Chapter 8

Amy is checking her phone for any messages, finding none she walks into Joanna's place and greets her. "Dad should be here any minute. Is your room okay, Amy?"

"It's very nice Joanna."

"Our special tonight is elk meatloaf with baked potato and a salad. Are you good with that Amy or would you like something lighter?"

"That sound delicious. Let me come back and help."

"Here comes Dad. You just stay here, I'll get the food."

"Well looks who's here Amy Fleming! Come and give this old timer a hug." Will looks around "are you here alone?"

"Yes I am. Sure good to see you again."

"Why didn't that old kook of a grandfather come up with you? He's okay ain't he?"

"Grandpa's just fine Will, in fact he got married this past winter."

Will chuckles, "Who would marry that old man?"

" A very giving, kind,loving and rich pretty lady. Thats who." Amy said with a joyous smile.

"Good for him. Is she as stubborn as he is."

"Yea, but in a good way."

Joanna brought out the food and sat down to join them. They ate their meal reminiscing on the last time Amy, Ty, Jack and Tim had been there and rescued the trapped horses. It had been hard work but the outcome was a special healing time for all involved.

"Amy, if you have the time you should come out and see Lucky. His mother was that pregnant mare you all saved."

"I'd love to. I have no real plan while I'm here."

"Come out with me after breakfast tomorrow. You can ride him if you wish. He doesn't get the exercise he used to. I come in for breakfast around 9 am. Will that work for you?"

"Sounds real good."

"Joanna, another great meal. Amy always a pleasure to see you. Lady's I'll see you both in the morning. Good night and pleasant dreams."

"Night Dad. Drive careful and see tomorrow."

"Night Will."

"Here Joanna I'll help with those." Amy helps gather the dished and follows Joanna into the kitchen.

"Amy are you okay? Whenever Ty's name was mentioned at diner, you seen to get sad."

" I do have some personal issues to deal with. This place holds a special place in our hearts. Since my problem involves him, I felt this was the place to go."

"If you need to talk Amy, I'm right here."

" Thanks for that. I need to figure a couple more things out first. Okay"

" You just let me know."

"I will. I'm going to take a short walk before I turn in. Good night Joanna and Thanks again for everything."

Its getting chilly as the sun was setting behind the mountains. Amy goes to her room to get BB and her coat.

She decides to sit on a small boulder near the river. The sound of the rushing water is very calming. Her thoughts went back to when Adrian had left those texts messages that Ahmed wanted to talk with her. The question she wanted the answer to was why did I not answer him. Was I playing hard to get. I had only been around that team a short time and could clearly see that they had a certain protocol to follow. Was I playing hard to get? "What was I thinking" she said aloud.

"What were you thinking, Amy?" a voice asked.

Amy jump off the rock and her hand went into her coat for BB. "Who's there?"

"Its Edith Renard dear. I didn't mean to frighten you. I heard you talking and I really thought you were talking to me"

" No it was my fault again Edith. I was way into my head again and simply didn't realize I was talking out loud."

"Tom's gone in for the night Amy. We have a couple of chairs set up right over here. Come sit with me for awhile please."

As Amy walked over with Edith. Her heart starts to slow down. She catches her breath and tries to relax.

After sitting together for 30 minutes or so, Edith quietly speaks. " You and I Amy are alike in many ways. We each love what we do. You love fixing horses that have problems. I like fixing people with problems. My job is much easier than yours, however. Mine talks back, yours doesn't."

Amy chuckled and agreed.

" When you see a horse in need Amy, do you feel this drive in you to help that horse?"

"Yes. It can be quite strong at times. So strong that I don't think of the consequences many times."

"I'm the same way. Our desires to help, are what truly drive us each day. I sense Amy, that you need my help. I want you to know that I'll be here for you when and if you ever want to talk. I'm not trying to put any pressure on you. I just know from years of experience that having a sounding board is as helpful in my work as a round pen is in yours."

Amy realized what Edith was telling her. She sits back in her chair letting out a deep sigh as she does. "I'm not sure where to begin."

" You would start by gathering as much info on the horse as possible. Right? Why don't you start by telling the conversation you were having within your head, when I heard you say What was I thinking."

"I should start at the beginning." Amy starts to tell Edith everything that had happened to her since the day her and Ty had meet Adrian at the airport . It had taken over an hour for Amy to share what she had been though the past 7 months leading up to her drive to Pike River. Edith never interrupted, she just listened.

Edith gave Amy a few moments to catch her breath, so to speak. "That was a lot of life to have lived in that short of time, Amy. It's no wonder you feel you have a lot on your plate. From what you just told me Amy, you made a few bad choses is all. A man, one that had the means to offer things that only happen in fairy tales deceived and used you for his gain. You're not the first young lady to fall into a web like that. We'll get into those bad choses tomorrow evening cause it is getting late. The one thing I need you to understand is there is nothing wrong with you. You are 100% sane. Do not think ill of yourself. My mom use to have a saying for me when I was troubled, "it all comes out in the wash", I've learned thats true."

They walked to the motel Edith arm around Amy's shoulders for comfort. They hugged and said their good nights. Each going to there rooms feeling good about the day.

To be continued