A/N: Hey, everyone, thank you all for the reviews; I'm happy that you all enjoyed the last chapter. I did it; I got the chapter done in a week! I'm so happy! One reviewer was a little confused last chapter, but, don't worry, this chapter will clear things. I promise, by the end of this chapter, you will have some kind of an idea of how Ty gets in trouble and you'll narrow it down to who gets hurt. I think. Hope you all enjoy this new one! :)

~ Chapter Nine ~

~~ The Visit ~~

"Amy!"

Amy Fleming-Borden was finishing spreading the bedding in the last stall, when she heard her husband's call from out in the yard. She smiled, smoothing out the bedding with a pitchfork. It was a sound Amy could get used to hearing, Ty calling her from somewhere in the yard. Their yard. Their ranch. If she closed her eyes right now, she could pretend they were already living here and it was a beautiful dream. Amy heard him call to her again, and, with one more swipe, she was done with the stall.

"In the barn!" Amy called back to him, stepping out of the stall and pulled the door shut behind her. She locked the stall, and leaned the pitchfork against the wall. The nameplate hanging on the stall swung side to side. Amy steadied it, making sure it was straight and even, not that Spartan would have cared or noticed. She wanted the barn to be perfect.

"I knew it," Ty said, as he strolled into the barn, smirking.

Amy turned to face him, and smiled. "Knew what?" she questioned, meeting him halfway. "That I would be in the barn? Where else would I be?" She laughed as they stopped right in front of each other.

"No, I mean that, how did I know that you would have the barn nearly done and ready before the house was?" Ty chuckled.

Amy smacked him in the shoulder playfully. "I'd be more mad and hit you harder, but even I know that it is true," she laughed. Ty laughed with her, moving closer as his arms naturally wrapped around her waist. She wound her own arms around him, too, lacing her hands together behind his back.

"The first step is admittance," Ty said, looking down at her. "Amy Borden, you're a equine-holic." He managed to say it with a straight face, but he bit his lip to hide his smile. Amy laughed out loud.

"Oh, yeah," Amy replied. "Maybe I am, and it's Amy Fleming-Borden." She poked her finger against his chest, correcting his mistake. Her finger remained on his chest, hooking on his jacket. She played with the lining of his coat, his warmth radiating over her.

"Oh, sorry, wife," Ty apologized. He liked the way the word sounded coming off of his lips, and he hoped it sang in her heart the same way it did in his. He leaned his head down closer to her. His breath tickled her cheek, sending tingles racing down her spine. Amy closed her eyes in bliss, and relied on her other senses. His familiar, warm scent, mixed with the lingering smell of paint, wafted over her. Ty's hands were on her waist, slipping underneath her jacket and shirt to stroke her bare skin. She traced her hands up his arms, following his shape, and settling her arms around his neck. She played with the hair at the nape of his neck, and she felt him shiver in pleasure. Amy pressed her cheek against his, breathing deep.

She opened her eyes and gazed at him. "But you know, there is something else I'm a little obsessed over, too," Amy told him, grinning seductively.

"Oh, yeah," Ty replied, intriguingly and curiously. He held her tighter against his body. "What's that?"

Amy moved her face closer, until their noses touched in a feather kiss. "My incredibly handsome husband," she whispered. Ty's smile got bigger, although a bit self-consciously, and he swooped down to capture her lips with his own. They kissed, lips moving together passionately. He tugged at her bottom lip gently with his teeth, asking permission, and, when she granted it, his tongue slid inside and tangled up with hers. One hand stayed at her waist, and the other one slid up her back, her clothes bunching up because of his actions. There was a cool breeze, but Amy barely felt it against her bare skin. The heat and friction happening between them right now was more than enough to keep her warm.

Then, Amy started to pull away, but Ty managed to sneak in a few more kisses. She placed her hands on his chest to put some space between them. "As much as I would love to stay wrapped up in your arms,-" she started to say, while Ty tried to sneak more kisses. He kissed her cheek, then continued along her jawline to her neck. Amy inadvertently gave him better access when she tilted her head back, letting out a small moan.

Ty paused quickly in his ministrations to look at her. "Hey, you're the one who announced I was your obsession," he chuckled. "I'm just trying to live up to that." He planted a kiss on her neck for emphasis.

"Yes, I did," Amy laughed, taking a step back, much to Ty's dismay. Though, as soon as she stepped away, she missed him being so close. "But we have all the time in the world, starting with tonight. Did you call me for a reason?"

Ty sighed, realizing that the kissing was now over. "Well, I was coming to see if you were done and able to help paint inside the house," he explained. "I was thinking with all of us helping, we could finish painting the living room before lunch. Then, we can head over to Heartland. Plus, if Caleb accidentally flicks paint on me one more time, I think I might just wreck the place and start a paint throwing war. And that won'tbe good."

"No, it wouldn't,.. for anybody," Amy laughed. She reached up and touched the side of his face. "I was wondering what this was. Now I know." She touched the paint streak on his face, giggling. Ty touched the spot in embarrassment, but Amy wrapped her fingers around his, pulling their hands back down.

Amy started leading him out of the barn. "Well, then, I guess I have to help, just to keep the paint from flying between you and Caleb," she agreed. "Or else, Lou will dump paint on all of us for messing up the house." Ty smiled.

They walked toward the house, their linked hands swinging between them. Then, Ty brought their hands up and kissed Amy's knuckles. "I can't wait for our forever to start," he told her, quietly and lovingly.

Amy smiled up at him, leaning into him as she walked. "It already has," she whispered back. They shared a quick but passionate kiss, their lips pressing together without breaking their stride to the house.

"Yes, it has," Ty amended, happily.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Lou and Peter were curled together on the couch in the family room. Her legs were draped over his lap as they studied a baby book of names, trying to find the perfect name for their son. It was a quiet peaceful moment before lunch, with Katie playing in her room, no doubt making a mess, and Georgie was outside riding Phoenix. Lou laid her head on her husband's shoulder, holding the book and fighting to keep her eyes open. Peter rested his hand on her belly and, as he moved his hand around in a slow circular motion, it wasn't helping her effort. She was at the stage of her pregnancy of fatigue and tiredness.

"Ok, how about this one?" Peter suggested, pointing to one page.

"Ok, honey, I can't tell if you're pointing to Sheldon or Theodore," Lou said, putting her hand on his arm. "but, either way, no."

"Why not? They are good names, strong ones," Peter defended. "And Theodore can be shortened to Theo." He looked hopeful as he looked over at her.

Lou had her eyebrows raised and mouth opened a little in surprise that he was really considering those choices. She leaned back, gaping. "Theodore is the name of a chipmunk," she said, enunciating each word carefully.

Peter looked like he hadn't thought of that. "Okay, well,..." he agreed, and looked back down at the baby book, flipping the pages. He glanced back up again, pointing to a different name. "What about Carlos?"

Lou's only expression was a single eyebrow raised. Before she could tell him he was off name duty and that she'll just pick one herself, there was three repetitive knocks on the door. Lou handed him the book and swung her legs slowly to the floor. "Ok, you are going to look at this some more and try not to name our child after any more animals," she told him. "I'm going to get the door." She started to get up, but Peter took her wrist, stopping her.

"I'll get the door," Peter offered, setting the book down beside him on the couch. "You stay here." He patted her leg.

"No, no, I'm getting cramped sitting here. I have to move," Lou insisted. She got to her feet, accepting his help. Peter reluctantly let her go.

He sat back down on the couch, picking up the book again. "But before you go, are Abu, Simba, and Mufasa off the table as well?" he joked, just wanting to see her reaction.

Lou walked around the couch, her hand trailing along the back of the couch and across his shoulders. "You've been watching too many Disney movies," she grinned. She leaned over and kissed his head. Peter squeezed her hand affectionately before she turned away.

"That's why I need this boy," Peter replied. "I'm surrounded by girls." He looked down at the book and flipped through the pages

Lou grinned and shook her head as she passed through the hallway into the kitchen. Georgie was in the kitchen at the open refrigerator, wrestling with a bag of carrots. Lou slowed down in her walk to the door. "Oh, I didn't know you were inside," she mentioned to her daughter.

"Yeah, I was jumping Phoenix and he was really rusty and anxious," Georgie explained, glancing up but she didn't stop trying to open the bag. "But the third time around the ring, we were in sync and he was perfect. I forgot to bring him a carrot out." She held the carrots up as an example.

Lou nodded, and walked over to the door, just as another two knocks came upon the door. She opened the door, and came face to face with an intimidating looking man. He had penetratingly dark eyes and a shaved head. Even though she had absolutely no reason to, she placed her hand over her belly protectively. Because that was the kind of vibe this man gave off.

"May I help you?" Lou asked him, politely.

"I certainly hope so," the man answered. At the sound of the man's voice, all noise in the kitchen ceased immediately. Lou didn't notice, however. "Does Georgina Fleming-Morris live here?"

"Yeees," Lou answered, her eyebrows scrunching together in curiosity and confusion over why this man was asking about her daughter. "She's my daughter. Why are you asking?"

"My name is Hank Caldwell, and I believe your daughter and her friends trespassed on my property last night," Hank explained, gruffly.

"What? That's impossible, she was at the movies with her friends last night," Lou insisted. She stepped back, holding the door open. "Please, come in so we can discuss this." Hank stepped loudly inside, and Lou closed the door behind him.

Hank stepped into the kitchen and spotted Georgie immediately. He glowered at her, and she froze under his scrutiny. The bag of carrots dropped from her hands, hitting the floor with a thud.

"Peter, can you come in here please?" Lou called to her husband, breaking the silence.

"I'm guessing you didn't tell your parents about your excursions last night," Hank quipped to Georgie.

Georgie gulped, and stooped down to pick up the bag of carrots with shaking hands. Peter strolled into the kitchen, clueless as to what was happening. "What's going on?" he questioned, placing his hands on his hips.

"Well, Hank, here, says that Georgie and her friends trespassed on his property last night," Lou filled him in.

"That's crazy. I dropped her off in front of the movie theater last night," Peter said. He looked over at his daughter for confirmation. Georgie opened her mouth to reply.

"Don't bother to deny it, girl," Hank warned her. "I have proof." With that, he pulled something out of his jeans pocket. He held it up, revealing a laminated school ID card with Georgie's name and picture on it. "Found this in my yard this morning."

Lou and Peter shot their gazes toward Georgie in shock. "What?!" Lou exclaimed.

"It wasn't like that!" Georgie argued, stepping up to the kitchen table. She swung the bag of carrots onto the table. "I was trying to stop the others! They were being dumb!"

"Ha! Then I guess you were being dumb right along with them," Hank interrupted her, snorting.

Georgie glared at him, then turned back to her parents. "It's true!" she pleaded. "He does a show called Man vs. Horse. Gus sprung it on us at the last minute, saying that he wanted to go on a tour of the place. I tried to stop them; I knew they were going to get in big trouble."

"Then why didn't you call us, Georgie?" Peter asked her. "You shouldn't have taken that on all by yourself."

"I know, I don't know why I didn't," Georgie said, weakly, looking down at the floor, mumbling, "I guess I..." She trailed off, unintelligibly.

"Instead, you kids trespassed on my property and messed with all of my stuff," Hank accused. He then pointed his finger at Georgie. "And you, in particular, spooked my horse so bad that he is still so wired today. I thought he was going to have a heart attack."

Georgie shot her head back up, looking right at Hank. She suddenly felt afraid that he did something to Spiridon. "That's a lie!" Georgie burst out. "He's not afraid of me, he's afraid of you!"

"Georgie," Lou chastised, softly. Hank watched on in innocence, but there was a threatening look under his facade.

"I'm not lying!" Georgie shouted. "He's abusing his horse, I saw it! Spiridon was terrified, and he had whip marks all over his body." Her eyes glistened with unshed tears, for the poor horse.

"Shut your damn mouth, girl!" Hank exclaimed. "You don't know what you are talking about, and you are damn lucky I didn't call the police."

"Hey, don't talk to my daughter that way!" Peter warned Hank, stepping toward the hostile man.

Lou was between them, and placed her hand on Peter's chest to keep him back. "Ok, thank you for not calling the police on her," Lou replied, diffusing the tension in the room. "We can handle the situation from here."

"Yeah, I think it's time for you to leave," Peter added, a bit calmer now.

"I'm not leaving until I get an apology and assurance that this will never happen again," Hank shook his head, not moving. He tossed Georgie's ID onto the table hard, and it nearly skidded off the table.

"It won't, believe me," Lou assured him. She turned her head toward her daughter. "Georgie?" she urged her on, with a nod.

Georgie sighed, not happy. "Sorry," she mumbled, avoiding his eye contact.

Hank nodded efficiently. "Take my not contacting the police as a peace offering," he said. "I'm not usually the forgiving type, especially on second offenses." When he said the latter, he shot a warning glance at the sullen and upset thirteen year old.

Lou thanked him again, and then, after telling Georgie to stay right there, she and Peter walked Hank back outside to his truck. They saw that Amy and Ty had just arrived and were walking to the gate at the same time they were. Lou and Peter stopped, letting Hank pass through the gate. Hank saw Amy and Ty, and when he passed by them, he recognized Ty from their last meeting.

"I should have known you were involved in this," Hank growled, barely under his breath.

Ty looked at him confusedly, as did Amy, but he pulled Amy closer to him, his arm wrapping around her waist tightly. Protectively.

A/N: Wow, was that intense or what! Did anybody think something worse was going to happen? Tell me what you thought about this chapter. C'mon, you know I love hearing from all of you. Please review; I'll update faster again.