Summer's End

Ty completed the next week of work for the Richards with energy to spare. Being engaged to Amy put some extra life into him and it showed all week long.

Amy finished her school on Thursday with a couple exams. Ty had helped her study and she felt good about her performance, especially in biochemistry. Amy's adrenaline flowed as she started thinking of returning home as an engaged woman to be married.

Thursday evening arrived and Ty took Amy to Old Town to celebrate with burgers and then to the civic park for music. During the concert, Ty noticed couple dancing near the stage. "Amy, would you dance with me?", whispered Ty. Amy nodded yes.

Ty stood up and offered his hands to pull Amy to her feet. With an arm around Amy's waist, they walked to the grassy dance area and Ty swept Amy into a simple two-step dance in time to the music.

"I remember a boy who once was afraid to be anywhere near a dance floor... and look at you now", mused Amy, thinking of her 11th grade formal dance.

Ty responded, "and I remember a pretty girl in a French gown of emerald green... perhaps frustrated at her boyfriend... for mostly wrong reasons?"

Amy smiled as she thought about the event and said, "didn't I say I was sorry?", and then lean up and kissed Ty as they danced. Amy and Ty continued to dance with there foreheads touching.

Amy continued, "Besides, it's a girls prerogative to be moody sometimes to motivate the fella she loves". Ty laughed...

"So that is your angle. Well I was motivated to learn to dance for you Amy Fleming, so maybe the moody and beautiful thing works".

As they finished their dance, Amy cell phone rang. The caller identification flashed DAD and Amy hit the answer button, "Hi Dad, what is up?"

"Amy, I want to know what is going on with you and Ty?", was the rather terse question from her dad. Amy initially put up her guard, but quickly recovered her composure.

"Sometimes Dad, you rub people the wrong way with that direct approach... maybe you could work on that...", said Amy.

"Come on Amy... I'm not blind and your grandfather has been overly happy since your call last Sunday... but he is not talking".

Amy looked nervously at Ty, covered the phone with her hand and mouthed to the question, "Should we tell my dad?" Ty nodded his affirmation and said, "You want me to talk to him?"

Amy and Ty quickly found some privacy by a park tree and Amy pressed the speakerphone option. "Hey dad, sorry about that. Ty and I are here in Old Town at a concert".

"Ty is on the phone there too? You two seem to be together a lot these days", said Tim.

"We were just celebrating the end of my classes and Ty's work winding down... we'll be coming home next week... we can talk then", said Amy.

"Well once your home, we need to get things settled back to normal...", Tim replied.

"Dad, once Ty and I are back home, things are going to change... we think for the better", asserted Amy.

"How is that... what changes?", Tim said confused and it hit him as Amy spoke that he might not like the change coming in life.

"Dad, it's great news! Ty and I are coming back engaged to be married... grandpa's known for a little while...".

Letting the shock settle in Tim started, "At your age Amy, how can you think of marriage? Why didn't you ask me for advice?"

"Dad, you have been in and out of my life... Ty and I have been in love for over three years... we are responsible people and at age 19 I am ready for marriage..." Amy held Ty's hand tightly.

Tim relented if only temporarily, "Alright, I'm not the model for a good marriage, so I can't judge... but we need to talk more."

Ty chimed in, "thank you Tim".

Tim said, "Your grandpa would say something like 'I guess you could do worse...' but I'm pretty sure if your grandpa is happy - it's the right thing".

Amy replied, "I prefer to see the situation, as 'I could not be marrying a better man'."

Friday morning was spent packing and loading Ty's truck, first with Ty's minimalistic bags and his Norton motorcycle. At the Erhardt's stables, Amy had her bags sitting on hay bales as Ty pulled up, the Richards in their SUV right behind.

Dean helped Ty load Amy's bags and possessions into the back of Ty's truck and secured them with a tarp and bungee straps. "That should about do it", said Ty, "Thanks Dean for everything...".

"Your welcome!"

"We will be sending an invitation for the wedding as soon as we have the plans firmly in place", said Ty. Amy gave Ann and Dean both big hugs, "thank you both for putting up Ty and for all you did for us."

Ann said, "We are happy to have been here for you both. Take care on the drive home", as a tear welled up. Ann and Dean would miss these two hard-working and energetic people who were now a future married couple starting out their lives together.

Amy and Ty also said their goodbyes and thanks to the Erhardts. Amy hugged Brigitta for a minute. "Take care Amy. I have forwarded my strongest recommendation that you be admitted to the university at Calgary and its equine program there".

"Thank you"...

With drying tears in their eyes, Ty and Amy got in his truck and drove down the canyon, sad to leave their friends. Ty pointed his truck northward on the interstate highway and headed to Wyoming.

On the trip home in which Amy and Ty traded driving, they talked about the possibilities of how to make the coming changes in their lives work to their advantage. They agreed that Ty should take a full course load at university and intern with Scott part time to help with expenses. Amy would take a half-course load and work at Heartland.

Amy and Ty agreed to look for somewhere between Heartland and university to live, but also agreed it would not be in a trailer like Ashley and Caleb. They laughed at the idea a bit nervous as alternatives.

The topics of church, children and how to balance school and work were discussed and tabled. Amy and Ty wanted to share and get the thoughts of the family on some of the topics. One thing became clear, both Amy and Ty wanted to stay near Heartland to work and raise their family.

Ty said, "I have every intention of raising the 7th generation of the family at Heartland someday". Amy smiled and knew grandpa would be thrilled to hear Ty's commitment.