Chapter 4

"...Chase Powers? He hasn't been around for a few years and thankfully so after all the trouble he caused the last time he was here." Tim responds, "Yeah, you're right Lou, but that's in the past. There's a guy though who knows how to put on a clinic and bring in the money." Jack irritatedly responds, "Here we go again...is that all you ever think about?" Tim replies, "I'm not saying I like the guy, Jack. I just think that since Amy is back now and she hasn't put on a horse clinic for a long time, maybe she should approach him and see about putting one together with him...you know, to get her clients back. At least until she goes on tour again."

Jack has had just about enough of Tim. Before he can say anything though, Amy speaks up, "That's not going to happen dad. I don't need Chase to put on a clinic." Jack adds, "That's right and who says Amy is going on tour again! That's not your decision to make, so stop pushing her!" Tim ignores Jack's comment and says, "Amy, you should talk to him. It'll be a good jump start for your clinics before the tour." Amy replies, "I haven't decided about the tour and like I said before, I'm not sure I want to do it again." Pausing for a moment, Amy says, "Actually, I have made up my mind. I'm not going on tour again. I'm staying right here and doing what I do best." Tim replies, "Amy, you shouldn't make such a hasty decision like that. You have to think about the future."

Amy stands up from the table and throws her napkin down on the table saying, "I've made up my mind dad and nothing you say is going to change that." Amy storms off while saying, "I'm going to do night check."

Jack, sitting back in his chair while glaring over at Tim, says, "Happy now? Why do you always have to stir the pot when you come over here?" Tim replies, "It's just my opinion, Jack. Can't anyone have an opinion around here? I'll make it right with her after she calms down, but she should at least think about what I said." Jack responds, "Just leave it alone. She's a big girl now and can make up her own mind without you interfering. So unless you want one very angry ex father-in-law on your tail, you'll let it go."

...

Holding Amy's dinner plate in her hand, Lou finds her sitting in the barn office. "Here's the rest of your dinner you didn't finish. I'll pour you something to drink." After pouring Amy a cup of water, Lou says, "You shouldn't let what dad said get to you, Amy. You know how he is sometimes. He does have a point though. I mean...if you're not going on tour again then you'll need to build up you're client base and doing a clinic with Chase just might help. I don't like him much either, but don't you think you can put up with him for just a few days? Afterall, he does bring in an audience." Amy replies, "We don't do the same thing. We have different philosophies when it comes to horse training. He's a showman and I'm not. So why would he need me? Did that ever occur to you?"

Lou pauses in thought, recalling what Amy had said once about Chase kissing her after the last clinic she participated in with him. She then says, "Okay..I see what you mean."

Amy looks down at her plate for a moment and then looks up at Lou, saying, "I don't want to work with him...ever." Lou responds, "I can understand how you feel...I mean, after all that happened before." Amy replies, "I already talked to Chase about it anyway. He wanted me to do clinics with him again and I turned him down." Lou looks surprised and asks, "When...when did you talk to him?" Amy replies, "In Vegas." Lou says, "Vegas?" Amy answers, "Yeah...it was after my last show and Chase showed up back stage afterwards. He was in town doing one of his clinics. I guess he heard I was there too, so he showed up to see me."

Curious, Lou asks, "I guess that was a surprise. So, what happened?" Amy answers, "Yeah, it was. We talked a little and...well, Chase was Chase. He wanted to take me out to dinner, but I told him I had packing to do since I was anxious to get back to see the family and Ty. Just like him though, he wouldn't take no for an answer and before I knew it, he had talked me into joining him for dinner. Nothing fancy, just a quick bite...burgers and fries was all. Then he managed to convince me to make an appearance at his show the next day. That's why I took a later flight home. He just has one of those personalities that makes it hard to say no. He never gave up and after his show, he tried to talk me into doing clinics with him again, but I drew the line and turned him down."

Lou asks, "Did you tell Ty about it?" Amy answers, "No, I didn't. I know how he feels about Chase and I didn't want to bring it up...especially since I delayed coming home because of him. I was worried how Ty might react. We've been down that road before and I didn't want a repeat of what happened." Lou says, "It might be too late now for that."

Amy's worried that Lou might be right. Once before she let her relationship with Chase come between her and Ty. She nearly lost him because of it and the relationship had taken such a bad turn, Ty even drop out of school for awhile.

Amy sits there with a worried look on her face as Lou continues, "First of all, it's not his personality that makes it difficult to say no to him. The guy is a jerk and everyone knows it. He just knows how to push your buttons...that's all. You know you should never have agreed to go out to dinner with him, let alone make an appearance at his show and you definitely should have told Ty...no matter how he might have felt. With Chase in town now, he's bound to hear about it at some point and that will only make things worse." Amy asks, "What should I do?" Lou replies, "Simple...tell Ty the first chance you get. It'll be better hearing it from you rather than someone else."

...

"Hey Amy...You're going to have to do all the chores this morning. Grandpa just went off fishing up at the cabin." Amy replies, "Okay Lou. I wonder why he didn't say anything about it last night? Did he go with Lisa?" Lou replies, "He probably didn't say anything because he got sidetracked by dad. I assume he took Lisa since I doubt he would go with dad and he probably won't be back for a couple of days if he did. Amy responds, "Okay then, but I want to go over to Ty's trailer as soon as I'm done and wait for him. He's suppose to get back from Calgary today. Lou says, "Grandpa took his truck so you'll have to use the big one or ride Spartan over there."

...

With the morning chores done, Amy tacks up Spartan and rides to the trailer. She's surprised to see Ty's truck parked outside. Thinking he's home from Calgary already, she knocks on the door. Getting no answer, she walks in. Since Ty isn't there, she wonders if he may have left already somewhere on his motorcycle. Checking outside, she finds that it's gone. She decides to sit and wait, no matter how long it takes, hoping to speak to Ty first before he finds out about Chase from someone else.

Amy begins to grow restless and looks around for something to do to occupy her time. She decides to straighten up around the trailer and, glancing over at the garbage can, she sees that it's almost full, so she decides to empty it. Pouring it into a larger can outside, she sees 2 airline boarding pass envelopes. Curious, she picks them out of the can. One is from a flight out of Calgary and the other out of Las Vegas. Worried what it might mean, she takes the envelopes and rides hurriedly back to the ranch to see Lou.

...

Rushing into the house, Amy calls out, "Lou?" Lou walks into the kitchen. "I'm right here. What is it? Did you see Ty?" Amy reaches into her pocket and places the envelopes down on the kitchen table. She says, "No, I didn't see him, but I found these in his trash. What do you make of them?"

Lou takes a seat at the table and looks them over. "It looks to me like Ty flew to Las Vegas to see you and then flew back." Amy says, "There's no date, so when could he have done that...I mean, I was only there for a week?" Lou replies, "I know he was here the whole time, at least until a couple of days before you got back, so it had to be then."

After a few moments, Lou says, "This might explain why he looked so tired that day you flew home. I'll bet he had just gotten back from Vegas earlier that morning or late the previous night." Amy worriedly asks, "Do you think he was there and maybe saw me with Chase?" Lou replies, "It seems to fit...I mean, it's the only reasonable explanation. He was obviously there, so why wouldn't he try to see you except if he saw you were already with Chase." Amy asks, "Do you think he knew what hotel I was staying at?" Lou replies, "I'm sure he did. We all did. Renard emailed me your itinerary like he did with all your shows, so I suppose he sent it to Ty as well. All this would explain why he's been acting the way he has."

After a moment, Lou asks, "Why are you concerned if Ty knew what hotel you were staying at? Is there something you haven't told me?" Amy defiantly says, "No!" She then pauses and says, "It's just that after dinner, Chase drove me back to my hotel. He walked me in and up to my room. I didn't feel comfortable about it, but he insisted. When I got to my room, he wanted me to invite him in, but I knew better and just said goodnight. If Ty saw him walking me in...well, then..." Lou finishes Amy's thought, saying, "Then he probably just turned around and flew home."

Lou debates whether to tell Amy why she suspects Ty flew to Vegas to see her. Deciding for the moment not to divulge the secret she promised Ty she would keep, she says, "I know Ty was anxious to see you, so I think he probably thought he would surprise you after your last show. That way the two of you could spend then evening together in Vegas before flying back the next day." Amy adds, "And I ruined it by getting involved with Chase again."

She sighs and says, "When will I learn?" Lou comments, "Ty is probably thinking the same thing. Listen to me now, don't say anything about this. Just do what you planned to. Talk to Ty as soon as you can. Have you tried calling him?" Amy replies, "I have, but the call went straight to voicemail, so I guess he has his phone turned off." Lou suggests, "Try calling the clinic then and see if he's there or if they've heard from him. Maybe Scott knows where he is or when he'll be back."

...

"Hey Scott, it's Amy. Have you spoken to Ty recently...since he got back from Calgary?" Scott replies, "He called me early this morning saying he needed more time off. Its a good thing I just got another assistant here, otherwise he's going to be out of a job. I'm getting tired of him pulling stuff like this...never knowing whether he's going to be here or not." Amy asks, "What do you mean?" Scott replies, "He asked for a few days off a week or so ago and I gave it to him. Then he shows up to work after only a day looking like something the cat dragged in. Now that I think of it, it was the same day you got back from that tour. Yeah, as a matter of fact it was. He said something about planning a surprise for you..."

...

Lou asks, "What did Scott have to say?" Amy replies, "He heard from Ty earlier this morning asking for more time off. You were right about Ty wanting to surprise me in Vegas. Scott said that Ty had asked for a couple of days off because he was planning a surprise for me but then showed up at work after only a day. The day I got back. I'm worried Lou. I made a mess of this and now I have no idea where he is and worse yet...what he might be thinking."