "Mom, I just wanted you to know Scott came by and dropped off the vaccine so you don't have to stop on the way home. Grandpa did ask if you would stop at Maggie's and pick up something for supper. He said he felt you might have a surprise for us when you got home."

"Who is Amy and why is she calling you mom" asked Sue who had been reading the text over Ty's shoulder. "Oh you have only been out less than and hour and you already stole that ladies phone!" Said Sue with a giggle, "Just like old times huh Ty."

Why had she left this stupid phone with him, and why should it make a difference? He had two very pretty girls ready to make his day, but now he felt that having someone trust him for the first time in his life meant more than anything that Mary and her sister had planned for him! He had realized just how shallow their affection was by the way they had been ready to get rid of the boys who they were living with and not even blink an eye in doing so. Sue had also reminded him of his old life or stealing and lying and he did not want that to be what defined him.

Ty looked at the girls and it became increasingly more apparent that he wanted more from life than this. So without saying a word he turned on his heel and walked out. And as he got in his truck and drove away he wondered what was going through the girl's minds. He had left without stopping to explain why he couldn't stay. But then he was not sure if he could have explained why as he was not sure himself.

….

Marion continued her drive home and kept looking in the rear view mirror hoping to see that blue pickup show up in her view. She knew she had taken a chance giving him her phone and then driving off leaving it up to him to follow her instructions and come to the ranch or do what he had asked her how she knew he wouldn't do. Go the other direction.

Forty minutes later she pulled into the vet clinic parking lot and went inside.

"Hi Marion said Scott, long time no see what can I do for you?"

"I am here to pick up the vaccine that Jack ordered."

"Oh, I guess they forgot to call you, I had to drive out that way earlier today so I dropped it off."

She remembered she did not have her phone so she said thanks and then looked at Scott. "I have something I need to ask you. "

"Sure what is it?"

"I want to know what the hardest part of coming to live with us was for you?"

"Wow, I have not thought about that for years. I guess I would say that first couple of weeks when I had to get used to being told what to do and then having you walk away expecting me to do it. I had never had someone in my life who had given me that much responsibility."

This brought a smile to Marion's face as she remembered those first few days. "I am happy to hear that was the hardest part of your move."

"Oh I am not finished yet," chuckled Scott. "While that was a difficult change it was a good one. But then there was Tim, it seemed that everything I did was wrong and I wanted to…. Well let's just say that you almost lost him before you lost him if you know what I mean. I know now that it was all the pills and booze that made him so mean and angry all the time. But at the time I wanted nothing more than to run away and I did on more than one occasion only to come back before dawn because of you and of course Lou.

Then that is where more problems came in as I was told in no uncertain terms by Jack, what would happen if I got within 10 feet of her. But if you had not stepped into my life I would not be where I am today. So from the bottom of my heart thank you Marion you are more of a mother and family to me than my own mom and family. "

"So why did you bring this up now?" Scott watched as Marion twisted up her face and glanced to the side and down, something he had learned from growing up around her meant she had done something that she was not sure of.

"I kinda went out and got another YOU and I have not told anyone yet!"

"What do you mean and you got another me?"

"I went to the juvenile center in Calgary and I have a young man coming to live with us like you did!"

"Oh, I see and you say Jack and Amy don't know about this yet? So when are you going to go get him and bring him to Heartland/"

"Ahmmm well he is kinda on the way, I hope!"

"On the way you hope? What do you mean by that Marion either he is or he is not on the way after all he is on probation and you are responsible for him right?"

"Yes, but I gave him my phone and some gas and he has his own vehicle, and I left before he did so I am hoping he is coming."

Scott looked at Marion and could tell she was really was not sure if he was coming or not and reached out and gave her a hug. "If I have learned anything in my time with you it is that you are a very good judge of character and if you felt like he would come then he will."

"Thanks Scott I really needed that. I guess I had better get home then before he shows up and Jack tries to run him off."

…..

The drive to Heartland was taking longer than he had expected and it had not helped that he had a flat tire and he found that someone had taken his Jack. He had had to wait till a car stopped and loaned him the jack. That was strange for him as well as in the city no one would have stopped and if he had left the car when he came back all his tires would be gone if not the whole vehicle.

He saw the sign that said Hudson was 5 miles away and then thought of the message that Amy had sent about bringing dinner from Maggie's. He had no idea how big Hudson was or if he could even find Maggie's but if he could, he thought maybe he could stop in and see if anyone from Heartland had been by that evening and if not he would pick up something. He did not know why he would even think of this but again this woman had him doing things that surprised even him.

As he drove through Hudson right there on the main street was Maggie's. He pulled in and walked into the small town diner and marveled at the difference in the people he saw here. No one looked like the people he was used to seeing. There were way too many cowboy hats on both men and women and everyone stopped and looked at him when he walked in and it made him feel uncomfortable. Then when he walked up to the counter this perky girl with dark curly hair came over to him and with a smile that seemed have no end and said.

"Hey stranger, what can I do for you?"

How did she know he was a stranger unless she was just talking about the fact that he had never been in here before. But he had this feeling she was talking about him being a stranger in the town and from the looks he was getting from everyone else in the place he knew that was a fact. "I would like to know if anyone from Heartland has come by to pick up something." He asked trying to make them see that he belonged.

Soraya looked at this young man and knew that he had never been around Heartland before as her best friend was Amy the owner's granddaughter. "And just what would it be that they might have come by to pick up she asked?"

Ty could tell by the change in her tone and demeanor that she must have known Marion which by everything he had seen so far should have not been such a big surprise. "I work there and Amy asked Marion to come and pick up something for dinner,"

"How long have you worked there and why would Mrs. Fleming send you instead of coming herself.?" Soraya questioned.

"Well actually have not started yet" said Ty sensing that the truth would probably be his best course of action with this girl. "I was on my way there now."

"Then how do you know that they wanted someone to pick up some dinner for them did Marion call you?"

Again Ty found himself wanting to say one thing but knowing that the truth, though it might sound less truthful than the lie he wanted to tell, was the only way he was going to leave here without her calling the police.

"Marion gave me these directions," pulling the sheet of paper Marion had given him out of his pocket, "and left me her phone in case I got lost. Amy called her and left a text about getting dinner so I figured since I had the phone I would check and see if anyone had picked it up."

Ty could tell by the look on Soraya's face that she did not believe a word he said.

"I am Amy's best friend and she has not told me anything about someone coming to work for them. I can see by the note that is Marion's hand writing but…

Ty pulled the phone out of his pocket and handed it to Soraya "here see for yourself." He was beginning to get worried as several of the men were paying even closer attention to his conversation with Soraya.

Soraya looked at the phone and knew that is was indeed Marion's and she read the text message and it said just what this boy standing in front of her had said it did. She knew how Marion was and this guy looked like a loser and someone down on his luck. This was just the kind of person she would want to find a home for like any stray animal she might come across.

"What is your name and what do you want" she asked handing the phone back to Ty.

Ty watched her closely and took the phone back and put it in his pocket. "My name is Ty Borden, and what do mean what do I want?"

"Yep Ty Borden, you are as dumb as you look, I want to know what you want to take to Heartland for Dinner?"

Ty looked at Soraya and finally said, "I am sure you know them better than I so would you please give me what you think they would order."

"And what about you" she asked?

Ty was frustrated and wondering why he had even come here. This was not like him to do something like this and now he felt like he was the enemy for just trying to do something nice. "What do you mean?"

"Never mind" said Soraya as she turned and walked to the kitchen window and put in the order. "Have a seat it will be ready in about 10 minutes. Would you like something to drink while you wait? I am sorry if you feel like you are getting the third degree from me but as I said Amy is my friend and nothing goes on at Heartland I don't know about. You have given me enough proof to believe you but I still am going to call Amy.

"Hello Soraya, why are you calling I thought you were working?"

"Hi Amy, I am but I have a question for you. Has your mom or Jack said anything about hiring a new hand for the ranch?"

"Are you crazy we can hardly afford to feed the horses that Mom keeps bringing home. I heard her and grandpa talking about that the other day and they talked about how we were going to have to cut back on some things just to make ends meet, so no there is no way we are hiring anyone!"

"Thanks, that is what I thought but I have a guy sitting at the counter who just ordered your dinner and says that he works for your mom. He even has a note on how to get to Heartland and your mom's phone!"

….

Marion pulled up in front of the house and Amy and Grandpa were standing on the front porch. She could tell by the look on Grandpa and Amy's faces that they were not happy. As she got out of the truck Jack walked up to his daughter and asked?

"Who the hell is Ty Borden!"

To be continued