Chapter 4 – The Video
By the time that Jack and Georgie returned to the kitchen, Amy had calmed down some and reached for her phone when she saw that it was Ty. He filled her in on what was going on with the horses and she told him to check the link she had sent him.
"What is going on," Georgie said setting her computer down on the table in the kitchen.
"Here check out this link," Amy said. "Ty also just told me that Tennessee Jack is fine, just bruised, nothing major. Alberta Prince should be okay, but needs surgery. Him and Scott were head there now. He said that he would call when there was more news."
By the time that Amy was finished catching them up on the condition of the horses, Georgie had pulled up the link.
"Just watch," was all Amy could get out.
Lou came around the table and stood next to Jack, who was standing behind Georgie. Then Georgie hit play on the video. None of them could believe what they were seeing. Then Georgie started reading the description attached to the video:
Today while I was with my family watching the annual Hudson Stakes horse race, the unthinkable happened. Two horses crashed and both went down. Before anyone else could react, a young girl jumped from the bleachers and ran toward the horses without any thought that she might get hurt. She was the first to reach the downed horses and was able to calm them both down enough to allow the vets on site to do there job. When the race was finished, one of the other jockeys also quickly came over. Once she removed her helmet and goggles, I immediately recognized her as Amy Fleming, the Miracle Girl. Thinking that she was going to take over, I continued to watch, but instead, she let the yet unnamed young girl continue and only seemed to offer her reassurance to the girl. The girl was able to get both horses to their feet and loaded the second into the trailer herself. She disappeared before anyone could get who she was. I went to look for Ms Fleming, but also unable to find her, I didn't know who to ask. I posted the video because I want this young woman to know how remarkable she is and to thank her with my Grandfather's horse.
Update: I have learned that the young girl is Georgie Fleming-Morris, Amy Fleming's niece. Check out their site Heartland.
Before anyone could react, Lisa walked through the door with supper in her hand and Tim right behind her. No one spoke and barely noticed that Lisa and Tim had walked in. As Lisa started to get the rest of things ready for supper, Tim walked over to the coffee pot, poured himself a mug and plopped down in the empty chair at the kitchen table.
"What is going on," Tim asked with a bit of annoyance in his voice.
"Here," Lou said turning the computer screen so that Tim could see the video.
"I don't need to see my horse crash again. Once is enough don't you think," Tim said sharply.
"Shut up and watch," Lisa said, giving him a swat on the arm.
"Fine," Tim sighed.
Tim watched the video, as Georgie's phone rang. She picked it up and went to the other room to talk. Everyone else could hear the excitement in her voice as she talked, but didn't know who she was talking to. They assumed it was one of her friends from school. As Tim finished watching the video, he just sighed.
"So, she calmed a horse down. We all know that she can do that," Tim said, not getting what was happening.
"Can't you be happy for your granddaughter," Lou huffed before walking in the dinning room with a stack of plates.
"What did I do now," Tim asked, still not getting the big deal.
"The video has gone viral," Amy said. "Like what happened with me when I calmed Caesar down for Stewart Forrest."
Still not quite getting the significance of what happened, Tim just sat there. Amy, Jack and Lisa all just shook their heads. Everyone was heading to the table to eat, when finally Jack had gathered his thoughts.
"First I want to say how proud I am of both Georgie and Amy," Jack started.
"Amy, you ran a good race and Georgie what you did was amazing. I felt like I was watching Marion and Amy, the way that you were so calm and self assured," Jack continued.
"What she did was reckless," Tim said, without looking up.
"You don't get it do you Tim," Lisa said with more then a hint of anger in her voice. "She probably saved your horse from further injury. You are just sore because you lost the race and I won."
"Now just wait a minute," Tim started, before being cut off by Amy.
"The world doesn't revolve around you and from what I understand talking to Ty, you horse is going to be fine," Amy yelled at her father.
"Why can't you be happy for Georgie and I, we both accomplished great things today." Amy continued.
Jack laid his hand on Amy's arm to calm her down, but she shrugged him off and stood up glaring at Tim.
"This video has put Heartland back in the news and we will both probably have a huge line up of clients calling," Amy continued to yell.
"You didn't seem to mind trying to take advantage of the money and attention last time," She huffed before walking out the door toward the barn.
"I am with her," Georgie said, before Tim could react.
"Just so you know,Tim, if you don't change your attitude, you can just eat at your place, alone," Lisa finally said sharply.
The rest of the meal was spent in mostly silence, other then when something needed to be passed. Jack glared at Tim across the table. Before Tim could finish off the last of the chicken, Lisa picked it up and when to the kitchen.
"I told Ty, I would save him supper," Lisa said, not caring what Tim wanted. "You weren't invited anyway."
Out in the barn, Amy checked on the horses before walking into the office and dropped into her chair. Georgie came in and slowly approached Amy.
"Do you really think I can do what you do," Georgie asked softly.
"I do, I have known it for awhile I just didn't want to push you," Amy replied.
"Why?" Georgie asked confused.
"I know what it is like to be forced/pushed into something," Amy started slowly. "Don't get me wrong, I love working with the horses, but there was a point after my mother died that I felt I couldn't do it. I also felt like everyone was counting on me to keep things going."
"I didn't know," Georgie said softly, getting up to give Amy a hug.
"It isn't you fault. It happened long before you ever got her," Amy said. "I know this is what I was meant to do. I want to do what my mother did, it helps me to keep her spirit alive."
"I wanted you to be able to have choices and I didn't want to push you one way or the other," Amy continued after a short pause. "Do you understand what happened today?"
"I am not sure," Georgie replied.
"Come over here," Amy said.
When Georgie had brought her chair around the desk, Amy showed her the original Miracle Girl video again. She had seen it for the first time a couple of months ago, but never knew the whole story. Amy explained about how hard it had been after Marion had died. Georgie sat there and just listened to Amy explain how people expected her just to pick up where her mother had left off and that it had been hard for her. She also told Georgie about the circumstances surrounding the "Miracle Girl" video. She talked about how all Tim could see was dollar signs and not what that many client horses was doing to her, such as how it effected her school and friendships.
She also talked about how the client list dried up when a contagious virus went through Heartland. Amy told Georgie about Pegasus and how he died. How Pegasus' death affected the family. Amy talked about how the quaratine effected both her client list and the Dude Ranch business. How it took months to try and rebuild the business. The tension that it created with her and Lou, Lou and Tim, and finally her and Tim. Finally Amy talked about how she needed to find balance in her life between home and clients.
"Georgie, you are thirteen years old, I don't want you to think that you have to do anything you don't want to," Amy said to her pointedly.
"You have school, show jumping and now trick riding," Amy continued. "Please don't feel like you have also taking clients."
"I think I understand," Georgie finally said.
"People are going to want you to do things and commit to things, but know your limitations. Make school and your horses and what you want a priority," Amy told Georgie.
"I want you to know, that no matter what you chose to do, I will be there for you," Amy continued. "If you feel that you want to take on a few clients or help me with clients, then I am okay with that."
"Okay, I understand," Georgie nodded.
"Lets go back to the house," Amy said, more cheerfully. "Oh by the way, please call Peter."
As if on cue, Georgie's phone rang. Both looked over and saw that it was Peter. Georgie hesitated for a moment, finally Amy answered the phone. She talked to Peter for a few minutes before finally handing the phone to Georgie.
"Stay here, talk and then come in," Amy said as she left the barn office.
As Amy reached the top step of the porch, she could hear Lou and Tim going at it. For a moment, Amy thought about just going back out to the barn. After another moment Lisa exited the house with tears in her eyes, Jack right behind her. Amy had enough and stormed through the front door and yelled at both Lou and Tim to stop it.
"I am not going to let you do to Georgie, what you did to me," Amy hissed at both of them.
"I don't know what you are talking about," Tim said acting as if he was oblivious to past hurts.
"Georgie and I have talked at length. I told her all about what happen after Mom died, the Miracle Girl video, the quaratine and how you both pushed me to do stuff without even asking," Amy continued, trying to calm her voice.
Tim and Lou just stood there looking at Amy blankly, not sure what to make of her outburst.
"She is my daughter," Lou finally said.
"Yeah and she is younger then I was when I stepped into Mom's shoes, so any horse she takes on, I have to also take on," Amy retorted.
"I have already told her that it is her choice and I will stand behind her no matter what," Amy said, finally regaining some calm in her voice.
"I agree with Amy," came Jack's voice from the mudroom.
"Georgie has school, chores, jumping and trick lessons," Jack continued. "Do you even know what she wants, much less what she has time for."
By the time that Lisa returned and Georgie finished talking to her father, things had calmed down. Tim had left, it had been decided that Katie would stay at Abraham's for the night, Lou was in her room, which left Jack and Amy sitting in front of the fire place. Lisa walked over to Jack and gave him a kiss and then sat down by him on the couch. Amy looked to Georgie to try and get a read on her.
"I am going to bed," Georgie said as she came into the room.
"Just a second, come over here," Jack implored her.
As Georgie came around the couch, she looked from Amy to Jack to Lisa. She realized something had changed. Hearing Georgie's voice, Lou came out of her room.
"Georgie," Jack started softly. "I am sorry if we upset you earlier, we need ALL need to remember you are only thirteen." Looking directly at Lou.
"It is okay," Georgie said, looking at Jack.
"Georgie, we want you to know that we are proud of you," Lisa said. "After talking to Amy and among ourselves, it is agreed that whatever you choose is okay. It is also agreed that if and only if you agreed to take on client horses, it will only be with the help of Amy."
Georgie looked at Amy who nodded back. As Lou came and sat down. Jack and Amy explained what the ground rules would be if Georgie agreed to take on any clients. They also wanted to make sure that Georgie understood that it was not her responsibility to bring in income and that school was to be a priority no matter what. After talking at length, it was agreed that no decisions needed to be made right then and there. All agreed that it was best that everyone get a good night sleep and that things would be clearer in the morning.