The outdoor arena was different then anything Ty has seen. It was overwhelming. He nervously smiled back at Amy as he led her horse through the opening in the fence. He didn't fit in here. Mothers wore big floppy hats and million dollar smiles. Fathers snapping photos and ordering groomers around. Amy gave him a cute smile back. She didn't fit anymore then he did. But this was something she wanted. Tim watched from the fence a stop watch in his hand. "Okay, so your dad said he wanted this time at least 30 seconds off." Ty said holding the horse still.
Amy's expression changed. "He can't be serious?"
"You want me to double check?"
"Very funny." She swatted him.
"I knew I should have taken Jack up on his offer to wear that cowboy hat he gave me years ago."
"I like the baseball cap." She smiled. "Besides I like that we stand out."
Ty's warm smile calmed her nerves. "Show them all who's gonna win big."
Amy came to stop at the far end of the stable. Tim waiting for her. "That time wasn't bad." He smiled.
"I'm so tired and sore." She said as she slid out of the saddle.
"We'll have dinner once we get this guy settled for the night." He patted the horses side as Ty grabbed the lead.
"I'll get him unsaddled and met you back at the hotel."
"Thanks, Ty." Amy smiled grateful. She hated leaving him do all the work himself but she needed a long hot shower.
Ty walked Storm over to his stall. And started taking off his saddle. "Good boy." He put the saddle on the door and other gear into the case. He had just put the horse into the stall when a women and an official came marching up to Ty. Her heels clicking all the way. She pointed her painted nails at him a look of disgust on her face. "This is a respectable place. Do something. I don't want him anywhere near my horse."
Ty folded his arms and stared at the official. "Is there a problem?"
"Seems there is. All trainers need a background check."
"For what?"
"We don't allow just anyone here." She said her voice dripping with rich privilege.
"Excuse me?!" He shouted gaining the attention of other stable hands.
"Sir, we are just following rules."
"This isn't your horse." Ty shouted ignoring the official. "I was hired by this owner. Not you."
"You are in this stable with access to all the other horses." She said raising her eyebrow.
The official looked over his paperwork. "Can I get your name young man?"
"Ty Borden. The horse's owner is Tim Fleming."
"Ms. Andrews, this will be handled."
"I'd hope so." She stick her nose out at Ty before turning on her heels and walking away. Ty shot her a look before going back to brushing Storm.
Amy and Tim were back in the room when they heard a loud knock on their door. Amy pulled the towel off her head her long wet hair flowing down her back. Tim gave Amy a questioning look before getting up to answer it.
"Mr Fleming, sorry to bother you but we have a situation at the stables."
Amy's stomach jumped her mind going to Ty. "Dad! Ty was with Storm."
"What's all this about?" He was annoyed.
"Maybe it'd be better if we talked at the office."
"No. If this important like you seem to think it is then you can tell us here."
"Well, there has been a complaint. Your stable hand..."
"What?" Amy shouted.
"My daughters right. What the hell is this about?"
"All the help need background checks. You failed to inform us that he has a record." The man felt embarrassed himself.
Amy was outraged. "Ty is not a criminal." She shouted.
"It's my decision isn't it?" Tim was also annoyed.
"Unfortunately it's not. The club has rules."
Amy grabbed a hair elastic off the table pulling her dripping wet hair into a messy pony before pushing past the man in the room. "Amy!" Tim shouted after her by she didn't stop.
Amy hadn't even got to the stable and she could hear shouting. Ty's voice mixed with someone else. She hurt for Ty being treated like that. It wasn't right he was just like everyone else. She reached the barn partly out of breath from running. "Ty!" When she came around the corner she seen him yelling and pointing at a man. He had attracted a few spectators. "Ty!"
"This is ridiculous!" Ty shouted getting angrier.
"Let me through." Amy's voice cutting through the crowd and not caring who she elbowed out of the way. "Ty!" He finally stopped screaming and looked in her direction. Ty mouthed he was sorry but Amy shook her head. She only then realized her anger might have came across as being for him but it wasn't. It was at these ridiculous people. "Don't you have anything better to do?" She shouted at the few people who were staring. "Go!"
"I'm sorry." Ty whispered touching her back.
"There's nothing to be sorry for." She said now facing Ty seeing the look of hurt and anger he had in his eyes. "This is crazy. There shouldn't be a rule that excludes people from being here. Or having certain jobs." She said at the two officials that were still standing in front of Ty.
"We are just asking him to leave the stable."
"You should be ashamed of yourselves." Amy shouted again. Ty grabbed her hand.
"It's okay, Amy. I'll leave."
"No! You shouldn't have to." She said pulling her hand away from his. And turning her back to him. "He is my trainer. Mine! That's my horse. And he is a valuable part of this team."
"I'm sorry miss, but it doesn't work that way. We here at Ridgemount Stables don't allow criminals to be around the horses." The man's attitude wasn't helping Amy's anger. Did he not see how wrong their thinking was?
"He's not a criminal." Amy and Ty turned to see Tim standing there his arms crossed looking just as mad. Amy couldn't even hid her smile. "This place is full of real criminals." The official looked surprised. "Do you know how many gamblers come to these events? Even the best races in the country. You gonna stop them from coming too? They are your big money makers." Ty let out a chuckle at the officials looks of shock as Tim put them in their place.
"Well...the rules only apply to stable hands." He hesitated almost afraid of what Tim was going to fire back at him.
"That's fine. He can't be here then we aren't racing."
Amy and Ty both shot each other a look before looking back at Tim. "Tim?" Ty questioned. "It's okay, if that's their stupid rules I'll go back to the hotel."
Ty had started to step away from Storm's stall. "No! He goes we all go." He turned back surprised. Who the heck was the man defending him? It surely wasn't Tim. But he caught the way Amy looked. Her eyes bloodshot like she had been crying. The look of disappointment. It was funny how he hadn't noticed it before. Amy and Tim seemed to be talking silently though the look they gave each other.
"We aren't asking you all to leave." The official said hastily.
"I wouldn't want to race anywhere that is known for discrimination." Amy folded her arms and walked past the man toward Ty. The man in pure shock. Tim had to laugh.
"I'll be coming back to get the horse out of here before you find any other stupid rule in that damn book of yours." He shut the stall door and walked around the man as he stood their speechless.
Amy had to walk fast to catch up to Ty. His pace angry and ashamed. "I'll meet you at the hotel." Tim said quietly as he walked the other direction. Amy nodded.
"Ty. Please?" She said finally reaching him. She slipped her hand in his gaining his attention. "Ty." When he turned to face her she seen the broken man she saw the first time she met him. Broken hidden by anger. She squeezed his hand and smiled. Trying to do anything to break the feelings he was fighting. "I don't care what they say."
"You should, Amy." Ty said frustrated. Pulling away from her hand to pace the other way
"Why?" She stood firm arms crossed.
"This race was important to you. It was your first of the racing season. Without this time..."
"Do you think I care about that?"
"Your dad does."
"Does he? He just stood up for you in there. And if you think this is more important then you. Then maybe you don't know me like I thought you did."
"Come on, Amy." Ty stepped forward reaching for her but she shock her head.
"You realize this is gonna follow us everywhere. There's no escaping it. Today I'm just the criminal stable hand. Tomorrow I'm your con boyfriend."
"That how you see it? Cause that couldn't be further from the truth."
"I ruined everything." He sighed.
"Don't go back to that guy you were a few months ago. I thought we were past that."
Ty shrugged. "It's who I am even if I'm not."
"How many times am I gonna have to tell you I don't care what other people think?" This time she let Ty grab her hand as she shot him a small smile.
"You really don't care?"
"No. Why would I?"
"Cause that's permanent. Amy, that's gonna put limits on everything we do."
"The only person limiting you is you."
Ty nodded as he watched Amy. Every part of him was screaming she was lying. That he'd never be good enough for her but one look into her eyes that feeling vanished. He smiled at her as he nodded letting her words sink in. "I love you, Ty."
"I love you too." He pulled Amy into a hug. She wrapped her arms tight around him holding the back of his tshirt.
"Hey. Tim, look..." Ty started as he came into the hotel room to see Tim packing his suitcase.
"Forget it." He said never looking up.
"Dad!" Amy said hurt. Ty squeezed her hand as if to let it go.
"No, I meant forget them. They wanna be jerks let them." He said standing up to face them.
"Really?" Amy asked. "You're not mad?"
"I'm a bit disappointed. But honestly I don't think you were ready for this race anyway. We'll get a better time with more practice." He grabbed another shirt off the bed and holded it.
Amy and Ty exchanged glances. "Tim, I really am sorry."
"It's okay. Really."
"Are we going home?" Amy asked going over to her dad.
"No. But we are leaving this hotel." He smiled at the couple. "I'll even spring for 2 beds."
Ty laughed. "Where we going then?"
"We have the whole weekend in Montana so let's do some sight seeing. Take in a rodeo. I don't care. What do you guys wanna do?"
"I don't know what to say." Amy said looking at her suspicious. "Are you running a fever?" She joked putting her hand up to his forehead.
Ty laughed harder then he should have before going to grab his suitcase from by the door.
"I'm trying to be understanding." Tim said.
"Well, I think you're overdoing it just a little." She held up her fingers in a pinched position.
"Don't ruin it." Ty said giving her a look. "I finally feel like you except our relationship."
"Oh, I wouldn't go that far." Tim said closing his suitcase. Ty gave Amy a playful shove.