Disclaimer: I don't own anything. Heartland and Chestnut Hill belong to Lauren Brooke (more's the pity…)
A/N: This took me a bit longer, I guess because it's easier to write about home at Heartland than at college but it's a vital part of the story and I have to get it done to finish the story – only a couple more chapters! So again, sorry about the time…
Over the next couple of days Amy drifted through her usual college life. She got up in the morning, had her classes and did her assignments, hung out with her friends and, most importantly, helped out at the stables and a couple of times a week she got a free ride for her efforts. It was a change from being to ride whenever she liked and she missed it, but it was good to experience every perspective. And once every couple of weeks she went out to the posh girls' boarding school, Chestnut Hill, to help out with a troubled and previously mistreated pony. She had even given a talk there the previous term to the girls there, about the methods that were used at Heartland.
One day, a couple of weeks after returning to Campus, Amy was getting ready to go out with India, Sara, Jake, Damien, Lilly, Rosie and Danny. They were going to see the new Harry Potter film – it had come out a few weeks back and as they considered it a "kid's" film they'd all passed on seeing it over the break. But somehow they all had the urge to see it anyway!
Lilly and India were still having an argument over whether Daniel Radcliffe was hotter than the Quidditch captain bloke. Lilly was for Harry Potter but India insisted that Scottish accents over-ruled everything else. Listening to their banter, the others got into two lines, one for popcorn and one for tickets. Amy smiled, remembering the time she went to the cinema with her mom and, after buying a mega tub of popcorn, they managed to spill over half of it within 5 minutes. It seemed like so long ago.
The eight of them went into the theatre and found seats. The commercials were still playing so they fooled around a bit, giggling and nudging each other. Then the movie started and they settled down to watch.
After the movie India proposed they went for "a walk" around the park. She and Lilly kept shooting glances at Damien and Rosie, who everyone could see were into each other but, as far as the others could tell, nothing had happened yet.
"Okay guys, who's up for a little walk around town"? asked India.
Everyone agreed apart from Amy, who wanted to get back.
"I wish I could, but I've got tons of work to do before Monday" she said regretfully. But I'll see you guys tomorrow, okay?" She looked at India. "And let me know how IT goes!" she said in an undertone, winking at her friend. India grinned back. "I will" she replied.
Walking back to the bus stop (They'd come in two cars, Sara's and Lilly's) Amy was wrapped up on thoughts. She had so much work to do – three essays, a practical and two classes to read up notes on - and on top of that she had to find time to get her work at the stable done. She was loaded with work.
Arriving back in her dorm room she sat down at her desk and took out her notes. She'd begin with and essay and see where that got her. She had just written the title and her name at the top of the sheet when a tune blared out from her purse where she'd left it on her bed. She jumped in surprise then, realising it was her phone, took it out and pressed Speak. It was Lou.
"Hi Lou! Is everything alright?"
Lou sounded happy.
"Yeah, everything's great, Amy! You'll never guess what! Oh, it's so great!"
Amy could hear her sister's happy voice. She smiled into the phone.
"What? What is it?" Then a thought struck her. "Lou, are you pregnant?"
"What? No, of course not. I already told you I don't feel ready for a baby yet. It's something else. Shall I tell you?"
Amy could sense her sister's teasing voice. "Alright, then!" she said.
Lou began to speak.
"Green Briar was inspected by officials because they'd applied to be the set of a remake of International Velvet but they didn't pass! The Head of the American Horse Society found Val Grant beating up this little pony that wouldn't jump high enough and reported her officially as 'a danger to the equine world!' The yard is being closed down and Val probably won't be able to find another job after all this bad publicity! Aren't you pleased?"
Amy couldn't believe it.
"Are you sure? Wow! This is great! Now we might get their clients and we'll be able to actually help them. Oh, I wish I could see the look on Val's face!"
Lou giggled. "Me too! Anyway, how's your work coming on? You are doing it all, aren't you?"
Amy gave a low sigh. "Yeah. I'm a bit behind but it's nothing too serious. I'll get it done." She paused. "So how is everyone?"
They chatted for about a quarter of an hour then Amy regretfully returned to her schoolwork. But she couldn't get the Grants off her mind and, making a snap decision she picked up her cell phone again and went to sit on her bed.
"Hello?" a voice said. Amy spoke up.
"Hi, Ashley, this is Amy."
There was a pause. "Amy." Ashley acknowledged her. "I take it you heard?"
Amy felt sorry for the other girl. "Yeah, I heard. I guess I'm sorry." She wasn't really but it felt like the right thing to say. Ashley seemed to appreciate it.
"I knew it would happen sooner or later. Mom just gets so caught up in what she thinks is right. And I always had to follow her steps." Ashley stopped for a moment. "But not anymore. I moved out yesterday. I just had to get away from it."
Amy couldn't believe it. It was a big step for the Grant girl. She hoped it would make things easier on her.
"Hey, that's good isn't it?" Amy said. "Now you might be able to pursue your modelling career or something." Apparently it was the wrong thing to say.
"Are you insulting my mom?" Ashley asked, sounding defensive. "I left because I wanted to get away from the cruelty to horses, not because I regretted anything she did to me."
Amy was surprised. Even though Ashley had never actually said it, everyone knew she hated the life her mom laid out for her. Amy felt a little sorry for her.
"I'm sorry, Ashley. I didn't mean it that way. I just meant that maybe now you'll be a bit happier. It can get crowded if you don't have enough space."
Ashley was about to defend her mom again out of habit. But something stopped her.
"You're right, I guess. I'm sorry I snapped at you."
"It's fine", said Amy, surprised. She'd never heard Ashley apologise before. "So, um, where are you living now? With a friend? Relative?"
"With Jade. We both agreed it was time to get our own place anyway. This just made it happen. But I don't know how long it will last. Harry could propose to her any day now and she'll be out of here. We're out towards Heartland, actually. Pinewood Avenue?"
"I know it" Amy said. "The one with the playground."
"That's it" said Ashley. "It's quite a small apartment but we like it. I feel really independent."
Amy smiled. The other girls sounded happy.
"So Ashley, I just phoned to see how you are. I'd better get back to my work now. But if you need anything at all, you know I'm here. I'd like to help, if you want it."
Ashley hesitated. "Actually, there is something. I don't want to go home but I can't stand not being around horses. Is there anyway I could help around Heartland at all? I won't want much of a salary, just being there would be good. I'll take anything I can get."
Amy hesitated. She didn't really want Ashley Grant getting too involved in Heartland. It was her family's farm, after all. But she wanted to help.
"If you speak to Lou I'm sure you could work something out. A couple of days a week, maybe. Look, I've really got to go. I'm glad you're okay, hope it goes well for you."
"Thanks, Amy."
"Anytime. Bye, Ashley." Amy clicked her phone off. That had been a surprising call.
Fatigue suddenly overwhelmed her. She longed to sleep but she knew she had to get her essay done. So she sat down and tried to get stuck in.
She was about halfway through it when India came in. She took her coat off and made a pot of coffee, handing a mug to Amy. Amy took it gratefully.
"How did it go?" She asked.
India grinned impishly. "It went great! Damien and Rosie disappeared for about half an hour and when they came back he had his arm around her and she had this soppy smile on her face." She laughed. "Who knows, if it wasn't for our match-making skills, they never would have found true love!"
Amy gave India a push. "Yeah, right. Because of course it was all you who made them 'disappear'."
India gave a shrug. "What can I say? I'm brilliant." She gave a yawn. "I'm turning in. How's the work going?"
Amy shrugged. "Another hour should do it. See you tomorrow."
"Night" India replied. She disappeared into her room.
It was after one in the morning when Amy finally called it quits. She'd finished one essay and started on another as well as read up on half the notes she needed. She just hoped she'd remember them in the morning.
X X
A week later Amy had caught up on all her work. She had no idea how she'd managed it – she guessed it was because she'd cut back on her yard work, although she hadn't really noticed the loss that much. So on Saturday morning she woke up early, dressed and had breakfast then made her way down to the yard. Hopefully she could stay there until lunch, make her trip to Chestnut Hill then do her schoolwork. Maybe she'd even have time to go out with India or Sara.
She entered the barn and breathed in the familiar smell of hay, oats and of course manure. She made her way to the tack room, where there was a list of jobs that had to be done that day. Fetching a pitchfork, she began the mucking out with a couple of the stable hands. It felt good to be doing something that wasn't vet-related.
After about half and hour Sara and Jake joined them, along with three other students. Between the eight of them it only took an hour to get all the stables done and Amy, Jake and Sara took a break.
"I can't wait to ride!" said Sara. "My legs are craving it. Nearly as much as my brain. If it's okay, do you two want to come out to Newlins with me and Butty later?"
Amy and Jake nodded. "Yeah, that would be great" said Amy. "How about we leave in about an hour?"
The others agreed and they set off to do more chores. Amy swept the barn, turned a few horses out and groomed two more. Finally it was time to find a horse to ride.
She looked at the chart in the tack room. Magic, Jester, Gnomey and Wings all needed to be exercised that day. Amy chose Wings. She loved riding the beautiful grey Arabian mare. When they cantered she felt as if she was floating.
She groomed the mare and tacked her up, then fetched her hat and hopped up onto her back. Sara and Jake came out leading Butty and Jester. The bay gelding and the coloured cob along with Wings made up a funny-looking trio - they were all so different. They seemed to get on alright, though. The three students turned them onto the track and they trotted away, snorting and tossing their heads, desperate to stretch their legs.
When they rode back into the yard, the horses dripping with sweat, Amy was starving. She'd skipped breakfast because she was so keen to get to the stables. She untacked Wings, rubbed her down and put a couple of rugs on her then turned her out. Wings followed her back to the gate, hoping for food. When she realised that Amy didn't have any she wandered away, munching the grass.
X X
"That's it! Just massage it into his muzzle, gently. See, he likes it!"
Amy was at Chestnut Hill School, in the barn with Malory, Dylan, Ali Carmichael and Tybalt the pony. He had been mistreated and found it hard to trust. Malory had worked wonders on him and he was so much better than he had been. Amy didn't think she'd need to come again. Malory could cope just fine on her own.
She watched the girl rub in the lavender oil and smiled. Tybalt had his eyes closed and was resting his chin on Malory's chest. Amy smiled at the sight. Malory reminded her a lot of herself. The quiet girl was murmuring under her breath to the pony and looked deep in thought. Amy touched her gently on the arm.
"That's really good. He's made so much progress; I don't think you'll need me to come out again. Just keep massaging him with this lavender every day and if he seems nervy or exited try giving him some cod liver oil in his feed. It should calm him down. Apart from that, just be careful not to scare him, give him lots of TLC and call me – whenever – if you need too." She gave the pony a pat on his neck. "Who's a gorgeous boy?"
"Thank you so much!" Malory spoke up. "I don't know what Tybalt would do without you."
"You're welcome" said Amy. "I'm glad I could help. If you want to thank me you can send some pictures of him winning your show next month!"
Malory grinned. "Will do."
Amy bid them farewell and walked out to the bus stop. She sat down halfway along the bus and leant against the window, deep in thought. She wondered how Sassy had come along – she'd forgotten to ask Ty about her when they'd last spoken. Would they have found a new home for her yet?
She was just about to take her phone out and call him – for loss of anything else to do – when it started ringing of its own accord. She flipped it open and put it to her ear. "Hello?"
"Hi Amy, it's me, Ty." He sounded worried.
"Ty! Is everything okay? You sound funny."
He answered her quickly. "It's your grandpa. He's had a stroke. I think you'd better come quickly."
Oooohh a bit of suspense! Well, I hope it keeps you interested. Next chapter will probably be the last. Please let me know how it was – I love reviews, they make my day!