Moving to the Mountains
Amy spent the first few days in the classroom and out at the equine center on Taft Road working with the horses, but life was still unsettled and Brigitta noticed Amy's discomfort with here surroundings. While working in the horse barn at the equine center, Brigitta approached Amy.
"Amy, how are you getting along? Are you settling into campus life?"
"Yeah, I suppose... I am still getting familiar with campus... I am..." A longing look at the mountain foothills and Brigitta knew Amy was homesick.
"Amy - it takes time to adjust to being away from home and family."
"I know that! You would think at age 19, I could deal with being away from home. I am adjusting to classes and love the equine center here. It's the time outside of class that makes me depressed. I am used to working with horses and farm chores, when I am not in school."
"I see... dorm life is difficult for you. You are a rural gal at heart..."
"Yeah, I guess that part of the problem", Amy smiled at Brigitta.
As her summer college adviser, Brigitta was interested in making Amy's summer college experience a solid one and finding out about Amy's life back home would help fill in the pieces for her.
"What else is going on that has you down Amy?"
"I miss my family. I also miss working with Ty."
"Who is Ty, if you don't mind sharing", asked Brigitta.
"Ty is a good friend who lives at our family farm near Hudson and helps work with the horse rescue business. He is studying to be a veterinarian."
"Maybe Ty misses you too… there is nothing wrong with staying in touch with people back home", advised Brigitta.
She continued, "Well, Amy I think perhaps I can help you in at least one way."
With disbelieving eyes, Amy looked up and asked, "How?"
"Well, during my summers here in Colorado, I live on my small horse ranch up Rist Canyon Road about 10 miles from here", pointing to the west past Horsetooth Reservoir.
Brigitta continued, "My ranch house is actually a stable with the living quarters on the upper level. There is a stable hand's room which is empty this summer."
Amy eyes grew brighter and asked shyly, "Are you inviting me to stay at your ranch house?"
Brigitta smiled and shook her head, "Amy - I want you to be happy while you are studying this summer. If being busy outside the classroom makes you happy, I want you to take my extra room in the loft."
"That would be wonderful! But how can I repay you?"
"I have a half dozen Arabians in the horse stalls. I could use help feeding, watering and trail riding the animals."
Amy was almost jumping up and down inside now. "I would love to work with your Arabian horses and live in the mountains. Thank you very much Professor Erhardt!"
"You can call me Brigitta. And you are very welcome Amy."
After finishing the work at the equine center, Brigitta pulled up to Amy's dorm and helped her load her bags and headed up Rist Canyon, through the small town of Bellvue, past Whale Rock until they reached a gravel fire road that led to the horse ranch.
Amy unpacked her bags and settled into the ranch hand's loft room above the stables. She went down and admired the large Arabians and their pureblood lines. For the first time in many days, Amy felt somewhat at home. The warm Colorado evening air in these mountains reminded Amy of home.
Just as the sun was setting, an old blue Chevy Silverado truck with hay pulled up to the stable. An elderly rancher gentleman in his late 60s got out, pulled on a pair of glove and started unloading hay.