Resolutions Part 1
Chapter 9
Ty strode back to the loft hurt and angry but with each step, the rising anger gained prominence over the hurt.
How could she say that to me?
How can she continue to blame me?
How could she want me to leave?
I don't believe this is happening.
Something's wrong with her…very wrong.
But Ty's mounting resentment prevented him from giving any real consideration to the actual reality of his last thought.
Reaching the last step to the loft, Ty stalked angrily to the closet. Pulling out his duffle bag, he dropped it on the bed before making his way to his dresser. T-shirts, underwear, socks all experienced momentary flight as Ty hurled his clothes from his position at the dresser to the general vicinity of the duffle. Next stop, the closet as pants and shirts followed a similar fight pattern.
"Ty?"
"What" he responded harshly without looking?
Turning from the closet, Ty saw Jack standing hat in hand and Lisa walking toward the bed where she proceeded to begin folding Ty's clothes before placing them neatly in the duffle.
"Jack, Lisa, I'm sorry for speaking to you like that."
"It's alright Ty," Jack replied.
His anger further softening at the sight of Lisa, Ty spoke carefully keeping all hints of anger from his voice."
"Lisa, you don't have to do that."
"It's what a mother does."
Ty smiled affectionately at Lisa who returned the smile as they both shared a silent moment of understanding.
"Thank you," he softly replied.
"Where will you go?" questioned Jack.
"I'm not sure yet. The dude ranch isn't an option…too close."
"I'll see if Caleb and Cass can take me in or maybe Scott. If neither of those options workout, I guess I'll get a hotel for a few nights until I come up with something more permanent."
"No you won't," said Lisa definitively.
"What do you mean," Ty began to respond further but Lisa cut him off.
"You're staying at Hillhurst. I have plenty of empty rooms and you're going to take the largest one. I'll have the staff take care of all your meals and your laundry as well."
"Lisa, I can't impose" but Lisa cut Ty off again by simply raising her hand.
"But Lisa," tried Ty again but experienced the same outcome as Lisa stopped him from saying anything further.
"Ty, this isn't up for discussion! You will stay at Hillhurst as my guest for as long as you need to."
Jack just smiled knowing a tractor wouldn't stop Lisa once she became determined to do something.
"Thank you Lisa."
Lisa proudly regarded Ty for a moment before advancing quickly forward to embrace him. As Ty returned Lisa's affection, Jack gazed acceptingly at his wife and adopted son.
Finally separating from Lisa, Ty looked longingly at Jack and Lisa.
"No matter what happens, you two will always be my family...the mother and father I never really had. Heartland will always be a place I'll be proud to call home."
"Thank you Ty, said Jack. We look at you as family as well."
"Ty" Lisa said, catching his attention again. "I want to tell you something."
"What?"
"Don't give up."
"Don't lose faith."
"Don't lose hope."
"I know things seem hopeless right now, but the Amy of the last couple of days is not the Amy we've all come to know and love."
"She's not the Amy you fell in love with; and her with you."
"She's not the Amy you've experienced the ups and down with."
"The Amy that said "yes" when you proposed and "I do" when you stood before each other in that house over there."
"The Amy that loves you unconditionally and with all her heart."
"That Amy will return; the REAL Amy."
"I believe it in my heart!"
"The question is Ty, do you?"
"I honestly don't know right now Lisa…I can't explain the way she's acting" Ty replied in despair, looking hopelessly at Jack and Lisa for answers.
"I understand things appear lost right now Ty. But maybe we need to consider something?"
Jack and Ty only gave Lisa questioning looks.
"We've all said at least once in the last day that something's wrong with her, Lisa continued. Well, maybe something really is wrong with her?"
"Have you considered that?"
Hearing no response, Lisa focused her attention solely on Ty.
"Do you remember what you said? What you promised?"
Ty looked inquisitively at Lisa not comprehending what she was asking.
"For richer or poorer; in sickness in health."
A slight smile of recognition began to form in the corners of Ty's mouth as his thoughts drifted back to that magical day.
"Those weren't just idle words Ty, they were a promise; a commitment."
"Do you remember"
"Yes."
"I know you do."
"When Jack said them to me, I knew without a doubt that he would always live up to that promise because that's the kind of man he is."
"And I know you Ty Borden; and so does Jack."
"That's the kind of man you are."
"You're not one who makes a commitment lightly either. You mean what your say and stick by your word. It's something you and Jack have in common," Lisa proclaimed proudly as her gaze rested on each of them.
Ty could only look at Lisa with affection and admiration.
"Thank you Lisa, but what… what do I do now?"
"I can't answer that Ty. Like you, I can't explain why Amy's acting the way she is," Lisa repeated.
But there's two things I am sure of."
Ty waited for Lisa to finish but she was silent.
"What?"
"There is an explanation; we just don't know it yet," Lisa stated.
"And the other?"
"She'll return to the Amy we know."
"I hope so," Ty replied.
"So what do I do in the mean time?" he continued.
Lisa hesitated a moment; ensuring she had Ty's complete attention.
"You'll be patient."
"You'll love her."
Ty maintained his gaze on Lisa for several seconds before speaking.
"You're amazing!"
"She's amazing!" Ty repeated shifting his gaze to Jack.
"I know she is," Jack said smiling.
Lisa smiled before zipping up his now organized duffle bag and asking, "Are you ready?"
"Yes," replied Ty as they began to make their way to the stairs.
Reaching the barn entrance, Ty noticed a truck approaching Heartland.
As the driver pulled up to the barn entrance upon seeing them, Ty observed the truck was nothing like his or Jack's. It was a high-end Ford F-150 with all the trimmings.
As the tinted passenger side window lowered, Ty saw what appeared to be a thirty-ish year old man, donning an expensive looking Stetson, flashing a confident laced smile.
"Hi, I'm looking for Amy Fleming; is she around?"
….
A/N: I greatly appreciate the comments and suggestions many of you made in response to my last chapter. I will only give away this: many twists and turns still await Ty and Amy as this story continues to unfold. Some of which I'm still working out in my thoughts.
As before, please leave me your reviews and comments. I really enjoy reading all of them.