Chapter 10

The next mourning dawned bright and clear, illuminating the small layer of frost on the ground. Amy was already in the yard, when the sun came up. She was busy cleaning up the tack room, since it was too early to disturb the horses.

The only reason she was out here so early was because she hadn't been able to sleep all night. Partly because she was running back and forth to the bathroom and partly because she was thinking of Sundance and telling Ty the news.

Now she stood in the middle of the tack room, admiring her handiwork. Then sudden whinnies from the barn snapped her into action. Amy went to each stall and collected empty hay nets and buckets.

Twenty minutes later, all the horses were happily eating their mourning feeds. Except one. Amy looked down at the bucket in her hand. Sundance. She looked into the empty stall she was standing in front of. Then before tears blurred her vision Amy took the bucket back to the feed room. Sundance was gone. The sooner she accepted that, the better.

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At 7:00 Amy was just finishing up cleaning the last stall when Ty and Joni arrived.

"Wow, maybe you shouldn't go back to college," Joni teased when she saw Amy's work. Amy smiled lightly.

"Ty, can I talk to you?" Amy asked quietly.

"Sure," Ty said.

"Not here, someplace quiet." Amy replied.

"How about the tack room?" Ty suggested. Amy nodded and Ty led the way to the tack room. Once they entered, Ty's eyes swept over the newly cleaned tack room.

"Did you do this?" Ty asked.

Amy nodded and sat down on a tack box, "I couldn't sleep,"

Ty nodded understandingly and sat down next to her, "Does this have anything to do with what you were going to tell me yesterday?" he asked.

Amy nodded again.

"Well," Ty pressed.

Amy took a deep breath, "Okay Ty this isn't an easy thing to say and I just need you to hear me out clearly, so I don't have to repeat it,"

"Amy, what is it?" Ty asked taking her hands.

"I'm………" Amy started then stopped when a scream came from the direction of the barn.

"Marshmallow, NO!"

Amy and Ty both jumped up and ran to the barn. Joni was in front of Marshmallow's stall trying to calm her down as the mare circled and half-reared in the stall.

"What happened?" Amy and Ty asked in unison.

"I was getting ready to take Marshmallow out to the pasture and I just put her halter on when she snorted and tried to barge past me to the outside," Joni explained. "I reached out and grabbed her halter and pulled her back and that's when she went crazy."

Amy and Ty both looked at the mare, who was now standing at the back of her stall, watching them. Without saying anything, Ty entered the stall. Marshmallow threw up her head in alarm, but Ty didn't move. Instead, he held out his hand and waited. Marshmallow hesitated at first, then reached out her neck and sniffed at Ty's upturned hand. A minute later, the mare walked up close to him and allowed Ty to take a hold of her halter.

"I think a ride might ease her nerves, anyone want to accompany me?" Ty asked, looking at the two girls at the stall door.

"I will," Amy said. Maybe this will be the time when she will be able to tell him.

"Great, you can ride Comet, he needs the exercise." Ty smiled.

"Okay," Amy said and went off to tack up the gelding.

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Five minutes later, Amy and Ty were heading out of the yard toward the trails. Ty on Marshmallow and Amy on Comet, a bay gelding. The two horses trotted together in perfect harmony, that no one would guess that they were problem horses. Amy and Ty rode in silence as they moved their horses from a trot to a canter. Soon they came to the top of the ridge, which overlooked Heartland. They stopped their horses and looked down at the fields and barn spread out beneath them. Suddenly, Amy just had to tell him.

"Ty," Amy said.

Ty looked at her, "Yeah,"

"I'm………." Amy began, but suddenly Comet moved to close to Marshmallow, the mare squealed and bit the gelding. Comet whinnied and reared up. Amy had to grab a hold of the gelding's mane to keep from falling. As soon as Comet's hooves touched the ground, he pivoted and galloped back down the trail. Amy grappled for the reins, but the gelding was running scared and no pull on the reins would stop him. Up ahead a fallen log lay in the path, Amy pulled harder on the reins, but Comet wouldn't listen. He was going to jump it!

Suddenly, Amy heard hooves hammering close behind. Amy turned her head and saw Marshmallow gaining on them. The mare was breathing heavy, but she wasn't slowing. Amy turned back, just in time to see the tree loom ahead of them. Comet gathered himself for the take off, but he was jumping to late, even if they made it, it would be hard for the gelding to maintain his balance. Amy moved into a jumping position, while bracing herself for the fall. Comet lifted himself over the log and just as Amy predicted the gelding couldn't find his balance. His forelegs slid, his body twisted to the left. Amy leaned to the right, hoping it would help the gelding. But it didn't. Two thousand pounds of horseflesh slammed down on the soft dirt underfoot. Amy fell from the saddle and skidded across the trail. The last things she heard was frantic neighing, hooves skidding to halt, then everything went black.

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Voices came to Amy so clear, but vague, her curiosity overcame her. Her eyelids fluttered open. She was on the couch in the farmhouse, but what about the horse. The door separating the living room and the kitchen opened and her sister came in carry a cup of hot cocoa. Seeing that her sister was awake, Lou sat the cup on the table near Amy and pulled up a chair.

"How are you feeling?" Lou asked.

"I'm fine, how's Comet?" Amy asked her sister.

"Do you remember what happened?" Lou questioned, ignoring her sister's question.

"Yeah, Marshmallow bit Comet for getting to close, he spooked and took off. He tried to jump a log, but we both ended up going down, and I black out." Amy croaked out, her throat was incredibly dry.

"Here," Lou said, handing Amy the cup. Amy took a sip of the hot drink and sighed, the drink felt good going down her parched throat.

"Now, how's Comet?" Amy asked again, cradling the cup in her hands.

"He's fine, a little wired maybe, but fine," Lou told her. Just then Amy's gaze fell to her stomach and her sister immediately knew what she was thinking of.

"The baby's fine, Amy," Lou said.

"Did you tell…" Amy began, but her sister was already shaking her head.

"I was about to, but then I realized he didn't seem at all worried about the baby, so I figured you didn't tell him yet," Lou paused, then continued. "You need to tell him, Amy."

"I know," Amy sighed. "Did he leave yet?"

"No, I'll tell him you're asking for him." Lou said.

Amy nodded, "Thanks Lou,"

"No problem," Lou smiled. Then she disappeared into the kitchen and a few seconds later Ty appeared. He gave Amy a quick kiss on the cheek and then sat down in the chair Lou just vacated.

"You wanted to see me." Ty said.

"Yes, there's something I've been trying to tell you for awhile now and I can't wait anymore," Amy started. Ty nodded for to go. "Ty, I'm…"

"Amy," Lou said peeking her head through the door. "Ali from Chestnut Hill is on the phone."

"Can you tell her I'll call her back," Amy said to her sister.

"Actually, Amy, she said that it was urgent and needed to talk to you right away." Lou replied. Amy was confused, she was still confused when Lou handed her the phone.

"Hello?"

"Oh, Amy, I'm so glad I got you," Ali practically screamed into the phone.

"Is something wrong?" Amy asked, a sinking feeling in the pit of her stomach.

"Actually there is," Ali said. Amy's heart sank. "It's Karma, we don't know what's wrong, but she won't let anyone near her. She's pacing her stall and keeps looking at her flanks. We need you Amy!"

I hope you liked it. The next chapter should be up shortly. I hope!