Chapter 7

Arriving at Heartland, Amy and Lou step out of the truck just as Chase pulls in behind them. Amy stops and turns to him as he walks slowly towards her. She says, "What are you doing here Chase? Why did you follow us?" Chase replies as he continues walking in her direction, "I guess you're pretty happy with yourself, but you're going to regret not teaming up with me. Too bad, it would have been something real special...we could have been a team again like before and then...well, remember what happened between us?" In a harsh tone, Amy replies, "We were never a team, Chase and nothing ever happened between us." Chase responds, "I guess you don't remember it like I do." Angrily she replies, "I don't believe this...you're living in a fantasy world!"

Caleb walks out of the house along with Jack. They watch from the porch as Chase says, "No...You're the one living in a fantasy world. You probably think you're pretty smart, don't you?...Like you won by trying to ruin me. With a stern look, he continues, "I think you did all this because you feel guilty about still having a thing for me and you want to prove to Ty that it isn't true. You didn't win anything though. What's a few dollars. I take my show all over the country and I don't need this small town or you. I'm the one who won. You still only have a small pitiful business and I ruined your relationship with Ty."

As Chase steps closer to her, Amy asks him, "What are you talking about?" Chase replies, "Don't think I didn't see Ty in the crowd after your show in Vegas. I knew you would forget all about him as soon as you saw me. You just can't get over me can you? That's why you let me take you out to dinner. Ty must have been pretty angry when he saw me walking you into your hotel. Yeah...I saw him outside the hotel too as soon as we pulled up. That's why I walked you in. I even stuck around until he left in a cab, just so he wouldn't see me leave...and the other night, when I ran into him in town, I made sure to tell him how much fun you were in Vegas. So, who's reputation do you think is ruined now?

Chase is standing almost face to face with Amy, looking at her with a smug grin. Amy's so angry, she doesn't realize that her fists are clenched. Suddenly, boiling with rage over what Chase just said, she lunges forward and swings, punching Chase across his cheek and catching his nose. As Chase staggers back in shock, he trips and falls to the ground.

Caleb and Jack rush over. Caleb holds Amy back before she can advance on Chase. Jack stands over Chase saying, "I think Amy has made her point pretty clear. Unless you want to discuss it further with me, I suggest you get your sorry ass up off the ground, back in your truck, and get the hell out of here!"

As Chase lifts himself up from the ground and with blood beginning to trickle from his nose, he says, "This isn't the end of it. I'll sue!" Amy shouts out at him, "Go ahead...see what that will do for your reputation!" Jack adds, "I don't think so...everyone here just saw you stumble over your own feet when I told you to leave and you fell face first into your truck. So go ahead and try to sue."

As Chase drives quickly away, Caleb says to Amy, "That was awesome! I never imagined that you could punch like that. Remind me never to tick you off." Amy responds as she shakes her hand, "I think I hurt myself, but it sure felt good." Caleb tells her, "I wouldn't believe what he said about you not ruining his business. I don't think he would have showed up here if you didn't." Lou steps over and says, as she looks at Amy's hand, "Caleb is right. He just needed to vent because he knows he just lost a lot of money and his business is definitely going be to hurt."

Lou has Amy flex and grip her hand, asking if it hurts. Finally, she says, "I think you might have just sprained it, but I can take you to the doctor to have it checked out if you want." Amy replies, "It'll be fine Lou." Lou replies, "And you thought I could be a bitch! So, when Chase's lawyer calls, should I tell him what happened and it's now 35 thousand to settle?" Amy replies, "Don't push it Lou, besides it was worth it."

Jack steps over after watching Chase drive out of sight and asks, "Now that that is over with, would someone mind telling me what in blazes is going on?" Lou asks, "Didn't Caleb tell you already?" Jack replieshave , "Oh yeah...he was a fountain of information. I asked him where everyone was and all he said was that everyone was out somewhere." Caleb responds, "Sorry Jack...I didn't know how much Lou and Amy wanted me to tell you." Lou then says, "Let's all go inside and we'll fill you in, grandpa."

...

"...So your father is basically to blame for all this. I should have known he wouldn't let it go. I'm gone for a couple of days and he runs roughshod over Amy, stirring up all kinds of trouble. Just wait until I get my hands on him!" Amy speaks up, saying, "I think Lou and I took care of that already, grandpa." Jack replies, "I hope one of you punched the crap out of him like Amy just did to Chase. Nice punch by the way...I guess you got that from me." Amy smiles as she continues to flex her hand, "I guess maybe I did...I didn't think I was capable of doing something like that, but I was just so angry with what he had said. I don't know what came over me. I'm worried now about Ty though. No one seems to knows where he is."

Jack sits back in his chair and says, "He's up at the fishing cabin." Surprised, Amy says, "Fishing cabin?" Jack replies, "Yeah…That's who I've been fishing with these last few days and we caught some pretty big ones too." Lou asks, "Where are they? I hope you cleaned them already." Jack replies, "Catch and release Lou...catch and release." Lou knowingly smiles at Jack.

Amy anxiously asks, "Why didn't you say anything? We were all worried about him." Jack responds, "I didn't know that you were. I thought Ty might have said something before he left. You know there's no cell service up there. Anyway, Ty called me early the other day asking if he could use my fishing cabin. I told him he could and then I decided to join him and do some fishing. We had a pretty good time too. By the way...someone needs to go up there and pick him up. His motorcycle had a flat, so I brought it back to his place for him. He wanted to stay for another day or two and I told him that I would send someone up there to bring him back." Amy asks, "What did you two talk about? You know he has been acting a little strange." Jack replies, "You know Ty...he doesn't talk much when something is bothering him and trying to get anything out of him is like trying to pull a rusty nail. We just talked about school, work...Guy stuff. Not much else."

Amy gets up from the table and says, "I'm going up there right now and bring him back." Lou responds, "Are you sure you can drive okay...I mean with your hand? It's a pretty long drive." Amy replies, "I'll be fine...it's beginning to feel a little better anyway. Can I use your truck, grandpa?" Jack replies, "Sure, but make sure you put some gas in it first. If you're going to go, you better leave now. It's going to start getting dark by the time you get there and I don't want you driving on those mountain roads at night. Let Ty drive on the way back. Oh, and I left a fresh battery up at the cabin for the ham radio just in case."

...

After gassing up the truck, Amy heads up to the fishing cabin. On the drive there, she wonders how Ty will react upon seeing her. She knows she made a mess of things. Now with a clear picture of what has been bothering Ty, she hopes that he still loves her as much as she loves him and he can find it in his heart to forgive her for getting involved with Chase again.