Amy knew it was coming. It was unavoidable. Her and Ty could only ignore the issue for so long before they were forced into the same space. "Hey." She said quietly hugging the blanket tighter around her. Out of security or warmth she didn't know. Ty stood looking out over the field the stars shining brightly overhead. He turned at the sound of her voice. But turned back around glancing up at the stars. "It's a beautiful night." She said coming to stand next to him.
"Yup."
"Ty...please talk to me." She looked at him his features barely noticeable in the dark.
"What do you want me to say?" He said still not making eye contact.
"I'm sorry, okay? I didn't mean to make you feel like..."
"An idiot?" He interrupted turning to her now. A slight glimmer in his eye.
Amy swallowed hard looking at the ground. "Yes. Because I love you and acted like I didn't. And to make you feel that way even for a minute isn't what I ever wanted."
She raised her head to see Ty was back looking at the stars. "You really wanna marry me?"
"Yes, a million times yes. No hesitation." She reached and grabbed his hand.
Ty turned to her fully this time. "Why didn't you marry Caleb?"
The question caught her off guard. She didn't know what he was going to say but didn't expect him to say that. "What?"
"Why didn't you marry Caleb?" He asked again.
"Because I thought I had to move on. I thought I had to get over you. You seemed to make it very clear with your actions you didn't plan on coming back. Heck, I wasn't even sure you felt the same way. It's not that didn't have feelings for Caleb. I did. But he wasn't you. I also realized I wasn't sure I could ever get over your betrayal." She paused. "But I did. Because I love you. And you can't change your hearts mind." She smiled even if Ty couldn't see it in the dark.
He squeezed her hand. "I love you too."
Amy crept back into her shared tent. Zipping the zipper quietly to hopefully not wake her grandfather. But as she settled back into her sleeping bag her back toward him he let the small smile creep up on his lips. He was happy she had snuck out and ran into Ty doing so. They were meant for each other if only they both would stop overthinking everything. Two tents over Tim, who also was still awake heard a small portion of his daughters conversation. Growing even more suspicious that something was definitely going on. Ty's question about why she didn't marry Caleb. And Amy's response having something to do with betrayal. He'd learnt a long time ago he had burned too many bridges to ever completely get back what he had with his girls. Knowing he wouldn't be let in fully. He brought that on himself. Abandoning your family for drugs and alcohol never went over well. But he thought he'd changed and proven himself enough to get some of the low down on what was happening in their lives. Or at least Amy's. He couldn't quite figure out what it was but why judging Ty's nervous behavior around him and Amy avoiding anyone there was more to the story. And of course there was Jack's behavior back at the barn and all the side glances at Amy since they left. He huffed turning over in his sleeping bag. Once again Jack was the person holding all the secrets. But he wasn't about to this go.
To Jack's surprise Caleb and Ty had teamed up for this mornings ride. Leaving Amy with him. Not what he had expected but didn't question it. He'd be more then happy to share the day with Amy. It seemed like they rarely got to spend time together anymore. Before her helping Lisa and spending her free time with Ty, up until their little disagreement. He caught Tim glaring at him from across the field. Of course, he had smelled trouble ten miles away. He knew it was only a matter of time before he came sniffing for answers. He ignored him not letting him ruin this time with Amy.
"What's going on kiddo?" Jack said as they pushed the cattle ahead. Stuck in the back most likely do to his age. People had a tendency to judge him. But while he was getting older he still enjoyed a good cattle drive.
"Nothing." She said smiling over at him.
"Just noticed you've switched partners."
"I don't mind riding in the back." She said thinking she was letting off a vibe she was bored with their current job.
"No, I mean yesterday you picked Caleb. Did something happen between you two?"
"No, he and Ty teamed up. That's all."
"So this has nothing to do with last night? Or the last week?" He said glaring lovingly at her. Trying to tell her he meant no harm by the conversation.
She let out a short laugh. "What about last night?"
"I heard you sneak out." Jack laughed.
"Oh, well I..."
"It's okay you know. I was just hoping you'd worked things out with Ty."
She glanced up at him shocked. "How did you know that?"
"I have my ways." He touched her elbow. "What's going on with you two?"
"Nothing. It's okay." She smiled.
Jack was content with that. He smiled back before leaving her to move the cattle to the left. However, now that he was alone Tim decided to join him.
"What's going on with Amy?" He asked without even a hello.
"As if I know." Jack shook his head.
"You ways have a way of being the person everyone opens up to." He says moving in closer to him.
"Can just watch the cattle?" Jack says annoyed.
"Why is that?"
Jack closed his eyes. Clearly Tim wasn't letting this go. "They had a disagreement over something. And I don't know what." He says holding out his finger to stop him from questioning further.
"She seems upset."
"All I know is that she said she's okay. So can we just leave it at that?"
Tim still wasn't convinced. But he caught Jack's gaze. He glanced in the direction he was to catch Amy riding beside Ty now. She slowly and hesitantly reached for Ty's hand. A huge smile formed on Ty's lips as he gave her a quick glance.
