Jack pushed the loft door open shaking his head at the mess of clothes everywhere. Ty sprawled out across the bed in the same place he passed out most likely. Jack had kept a close eye on him over the last few days noticing a change in his attitude and over all presence. It concerned him. Especially when he was beginning to remind him of Tim. Sure enough a case of beer was stuck out from under the bed. Jack grabbed a half empty bottle off the dresser frowning. Not only had Ty came home drunk twice since moving back but now he was drinking at home too. He sighed running a hand over his face as the thought of him bringing Amy home a month ago. He'd promised he'd only had one beer but wasn't so sure he believed him anymore.
Amy rubbed her neck as she walked into the kitchen feeling half asleep. "Remind me to never let dad talk me into that early of a practice." She said only half paying attention as she made her way to the table considering what she was gonna make for lunch after her nap. A nap she now regretted since she had a kink in her neck. Her attention was soon brought to her grandfather as he stood staring out into the distance. Amy closed the fridge and walked over to the sink where he stood. Glancing out to see what he was looking at. But whatever had caught his attention was lost to her. "Grandpa?"
"Hey, sweetheart. Did you say something?" He asked placing his hand on her shoulder glancing at her.
Amy couldn't help but frown at Jack's look he had on his face. "What's wrong?" She asked slightly worried something had happened to Lou again.
"You talked to Ty lately?" He asked but Amy just shook her head. "Of course not." He sighed. "How long you gonna let this thing between you last?"
Amy shrugged. "He hurt me, Grandpa. I'm not sure I can forgive him." She answered honestly. Jack nodded and looked back out the window. "Wait, weren't you two supposed to do the hay today?"
"He didn't show up at the field." Jack's eyes never left the window. "I went to check on him..." He trailed off glancing back to Amy. "You notice he's been a bit off?"
"No. Why?" Amy shook her head watching him concerned.
"You have no idea what's going on with him? At all?" Again Amy shook her head. "You know why he didn't come to the field? He passed out drunk. Still sleeping it off as we speak." Amy swallowed hard remembering Ty a week ago at the bar. His anger scaring her. Her being upset to see that side of him. It also reminded her of her dad and what both Lou and Jack had told her. "Do you think...maybe you could talk to him?"
Amy held her breath thinking for a second. "How about I help with hay instead?"
"You sure?"
"Yeah. It's been awhile since just the two of us hung out." She smiled. Jack nodded happy too by the offer. Amy's gaze turned to the window as Jack left toward the dining room. Her mind wondering to what was going on with Ty. She hadn't expected him to act like that. She tried to reason that she didn't know him well enough to make that judgment but she couldn't help but feel partly responsible. After all adjusting to being the ranch hand again couldn't have been easy. And she didn't make things any easier. She sighed running a hand through her hair.
Amy tried her best to avoid eye contact at dinner the next night. But she couldn't help it as Ty asked for the dinner rolls which so conventionally were in beside her. She grabbed the basket passing it to him. She caught sight of his blood shot eyes and frown. He looked terrible. A bit of guilt rising in her again. She shifted slightly as she glanced over at her grandfather who was watching the exchange. She felt tears sting at her eyes as she tried to calm her now increased breathing. She quickly looked back down at her plate to quickly finish eating.
She rushed out to the barn as soon she cleared the table. Ty was attempting to do the same but Jack stopped him. "Can we talk?"
Ty's frown deepened. "Sure."
"What's going on with you? You look like hell." Jack said getting straight to the point and not holding back. His voice full of disappointment.
Ty shifted nervous avoiding eye contact. "Nothing."
"It's not nothing." He yelled grabbing his shirt to force Ty to look at him. "Your late for cleaning the barn every morning. Your attitude. You seem like you don't care about anything anymore. Your hungover nine times out of ten. Even during the day. And your drunk right now." He barked at him poking his finger into his shoulder. "If you live on this ranch you live by my rules."
"I'm sorry, Jack."
"If you were sorry you'd stop acting like a irresponsible teenager. You are 21! Start acting like it." Jack yelled.
Ty looked away ashamed. "Look, if it's easier..."
"No! You are gonna clean up your act. And you are helping me finish bailing the hay whether you like it or not. 7am, understand?"
Ty hesitated before nodding. "I uh, never want to be like my parents. And the last thing I wanna do is hurt Amy." Ty whispered before grabbing his shoes leaving out the back door.
Ty stumbled into the barn banging into the door frame. Amy looked up to see Ty. She rushed over to him against better judgement. "Here, let me help you." She said putting her arm around his torso and guiding him up the loft stairs. Pushing the door open at the top she stopped shocked by the state Ty has been living in. Jack has been right. Beer bottles littered the floor and furniture. Ty kept walking which brought her back to reality and the situation at hand. She helped him sit on the bed.
"I'm sorry." Ty whispered causing her to jump at the sound of his voice against the quite backdrop. "I don't want to hurt you. I should be happy you found someone who loves you and treats you better then I could." Ty kicked his shoes off. "I'm not good enough anyway."
"Don't say that, Ty." Amy defended now finding her voice.
"Look around." He waved his arm. "I turned into my parents. First jail like my dad. And now drinking like my mom." He looked up now at Amy. "You can do so much better then this. I'm sorry. You deserve someone like Cal..." He paused trying to remember his name in his drunk state. "I'm sorry."
Amy hesitated before taking a deep breath. She wanted to say so much. She wanted to tell him that he's not his parents. Or that he's more then good enough. But her mind wasn't telling her mouth to work. Instead she turned around leaving Ty sitting there and went back to finish the chores. She glanced back up the stairs once she reached the bottom. "I'm sorry too." She whispered as she wiped the single tear that rolled down her cheek.