Chapter 8

Amy pulls up to the cabin right at dusk. She knocks on the door and calls out to Ty. Opening the door, he grins and says to her after inviting her in, "I was wondering how long it would take you to get here." Amy replies, "You were expecting me?" Ty responds, "Yeah...Jack radioed me and said that you were on your way. I guess he was worried about you driving up here. I'm supposed to let him know when you arrive so he knows you got here safely and then we can head back." Amy says, "I've had a long day and it was a long drive too, so I thought we would stay here for the night and leave tomorrow. You did tell grandpa that you wanted to stay another day or two, right?" Ty responds, "Yeah, but I don't think Jack will be too happy about that and I don't want to get on his bad side." Amy replies "Let me worry about him." Ty responds, "Okay, so I'm supposed to let you worry about him while he's skinning me alive?"

Amy grins in response to Ty's attempt at humor and answers, "I'm a grown girl and can make my own decisions. Grandpa knows that. The only one you might need to worry about maybe is dad." Ty replies, "I don't need to worry about him. We had a talk not to long ago and I think...no, I know...he knows where I stand and what I think about him and anything he has to say." Amy's curious, so she asks, "What did you two talk about?" Ty answers, "Nothing important, but we did clear the air and he knows I won't put up with his crap anymore." Amy asks, "So, you stood up to him?' Ty replies, "Yeah...I did. Funny thing though, he seemed to like the fact that I did." Amy says, "So, you two finally bonded?" Ty chuckles and says, "I wouldn't put it that way. Tim is still Tim. I don't think he'll ever change." Amy sighs and then adds, "Yeah…I know."

Ty changes the subject, "I know better than to try to talk you out of anything, so I'm going to let you radio Jack and tell him we're staying...since we are, we might as well fix something to eat." Amy asks, "I didn't think to bring anything. What do you have?" Ty replies, "There's some drinks in one of the ice chests outside. Jack left some food, but there's a couple of fish in the other chest out there if you would like that instead. They're already cleaned, so maybe I can cook them up." Amy replies, "Grandpa said you two just caught and released." Ty laughs, "I guess you haven't figured it out yet." Amy asks, "Figured out what?" Ty replies, "Whenever he says that, it means he got skunked. Neither of us caught anything. It wasn't until he left that I caught a few. Don't tell him that though." Amy laughs and says, "I guess we should eat the evidence then."

...

"...So, Amy just radioed saying she got there okay." Lou replies, "I guess they'll be back late. I'll leave something for them to eat when they get here or for Amy at least." Jack replies, "That won't be necessary. They're staying the night and will be back tomorrow." Lou curiously asks, "Aren't you upset about that? I mean, the two of them together in that small cabin all night?" Jack replies, "Just for the record, I guess I'm not exactly thrilled about it, but..." Lou interrupts, saying, "Okay grandpa, you know something...so spill it..."

...

"...That was delicious, Amy. I'm glad you cooked it rather than me. I don't think I could have done as good a job unless it was a steak." Amy replies, "I'm glad you liked it. You know, it's a real nice night out there, what do you say we clean up later and go out for a walk along the river? We can talk a little since we haven't been doing much of that lately." Ty replies, "Okay...Sounds good."

This is what Ty has been waiting to hear, hoping that Amy will finally take this as an opportunity to tell him everything she should have when she returned from the tour.

...

"...Ty had planned all this?" Jack replies, "Well, I don't think he did at first. He just wanted to get away for a few days. He had something on his mind, so I guess he wanted some time away from everything to think. He didn't seem to mind though when I showed up, especially after he realized that he didn't bring much food and I brought enough for the two of us. I suppose it was a last minute thought and he didn't plan it out all that well. Anyway, the whole time we were up there, I just let him speak his mind. Whatever was bugging him he pretty much talked out on his own. Then it was his idea to get Amy up there to the fishing cabin."

Lou asks, "What made him suddenly decide it was time to talk to her then?" Jack responds, "I'm not quite sure. He did talk about that Chase guy saying something to him the night before and it was what he said that convinced Ty that he was just an egotistical jerk and anything that came out of his mouth was crap. He figured that he was just trying to agitate and egg him on, so he would do something stupid. Frankly, I didn't understand most of what he said, but I figured to let well enough alone and not ask him to explain."

Jacks pause for a moment and then says, "Ty and Amy each have a lot of opportunities out there waiting for them and sooner or later they're going to have to decide whether to do it together or alone. I just figured that sooner was better than later, so I played along. Lou asks, "Why the fishing cabin though?" Jack replies, "Ty said it was perfect, assuming everything worked out. He called it a special place for some reason."

Lou asks, "If it was a last minute thing to go up there, then what about the ring? He has one you know." Jack replies, "I figured as much. I don't think he would have left it in the trailer while he was gone, just in case Amy came by and found it. So, I assume he brought it with him. I don't think that's important though because it didn't sound to me like it's why he wanted her up there."

...

Amy takes Ty's hand in hers as they walk slowly in the moonlight along the river.

"...So, are you're going to do the fast track thing?" Ty replies, "I was, but after talking to my student advisor, he suggested I wait at least until after my first semester. He thought I could handle it, but it's kinda a lot to take on right away, so I'm going to wait until I get accustom to the new classes and then decide." Amy replies, "Well, whatever you decide to do, I'll support you. I know how hard you have worked and what this means to you. I'll do anything to help. Maybe I can be a study buddy?" Ty laughs and says, "I know you too well, Amy...and I don't think I'll get too much studying done."

Amy takes a more serious tone as she begins by saying, "You know, Lou pointed out to me recently how I sometimes take you for granted and she's right...I do sometimes and I'm sorry for that. I don't ever want to take you for granted again. You mean too much to me for me to treat you like that." She pauses for a moment and then continues, "I shouldn't have accepted Renard's offer without talking to you about it first. It wasn't fair of me to put a strain on our relationship like that without considering how you might feel. Ty replies, "Thank you for saying that, Amy. I don't ever want to take you for granted either."

Continuing on their stroll, Amy asks, "Remember the last time we were here alone together?" Ty replies, "You mean when I got sick?" Amy responds, "Not just that..remember what we said to each other for the first time?" Ty answers, "Yeah...I do." Amy says, "That was a something special wasn't it? Ty replies, "Yeah, it was."

After another brief pause, Amy says, "Ty, there's something I should have told you as soon as I got back from the tour." Ty replies, "You mean about Chase?" Amy replies, "So you know?" Ty answers, "Yeah, I do. I was just waiting for you to tell me." Amy responds, "I'm sorry I didn't say anything to you sooner. It's just that I know how you feel about him and I didn't want to upset or worry you needlessly. I don't know how much you know, so I'm just going to tell you everything from the beginning. Before I do though, I want you to know that I've decided not to go on the European tour.

That tour was an amazing experience. I know it was hard for you while I was away and you probably never wanted me to go, but I appreciate you not trying to stop me. It was something I needed to get out of my system. I learned a lot and it will help me with what I do. I'm not really a performer though and I'm not an entertainer. I'm meant to work with horses that need my help. More important than all that, it helped me come to realize that everything I want in life is right here with you."

Amy takes a breath and continues, "Now about Chase..."

Ty listens without interrupting as they continue walking slowly along the river. He already knows most of what she's going to say, but he needs to hear it all from her.

...

"...So, you and Lou really put him through the wringer, eh? I wish I could have seen that. I'll bet he was crapping in his pants by the time you two were done with him. I have to say it was brilliant. The two things he loves more in life than himself, money and reputation. Priceless! I'm proud of you for standing up to him the way that you did. Why didn't you demand more money though?" Amy replies, "Now you're beginning to sound like dad." Ty responds, "Never mind."

Amy continues, "Lou thought we should have demanded more too. I think that's why she insisted on bumping the demand up for every minute over the limited time to accept. I didn't know she was going to do that or the written stipulation either. I was afraid that she was getting carried away like she sometimes does and he wouldn't agree. It wasn't about the money though. I just wanted to turn the tables on him and make him squirm." Ty replies, "You definitely succeeded, but you shouldn't have insisted that he write out the check to the both of us. That money is all yours." Amy replies, "No Ty, it's ours...for everything he put both of us through. Now you'll have extra money for school or you won't have to work as many extra hours at the clinic so I can spend more time with you. Having Chase write our names on it was like icing on the cake too."

Ty laughs and says, "Yeah, and every time he looks at his ledger, it'll be a reminder of how you raked him over the coals. I guess it had to feel pretty good standing up to him like that." Amy replies, "Yeah, it felt good. I just wish I had done it sooner. If I had, then I wouldn't have put you through all this...I'm truly sorry for that. Can you forgive me?" Ty smiles and says, "After what you did to him? I would gladly go through it all over again."

Ty takes a moment to collect his thoughts and then says, "There's something you should know though. First of all, I do trust you. It's just that I need to know that you won't keep these secrets from me…That you'll be completely honest with me no matter what, okay?" Amy stops. She steps in front of Ty and says, "I promise." With that, she leans in and kisses him as Ty wraps his arms around her.

Off in the distance there's the rumbling sound of galloping horses. Amy breaks from the kiss as she and Ty listen. Suddenly, a shooting star streaks across the Alberta sky. Ty points to it and says, "Amy, look." As they watch, Ty says to Amy, "Make a wish." Amy looks up at Ty and says to him, "I wish I can spend the rest of my life with you." Hearing that, Ty drops to his knee, reaches into his pocket, and takes out the engagement ring. Holding her hand in his, he looks up at her as she gasps at the sight of the ring he's holding out to her. He says, "Amy Fleming, I love you more than anything in the world. Will you marry me?" At first speechless but smiling, she nods and then says as she quickly removes the promise ring from her finger, "Yes, of course I will." Ty slips the ring onto her finger and then stands up. Amy jumps into his arms proclaiming, "I love you" and passionately they kiss. After Ty sets Amy down, she looks again at the ring on her finger and says, "Mrs. Amy Borden...I love how that sounds."

Amy wasn't expecting Ty to propose. Her only hope was that he would give her the opportunity to explain herself and together they would be able to move on as a couple. She thought to herself that if Ty was waiting for a special time to propose, then he couldn't have chosen a more special or perfect moment, one which will be a memory forever imprinted in her heart and mind.

...

Ready for bed, Ty takes both Amy's hands in his. Gently kissing both, suddenly he says, "Amy! It looks like your hand here is a little swollen. What happened? Was it from a horse? Amy chuckles and says, "More like a horse's ass...I never told you the best part about putting it to Chase..."

"...remind me never to tick you off!" Amy laughs and says, "That's funny...Caleb said exactly the same thing, so you better watch it mister. Now, get in bed!"

With Ty now lying in bed, Amy moves into his accepting arms with ease to her spot where her lips meet his. Locked in a romantic embrace, they kiss in slow erotic intensity.

It was all Amy had hoped for and more...

Completed

...

A/N: I want to thank everyone who posted a review. Your supportive comments have convinced me to write another story. Several of you have suggested a particular story line. The story I'm thinking of writing may not be exactly what was suggested, but I hope you will enjoy it just the same. I prefer longer stories than this one, just as I'm sure most of you do. That being the case, it'll take me awhile to write, at least in the form of a rough draft. It's something I like to do first, so I can post frequent updates just as I have in the past.