Chapter 24

"Are you sure you want to do that?" Lisa asked her husband. They sat at the place where Jack had planted the roses for Sophia almost a year ago.
""Yeah, I'm sure. Amy and Ty have their whole future in front of them", Jack answered, "I don't mean that we don't have years in front of us. But we have our life, we have worked hard for where we are now and everything that comes now is some sort of extra bonus. I don't need all that money and I dare to say that you don't neither."
"Well, I support your decision, that's for sure. I think it's a great plan."
"So it's settled?"
"It's settled", Lisa agreed and leaned over to let her husband kiss her.

"Hey, Ms Campbell, right?" Tim called after the tall blonde that walked in front of him. He just had a snack at Lou's diner and was about to drive home.
"The blonde turned around and it was indeed Julia Campbell who looked at him. She stood still and smiled: "Mr. Fleming, right?"
"Yeah. Call me Tim", Tim said, feeling intimidated by the woman in front of him. It was a feeling Tim Fleming last felt when he met the mother of his daughters

"How are things going at Heartland, Tim? Last thing I heard was that it really was Chlothianidin that was sprayed and that Jack found a way to get through this, lets say, bumpy episode?"br /"You could say that, yes."br /"That's good", Julia commented and was about to leave when Tim said: "Maybe we could continue this conversation over dinner sometime?" Tim was acting way more brave than he actually felt.
"Maybe", Julia answered vaguely and then got in her car.
Jesus, she's something, Tim thought before he drove home himself.

Later that day Amy decided to take an hour or so for herself to go for a ride.
"Hey Lisa, you want to come on a ride with me?" Amy asked the blonde just when she got out of her car.
"Ah, no thanks Amy, I have some paperstuff to do", Lisa declined the offer and disappeared into the house.
Amy didn't mind riding alone since Mallory was taking care of the twins but she did wonder about Lisa's behavior. She hasn't seen her back on a horse ever since the accident happened and that was months ago. Amy decided to talk to Jack about it. And so she did right after she got back from her ride.

"Grandpa?"
"Yes?" Jack looked up from the fishing rod he was preparing for Georgie on the porch.
"Have you seen Lisa riding in the last time?" Amy got right to her question.
"Uhm...", Jack frowned, "no, not really."
"Don't you think that's weird?" Amy asked.
"Well, I don't know. She spends a lot of time working at Fairfield, maybe she is riding there. Why are you asking?"
"I was just wondering... I haven't seen her on a horse since the accident and whenever I ask her to come with me she has something better to do."
"I'm sure she's just busy. But now that you say it: She hasn't been coming on rides with me either since you two had the accident", Jack said.
"Do you think she might be scared?" Amy asked.
"I don't think so, Amy. She has been around horses since her birth. She had more than one terrible fall as far as I know."br /"Well, I just felt like asking you...", Amy said, " I gotta free Mallory from Jase and May."
"Now that Amy had mentioned it, Jack couldn't get the question out of his head anymore: Why was Lisa not riding? Jack made his way to Lisa's office where he knew she would be.
"Hey there", he made her aware of his presence.
"Hey", she said smiling weak.
"You wanna come on a ride with me later?" Jack asked.
"Funny you ask, Amy just asked me an hour ago. But I still have a lot to do, sorry", Lisa answered.
"Lisa, are you OK?"
"Sure. Why?" Lisa asked back, looking at her laptop screen as if she wanted to show her husband that she was to busy to talk.
"Well – Amy and I have noticed that you haven't been riding ever since your accident and I just wanted to check in with you whether there was more to it than plain busyness", Jack tried to explain without provoking a fight.
"I'm fine. Plain busyness, just as you said", Lisa forced another smile.
"You know you don't have to lie to me", Jack said, not believing her a word. He sat down on Lou's bed as if he wanted to show her that she was not getting out of this conversation that easy. He would stay until he knew what was going on.
"I know. But really, I'm fine. You know how much pain it is to get on a horse after breaking a rib and when I could do so without any pain business just got in the way of having time for a ride, OK?"/p
"Yes, I know how it is to get back on a horse after an accident. And I also know that it's not always the physical pain that makes it hard to get back on a horse, even after decades of experience. You had a really bad fall back then, Lisa. You wouldn't have to be ashamed if it is too hard for you to get back in the saddle", Jack tried to make it as easy as possible for his wife to admit that she was scared.
"I'm not ashamed", Lisa whispered with clenched teeth.
"That's good then", Jack said gently.
"I just didn't feel like it anymore", Lisa said, slowly opening up to Jack.
"I understand that."
"But I'm fine", Lisa felt like she needed to defend herself.
"That's good", Jack nodded. He knew by experience that he would have to express himself carefully so that his wife wouldn't shut down.
"But you know, for very selfish reasons, I would like to get you back in the saddle. I miss our rides", Jack tried to encourage her.
"I'm sure we will spend plenty of time riding together", Lisa said, smiling because of Jack's kind words.
"Can I hold you to it? You know that if you would like I am going to support you the best I can and that Amy would do anything to help."
"Yes, you can hold me to it. But right now I really need to finish this", Lisa pointed at her laptop.
"I'll leave you to it then", Jack got up and placed a kiss on top of her head. He felt quiet good about himself for getting the theme out there and for leaving his wife enough space to decide whether she wants help to overcome her obvious fear or not.
So Amy was right after all. Of course she was.

Four Weeks Later

"Oh my god, look Jase, you can already see how it's supposed to look when it is done", Amy cheered as she held her son in her arms. Early summer has arrived in Canada and Amy was standing in front of the site that would hopefully turn into a whole new training area for Amy. Next to her was Ty who held his little daughter in his arm – Maylin was eager to get down though and fussed until her father let her crawl on the ground.
"But stay here", Ty said.
"They really got a lot done in these last days, don't you think?" Amy asked her husband.
"It does look good, even without a roof", Ty laughed./p
"Are making fun of me?" Amy teased with a grin. She was so relieved that Jack had agreed on their plans that she couldn't wait until everything was done./p
"Behind the fields that lay next to Heartlands barn was growing a huge but not massive looking indoor riding arena with an extra stable for up to ten horses. The poisoned ground has been dug out and a new fresh layer of sand now covered the area. Amy was sure that it must have cost a fortune but every time she mentioned it to Jack he would simply shrug and say: It's worth it. The way to Fairfield's fields was about to be renewed as well: Amy wanted the grass that was soaked with Chlothinaidin gone so that she wouldn't have to worry when a horse would steal a tuft of grass on the way. It was going to be covered with sand as well. The rest of the land would stay as it was. Sooner or later it would be clean again and then Amy wanted to keep the clients horses right where they were before.
"And besides, some of the horses would always find a place on the paddocks that lay next to the barn.
""Come on now birthday girl, you have a party to attend", Ty smiled and picked up May again.
"Oh right, I almost forgot", Amy laughed.
"I'm sure Lou would be very upset to hear that", Ty laughed, "She has thought about what cake to bake for you all week."
"I told her I don't need anything fancy", Amy rolled her eyes.
"Well, you know her."
"Slowly the family made their way towards the farm house.
"Besides, you still haven't opened you presents", Ty said.
"I wouldn't wanna miss that", Amy smiled.
"It has been one of the best birthdays in Amy's young life. She has been woken up by Maylin and Jase who were already dressed in pretty outfits by Ty. Cuddling with her baby's right after waking up was followed by an immense breakfast with the whole family. Soon everyone had to get the daily routine started but they have agreed earlier that they would meet up around 7pm to celebrate Amy's 24th birthday.
Lou and Lisa had set up everything outside in the garden, Tim had prepared everything for a huge barbeque and everyone was in a good and summery mood./p
Before they started the barbeque a bottle of champagne was opened and Amy was allowed to open a mass of presents and birthday cards./p
First Amy opened a gift she got from Mallory. She was quiet surprised when she held a coat rack in her hands. It was beautiful but something she definitely hadn't expected and – well, needed. Secondly she opened the presents from Lou and her family. She got some elegant dinnerware, beautiful bedsheets and a fancy cook book./p
"Thank you so much you guys", Amy forced a smile. She did find her presents sweet but she really didn't know what to do with them – she had everything at Jack's place she needed. Then she held Ty's present in her hand. Ty had a hard time deciding what he should give his wife for her first birthday with the children born. He wanted to surprise her with something meaningful what turned to be out quiet difficult since Amy had surprised him with the two most beautiful babies what was rather hard to top. Then Ty talked to Jack about his problem and so it came that Amy held a bunch of papers in her hands at her 24supth/sup birthday./p
"What's that?" she asked and looked at her husband who was grinning.
"Just open it", he answered. So Amy opened the envelope and took out a paper.
"But... What IS that?" she asked again smiling.
"That would be our living room", Ty smiled.
"What?" Amy looked at him in disbelieve. Everyone else was already let in on the secret.

"Keep looking", Jack told her.
Amy started to pull out one paper after the other.
"I don't understand", she whispered.
"Well, you told me that you and Ty wanted to stay at Heartland. Since you want to build a house around here and Lou and Peter are happy at Fairfield...", Jack started to explain but couldn't get the words out right.
"That's going to be our house, if you'd like", Ty said, still smiling.
""But... How?" Amy still couldn't wrap her head around it.
"We did all the planing", Ty explained, "you only have to agree and the contractors will start right after the indoor arena is done."
"I don't know... I don't know what to say", Amy stuttered, "You all knew about this?"
Tim, Lisa, Jack, Mallory, Lou, Peter, Georgie, even Katie were nodding.
"You are crazy", Amy laughed out loud and couldn't help herself but started crying overwhelmed tears.
Ty pulled her into an embrace and said: "Welcome to our future, birthday girl." Then a hugging marathon started until Tim started putting meat on the grill.
"So, what do you think?" Lou asked her sister as they stood in the kitchen to get the salad out.
"I don't know", Amy admitted, "Don't get me wrong, I love it and I really couldn't imagine living anywhere else right now. It's just all happening so fast. I mean, I still can't believe I have a daughter and a son", Amy laughed.
"Yeah, this year brought a lot of changes, didn't it?" Lou agreed, "But I have to say that you are a bit like Grandpa: You both despise changes until you see the good in them."
"Well, I do see the good in this years changes", Amy smiled, "I can't believe Ty and I are going to have our own house. It seem so... so far away, it's simply unbelievable I guess."
"Well, I'm really happy for you", Lou said and squeezed Amy's hand.
"And you are not mad? I mean, I'm getting a house for my birthday from Grandpa while you...", Amy carefully asked.
"Oh, don't you worry about that! We have talked about it and since Lisa lets us stay at Fairfield as long as we'd like... Lets just say I'm very happy and I'm very happy for you, Amy."
"Thank you, Lou."

"The next day Tim saddled his horse to check his fences. More than once did Jack tell him that he should replace some of the fencing posts that looked pretty rotten.
He just got of his horse to check whether the posts where as brittle as Jack said when he saw a figure kneeing in the distance. He could say whether it was a woman or a man and he couldn't figure out what kind of an animal lay in front of the person but he could notice that something wasn't right. Tim quickly got on his horse again and galloped to the distant creatures./p
After he was only a couple of feet away he noticed that it was Julia Campbell who was kneeing on the ground with on of her dogs lying in front of her./p
First we never met for years and now we see each other on a monthly basis, /emTim thought before he got of his horse and asked: "Hey there, can I help?"br /"Mr. Fleming, hi", Julia said with obvious panic in her voice, "I don't know, uhm, maybe?"
"What happened?" Tim asked and slowly walked towards the woman and her whining dog.
"I don't know, I was going for a walk with him and then he started to throw up blood and now he won't move."
"Sounds like poisoning", Tim murmured and checked the dogs pulse.
"I need to get him to Scott but I don't have my phone with me and I can't carry him and I", Julia rambled.
"Hey, it's OK, all right? I'm going to help you. If I ride back to my place and come back with my truck we loose to much time. I can get him to the house if I take him with me on the horse. I will call Scott to meet me there as soon as possible. We can pick you up or you'll probably be faster by walking. I would let you ride Oasis, but he is pretty tricky and I", Tim started to talk almost unstoppable until Julia did stop him: "Just go, please? I'll walk!"
"OK, OK. Here, take my jacket, you're freezing", Tim demanded and pressed his jacket into Julia's hand who had wrapped hers around her dog./p
"Carefully they lay the dog in front of Tim's saddle before he got up his horse. br /"I know it's not ideal, but I will be careful", Tim promised before he disappeared in the woods. Julia walked after them in a hurry.
At home Tim was already awaited by Ty and Scott.
He had called Ty while riding towards his farm house so that he and Scott could prepare everything for Julia's dog.
"Tim, over here", Ty shouted as he saw Tim coming. He was standing in front of the houses porch.
"Here, help me take him down", Tim said.
"Oh man, he looks pretty beaten down", Ty whispered.
"Tim, hey", Scott called as he got out of the house with a blanket.
"Come on, lay him on the blanket so that we can get him inside. I don't think he will make it to the clinic. This is Emil, right? Julia Campbell's dog?" Tim nodded as they lay down the dog.
"Let's get going, we net to pump out his stomach as quick as possible in case he really ate something poisoning", Scott ordered. He and Ty started to work on the dog while Tim started to drive towards Julia to pick her up./p
"How is he?" was the first thing Julia asked when Tim got out of the car to open the passengers door for her. br /"Scott and Ty are doing the best they can right now. Come on, lets get going", Tim answered gently. For anyone who knew Tim it would have been unexpected to see him react in such a genuine way. For Julia though it was the best possible support she could imagine.
The drive would take a couple of minutes so Tim started talking: "So, Emil is his name? How did you get him?"
"Yeah, it's Emil. He was just there one day, standing in front of my door. He was only around ten weeks old when that happened and who could say no to a puppy. Turned out he wasn't alone and on the following day we found his two siblings who are home right now", Julia explained with a shaking voice. She tried her best to keep it together in front of Tim who barely knew her.
"That must have been a crazy time. I mean, one pup is quiet a handful but three", Tim remarked.
"Well, it worked out pretty good."/p
And then they got to Tim's house where Ty had prepared the clinic's truck for Emil's transport.
"He's doing OK for now", he told Julia, "he is stable enough for the drive." So Scott, Ty, Julia and the dog disappeared and it was quiet again around Tim./p

Back at Heartland Amy was sitting outside, watching her kids crawl around in the sunshine. They have developed so much in the last time and both showed very extrovert character. No matter who was standing in front of them, Maylin and Jase smiled at everyone and everything. They started to sit up by themselves, crawled endlessly so their parents were busy keeping after them and just the other day Maylin even managed to pull herself up the living room table./p
"Mallory sat next to Amy and both were enjoying an hour without work.
"So, Mallory, I've been wondering", Amy started to talk, "how your plans are for now?"br /Mallory laughed: "You sound just like my parents."br /"Well, you need to apply for college if you really want to study agriculture."
"I know. And I did apply I just haven't heard back."
"Really? Why didn't you say anything?" Amy asked. "
I don't know. Things were just so busy around here and I really don't feel like leaving to be honest."
"Didn't you want to go to Calgary?" Amy asked.
"Well, yes. But I don't know if I get in."
"But lets say you do: I don't know why you can't keep working part time on Heartland. I would really like if you stayed", Amy admitted.

At the Duderanch Jack was about to fix a lodge's roof when he saw Lisa's truck pull in. "Hey there", he greeted his wife and climbed down the latter.
"Hey", she greeted back and walked towards him without closing her car door.
"Oh, don't come with that look", Jack said before he kissed her on the cheek.
What look?" Lisa asked in a high pitched voice.
""Your bad news look. Whats up?" Jack asked.
"Well, in that case you are right. I do have bad news."
""What is it?"
"Jack and Lisa sat down on the lodge's stairs.
""I have to go to France as soon as possible. I'm about to loose clients that I can't afford to loose. It really doesn't look too good right now to be honest."
Jack had no idea that Lisa had been working so hard to keep Fairfield running without her leaving to France. "Well, I was prepared for your departure. I know that you have to go sooner or later. But why didn't you say anything about what has been going on at Fairfield?"
"There were so many more important things going on... And everything will be fine, I just need to get going."
"When exactly?"
"I would like to book a flight for next week. Everything is going great at Heartland and I feel like I can leave you alone for a couple of weeks right now, right?"
"For how long?" Jack asked with a big lump in his throat.
"I don't know. I won't be booking a flight back right now. Maybe two weeks, maybe two months, I just have to see how things are going in France. I'm sorry, Jack", Lisa apologized.
"It's OK. I know you have to go", Jack tried to smiled and when he realized that he couldn't he just pulled Lisa into his arms.
""I'm going to miss you", Lisa whispered.
""Well, I would put you on a chain if that would keep you here, but knowing you you would find another way to escape."br /Lisa laughed: "You know that's not true."
"Yeah, I do."

Hello my dear readers, you definitely amaze me by your continuing support for this story - thank you so much! Nevertheless I believe this story is coming to an end and before it does I would like to give you the opportunity to express wishes you might have for this fanfiction. If possible I will integrate them in the next chapter(s)!

So, as always I hope you'll make me happy with your reviews
Take care everyone!

PS: I deleted most of the stuff that accidentally appeared the first time I uploaded this chapter, hope I got most of the mistakes!