Chapter 4

Ty wakes Amy up as he tries to get out of bed. Its 7:15am and he needs to get to the reserve. Amy calmly walks over to the door and locks it. "And just where do you think you are going?" she asks with her hands on her hips. "You are NOT working today and that is final. Now lay back down, I'll get you some aspirin and juice." She unlocks the door and heads to the kitchen.

Ty really has no fight in him today and lays back down thinking back to when Amy took care of him at the fishing cabin. That was a special place for them and a simpler time he thought. He also thought back to Amy's words last night about proving to him that her love was honest, true and pure. Deep down, he wanted that more than anything.

Amy sits down on the side of the bed and hands Ty the aspirin and juice and questions him about the poachers. "Why would poachers come after you, Ty?"

Ty explains how he found the dead bear and someone had cut out its liver to sell on the black market .

"Well that still doesn't explain why they assaulted you and how they knew you had found the bear and where you lived"

"I know Amy and that still puzzles me Bob was the only one that I had told."

"You don't think he had any thing to do with this do you Ty?"

"No I don't and can't think of why he would."

I'll get your breakfast Amy tells him, and heads to the kitchen.

"Amy, Lisa's lawyer will be here at 10:30 and a detective will be around 11:00" Lou tells her, " here's Ty's breakfast. Is he feeling any better?"

" Yes Lou and thanks."

Ty was doing his best to place a couple of pillows behind him so he could sit up better but the twisting was getting the best of him Amy handed him the tray and positioned the pillow for him. Ty thanks her and states "You like to take care of me don't you?"

"Yes I do. Now I have a few other things I need to talk to you about. Lisa's lawyer and a detective will both be here a couple of hours and hopefully we can end this Ahmed thing once and for all. Secondly when I was in town yesterday I bought myself a truck and I went to Mr. Tucker's pawn shop and sold him the necklace and the Miracle Girl saddle." Amy could see relief in Ty's eyes and facial expression and was pleased. She got up and walked to her desk and opened her checkbook and started writing. "Ty, I was going to wait to do this, but its better I do this now." And hands him a check.

"Wha...wha...what the hell is this Amy?" Ty finally gets out.

"That is your graduation gift from me, Ty. I know it's a year early, but I feel now is the right time. Before he can say another word Amy explains. "You remember me telling you about Midnight the horse that I bought in Europe and sold to Nick?"

"Yes I do."

"Well I bought him for you Ty. She explained .I had placed a mint on Midnight stall after everyone wrote him off as a lost cause and to much trouble and I backed up. Midnight came right over and took it. I then, with my palm open, and another mint, walked over to him and he never moved. He just accepted the mint and I knew then there was nothing really wrong that a little love couldn't fix. I'd bought him and made a good piece of change."

"But Amy, this is for $70,000.00."

" I know she says with a big smile. You see Ty I knew once you finished Vet school you would need a new truck and I wanted to get it for you. Of all the men I have met in my life you are by far the most driven. You have done so much of everyone on this ranch and for those close to you that I felt this is the least I could do. You know, there should be enough after the truck to get that Ducati Motorcycle you also wanted ."

"I understand all this stuff that is happening to both of us right now doesn't fix my problem Ty. So when the dust settles around here I'm going to go and try to get my heart and head back on track. I am going to figure out what I need and get my balance back. I am going to Pike River and see Joanne Hawks. Hopefully she will have a cabin I can stay in for a few days... There is one more thing you need to know. I will have to give my phone and laptop to the lawyer this morning for evidence, so I bought a new phone yesterday while in town. Here is my new number and only you ,Lou ,Grandpa, the lawyer and Detective will have this number. So I know you won't give it to my dad."

"You know Amy, in the 8 years I've known you, that is the most you have said at one time ever. I thought you'd never get done." Ty says with a smile as he reaches out for her hand and draws her in for a very sweet kiss.

"I like your plan Amy, but don't you think you should keep this money? You may need it in the future?"

"The only future I want is with you Ty money isn't a factor in my happiness. Only you are."

to be continued