The day was very young, still dark, at just a quarter past four. Jack was sitting on the couch, alone, in the living room, glasses perched on the end of his nose, staring at the few remaining embers in the stone fireplace. He considered adding a log or two and stoking the fire, but thought better of it. Soon the day's work would start, everyone would be busy, too busy to sit and enjoy the warmth of a fire.
Amy padded in, still dressed in her winter pajama's, she rubbed her eyes, and sat down next to him without saying a word.
"Amy. You are up early."
"Yeah. I couldn't sleep." Without much thought, she got up, added a log to the fire, pumped the bellow slowly, stoking the embers into a flame. Satisfied, she returned to the couch, curled up, tucking her feet underneath her.
"Talk to me. What seems to be bothering you?" He leaned over, kissed her forehead.
"I don't know where to start." She put her head on his shoulder.
"You and Ty seem to be good."
She nodded, smiled, then blushed. "But, I worry about him. He has such a good heart. He has this need to protect and help the defenseless."
Jack nodded, exhaled loudly. "He grew up being his mom's protector. Taking the abuse so she could be spared. It's ingrained in him now."
"Grandpa, can you imagine Ty as a boy, trying to be brave, to defend his mom? It makes me sad that he had to go through that." She shook her head, trying to dispel the horrible image.
"Amy. He's overcoming that, made something positive from that."
"I know. He has. He's a good man who doesn't ask for help." Her eyes glistened. "But, I worry that he's going to get hurt Grandpa. He doesn't think about himself. He doesn't think about the risks."
"Is he in trouble?"
"No. I don't think so." She took a breath. "So. We took the coyotes to the Wildlife Rehab Center. Bob, the vet there, let Ty perform a procedure on a mountain lion cub. Ty was so excited. He got Ty interested in volunteering for a wolf rescue in next weekend, somewhere in the wilds of Alberta or BC."
"Oh, so he'll be gone for your birthday?"
"That's not the point. Now Ty is also talking about cutting back his hours with Scott to work with Bob."
"Has he talked to Scott?"
"Not yet. But, Grandpa, I just don't trust Bob. He's creepy, rude. He wouldn't look me in the eye."
"Lots of creepy, rude people, Amy."
"Yes. But, the place was overgrown, not at all maintained. Posted signs everywhere. He told Ty that it wasn't safe there. But, the strangest thing was his clinic. In this spray-painted camouflaged concrete block building, in the middle of this..this..disarray, was all this modern and probably very expensive veterinary equipment."
"Interesting. How does he stay in business?"
"Don't know. It doesn't add up. Does it? I mean, we dropped off two coyotes that needed medical care, food, boarding. There wasn't a drop-off fee, donation box or anything. Where does the funding come from?"
"So what are you going to do?"
"I already told Ty that I thought Bob was odd, that there was something off. He agreed, but didn't seem phased."
"I see."
"But, Grandpa, I want to support and encourage Ty, just like he supports and encourages me. I told him that I supported his decisions."
"But you're worried."
"Yes. Very. I am torn between protecting him and supporting him."
"Tell him what you told me. Be honest."
She nodded. "I will try. But, easier said than done." She frowned, her brow furrowed with concern. Jack patted her knee.
"Do you want me to talk to him?"
"No."
He nodded. "So what else is in your mind? France? Thinking about going?"
She leaned up, gave him a stern look. "Grandpa, why aren't you going? You miss Lisa so much when she's gone."
"I have no desire to get on an airplane and go to some hoity-toity place."
"Grandpa, you love her, don't you?"
"I do. I told her that."
"You know, sometimes actions speak louder than words."
He nodded. "You know, that song yesterday reminded me of what Lyndy gave up because she loved me."
"Love makes us do things we wouldn't otherwise. And, Lyndy was a special woman."
"She was that." He smiled. "But, what about you? Going to France?"
"I would love to go. But, not any time soon."
"Too much in your plate?"
She laughed. "No, that's not it. I am busy though. I want to get HEaRT in a good place first. I need to build 12 stalls."
"Am I going to regret turning all of the horses and barn over to you?" He laughed.
"Nope. I am going to make you proud."
"I already am sweetheart, I already am."
Dressed warmly and in the Quonset hut by five, Amy had a lot on her mind and on her list. She quickly fed, watered Grace and Dancer, turned them out into separate pens and cleaned out their stalls. They hadn't shown any signs of disease during the quarantine. Both horses had filled out, settled into a nice, albeit domesticated life. Today Amy was going to work on saddling and riding Grace.
As Dancer watched from the adjacent pen, she worked Grace with the long lunges, reforming their bond with a smooth join-up. Grace surprised her by accepting the blanket and saddle on her back with very little resistance. "You are such a good girl, Grace. Do you remember these from your past life?" She praised her, petted her. "Okay Grace. Next you get me." Putting her left foot in the stirrup, Amy graceful lifted her body to standing position. "Whoa. Whoa Grace. Good girl." After Grace was steady, she swung her right leg over and into the other stirrup. "Good girl!" Slowly she sat down on the saddle. "Oh Grace. You are so good." She profusely praised her, rubbing her neck, and mane.
With a click of her tongue against the roof of her mouth, "Walk on Grace", and slight pressure from her heels, Amy urged Grace move forward. Without hesitation, the horse moved into a smooth walk, delighting Amy. She was amazed how quickly she responded and decided to put her through her paces, trot, canter, right, left, whoa, back-up. It was abundantly clear that Grace had been a well trained horse, owned and loved by someone. Amy was so tickled and pleased, she decided to bring in Dancer and pony her with her mom.
Once Dancer was in the pen with her mom, Grace became less cooperative, walking away from Amy as she attempted to mount her. Whoas no longer seemed to register with the horse. Amy opted to end the session, satisfied at the progress she made. She loosely tied her to the fence rail to untack her. As fast as a blink of an eye, Grace swung her haunches around, knocking Amy to the fence, pinning her. Amy screamed out in pain, "Move back Grace". The moment the horse stepped aside, Amy scrambled through the rail and fell to the ground to catch her breath.
After several minutes, she checked for broken bones and blood, finding none she slowly stood up. She called for Grace and Dancer from outside the pen. As they approached she talked calmly to each, petting their muzzles. "Good girls." She wanted to end the session in a positive note.
Inside she showered, inspected her back, only to find several bruises already forming across her ribs. She dressed in fresh clothes, deposited her discarded ones in the laundry, then headed to the kitchen. Seated at the kitchen table, Lou was perusing a cookbook, Peter writing emails. Pouring a glass of OJ, Amy swallowed a couple of pain relievers.
"Hey. Morning." Peter said finally looking up from his screen.
"Hey."
"Oh Amy. I wanted to talk with you about the Dude Ranch." Lou started.
"Okay. Bookings have been slow, huh?" Amy responded.
"Well, lil sister, we are full up this weekend. But, I was hoping you and Mallory could lead some trail rides." She smiled wide. "Pretty please."
"Sure. I don't have anything on my calendar special."
"Really? Thank you!" She hugged Amy, kissed her cheek. "Did I ever tell you that you are my favorite sister?"
Any laughed. "All the time!"
"By the way, you don't have to do anything Friday night so we can celebrate your birthday. " she smiled. "I didn't forget."
Amy kissed her cheek.
"Oh. Breakfast will be ready in an hour. I found a recipe for New Orleans French toast."
"Oh my gosh. That sounds so decadent. Can't wait." She waved as she headed to the door, stopping to slip on boots and a coat.
As she entered the barn, Ty was descending the loft stairs. "Hey. How did you sleep?"
"Good. But, I had this crazy dream about this beautiful girl who told she loved me." Ty wrapped his arms around her and kissed her on the cheek.
She giggled, "Oh yeah. What did you say?"
"Nothing."
"What?!" She pushed him away.
"I didn't say anything, I just showed her." He gently pull her closer, pushed her hair behind her ear, and kissed her lips softly. "I love you. Amy. I missed you so much."
"We saw each other last night."
"Too long to be without you." He pulled her tighter, kissed her again.
She whimpered, "ow!"
"Amy, did I hurt you? I'm sorry."
"No, not you. Grace pinned me against the pen rail this morning." She grimaced. "It will be fine. Nothing broken. No blood."
"Let me see." He pulled up the back of her shirt. "Oh Amy. That looks bad. Did you ice it?"
She shook her head. "Okay, let's go do that."
"Um. After breakfast, which is in 45 minutes. Just enough time to do morning chores." She grinned, he nodded. "Do you have time for a ride after?"
"A short one. I have a ton of studying to do. Plus, I am working with Scott this afternoon. Need some hours."
Working aside one another, they made quick work of the barns and horses. "What's on your agenda today Amy?"
"After we ride, I am going to work with Star and Silk. Matt and Rebecca are coming to help. I also want to spend some more time with that ranch software. Stewart Forrester is coming tomorrow, so I want to automate the release forms. I also want to sketch out drawing for the additional stalls."
"That's a bunch."
"Fun stuff though."
Lisa and Mallory joined the family for breakfast, making seven around the dining room table. "Lou, that French toast was incredible. Did you add a bit of bourbon to the syrup?" Lisa asked.
"You guessed it. Good, huh?"
"Yes! Please make it again." Mallory begged.
"What about my pancakes?" Complained Jack.
"Those are awesome, Jack. But, maybe Lou will make her special syrup to go with them." Ty teased.
"Ty. What ever happened with the coyotes?" Peter asked.
"Well, funny you should ask. We took them to the Wildlife Rehab Center yesterday. I'm surprised Amy didn't tell you." Ty responded looking at Amy.
"Sorry Ty. We got back so late, I had to get Ashley and me ready for the wedding. You should tell them about the center, the wolf rescue, Bob. Know they'd like to hear everything." Amy said. She put her hand in his thigh, patted it a couple of times.
Ty proceeded excitedly to tell them about the center, without describing it fully, about Bob's invite to work there and to volunteer with the wolf rescue.
"Well, you sure seem excited about this opportunity Ty." Lou said.
"Lou. I really am. Once I worked with that coyote, I realized that wildlife is the focus I have been seeking. I have even started to look into wildlife classes at school." His eyes were shining.
"Well that's good Ty." Lisa said.
"But, what about Scott, Ty? He's invested a lot in you, your training. You can't leave him high and dry." Lou asked.
"Well, there are lots of vet students that he could hire in my place... and they want to work with domesticated animals." Ty suggested.
"Oh. I see. So you only want to work with wild animals now?" Mallory asked. "No domesticated animals, like say, horses."
"Yea, I find it really exciting. Bob says, "once you you go wild, you never go back to mild"" he laughed until he noticed that no one else did.
"Think it would be tough making a living treating wild animals. Who would pay for that? Wild animals don't have owners who will pay thousands to fix a broken leg." Peter said.
"There are government grants and funding available." Ty defended himself.
"Ty. The government has a huge program to cull wolves, they won't fund you to save them." Peter responded.
"Did you say that wolf thing is Friday? You know that's Amy's birthday." Lou reminded him.
"Oh. I didn't know." He sighed. "Well, it's clear that none of you are supportive. At least Amy is supportive. Right?"
He looked right at her.
"Like I told Ty, I want him to be happy. And, I support his dreams, goals and decisions." She said carefully.
"But, Amy, I thought you and Ty were going to go into business together, to heal and rehab horses." Mallory said.
"Mallory. Ty has a new dream. I want to be as supportive of him as he is of me." She said firmly.
"Will you excuse me?" Ty got up, carried his plate to the sink, and left. Amy stood time follow him.
"Let him go Amy." Jack said gently.
"We just trashed his dream. I don't want him to be alone. Thanks Lou. The French toast was really good." She left without taking her dishes to the sink.
Amy found him in the loft, packing his things. "What are you doing?"
"It's clear that I am not supported here. I am moving into Caleb's trailer." He slammed his dresser drawer.
She started laughing, incredulous. "Are you serious? What are you, two? Going to runaway from home, are you?" She shook her head. He just stood there. "Come on Ty." She smiled, put her arms around him and kissed him on the lips.
He started smiling. "Two, huh?" He pouted. "You told them, didn't you?"
"I only told Grandpa this morning. I doubt he had time to tell the others. Think they are just doing what families do." She said.
"Butt into other people's business?"
"Pretty much. But, they do it because they love you." He rolled his eyes, she laughed.
"So, you are against this too?" Ty wondered aloud.
"I am for you, your happiness, your dreams, your goals. I told you that last night. I meant it." Amy said honestly.
"So tell me honestly what you think."
"I think you don't know enough yet about Bob and his business to change your plans. Who is Bob and what are his credentials? How does he fund all that fancy equipment? Second, I would find out about the wolf rescue. As a volunteer do you have to pay your way there, food and board? How long is the trip? Is it considered anti-government to be involved?"
He didn't respond. "I'm not saying "don't do it". I am saying look before you leap. Just find out more about it."
He looked dejected. "You must think I am an idiot."
"Of course not. I think that you are a good man with a good heart. You are the protector of the defenseless."
"Really?"
"That's what I told Grandpa this morning. He agreed. I also think that you are very smart, handsome and..." she whispered in his ear "sexy."
He laughed. Then got serious again. "Your birthday?"
"What about it? It's just another day."
"Not to me." Then he shook his head, "Of course I forgot it. Sorry."
"Things has been crazy, busy. Do not worry about."
"Do you have plans Friday night?"
"Hmm. I will have to check my very busy schedule." She pretended to she check it. "Nope. I am free." She giggled.
"Amy Fleming. Will you go on date with me?"
"Hmm." She smiled, then jumped into his arms wrapping her legs around him. "Yes." He kissed her.
"What about that ride you promised me?" She asked.
"Ice first." He kissed her.