Sorry for the long wait. Wanted to get this chapter perfect. Thanks again for all who have reviewed, followed and favourited.
Jack pulled his truck up to the large fancy building. Lisa darted out of her office and into Jack's arms. "I'm so glad Amy is okay." She said pulling away.
"She's smart. I wasn't worried."
"Right." She smirked. "How's Heartland?"
"Just a few branches. Nothing crazy. Power came back on a bit ago." He glanced around to look at Lisa's place.
"We got a few fences that didn't take the wind. But other then that, we did good. They say it missed us but some didn't fair so well in the North."
"Well, I"m happy to help. Amy and Ty have Heartland covered." Jack grabbed her hand and they headed toward the stables. A few of her hands were already picked up debris.
Amy and Ty were also picking up branches and Tim was getting the horses back into the pasture after making sure the fence was okay. "So you and your dad made up?"
Amy placed the branch into the back of Tim's truck. "Yes, I guess."
"Guess?" Ty asked stopping her.
"He's never going to change but said he was sorry. Promised to let me pick the jockey. He felt desperate to get someone picked. You know how he gets."
"Yeah, done now or not at all." He laughed.
"I've learned that you gotta just let things go with him."
"That's not fair, Amy."
"I know, but putting up a stink isn't going to help anyone." She half smiled before going back to the branches.
"Okay, let's go drop these off and pick up your truck." Tim said a few minutes later as they made their way back over to the barn. All the branches picked up and the one section of fence fixed.
"Sure."
"Why were you driving his truck anyway?"
"Ty's usually drives his motorcycle." Amy said ready sensing an argument. Surprisingly Tim just nodded and got into the truck. Amy and Ty followed.
Amy walked around the pen watching Rain. She finally managed to do a join up and Lisa seemed happy about it. It was a small step forward that she liked as well. Problem was she still had no idea the root cause of Rain's problems. It didn't make sense. She has worked with one horse before that was similar. In the way that it too didn't seem to have any real issues with anything. She had tried to darndest but got nowhere. That horse ended up just needing a little more love and attention. She sighed as she watched Rain. He was otherwise a great horse. But after reading the notes in her notebook she was beginning to think Rain might just be tired of being a racehorse. Something she wasn't looking forward to telling Lisa.
Jack's truck pulled into the driveway a huge smile on his face.
Amy grabbed the lead line and attached it to Rain leading him out of the pen.
"He's looking good." Jack patted his back.
"He finally joined up." Amy smiled.
"That's great, sweetheart. I'm so proud of you." He pulled Amy into a hug.
"Don't be proud yet." She smiled. "I'm just happy Lisa agreed to let me bring this guy home. I think he needs some horse time."
"Well, I know you can do anything. Just like you mom." Jack opened the trailer door.
"Thanks, grandpa."
Amy shot Ty a smile as he walked over to the gate. "Where have you been?" She asked stopping brushing Rain who was tied to the fence post. Ty had barely been around the last week. Amy was trying not to take it personally but it was hard. She couldn't help but feel like something else was taking all his attention.
"Nowhere." He shrugged.
Amy sighed. It was usual answer when she asked him. "Okay. You wanna go for a trail ride?" She said ignoring the feelings she was having. But the look Ty gave her didn't make it easy.
"Oh, I don't know, Amy." He leaned against the fence. "Should he be out on the trails?"
"Yes, he'll love it." She grinned. "What's going on? You love trail rides."
Ty sighed. "Okay, if it's that important to you."
Amy grinned. "Only if you want too." She giggled.
"It doesn't matter how tired I am I always have time for you." He turned on his heel to go grab Spartan.
Before too long they were enjoying the late afternoon sun. The rolling hills setting the mood. It was perfect. Amy looked over at Ty. "I think all this guy needed was a little space to slow down and be a horse."
"How'd you get that idea?"
"I don't know. A horse I worked with a few years ago. He refused to do anything the owner wanted. Me included and it turned out he was just done working." She laughed. "Just like someone else."
"What? No!" He joked.
"You sure? Your eyes look as droopy as ever."
"It was an early shift."
"You've had a lot of early shifts." She hinted.
"Yeah, I guess. It's nice to be trusted enough to open or close the shop. I don't want to let him down. Not a lot of guys in my position would be given this kind of opportunity."
"You aren't that person anymore. Anyone can see that." She grabbed his hand. "Ty, there's something I wanna talk to you about." She said getting serious now.
"Sure. What it is?" He stopped Spartan.
"All the college talk kinda got to me. And I applied to U of C. I got in."
"What? That's amazing. Amy, I didn't know you were interested." He smiled.
"I didn't either but looking at your college magazines and this guy not cooperating. I just thought why not." She shrugged.
"I'm so proud of you." He grinned. "You are going to do great. And I'll be here to help you like you did me."
Amy jumped off Rain and led him to the field. Thinking some time with the other horses might be a good idea. However that was short lived. Rain reared the lead line slipping from Amy's hand. "Whoa, boy!" Amy shouted trying to get the line back. A client horse was ready to attack at many minute too. She didn't understand what had gotten into them.
"Amy!" Ty shouted running toward them after abandoning Spartan.
"I don't know what got into him."
Ty managed to get the other horse's bridle and lead him away as fast as he could.
"Hey, you're okay." Amy spoke softly now getting the lead line back. Rain still reared and Amy struggled to get him calmed down. He wanted so badly to get back into the field.
"Amy?" Jack shouted from behind her.
"Can you close the gate?" She said never looking at him.
Jack hurried to get the gate closed out of breath from running from the house. "What happened?"
"I don't know. He just went crazy." Amy said looking at Rain.
"That horse got near him and he reared." Ty said walked back toward them from inside the field.
"Is she okay?" Amy asked.
"Looks to be more shaken up then anything." Ty said jumping the fence. But stayed sitting on the edge.
"How's Rain?" Jack looked the animal over not seeing any wounds.
"Okay physically. Just when I thought I was getting somewhere with him." Amy sighed.
Spartan had wandered over to where they stood his presence suddenly scaring Rain again. This time Jack was quick to grab the other side of the reins.
"It's other horses." Jack said as he grabbed Spartan now.
"That can't be it we just went on a trail ride."
"Well, he doesn't seem to now." Jack was just as puzzled. "How is he trained?"
"Standard training like the other horses at Lisa's stable."
"How is he in the box?" Jack rubbed a hand over his growing stubble.
"Edgy when I rode him last week. Oh gosh, that's it."
"What's it?"
"He was in the lead until another horse got near us. We raced with 3 horses. He threw me when we got near the other horse."
"Why now?" Ty questioned.
"I don't know." Amy watched Rain who now seemed okay with Spartan near him.
Lisa watched as Amy cautiously showed how Rain acted around the other horses. His ears were perched back observing everything with an obvious nervous energy.
"I think Rain got attacked by another horse." Amy said looking back at Lisa.
"It makes perfect sense." She said leaning against the fence.
"He's not scared of me. But the horses."
"A horse scared of horses?" Lisa asked skeptical.
"I know, I felt the same at first. But at some point he gained a lack of trust. When Rain gets out on the track the other horses get too close scare him. It's why he bucked me off."
"So what do we do?"
"Well, I guess we work to overcome his fear." Amy said coming closer to the fence.
"How long is that gonna take? We have a race coming up."
"As long as it's gonna take, Lisa. I know you don't want to hear this but he just might not want to be a race horse anymore."
Amy hadn't intended to stay out that long but you couldn't stop her. She always got lost in the feeling a trail ride gave her. Ty glanced at her. She was smiling ear to ear. He couldn't be more in love with her then he was right now. The sun had set and it was a beautiful way to end the night. They now rode back with dusk setting in. Amy had apologized multiple times for keeping them out so late. But he didn't care. Normally Jack would be on their case but he and Lisa had to attend some party for the rich. Or so Jack had put it as he turned up his nose. Ty had tried to hid his smirk. Amy grabbed Ty's hand. "You seem lost in thought." She said giggling.
"Maybe I am." He said smiling back.
Amy shook her head as she got closer to the barn she pulled her hand away. Dismounting and turning to Ty. "That's odd, why are lights out." She said puzzled.
Ty jumped off his horse and grabbed the reins from Amy. "I don't know. We out of hydro?"
"There wasn't a storm." Amy answered confused.
Ty tied up the horses to the rail outside the barn. Amy slid the door open and Ty quickly hit the switch. He bit his lip at Amy's grasp.
Hanging from the ceiling and running along the stalls were twinkling lights. The barn lit dimly by the romantic lighting. Amy had stepped into the barn looking at the lights and wildflowers on a nearby bail. As she turned around to question Ty she gasped again. Her hand flying up to cover her mouth. Tears already running down her face.
Ty knelt down on one knee his own breath catching as he opened the ring box. "It was right here we shared our first kiss. Where I first knew you were gonna be trouble. Where I knew I wanted to spend the rest of my life with you." He smiled.
"Ty..." Amy whispered.
"Amy Fleming, will you marry me?"
Amy bit her bottom lip fighting tears. "Yes." She whispered nodding her head like crazy.
"Yes?" Ty asked tears coming to his eyes as he stood up. Amy just nodded as he placed the diamond ring on her finger. "I love you so much. And I promise to spend the rest of my life reminding you."
"I love you so much." Amy said wrapping her arms around Ty.
He picked her up spinning her as they shared in a deep long passionate kiss. "Right where it all began." Ty said as he out her down but not letting her go. Looking that they were right next to Spartan's stall. Amy smiled widely as she pulled Ty in for another kiss.