Resolutions – Part 2
Chapter 10
"Jack, you've been shot! shouted Tim."
Hearing Tim's words sent a chilling rush of dread and panic over Lisa that spread like spilled paint across a floor. Resisting the urge to rush to Jack's side, Lisa's kept her focus fixed on the position of her husband's would be killer and the potential danger he still presented.
If I run to check on Jack, he may shoot all three of us. Oh Jack, please be alright.
Believing now was his opportunity; Jonas rose quickly with his rifle to take down the mystery shooter before turning his attention back to Bartlett and Fleming. Expecting to set his sights on a distracted gunman he could eliminate with one shot, he saw only trees and brush for targets instead. Expanding his range of vision, he finally detected the end of a rifle barrel a foot off the forest floor. Dropping his own rifle's trajectory to fire, he felt the bullet smash into his chest before actually hearing the thunderous sound of his antagonist's gun. Knocked back several feet by the impact of the shot, Jonas crashed to the ground with a defining thud by the force of the blow. For three long seconds, Jonas's body lay motionless. Then, as though attached to string from a hidden Marionette, Jonas' right leg twitched several times before coming to a final rest.
Confident her shot had hit home, Lisa scanned the woods with her gun sight searching for additional threats while calling out in a quivering voice laced with fear, Tim, is Jack alright?"
"He's alive Lisa, but bleeding badly. Looks like the bullet went through his shoulder. Did you get the guy?"
"I think so. I'm going to check now. Keep low just in case."
"Be careful Lisa."
Circling around to approach the downed gunman from a different direction, Lisa made her way to where Jonas lay still. Approaching the seemingly lifeless body from behind, Lisa grabbed his gun lying several feet away and tossed it out of reach. Reaching for a long stick lying in the brush, Lisa poked Jonas in the side assessing his condition. Detecting no movement of his body or chest, Lisa felt certain her shot had done its worst. She prodded him again and still no movement. Reaching for Jonas' neck and placing two fingers on his artery, Lisa felt no pulse.
"Tim, I think he's dead."
"Good for you Lisa! Tim replied. The bastard shot Jack and was trying to kill us."
Finally confident they were out of immediate danger, Lisa rushed to where Tim was attending to Jack.
"Jack; it's me Lisa. We're going to get you to a hospital. You're going to be alright."
"What….what happened? Jack mumbled."
"You were shot," Lisa replied fighting back the tears.
"Shot? Who shot me? Are you and Tim OK?"
"We're fine; just hold on Jack."
"Tim, I'm going to call Fairfield to have them get an ambulance and the police out hear right away. Before I left, I told them where the jeep would be and to be ready for my call in case anything happened. We've got to get Jack out of these woods and to the road."
"Jack, we need to get you on your horse, do you think you can manage that?"
"I understand; help me to my feet."
Lisa and Tim carefully helped the wobbly Heartland patriarch to his feet as Jack sucked in his breath and gritted his teeth as searing pain pulsed through his body.
"Jack, I need you to keep this shirt pressed against your wound. Lisa and I are going to help you on to your horse and it's probably going to hurt."
"You must be enjoying yourself Tim. I hope it's your spare shirt I'm ruining and not mine."
"You can't be hurt too bad; you still have your lame sense of humor."
Upon hearing the shots, Helen scanned the woods in the direction where the sounds emanated with her binoculars.
That sounded like two different guns. Should I try to contact Jonas? Too risky.
Continuing to scan the trees, Helen finally spotted three bodies and two horses. Knowing Jonas had not brought his horse, she began to fear the worse.
If they've hurt Jonas, I'll get them all.
If he's dead, he could be traced back to me. I may need to come up with an exit plan. But not until I've hurt them!
Inspecting the ridge again, Helen saw the two horses with riders and another on foot leaving the woods away from where she remained concealed.
"Cullen, I want you to go up on that ridge to look for Jonas. If you find him, contact me immediately."
"Right away Ms. Maxwell."
Without further word, Cullen loped across the valley floor and soon was seen entering the woods.
After several minutes, Helen's unit finally squawked.
"Ms. Maxwell, I found him… Jonas is dead."
Silently cursing her fate at the loss of her most trusted hand, Helen evaluated her situation.
They may have called the police and they may already be on their way. I can't take any chances by hanging around here further.
"Cullen, get back here now. We need to return to the ranch."
With the open terrain passing before her on the ride up highway 2 from High River, Amy nervously sifted through in her mind what to say to Ty when she arrived and went to his room.
Will he even speak to me? I've got to make him understand how I wasn't seeing things or thinking clearly. But how? What if I can't? What if it's too late?
The sudden ringing of her phone was almost a welcome interruption from her anxious thoughts.
"Hello."
"Amy, it's Davis; how are you?"
"Davis hi," responded Amy dispassionately.
"Noting the lack of interest in Amy's voice, Maxwell continued. "Are you alright Amy? I've really missed you!"
"I'm fine Davis; now's just not a good time to talk."
"When can we meet then? I'd really like to see you."
"I'm not sure right now Davis. I'm out of town for a few days. How about I call you when I return?"
"Where are you going? Maybe I could join you?"
"No, that's not possible. Davis, I've got to go. I'll contact you when I get back."
Click
Something's changed. She couldn't wait to end the call. She can't do that to me; who does she think she is? She better not be off to see Borden.
Observing the signs for Edmonton, Amy's momentary respite from her angst at seeing Ty, returned in full force. Within minutes, she pulled into the parking lot of the Pinnacle Apartment complex looking for a space. Avoiding the front desk as she stepped into the lobby, Amy chose the most crowded elevator hoping someone else would be getting off on the 8th floor using their pass key. She was in luck. Purposefully last into the elevator, she quickly noted the circled "8" was lit.
"Thank you," she silently breathed.
Exiting, Amy noted the directional arrows above the unit numbers and turned left towards 804. Her palms sweaty and heart racing, Amy cautiously approached Ty's unit.
What if he's not here?
Reaching for the doorbell, she took one final deep breath before triggering the chimes.
Stepping into the Ambulance to be with her husband, Lisa barely kept it together watching the EMT's working on Jack as the vehicle pulled away sirens blaring.
Only a short time before, Lisa had been calm, cold and calculating as she took down an armed gunman trying to end her husband's life, Tim's, and her own.
"How bad is he," said Lisa.
"It's not the wound that concerns me. The shot seems to have gone clean through. It's the loss of blood. Your husband is going to need blood and soon. Do you know what his type he is?"
No, but his Granddaughter keeps records of that sort of thing at home. I'll call her now."
"Lou, it's Lisa. Listen, I can't talk long and I don't want to alarm you but Jack's been shot. I need his blood type."
"Grandpa's been shot? What happened? Is he alright?"
"He's hanging in there but he's going to need blood. I'll tell you all about it at the hospital but for now, look up his blood type and text it to me."
"But Lisa…"
"Do it now Lou! I'll see you at the hospital."
Who could that be? Ty thought striding to his apartment door. Peering through his peephole, Ty jerked his head back in alarm at the sight of the person on the other side of the door.
Amy; how did she find out where I was…Lisa; it had to be. Damn, I'm not ready to talk to her yet.
Observing the darkening and return to light through the peephole, Amy was sure Ty knew she was here.
Choosing to remain silent, Amy waited to see what Ty would do next. After several awkward seconds, the apartment door slowly swung open to reveal a stoic looking Ty.
"What are you doing here? Ty asked with an accusatory hint to his voice."
"Lou gave me your email and I had to come see you after reading it. Please don't be mad at Lisa, it took some doing to convince her to tell me where you were."
Ty remained silent as though immobilized at the unexpected appearance of Amy.
Is she here to tell me it's over? To ask for a divorce? To tell me she loves another?
"How are you feeling?"
"Can I come in?"
Ty's response was to further open the door and motion Amy inside.
She looks good. How beautiful she is. God, how I've missed her.
"I'm feeling much better; pretty much back to normal I think. And that's what's led me to find you."
Ty kept is eyes on Amy but chose not to speak.
"To fix what I broke; if it's not too late."
"Amy, I'm not sure if I can do this…if I'm ready for this right now," Ty replied his voice laced with pain.
"Please Ty, Amy pleaded. Please give me a chance to apologize; to try and make things right."
"Ty, I love you."
Ty turned away; a look of fear in his eyes.
"Don't say that Amy; don't say that to me, he hissed. Not with what's happened; with what you did to me. I can't take hearing you say that to me right now."
Ty's words tore at Amy's heart like a jagged knife.
"Oh Ty, I'm so sorry for what have I done. I'm so sorry! Amy cried as tears began to stain her face."
Gathering himself, Ty resisted the urge to hold her.
"Amy sit down; please."
As they sat in opposite chairs in the living room, Ty looked intently at Amy before speaking.
"First, tell me how you are. Are you recovered from your surgery and illness? Your cancer?"
"Yes, I'm feeling much better. Some lingering soreness from where they removed my thyroid but the pain is nearly gone. They say the removed all the cancer but most importantly Ty, I'm back to normal mentally."
"Good! I'm glad to hear it. Despite what has happened between us, it was killing me knowing you had cancer. I almost called you several times."
"I wish you had Ty; I really wish you had."
"But what would you have said Amy? Would you have even answered my call? You wanted nothing to do with me; you made that clear!"
Amy choked at the hurt in her husband's voice. Hurt she was responsible for.
"Ty, I'm so sorry for everything. Please, let me try to explain. I need to tell you how I feel."
"Amy wait," Ty exclaimed hold up the palm of his hand. "If we're going to do this, we have to go all the way."
Amy peered questionably at Ty through moistened eyes not understanding his meaning.
"We need to go back further than just the last couple of months. We have unresolved issues that go back a lot longer. If we don't face them and deal with them, we'll never have resolution to the deeper problems afflicting us."
"Ty, Amy said apprehensively, I don't know what you mean?"
"I didn't think you would, but it's something I've been thinking a lot about. And if we're going to talk, we need to talk about everything."
"Alright," replied Amy quietly noting the sudden icy tone to Ty's voice.
"You first though; you found me. What is it you wanted to say?"
Noting the softening of his voice, Amy stared down at her hands before speaking.
"Ty, I was so wrong about everything, Amy began. I blamed you for Spartan's death; I told you to leave our home; I was cruel to you and badly hurt you. But Ty, and I want you to know what I'm about to say isn't to absolve myself; I was sick; and wasn't myself. What I did and said to you, I can never take back no matter how much I wish I could. I'm better now though Ty; I'm myself again. And I know I love you; I need you. And I'm hoping you will forgive me and give me; give us another chance. I'm asking you to come home."
Hoping Ty believed her, Amy stared into the green eyes of her husband; the eyes that had mesmerized her from the start. The eyes that melted her heart every time she looked into them.
Ty returned Amy's gazed realizing how much he still loved her. But he couldn't move on without first asking a question.
"What about Maxwell?"
"What about him, Amy said hesitantly?"
"Come on Amy; I'm not a fool. I heard what you two said to each other in your hospital room."
"Ty, I'm sorry," Amy whispered staring at the floor.
"Do you have feelings for him?"
"I may have; I…I'm not sure."
"Amy," Ty said forcefully.
Amy returned her gaze to her husband.
"Just be honest with me. You owe me that. Did you have feelings for that asshole? Do you now?"
"Ty, I don't think you need to call…"
"He is to me Amy, Ty interrupted, his voice rising. He was intent on coming between us from the start. Everyone saw it; everyone but you, Ty said bitterly. Just tell me the truth!"
"Alright Ty, I'll tell you the truth, Amy softly replied. I did have feelings for Davis."
Davis; she's calling him Davis.
"And now?"
"I don't know."
Ty's nostrils flared in anger at Amy's weak answer.
"It's the same!"
"The same; Ty, what do you mean?"
"It's the same thing Amy, cried Ty rising from his chair. Chase, Ahmed, and now Maxwell! It's the same damn thing!"
"Ty, what are you talking about, said Amy, panic creeping into her voice."
"I don't believe you were ever completely honest with me about your feelings for Chase, Ahmed and now Maxwell. You were never honest with me because you were never completely honest with yourself! That's what I mean. It's the same thing. And I'm not going to let it happen again without dealing with it!"
The sting of Ty's accusation hit Amy like a slap in the face.
It's not true; I didn't have feelings for Chase or Ahmed. And Davis; I was sick.
"Ty, it's not true; I love you. I've always loved you."
"And I love you Amy, Ty replied his voice softening. Part of me always will no matter what happens."
Turning away from Amy, Ty carefully contemplated his next words.
"Ty?"
Waiting another moment, Ty finally turned back to Amy.
"Amy, I get how your behavior towards me may have largely been the result of your Thyroid episode. But we have a problem; and it's bigger than Davis Maxwell. And believe me; I'm not trying to lay all the blame on you. I've been wrong to let it fester without forcing us to deal with it."
"Ty…"
"Amy, let me finish. I believe you were attracted to Chase and Ahmed mainly because of the kind of life they were living; the life they offered. A life beyond what you and I have in Hudson. Yes, there's a big part of you that's happy with living on a ranch treating horses that need your help; of living in a loft above a barn; and being married to a vet. You're very happy with that life; with our life. But I believe there's also a life you don't consciously allow yourself to think about deep inside."
A life you've tasted
A life you liked
A life you want
Amy began to shake her head no, but Ty continued.
"Yes, Amy. I believe another part of you is lured by the road with all the glitz and glamour it has to offer. Whether it's traveling from one town or city to the next putting on clinics; touring Europe with a world class team of horses you've helped train; staying in fancy hotels; ordering room service; and hearing the applause of an adoring crowd."
"Chase and Ahmed exposed you to that life. And although the feelings you had for them may have been tied to that experience, you were open to it. Maybe not consciously, but you didn't turn away. And that allowed you to develop feelings for them. And to an extent, I think the same thing happened with Maxwell."
Inhaling deeply, Ty continued. "When you blamed me for Spartan; kicked me out of our home; turned your back on me; and turned toward Maxwell, you crushed me."
With those biting words from Ty, Amy gave up trying to hold back her tears any longer. The truth of Ty's words stabbed at her heart causing her to sob uncontrollably.
"Amy, I'm sorry – I'm not trying to hurt you. I believe it when you say you weren't yourself these last couple of months. And if that's all there was, I believe we could get past it. But I've had a lot of time to think these last few weeks and I believe our marriage is threatened by the larger issue of what you really want. It's threatened by the part of you that wants something I can't give. That's s what we need to resolve. Do you understand what I'm saying?"
Amy felt as though her world had been shaken to its core in just mere minutes by what Ty had said.
Is he right?
But she wasn't prepared to accept the fact he might be.
"Ty; I…I don't know."
Silence
"Amy, there was another time when I asked you something important about us and you said the same thing; I don't know. Do you remember?"
Amy knew instantly what Ty was referring to.
"When I found the ring and you asked me what I would have said if you had asked me to marry you the night of Dark Horse."
"That's right. Do you also remember what you said to me after that?"
"I said we should wait."
"Yes; and that's what I think we should do again. We need to wait."
"But Ty, please! I love you. I need for you to believe that."
"Amy, I believe you. I love you too. But right now, just love isn't enough for us. I'm asking you to go back to Heartland without me. I'm asking you to think about and decide what you really want for your life. Take as long as you need. I'll wait for you. And if your decision means accepting you want another life, then as much as it will hurt, I'll let you go."
"Will you do that Amy?"
Amy could only nod in acceptance. She had no voice.
In her heart, she knew Ty was right; but that truth hurt more than anything she had ever experienced in her life.
"Ty, I love you. Will you kiss me before I leave."
Needing no further invitation, Ty reached for the woman he loved, drew her into his arms and gave her the kind of kiss she'd remember as if it were to be their last.
A/N: I had to replace chapter 10 with a revision due to the fact I had done a poor job of editing the prior one. There are no changes in substance, just the addition / subtraction of a few words in several places. Thanks for your reviews. I REALLY, REALLY look forward to all of them including those that are critical; even when I think some of the criticism is unjust. That's the freedom you have as a reader.
Ideas are still entering my head for upcoming chapters and the conclusion so there may still be some twists and turns to come. I may not begin the next chapter for several days due to the Christmas holiday. I wish all of you a Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays.