A/N: Thank you to everybody who read and reviewed the last chapter. I'm so happy that everyone is enjoying it. I am so sorry about the long wait; time just got away from me. I hope it doesn't happen again. Here's the next chapter; enjoy, you never know when the happiness will end, hehe!
~ Chapter Two ~
~~ Settlement ~~
"Mine, mine, mine!"
The little girl ran down the stairs and into the living room, laughing in glee. Katie held a ceramic horse up in the air in her hand as she ran. Georgie ran down the stairs after her sister. "No, Katie, it's not!" she yelled. "It's mine!"
Jack and Peter were in the living room when the girls ran in, both reading the newspaper and working respectively. Katie jumped onto the couch, running across it, and diving behind Peter. He was pushed forward, nearly knocking the laptop off of his lap. "Whoa, Katie, be careful," he chastised her, gently. Katie continued to duck down behind him, hiding from her big sister.
Jack lowered his newspaper, peering over his glasses as Georgie walked around and stood in front of the fireplace. "What's going on?" he asked.
"She took my ceramic horse that I made in art class," Georgie exasperated, pointing accusingly at Katie.
"Katie, is that true?" Peter asked his younger daughter. Katie held the rearing white horse to her chest, possessively.
"Mine," she said.
"Noo, Katie, it's not," Georgie exclaimed, throwing up her arms. "That one is mine, and I'm still working one in school. That one will be yours."
Lou came into the room at the point, her hand resting on her six month pregnant belly. "What's going on in here?" she asked.
Katie sat up, leaning on the back of the couch with a smile. "Look, momma, my horsie!" she exclaimed, holding up the horse again.
"No! Lou, it's not-" Georgie started to argue again. Jack stopped her by reaching out and putting a hand on her arm to calm her down. Georgie sighed loudly, but stopped.
"Georgie, why can't she have this one?" Peter asked the thirteen year old.
"Because I made this one white like Phoenix," Georgie explained. "I'm making the other one like Pogey." She moved closer to the couch, holding out her hand. "Katie, can I please have it back now?"
"My Phoenix," Katie shook her head, her blonde hair flying back and forth. She held the ceramic horse to her chest protectively and petted the mane gently.
"Now, Katie, you heard what Georgie said," Lou told her, putting her hand on her daughter's shoulder. "Can you give Georgie back the horse?"
"NO!" Katie cried, her eyes getting teary. She pulled her arm back and threw the ceramic horse down. It hit the floor and cracked, the front legs breaking off. Katie jumped off the couch, down the hall, and into her bedroom.
"Katie, no!" Georgie shouted, shocked and hurt. "Ahhh!" She vented in frustration and anger.
"Katie, come back here," Peter called to the little girl. He stood up and went to after her. "Georgie, hold on," he told the older girl, as a last thought. Lou walked with him.
"Is it too late to rethink adding a third one to the mix?" Lou mumbled, sarcastically.
"I think so," Peter chuckled, guiding her along with his hand on her back.
Her parents disappeared down the hall, and Georgie dropped down on her knees to the floor. She picked up the two broken legs from her art project. "I hate having a little sister!" Georgie exclaimed.
"Hey, now," Jack said, setting his paper aside and leaning forward in his seat. He took off his glasses, holding them in his hands. "You don't really mean that."
Georgie sighed, "Noo." She swiped her hand across her eyes to stop herself from crying. She looked up at Jack, holding a ceramic leg in each hand. "Why did she have to do that? I was making one for her, too. It was just a little hard to get Pogey's pattern right."
"Well, you can't really blame Katie for this," Jack explained to her, calming her down. "Yes, she was misbehaving, not listening, and throwing a temper tantrum. I'm sure Lou and Peter are in there now, giving her a nice talk. But Katie is not the only one I recall having a tantrum once in a while."
Georgie looked at him skeptically.
"Don't give me that look," Jack replied. "You've been known to get mad, storm off, and do something reckless when you don't get your way."
"I don't break something important or special," Georgie muttered.
"No, you don't, but you don't think and I'm sure Katie didn't either," Jack continued. "She's probably feeling about bad about it. My point is that she's probably seen you act like that, and Katie looks up to you."
"So, you're saying that it's kind of my fault," Georgie said. "Great."
"I'm not placing blame. Katie loves and admires you," Jack corrected. "Look, soon, she's going to be a big sister, too, and the new baby will look up to her. And she'll need you even more to guide her in the right way, to be a great big sister like you."
"I guess you're right," Georgie sighed, feeling the new responsibility on her shoulders. She picked up the rest of her ceramic Phoenix. "I just wish she hadn't broken this."
"Well, let's see that. Bring it over here," Jack instructed her. Georgie crawled over on her knees and held out the little statue in her flat hands. Jack slipped his glasses back on, and took the horse and one leg. He studied it carefully for a minute, holding it close. "It looks like a nearly clean break, I think we can put some glue on this and it will be as good as new."
"Really?" Georgie asked again, her eyes lighting up with happiness instead of sadness now. She leaned over to see for herself.
They sat together leaning over the coffee table, Jack sitting in his chair and Georgie on the floor, fixing Georgie's art project. About five minutes passed, and ceramic Phoenix stood on the coffee table as Georgie held the broken legs on, waiting for the glue to set. A door in the hallway opened and closed, and a couple seconds later, Katie appeared back in the living room with Lou and Peter right behind her. Katie walked up to Georgie, her eyes cast downward and looking remorseful.
"I'm sorry, Georgie," Katie whispered, apologetically, tugging on Georgie's sleeve to get her attention.
"It's okay, Katie, I'm not mad anymore," Georgie accepted the apology. She pointed to the horse. "And, look, we fixed it all up. It's not broken anymore."
Katie looked over at it, sinking to the floor beside her sister and a smile started to creep onto her lips. "You fixed it?" she asked.
"Yeah, it doesn't even look like it was broken," Georgie answered. She pointed out where the pieces were glued, but Katie couldn't find it. Georgie put her arm around her sister and grinned up at Jack, before speaking to Katie again. "You know, if you had listened to me, I would have told you that even though I finished Phoenix first, yours gets extra time because it's special."
Katie's smile got bigger, her eyes twinkling. "Really?" she asked, excitedly.
"Uh-huh, Phoenix is just one boring color," Georgie smiled back at her, silently apologizing to her horse. She just wanted to make her sister happy. "But Pogey is two colors. That's so much better, right?" Katie nodded enthusiastically. Georgie hugged her sister, and Katie hugged her back.
Jack watched the two girls' exchange, specifically at Georgie. The young girl had come a long way since she was just a runaway child two years ago. Heartland and the family had really changed her for the better. Suddenly, Jack had a silent revelation. He stood up from his chair, taking his glasses off.
"I just remembered, there's something I need to take care of," Jack said. He started walking to the door, as everybody spared him a glance.
"Oh, okay, but you're going to be back in time for Amy's and Ty's celebration dinner?" Lou reminded him.
"I wouldn't miss it," Jack assured her. Lou was barely reassured. Jack slipped on his jacket, and placed his stetson on his head. With a nod to the others, Jack left through the door.
Georgie appeared by Lou's side. "Since Amy and Ty aren't here yet, can I go outside and lunge Moonstone for a little bit?" she asked. "Amy told me I could do it every so often."
Lou deliberated for a couple seconds, then sighed softly in defeat. "Okay, but be careful, please," she told her daughter.
"Yes!" Georgie exclaimed, running over to the door to change into her barn boots.
"I wanna come!" Katie squealed, running after her big sister.
"Sure, Katie-cat," Georgie said to her. Katie giggled at the nickname. She leaned down to Katie's level, resting her hands on her legs. "But you have to be quiet, so you don't scare Moon."
"Ok," Katie nodded, understandingly.
"Just make sure you keep an eye on her, Georgie," Lou added, protectively. "Don't let her get hurt or touch anything."
"I will," Georgie agreed, half-absentmindedly. Katie reached for her pink cowgirl hat hanging on the hook; she learned to keep it right there so that she always knew where it was. Georgie slipped it off of the hook and playfully placed it on Katie's head.
Lou watched her daughters proudly, as they went out of the door. The door banged shut, and Lou moved over to the kitchen window to keep watching them. Georgie put her arm around Katie, as the younger girl tried to keep up with her. Peter came up behind her, his resting on her back. A warm and comforting presence that will always be there.
"I take back what I said earlier," Lou said to him, without taking her eyes off of Georgie and Katie. Peter listened to her, smiling. "I think he'll fit in just fine."
Lou placed her hand on her belly, and Peter moved his hand over top of hers. He kissed her cheek, his lips lingering on her soft skin for a minute. Lou leaned into him, happily and lovingly.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
The old truck rumbled down the street. Ty took a hand off of the steering wheel and turned the dial on the radio, turning the volume down. Amy glanced over at him, and cracked a smile. She reached over to take his hand before he could place it back on the steering wheel.
"Nervous or excited?" Amy asked him, and he could hear the smile in her voice. To be honest, she was feeling both of those things herself and she was glad that he may be feeling the same things. The nervous, excited anticipation was killing her.
Ty flicked his eyes over to her for a second and then focused back on the road. "A little of both, I think," he admitted to her, sheepishly. He flashed a reassuring smile at her. "I'm trying to wrap my brain around the fact that in a few minutes the ranch will officially be ours."
"I know," Amy breathed out, looking out the windshield. Their interlocked hands rested on the empty seat between them, and Ty rubbed his thumb in circles on Amy's hand. "We've been trying for so long to get this ranch, and it's finally happening. It's almost unbelievable."
"Yeah," Ty murmured, in agreement. They lapsed into another comfortable silence as Ty turned the truck down the last street before the ranch.
When the truck turned, something slid out from under the bench seat and hit the back of Amy's feet. She leaned over to see what it was. Ty glanced at her quickly and then did a double take when he realized what she was doing. Amy pulled out a rectangular white box with a red bow tied around it.
"Oh, no, no, no!" Ty tried to stop her, but it was too late.
Amy sat back, holding the obvious gift. "What is this?" she asked.
Ty bit his lip, looking at the street. Then, with quiet resignation, he looked over at his wife. He gave her another sheepish grin and a shrug. "I wanted to get you something,...for the ranch," Ty explained. "Just a little congratulations-we-got-the-ranch present. Something to make it feel even more like home."
Amy smiled at him, gazing at him with so much love. It was so surprising and amazing that he would do something like this. Her heart swelled up with so much love and happiness that she thought it would burst. "Can I open it?" she asked, her happiness coming out in giggles.
"I was planning on giving it to you after we had signed the papers, but, yes, go ahead," Ty told her.
"Are you sure?" Amy asked again, nudging his shoulder gently. Ty laughed and nodded. She smiled at him curiously one last time, then looked down at the gift. Amy untied the silky red ribbon, placing it off to the side on the seat. The box rested on her lap as she lifted the lid up. Pushing the tissue paper aside, Amy gasped at what she found inside. It was a wind chime. The chimes were metallic silver, and at the top was a pair of white rearing horses, one slightly higher than the other. Amy lifted the delicate present a little bit out of the box, and looked over at Ty in awe.
"Do you like it?" Ty asked her, taking his eyes off of the road for a second to look at her and then looking back out the windshield.
Amy was nearly speechless. "Ty,...it's beautiful. You didn't have to," she answered him. She leaned over and pecked him on the cheek. "I love it."
They reached the ranch, and Ty pulled the truck off the road, parking behind a dark blue car with a silhouette of a person in the driver's seat. Turning the car off, Ty turned to face her. "Look on the bottom," he instructed.
Amy turned it upside down, the chimes tinkling. She looked underneath the bottom of the two horses and found an inscription. It read: Your heart will always be home, always and forever. Amy stared down at it for a minute, a cocoon of warmth wrapping around her. She blinked back tears, touched by Ty's gesture. Then, she looked up at him.
"Ty, I..." She scooted across the seat, wrapping her arms around his neck and kissing him before she could finish her sentence. Ty held her lightly, his hands resting on her hips, as he moved into the kiss. Their lips pressed together, passionately. They melted into each other, their bodies fitting together perfectly. The kiss was sweet and sultry. Ty grazed his teeth against her lip, sucking it into his mouth and their tongues slipped against one another. They paused for a breath.
"I love you so much," Amy breathed, smiling, trying to catch her breath.
Ty smiled back at her, as their foreheads touched. "As much as I would love to stay right here with you, I think we should probably get out of the truck," he suggested. Amy nodded, reluctantly, biting her lip. Before he let her go, however, Ty pressed his lips to her forehead in a sweet, lingering kiss. "I'm glad you love it," he whispered. "Love you, too."
They got out of the truck, and, when Amy came around the truck, she slipped her hand into Ty's and their fingers intertwined together. Amy and Ty approached the other car, knowing it was the realtor from Mist Creek Realty. Ty rapped lightly on the driver's side window, to get the petite woman's attention. The woman was talking on her cell phone as she glanced over at them, holding up one finger. Ty nodded understandingly and turned to Amy.
"Do you want to walk around the ranch while we wait?" he asked her.
"Now, you know I do," Amy teased, happily.
They walked up to the gate of their soon-to-be ranch, and Ty held the gate open for her. They walked into the yard, Ty's arm automatically gravitating around Amy's waist. Amy took a deep breath, breathing in the smells of the ranch that seemed to be different than at Heartland. Everything was just how it was the last time they were here, like a photograph frozen in time. But soon, the ranch will be filled with life again. Amy could hardly wait.
Amy stopped walking, and moved in front of Ty, facing him. She smiled. "Let's play a game," she said, taking both of his hands.
Ty looked at her curiously, but he still started to smile. "What kind of game?" he asked her.
"Close your eyes," Amy told him, glad that he was willing to play along. Ty hesitated for a second, then listened and closed his eyes. "Now, picture yourself a couple years from now. What do you see?" She drifted off in silence as she did the same, closing her eyes. A couple minutes passed as they stood in quiet solitude.
They opened their eyes and gazed at each other, smiling. "Well?" Amy questioned, giving their connected hands a couple swings back and forth.
"You first," Ty said back.
Amy gaped at him, giving him a small teasing shove. "Alright, fine," she relented, laughing. "Um,..I saw myself working with a horse over there in the round pen. I finished up and went in search for you. I found in the clinic, and I had to convince you to stop working, you were working so hard."
Ty laughed. "I think you have it wrong," he disagreed, lightly. "I think you'd be one working too hard."
Amy laughed as well, shaking her head. "Maybe it will be both of us," she suggested, leaning close to him. His scent drifted to her, intoxicating her.
"Okay," Ty chuckled, agreeing. "And when one of us begins to work too much, the other one will be there to make them take a break." He slid his arms around her waist, pulling her even closer.
Amy nodded and smiled, leaning in for the kiss. It was a short and sweet one this time, just a lingering peck on the lips. "Enough stalling. What was yours?"
"Well, it was pretty much-" Ty started to say, but he was interrupted.
The realtor was approaching them, apologizing for keeping them waiting. Ty reassured the woman that it was okay. They all exchanged appropriate greetings and pleasantries. Then, they got down to business. Ty suggested they move onto the porch of the farmhouse, so that they could lean on the railing. Ty, ever the gentleman, allowed the women to go ahead of him. The realtor, Margie, pulled out the contract, and both Amy and Ty felt their hearts leap in anticipation. They gathered around, and Margie went through the contract, explaining it to them. Then, they handed over the check and it was time to sign their names. Amy went first, and then she waited on bouncing toes for Ty to sign his name.
"Ok, there you have it," Margie announced, taking the pen and closing the packet of now signed papers. "The ranch is officially yours."
Ty turned to Amy excitedly, and Amy threw herself into his waiting arms. He spun her around there on the porch, lifting her up in the air. Her arms wrapped around his neck, burying her face there also. When Ty set her back down on her feet, they kept each other locked in their embrace. Ty smiled at her and rubbed his nose against hers, in a butterfly kiss.
"Now, little Sarah has her ranch to run around on," Ty whispered, covertly.
"Sarah?" Amy repeated, her eyebrows knitting together in confusion. Ty gave her a wink, and, suddenly, Amy knew what he had imagined in their future a couple minutes ago. Amy smiled and leaned in to kiss him again. They came in slow, to savor each other and to let this moment wash over them.
Their future was spread out in front of them, literally, all kinds of possibilities ahead of them.
A/N: Well, how was it? I hope you all like it. Please tell me what you liked and thought about this chapter. I love hearing from all of you. Please review.