Going to Old Town
Sunday morning came and the Richards were gone to church service by 7 am when Ty got up. Ty called Jack to check in at Heartland.
"Jack, how are things going there?"
"Fine, just fine Ty... and with you?" asked Jack.
"We are good here. Tweaking the baler today for a full week of work starting tomorrow." Ty said as he pulled on a work shirt.
"Are you and Amy getting along OK?", asked Jack.
"Fine Jack. I am taking it slowly. We've done chores in the evenings and last night we at dinner and watched a movie at Amy's loft... nothing to worry about Jack".
"I'm not worried Ty. No need to give me a play by play... just wanting to make sure the path is one that is smooth for you...", said Jack.
"OK, well if a problem pops up, I'll be sure to ask you there Dr. Ruth...", as Ty snickered.
"Tell Amy hello from us..."
"Will do Jack, talk soon", said Ty as he hung up.
Ty woke up early at around 5:30 am and joined Dean for coffee and breakfast at the round dining table. There had been some early morning showers and so, haying was going to start later in the morning after the sun had burned off the moisture.
"Do you need me to make any supply runs?", said Ty.
"Not until later in the week... why don't you go down and help Brigitta with chores... plan to be baling by 10:30 am, okay?", as Dean washed out his coffee cup and put dished in the dish washer.
Ty said, "sounds good... let me check the horse's water at the barn and I can help the girls with their chores".
Ty walked down to the barn and checked the water in the 10-gallon rubber tub for the two horses. He topped off the tank and then jogged up the slope to the garage and threw his right leg over the Norton, kicked it over twice and brought the engine to life. He started down the lane to the fire road and continued on down the 3-mile stretch to Erhardt stable road.
As Ty put on his work gloves and entered the hay mound, Amy came bounding down the loft stairs, "good morning Ty... what brings you over?" she asked.
"I'm here to help with chores until the sun dries some of the moisture out of the hay, then we can start baling later..." explained Ty.
Amy smiled, "Ah so weather can postpone some work, but not everything".
Ty and Amy worked as a team to feed and water the Arabians. Brigitta called down and asked if Amy was ready to head to CSU and classes. Amy answered, "Give me 10 minutes to clean up and change..."
Amy thanked Ty and told him, "have a good day", to which he smiled and replied, "you too".
Ty got on his Norton, did a rolling start in 2nd gear and headed to the Richards' homestead. It was not even 8 am when he rolled into the driveway.
Dean and Ann were on the porch enjoying the morning air and sipping some coffee, "hey Ty, I see you are done already with chores... grab a seat here... need some coffee?"
"Nah, I am good..."
"Hey I wanted to go over a few other jobs you can help me with when haying is slowed down with weather", Dean said, "Hope you don't mind mixing up things once in awhile".
Ty's eyes showed he was not at all opposed to mixing it up. "What do you have lined up?"
Dean continued, "in the past 3 seasons or so, this part of Colorado has been infested with pine beetles and we are trying to control their spread by managing the trees on our property".
"How do you get an upper hand on the beetle infested trees", asked Ty... his interest in the subject peaked.
"We use a couple techniques to manage the problem... the first involves prevention by spraying a chemical mixture on the trees or applying a chemical pheromone patch that is supposed to turn away the beetles from entering the tree", explained Dean.
"Let me take a crack at the other less desirable technique", said Ty, "you cut the infected tree out". Dean was impressed with Ty's deductive thinking.
Ty continued, "I did see the cut trees lying in the aspen grove north of the barn", as he smiled knowingly.
"Alright there Mr. Observant... touché", said Dean. "We'll give it a shot next chance we get this week".
The next couple days, Amy was busy with classes and participating in practical training seminars and clinics with Brigitta at the equine center. Ty was running the baler with Dean helping out where possible. Most of the bales were dropped in the field this week for customers to pick up themselves.
The rains set in on Thursday afternoon and cut baling short that day. Dean, with Ty's help dropped a couple pine beetle kill trees and removed the limbs to build some slash piles to burn next winter. Using the Honda ATV, Ty drug the two 30 foot tree trucks to the drying pile in the aspen grove.
By 5:30 pm, Ty and Dean were ready to call it a day and headed to the house. Dean suggested Ty consider taking Amy to the Thursday night concert in Old Town, a part of Fort Collins where the older buildings and architecture still existed with brick paved walkways and many specialty shops.
"Maybe Amy and I can find a Malt Shoppe with burgers?" asked Ty.
"I'm sure its possible..." said Dean.
Ty called Amy and she said, "Sound great, let's make it a date... give me a half hour to get ready". Amy brushed out her hair, ran the curling iron over a few of her bangs and applied the lightest layer of eye shadow. Amy's preference had been to keep makeup to a minimum since she was old enough to use it. Slipping on her best pair of blue jeans and a denim shirt and her light brown leather jacket, Amy was ready.
Ty in contrast, took was amounted to a 2 minute cold shower, threw on a pair of black jeans, his best purple button up shirt and good boots. He grabbed his black cowboy hat and headed for the door grabbing the keys to his truck.
Ty, anxious to go, arrived 20 minutes after he had made the phone call to Amy. Ty saw Brigitta in the horse stable checking the horses and said, "Hey there Brigitta... how are you this evening?"
"Good evening Ty... here to pickup Amy?", Brigitta said.
"Yes, we are headed to Old Town for some dinner and music."
"Thursday nights are great. The Bohemian Nights at NewWest Fest is a kind of community arts and music festival. You and Amy should have fun", an excited Brigitta was telling Ty.
"What a good place to grab a burger and malt in the area?", asked Ty.
"I'd try Coopersmith's Pub and Brewery. Lots of burger choices, and your choice of fresh brewed beers and their own root beer", advised Brigitta. "After you're finished eating, its a short two block walk west to the Civic Park where the music events are held."
Ty impressed said, "nice to know beforehand...I have not had time to check out things on short notice", as Amy bounded down the steps from the loft.
"I'm ready for a night out on the town...", Amy had a glint in her eye as she caught Ty attention. Ty was always a bit enthralled with Amy's simple beauty no matter her attire or hairstyle.
Ty gush a bit, "You look... well you look stunning". Amy blushed a bit and walked over to Ty to straighten his collar and whispered in his ear, "and you've always cleaned up nicely in that purple shirt there cowboy" as she gave Ty a soft kiss on the neck.
Ty open the door for Amy and gave her a hand getting in the truck. In a minute the old classic GMC truck was winding down the canyon road, the sun setting behind them.
Ty found a parking place a half dozen blocks away and Amy and Ty walked hand in hand to Coopersmith's. Ty ordered a beer called Horsetooth Stout from the tap and Amy tried the Poudre Pale Ale. They sipped on their beers and looked over the menu.
Ty asked, "any ideas on what is good here?"
Amy was about to answer, when the waitress walked to their table... a familiar face to Amy.
"Katie?" exclaimed Amy.
It had been more than a month since Amy had seen her one day roommate, but she a person who was easy to remember.
"Yea, your Amy right?" as Katie remember her brief encounter a while back.
"Ty... this is Katie... we roomed together for a half-day..."
Katie interrupted, "you sort of ditched me pretty quickly... but things have turned out alright this summer".
Katie continued, "So where did you find the cowboy, Amy? And is he taken?" Katie had the flirtatious smile down pat.
Ty answered firmly for Amy, "This cowboy is spoken for by the women sitting here with me...", taking Amy's hand and kissing it gently.
The gesture took Amy by surprise, but she smiled coyly at Katie. The attention and attitude Ty displayed was appreciated.
Katie turned off the flirting switch and asked for their order.
The remainder of their dinner was pleasant and Katie kept to her job.
Amy sensed a more confident man in Ty, as they walked from dinner hand in hand to the Civic Park. The crossed College Ave., down the block in front of the Old Town store fronts. Ty noticed several craft, gallery and cultural shops alongside other tourist attractions.
Amy began to speak, "What a lovely evening for a walk... I can't remember a time when just you and I could take a carefree walk...", as Amy placed her head on Ty's arm and smiled.
"Being here with you has been a blessing away from Heartland... away from the interruptions and drama", conceded Ty as he gripped Amy by her shoulder a bit tighter.
"Why is it in this place we seem happier... able to enjoy each other more... be at peace", Amy asked.
Ty thought and then said, "Well, I think it helps that we have some separation of our lives... you know... you're able to take classes and I am able to work during the day".
Amy objected a bit, "but that separation in the past caused us negative feelings... are you saying things have... changed?"
Ty saw a bench along the street corner on the sidewalk and motioned for them to sit down. Amy and Ty took seats next to each other... still holding hands.
"Amy - remember when you always resisted change... said you never wanted things to change?", asked Ty and Amy nodded... "I was frightened of change... because of mom and dad and Lou. There was so much change and not for the better."
Ty continued, "I believe in the past... the recent past, both of us have found change can also be positive. Look at the changes and how we have adapted this spring and summer."
Amy countered, "I would also say we have proven we can live away from Heartland without things falling apart for the ranch or for us."
Ty looked at Amy for several seconds and his face turned from serious to a gentle smile and he let out a little sigh, "You've grown up Amy."
Amy sweetly chided Ty, "Yea, and you're still a young punk? Come on Ty, you've changes too. The dark and moody young man is now a confident person... a change by the way that I love."
"Ms. Fleming", Ty said formally, "flattery will get you everywhere this evening..." he said grinning widely with that smile Amy so enjoyed seeing on Ty's face.
"Let's get a move on... over to the Civic Park for the music". They stood up and walked west toward the park and soon they began to mingle and melt in the growing crowd.