Quick note: I need to apologize to my readers. I updated the last chapter slightly because I didn't feel comfortable with a little part of it that I thought may have revealed more than I wanted it to. I hope it doesn't ruin the story for you. It's what happens when you rush. I don't want that to happen again, so that's one of the reasons why I'm taking it a little slower.

Chapter 12

Amy is lying in bed, letting her mind wonder. She worries that Ty might be doing the same...Letting his mind put together another patchwork of hurtful memories. Especially after this latest episode with Ryan. She can only imagine what he must be thinking. His mind repeating the pain he must have felt recalling all that he had told Lou and the assumptions he allowed his mind to make that brought on so much anger. She too recalled her own patchwork of memories...memories of how his love for her once filled her heart.

Having been reminded repeatedly that she shouldn't let too much time pass before making an effort to speak to Ty, the urgency has now become more apparent than ever. It's late night when Amy picks up her cell phone and types, "I was just thinking about yesterday and wanted to thank you again for what you did." She hesitates, wondering if it's a mistake to send it after remembering what Lou told her about using a text. It's not an apology though, just a simple thanks, so she presses send and falls asleep waiting for Ty's reply.

Amy checks her phone repeatedly during the morning, hoping to see at least a brief response from Ty, but still no message. She wonders if he is either refusing to answer or if he blocked her number.

...

Ty's sitting alone at a table in the back of the clinic. Looking again at the text message sent by Amy, he continues to wonder if he should answer. A part of him wants to ever since he first noticed it the previous night, but he has so far managed to resist the temptation. Not because he still feels a sense of anger, instead because he doesn't want to go back to that feeling of hurt he first experienced. It's also why he dreads the conversation he knows he will eventually have to have, at some point, with Amy should he stay in Hudson. That's why he reacted the way he did when Amy accused him of wanting to run, he was considering leaving.

When Cassandra walks in, Ty quickly puts his phone back in his pocket. Cassandra says to him, "Hey, Ty...Jennifer and I are going over to Maggie's a little later for lunch...care to join us?" Ty answers, "No thanks. I have some paperwork I need to do and someone needs to keep an eye on that Pug, Butch. If you don't mind though, could you bring back some lunch for me?..whatever the special happens to be." Cassandra replies, "Sure...no problem."

...

"Amy, I need to go to the diner. One of my servers just called in sick and I have to cover, at least for the lunch crowd." Amy offers, "How about I come along...I don't mind helping out and with the free time I'm going to have, it'll give me something else to do." Lou replies, "Sure that would be great. You need to change your clothes quickly though...you smell like a horse." Amy takes a whiff of her shirt and replies, "You're right...it'll only take me a minute." Amy sees this as not only an opportunity to get away from the ranch for a while, but more importantly an opportunity to run into Ty, since he often stops there for lunch when he's working at the clinic. Her only worry though is running into Ryan again.

...

Walking into the dinner, Amy glances around quickly dreading the possibility of seeing Ryan, but hoping instead to spot Ty. She sees Cassandra sitting at a table with a blonde girl about her age. Cassandra, noticing Amy walk in, calls her over. "Amy, this is Jennifer. I thought I'd introduce you two since she's new in town and doesn't know very many people here." Amy smiles and reaches out to shake her hand while saying, "Pleasure to meet you, I'm Amy Fleming. My sister Lou owns the diner." Cassandra tells her, "Scott recently hired Jennifer to help out at the clinic."

Amy's a little surprised and asks Jennifer, "So, you're a vet student too?" Jennifer answers, "Oh no, I'm just the receptionist. I really love animals though." Amy asks, "So what brings you to Hudson? Did you come here with your family?" Jennifer answers, "No...I came here alone. You know, I use to go to college with Ty before he transferred to vet program and I remember him talking about you. "Miracle Girl" right?" Amy responds, "Yeah...that's me."

Amy then asks, "So what brought you to Hudson?" Jennifer replies, "Well, I decided to take a gap year to kinda recharge before finally finishing college. Since I had known Ty and having Cassandra as a friend, I thought this would be a perfect place to go when she suggested it." Amy asks, "What were you studying to be?" Jennifer answers, "My major is in Business, but once I'm done, I'm not sure yet what I'll do with it." Amy says, "Since your major is business, maybe you know Soraya Duval...her mother use to own this diner." Jennifer answers, "I do...not very well though. We didn't really hang around in the same circle of friends. Actually, I think it was Ty who introduced me to her once. He's such a doll...I'm glad I got the opportunity to work with him."

Amy ends the conversation, saying, "Well it's nice to meet you and I hope you enjoy your stay. By the way, is there anything I can get you two?" Cassandra says, "How about tea for each of us while we look over the menu." Amy says, "Sure..no problem...I'll have it for you in a minute."

Amy walks behind the counter and begins to pour two cups of tea. Lou steps over to her and asks, "Who's that with Cassandra I saw you talking to?" Amy answers, "Her name is Jennifer. She just started working at the vet clinic as a receptionist." Lou asks, "Did they order anything?" Amy says, "Just tea...with arsenic for now." Lou says, "Okay, but hold the arsenic please."

Amy walks back over to their table, "Here's your tea. I guess Ty isn't working today?" Jennifer speaks up and says, "Oh, he's there...he was just stuck at the clinic for awhile and couldn't join us." Cassandra says, "That reminds me...he asked that we bring lunch back for him...whatever the special is." Amy says, "No problem...it'll be ready when you go. Anything else I can get you?" Cassandra answers, "We decided on two club sandwiches with fries." Amy says, "Great, I'll have the waitress bring it over when it's ready." Jennifer speaks up again, "Cassandra was telling me about the nightlife here. She's been trying to talk me into going out with her and a couple of friends some night. Maybe you'd like to come along." Amy answers, "Thank you for the invitation, but I always have an early morning. I'll think about it though." Jennifer responds, "Good...It'll be fun."

After Amy returns behind the counter, Lou says to her, "So, I saw you talking to Jennifer again. What was that about?" Amy answers, "She just invited me to go out with her and Cassandra along with a couple of other friends some night, that's all." Lou says, "Oh...that was nice of her. You do need to get out, but not alone. You should take her up on that." Amy replies, "Yeah, I should...when hell freezes over."

Having finished their lunch, Cassandra and Jennifer walk over to the cash register where Amy is just finishing with another customer. She says, "Oh, good...just in time. Ty's order is ready." After Cassandra takes Ty's lunch from Amy, she asks, "So, how much do I owe you?" Amy answers, "Don't worry about it...it's on the house. Ty did me a favor the other day, so this is the least I can do." Jennifer says to Amy, "That's just like him..."

Lou looks over and sees Amy talking with Jennifer. After a minute or so, as Amy walks towards her, she can't help noticing the glum look on her face. Lou asks, "So, what's wrong now?" Amy replies, "It's that Jennifer...I happen to mention that Ty did me a favor and then she started to go on about how great and helpful he's been showing her the ropes around the office." Lou asks, "What's wrong with that?" Amy answers, "She didn't stop there. You know that saying...keep your friends close, but enemies closer? Well, I offered her riding lessons and she told me she didn't need any because she's been riding all her life and she grew up on a farm outside a town just like this." Lou asks, "She's the enemy? Why?" Amy replies, "I don't know...maybe..." Lou stops her saying, "I think I know what you're going to say and you might be letting your imagination run amuck." Amy complains, "I don't think so. She's beautiful, friendly, smart, likes animals, knows how to ride, grew up on a farm, knows Ty from school and now works with him. Along with all that, I think that Cassandra might be trying to fix Ty up with her, if she doesn't already have ideas of her own."

Lou suggests, "Maybe then you shouldn't wait much longer to find a way to speak to Ty." Amy says, "I sent him a text last night thanking him again for rescuing me, but he never answered. I was hoping it would open the door." Lou says, "I understand what you were trying to do, but you need to talk to him face to face. You had one opportunity already. Don't let the next one pass you by."