Ty couldn't hide his smile as he pulled the small black box out of his pocket placing it in the top drawer of his dresser. As he closed it he began to second guess his hiding place. It's not exactly like he expected Amy to go into his underwear drawer but it just felt so out in the open. Glancing around his room he didn't really see another possible place. He sighed placing his hands on his hips. "Ty!" Jack shouted up the steps disturbing his thought process.
"Yeah, I'm here." He shouted back before abandoning his backpack and helmet to meet Jack at the bottom.
"Do you think you could give me a hand getting the horses together from the back field.
"Yeah, but why? It's only in the winter we bring them in."
"Their calling for a storm tonight." Jack nodded toward the sky.
To Ty it looked okay. But he wasn't about to argue the guy. "I'll grab the lead lines."
"This time of year is always unpredictable for storms." Jack said already ahead of Ty.
Amy watched Rain run around the round pen. It was her second day trying to figure him out. She was able to get him to do half a join up. Which she appreciated as progress. Small but something. Lisa was leaning against the fence. "Any luck?" She asked.
"Not really. I can't seem to figure him out." Amy sighed.
"It's okay." Lisa sighed too but tried not to let Amy see it.
"I'm sorry, Lisa. I don't get it."
"Don't be. My trainer couldn't figure it out either. I'm going to have my vet check him again just to make sure we didn't miss anything."
Amy watched Rain. "There has to be something we're all missing."
"Well, your bound to try." Lisa jumped off the fence.
"Lisa, I know this is going to sound crazy but what about racing him?"
"Like in the race this week?" She was puzzled.
"It's crazy, isn't it?" She asked. "I haven't seen him race or how he acts. And I know it might be risky I think we have to cover all the bases."
Lisa pondered for a second as she glanced back at her trainer working another horse. "What if we stage a race? Nothing official. I can't afford to have more press or have his stats fall further."
"So we get a few horses together and pretend it's the real deal."
"Exactly." Lisa turned and walked toward her stable hand. "Grab me 2 horses and have them saddled." The boy ran off. "Amy, you can ride Rain. That way you get the full feel."
"Are you sure?" Amy asked nervous.
"Tack room is over there." Lisa pointed before walking to get two jockeys.
Amy swallowed hard as she did her helmet up. The other riders standing ready and seeming skeptical. But she's been proving people wrong her whole career.
"Ready?" Lisa shouted from the sidelines. Rain's jockey beside her.
"Yes, I guess so." She hoped on Rain as a stable hand pulled them into the starting gate. Amy adjusted herself in the saddle and nodded. The gate was pulled open and all three where off without a hitch. She rounded the first corner in second place and feeling like she was riding Storm. There didn't seem to be any issue. She was beginning to think all Rain needed was a little time off. But the second the rider behind her caught up Rain got all jittery and tense. He tried to rear but Amy sensed it and controlled the horse. She rounded the next bend and felt the horse losing momentum. He reared again and Amy felt herself slide back in the saddle. She tried to hang on but he kicked this time and she lost her grip. She fell with a thud to the ground. Luckily Rain wasn't too fast. Lisa and the jockey came racing out onto the track. Amy say up removing her helmet as Lisa knelt down beside her. "Are you okay?"
"Yeah." Amy brushed her pants off.
"Don't stand up. Just take it easy." Lisa had her hand on her elbow.
"Lisa, I'm fine." Amy pushed herself up and finished removing as much dirt as she could. She sighed turning to notice the jockey grabbing the reins. "I don't know what happened."
"That's it for today." Lisa shouted at her help.
Jack was fixing lunch when he seen Ty's truck pull into the driveway. He wasn't expecting Amy back from Lisa's yet. He met her at the door the dish towel still in his hands. "What happened?" Rolled off his lips more concerned with each word as he got a better look at her.
"I got thrown but like I told Lisa I'm fine." Amy walked past him. "I'm gonna take a shower."
Jack looked over his shoulder at her as she left not exactly believing her.
10 minutes later Amy joined him for a ham sandwich at the dining room table. "You sure your okay?"
"Yes. It's just been a frustrating few days. First Dad now this horse of Lisa's. I just don't get it."
"You'll get it. You always do." Jack reassured.
"I'm not so sure. I've never been this stuck before." She sighed.
"You distracted by something?" Jack tupped his head to catch his grand daughter's express.
"Sorta." She took another bite of her sandwich.
"What's going on? You know you can tell me anything?"
Amy smiled. "I think I wanna go back to school."
She had said it so quietly that Jack wasn't sure he heard her. "What?"
"The University of Calgary has an Equine program. It sounds really good."
"Honey, don't let what Lou said get to you. You are good enough with your career. Look at the horses you've helped."
"But what if I could help more. Learn more to do better."
"What about your clients?"
"What about them?"
"I just mean, you'll have your hands full with school. I know what your senior year looked like. You barely graduated."
"I was just thinking about it and it's only a one year program."
Jack nodded. "If this is something you wanna do I support you." He patted her hand.
Tim's truck came barreling up to the fence stones flying. Jack looked up from where he was fixing the wire. He sighed removing his gloves and facing his ex son-in-law. "What is it now?"
"What's going on with Amy? She won't answer my calls."
"Can't say as I blame her."
"What did you say?"
"You know I would never intentionally sabotage your relationship with the girls. You do a good enough job of that on your own." He grabbed his tools and started packing up.
"She told you, didn't she?"
"Yup."
"Come on, Jack. Give me something." Tim had his hands on his hips.
"She's been struggling with a horse. Can't seem to figure it out. It's got her on edge." Jack said turning around to place the toolbox on his open tailgate.
"She fired my jockey."
"If what I heard is true. I don't blame her. Sounded like you lied and went behind her back." He shut his tailgate and headed for the drivers door. "I'd say give her some time but you and I both know this might have been your last second change. She was pretty pissed."
"Jack, come on. Can't you talk to her?"
"Nope. Now move your truck."
Jack has just pulled into the driveway with Ty on his tail following behind in his motorcycle. He barely got the truck parked and he was out. "That sky isn't looking good." Jack pointed. "I'm going to unpack these tools and park the truck in the quonset hut. I suggest you do the same." He shouted over the wind. It was sure picking up.
Ty glanced over his shoulder noticing his truck wasn't in the driveway. "Where's Amy?"
"She was still at Lisa's. She got a late start. It's a long story." He said grabbing his hat it nearly blowing off.
"Tim again?"
"No, she got thrown." He seen Ty's expression. "She's okay."
Ty nodded trying not to panic too much. If she had finished her day at Lisa's. The dark storm clouds loomed overhead. "Hurry up." Jack shouted.
Ty jumped back on his bike and hurried over to the barn. He needed to get the doors closed and make sure the horses were secure.
Amy threw her phone aside as she seen her dad's name on the screen as it rang. She was just pulling out of Lisa's driveway anyway. The last thing she needed was her dad's mood causing her to get upset. Rain had picked up on it and she didn't get anywhere with him. As she turned the corner her phone slid off the seat and onto the floor. She heard it ring again a few minutes later. The thunder cracked loudly in the sky. She leaned forward to get a better look at the sky. The darkness edging closer. She tightened her grip on the wheel as the wind picked up. She hoped she'd make it home before it got too bad.
Jack latched the quonset hut and dashed toward the house holding his hat. Ty was on his heels doing the same. The rain was pounding the front of the ranch house before either Jack and Ty knew it. Both escaping it by seconds. Both lingered on the porch without saying anything as they watched the sky. Ty glanced around looking for any sign of his truck. Amy should have made it home by now. Jack nudged him to come inside. Once they were safely inside Jack set to work on finding candles and another else they would need. "Jack, Amy should have been home by now." Ty spoke first.
"I thought about that too but there's no sense getting worked up for nothing." As he set a few blankets down on the table the hydro went out. "If it gets much worse we'll have to go to the cellar."
"You're worried, ain't you?"
"Well, it's hard not too. Last time you two were out in something like this you both..." He trailed off. "I'm going to check in on Lisa."
"I'm calling Amy again." Ty said pulling out his phone.
Jack grabbed his arm. "Again? What do you mean again?"
"I tried her earlier when I was in the barn."
Jack's face turned inward. He didn't say anything just dialed the phone. "Lis, are you okay? Is Amy with you?" Jack fired off questions. "No, she's not here."
Ty glanced up from his phone at Jack's words. "What do you mean she's not with Lisa?" Ty tried to ask but Jack ignored him.
"Okay, you stay put. I'll let you know if I hear from her." Jack nodded. "I love you too."
"She isn't with Lisa?" Ty asked again.
"No, said she left when she always has this week. She thought she'd be about half way home when the storm hit."
"Oh." Ty paced around the kitchen. "Come on, Amy." The grip on his phone making his knuckles white.
"Maybe she stopped off to wait the storm out." Jack said nervous. He glanced out the window as the lightening cracked across the sky.
"Amy, it's Ty. Please call me. Let me know your okay. Love you." Ty couldn't hid his nervous tone. He glanced up at Jack worried.