Soraya called her mom, explained what had happened, and was given permission to stay the night. Amy was grateful. The two, Lou, Grandpa, Scott, Matt, Nancy and Jonni finished the evening chores rather quickly, and sat around the kitchen table, drinking hot chocolate and discussing the horses, the upcoming school year and anything Amy could think of to keep her mind off Ty.
"How's Mercury?" Amy asked Scott, she hadn't been to the back barn when she had been doing chores.
"He's fine, nothing hit him, but I think he's pretty wired." Scott answered.
"I used some lavender while I was using T-touch on him," Joni said, causing Amy to smile at her initiative. "He was a bit relaxed, but he needs someone he's used to."
"I'll go out and check on him before I go to bed," Amy answered, downing the rest of her drink, standing up and putting the empty mug in the sink. "Which will be soon, I'm beat. I'll go check the horses now."
Matt jumped up. "I'll come with," He said.
Amy gave him an odd look, but didn't protest.
They walked into the front stable block, and found most of the horses sound. Sassafras, a strawberry roan mare was pacing her stall nervously.
"What's with her?" Matt asked, leaning over the half door.
"She had a night scare a while ago. She almost put her foot through the back of the stall." Amy explained, letting herself into the stall, extending her hand for the animal. Sassafras breathed deep Amy's sent, blowing out hard, showing her trust. Amy's fingers began working small circles over her muzzle, and she soon calmed.
"That's it?" Matt asked as Amy let herself out of the stall after just a few minutes.
"She should be alright," Amy nodded at the horse whose head now hung low and relaxed.
The two made their way to the back barn, and Amy shivered slightly, she had revisited that memory too many times today. The roof and beams of the barn collapsed, killing one of the horses, and putting Ty in his coma. Amy shook her head. He wasn't in a coma now, she kept reminding herself, he was comfortably asleep in the hospital. But she still looked up at the new beams when she walked into the barn.
Mercury was the only horse awake when Amy flipped on the lights. His head was looking over the half door, but to Amy's surprise he looked past her as she neared. He looked like he was waiting for someone.
Amy let herself into Mercury's stall, working small circles of T-touch on his back and neck while Matt let himself into Daisy's stall, across the aisle.
"Who would name a gelding Daisy?" He asked from the stall. Amy had noticed he took a special liking to this horse.
"It's actually Flaming Daises," Amy said with a laugh, she leaned out Mercury's door as Scott walked in to the barn. "But Daisy sounds nicer."
"What's he here for?" Matt asked, working the same circles over the gelding's face.
"He freaks out at sudden noises," Amy explained, watching Matt work with the horse, she hadn't known that he knew t-touch, but she assumed that he must have picked up something after all the time he spent at Heartland. They had been friends since before Amy could remember.
Mercury nudged Amy out of his way and looked down the aisle, his ear flicked back, and his muzzle drooped slightly as he saw Scott.
"He doesn't look too happy," Scott observed, holding his palm out, the gelding sniffed it half-heartedly. "He kind of reminds me of Pegasus."
"But his owners aren't dead," Amy was alarmed at the mention of her dad's old show jumper who had seemingly died of grief when Marion had passed away, but it had really been cancer. "He's even enjoying being back here."
"No, I mean he's looking for someone," Scott pointed out. The gelding kept a steady gaze down the row at the door.
Amy nodded in agreement. "Maybe he misses the circuit," She said referring to the horse's show jumping career.
"Maybe..."Scott said thoughtfully. "Well Matt, we'd better get going, mom called, she's wondering what happened to us. Amy, Lou said you'd better get to bed."
Amy let herself out of the stall and walked back up the aisle with the other two. She walked them to Scott's jeep.
"Thanks again Scott," She said after Matt had gotten into the passenger side, Scott turned to Amy.
"Amy, it was nothing." Scott shrugged, playing with the keys in his hands.
Amy shook her head. "The doctor told me that if it weren't for you Ty would be dead, I believe him." Amy explained. "If you hadn't been there, I would have had no clue what to do." Amy's eyes welled up. "I almost thought he had died on the couch, but he didn't," A tear slipped down her cheek. Amy blushed, she had indeed been thinking that after Ty had said he loved her. She thought that he had given up, and she now felt embarrassed expressing that out loud.
"It's alright," Scott put his hands on Amy's shoulders. "Ty's going to be here in a week. That'll keep you going." Amy nodded, then Scott added. "I think that, that will keep Ty going as well."
Amy looked up, and saw a smile spread across Scott's face. She punched him playfully. "Thanks." She wiped her eyes on the sleeves of her sweater.
Scott nodded and got into the jeep. Amy waved them away then went back to the house.