Wednesday Night

She woke with a start when she heard knocking, heard her name. She looked at the clock on her night stand. 5:00 pm. "Shoot." She rose quickly. "Georgie?"

The young girl stirred, rolled over. "Huh? What?"

Amy quickly left her room, walked to the front door. "Hey Scott. Come in. I am running a bit late. Just need to brush my teeth. It will only take two minutes."

"Not a problem." He turned to the younger girl. "Hey Georgie!"

"Hey Scott." She immediately followed Amy into the bathroom. "Amy. Where are you going? Can I go?"

"Scott has asked me to go on a field call with him." Mouth full of toothpaste and brush.

"Can I go with?" She begged, she didn't want to leave her side.

"Amy. If your okay with it, I am okay if Georgie comes." Always nice, Scott called from the front room.

"See. Scott doesn't mind...Amy. Let me go with you. Are you seeing horses?" Georgie pushed a bit.

"No. We're checking on Gem's puppies. They were born yesterday."

"Really? Puppies? Amy, please, pretty please." She reverted back to being a 13 year old girl.

"Are you going to beg and whine?"

"No! Promise." Georgie drew ax X across her heart with her finger. "Cross my heart!"

"Seeing that you crossed your heart," she smiled. "Then yes, it's okay with me." Then Amy realized that Lou wasn't there. "Wonder where your mom is? Text her and get her permission. Okay?"

"On it." Georgie texted. Mom. Amy and I are going to see gems. Love you. "Okay. Sent the text."

"Good. Let's go." The three happily climbed into Scott's truck, Amy and Scott upfront, Georgie in the back seat.

"Georgie, these pups are so cute. They are mostly born white but the freckles or spots will begin to appear all over them. Plus, they are really good with bird hunting and horses." Amy said. "Look." She pull up some pictures that she snapped with her phone yesterday.

"Awwww. They are so cute." Georgie squealed. "Can we get one?" She begged. "Please?"

"Georgie." Amy pointed out. "It's not very fun when you beg."

"Sorry. I will try harder." She lowered her eyes. "But they are so cute."

"Well, even if you beg, you can't take them home just yet." Scott explained patiently "They were just born yesterday. It's best if they stay with Gem for 8 to 12 weeks."

"Why that long?" Georgie tried to check her begging and whining. Looked to Amy who nodded at her niece.

"The pups need to get important antibodies, nurse, learn how to be a dog from Gem."

"Oh. Can I hold one? Please." Amy looked her, not smiling, shook her head. She realized that she was whining, she quickly added. "It's okay if I can't." Hoping that would suffice.

"We'll see first how the mom and pups are doing first. Sometimes the mom is very protective."

They continued talking about the Setter Ranch, English Setters and their puppies the entire drive to 30 minute drive out west from Hudson.

They met Harry at the barn. "Hey Harry!" Harry shook Amy's hand, then Scott's.

"Amy. Scott. Good to see you again. Who did you bring with you?"

"Harry. This is my niece Georgie Fleming Morris. Georgie, this is Harry French. Owner of Setters Ranch." Amy introduced, Georgia shook his hand as well.

"Nice to meet you, young lady."

"Hello Mr. French."

"Come in. Let's go see Gem and her babies."

Gem was laying on her side with a mess of puppies nursing. When she saw them, her black long ears perked up, her soft mouth opened into what looked like a wide smile, her tail of white and black feathers began to wag, slapping the floor to welcome them. She seemed calm, completely recovered from the rough delivery the day before.

"Awww. They are so cute. So she had five puppies?" Georgie counted.

"Should be six. Count again." Harry suggested.

"One. Two. Three. Four. Five." Georgie counted out loud. "I only see five."

"She's right. Hmm. One is missing. Look around." Scott began looking around as did everyone.

Amy gasp. "I found her." The tiny puppy was trapped partly under the dog blanket and her mom's long ear. She picked her up, quickly handed the pup to Scott. "Scott, this one might be mine." She was worried. First the sideways birth, now being separated from her siblings. Amy was worried.

Scott looked her over quickly. "She's fine, warm, plump. Harry, has she nursed today?"

"I thought so. But now I can't be sure." He took off his cap with one hand, rubbed the back of his neck with the other.

"I saw her nurse yesterday before we left." Amy added. "Could we see if she'll nurse now?"

"Yeah." Scott put the little pup right next to one of Gem's teats, she latched on and began to nurse hungrily to everyone's relief.

"Oh good." Amy crouched down time look at her little pup. She ran a single fingertip down the pup's back. "Sweet puppy."

"Well. Georgie. Thanks for being so observant and counting puppies." Harry shook her hand.

"Yeah. They are still blind so they just try to nudge and smell their way to a teat. Sometimes they get lost or sometimes they just go on a little adventure." He smiled. "She'll be okay."

Scott got down on his knees to check the pups. One by one, he gently pulled the pup from Gem's bosom. As each squirmed, cried, almost mewed like a kitten, he listened to their heart and lungs, checked it's abdomen to for any unusual signs, looked for skin, coat, eye, ear, nose problems. He talked to each pup, gave a tiny pet with his thumb, before he returned it to Gem's side, ensuring that the pup latched on.

"Are you microchipping, Harry?" Scott as he continued his vetting.

"Yeah. In a few weeks. I don't want to do it too soon."

"Yeah. I get that." Scott replied. "Her last litter? All survive?"

"Yes. Homed them all out. Seems to be no complaints."

"Good to hear. You have a good facility and operations here. So no surprise."

Harry nodded his head to Scott. "Thinking about changing their supplements to that new stuff."

"Breeder5?"

"Yeah. That's the stuff. It's a little cheaper."

"Heard that. Might be alright for the older dogs. Wait til the pups are 20 pounds or more. The stuff you use now is still recommended."

"Will do.

Amy watched Scott. The tender care and attention he gave to each tiny pup warmed her, she smiled slightly. And he was just the same with Harry, tender, attentive. Scott was kind, Lou probably could eat him alive. She almost laughed out loud.

"Well, mom and pups all seem to be in good health and thriving. Keep an eye on the escape artist, she may go on another journey." Then he smiled. "Amy may not take kindly to losing her pup!"

"You're getting a puppy Amy?" Georgie asked.

"It appears that way." Amy grinned.

"Wow. That is so great! I'll help!" Georgie said. "I'm good with pups, even wolf pups."

"You don't say?" Harry said.

"Yeah. I took good care of a wolf pup named Fang for my uncle Ty. He's studying to be a vet. Right Amy?"

"Yes, you did Georgie. Very good care." Amy felt funny, hearing his name, him being called an uncle. And, there it was, plain as day, Ty was family. They wouldn't be able to chose, that was clear. It was too much to ask. She had been holding her breath, not realizing, so she finally exhaled.

"Amy? Did you name her?" Georgie asked.

"I did. I will name her Ruth, for short." She smiled. "Ruth Bader Ginsburg, for the register."

"Huh? Is that someone famous? Never heard of her."

"You will." Amy smiled at Georgie. Scott flashed a shy smile at her, he knew.

Harry led them to Scott's truck, by way of the outdoor field set-up like a competition course. Kim rode up on her horse, with a setter laying across her lap, tuckered out.

"Well hey Scott! Fancy meeting you here!" She only had eyes, time for Scott, she smiled. Eventually she noticed. "Well. Hey Amy."

"Hey Kim. That is one relaxed dog." Scott grinned, ear to ear, maybe a bit too earnest.

"Yeah. Abe is worn out. We have been doing some field trial work. Competition is this weekend." She paused. "You should come."

"Oh. Um. I can't. I have weekend calls."

"Too bad. I would have liked that. Maybe next time?" Kim replied. She clicked her tongue, her horse walked forward to the barn. "See you."

Amy leaned over, whispered in his ear. "You are so blind."

"Am not." Scott responded. Amy laughed.

As they walked between the course and the grouse coop, Amy spied a white Ford 150 with a For Sign in the back window. "Is that truck for sale?" Amy asked.

"Yeah. It's my wife's truck. She loved it for like 30 seconds. She says that it always looks dirty. Go figure." He scoffed. "It's been sitting there for a couple of years. She takes it out when she goes Antiquing." He rolled his eyes.

"Does it work?"

"Yeah. Drove it today. Only has about 35k miles on the engine. It needs new tires."

"Does it have a towing package?"

"Yes. I have 28k on it. I'll sell it to you for 25k."

"May I take for a test drive?"

"Sure. You'll probably have to put a gallon of gas in the tank."

"I can do that. Can I test drive tonight?"

"Tell you what. It's almost supper. Take it tonight. Come back tomorrow, tell me what you think."

"You have a deal!" She shook hands with him. "Hey. You wouldn't happen to have a horse trailer."

He laughed. "I do. It's a calico, double. But it's ugly."

"Can I see it?" He nodded, laughed, pointed. "Oh my." She put for hand to her mouth.

"It's called Barbie Pink. It was Kim's in high school. What can I say, she has me wrapped around her finger." He paused "You can have both for 26k."

"Can I take both for a test drive?"

"You know what you're doing?"

"Yes." Amy said confidently.

"I can vouch for her." Scott added.

"Alrighty then." He smiled, shook his head. "I'll get the keys."

"Are you sure Amy?" Scott asked.

"You said he had a good facility and operations. His barn is spotless, everything is well maintained. Why not? I am just test driving it."

"If it's in good working order, it's a steal. But, oh my. That trailer is ugggly."

"It is indeed." She laughed. "Gotta crawl before you walk."

He grinned. "True."

The hook-up between the truck and trailer was easy. Even driving the truck pulling the trailer was easy as well. But, finding an Esso in the middle of nowhere to fill the tank, not easy at all. She worried that she would run out of gas, stall out, on some abandoned highway, somewhere between here and there. But, she and Georgie made it, Scott was right behind her.

"How's it drive?" Scott asked.

"Surprisingly well. I think the front right tire has a wobble, aside from that it's pretty good. I maybe offer 25k for the two."

"You drive a hard bargain. Well, with adopting Ruth, you'll practically be family."

She smirked. "Hmm. I only have cash. So I gotta go in. Will you pump 10 dollars worth in the tank? Please."

"Yep."

Amy strode into the station, right up to the cashier, handed him a ten. "Ten dollars worth of gas please." He nodded.

"Hello Ms. Fleming."

She turned, he was standing behind her. "Syed?" She smiled, hugged him. "How are you?"

He a middle aged man, medium height, slight build, dark hair, eyes, lashes with mocha skin. A beautiful white smile. As the father of 4 unmarried daughters, a difficult financial position to be in Arabia. He was also was her driver in Europe, one of the few that was always kind to her. He drove her home from the Calgary airport not long ago.

"Ms. Fleming. I am well. Guess we both were in need of gas tonight."

"Guess so. I am glad, but surprised to see you. I thought you'd be in Antwerp by now."

"Tomorrow. We are disappointed that you won't be joining us. The prince hoped you'd change your mind."

"My European touring days are over. I wanted, needed to be home."

"Yes. I am certain your family missed you. But, we will miss you too." He seemed genuine.

Amy just nodded, but wondered. "I better go. My friends waiting. Thank you for everything Syed. You were always so very kind to me. I will never forget you." She smiled, hugged him.

"Ms. Fleming. It was my pleasure and my honor to be of assistance to you. And, you never know, we may see other again."

"You never do." She smiled. "Bye Syed."

She rejoined Georgie and Scott at the pump. Scott has just finished gassing up, he was screwing on the gas top.

"Thanks Scott."

"No problem. Think you got it from here to Heartland?" He looked at his watch, smiled.

"Yes. It's not far. Thank you." She gave him a hug, not something she normally did, so it took him by surprise. He had been a true friend to her, one of the few since she got home.

The Heartland gate has always been welcoming sight, a beacon of homecoming, family, safety, respite, relief for Amy. A landing so to speak.

But, tonight, she felt a twinge in her chest. Yes, Heartland was still all those things, no matter how strained. But, driving the truck and trailer, soon to be hers, was a sign of freedom, progress, growth. Separation.

She no longer had to ask permission.

She could decide to come, to go, to stay, to leave. The choices, decisions, successes, failures were hers now. Scary, yes, but also exhilarating.

"Hey. Look. Ty's here." Georgie said, happily, was they pulled up to the house.

"I see." Amy stayed put while Georgie opened the truck door.

"Aren't you coming in?"

"I need to do night check. Maybe later?"

"Okay. Thanks Amy. That was fun."

"Glad you came tonight, Georgie. Tomorrow we'll work Sally Ride." She smiled. "Hey. I love you."

Georgie grinned. "I love you too." They hugged quickly, then young girl was out of the truck like a shot, slamming the door, to see her uncle.

She parked her new truck and Barbie trailer in front of the barn, then slipped inside the door. She has talking with Spartan about Ruth, the truck, laughing about the hideous pink trailer, when Ty came up quickly beside her, pulled her to him, embraced her.

"Oh my god Amy. Are you okay?" He must have run to the barn as he was a bit out of breath.

Then he kissed her, hard, fast, like he was moving a wall with his lips. She wasn't sure what he meant by the kiss.

She was surprised to see him, even more she surprised to be in his arms, to be kissed.

She recovered, "Hey Ty." She smiled, paused, glad to be in his arms. "Of course I'm okay. I am fine...Um. How are you?"

"We were worried that something bad happened to you."

"Why?" She pulled away, confused.

"We thought you were missing, that Ahmed had taken you." He was worried, concerned.

Confused. "Ahmed? What gave you that idea?" She shook her head.

"Jack, Lou, the Police Chief. You were missing. We were worried."

"The Police Chief?" She shook her head. "What? We just went to see some puppies. I thought Georgie texted Lou." She laughed at the mix-up.

"Georgie told us. But, it's not funny Amy. We really thought you were hurt or worse. I didn't hear from you."

She could not believe what he was saying. "Ty. Hold up. You expected me to let you know where I was going?" She couldn't believe it. "Remember. You were the one who wanted a break. You didn't want to hear from me. You didn't want anything to do with me."

"Amy. I love you, worry about you." He said seriously, wondering if he had already pushed her too far.

She shook her head, resolute. "No. Ty. You don't get to have it both ways. That's not how it works."

"What's that's supposed to mean?"

"Ty. If you really loved me, you would want to talk with me, listen to me, be with me." She shrugged her shoulder. "Not shut me out, ignore me, punish me."

He didn't respond, didn't know what to say, she was right.

She sighed, softened her tone. "Ty. Look. Thank you for worrying about me. I am fine. As you can see." She sighed, took a step away.

Ty nodded, then quietly added. "Hey. Um. Georgie told me you weren't wearing your ring. Why?" He grabbed her hand to check.

She sighed. "You made a decision to take a break. Ty, you broke my heart. Into a million pieces." She straightened her shoulders. "So. I made my own decision, to not wear the ring. I wanted to have a say too." She shrugged.

"Oh." He couldn't say much more.

"Do you want the rings back?" She offered.

"No, I gave them to you." He looked sad, resigned. "I want you to have them."

She nodded, swallowed hard. "Ty. Thanks for worrying about me. But, I am going to be fine." She sighed. "And, so are you."

"Yeah." He whispered.

"Um. I got to do night check."

"Okay." He turned to leave.

"Hey Ty?"

Yeah?"

"What about Harley?"

"What about him?" He paused. "Oh. Yeah. Jack says he can stay here."

"Good. Spartan will like that." She said. "Are you going to care for him or have you made arrangements with Grandpa or Georgie?"

"Oh. Okay. Yeah. I'll talk to them."

Just then her phone dinged, she got a text from Lou. "It's Lou. She wants us in the house."

"You might want to bring your laptop and phone." He suggested.

As they walked out of the barn, Ty asked. "Hey, whose truck and trailer?"

"They are mine!" She grinned. "Great huh?"

"Huh. Interesting color."

"It's called Barbie Pink! It's growing on me." She laughed. "I think it's great."

"Good for you Amy." He liked hearing her laugh.

She saw him limping, holding his side. "You are walking funny. You okay?" She said tenderly.

"Yeah. It's nothing."

"You sure. You don't look okay. I can get you an ice pack." She really cared for him.

"Yeah. I'll heal." He looked at her.

Entering the house, Amy was surprised by the grim look on everyone's face sitting around the dining room table, the tension in the air. Jack and Lou rushed to her, hugged her.

"Amy. I am so glad that you are safe. We were so worried."

"We went to see puppies with Scott. Georgie texted you Lou. Ty said you didn't get it."

"No Amy. We didn't get it."

"Oh my gosh. I am so sorry. I don't understand. Georgie texted."

Jack introduced Amy to Chief Parker, Jeff Anderson, RCMP security specialist, and Jerry Martin from Fairfield's security."

Chief Parker started. "Amy, are you okay?"

She nodded. "Yes."

"We have reason to believe that you and the rest of the family are being surveilled by Prince Ahmed and his staff."

"That's not a surprise to me." She said calmly. "Did something else happen?"

"We have found spyware on the family's cell phones, computers, laptops."

"And you and Georgie were missing. That's what happened." Lou exclaimed. "We were terrified."

"Oh. I am so sorry." Amy grabbed Lou's hand.

"Amy. Lou and Georgie's phones contained spyware that allowed for message and call interception, tracking, listening."

"Jack's and my phones too. Lisa's was clean." Ty added.

"Wow." Amy sighed. "Okay. What do we do about it?"

"We take devices in for evidence." He held his hand out, she gave him her devices. He turned them off.

"Are they listening to us right now?"

"Not exactly. The mobile app installed was secretly monitoring and obtaining information from their phones. It recorded phone calls, text messages and other sensitive information." Jeff explained.

"So phone calls, texts?"

"Any internet links, online purchases, pictures, anything. Plus, it tracks where the phone is. So if you have the phone with you, it knows where you are."

"So. If I turn it off, the spyware stops working?"

"Yes."

"So if I have my phone with me, and it's turned on but I am not texting, calling or making a purchase. Can they hear me talking?"

"We have to do a sweep to find out what has been installed. But probably not."

"Can you just disinfect them or do we have to get new electronics?"

"It's best if we take them. But we can disinfect. Either will work. But. It's good to have evidence though." Jeff Anderson said.

"Hmm. Can you just see if mine is infected and with what? Not disinfect them?"

"What are you thinking Amy?" Asked Ty.

"I am thinking that I have the upper hand, right. I can make them believe that I am somewhere, where I am not."

"That may be dangerous."

"Amy. No." Jack said. "Just let them have them."

"But. What about my pictures and things I want to keep?" She frowned.

"It's best that you get new devices. Turn in what you have. We can work with to transfer the stuff you want to keep."

"Okay. Then what?" She asked resigned.

"We issued an All Points Bulletin out for the prince. But, apparently they have left Hillhurst and the country." Said Chief Parker.

"They may have left Hillhurst, but they are still in country. I saw Syed Kalb, tonight at the Esso on Highway 543." Amy revealed.

"Who is this Syed Kalb?"

"He was my driver in Europe." She added. "He said that they were leaving for Antwerp tomorrow. I got the impression that included Ahmed." She paused.

"Are you sure?"

She shrugged. "That's just what Syed said. He has no reason to lie to me...Have they done illegal to be arrested?"

"Well, yes. Spyware or tapping itself isn't illegal in Canada. But, the use of a spy app without informing the device's owner is illegal and considered an invasion of privacy." Jeff Anderson said.

"So what? Apps invade our privacy all the time through cookies. Did they do something wrong?"

"Other than planting devices and spyware? No." Chief Parker admitted. "Your family thinks that he's looking to kidnap you or hurt Ty."

"So, do I, but what can be done?" Amy pushed.

"We can provide security around the property. We can lock the gates at night."

"For how long?" Amy asked.

"A week."

"So no good solutions." They shook their heads.

"RCMP will be posted around starting tonight." Chief Parker stated.

She shrugged her shoulders. "Okay, any thing else?"

"Will you let us know if you see it hear or see anything?" He handed everyone a card. "Call me."

She nodded. "Thank you." She sighed. "I don't want to worry anybody. But, I have work to do. Here at Heartland and off the ranch."

"We recognize that. Keep us posted. Keep your eyes open. Be very careful."

She nodded. "I have to do night check. Thank you again." She said her good nights, when to the barn.

She was brushing Spartan, quietly talking to him when Ty appeared in the barn.

"Hey. Will I disturb you if I night check Harley? Jack and Georgie went to bed."

"Of course not."

"Okay." He pulled Harley out of his stall, clip him, and began to brush him. Silently, they did they work.

Hope you enjoyed thus chapter. Let me know what you think.

Be safe, Be healthy.

SBR