The next day both Charlie and Willy came to Heartland. They were obviously in some kind of discussion as they left the elevator.

"Are you scared, Willy?" came Charlie's voice. It wasn't a taunting sentence, more curious and concerned.

"No!" Willy said quickly. Too quickly, and too loudly. It gave him away.

"It was an accident, Willy, you know that," Charlie said. "One that nobody could have stopped."

"I am NOT scared!" Willy yelled. Then he stormed ahead of Charlie, cheeks flaming in anger. He came over to where Amy stood. "Hello, Amy," he said. They talked for a few minutes.

When Willy went to leave, Amy made a quick decision. "I really think you should stay here for a bit, Mr. Wonka," she said.

"I think so, too," Charlie answered, "I need some time alone, anyway." It was true that part of why he said this was he was still fuming from his and Willy's argument, but there was also a part of him that thought if Willy were here long enough he'd face up to his fear. Before Willy could stop him, Charlie dashed to the elevator and took off.

Willy ground his teeth. "Great," he muttered. "I'm stuck here."

Amy walked towards one of the stables. "I'm going to do a join up," she said. "You can watch me if you want."

"Cocoa?" Willy asked.

"No," Amy said, "Another horse."

"Okay," Willy said.

A few minutes later Amy was in the ring and Willy was leaning against the fence, watching. Amy explained the signals the horse was giving her, and what her behavior meant in horse terms.

"Wow," Willy said softly when it was all over. "That was incredible."

"Wasn't it?" Amy said. "Join up is a step in developing a relationship with the horse. One of respect and understanding."

"That's what I want with Cocoa," Willy said softly.

"You need to show him that you won't hurt him," Amy said softly.

Willy buried his head in his hands, "I can't," he said softly. He looked at Amy and added, "Charlie's right. I'm scared. I'm scared of getting back on him."

"It's actually for the best if you don't get on right away," Amy said gently. "Start slowly and show him you won't hurt him and that he can trust you."

Willy looked at her, "How?" he asked.

"Start by working him on the ground," Amy said. Then an idea came to her. "Why don't you join up with him?"

"I've only seen you do it twice and you expect me to be able to do it myself?" Willy asked with a skeptical chuckle.

"I think you learned in those two times more than you think you did," Amy responded.

Willy suddenly realized she was right. He knew the signals. He knew what to do…sort of. Maybe he could. He nodded, "Okay," he said.

"I'll go get Cocoa, then," Amy said, heading for the stables. Then she turned back. "You may want to take your hat and coat off. They might distract Cocoa and make it hard for you two to join up."

Willy dutifully removed these articles of clothing and after a moment's search found a place to set them where they wouldn't get dirty. Then Amy came out of the stable leading Cocoa. The horse was bobbing his head and walking along with a bounce in his stride. Then, when he saw Willy, he stopped dead in his tracks. Amy coaxed him forward and, keeping herself between horse and human, the three of them went to the ring. Amy handed Willy the lead line and left him in the ring. Cocoa stayed as close to the outside edge as he could to stay as far from Willy as he could.

Willy, somewhat cautiously, pitched the lead rope at Cocoa, who jumped forwards with a snort and started to trot. Willy pitched the line again, making Cocoa canter around the ring. Cocoa kept cantering around the ring for a few minutes in a frantic attempt to stay away. Then it came. Cocoa's ears had been back the way they had whenever Willy was around since the accident, but now one ear came forwards and turned towards him. The first signal. Willy quickly stepped in front of Cocoa, causing him to swerve and start circling in the other direction. After a few more minutes, Cocoa starting to make licking and chewing motions with his mouth. Willy recognized the second signal. Finally, Cocoa gave the last signal. He stretched his neck down to the ground, as he slowed to a trot. Willy quickly turned away from Cocoa, slouching his shoulders and looking at the ground. He held his breath. Would it work? Willy heard Cocoa slow to a stop behind him with a snort. Willy could hear his heart pounding. Then, he heard the sound he'd been hoping to hear: Cocoa's hooves slowly walking towards him in the middle of the ring. Then silence. Then, at long last, he felt a warm gust of air against his neck and Cocoa's muzzle resting against his shoulder. Join up. Willy realized he'd been holding his breath and quickly let it out. Willy turned around to rub Cocoa's forehead, as he had seen Amy do. Cocoa's ears slowly came forwards, as if to say 'I trust you.' Willy then walked away. Cocoa followed him. Willy walked in a figure eight pattern with Cocoa right behind him. When Willy picked up a jog, Cocoa trotted. When Willy halted, Cocoa did too. Willy turned to Cocoa and hugged him. Cocoa craned his neck around Willy as if hugging him back.

"Way to go!" Amy cried from where she stood at the fence.

Willy jumped and pulled away from Cocoa. He had become so focused on everything involving the join up that he had forgotten about his audience. He grinned. "I did it!" he crowed. "I really did it!" He ran to the gate, Cocoa still right behind him. "Amy, that…that…I thought watching was incredible, but doing it myself…I don't have any words that can describe it."

"I know," Amy said. "No matter how many times I do it, the thrill never quite wears off."

"It was like magic," Willy said. "I suddenly felt like I could—"

"Speak his language?" Amy suggested.

"Yes!" Willy exclaimed. He was practically bouncing. "I don't think I'm ever going to come back down to earth."

"Why would you want to?" asked a familiar child's voice.

"Charlie!" Willy cried, and went to where the boy stood further down from Amy. "Did you see Cocoa and me joining up?"

"I sure did!" Charlie exclaimed with a grin, throwing his arms around his friend. "I saw it all! Congratulations!"

"Thanks!" Willy said, smiling back and cautiously returning the hug.

Amy came back with the clothes Willy had taken off. She handed him his jacket, which he then put on. But just before Amy handed Willy his hat, Cocoa snatched it and galloped off across the ring. "Why you little…!" Willy exclaimed, and went chasing after Cocoa. They dashed and dodged about a bit before Cocoa came up to Willy and held the hat out to him. Willy chuckled and set it back on his head. "Guess you're back to being yourself, eh boy?" he said with a chuckle, tousling Cocoa's mane.