Ty swallowed hard as he lined up the last shot. Watching Caleb sweat was the fun part. But he hated to do it to Amy. She sat nervously biting her nails. If he got this shot they won. But if he missed Caleb would. He was torn to say the least. On one hand he'd love to win the ring and rub it in Caleb's face. It also meant he'd have to get Amy another ring which would prolong the chance of them getting married. He still couldn't believe they were engaged. Jack was right things really did change. Amy looking like she was about to cry didn't help his choice. He sighed as he realigned the shot and missed by a mile. He'd never thrown a game before. He watched as Caleb and his partner cheered. While Amy smiled in his direction as she touched the ring. Ty forced a sad smile before putting the questick down on the table and walked away.
"Ty..." Amy shouted after him meeting him in the parking lot. "Why'd you do that?" She asked.
He turned to face her as he grabbed his motorcycle helmet. "Do what?"
"You know what?" She said smiling. "You told me at Ashley's party that you were an expert at pool. Remember, strategies and angles?"
Ty smiled now. "Yeah. I remember."
"Can you take me home?"
He sighed looking back over toward the door. "What about Caleb?"
"Caleb's an idiot." Ty chuckled.
"Sure. Why not?"
Amy smiled widely at Ty like she use to. It made him miss her so much more. How it was even possible to miss a person that was right there in front of him was beyond him. But he did. He'd lost so much more then he realized. His eye caught the ring as Amy hopped on the back of the motorcycle. His heart breaking.
"Caleb had been drinking. I didn't want him bringing me home." Amy protested.
"So you rode home without a helmet on the back of Ty's bike after he'd been drinking too?" Tim shouted.
Jack glanced at Ty who had yet to say anything. He was disappointed in both their behaviours. "That's still no excuse."
"It was only one beer." Ty finally said.
"It was that or have Caleb bring me home. And he'd drinking way worse."
Jack and Tim exchanged glances. "Were you drinking?"
Amy swallowed and tried to keep her gaze but Tim already seemed to know the answer. "We are training in the morning. How do you expect to do that with a hungover?" He shouted.
"Are you serious right now?! That's your biggest concern?" Jack said folding his arms. Tim shrugged. "I'm very disappointed in both of you. You should know better." Jack looked back at Ty leaning against the kitchen counter. He looked away. "As far as I'm concerned your both grounded."
"But, Grandpa?" Amy protested.
"What?! That's not fair." Ty agreed.
"Neither of you will be leaving this ranch. Do I make myself clear?"
"Yes." Both nodded.
"But Jack?" Tim protested like a little kid. Jack eyed him as he got up and walked back toward his bedroom.
Amy sighed as her phone buzzed again in her back pocket. She stopped shoving to grab it. Without looking at it she turned her phone off and tossed it down onto the bails next to her. Grabbing the shove again she ignored Ty's glance as he shoved the stall next to her. "Caleb?" Ty asked feeling a bit gutsy.
Amy looked up glaring. "Yes. Not that it's your concern."
Ty nodded. "You're right it's not." He grabbed the wheelbarrow and walked away.
Amy sighed again. She was about to say something but was interrupted by Tim. He placed his hand on her shoulder. "Hey. Jack's out with Lisa. That's gives us a few hours to practice."
"Dad. You know I can't leave the ranch."
"Sweetie, does it look like I care. I'm not gonna let that old man push me around." Tim replied forceful.
Amy nodded slightly. She didn't want to spend her day mucking out stalls but it didn't feel right leaving it all for Ty. She glanced back at him then back at her dad who smiled widely at her. "Okay. But only for a few hours."
Tim grinned as he lead her out of the barn his arm draped on her shoulder.
"Yes! Yes! Go!" Tim shouted leaning over the rail watching the track. Amy blazing around the far turn. Her time much better then it was a week ago. He then glanced over at the man standing next to him. "So what do you think?"
The man pierced his lips his eyes never leaving the track. "Your horse is good. I'll give you that. But no way your daughter is gonna get you a win. My horse..." The man pointed to the one in the lead. "Is however. I have the best jockey. Trained professional. You have your horse whisperer little girl."
Tim rolled his eyes at the older man's remark. He bit his tongue as he returned his gaze to Amy. But as she passed the other horse he couldn't help himself. "Guess we know who the real rider is." He smirked before walking away to meet Amy at the end gate.
"Oh my gosh, Dad. That was amazing!" Amy shouted at Tim as she jumped off Storm. Her smile beaming from ear to ear. "Did you see me on the last turn?"
Tim pulled her into a hug. "You were amazing, sweetheart."
She smiled proudly. Maybe she hadn't been completely sold on this whole jockey thing but she had to admit winning, even if it was a practice race, felt pretty amazing. "Thanks." She pulled away from him as she undid her helmet. Tim grabbing Storm's lead.
Pulling into the Heartland driveway Amy caught sight of her grandfather's truck. She nervously glanced over at Tim who tightened his grip slightly on the wheel. She swallowed hard. The pair had been at each other for years. But as Tim become more of an active parent in Amy's life now that he was sober he began to wear thin of her relationship with both men. Neither were willing to give the other an inch let alone a mile. "I'd better head home, Amy. No reason to rock the boat anymore then it already has. I'll see you in the morning." He leaned over kissing the side of her head.
Amy nodded. And got out of the truck. She set her helmet down on the bench before kicking off her shoes. Jack sat at the kitchen table as Lisa cut vegetables for dinner. "I'm sorry. I should have let you know where I was. But..."
"He's your father. You're allowed to do whatever you want." Jack stated not even turning in his chair to make eye contact. Amy sighed and stepped toward her room. "Just know that I'm not gonna pick up the pieces. You're a big girl. Plenty old enough to make your own choices." He finished as Amy nodded knowing she'd hurt him.
Amy crossed her small bedroom and flopped on her bed. Her thoughts were interrupted by her cell phone ringing. She sat up to grab it out of her jacket that was sprawled out next to her. "Caleb...I don't want to talk to you." She shouted into the phone.
"Please, hear me out?" He bagged. "It was a mistake. I got chalky." Amy sighed. "I get it okay. I was an idiot. But I love you. And didn't mean to."
"What would have happened if Ty didn't throw the game? Or you played some other idiot? Then what, Caleb?"
"Babe, I'm sorry. Please?" Amy rolled her eyes. As she did she caught sight of Ty as he removed his baseball hat wiping the sweat from his forehead before he went back to stacking the hay. "Amy?" Caleb shouted getting her attention.
"Uh?"
"I asked if you wanted to come over?"
"I haven't forgiven you yet." She shouted back. "I need to know where you stand. You almost gave my engagement ring away. Like it meant nothing."
"It means something. I swear. I love you."
"Ty gave me a ride home. You didn't even notice until this morning." She turned at the sound of the door. Lisa stood holding the house phone a look of concern on her face as she had caught the last bit of Amy's conversion. "I'll call you later."
"Is everything okay?" Lisa asked as Amy threw her cell phone down.
"Yeah. I guess."
"It's Peter." Lisa said handing the phone over to Amy.
"What? Why?" She wrinkled her brow. Lisa shrugged before turning and heading back to the kitchen.
"Hello?" Amy asked despite hoping nothing had happened to Lou or Jackson.
"Hi, Amy. I was wondering if you'd do me a favour."
"You put her to it, didn't you?" Lou shouted as she threw another shirt onto the bed before grabbing another from her suitcase. Peter's was also open next to hers. He sighed.
"Lou? Please?" He begged. "It's important to me."
Lou huffed as she put her hands on her hips. "Look at me." She gestured to her stomach.
"Honey, you look beautiful." He came around to her side of the bed and put his arms on her waist.
"Are you forgetting that my family practically threw us out?"
"Of course not. But it's been almost 3 years. I know you miss Amy. And who knows maybe everyone else will be happy to see you too." Peter said looking her in the eye trying to get her to understand.
"Easy for you to say. You didn't disappoint everyone who loves you by getting pregnant or falling for an oil man." She pulled away from Peter.
"Look, all I did was ask Amy is she'd talk you into coming. Sweetie, I just don't want to leave you alone for two weeks."
Lou looked up at him from her sitting position in bed. "I'm not even close to my due date. And I've handled Jackson on my own before."
Peter knelt down in front of her. And grabbed her hands. "Things happen. You were early with Jackson. And he's a bit more to handle now especially when your pregnant." He tried to say it nicely as to not hurt her feelings. She looked back at the suitcases. "Give it a try. You can always come home."
"My Dad didn't even come to our wedding. What makes you think he's welcome me with open arms after all this time?"
"You're gonna have to face him eventually. You can't keep using me as an excuse." He stood pulling Lou with him. Lou pondered what he said for a few minutes before sighing. Peter pulled her into a hug. "Trust me it's the right thing to do. And our son needs to have more family."
Amy hopped off Spartan as she entered the barn. Her hair stuck to her face. Ty came down the loft stairs nearly bumping into her. "Oh...sorry." He stammered.
She brushed her hair from her eyes shooting him a smile. "You tell anyone you're so fired." She poked her finger at him playfully.
"Didn't I tell you there was a chance of rain?" Ty said trying not to laugh.
Amy frowned. "At least it's stopped now."
"You want me to help you untack him?" He asked pointing at Spartan.
"Sure." She sighed as she watched him grab the saddle for her. "So...did Grandpa calm down any?"
"Ha, as if. You seen him. He's pissed." Ty said from the far end of the barn.
"He and Dad are never gonna get along."
"Both just want what's best for you. Besides them going at it is the only thing around here that hasn't changed."
Amy frowned knowing what he meant. "Things can't stay the same forever."
"Why not?" Ty asked approaching her.
"You were the one that left, Ty." Amy said as she looked up from Spartan. "It's been 4 years. I wasn't gonna wait around forever."
Ty nodded understanding. "I really did mean everything I said that night after the jumping completion."
Amy avoided eye contact. Remembering that night was painful. Her eyes filled with tears as she grabbed the blanket off Spartan and turned quickly to get away from Ty before he seen. But instead she slipped on the now wet barn floor. She landed in Ty's arms. Him catching her. Both starred at each other. Lost in each others gaze until Ty looked away abruptly and let Amy go. Both went to pick up the blanket but they bumped heads. "Ow..." Amy said holding her forehead.
"Sorry." Ty said doing the same. He then started to laugh.
"It's not funny." Amy defended. But cracked a smile. Ty grabbed her around the waist as he tickled her getting caught up in the moment. Amy giggled louder and squirmed to get away from him but his hold on her was too strong. Both collapsed into the hay pile behind them. Amy laying on Ty. Their faces inches from each other. She felt like she was 15 again. Her cheeks getting red with the passion she still felt for him despite suppressing it for years. She swallowed as she pushed away. She left the barn without looking back at him. Leaving Ty to his own rehashed feelings. There was still a spark. He felt it. And he knew she did too. Time and distance is no match for true love.
As she slowed Storm into a slow gallop another rider raced past her startling Storm. Amy leaned forward to regain her hold but lost the reins. "Easy, boy." The sky cracked above them again causing Storm to spook. He reared up causing Amy to slip out of the saddle unable to hold on. Tim watched in horror from the sidelines as Amy felt to the ground. Storm's front hoof connecting with the ground and Amy with a thud.