Resolutions Part 1

Chapter 3

Amy's words stung like an electric shock through Ty, permeating his body like a virus leaving only guilt in its wake.

Spartan is dead – Amy's horse. I killed Spartan. How did I let this happen? Ty internally anguished.

"Amy, I know you're distraught but I don't think it's fair to blame Ty, he did all he could," Jack said.

"Spartan's dead. That's a fact," a nearly still unrecognizable Amy bitterly proclaimed. And it was the shot Ty gave him that killed him. He should have known better; he's a Vet. He's supposed to save animals, not kill them."

"Why didn't you notice Spartan's condition when got home from work?" Amy challenged Ty. "With your training, didn't you notice anything unusual about him? How could you let this happen?" accused Amy.

Listening to Amy's indictments, Ty could only look in disbelief at Amy as a realization of her thinking slowly came over him.

"Why didn't I notice anything? How could I let this happen? Spartan's not my horse. I'm not with him every day. How can she blame me?

I need to just let her lash out for now. She's not herself. She's not seeing things clearly. She'll recognize blaming me is wrong after she's over the shock.

Amy continued her accusatory stare for several more seconds, tears staining her face.

"I'm going into the house to make arrangements for Spartan's body. I don't want you anywhere near him." Amy ordered.

The sting of his wife's words further penetrated Ty's now battered state of mind. With painful deliberation, he slowly pivoted and walked toward the loft stairs without uttering a word.

Jack's penetrating gaze rested on his granddaughter for several seconds while neither spoke.

"Amy, how could you say such hurtful things like that to your husband? Ty's no more is to blame for what happened than I am. I know you're hurting but those were some cruel things you said to Ty."

"You were here Grandpa; you saw what happened. If Ty hadn't treated Spartan the way he did, my horse would still be alive. But he's not. Spartan is dead and Ty's responsible."

Barely believing what he was hearing, Jack chose not to respond but fixed his eyes on his defiant granddaughter. With an unwavering hardness in her eyes and reflected on her face, Amy stared back at her grandfather for a moment before wheeling around without a sound to head for the main house.

Jack could only look on in despair as Amy faded into the darkness of night with only the receding sound of her footsteps a substitute for her answer.

I've never seen her like this he thought. This is bad and doesn't bode well. Maybe Lisa will have an idea of what to do next.

The Loft

Physically and emotionally shaken more from what Amy had accused him of than Spartan's death, Ty tottered up the steps to the loft.

What do I do now? Should I try and speak to her or give her some space? Give her space. She'll come to her senses and quit blaming me. She's got to! What if she doesn't? How can she blame me? That's so unfair!

For Better or Worse remember? Well, Amy and I have experienced a lot of the Better; I guess this is what Worse feels like.

Did I miss something with Spartan…no, I don't think so. I didn't do anything wrong; I know I didn't. I should probably run what happened by Scott though just to make sure. I can't believe this happened. We had such a great evening together and now it's all gone to crap. Should I text her? No, leave her alone for now. Oh Amy, I'm so sorry!

"Scott?"

"Ty?"

"Yeah, it's me. Listen, something terrible has happened. Spartan…Spartan is dead."

"What? What happened?"

"I think it was colic but if you're free, I'd like you to come out to Heartland and take a look at him?

"Amy? She's in terrible shape; she's taking it about as bad as you could imagine….Scott, she blames me."

"You, why you? How could it possibly be your fault?"

"Can we talk about it when you get here? OK, great. See you soon. Come to the barn. Thanks Scott."

The Main House

"Grandpa, what happened," Lou inquired? Amy just staggered through here and went straight to her old room looking like the world had ended."

"Lou, I have some bad news…Spartan is dead."

"What! Spartan…dead, how…what happened?"

"I don't know for sure Lou. Ty thinks it was a severe case of colic. And Lou, Amy just snapped. She blamed Ty for Spartan's death."

"Ty, how could she possibly blame Ty?"

"Ty knew Spartan needed to get to his feet in order to counter the colic so he gave him a shot of adrenaline to help him. After initially making it to his feet, he let out a scream of pain and collapsed. Within minutes he was gone. I don't believe the shot Ty gave him and anything to do with it. Spartan was already in a bad way before the shot. Ty was desperate…hell, we all were. Amy was pleading with him to do some to help Spartan. Ty had to make a snap decision. And Amy, something came over her and for a moment, I didn't recognize her. Amy's not herself Lou. I've never seen her like this and it scares me. It really scares me Lou. This not the Amy we know in there."

"Do you think I should try talking to her Grandpa?"

"Ordinarily, I would advise you to wait. Give her time to come to her senses. But I'm not sure if that's the right thing to do this time. I think you should try speaking to her. See if you can help her see things differently. Ty's NOT to blame for this."

Summing up her courage knowing her sister needed her, Lou walked slowly but purposely to Amy's room. After tapping lightly, Lou said softly, "Amy, can I come in?"