Chapter 1 – Getting Ready

It was hard to believe that it had been just over two years since Georgie arrived at Heartland. She had been immediately taken by the horses. Looking at her now, you would have thought that she had been on a horse all her life. She was show jumping and trick riding. She also was learning to barrel race and loved helping her Aunt Amy with client horses. Amy and Grandpa Jack both agreed that she had a gift with horses like Amy and her mother, Marion.

Amy took comfort in believing that her late mother had a hand in how/why Georgie turning up at Heartland. It was obvious that she was meant to work with horses. Amy was more then willing to help Georgie learn what Marion had taught her and things that she, Amy, had learned from working with her own clients. Amy was starting to think that the motto: "Healing Horses, Healing Hearts" was much more then anyone had ever thought it would be. Between the horses they had saved and now the kids that they were able to help, it couldn't have been a better way to honor Marion.

The family was getting excited as the annual Hudson Stakes was approaching soon. Amy's dad, Tim, had a new race horse, Tennessee Jack. Grandpa Jack's wife, Lisa Stillman, also had one of her prize thoroughbreds, Sapphire Breeze, would also be racing. The family was split as to who they were cheering for since both Sapphire and Jack both had good odds, neither the outright favorite, Alberta Prince. All Amy, Georgie, Jack and the family knew was that it was going to be a good race and it would be great if both horses placed in the money.

As race day approached, the tension was running high as Tim would just not leave Lisa or the family alone. It was decided that no one would talk about the race at the table. Everyone had their favorite, but chose to watch the race as a family. One week before the race, Lisa's jockey got hurt in a training run. The horse was okay but a little frightened. Lisa implored Amy to help her. Despite Tim's outright demand that Amy not help the "competition", Amy agreed.

Two days later, Amy had Sapphire back on the track and was running her at full extension. It was after the training run, that Lisa approached Amy with one additional request – be her jockey on the day of the race. Amy tried to argue that she wasn't a jockey.

"It is not like you haven't done it before," Lisa reminded her of when she ran Lightning Dexter for Tim a few years ago.

"But, that was different," Amy tried to protest.

"You are my last hope, Amy" Lisa pleaded. She knew full well that if Amy didn't agree, she was going to have to pull Sapphire from the race and she really didn't want Tim to win.

"The last thing that either of us want is that smug smile on your father's face," Lisa cajoled.

Amy agreed, only under one condition – that Lisa not say anything to anyone until the day of the race. Lisa agreed, but not sure how Amy was going to keep it from everyone. Lisa was excited but knew she was asking a lot of Amy. Lisa reassured Amy, that all she wanted was for her to do her best and if that winning, all the better.

The next few days went by really fast, not only was Amy working Sapphire every morning, she was also busy on the ranch. The night before the race, Amy pulled Jack and Georgie into the barn office before supper and told them that she would be riding for Lisa the next day. They were both excited for her, but she asked them not to say anything to anyone, since Lisa and the steward's office at the track were the only ones that knew. She didn't want to have to deal with Tim tonight at supper.

The next morning dawned bright and early. Amy woke early and had a light breakfast before heading to the track. As she was leaving, Lou stopped her.

"Where are you heading this early," she demanded. "I thought that we were going to the race as a family."

"I want to just check Sapphire one last time," Amy snapped back.

"I will meet you all there, Grandpa knows that I have his truck," Amy yelled over her shoulder as she went out the door.

Lou thought that Amy was up to something, but didn't have time to worry about that, she had to get breakfast ready for Georgie and Katie and then get everyone ready and out to the track. An hour later, Lisa was there to pick up Jack. The girls were just finishing breakfast. When Lisa came in, she saw how excited Georgie was and figured that she knew.

"Ready to watch some fast horses, Katie" Lisa said approaching her great granddaughter.

"Nope, I am going to Abraham's to play," Katie replied, without looking up from her coloring.

Georgie still had a few chores to do, so Lisa offered to drop Katie off so Lou and Georgie wouldn't be late. Lou nodded appreciatively and soon Jack, Lisa and Katie were off. Lou reassured them, that they wouldn't be far behind.

Meanwhile, back at the track, Amy had lightly breezed Sapphire and was sitting in Lisa's trailer all changed and ready. She didn't want to come out until race time for fear of running into Tim. She sat there going over the race. She was wearing number 3, so she would start in the middle of the track. She wanted to make she she had an open shot, so she could let Sapphire go coming around the last turn. The words of Janice, Tim's old jockey, came back to her.

"Your goal is to get the horse and yourself safely across the finish-line." echoed Janice's voice in her head

What Amy had not counted on was that Janice was there – riding Tennessee Jack. She had not seen her at the track and Tim had said nothing about Janice being back in Alberta, much less Hudson. They had sort of split a few years ago and Tim had used a couple of different jockeys since. Apparently, Janice had heard that Tim had bought Tennessee Jack and called and asked to ride him. She had been working part time at a stable and worked with him before. Tim wasn't sure he wanted to see her again, but figured that he had a better chance of winning with someone who had ridden the horse in more then a few times.

Lisa and Jack arrived at the track and was heading to the trailer to check on Amy when they ran in to Tim and his jockey talking. When they got closer, Jack saw that it was Janice wearing the distinctive purple Tim had chosen for his horses and jockeys. Both were slightly taken aback at seeing her, but wished both good luck in the name of sportsmanship. Lisa and Jack proceed to the trailer and knocked to see if Amy was ready.

They weren't sure whether or not to tell Amy about Janice. When they entered the trailer, Amy saw Jack's face and knew there was something going on.

"Just tell me," Amy sighed.

"Janice is back," Jack stated simply shaking his head.

"Don't freak out, Amy," Lisa there to reassure her.

"I am fine, just deja vu" Amy replied. "Do they know about me," she added.

"Don't know," Lisa replied.

"Well lets do this," Amy said taking a couple of deep breaths.

With that, Amy, Jack and Lisa exited the trailer. Amy went to get Sapphire and Jack and Lisa headed to meet the family. As Amy was walking to Sapphire's stall, she Janice in that purple jacket and the number 4 and shook her head. It wasn't a second later, Tim saw her and just gave her a dirty look.