Wednesday

Arriving first at Mrs. Bell's house, she exited her truck, shivered as the late August evening air had already cooled, dipped with the setting sun. With both Ruth and Mouse tucked inside of her blue plaid flannel shirt, she bounded up the wooden stairs onto the vacant porch, knocked. A couple minutes passed before Mrs. Bell opened the door, releasing a warm, delicious scent that made Amy's stomach growl loudly.

"Well, my dear, sounds like your brought a ferocious bear with you!" The elderly lady winked, stepped back to let her enter. "Come in."

Amy laughed, kissed the soft cheek of her friend. "Hello Mrs. Bell. I am sorry to be so late. Ty is on his way."

"Heavens. No worries. I'm just glad you are here." Then she spied a movement in her shirt, pointed. "Is that where you keep your bear?"

Amy laughed again. "No. It's just Ruth and her new friend Mouse." She revealed both babies.

"Well my goodness." She chuckled as she took the kitten from Amy's hand, held her close to her face to inspect. "Mouse is a good name for you, little one. I believe you are a keeper." Her fingers rubbed behind the kitten's soft ears as she talked.

"I think so too. I thought she was a mouse when she ran into my new apartment at the Polo Club. Thus her name."

"Ah. The Polo Club." She bent over, placed Mouse on the rug, at Sugarfoot's feet. "Play nice." She warned the miniature horse, wagging her finger at him for extra emphasis.

The women watched as the Appaloosa stood his ground, stared down at the tiny kitten with tempered curiosity. Mouse stared back, frozen in place. Sugarfoot lowered his nose to the kitten's, lightly touching her. With his muzzle, he nudged her, gently rolling her onto her back. With the very tips of his sensitive whiskers, he tickled her exposed stomach. Wide eyed, Mouse reached up with both front paws, playfully batted Sugarfoot's nose repeatedly. Bending on a front knee, the horse bowed, then laid down on the rug to get a closer look.

Seeing her chance, Mouse sprung onto Sugarfoot's shoulders with one graceful leap, then gingerly strutted down his back surveying her conquest. She reversed course, stopping at his neck, where she pawed and played with his coarse mane. Tiring of the game, she found a spot on his neck to her liking. She pawed, kneaded, circled round before laying down and closing her eyes.

"Look at that. Fast friends."

Amy tried to snap a picture with her phone in one hard while trying to balance Ruth in her other. She wasn't successful.

"Put Ruth down there with them. She'll be fine."

Once on the rug, Ruth half wiggled, half pushed her way with her back legs to Sugarfoot's side, then curled her body next to his warmth.

"Ah. That's so sweet." Amy chuckled, snapped the picture. She texted it to Ty.

Mrs. Bell walked toward the kitchen to check on dinner. Amy followed her.

"Jack stopped by for a visit this afternoon." She casually mentioned.

"Grandpa?"

"Don't know any other Jack." She paused then asked. "Do you?"

Amy chuckled, shook her head No. "I suppose not."

"He brought a rib eye roast. It's in the oven now."

"So that's what I smell." Her nose and chin lifted, her eyes squeezed shut as she inhaled deeply. "Oh. There's nothing like Heartland beef." The corners of her mouth turned up as her stomach growled again.

"Certainly your bear agrees." Mrs. Bell deadpanned.

She chuckled. "Guess I am hungry. I missed lunch with moving and all." Her tone turned serious, her curiosity piqued. "So...grandpa. Did he just stopped by to just bring beef?"

"Well. He did make mention of your move." She opened the oven door, sending a rush of steam into the kitchen. She peeked in, satisfied, she withdrew the roasting pan with hands mitted, placed it on the stovetop, then closed the door, turned it off.

"Oh? What did he say?" Her voice apprehensive as she pushed for details.

She turned to face her young guest. "He didn't say much beyond that. So, I reminded him of what the Dalai Lama once said."

"What was that?"

"Give the ones you love wings to fly, roots to come back and reasons to stay."

"Huh." She uttered as she pondered Mrs. Bell's words. "That's..really..." she paused, searching for the right word. "Good." She shook her head, changed her mind. "No. Important. Maybe profound."

"It is indeed...Are you thinking about someone else by chance?"

She nodded.

"Ty?"

She nodded again.

"To give, is to receive Amy. If you love someone, you have to give what you hope to receive."

She inhaled deeply. "I hope I can do that for him."

"It's not always easy, love never is. But, you and Ty are meant for each other." She said gently, grasped, patted Amy's hand, then released it. "So. Speaking of Ty. Did he finish your journal?"

"Yes." She said quietly.

"And?"

"Well. I think that he understands better now. What it was like on tour. What happened." She added. "He seems to have forgiven me."

"There was nothing to forgive. There was only the truth that he didn't know."

"Maybe...Anyhow. I am glad he read it."

"Good."

"Um. Yesterday, I gave my journal to Summer Flower for evidence. She and her colleagues are going to open a workplace harassment suit against Ahmed on my behalf."

"Well, good for you Amy. He needs to take responsibility for his actions. Summer knows how to go up against powerful men."

"What powerful men?" Amy asked.

"You should ask Summer. Only she can do justice to her story..."

Amy nodded.

"In any case, she will be a force for your case."

"I think so too." She reflected for a moment, her eyes grew dewy.

"What is it Amy?"

"Mrs. Bell. You have been so...so good to me. Helping me, caring for me, believing me, when no one else did." Her voice cracked. "I couldn't do any of this without you. Thank you."

"Don't be silly, dear. Of course you could. You already have. Amy, you are so very strong. You must see that by now. Be proud of yourself."

The younger woman just stood there, without words.

"Oh. My dear." She stepped forward, held her arms wide welcoming her into a tender embrace.

The two stood in hugging in the middle of the kitchen, Amy's chin on her shoulder. "I love you Mrs. Bell." She whispered.

"And I love you." She whispered back.

Slowly, Amy pulled away, swallowed. "Um. I thought that I wanted Grandpa to read my journal next..but will you read it first? Before him?"

"Yes. Of course, I will read it. If that's what you want."

"I do."

"Amy, you do know that you have already told me your truth. The rest is just pesky details."

She nodded. "But. It might help Grandpa if you did. You could help him understand."

"Jack knows more than you think." Mrs. Bell advised.

"He does?"

"Of course. He knows his granddaughter's heart very well. There is nothing in that journal that will make him love you any more than he already does...or any less."

Mrs. Bell smiled, then changed the subject. "It's getting late. Let's get you started on that salad." She pointed to the bathroom. "Go. Wash your hands."

Dutifully, Amy did as she was told, headed to the bathroom to wash her hands. On her return, Ty was in the kitchen with Mrs. Bell.

"Hey." Ty greeted her with a wide smile.

"Hey." She smiled back. "You made it. I was beginning to worry."

"Yeah. I had to stop and get some wine." He explained. "For Mrs. Bell. She was out."

"But..." Surprised, she spied several bottles of wine in the rack above the refrigerator behind him.

Mrs. Bell interrupted. "Ready to make that salad Amy? I am famished."

"Of course. What kind are we making tonight?"

"Nasturtium, spinach, walnut and goat cheese." Mrs. Bell answered.

"What's nasturtium? Never heard of that." Ty asked.

"Come. We need to pick it first."

With a basket in hand, she headed outside with Ty and Amy trailing behind her. She led them to the spinach stand in the garden, handed Amy the garden shears, Ty the basket. "Four cups of spinach should do it. Get the tender baby leaves."

Spinach clipped, the elder led them to another area of the garden. She stopped at a small tripod made of bounded sturdy sticks covered in lush bluish-green rounded leaves with wavy edges. Trumpet shaped flowers, some a bright orange, some a bold yellow, some a deep red, heavily dotted the mounded plant. "This is nasturtium."

"Flowers? In our salad?" Amy was incredulous.

"They are good. You'll see." Mrs. Bell suggested.

"What do they taste like?" Ty asked.

"They have a spicy, peppery taste."

He put one in his mouth. "Huh. I definitely taste the pepper. It's not sweet at all."

Amy ate one. "Hmmm! Pretty good."

"Pick a dozen or so flowers. Get some leaves too. Maybe two cups. They are good as well."

Inside, Ty set the table as Amy washed the greens then assembled them with the chopped walnuts and shaved goat cheese in worn china bowl under Mrs. Bell's watchful eye.

"What about a dressing?" Amy asked.

"We'll do a simple sweet and spicy dressing...to compliment the nasturtium." She explained as she leaned heavily against the counter.

"Okay."

Then she looked to Ty. "Ty, you can slice the roast, it's rested long enough. Put it and roasted vegetables on that platter." She pointed to a white oval platter.

"Sure thing."

"In that bowl," she point to a clear one on the counter. "add four spoonfuls of olive oil, two of honey, one of vinegar, one of molasses."

Amy did as she was told, she enjoying another cooking lesson.

"Good. Now. Crush a clove of garlic, add that. A teaspoon of spicy mustard, and dashes of salt and pepper."

She blended the mixture with a fork then tasted it. "Good." She offered Mrs. Bell a taste, then Ty. "Does it need anything?"

"Hmm. Just eating." Ty said.

"Go ahead and drizzle it over the salad."

"Okay."

Mrs. Bell swayed, stumbled a bit at the counter. "I think I need to sit down." Mrs. Bell muttered, suddenly pale, frail looking.

"Let me help." Ty ran to her, grabbed her arm, navigated her to the couch in the living room. "Here. Sit down Mrs. Bell." He said gently as he helped put her feet up. He knelt down next to her, checked her pulse. "Your heart rate is slower than normal."

"Are you okay Mrs. Bell?" Amy asked, concerned, crouched next to Ty.

"Heavens to Betsy. I am fine." She tried to smile. "Just old." Her pale face said otherwise.

Unconvinced, Amy said. "Let me get you something to drink. Water?"

"Good idea. Get a cool cloth too." Ty said with authority.

"Tepid with lemon, dear." Mrs. Bell requested, drawing the back of her hand to her forehead. "Please."

Quickly, Amy returned with the wet cloth and glass of water with lemon. Mrs. Bell gratefully accepted the glass, drew it to her lips and drank. Meanwhile, Amy placed the cool cloth on the back of her neck.

"That feels very nice." The color slowly returned to her cheeks. "Thank you. I am feeling much better."

"Let me check your pulse again." He placed on his thumb on her wrist, silently counted. "It's normal again. That's good." He was relieved.

"I am perfectly fine." She insisted. "But, now I am very hungry."

"Okay. I'll finish up craving the roast." Ty chuckled, then offered.

"I'll get the drinks and salad." Amy added.

Several minutes later, they were gathered at the table with dinner before them. Mrs. Bell seemed to have recovered completely.

"Amy. Please get that bottle of red. And wine glasses. I'd like to make a toast."

Wine poured, Mrs. Bell raised her glass. "To new beginnings."

"To new beginnings!" The three clinked wine glasses.

Mrs. Bell continued, advised as she looked to Amy. "I hope that you savor your new adventures. But don't forget the lessons of the past."

"I won't forget." Amy responded, then looked to Ty. "Promise."

"Same goes for you, young man." Mrs. Bell warned.

Ty nodded. "Me too. Promise."

"Amy tell me about your new world."

She acquiesced, described, in some detail, her apartment, job and the Polo Club.

When she finished, she added. "Did you know that Ty has a new job and apartment too? And he's thinking about going to India for a vet internship?"

"Well splendid. Tell me." Ty, likewise described his new circumstances, opportunities.

"Well. Very good. I am proud of both of you!" She smiled, then challenged out of the blue. "Now. Where are we with my barn?" Throughout the remainder of dinner, the three looked at barn designs on Amy's phone, discussed their merits of each.

"This twelve stall one is my favorite. Except, I want cypress board and batten stained to match the house. Of course it needs metal roof, solar and a rain water catch system."

"Don't forget the matting for the stalls. And the sliding doors. Horses will appreciate that." Amy added. "I cannot wait to see your Herb Room."

Ty was baffled by the whole conversation. "Mrs. Bell. Do you really need a barn that big? That barn is 40 by 112 feet. You only have one horse."

"Ty. I will have you know that Sugarfoot's 25th birthday is in 8 months. He wants to have a party with his friends."

"So. You are building a huge barn for just one night?" He shook his head, his eyes wide.

"Ty. It will be a weekend long celebration. Of course you and Harley will be invited." Then she added. "Amy and her menagerie have already RSVPed." She smiled at Amy.

Amy laughed. "We wouldn't miss it for the world."

"Well then." Ty shrugged, grinning. "Harley and I will be there too. When is this shindig?"

"April 18th. Mark your calendar."

As Amy did the dishes, Ty guided Mrs. Bell to the couch so she could rest while he vetted Mouse.

Finishing her check-up, Ty announced his findings to both women now seated on the couch. "I am happy to report that Mouse is completely healthy. Surprisingly no ear mites or fleas. She's vaccinated for distemper, viral rhinotracheitis, calicivirus, and rabies too."

"Oh that's great." Amy was relieved.

"Amy. She'll need to get another set of vaccines in about three to four weeks. I will keep track. But you should too."

"Okay. I will." She ventured further. "So Ruth?"

"She's growing, gaining weight like she should. She's not due for any vaccines until her 8th week. The two are fine to play together."

"Oh good. Thanks. Dr. Borden."

"Ha. Not quite yet."

"Still. Thank you." They both smiled.

Just after 8:15pm, Ty walked Amy outside to her truck.

"I'm worried about Mrs. Bell." Amy stood at her truck door, facing Ty, her animals tucked inside her shirt, her arm crossed.

He put his hands on her upper arms, reassured her. "I know. But, she's alright. I honestly think she just got winded from standing so long. Maybe from hunger or thirst. A good night's rest will help." Ty reassured her. "But, I just think it's better if I stayed here tonight. Just in case."

"I'm glad you are staying. That makes me feel better. I think Mrs. Bell feels better too."

"Hope so."

"I'm going ask Grandpa to check on her tomorrow."

"Good idea." He smiled. "So...What time do you start work in the morning?"

"8:00. Still want to come for coffee?"

"I do. But, what time?"

"Is 6:30 too early?"

"Kinda." He frowned. "With Mrs. Bell and morning chores. Plus, I have class at 9."

"Why don't we skip coffee tomorrow?"

He sighed.

"How about instead we meet at the end of the day? We could ride together." She suggested.

"Hmm. What time are you done?"

"6:00."

"That works. I can stay on campus and study somewhere. With finals coming up, I need to study... a lot."

"What time is your last class over?"

"2:00. Why?"

"Um. I have a thought." She hesitated. "I have a spare key. You could just come to my apartment and study there til I get done." She offered.

Reading her expression, he thanked her. "How about I just meet you at 6?"

"Make it 6:15."

"Deal." He opened her door, kissed her cheek. "Drive safe. Text me when you get home."

"I will. You too. Good night Ty."

The drive north on Alberta highway 2-A seemed long, especially in the dark. Every once in a while, she glanced to the passenger seat to check on Ruth and Mouse, who were fast asleep curled into each other. She stopped at the Safeway grocery store, with just fifteen minutes before closing and bought supplies: kitten food, dishing washing soap, coffee, cream, sugar, apples, clementines, orange juice, peanut butter, strawberry jam and bread. And a new bounded leather-like notebook.

Shortly after, she drove past the Polo Club's ranch, to the guard shack. Stopping there, the uniformed man on duty asked her name.

"Amy Fleming. I'm the new jump coach." She showed her ID card.

"Very good. Have a pleasant evening." He opened the gate, waved her on.

She parked her truck in the dark employee lot, behind the stable and her apartment. Gathering her sleeping animals to her chest, she tucked them inside her buttoned shirt. She hoisted the canvas grocery sack over her shoulder, opened the door.

"Evening Ms. Fleming." A man's voice sounded near her left ear.

She shrieked not expecting to hear any one, slammed the door, locked it. She looked out her side window and saw the security guard standing there. She rolled the window down. "Oh my gosh. You startled me."

"Ms. Fleming. I apologize. I didn't mean to scare you." The middle aged man was dressed in black pants, light colored long sleeved shirt, a black tie. He wore a security badge on the left side of his chest. His hat was embroidered with Club's emblem and the word SECURITY under it. She noticed that he held a long maglite in his right hand. His belt held a radio and a gun in its holder.

He introduced himself. "I'm Benny Turner. I patrol the stables and staff quarters. The guard shack let me know that you were coming."

"Oh. I didn't realize." She slowly opened the truck door and got out.

His radio crackled. "Smith here. Come in Turner. Over."

He held his radio to his mouth. "Copy Smith. Turner here. With Ms. Fleming. A-okay. Over."

The radio crackled again. "Copy Turner. Copy A-okay. Over. And out."

He turned his attention back to her. "It's late. Do you need me escort you to your apartment?"

"No. Thank you Officer Turner. I am fine. Really."

"At least let me carry that grocery bag upstairs." He smiled as Ruth and Mouse's little faces peered out of her shirt. "You seem to have your hands full with those two."

"Um. No really. I'm good. It's just one bag."

"Fair enough. I will wait down here. Flash your light in your apartment twice so I know your in safely."

"I will. Thank you. It was very nice meeting you. Good night." She suddenly felt safe.

"Good night." He stood his ground, watching her climb the apartment stairwell.

Once inside her apartment, she locked her door, then flashed her lights. After she put away her groceries, she fed Ruth and Mouse, put them in bed.

Face washed, teeth brushed, in her pajamas, she climbed into bed. Opened her new journal.

On the cover page, she wrote :

Amy Fleming's Journal

Calgary Polo Club

She dated the entry. Day One.

A new adventure started today as I moved from my home at Heartland Ranch in Hudson Alberta and into an apartment at the Calgary Polo Club in Okotoks, Alberta. I am employed as their riding and jump coach...

Just as she finished her entry, her phone pinged with a text from Ty.

"Hey. Are you there yet?"

"Hey. Yes. I had to stop at Safeway to get picnic supplies."

"Wanna talk?"

She didn't text him back, she simply dialed his number. "Hey."

Hello Dear Readers. Happy Sunday.

This one is short but sweet. And, as always, I am thrilled and happy to receive and read your reviews and PMs.

SBR

PS. Shout out to TKBird. Thinking of you.