Chapter 2

Knowing she's late and quickly heading along the county road back to Heartland, Amy spots the red ranch truck speeding towards and then past her heading in the opposite direction. For a very short moment, almost like a flash, she sees Jack behind the wheel and is surprised that he didn't give any indication of noticing her.

While wondering why he was in such a hurry, she turns off the roadway and down the narrow dirt and gravel road into Heartland. She pulls up to the house and parks. Lou's car is there but no one is around...not the girls or even Remy. She walks in the house and through the kitchen to the dining room where she sees Lou coming down the stairs. Before Lou can say anything, Amy starts rambling on, not giving Lou a chance to speak, "I'm sorry I'm late. Something came up. I saw grandpa up on the county road. He looked like he was in a big hurry to get somewhere. He's probably mad at someone...My guess is dad..."

Tears streaming down her cheeks, Lou yells at her, "Amy! Stop!"

Startled, Amy suddenly notices Lou's tears and how distraught she appears. Fearing the worst, Amy pleads, "Lou, please...what's wrong? Is everyone okay? Tell me...What's going on?"

Wiping the tears from her cheeks, Lou chokes out the words between sniffles, "Peter's upstairs with the girls. C'mon we need to go. I'll drive."

"Lou, you're scaring me! Please tell me...what's happened...Where are we going?"

Forcing composure, she replies, "C'mon, hurry...I'll tell you on the way."

Lou brushes by Amy as she quickly heads for the door. Amy turns and follows.

Frightened and near tears herself, Amy follows Lou out the door while demanding, "Tell me right now!"

While Lou runs to her car with Amy following closely, she blurts out, "Its Ty! Caleb called. It's serious. He's at Crossbow hospital in Calgary." With Amy in the car, she backs up quickly, turns, and speeds away from the ranch house as she continues, "We can't waste any time getting there."

Even more frightened and trying desperately to control her own tears, Amy pleads, "What aren't you telling me, Lou?"

Not receiving a response, Amy demands loudly, "Lou!...Tell me! I need to know! What happened to Ty?!"

"When Caleb called he said that Ty had been shot." Amy lets out a gasp. "It's bad...real bad. Ty was taken to the hospital by helicopter. Caleb heard the paramedics talking." Lou hesitates to settle herself before continuing, "Amy, I need you to take a breath. Apparently Ty lost a lot of blood...he went into cardiac arrest. They managed to revive him but they're not sure if he'll survive."

Amy breaks down. she cries uncontrollably, triggered by fear, sorrow, and an overwhelming flurry of painful thoughts. After driving for a while and Amy barely able to bring her emotions somewhat in control, she clumsily fidgets with her phone searching for any missed calls and messages.

Seeing none, tearfully and fumbling with the words she asks, "Why...why didn't..." She swallows and takes a sharp breath. "Why didn't someone call me? I...I could have driven straight there."

"Amy, we didn't think it was something you should have heard by yourself over the phone. Grandpa made the decision and I agreed."

Amy pauses in an attempt to momentarily compose herself. Wiping the tears from her face, she clears her throat, "Did Caleb say anything else you haven't told me?"

"No...he didn't. You know as much as I do right now. He was really shook up when he called and Grandpa said Caleb barely got the words out."

...

"I'm Jack Bartlett. Do you have any information about Ty Borden...is there someone..."

"Jack." Hearing his name, Jack turns away from the nurse's station as Caleb motions him over to the waiting area."

He doesn't move, instead stating, "I'm trying to get some information here."

"Jack, there's nothing they can tell you right now. Believe me, I've tried."

Jack walks over to where Caleb is standing. Before he can say anything Caleb explains, "Ty's in surgery...we won't know anything until the doctor is ready to tell us."

"Yeah...I'm familiar with that routine."

"Sit down and I'll fill you in."

Jack reluctantly takes a seat across from Caleb. As he does, he angrily asks, while slamming his hat down on the seat next to him, "What the hell happened?" He leans forward, waiting for Caleb's answer."

"It's worse than I first told you. It was obvious when they were working on him that he had been shot several times. This couple, one a nurse, happened to hear the shots and then saw him on the ground when they drove by. If not for them, he probably would have been dead before the helicopter and medics arrived."

"Who shot him and where?" Jack asks in frustration.

"Whoever did it was gone...It was at Ty's place. I was suppose to pick him up and I got there about half a minute before the police and helicopter. I was giving the police some information about Ty...the medics wanted it too, so they had me ride with Ty here to the hospital. I heard he went into cardiac arrest as soon as they brought him into emergency surgery."

Jack slumps back in his seat wondering who might want Ty dead. One name immediately comes to mind.

...

Later that day Tim arrives. Seeing Jack sitting in the waiting room, he marches over to him and complains, "No one thought to call me? Instead I had to hear it from Peter?"

In no mood for Tim's shtick, Jack responds, "Yeah, call Tim should have been the top of the list! I don't want to do this with you right now! Not everything is about you!"

Backing off, Tim asks, "How is he...where's Amy? Is she okay?"

"Ty's in recovery, no visitors...Amy's a wreck. She couldn't stand just sitting here any longer so Lou went for a walk with her. Ty came out of surgery about an hour ago. All they could do for now was stop the bleeding. He wasn't stable enough for a long surgery." Doctor Levinson said that if he makes it through the night and he's stable enough, he's going to need another surgery as soon as possible."

"It's that bad?"

"It's bad...one shot grazed his head just above his left temple, another to his chest hitting a lung and then another to his hip. The doctor said he was lucky to still be alive considering the condition he was in when he arrived."

"How did this happen?"

Jack repeats what he was told by Caleb and what little more he learned from the police."

"Where's Caleb? I thought he would still be here."

"He's talking with the police."

"So, they don't have any idea who did this, but they suspect it wasn't random...that Ty was purposely targeted?"

"Yeah, they found spent casings from a rifle in a wooded area close by."

"Are you thinking what I'm thinking?"

"Probably...it's too early to jump to any conclusions though. Ty did have a run in with some poachers not too long ago."

"But Jack..."

"Don't go off half cocked! Just let the police do their job!"

...

Peter is sitting at the kitchen table checking his emails on his cellphone when he hears someone walk in. He turns to see who it is.

"Lou...You're back already? What's happened with Ty?

"Nothings changed since I last called. I just came home to pick up a few things. We rented a motel room a block from the hospital to use to rest and freshen up. It's going to be a long wait. I don't know how much use it'll get though. I was barely able to get Amy to go for a walk and she refused to go any farther from the hospital than the parking lot. Where are the girls?"

"They're up in Georgie's room."

"How are they?"

"Katie's fine...Georgie is upset. She knows Ty's hurt and at the hospital but not knowing anything more than that is driving her crazy. Now that you're here we need talk to her."

"Definitely...We spoke to the detectives, Amy only spoke to them for a short time. She wasn't in any condition to be interviewed. They're gonna need to talk to you too sometime soon. They said in a case like this they interview family and close friends first. They also warned us that the media will probably be calling soon and we have no obligation to speak to them. Actually they stressed that we shouldn't until they've had a chance to interview each one of us first."

"A newspaper reporter and TV station has already called the house. Scott called and said that he's been getting calls too. We haven't told them anything since there wasn't anything to tell."

"That reminds me. We need to make sure Georgie knows not to answer the phone. For the time being, we should let all calls go to the answering machine."

"Good point...How's Amy doing now?

"When I left she was a little better...I think fatigue is setting in. I told you earlier that when the doctor came out and told us about the surgery and prognoses he thought he would have to sedate her. Now, if not for the fatigue, she would probably still be just short of needing something to calm her."

"So...Ahmed. You know when we talk to Georgie she's probably going to accuse him and she's going to blame herself too."

"I know. Grandpa, dad, and I talked about him away from Amy being able to hear. He was the first name that came to mind for each of us. We can't jump to conclusions, although dad was adamant about stringing him up. I think that had a little to do with a feeling of guilt. We don't even know if he's still in Hudson. You know how impatient dad can be and we warned him about interfering in the investigation. Grandpa reminded him about Ty's run in with some poachers who roughed him up pretty good and there were also those guys who were abusing those Tennessee Walkers they were training. So, there's no telling."

Peter agrees, "You're right, there's no point in jumping to any conclusions...as for your dad?"

"I know...Alright, with Georgie, we'll need to address this carefully...I don't want to lie to her..."

...

Early the next morning while in the waiting room at Crossbow Hospital Amy sees Scott walk in. "Scott."

"Hey, Amy...sorry I couldn't make it here any sooner. Two emergency surgeries and talking to the police. By the time I was done..."

Before Scott could finish, she interrupts, "Don't worry about it, I understand. I'm glad you're here now."

"Cassandra is holding down the fort...she sends her best wishes. Anything new since last night when Jack called me?"

"We should be hearing something from the doctor this morning."

"How are you doing?"

"I'm scared for Ty. I can't believe someone would do something like this to him."

"I know...I imagine it's been an excruciating night waiting, but I suppose in a case like this no news is good news."

"That's what grandpa and Lou have been telling me."

"Are they around?"

"Lou should be back shortly, Caleb too. He had to step out to make a call. Grandpa and dad went up to the cafeteria."

"Lou, Caleb, Jack and Tim return within moments of each other just as Doctor Levinson comes to the waiting room with an update of Ty's condition.

"Ty's vitals improved overnight and he's stable so we'll be bringing him into surgery again shortly. So far it looks good, but l need to caution you...he's far from being out of the woods. I'm not going to sugar coat it. With all surgeries there's a level of risk. For Ty, this will be a critical, potentially life threatening procedure. The gunshot wounds caused significant damage and depending on how it goes, I won't rule out a need for an additional surgery. There's also concern about Ty's EEG...that tests the brain's electrical activity. It's to early to tell if it's a problem or only an anomaly so it'll need to be monitor closely."

"Jack speaks up, "Thank you. What's the bottom line here if the surgery goes well, how does it look?"

"If everything goes well and there are no other issues, I don't see why he shouldn't pull through...he'll be one very lucky young man. I can't make any promises though and there may be some permanent damage.

Amy tearfully asks, "How soon will I be able to see him?"

"After the surgery he'll be in recovery for a period of time and then after he's moved to ICU you should be able to visit him, but one person only for a short time."

Tim asks, "What are the odds of a full recovery?"

"I don't give odds."

Jack glares at Tim before thanking the doctor. "Yes, thank you." Lou adds as the Doctor Levinson walks away."

"I hate it when they won't give you a straight answer." Tim states with disgust."

Angrily Jack snaps back, "What do you want to hear...a percentage on whether he walks out of here or not?"

Lou interrupts, "Stop it you two!" She admonishes both of them, "Do you have any idea how disturbing that sounds? And Dad, you're attitude isn't helpful."

Distressed by the exchange, Amy turns away and states with a bit of anger in her voice, "It's stuffy in here, I need some air."

Scott agrees, "Me too." Followed by Caleb, "Yeah, sounds good."

Amy takes a seat on a bench just outside the hospital entrance. Scott sits next to her while Caleb stands close by. She tries to fight back the tears as they begin welling up in her eyes. Scott decides to break the silence by offering a different topic of conversation.

"You know, when I heard about the cull up there at Pike River I contacted the Wild Horses of Alberta Society."

"You called them after I called you...you know, about locating people who might be interested in adopting them?"

"Actually, before that. Ty called me and gave me a heads up. Anyway, they managed to obtain a stay, forcing Alberta Environmental and Parks to do a new survey before considering the need for another cull. So, all of them will be safe...at least for a while."

"That's great!" The news brought a momentary smile to Amy's face. "Too bad Ty didn't stick around to see the look on Will's face after Matt had a change of heart. I wish he hadn't left when he did. Did he say anything to you?"

"No, not a word."

Eyes turn to Caleb and then Scott excuses himself, "I'm going to check on Lou. She might need some help running interference."

"What do you know?" Amy asks. Realizing that he's hesitant to answer, Amy presses, "Please Caleb, I want...I need to know. Why did he suddenly leave without saying anything."

Caleb takes the seat vacated by Scott on the bench next to Amy. Sensitive to her emotional state, he decides not to bring up her decision to decline Ty's call. A call when she herself could have asked Ty why he left.

"Caleb?"

"Okay...I guess you suspect he left because of you."

"Because he saw I wasn't wearing his ring? I told grandpa that I was there to work and it wasn't a place to wear a diamond ring."

"So that's why you're still not wearing it?"

Amy looks down at her ring finger, rubbing the area where it would have been. "I've had other things on my mind...I guess I just forgot to put it back on."

Caleb continues, "It bothered him seeing you not wearing it but that's not why he left. He planned to stay."

"Why then?"

"I don't want to get in the middle if this and...well...it isn't my place to tell you."

"Caleb!"

Pausing for a moment, he debates how much to tell her and quickly decides he should defer answering directly. "Okay...If you want to know why he left then you should hear it from the source. Ask Jack and Tim. Ty overheard them talking."

To be continued...

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