Chapter Three
"I need another story. Something to get off my chest."-Secrets by: One Republic
Amy was still sitting on the porch later that night. She stared at her phone screen. The un-answered text message still glowed bright, reminding her of what had happened.
She was just about to get up and go to bed when she heard a voice from behind her. "Amy," It was Jack. "I hope you understand about Lisa and I. We would've had a wedding-but well, we wanted something simple and quiet. And it was sudden."As Jack came to sit down next to her, Amy shut off her phone and scooted over to make room for him.
"Of course, Grandpa," Amy said. "I'm happy for you two. Congratulations." Jack smiled. "Thanks." He said. "And don't worry about Lou." Amy continued. "She'll come around."
Jack studied Amy's face for a second and said, "So how was your trip to Europe?" "It was good." Amy said. "Busy. But fun."
He nodded. It seemed like he wanted to ask her something else, but instead he stood up and said, "Well, goodnight. Remember that a new client horse is coming tomorrow morning."
Amy was there, bright and early the next morning to greet the man driving the truck and horse trailer that rolled into Heartland.
"Hi," Amy said, extending her hand. "I'm A-" "I know who you are. Everyone does now." The man said, shaking her hand with a grin.
"Oh." Amy said, a little flustered but mostly flattered. "So who's this guy?" The man led out a big chestnut gelding who immediately started eating grass.
"This is Rockefeller. He bucks really badly anytime you get him faster than a walk." Amy took the lead rope from the man's hands and started walking the horse to the barn.
"Sounds like a bit of a behavioral issue." Amy said. "Maybe he needs to be taken back to basics." "I don't know, but I sure hope you can figure it out. I pay well." The man raised his eyebrows at Amy as they walked into the barn.
"So this is it?" He asked, looking around a barn with a bit of a disgusted look on his face. "I brought my horse into a four-stall dinky barn?"
Amy felt a bit embarrassed as she answered, "Well, yes, it does only have four stalls. But...I can assure you that Rockefeller will get the best of care, and our pastures are excellently maintained."
The man shrugged and handed an armful of tack of Amy. "Alright." He said. "I'll be back to check on his progress. Thank you."
Amy was left standing there with a horse, a thousand-dollar saddle, and a sense that maybe Heartland didn't live up to the standards of her clients.
"Hey." Ty came to stand next to Amy. She was sitting in the barn office, pouring over the last couple bank statements and balances.
"Do you think we'd have enough money to expand the barn?" Amy asked distractedly. "What? Expand it?" Ty's voice revealed his surprise.
"Yeah. By three or four stalls maybe...maybe five." Amy flipped a page in the book and squinted at the columns of numbers. "What's wrong with the barn now?" Ty asked.
"It's too small. My clients are bringing fancy Warmbloods and Thoroughbreds to me, they can't expect to put them in a four stall barn!" She said.
"I think they'd better." Ty pointed at the last bank statement. "There's not enough money in the budget to add on four or five stalls. Besides, Amy, the barn always worked in the past."
She sighed and closed the books. Looking up at Ty, a wave of some emotion passed over her. She didn't know exactly what it was. She had missed him so much. He seemed more confident now, more sure of himself.
Suddenly Ty was smiling at her. It was a warm, loving smile, and Amy saw it coming. A kiss. He sat on the edge of the desk and slowly leaned down to meet her lips with his.
Amy felt her heart pounding in her chest. It wasn't the good pounding, either-the kind when you're really excited or happy. It was the kind that made Amy feel sick to her stomach and a bit dizzy.
She kept her arms stiffly at her sides as Ty's lips closed over hers for a few seconds. She squeezed her eyes shut, telling herself to calm down as Ty wrapped his arms around her waist.
She shouldn't be freaking out. This was her fiancé. It was Ty, after all. But she couldn't help it. Something inside her screamed at her to back up at end the kiss.
So she did. She pulled back abruptly and ended the kiss, feeling her hands shaking. Ty looked at her, puzzled. He didn't say anything; just stood up.
"Well," he said, clapping his hands together, "Let's go eat, shall we?" Amy took a deep breath and nodded. Yes. That would be good.
Lisa and Jack were sitting on the porch after dinner later that night. Ty had gone home to his trailer, Amy had gone to check on the horses.
Everyone else was off doing something. Lisa slipped her ringed hand into Jack's and gave it a squeeze.
"I love you, old man." She said with a playful giggle. Jack chuckled and pretended to act hurt. "Hey now!" He said, and they kissed.
"I'm so happy, Jack." Lisa said with a contended sigh. "I'm glad we've finally told the kids, even if Lou's upset." "Yeah." Jack said. "I'm glad, too."
"Have you noticed something's different about Amy, though?" Lisa asked, growing serious. Jack thought about it. "Well she dresses sort of fancy now. And she curls her hair a lot."
"No, not like that." Lisa said. "Although I have noticed her clothes-they have been gorgeous lately. It's just...*her*. She's been acting all jittery and not herself. Like something is bothering her."
Jack shrugged. "I'll ask her about it." He said.