Amy stared down at her piece of pizza on her paper plate. "Hey, you okay?" Caleb asked looking up at his girlfriend.
"Uh?" She asked meeting his glance.
"You've been pretty quite. This have something to do with that guy?"
Amy looked back down again. "I'm just not that hungry."
"Amy...you can tell me anything. What's going on? Do you know him or something?"
"I uh...use too." She said sadly. Caleb stood up and moved to sit beside her. "He was the ranch hand before you."
"Oh..." Caleb was quite shocked. The guy didn't seem the horse type.
"It was part of his probation." Amy finally looked back up. She wasn't sure why she felt ashamed but she did. Caleb just nodded listening. "He only stuck around for 8 months. I don't even really know him. He had quite the attitude. Never really opened up."
"What'd he do?"
"I'm not even sure exactly. I'm sure Grandpa knew." She grabbed his hand. "I was just shocked to see him. It's been four years."
"You must be a little bit curious as to why he's here?"
"Not really. I could careless. He didn't even say goodbye. Just took off in the middle of the night. Guess I shouldn't be surprised." She sighed. "Can I stay here tonight? I really don't wanna run into him or have to talk to Grandpa. He's the one who brought him here in the first place."
"Sure." He nodded. "Of course you can stay. I'll take the couch." She leaned her head on Caleb's shoulder.
Jack was stacking hay when Amy drove in the driveway up to the barn the next morning. He looked up at her and stopped stacking. Amy jumped out of the truck slamming the door. "Amy?" She turned to look at him still angry. "I'm sorry. I should have considered your feelings."
"Why would I care? I'm with Caleb." She said before turning back and walking off to the house to take a shower before working with Spartan.
"She's mad cause of me...isn't she?" Ty asked showing himself as he grabbed the next bail from Jack.
"It's just gonna take sometime. You've been gone a long time. And a lot has changed. She'll come around."
"What if she doesn't?" Ty asked. "I would be mad at me too if I were her. The way I just took off."
"Well, I'm not gonna lie. She was hurt about it for awhile. But she eventually moved on." Jack handed Ty another bail.
"So I'm guessing that cowboy was Caleb."
Jack looked back at him curious, hearing the touch of jealousy in his voice. "She wasn't gonna wait around for you forever."
Ty looked off toward the house.
"Dad said he'll be home tomorrow and he can help you with the cattle." Amy said bring the chicken to the dinner table.
"That's good. I use the extra hand. Caleb's still planning on helping too? Or is he too busy?" Jack asked knowing that Caleb had a one track mind and usually forgot to do things.
"I think so. He was practicing for the upcoming rodeo today so who knows." She laughed. "I'll call him later and remind him."
"No big deal, if not. I was thinking of asking Ty." Amy shot him a look. "And he will be joining us for dinner." Now he shot her a look.
"But Grandpa..." She started.
"No buts." He said sternly. "I'm not sure how long he plans on sticking around but for as long as he does you will treat him as a guest."
"We have nothing to talk about."
"Maybe not. But he does regret his choices Amy."
"That doesn't change the fact that he left." She angerly stabbed her salad.
Ty felt about as awkward as a person could be. He sat across from Amy at the table. Ever so often he'd glance up at her. Her hair was a bit shorter and she wore her bangs a bit differently. She had matured a lot. It was hard for him to believe Amy wasn't 15 anymore but 19. There wasn't much small talk made. And if anything was said she didn't contribute to the conversation. "So...where is everybody else?" He finally asked breaking the silence. "I thought Mallory would be here for sure." He laughed.
"Mallory don't come around much. She has school and her boyfriend."
"Boyfriend? Wow."
"Lou moved out a few years ago." Amy answered glaring at him as if it was a sore subject.
"Wow. A lot really has changed."
"Well, what do you expect?" Amy said sliding her chair back loudly and standing up. "You never kept in touch. So how would you know?" She shouted at him before walked toward her bedroom. Ty slightly jumped when she slammed her door shut. He rested his head on his chin. And didn't dare look in Jack's direction.
Ty stood tacking up his horse, Caleb not far from him doing the same. He felt him watching him, judging him. The last thing he wanted was to spend all day with this cowboy who he was sure knew everything about him by now. As Jack approached the barn he also remembered that Tim would be joining them. Another person he didn't wanna spend the day with. Not that he didn't like him. He seemed fine from the few times he met him. It was that he remembered Jack and Tim get along as well as oil and water. It was sure going to be an interesting afternoon.
"How you coming on that sinch strap, Ty?"
"Getting it, I think. It's been awhile." Ty answered.
"Has this guy even been on a horse? Last thing we need is him slowing us down." Caleb remarked.
"For your information..." He started taking a step at Caleb.
"Okay! That's enough." Jack intervened.
"Hey! Sorry I'm late. Traffic from Moosejaw was a mess." Tim said walking into the barn.
"We are just about ready." Jack said leading his horse out of the barn.
"Yeah, if this one ever figures out how to tack up a horse we might be ready by next Thursday." Caleb remarked laughing.
"Okay! You know what? I've had enough of you!" He stepped toward Caleb. "You don't know anything about me!"
"Boys! Cut it out!" Tim said stepping in between them just as Ty was ready to punch him.
"They've been at it all morning." Jack shouted. "Ty, you'll be with me. Tim, Caleb's all yours."
"Wait? What?" Tim said looking at Jack then back at the boys. "Ty?"
Ty swallowed hard and forced a toothy grin. "What the hecks he doing here?" He asked as if Ty wasn't standing there.
"Working." Jack answered flatly as he mounted and started to walk away.
About an hour later Tim rode up beside Jack. "What's he really doing here?"
"None of your business."
"It is my business if it concerns my daughter." He stated. "And him being back here isn't something I imagine Amy's okay with and I bet you didn't check with her first."
"He needed my help. Not that that's any of your business either."
"Yeah well, I noticed the black eye. See he hasn't changed. And neither have you."
"What's that supposed to mean?"
"You still think you can change him." Tim rode away shaking his head.
"You ever heard of second chances? Oh wait, only if it involves you!" Jack shouted at him.