Chapter 18
The day before the big dance and barbecue Jack and Tim both drove up to pick up all the panels that needed to go back. Unknown to Tara her fiancé Captain Joe Fisher from England had arrived at Heartland the day before the guys were to leave. Amy and Ty knew but none of the other girls knew. The plan was to leave the Captain in Pike River while Jack and Tim came on to Wills place. Amy was then going to have Tara pack her stuff early and take her to town so she could help Joanna prepare the food for the barbecue. The plan worked so well that Tara walked right past Joe as he was sitting at the counter. Joe had to ask for some tea and when he did, Tara knowing that voice let out a squeal that was almost deafening. Amy gave them some time together and then told Tara no one expected to see her or Joe till the dance the next night then Amy left.
Everyone had a blast at the dance. The girls got to learn how to line dance and do the two step. About half way threw Jack, Will and Amy sang a few songs together and the crowd loved it. Joanna once they were done with their last song took the mike to make a small speech for the township. They knew Amy didn't want money for all she had done so they gave her and Ty a key to the city. Which Joanna said boiled down to a weeks stay at the motel with free food for the week. Amy and Ty both thanked them.
Amy had decided since the girls would have to be driven back and forth from Fairfield to Heartland that she would just move to Fairfield. Ty asked Jack if he could use Amy's room so Caleb could have his trailer back and Jack agreed.
Once back the three pregnant mares were brought to Fairfield. Of the remaining horses Caleb wanted 5 at $3,000.00 each and Amy and Ty agreed but with one stipulation, which was that when the other horses were ready to be ridden for the first time he would take the buck out of them. Amy didn't want any of the girls or herself to get hurt. That left Amy and her girls 15 horses to train. Amy decided to give each girl 3 horses to train, she and Ty would train the rest. All the horses were halter broke, were able to be brushed, hoofs could be cleaned and lead around. It was time for these horses to be saddled. The girls had watched Amy work with ranchers on this and were confident it would be no problem. They soon learned that even putting a blanket on a wild horse that was halter broke was no easy task.
Amy brought one of her horses Sugar to the round-pen. Sugar would follow Amy everywhere she could in order to get a mint, hence the name Sugar. Amy walked to the middle of the round-pen and bent down to put up the blanket and as she did Sugar went backward in a defensive mood pulling on the lead rope. Amy gently talked to her and held out a mint and Sugar calmed down and came to her. Amy then did the t-touch and talked to her. Amy then lead Sugar over near the blanket for her to smell and check out. Once she saw that it was of no danger, Amy again picked up the blanket and held it out to Sugar to smell and to check out again. As Amy rubes the blanket along Sugar she moves away and Amy starts again it took over an hour for Sugar to except the blanket touching her wherever Amy wanted to rub it.
Amy had had Ty and grandpa make up three pens out in the arena. Each was 24x24 and allowed each girl to work with one of their horses. They learned that week how different each horse had been to taking a blanket. Joe had wanted to work with Jack and learn to be a cowboy as he called it. He was a natural when it came to riding but after the first two days had to let his sore ass and legs recover so he helped Tara for a few days.
Amy and Ty decide to take the girls and Joe to their first rodeo that weekend. Georgie and Caleb wanted to come so they took two trucks. Amy wanted the girls to see first hand how horses are used in the west. They arrived early so Caleb could take them and show them around. Ty and Amy just sat back and watched the 4 of them as they acted like kids in a candy store. Caleb was also enjoying their enjoyment. He introduced them to a few of his buddies as they walked to the bleachers. Before each different event started he explained what to expect and to look for. Of course the bareback, the saddle bronc and the bull riding gave the girls the biggest thrills that night but each one wanted to train one of their three horses to barrel race.
On the ride home Amy wanted to stop at Ice Cream Palace which was just outside of Hudson and treat everyone to whatever they wanted. They all sat around on a picnic bench and talked about their day. It was then that Amy decide to share something with the girls. Each girl got to pick one horse out of their three to give their all at training and whatever that horse sold for was their's to keep. Aysha was near tears when Amy had finished. Caleb sitting next to her placed his hand on her shoulder and asked what was wrong. "I had never met anyone like Amy before, she is always giving to us, she never yells and has a love and understanding for horses that is truly enjoyable to be around. I am just thankful I was asked to come this is more like a vacation then work." She told him.
It was a Saturday night so Ty stayed with Amy at Fairfield. As they laid in bed talk of the wedding was on their minds. Amy told him Mrs. Bell was making her wedding dress and that Lou was hounding her for colors for something she said and they both laughed. "Your lucky Amy I'm the one who has to hear her more than you do now and by the way did you plan that?" Ty asked as he leans in for a kiss.
"No I didn't but now I wish I had. Have you given any thought about going back to Pike River for our short honeymoon? We could us the key to the city thing." Amy asked
"To be honest Ames I'd rather take Spartan and Harley up to the fishing camp for those 4 days. Just you and me."
"The fishing cabin sounds perfect to me Ty. Now it's been a ruff week, get over here and help me unwind." Amy tells him as she pulls him to her side.
To be continued