Chapter 5
The girls are bedded down for the night and Lou is attending to some last minute paperwork in the barn office. Lisa's sitting on the couch snuggled up next to Jack, both watching the flickering of flames around the logs in the the fireplace. She stirs a bit and says, "Jack...I promised myself I wouldn't pry, but its killing me...what did you and Ty talk about in the barn?"
Reluctant to answer, but knowing he has to tell her something, he answers vaguely, "We talked about that day he left. He wanted to clear the air and let me know that he was sorry for picking up and leaving like he did and not calling to let anyone know he was okay."
"I know you too well, Jack. He had to have said more than that."
"Its between me and him, Lisa...but during our talk, I couldn't help thinking that there was something he was going to say to me, but then changed his mind. He started to say something then pause for a moment before before finishing. I don't think what he then said was what he was intitially going to tell me."
"Do you think it has something to do with Amy?"
"At first I thought it might, but now I'm not so sure. I had the feeling while he was talking earlier in the kitchen that there was something he was avoiding. I thought that he might still have some hurt in him and it had to do with what happened between him and Amy. Now I'm not so sure and wondering if it had to do with his time away. He did admit that it was rough for him, at least at first, so it might have something to do with that."
"I'm sure it was rough. I kinda got that feeling too...that he wasnt telling us everything. I guess I shouldn't have tried to pry like I did. He handled it pretty well though."
"Whatever it is, he's keeping tight lipped about it. I suppose sooner or later he'll let it out, just like he did with everything else we talked about."
"Your not going to tell me what that was are you?"
"No I'm not. You can pester me all you want, but it's not going to happen."
"Okay...I know how stubborn you can be." Smiling up at Jack, Lisa adds, "but I know I can change your mind later."
"Grinning, while looking down at her, "Okay, give it a try, but I still won't talk."
"We'll see...now about Amy."
"Yeah, I was thinking about that before you asked about Ty and you're right.
"Aren't I always?"
"She should be told that Ty is back and I think it would be better coming from Lou. She'll know how to break it to her more gently than I could and I don't think she would mind. I'll talk to her about it later..."
...
Lou walks into the house while Lisa is cleaning up after lunch, "Has anyone heard from Amy yet? I left the diner early so we would have plenty of time to talk before Ty gets here."
Lisa informs her, "She just called and said that she got a late start and there's some road construction, so she'll be arriving a little late."
"Not too late I hope."
"Don't worry Lou, she'll be here in plenty of time. So you're good with it right...telling her yourself?"
"I am. Grandpa and I talked about it at length while you were over at Fairfield and I'm sure I can handle it much better than he could."
...
Amy pulls up to the house just as Lou is returning from the barn. She exits the truck looking frazzled as Lou walks up and comments, "Wow! That must have been some drive back here. You look like a wreck!"
"Never mind that. I'm just a little...well, I don't know how to describe it!"
"What's wrong?"
Amy rattles off quickly, "I guess I was daydreaming and missed the turnoff so I ended up driving past Caleb's trailer and..."
"And what?"
"And I saw Ty's truck!"
Lou's surprised and partly relieved that she doesn't need to break the news to her, but she still has some explaining to do. "Yeah...about that. We were going to tell you as soon as you got home."
Perplexed and in a somewhat angry tone, Amy asks, "We? Who else knows?
"Grandpa, Lisa, and me. Caleb and Scott know too."
"And no one bothered to call and tell me!" She complains.
"We weren't sure how you would take the news, so grandpa thought it would be best if we waited until you got back."
"How long has he been back...and why is he here?"
"He arrived a few nights ago after you left for that horse clinic. He's going to be working at the clinic while Scott is on vacation."
"So you talked to him? What do you mean working at the clinic?"
"I haven't talked to him yet, but grandpa and Lisa have. I just caught a glimpse of him when he drove by the diner the other day. He came by here yesterday morning to talk to grandpa. Ty is a vet now and he'll be filling in for Scott while he's away. C'mon in the house and we'll tell you all about it."
...
Lou, Lisa, and Jack are huddled around Amy who's sitting in a chair she's turned away from the kitchen table.
"...So, he's coming to dinner?"
"Yeah, he is...how do you feel about that?" Lou asks.
"I don't know...okay I guess. It's just that everything you've told me is a lot to absorb right now."
Jack suggests, "Tell you what. You just had a long drive, so why don't you freshen up and when you're ready come meet me in the barn. You can then yell at me all you want for insisting we not tell you until you got home."
"I'm not going to yell, but I wish you had let me know sooner and I do want to talk to you before Ty gets here."
Feeling left out and overly curious to know what is going through Amy's mind, Lou asks, "Wouldn't you rather talk with me first?"
"Thanks Lou, but no. We'll talk later." Amy gets up from her chair, saying, "Right now I'm going to wash up and change, besides I need some time alone."
Understanding her need to spend time alone, Lisa calls out to her as Amy walks away, "Take all the time you need honey. Lou and I will be here if you need anything."
Jack walks out to the barn and makes himself busy until Amy is ready to talk.
Lou turns to Lisa and asks, "What could grandpa tell her that we don't already know?"
"Jack didn't tell you?"
"Tell me what?"
"He and Ty had a private conversation in the barn yesterday before Ty left."
"Grandpa never told me anything about that. What did they talk about?"
"Jack wouldn't say...and believe me, I tried to get it out of him, but no luck."
...
After washing up, Amy lies on her bed in her bathrobe. Thinking about what to expect when she finally sees Ty for the first time in years, her eyes happen to focus on the spot on her wall where Ty's painting once hung. "I wonder..."
...
"Hey, grandpa."
"Well, it took you long enough, but you cleaned up nicely. I went into the house a couple of times to check on you, but I was told you hadn't yet left your room."
"Sorry...but I needed a little time to myself and I guess I dozed off for a bit."
"So...how was the horse clinic?"
"Don't bother beating around the bush. I know there was something you wanted to tell me privately when you suggested I meet you here."
"I figured you did when you passed on talking to Lou first."
"So, what is it?"
"Okay, straight to the point...I like that. Let's have a seat in the office, there's something you should know..."
"...I always had a suspicion that he might have seen Chase and me together that night. I really screwed things up!...and what he must have gone through!...that dark place he mention, it must have really frightened him! If he stayed, it could have ruined his life and I would have been responsible!"
"So you see, Amy. Like he said...it worked out for the best. He got over it and got his life in order. He's a grown man. He's matured and made something of himself."
"I know and I'm happy for him. I really am, but...I know it sounds selfish, but all the time we lost because I was so stupid, stubborn, and immature. I can't tell you how many nights I lost sleep thinking about all the things I did wrong and how our lives could have been different."
"We should talk about that too. Ty and I never got around to talking about how he feels about you. I didn't think it was the best time to bring it up. Listen, Amy, he's only here for a month and then he's leaving. I don't know how you might feel about him now and I'm not going to ask, but if you have any feelings at all then be careful about expecting too much. Don't get your hopes up."
Jack debates whether or not to share with her the suspicion both he and Lisa had that there was something Ty was avoiding talking about. Finally deciding, "Maybe nows not the time..."
"Thank you for the advice, grandpa. Just to let you know and to be perfectly honest, I don't know how I feel about him. I mean, I have missed him a lot all this time and sometimes wondered about what it would be like if he ever came back, but now that he is...I don't know...I just don't know. I do know that I don't want to go through again what I went through when he left, so in that respect I will be careful."
"I think you two have a lot of things that need to be said to each other. I'm going to do my best to stay out of it from this point on, but at some point it'll be better for everyone if you two talked."
"You're right grandpa, if for no other reason than there are a lot of things I need to apologize for. The problem is, when would be the right time?"
"That's up to you, but don't be surprised if Ty brings it up first. He's not like he was before...I'm mean when it comes to speaking. He's much more articulate now and speaks with confidence. If he has something he wants to say, no doubt you'll know exactly what it is."
C'mon now, let's go into the house. I've got some cleaning up to do myself and quickly."
...
While helping Lisa and Lou with the final touches in preparing the evening's meal, Lou asks Amy casually, "So, Amy...what did you and grandpa talk about?"
Nervously looking over at the clock for the umpteenth time, Amy replies, "Can we talk about it later?"
"Sure...Your alright thought...right?"
"Yeah...just...just a little nervous...I guess." She answers hesitantly as her words fade away.
...
Ty pulls up to the front of the house, turns off the ignition, and then firmly grips the steering wheel again for just a moment before exiting his truck. As he shuts the door, Jack walks from the house to greet him. "Hi Jack, happy birthday!"
"Thanks Ty."
"Hey, Jack, I didn't notice it before, but where are your old trucks?"
"Your guess is as good as mine. That idiot ex son-in-law of mine got rid of them while I was away several years back."
"Your kidding, right? You loved those old trucks. Why would he do something like that?"
"like I said, he's an idiot! He even tried to replace my old coffee maker with some new fangled contraption!"
"So, I guess everything went alright with you telling Amy I was back since I didn't get a phone call."
"Well, actually I didn't tell her...you did or rather she found out on her own."
"What do you mean?...
...
Watching from the kitchen window, Amy's heart skips a beat as she first lays eyes on Ty exiting his truck. Continuing to watch, she can't believe how different he looks, yet the same after all these years. She notices his smile hasn't changed as he greets Jack, but he looks slightly larger than she remembers, with shorter and neatly trimmed combed hair. The scruffy looking few days growth of beard is now a clean shaven face. His choice of clothes has changed too. He's wearing a pressed collared shirt, sport coat, and even tighter fitting designer jeans, rather than the slightly faded and looser fitting jeans that she remembers him always wearing. "Grandpa was right, he has grown up."
Still watching Ty from the window while he's talking to Jack, she's suddenly overcome with emotion and tries desperately not to tear. She turns to Lou, who's watching with her. "I don't think I can do this!"
"Sure you can." Lou replies, trying to instill confidence.
"No...I don't think so."
"Whats wrong?"
"I don't know what to say or do... I thought..."
"Thought what?"
"I thought I wouldn't feel this way, but..." Amy stops and sighs.
Momentarily frustrated by what seems to be Amy's last minute reluctance to face Ty, Lou challenges her, "Can't you just suck it up or would you rather run off to your room and hide?"
Amy sighs and pauses for a moment in thought. "I just need a minute. I'll be right back."
Lou responds in a softer tone, "I understand why you might need to, but don't take too long...it looks like they'll be coming in soon."
...
As soon as Ty walks into the house he recieves a warm greeting, sharing hugs with both Lou and Lisa. Then introductions to Katie and Georgie. Amy steps into the mud room under the watchful eyes of Lou and Jack. While Lisa ushers the young girls to the living room, it gives Ty a moment to carefully choose his words, "Hey, it's good to see you."
"You too." Amy responds nervously with a faint smile.
Feeling an immediate need to cut the tension and break a brief moment of silence in the small room, Ty initiates a short conversation, "Jack told me how you found out I was back. I'm sorry you had to find out that way...i guess it was a shock.
"It...It was...but, I would have been shocked no matter how I found out."
As pleased as Jack is to see the two talking, he interrupts, "Okay...why don't we all move into the house."
Hoping the two would continue talking, he's disappointed when Amy announces that she going to help Lisa and Lou in the kitchen.
"Alright then. Ty, let's have a seat in the living room so we're out of their way."
Walking the short distance to the living room, "Ty asks, "I thought Tim might be here...isn't he coming?"
"He's suppose to, but he'll probably show up at the last minute as usual."
Ty takes a seat on the couch as Jack takes his in his favorite chair. The two girls immediately plant themselves on either side of Ty with Georgie asking, "So you're a veterinarian like Scott?"
"I am."
"I've been to the clinic, but I've never seen the back of it...you know, where they help the animals. Do you think maybe you can show it to me sometime?"
"So you like animals...I mean other than horses and such like you have around here?"
Georgie enthusiastically replies, "Yes...I do!"
"Well in that case, how would you like to help me out for a little while one day and I'll show you around. You have to clear it with your mom and I have to make sure it's okay with Cassandra too.
"Great! I would like that a lot...I'm going to go ask her right now!"
Ty looks over at Jack who's grinning. "You might regret that. Once she gets a thought in her mind, she won't let it go."
"That's okay...I like the enthusiasm."
...
A short period of time passes and impatience gets the better of Jack. "We're not going to wait for Tim any longer. The girls have the dinner table ready and I'm hungry, so let's eat."
Jack takes his spot at the head of the table suggesting to Ty that he sit immediately to his right. Georgie announces she wants to sit next to Ty, taking the chair next to him, and Amy takes a seat next to her avoiding having to sit across the table from Ty. The rest of the family take their seats on the other side of the table.
As they begin to pass the food around, Tim walks in saying, "Hey is that old truck..." His eyes suddenly lock on Ty. "So it is your truck..I thought so."
"Walking in late as usual." Jack says, expressing his annoyance at always having to wait for him.
"Yeah...by the way, happy birthday, Jack."
Moving to a seat left vacant for him at the other end of the table directly across from Jack, Tim says, "Well, this is a surprise. So Ty, how long are you back for this time before you disappear again?"
"Nice to see you too, Tim."
Jack immediately drops his napkin onto the table displaying his displeasure with Tim's question, "That'll be enough of that, Tim! We're all here to enjoy a nice meal and friendly conversation, got it!"
With his eyes still on Ty, Tim answers and asks, "Yeah, I'd do...so why are you back?"
Ty notices the continued look of irritation on Jack's face so he decides to preempt anymore question from Tim that might upset Jack. "To answer your first question. I'm here for a month. I'm filling in for Scott while he's on vacation."
"What...so, you're still a vet assistant?
"No...its Dr. Borden now. I'm a vet."
"Before Tim has the opportunity to ask another inappropriate question, Jack suggests, "Ty, if you don't mind, why don't you tell us again what you've been up to. Some of us haven't heard it yet and I'm sure they're curious to hear."
Taking Jack's cue, Ty shares with them what he did during his years away from Heartland. Shortly after leaving, he ended up in Colorado where he found a job repairing motorcycles and made extra money by buying, refurbishing, and selling them too. He put himself through Vet School there, after transferring his credits from Calgary, and fast tracked so the he could graduate sooner. He told them he was so busy, there wasn't much time for anything but work, school and studying. He shared a few amusing stories and also talked about learning to ski when he did have some free time during the winter months. After graduation he went to Montana, having been offered a job as a vet in Fort Benton.
While Ty was engaged in conversation with the rest of the family, Amy couldn't help feeling a disconnect as a result of their lives taking separate paths and Ty moving on with his life. The time at the dinner table seemed surreal. She didn't ask any questions or offer comments. Ty would glance over at her occasionally while he spoke, but never attempted to draw her into the conversation. She just sat quietly listening to everything Ty had to say, hoping he would reveal something that would somehow bridge the separation she felt.
Towards the end of the conversation, Lou asks, "What are your plans once Scott returns? I suppose you're going back to you're job in Fort Benton?"
"Maybe not..."
Ty tells her about the job offer in Vancouver.
As soon as he's done, Tim says, "That seems to me to be a pretty big investment. How is it that you can afford to buy into a business like that so early in your career? I mean you're still driving that old broken down truck so I guess you still don't have a pot to..."
"Dad!" Lou yells out, stopping Tim before he could say it.
Jack is perturbed by Tim's question, always looking at the money angle and says, "I don't think that's a proper question, Tim! It's none of your or our business."
Ty speaks up and, giving Jack a wink, he says, "That's okay Jack. I don't mind answering." Ty goes on, explaining directly to Tim the financial benefits of joining an already established practice and how sweat equity can offset the cost of buying in. Jack, meanwhile, leans back in his chair with a smirk on his face, knowing very well what Ty is doing. He's putting Tim in his place, dazzling him with facts and figures to the point where Tim regrets asking the question. Jack's proud of Ty. Not only for what he accomplished, but the way he handles Tim's inappropriate question.
...
After dinner, Jack asks Ty to have a seat with him outside on the porch, leaving Tim to supervise the girls while the women clear the table and set everything up for coffee and Jack's birthday cake.
Assuming they're now out of earshot of everyone in the house, Jack begins to laugh, "I've got to hand it to you, Ty...you really shot Tim down! I never get tired of seeing that."
"With a grin, Ty replies, "I hope I didn't bore everyone, but I couldn't resist it."
"I think almost everyone caught on to what you were doing, certainly Lisa and Lou. I'm sure they enjoyed it as much as I did and the look on Tim's face! I don't think he'll ever try that again."
"I have a confession to make...probably half of what I said was crap. I was making it up on the fly."
"You made it sound convincing enough that you had me fooled and if you could fool me..."
"Well Jack, I learned something...You know that saying...the pen is mightier than the sword?"
"Yes"
"That pen writes words and whether written or spoken they're a powerful tool. They can start and end love affairs and wars too. They can be more hurtful than a punch and sometimes convey more than a kiss ever can and when used the right way you won't end up bruising your knuckles."
"When did you get so smart?"
"When I didn't have Caleb around to listen to anymore."
"I get what you men. Listen, the other reason I wanted to talk to you alone for a minute..."
"You want to talk about Amy, right?"
"I do...the thing is...well, I hope you weren't put off by her silence during dinner. I noticed you glance over at her a several times. She's probably still experiencing a little shock after not seeing you for so long. I think once it's sunk in, she'll have a few things she'll want to say."
"I imagine she does and I do too. I was just curious about her reaction while I was talking, but don't read too much into it. We're different people now. We've grown up and changed. I am disappointed to hear that she doesn't work with troubled horses now. She had a talent for that like no one else I know. I use to enjoy watching her and I was amazed by what she could do."
"So was I." Jack pauses in thought for a moment. "Forgive me for asking, but if I don't have an answer for Lisa, she'll kill me..."
From the look on Jack's face and the way he's phrasing the coming question, Ty assumes he knows what he's about to be ask, so to save Jack further discomfort, he interrupts saying, "I don't doubt it and the answer is no. I had a pretty good idea what she was trying to find out by some of the questions she asked. So you can tell her, no girlfriend. Not since..." Ty pauses as he shifts uncomfortably in his seat.
Lou interrupts by suddenly appearing in the doorway and announcing, "Come on in the house you two. The coffee is ready and the girls are pestering us for cake. You need to blow out the candle first grandpa."
"Tell the girls we'll be there in a moment." Jack responds, hiding the fact that he's annoyed by the ill timed interruption. Turning his attention back to Ty, "You were going to say?"
"No girlfriend, Jack, and no...I don't have any intention of picking up where I left off with Amy. I prefer to keep it just friendly at best. Let's go have some of that cake."...
To be continued...