A Summer Home in Colorado
That Sunday afternoon, the Richards had returned to their mountain home after morning church services. Ann was keeping an eye on Dean, as she prepared the noon meal. Out the kitchen window, Ann saw Brigitta's Jeep coming up to lane.
"Dean, company is here... its Brigitta", said Ann.
Brigitta and Amy hopped out of the Jeep and unloaded some food items they had prepared earlier, just as Ann came out on the front porch to welcome them. "Hey there, glad you stopped by..."
Brigitta answered, "We were looking forward to seeing how Dean is getting along".
Amy added, "and help out with any chores that might need done."
"Oh my! - You two, you've done so much." Ann invited them into the house to sit at the big round table where meals and card games were often conducted.
Dean had been napping in his living room chair when they pulled up, but now joined them, "thanks for stopping over to visit".
"You're more than welcome", said Brigitta.
Dean looked to Amy. "I want to thank you young lady for your help too. You grandpa has told me of your plan to help out while I am somewhat less than 100 percent."
Brigitta added, "and let's not forget the probably ulterior motivations here", laughing a bit at Amy's embarrassment.
"Your grandpa mentioned the young man coming to help was a friend of yours Amy", Dean commented.
Amy smiled shyly, not wanting to take too much credit for helping out, but also trying to hide the fact that Ty had been more than a friend over the years. "I am certainly glad to be helping out - but Ty's going to be doing the really work around here".
Dean noticed the humble side of Amy and noted, "well maybe so, but not just any young man would drive from Alberta to our little mountain meadow to help out. I have to think there is quite a lot of motivation for Ty to see you after a month."
Amy smiled and her eyes lit up a bit more, "well, I am going to be happy to see him too. I want to thank you for opening your guest room to him and providing a temporary home for Ty".
Amy was happy, but a bit disconcerted. In her mind, she hoped she was doing the right thing… that the plan she had put in motion was not going to backfire.
Dean said, "That is no problem... Ty will be more help than you know... and the least we can do is give him room and board."
The rest of the visit went well and Ann even took Amy down to the south aspen grove, where the Richards had built a garden, complete with hothouse to grow tomatoes, peppers, broccoli, and other warmer weather vegetables. Outside grew peas, carrots, onions and beans.
Amy was impressed with the efforts of growing foods in the short mountain seasons here in Colorado. "That hot house idea is a great one for extending the growing season and providing a warmer environment for tomatoes and peppers".
Ann thanked Amy for the compliment, "yes, its worked well the past three seasons since we started our little hot house project"
Amy helped pick some broccoli and they headed up the slope to the house.
Amy and Brigitta checked on Lakota and Champ at the barn, made sure there was plenty of water and head back to their place for the evening.
Ty made it to Billings, Montana late that evening and spent the night. He texted Amy his location the next morning as he set out and crossed the Wyoming border heading south. With a little luck, Ty should make Colorado by evening.
By mid-afternoon, Ty was a couple hours from Cheyenne, Wyoming when his rear tire had a flat. A half hour later, an middle aged rancher from Livingston stopped to give Ty a lift to town and fix the flat. At 5 pm, Ty was on the road again, but running late. Cell reception was still bad and so he continued south until 30 minutes north of Cheyenne and the cell signal was available. He dialed the Richards' landline to update them.
"Hello, is this Dean? Dean Richards?" asked Ty.
"Yes, can I help you?", queried Dean.
"This is Ty Borden... the young man Amy and Jack asked to come help out... hey, I am a little late getting there due to a flat tire near Livingston. But I'm on the road and about 2 hours away..."
"Well Ty, good to hear you are safe... its no problem. We'll just expect you around 8 pm and have some supper waiting for you", indicated Dean.
"Thanks Dean. I'm looking forward to being out of this truck and driving the past 2 days."
"See you soon and drive safe Ty." And with that Dean hung up the phone and looked into the living room where Ann, Brigitta and Amy anxiously waited for Ty.
Ty's truck pulled up to the Richard's home around 8:05 pm as the dusk was setting in around the mountains in early July. Ty admired the hillside view back down the canyon road as he exited his truck and breathed in the cooling air and stretched.
The front door of the Richards' porch creaked open and a familiar voice called to him, "Howdy stranger... welcome to my little corner of the world for the summer".
Ty turned and walked up onto the front porch, and seeing Amy, smiled broadly and gave Amy a big hug, lifting her up and swinging her around in a full circle. "I am so glad to be here."
"I can tell your glad", Amy laughed, "could you put my feet back on the ground?"
"Oh sorry…" said Ty as he let Amy float back down to the ground."
Amy did not really mind the hug, but she was a bit tepid about letting the Richards and Brigitta see how affectionate Ty was toward her.
"I suppose given you know this young lady, I will not have to get out my rifle and chase off a stranger", came the voice of an older gentleman from the doorway.
Letting Amy down, Ty walked over and extended a hand, "well Mr. Richards I hope not".
"Good to meet you face to face Ty", as Dean Richards sat down in one of the porch chairs. Amy and Ty followed suit and in a short while Ann and Brigitta joined them.
"So how was your trip?" asked Amy.
"A long day and a half, but things went pretty well", answered Ty, "and how is school going?"
"Very well, thank you. Having a good advisor and friends has been a blessing... and having you here now is a bonus this girl is even more grateful for."
"So Ty, Jack tells me that you can swing a bale or two?" said Dean.
"Jack's been known to stick me with haying work now and then... I think I can manage if you need the help". Ty continued to smile at Dean's teasing, which was similar to Jack's own antics.
They talked a bit about the area and Rist Canyon, the haying equipment and what lie ahead for work. Pretty soon Amy grew restless of farm talk and said, "well perhaps we better get the farm boy here settled in his guest room and let him get some sleep for tomorrow".
Ty and Amy unloaded his bags and settled him into the guest room, which included its own bathroom - a far cry better than the loft.
Holding Amy's hand, he walked her to his truck and opened the door to passenger side door to allow Amy to get in. Ty got in the driver's side and backed the truck around and then putting the truck into drive, they drove down the lane and the canyon road to her stable loft.
As Ty turned off the truck engine, Ty said, "Don't take this the wrong way, but I am a bit surprised that your plan included me helping out down here... your being away for the summer and all... I figured you wanted to see if you could live away from me... err I mean Heartland".
Amy started, "well it's not about me... this is definitely about helping out Mr. Richards", Amy shifted in her seat a bit uncomfortably, "okay, and its about missing you too... I mean we are the best of friends".
Ty agreed, "yea, we are close friends... we know each others' minds too well at times". Usually Ty was able to tell when Amy was sad, angry, afraid, happy or excited about life… but there had been times when she gave mixed signals.
They laughed a bit. "Well I better let you get back and get to sleep. We'll touch base tomorrow afternoon at chore time."
"Sounds good", as Ty started the truck.
Amy gave Ty a kiss on the check and hopped out of the truck and into the stable.
Ty sighed and drove off, back towards Mountain Meadows.