OTA Chapter 25
Ty's phone rang, yep I will be right over, "a rancher has a horse that just got caught up in some barbed wire I have to go" said Ty. "Wish I could stay and chat but I do have to pay the bills. Sonya, would it be ok if I left you here and then picked you up later on the way home."
"I can take her since I have the trailer. I can bring the horses at the same time" realizing what she had just volunteered to Amy turned to Sonya and said "if that is ok with you," now seeking her approval. This is what she wanted to do but she kept forgetting that Ty was involved and did not want to put them in a bad situation. And after what Caleb had just said and Ty having to console Sonya maybe it was not the right time.
"That is fine with me as I have a lot of catching up to do and I am starving said Sonya, giving Ty a kiss and wishing him well as he left. She did not feel bad about letting Ty go he would be uncomfortable as he was still struggling with being around not just Amy but her family as well. It had taken until today watching Ty and Amy together with the horses to realize just how much they had meant to each other. Oh sure they, or at least Ty did, talked it up like it was no big deal but the connection between those two would never be broken as it went much, much deeper than just a romance.
The girls headed for the house and soon laughter filled the kitchen as they talked as only girls can do. For all who sat around the table of the Heartland kitchen it was fun and enjoyable as they talked about all the little things that had gone on in Amy's life and they even took a few jabs at Caleb and his walking away from their talk at the Stampede. Jack and Caleb sat most of it silently enjoying the lunch wondering how the girls could find so much to talk about in just a short period of time since Amy had left Heartland. After the late lunch Jack asked Caleb if he had time to help with the feeding.
"Kind of early for feeding" said Caleb. Looking across the table, he instantly recognized the look he was getting from Jack. "You know it is later than I thought I seem to forget how long the summer days are" as he got up from the table following Jack to the barn.
The girls watched as the two men leave, but Lou had to make one more comment about at least they could say they enjoyed her hard work and could have put their dishes in the sink.
"That gave Jack on opening he could not resist. "I guess I could say that if it were true! And yes I guess we could take our plastic forks and paper plates to the trash I would hate for them to get blown all over the kitchen with all this hot air blowing across the table. "Quickly putting on his hat and heading for the door. Before the scowl on Lou's face was turned into action as she looked for something to say or more likely throw at the men as they left.
Lou returned her gaze to Amy and Sonya, Amy was smiling and turning her head away and Sonya was not sure what to do or say. "What are you laughing at Amy Fleming" said Lou?
"Oh nothing Lou really I had forgotten how you and Grandpa seem to wait for the other to give you even the slightest reason to take a dig at one another.
Lou smiled and nodded her head, "it has been a while since we have done much of that around here I guess we are just happy to have you around again. Now what is this news you wanted to share? Lou had noticed how Amy had talked about everything family and her job but had seemed to be holding something back while Jack and Caleb had been at the table.
"I wanted to talk with you two about my session with the Dr." Replied Amy.
"What Dr.?"
"She was seen by a Dr. that Ahmed had flown" in stated Sonya. As the words came out Sonya saw the look on Lou's face and was ready for what she was afraid would come next.
Lou started to say something then stopped remembering what she had been told by Sonya earlier that day. "Sorry Amy, I want to know whatever it is and will ty not to be so judgmental!"
"Thank you Lou. I was uncomfortable after what you shared with me Sonya and told Ahmed he said he would sit in on the session. I wish he had not because when I remembered why I had left I must have spoken it out loud and I am so ashamed of myself. It seems I was falling for the prince and realized he did not feel the same way. I think that it embarrassed me so much that I just had to shut it out. I still have a few holes but most of it is coming back now. On our trip to Mexico and Argentina I felt myself caring for him way to much again so I have buried myself in training and working with Sabastian since we came home. I realized that I had told you I would contact you again and I need your support, both of you, to help me get through this."
Sonya had her doubts but did not share them. It seemed like Amy believed what she had remembered and there had to be a bit of truth in what she remembered or she would not have accepted it so well. Still all of the memories that had not come back, if the thing that had caused her to block it out was known she felt that the rest of the memories should have followed quickly. She was happy for her friend and with Lou agreed to be there to help her.
Lou was more than ready to help her sister move on from caring about the prince. If she had her way she would never have been in that situation in the first place.
….
As the men neared the barn Jack turned to Caleb, "is there something you want to talk to me about?"
"I don't know"… Jacks look stopping him mid-sentence. "You mean about Amy?"
"No I wanted to know if you think we should use Timothy or Rye bales this year! You know that is what I mean, you had better start talking or I am going to put an end to whatever you think you have planned before you take another step.
Caleb took a deep breath and looked Jack right in the eye. "I want to be around more Amy if she will agree to it, and you allow it!" There it was out to Jack and that was probably the hardest part he knew how the man had held it against him the way he and Amy had had an on again off again relationship depending on how much attention he could get from Ashley.
"You remember the last time you tried that? If you had not of been gone on the rodeo tour you probably would be standing here right now. And of course the fact that she took up with Ty. Speaking of Ty what does he think about this?
"He was the first person I talked to about it. He pretty much told me that I should not be looking to Date her but just to become more of a friend to her and then let her decide what she wants to do."
"Sounds like pretty good advice to me. You had better take care of her if and when she does agree to maybe more. I don't want to see her hurt her like you did the first time do I make myself understood? If you do, you will be missing certain parts of your anatomy if you know what I mean. "
"I hear you loud and clear Jack!"
"Well you better! Let's get the horses out and get them ready to be loaded in the trailer."
…..
The girls finished their talk about Ahmed and promised to keep in touch and told Amy that if she felt the need she could even move back home. Lou made sure that Amy knew this even offered to come and help her pack her stuff and move that very afternoon. The sooner she could get her sister away from that man the better. Then they caught up on the latest of what was happening with the family. Amy wanted to hear how Georgie and Katie were doing though mostly she wanted to know how Peter and Lou were doing. Lou shared that she and Peter were doing better but still had a long way to go. Georgie was growing up too fast continuing to do well with her trick riding, and Katie well she was Katie.
I will try and come back every day to work with Sabastian so maybe we can catch up a little more. Amy told Lou how she had missed her and the rest of the family and promised to work on those relationships as well. They all finished with a big group hug as Amy said "we had better get going and get those horses moved before it gets dark. "
They finished loading the horses and said their good-byes to everyone and, Amy looked over at Sonya, "where to?"
"I had forgotten that you have not been to our place yet, go to the road and turn right."
…..
"Turn here said Sonya, as they came to a dirt road leaving the highway. Guess we are going to have to put up a mailbox soon.
The pulled up to the barn Ty had not returned from the call so the girls unloaded the horses and put them in the barn. Amy looked around it was beautiful; the barn while small just three stalls was solid and had plenty of room for feed. They put the saddles and bridles in the tack room then fed and watered the horses and closed up the barn for the night. As Amy stepped out of the barn and looked around, was this a bit of jealousy towards Sonya she was feeling? Could this have been hers, had she not pushed Ty away? She remembered how they had planned to buy a place like this for years, coming so close just before she had left for Europe. Amy's thoughts went back to the place she and Ty had talked about. How had she just let that drop why had she not asked Ty about it while he was in Europe, or even before that? What if she had and he had told her about wanting to put an offer in on it. Would it have made a difference or would it have pushed her away even faster.
Now all that was over and she had to start over at the beginning, building a relationship and everything, wondering if maybe she had made the largest mistake of her life. A tear came to her eye as she surveyed the farm.
We will turn them out in the pasture in the morning said Sonya. I think they will enjoy it there.
I think I would said Amy, trying to recover from her pity party. It had not gone unnoticed by Sonya though.
I think maybe we need to talk said Sonya.
About what?
You know Amy I felt the very same way today watching you with Ty and Sebastian. I noticed the tear and the look on your face. When we think things are getting easier something pops up and we are right back to square one.
I was admiring your place and thought about how Ty and I had planned for something like this for years. His graduation and my working with horses it was what drew us so close and even in the hard times was what was central to us coming back together again. Now that is gone and it is because of what I chose to do in Europe. I guess I am a little afraid that I will never have that again with anyone!
Sonya looked at her friend and saw a hurt and confused young woman. She also knew from her talks with Amy that she was not so much in love with Ty but rather the ideas and dreams they had shared. "You have been around each other for 8 years and you developed a comfort level and closeness so the break up was more like a divorce! What you two shared and went through with each other cannot just be forgotten or erased; it will always be a part of each of you. I am sorry Amy, I know that must sound so insincere coming from the woman who has taken your place in your dreams."
"No, Sonya I don't hold anything against you. This is of my own doing but I am very confused right now and don't know where or how to start to get it back on track. I don't want to be alone anymore yet I don't have any idea of how not to be. Seeing you and Ty made me realize how much I need and want someone in my life. Sadly the one person I seem to be drawn too is not drawn to me. Even if he was I realized lately that it could never work, we are from two different worlds! I would never fit into his and he definitely would not fit into mine."
"How about you come to the house and we can talk." They walked into the house and Amy was taken back by the simple beauty of the layout. It's beautiful Sonya! I can say I both envy and am happy for you. This is what Ty deserves and has always wanted." A tear again came to Amy's eye this was not going to be easy and the longer she was around Ty and Sonya the more she realized it.
"Thanks but I cannot take any of the credit for it. As I told you at Maggie's the other day it was this way when we bought it."
"Ty called Sonya to tell her he was on the way home. She told him that Amy was there and asked if he would bring home something for dinner."
"I guess I had better go "replied Amy. " You are staying for dinner I want you too and why don't you stay here tonight I don't feel good about you being alone."
"I know you two don't sleep together though I am not sure why and there are only two bedrooms. I would feel weird crashing on your couch."
"You can have the bedroom over there; Ty does not sleep in it he sleeps up in the loft. Don't ask, it was something that he came up with when we first started dating. I don't pretend to understand all of his reasoning but I have learned, it maybe what made our relationship grow as quickly and strong as it has."
Still the boy in the loft was the thought that came to Amy's mind as she thought about Sonya's request.
"He will be here in a few minutes help me set the table here on the porch." We enjoy sitting around watching the sunset across the pasture!"
"I can see that it is so beautiful Sonya!"
Ty pulled up in the drive and right behind him was Caleb. "Look what I found at Maggie's poor guy looked like he could use a little company."
"We will set another place said Sonya."