Epilogue
Amy and Ty's first year together as husband and wife had been great. Sure, they had a few problems along the way, but it was nothing they hadn't been able to work out. The loft had turned out beautifully, and even though it was above the barn, they loved it.
Their second year started out with a big surprise: Amy was pregnant. Even though they hadn't planned it, they were both excited about taking the next step in their marriage.
But things fell apart after the miscarriage. Amy fell into a deep depression, blaming herself for the miscarriage. Not allowing herself to grieve, she pushed Ty away. But he loved her and he wasn't about to lose her. She needed him, just as much as he needed her.
It took time and a world of patience for Ty to pull her back from the brink of destruction. He finally got her to break down and let all the hurt out, relying on his strength to get her through the heartbreak and sorrow.
He knew she wanted children as much as he did, so little by little he persuaded her they should try again. After seeing the doctor to make sure she was physically okay to carry a baby, they started practicing. At least that's what Ty called it.
He didn't want it to be all about getting pregnant though. That would put too much pressure on both of them. Making love to his wife wasn't a duty that needed to be performed. It was time spent together, sharing the love that had grown between them over the years.
It took a while, but the miracle finally happened, and they happily prepared for the birth of their child. The pregnancy progressed normally, Amy surviving morning sickness and her craving for Clementines. Ty thought they should plant a Clementine tree in the yard; she ate so many.
He couldn't imagine his wife getting any more beautiful than she was, but with each passing month, the glow that surrounded her amazed him. Towards the end, he had to hide his face, smiling as she waddled around like a duck.
Their son, Cody, was born in the loft, with a midwife. Amy wanted a natural child birth. Ty marveled at her strength as she went through labor and delivery with no drugs.
They were a happy family, the three of them living in the loft. It was crowded but cozy, and life was good. They both loved being parents and going through the ups and downs of parenthood.
Cody was three when Amy found out she was pregnant again. After days of discussion and back and forth, they decided they would have to move to a larger home. It was sad to think they had to say goodbye to their first home, but they had outgrown the loft.
Besides, it would make a great place for the new ranch hand they were going to have to hire. Amy would need the help with all the chores, with two little ones to care for.
The new house was built on some land her dad had deeded to them. It bordered Heartland and made it easy for Amy to continue working there.
….
Amy sat in the porch rocker, nursing the baby. Her eyes wandered to the cloud of dust making its way up the driveway. Ty's truck finally came into view. A smile crossed her face as she watched her two men climb out of the truck.
"Mommy, look what Daddy let me bring home." Their son ran toward the gate with a puppy in tow.
The baby stirred at the commotion. Amy put her finger to her mouth to quiet her son as he came up on the porch.
"Cody, can you play in the yard with your puppy, please? Lyndy is sleeping." She brushed the hair from his eyes. He went bounding down the steps, nearly hog-tying his dad with the leash.
Ty knelt down beside her, brushing her cheek with a kiss and smiling lovingly at his daughter snuggled into her mother's arms.
"How are my girls?" he asked, his green eyes capturing hers.
"A puppy, Ty? Do you really think he's old enough to care for a puppy?" She gave him the look, her hand touching his cheek.
Ty's eyes closed, losing himself in her touch. She was still able to cause chills to run down his spine with her touch. He smiled to himself, amazed at the fact that she was his wife, the mother of his children, and the love of his life.
He never let himself forget that she was the reason he'd turned his life around. But their love was destined to be, and because of their love, they had a family now—something he'd always dreamed of.
He gave her his best Borden grin, leaning in to kiss her lips. "You didn't answer my question, Amy." He raised his eyebrows.
"I'm fine, Ty. You need to stop worrying about me."
"I can't help it. I love you and I'll always worry about you."
This pregnancy had been difficult, physically and emotionally, the baby going into distress, resulting in Amy having to have a C-section. Ty was persistent in making her take maternity leave. He wanted her to relax and give her body the time it needed to heal. After all, being a mom to two small children was a full-time job.
The Borden clinic was thriving, and Amy's reputation as the Miracle Girl was known all over North America. Her client list continued to grow. They weren't rich, but they were doing well, and they could afford for her to take some much-deserved time off.
Getting her to slow down was a challenge, but he knew her well and had learned how to help her relax and enjoy life.
Ty did his best to help as much as possible. Besides, it was a welcome diversion from the demands of his busy job. Playing with Cody was fun, but he treasured the time he spent with Amy. She was his world, and he would do anything for her.
The years flew by for the Bordens. They didn't have any more babies, but they felt they had been blessed with two healthy children, a son and a daughter.
Cody was a teenager now, tall and thin and handsome like his dad. Lyndy was 10 going on 25, very mature for her age and very strong-willed like her mom. She could be a handful and had her dad wrapped around her little finger.
Ty was at the clinic when Amy called. He could hear the emotion in her voice. He hurried home to find her in Spartan's stall, the black gelding on his side with his head resting in Amy's lap.
Ty had known this day was coming, having noticed the aging gelding moving slower and off his feed. He'd tried to prepare Amy for it, but there's nothing that can prepare someone for a loss like this.
He pulled his stethoscope out and knelt down to listen, already sensing the outcome. Sitting down behind Amy, he pulled her gently back against his chest, his arms wrapping around her. Her sobs shook her body as the tears streamed down her cheeks.
Ty tried to be strong for her, but Spartan had played a major role in bringing them together all those years ago, and a few tears escaped his eyes as he thought about the loss of this horse.
They buried him up on the ridge, overlooking the fields he used to run in. The loss of Spartan had a profound effect on all the Bordens. Amy lost herself in her work, not wanting to talk about him or ride another horse.
Ty worried about her. He knew the loss of Spartan would take time to get over, but he also knew Amy, and she needed to let her emotions out and ride. That was a part of who she was. He didn't push her but kept a close eye on her to make sure she didn't sink back into the depression she'd experienced with the miscarriage.
Amy struggled for months, but she leaned on Ty for support, not shutting him out. He was her rock, and eventually she came to terms with the loss of her beloved Spartan.
She was just finding some sense of normalcy again when her world turned upside down. She was in the shower, in the mist of doing her monthly breast exam when she felt it. She didn't say anything to Ty just yet, so as not to alarm him. But she hadn't planned on his romantic advances that evening either.
His mind was in a panic, worrying about what this could mean. He made her call for an appointment to see Dr. Virani. His mind wasn't on his job, worrying about what the test results would reveal.
What if it was cancer? What if it was so advanced that there was nothing they could do? His heart leaped into his throat. No! He wouldn't allow himself to go there. He wouldn't give into the fear!
She was along when she received the call, fear gripping her as Dr. Virani said the word. No, this couldn't be happening. She was healthy; she had her whole life ahead of her and a family to raise. How could she have cancer?
Ty was with her every step of the way, helping her through all the decisions together, taking her to all her treatments, and holding her hair back as she vomited from the chemo. He shared tears with her when she lost her beautiful long blonde hair and convinced her to wear scarves around her bald head so she could wear her signature cowboy hats.
He let her work some, knowing she needed some kind of normalcy in her life. But he was concerned, not wanting her to overdo it.
Lyndy had become her nurse, not wanting to leave her mom's side. Ty persuaded her to go to school, allowing her to come home each day to sit by her mom as she did her homework, making sure that Amy had what she needed.
Amy loved their time together, but it made it difficult. She always wanted to be upbeat even if she was feeling down. She wouldn't allow herself to be sick around her kids or the family for that matter.
Ty was the only one she let see the scared, vulnerable side of her. She was embarrassed by the scar that covered her chest. He assured her that he didn't care, as long as she was beside him. She was the love of his life, and he never let her see the fear he harbored at the thought of losing her.
The love between them grew stronger. Ty was always supportive, making her feel loved. Amy fell asleep many a night, her tears soaking his shirt, while he held her in the warmth of his embrace. The sound of his heart beat strong and steady in her ear.
The months went by, both secretly counting the days before it was time for her yearly exam. Ty was beside her when the doctor told her the test results revealed she was cancer free for the first time in over a year. They were overjoyed with the news, finally able to breathe a little and discuss the next step in her recovery: reconstructive surgery.
But Amy wanted to be there for her son's graduation, something she wasn't willing to miss. She decided to wait for a while. She was so proud of Cody and wanted his day to be about him and his accomplishment, not her illness.
Life changed when Cody went off to college. Amy was feeling much better and stronger, and Lyndy was becoming very competitive on the show circuit. Her mom was her supportive coach, taking her to all the local shows. It put Amy back with her first love, working closely with horses again.
They had talked about expanding the clinic before her illness but had put it on hold. Ty decided that now was a good time to add a new wing for horses that needed rehabilitating from devastating injuries.
He wanted to bring Amy in to consult on the courses of treatment for these horses. They would finally be working together, sharing a dream they'd talked about for years.
Her Miracle Girl status had faded into the background with the birth of their children and then the cancer. Ty was hoping that this new venture together would help her regain her confidence in her gift—the one that amazed him every time he watched her bring a horse back from the brink of destruction.
….
They were empty nesters now. Both the kids were off to start new journeys of their own, something that took both of them some time to get used to. But it also brought with it the opportunity to enjoy time spent together, just the two of them again.
They sneaked off to make out in the middle of the day or make love by the fireplace into the wee hours of the night. Amy was more beautiful than ever in Ty's eyes, and he loved her more with each passing day.
Over the years, life had had its ups and downs, but they'd managed to weather the storms, and enjoyed all the blessing they had received.
They had two wonderful children, Cody and Lyndy, who managed to make them grandparents five times. Then their grandchildren made them great- grandparents eight times around.
Family was everything to Ty, and he was a pushover when it came to his kids, his grandkids, and now his great-grandkids. He spent as much of his time with them as he could.
But his devotion to Amy was a testament to their family, proving that you can survive all life hands you, as long as you have the love of your life beside you.
The Real End: I promise.