Resolutions Part 1
Chapter 10
"Hi, I'm looking for Amy Fleming; is she around?"
"Yes, she's in the house. And you are?"
"I'm Davis Maxwell. I've heard that Amy Fleming is the best person in the country at fixing horses with behavioral issues; and I have a horse with issues."
"Well, I may be biased, but I believe she is. My name's Jack Bartlett. This is my wife Lisa Stillman."
Amy Fleming is my granddaughter."
"Nice to meet you Mr. Bartlett; Ms. Stillman."
During introductions, Ty remained quiet taking the time to study Maxwell. Almost immediately, his threat radar began pinging.
Six foot, trim but didn't appear to be a stranger to work. Blond hair, mustache, well dressed; but not flashy. Maxwell's smile bothered Ty though. He wouldn't characterize it as Chase Powers cocky but then again, it appeared to be only a couple of neighborhoods apart from the one that arrogant, pompous, ass Chase liked to flash around. To this day, Ty still received immense inner pleasure remembering the couple of times he smashed that smile off of Chase's face.
"That's one nice truck you have there," observed Ty stoically but without attempting an introduction.
"Thanks, it was my wife's," stated Maxwell quietly with an intimation of remorse and sadness. The horse that I'd like Miss Fleming to look at was also my wife's."
"It's Mrs.," Ty corrected.
"I'm Ty Borden and Amy is my wife" asserted Ty before extending his hand which Davis accepted without hesitation.
"Sorry, my mistake" responded Maxwell but with a hint of false sincerity in his tone.
"How'd you hear about Amy?"
"Who hasn't?" replied Davis.
"So what's wrong with your horse?" Ty inquired choosing to let Maxwell's failure to answer Ty's question go.
"Well, if I didn't know better, I'd say the horse is depressed. Ever since my wife's death, Riley's become moody and unpredictable. He was her…Melanie's horse."
"Well, if anyone can figure it out and fix the problem, it's Amy, Ty declared. She's in the house."
"Thanks Borden. If it's alright, I go and speak to her now."
Ty only nodded in response.
As Davis turned and headed for the house, Ty pondered, so what's up with this? Some guy with looks and money shows up to see Amy just while I'm leaving for who knows how long. I may need to have Lou keep an eye on this guy.
As Maxwell made his way to the house, a second truck pulled up to the barn. The driver of this one however was familiar to all of them; all too familiar to Ty - Tim.
Ty's relationship with his father-in-law had always been fairly rocky. Though Tim had his moments when he praised Ty, for the most part he criticized and belittled him. Ty had finally come to the conclusion he could never be good enough for Amy in Tim's eyes.
This is all I need. Amy's acting like another person and now Tim shows up. No doubt he will tell me how wrong I am.
Kicking up gravel and dust as he hit the breaks in front of the barn, Tim exited his truck. One glance was all it took for Ty to see that Tim had an agenda, and he didn't waste any time pursuing it.
"Not this time thought Ty. I'm not putting up with his crap this time."
"Ty, I need to speak with you," Tim barked.
"About what?" Ty responded with equal force.
"About how you killed my daughter's horse!"
"Now hold on, interjected Jack. Ty did nothing…"
"Thanks Jack but I'll handle this," interrupted Ty.
"Tim, as usual, you don't know what you're talking about," challenged Ty.
"You can't speak to me like that, Tim cried; his voice beginning to rise. You need to show me some damn respect!"
"I've shown you nothing but respect from the time I came to Heartland. I've taken your petty insults about my past, my job and my choices. And I've always taken it out of respect to you being Amy's father, though, you didn't deserve it.
When are you going to start showing me some damn RESPECT?"
Momentarily halted by Ty's unexpected response, Tim began to reply only to have Ty cut him off.
"I'm not finished!" Ty angrily continued.
"You roll up here all hell bent to bully me, without bothering to first learn the facts. You then wrongly accuse and pass judgment on me. I'll say it again Tim; you don't know what you're talking about. As usual!
Jack and Lisa could barely believe their ears. They never had heard Ty speak like this to Tim. Inside, they were both pleased to see Ty confront Tim. Smiles began to form on both of them.
"But I've got something to say to you Ty about what happened here to Spartan," Tim countered.
"Save it for someone who wants to hear it Tim. I don't and I won't. I've already had my own wife accuse me of something I didn't do and you can sure as hell bet I'm not going to hear it from the likes of you," Ty spat.
"Amy wants me to leave, so then I'll leave," continued Ty as hurt and sadness crept into his voice sharing space with his growing anger.
"I'm leaving because I love Amy and know she's hurting and not herself right now. I love her more than anything in this world and believe she'll eventually come to her senses and realize I did everything I could to save Spartan. But you have nothing to do with my decision one way or another Tim.
I will listen to Jack and Lisa for as long as they continue to honor me with their wisdom, love and council. You want to talk about respect; then let's talk about Jack and Lisa and the respect they've earned. They have my respect and more; they have my love. They've been the mother and father I never had growing up. When I think of examples of the type of people Amy and I should strive to be, it's Jack and Lisa. Not you Tim. Why do you think that is?"
Without giving him time to respond, Ty continued. "I wish I had the same admiration for you that I have for them, but the truth is Tim, I don't. And like today, you continue to give me reasons not to. So from now on, if you can't accept me as Amy's husband, then I have nothing to say to you and want nothing to do with you."
Silence fell on all of them as Ty held Tim's eyes for several long seconds.
When Tim finally dropped his head to the force of Ty's stare, Ty turned without another word and strode deliberately to his truck. Pausing only to sling his duffel into its bed, Ty stepped into his truck, started the engine and drove away from Heartland without a glance back.