"I can't believe we got that much work done already!" Joni remarked enthusiastically, pushing the wheelbarrow back from the much heap. "That's it Ty, you're fired. Carey, you can never leave!"
Amy, Carey and Ty were standing outside the front stable block. With Amy, Joni and Carey mucking out the stalls and Ty preparing and distributing the feeds, they had finished the regular chores in record time. Carey had cleaned the stalls at twice the speed of the other girls, working quickly and efficiently.
Joni walked too close by Ty and he stuck his foot out, jarring the wheel off course and causing the empty wheelbarrow to tip onto its side.
"Hey!" Joni exclaimed, throwing a mock scowl Ty's direction. He laughed warmly at her; no hard feelings on either side.
"Settle down children," Carey laughed. "What are we doing today?" She asked, turning to Amy.
Amy looked up at the clear blue sky and breathed in the crisp air tinged with the remnants of the previous night's slight chill.
"How 'bout a trail ride?" Amy asked, though she knew she didn't have to; Carey's eyes lit up as soon as Amy had said the word 'trail'.
"Would you mind riding Jasper?" Amy asked, referring to the quarter horse who had been kicked one too many times on a trail rides by other horses and had become erratic and unpredictable whenever ridden around other horses. Fortunately, after being around some of the milder Heartland residences, he had settled down and begun to enjoy their company. He had been unhappy still, when around the more unstable or high-strung horses until Joni had suggested in accompaniment to the Heather and White Chestnut Bach Flower Remedies, that he take up residence with Amy's own little filly, Spindleberry. As Joni had hoped, the yearling's spunk had a positive effect on Jasper, making the much larger horse more enthusiastic.
"Amy, are you going to be riding Lightening?" Ty asked in a serious tone, referring to Black Lightening. He had yet to be taken onto a trail ride and Amy could think of no better time.
"It'll be fine," Amy soothed, understanding Ty's concern. They would normally take a horse with something as potentially dangerous as a bucking or rearing problem out for the first time together, both familiar with the animal's mind and actions.
"Be careful," He warned, his eyes boring into hers'.
Amy noted that there was probably an underlying meaning behind his words.
&
As Amy had hoped, the ride was smooth for both horses; Jasper not only accepted, but seemed to enjoy having Lightening as company, the horse occasionally snorting at the other. Lightening did not show any sign of retaliation and acted in a very proper fashion, for this Amy was quite relieved, she had certainly not wanted to deal with a bucking horse.
Carey was amazing company. It was good for Amy to hear of the business program the other girl was entering into in college. She was planning on opening a small business though she hadn't decided yet (much to the chagrin of her parents), but she was sure she would decide eventually.
"Hey Aim…" Carey paused as they entered a wide part of the trail where they could trot beside each other.
"Yes…?" Amy prompted.
"Well, I know this really isn't any of my business, but I was just wondering which oils you were using on Ty?" Carey asked this with genuine curiosity in her expression and voice.
"What d'you mean?" Amy looked over, tilting her head in confusion.
"I mean which aromatherapy oils are you using to help speed up his recovery?" Now was Carey's turn to prompt.
Amy, at a loss for words was silent, her mind reeling.
"I'm sorry," Carey said quietly. "That's probably priva–"
Amy shook her head. "I didn't even think of that!" She exclaimed. "I can't believe we never thought of that!"
"I was wondering why you didn't mention it, I just figured it was a private thing that you didn't want to talk about…" Carey trailed. She then looked up brightly. "Well I think you two should give it a try; it works so well on the horses, I don't see why it can't work on people."
"I can't believe we never thought of that," Amy repeated in shock.
As they continued down the trail, Amy and Carey discussed the specifics of Ty's injury and as Carey pointed out different things that should be considered Amy recited off-hand some of the essential oils they had in the cupboard that would be able to help.
The trail turned off to Heartland and Amy urged Lightening into a lope, challenging Carey to race back. The older girl and quarter horse were left in Amy's dust. Amy's mind however was not on the race, but was churning over the fact that it had been almost two weeks since the accident and she hadn't even considered using the same method she used every day at Heartland on Ty. She hoped that Ty would be up to trying the oil, but laughed out loud at herself, knowing that there was almost no chance that he wouldn't fully embrace the idea.
&
After they had rubbed down, groomed and turned out their horses, Amy left Carey watching Joni join-up with one of the horses in the lower ring and headed to the feed room.
"How was your ride?" Ty asked. He was sitting on a sack of grain and reading one of the notebooks on Bach Flower Remedies.
"Enlightening," Amy said distractedly, going to the notebooks and pulling out a particularly tattered one. She began flicking through it and running her fingers down specific pages.
"Amy, what's on your mind?" Ty asked, humor in his voice.
"Why, what do you mean?" She asked, pulling down another book and looking in it, her thoughts still racing.
"Your minds on different planet," Ty mused, a grin evident in his voice.
"Venus I think," Amy stated, pulling three dark glass bottles from the cabinet of essential oils; one green, one brown and one blue.
Taking the small bottles in her hands she finally turned to Ty and sat beside him.
"What's this about?" Ty asked; eyeing the bottles Amy had in her lap.
"Smell this," Amy said. Taking the top off the green bottle, she held it out under Ty's nose, making his eyes widen.
"What are you doing Amy?" Ty asked, smiling. When Amy moved the bottle closer he put his hands up in mock defeat and after wrapping his fingers around hers on the bottle, he brought the bottle to his nose and inhaled.
"Lavender," He stated, wrinkling his nose slightly at the smell, obviously not enjoying the strong floral scent. "Is this some sort of a game?"
Amy closed the green bottle and opened the blue one, repeating the same motions.
"Eucalyptus," Ty said, pushing the bottle away quickly after smelling the pungent oil. "I don't have a cold Amy, what's this about?"
"Last one," Amy mumbled, pushing the brown bottle under Ty's nose.
He smelled it once, thought a moment then inhaled deeper. "Cypress," he stated with a self-satisfied grin. He smelled it again before looking up at Amy with a sheepish grin. "I like this one, what do I win?
"A massage," Amy said, leaning in and kissing his cheek. Pulling back she saw that Ty's playful grin had vanished and was replaced by shock. His mouth was slightly opened in surprise.
"I never thought of that…" His voice trailed and he looked down at Amy in wonder.
"Me neither," She admitted with a small smile. "It was Carey, she reminded me what we do here."
"I can't believe we never thought of that," Ty said quietly.
"I said the exact same thing."
"It works so well on the horses, I'm all for it," Ty said with conviction.
"I'd hoped you would say that," Amy grinned, kissing Ty's cheek again.
"So what's the plan then?" Ty asked, taking the small glass bottle from Amy and turning it over in his hands.
"I was thinking," Amy paused, looking at the bottle in Ty's hands before raising her eyes to meet his. "After picking a main oil to start with, Cypress apparently, we can see if it helps and go from there."
"What made you pick Lavender, Eucalyptus and Cypress?" Ty asked as Amy got up and put the other two bottles back in the cabinet.
"They all relax muscles, nerves and tension," Amy answered with her back to him, then joined him again on the sack. "I was thinking that I could massage it into your legs at the end of the day, give your muscles a chance to relax after the day, get your blood running again. At night would be best incase there it puts you to sleep."
"I don't know about putting me to sleep…" Ty said in such a low voice that Amy was sure she was not meant to hear it. "I can't wait," Ty added with a wicked smile.
Amy pushed his knee playfully.