Chapter 6

He would know her touch anywhere. Even half asleep as he was now, the light touch of a finger on his cheek communicated everything he knew and loved about her. There was no judgement. No hesitation. Only desire to be with him, here and now. He shared that desire. Ached for it. Every cell in his body wanted to be in that spot under her finger.

In truth, Amy had been in his hospital room for almost five minutes. Heading there immediately upon arriving at the hospital, she was surprised when Margaret intercepted her and led her to Dr. Ferguson's office. "He'll only keep you for a few minutes. Promise." And true to her word, the doctor only shared three things with her. He knew she was anxious to see Ty so he skipped what they could discuss later.

Approaching Ty's door, she looked over at the nurse's station and Margaret waved her over. Looking at her watch, "Am I true to my word or what?!" she said with a smile. "Just so you know, Ty had supper about an hour ago. We've upped his pain meds and given him a mild sedative to help him rest. You can go in."

"Thanks." Amy said before turning away. But then she did an about face.

"Margaret?"

"Yes, Amy?"

"My family is probably on their way here. Might be four or five people."

"That's fine. I'll direct them to the waiting area we passed when I took you to see Dr. Ferguson. I imagine the doctor is going to want to speak with them also. Take whatever time you need. I won't let anyone in until you come out."

Feeling grateful that Margaret was looking out for her, Amy smiled. "Thanks, Margaret." Then turned and walked toward Ty's room.

"He's going to get through this, Amy." Margaret affirmed. Then she took a moment to check the monitor displaying all patient vitals, including Ty's. Satisfied that all was well with her charges, she picked up the phone and called the Security station in the Front Lobby.

…..

The trip to the hospital was a quiet affair after confirming the number of legs a chicken really had. Everything that needing saying had been said around the dinner table in between bites of food. Listening to people sharing their theories as to what happened to Ty, how badly he was hurt, why he didn't pull off … got to be a bit much.

"Everyone just stop." Jack said, looking around the table. "We don't know for sure how badly Ty's hurt. We do know that his hands are okay and that's a good thing. If anything, the injuries are confined to his feet so we'll just have to wait and see."

The meal done and stomachs satisfied for the time being, they all grabbed their winter coats, hats, mittens and gloves and gathered in the Kitchen.

"I want to see Ty." Mallory announced as she zipped up her coat.

"I'm not sure that's a good idea." Lou replied as she buttoned up her own coat and grabbed her scarf off the hook.

"I've seen gross things so it's no big deal. You do know about YouTube, right?" Mallory counters.

"Honey, I'm sure you've seen a lot of curious things on the Internet. But none of them involved people that you know or care about. I think it would be good for you to stay in the waiting area. We'll let you know how Ty's doing after we've seen him." Lisa counseled.

Dissatisfied with that option, Mallory continued to argue her case until.

"Mallory." Jack said, giving her the look. He didn't use it often but when he did, she knew all discussion was over.

Mallory and Jack shared a unique relationship. To her, he was like an elder statesman. Someone offering guidance to things on the ranch or just bits here and there on life. Things that she usually remembered. Jack's perception of Mallory changed several times over the years. Initially, he thought she was just a precocious kid who talked a lot. But then he began to notice things. She had a kind heart and genuinely cared about people. She was perceptive about things and the people around her and didn't mind speaking directly when the opportunity presented itself. Whether appropriate or not. And she talked a lot! But caring about family and straight shooting were qualities that Jack appreciated. What grew from that was a foundation of love as between a parent and child. Though neither directly spoke of it.

Usually, all Jack had to do was shake his head ever so slightly to get Mallory to abort a certain topic or course of action. In this case, he understood her concern for Ty. So it was after his admonishment that his eyes softened and she understood. Her staying in the waiting area was the right thing to do.

After everyone was buttoned up, they headed outside and climbed into Lisa's SUV. Twenty minutes later, they arrived at the hospital and found a parking spot near the front entrance.

"What a beautiful night." Lisa shared as she got out and looked around. "I love how the snow sparkles in the light." Trying to keep the mood light she continued "It kind of makes me want to go for a sleigh ride."

"That can definitely be arranged." Jack confirmed, coming around the front of the vehicle to stand next to her. "I know just the team for the job."

"One of the perks of visiting the hospital on Christmas. Front row parking." Lou offered as she adjusted her hat and scarf. Not a fan of cold winter nights, much less the reason they were here, she was having a hard time finding her happy place.

"It doesn't feel like Christmas." Mallory complained. Putting voice to the thought on everyone's mind.

"Yeah, well. People getting hurt kinda kills the mood." Lou quipped. Then, seeing the reaction on Mallory's face, quickly added. "Christmas wouldn't feel right without Ty. He is family."

"That's right. And maybe that's exactly what this situation needs." Jack announces as he looks at each of them to gauge their reaction.

"If you're thinking what I think you're thinking, I like it!" Lisa agreed with a huge smile, prompting a quick kiss from Jack.

"Whatever it is, I'm in!" Caleb agreed, liking the chance to cheer up his friend.

"Me too." Mallory added, already thinking of things she was going to do.

"I'm in. Now can we move indoors please?" Lou asked.

Locking arms with Jack, Lisa led them into the main entrance where they are immediately greeted by the security guard.

…..

For Amy, walking into Ty's room was like entering another world. As the door closed on the stark white hallway and constant foot traffic, she became immersed in this new place of healing. One where soft music and indirect lights gave the room an ethereal feel.

Just as she did the night before, Amy took a moment to let her eyes adjust and to clear her mind. The music helped. She listened for a minute, letting the melody gently push the worries away. "There'll be time for those later." She told herself. Then, taking a slow steady breath, walked over to Ty's bed.

Last night, upon entering his room, an immediate turn to the left would have Amy looking directly at the head of Ty's bed. This was no longer the case. Now she had to walk straight along the wall, past the sink, jar of tongue depressors and obligatory glove dispensers and then turn left. The bed had been moved so he could look out the huge bay window facing south.

This was one of the larger patient rooms. It allowed diagnostic equipment, like ultrasound and portable X-ray units, to be brought in as needed. This eliminated unnecessary movement of the patient and the possibility of further injury.

The typical wall of medical hook-ups, vacuum and oxygen ports, electrical outlets and abundance of monitoring equipment were mounted on a moveable stainless-steel panel about four feet tall, five feet wide and eight inches thick. Two large hollow pipes connected it to a roller track on the ceiling, allowing it to be moved as necessary. Wires and tubing running from the panel to Ty's bed monitored blood pressure, heart rate, blood oxygen level and respiration.

The head and middle sections of the bed were level. The foot section had been raised to keep Ty's feet above the level of his heart. This was done to minimize any pain and swelling. Ty was flat on his back with his head resting on a pillow.

Especially in cases like this, it was important to monitor and manage pain levels. Sudden changes or new sources meant changes in the pathology and extent of the injuries. This informed the decision on how quickly surgery was needed. And how extensive. Amy noticed that both feet were covered. She'd not seen them yet and wasn't sure she wanted to.

Seeing Ty brought a familiar but unexpected feeling of joy. One with deep roots, going all the way back to the day she rode Spartan on the new jumping course. It was the first time her heart felt something other than sadness. She'd bookmarked that feeling then and there and welcomed its every time it happened. Even now, it seemed.

Juxtaposed to that was the sadness of him having to be here in the first place. All that was topped off with a thin layer of regret for not being able to convince him to wait. "We're definitely going to have to talk about that when he's better. Whenever that is."

Amy looked out the window at the darkening sky and the few cars entering and leaving the parking lot below. She watched for a moment but didn't see Lisa's SUV. She did note that it was starting to snow gently. She thought about the things she'd planned for herself and Ty when he got to Heartland. Things that wouldn't be happening anytime soon.

Suddenly feeling sad her plans and the thought of celebrating Christmas in a hospital room, she grabbed the railing along Ty's bed and closed her eyes for a moment. Her thoughts continued to swirl until she remembered what Dr. Ferguson told her. "Don't founder in the regret of what may have been lost. Revel in what you have saved." Amy played his words over in her mind several times. Not fully understanding his meaning. Then, noting that Ty was asleep, she gently lifted his right hand and examined each of the fingers. She knew from last night's visit that they were okay, but the contact helped calm her nerves and confirmed once again that each digit was pink and warm.

Walking around to the other side of the bed, she gently raised his left hand, being mindful of the IV. Turning it palm-up, she continued the examination. Gently running an index finger over each digit, as if trying to detect even the slightest issue. "You were lucky, Ty. I hope you know that."

She remembered that morning in the truck, holding the warming pack against his chest with his hands, cradled in hers. "It was the right thing to do." She told herself. "He could be a vet if he lost some toes or even a foot. But not if he'd lost fingers." Then on impulse, or perhaps, just missing his touch, she placed his hand on her cheek like he often did when he kissed her. Instantly, she understood what the doctor really meant.

"It's not just about him being a vet. It was about being able to touch! To feel!" She realized. "I've been so worried that Ty couldn't be a vet anymore. I hadn't even considered how losing fingers, or even a hand, would affect his life in general." That led her to worry about him internalizing it. "It would be another loss to add to the stack of things that never went right for him." She reasoned, then played it out. "He'd give up being a vet and every time he went to use his hands, it would remind him of what he lost. And it was his own doing."

"Ty. I'm so glad I found you." She whispered as she set his hand down. "Dr. Ferguson was right. We need to focus on what's been saved." She finished, feeling her mood lighten considerably. This new understanding helped confirm for her that she'd made the right decision when Ghost appeared.

Remembering that Ty had been given stronger pain meds and a sedative, Amy decided not to wake him. She grabbed a pillow from one of the cabinets, rested her head on it and closed her eyes. She thought about how much his touch meant to her. How much he meant to her. Especially after her mom died. How he held her that first time after she tried talking to the boy burned in the fire. She thought about how the warmth of his touch radiates through her entire body. How she longs for it at times.

A moment later, she was transported to the loft on a hot summer night. A memory she'd visited several times. Jack and Lisa were out for the evening and she and Ty had just finished night checks. Amy was wearing her usual tube top under a plaid short-sleeved shirt, jeans and boots. Ty was in boots, jeans and a black t-shirt. One of the horses was sick so they had to clean out its stall before they could retire for the evening. Both were soaked to the skin when they were finished.

Though they were use to all of the wonderful barn fragrances, La'Manure was particularly potent on that hot summer night; thanks to the sick horse. Not wanting to bring the smell indoors, they thought about removing their outer layers and making a run for it. Amy liked this idea as she had no objection to seeing Ty shirtless. She'd already seen him in his BVD's, and after some initial embarrassment on her part, didn't mind that at all. She did, however, have an objection when she felt the cold spray from the garden hose hit her in the back.

A spectator would be hard pressed to tell which of them was better armed. Ty with the garden hose or Amy with several buckets of cold water and very good aim. After several minutes of laughter, a few screams as cold water hit new places, and several strategic moves, they fell to the ground still dripping wet. But both were much happier, cooler and the barn fragrances were gone.

After refilling the buckets and giving them back to the horses, they headed up to the loft leaving small puddles along the way. Try grabbed two waters from a Styrofoam chest packed with ice and handed one to Amy. Getting warm again in the night air, both held the cold bottles to their foreheads before popping them open and taking a long drink. Thirst satisfied, Ty opened the doors on both ends, allowing a breeze to blow through.

"Oh, that feels sooooo good." Amy shared, moving to the doorway and unbuttoning more of her shirt to let the breeze in. Setting her bottle done, she told Ty "I'll be right back."

"Where you going?"

"Unless there's a bathroom here I don't know about, I have to run to the house. I'll be back. Promise!" She said before quickly descended the stairs. Ty chucked as he watched her walk toward the house, remove her plaid shirt and wring it out before going inside. Then, looking up at the clear sky and all the stars, he quickly dried off, changed clothes, pulled the covers off the mattress and moved it onto the floor so the edge was right by the opening away from the house.

When Amy returned less than five minutes later, she found him wearing shorts and a t-shirt, lying on the mattress. "Getting a little ahead of ourselves, aren't we?" She asked in a teasing voice.

"Amy, come lay down and look up. You can see so many stars." Ty shared without looking at her. The sense of wonder in his voice made her heart skip a beat. Knowing what his childhood had been like, she loved moments like this and tried to make the best of them. To make good memories.

Joining him on the mattress, she did her usual wiggle, getting comfortable and then looked up. It took a moment for her eyes to adjust. "Oh, Ty!" She said as she scanned the sky. "I'd forgotten how many stars there are. It's beautiful! Wait, is that a satellite?" She asked, pointing to a quickly moving point of light.

"Yeah. If you look long enough, you'll probably see a few of them. And maybe a shooting star, but they go really quick." He explained.

The clear night sky coupled with the sound of the crickets made for a wonderful evening. They lay there looking at the sky for long periods and just enjoying each other's company. Sometimes, they'd both close their eyes when a breeze came up. Then open them and feel amazed by the sky all over again.

"Oh, there's another one!" Amy announced. "I think that's three so far." She said looking over at Ty. But he wasn't looking at the sky anymore. He'd turned onto his left side and had his head propped up on his hand watching her.

"Hey, the skies up there. You know. Up." She joked and pointed with her hand.

"Nah, I found something more beautiful." He said, looking at her with nothing but love in his eyes. He could get hopelessly tongue-tied at times, but those eyes always told her exactly what he was feeling.

"What?" She finally asked after a bit of distraction. Not wanting to assume and never quite seeing herself the way he did.

"The mattress. Isn't it beautiful? I just noticed it." He teased. And immediately regretted it.

Her response was quick. "Well, I'm happy for the two of you." She announced. Her attack quicker and on-target.

"Wait, did I say mattress? I meant…. … Oh, those are pointy! I really mea…. Wait, did you sharpen your nails? Ouch! Not the ribs!" He called out or tried to while doing his best impression of a contortionist.

The assault ended after numerous laughs and a resounding "Uncle!" from Ty. They settled back on the mattress and both took a moment to catch their breath. Then Ty resumed his previous position and looked at her. "God, she is beautiful!"

"It's you, Amy." He confirmed, leaning in just enough to kiss her cheek. It was a delicate kiss. Holding no agenda other than to affirm his feelings. But the feeling of warmth radiating from that point of contact had a noticeable effect on both of them. Desire slowly informed their thoughts and those thoughts brought along something more.

Amy felt her body responding and turned her head so she could meet Ty's lips with her own. They kissed several more times. Each lasting just a bit longer as neither wanted to part. When Ty pulled back, he used his free hand to slowly trace a path across her forehead. Then down her left cheek and across her chin.

He loved touching her. He loved how soft her skin felt under his fingers. Moreso, he loved that she let him. To him it was a gift, something the boy in the loft who just wanted to survive each day, never imagined would happen to him. But here she was, right next to him.

"Beautiful. Like the stars." He shared.

"Feeling overwhelmed with emotion, Amy put her hand on the back of his head and entwining her fingers in his hair, pulled him to her. This was a kiss of arousal. One body communicating need to the other. When they finally parted, both were breathing heavy and wanting more.

They lay there for a minute or two, trying to slow things down. It didn't work. The heat of the night, coupled with their growing desire wouldn't allow it. Reaching over, Amy took Ty's right hand and pulled it toward her. "Where are you going with that?" He asked, but got no response.

He watched as she straightened each finger, examined it for a moment and then kissed the tip. Then she moved his hand and placed it inside her shirt, just below her rib cage.

It was only then that Ty noticed that her shirt was unbuttoned and the tank top gone. "It's okay, Ty. I love you." She said, looking at him. She was prepared to make love with him then and there if he wanted to. She'd fantasized about it several times after watching him work shirtless in the barn.

Amy watched his expression as she felt him trace a path from her breast bone down her toned body. The look in his eyes was a mixture of child-like wonder and love. Feeling his fingers in new places made her want him even more. When he reached her navel, he used his index finger to circle it slowly several times. It was about then that his expression changed.

She didn't have the words to describe it but it was like he became more focused on what was happening between them. Not that he wasn't already. But it was like, he was savoring every touch, every sensation just that much more. It was all she could do to will herself to lay there.

Shifting his hand to the right and closer to him, he started the return trip up her body, his fingers moving her shirt out of the way as they went. When he reached the swell of her breast, he paused, not wanting to assume.

Recognizing his hesitancy and loving him more for it, Amy simply moved the shirt off of her shoulder, showing herself to him. "Please don't stop. I love you so much."

She was happily thinking about what happened next. But then.

"No! No! No!" Ty shouted as his body jerked several times. After that, he made a sound like a long slow groan. Amy immediately stood up and threw the extra pillow onto another chair. She watched him for a minute, making sure he didn't hit anything or hurt himself. Then moved to the other side to make sure that he hadn't pulled out his IV. "He must be dreaming about the accident." She thought. "Reliving it."

A moment later, Margaret poked her head in the room. "Everything okay?" She asked as she walked over by Amy's side. "I saw his heart race and figured I'd better see what's up."

"I think he was reliving part of the accident. Or dreaming about it." Amy shared. "He hollered 'No' a couple times, like he knew that something was wrong. Then his whole body jerked."

"That's not uncommon." Margaret acknowledged as she reached over the bed.

"The IV's okay. I checked."

"I figured you had. Just wanted to make sure." Margaret replied, smiling at her. "You know. You'd make a good nurse, Amy. You have the temperament for it."

"Honestly, I'd rather deal with horses. They're a lot less complicated." Trying but failing to force a smile.

"Yeah, people have been telling me stories about the horses you've helped. One was about a famous horse who was caught in barbed wire?"

"It wasn't that big a deal. I just kept him calm so his owner could cut the wire and allow him to stand up again."

"But you saved him from getting injured. Right?"

"I guess." Amy admitted. Downplaying her actions as usual.

"And you saved Ty. You went out into a blinding snow storm on a horse and found him. He must be pretty special for you to risk your life, Amy. And 'I guess' doesn't begin to cover how brave you were and what you did. You know that, right?" Margaret asked, turning to her.

Surprised at Margaret's words, Amy felt herself getting emotional. She'd put all of that out of her mind so she could focus on helping Ty. But it all came back, including her biggest fear. Not finding him.

"I just needed to find him." She said in a soft voice. "My world turns grey when he's gone for too long. I think his goes even darker."

Pulling Amy to her for a hug, Margaret apologized. "I'm sorry, Amy. I didn't mean to upset you. I'm just a busy body. I like talking to people and it gets me into trouble some times"

"You care about people. I think that's why you do this. I heal horses and you heal people."

"You are too kind. I have to get back. I know that Ty is in very good hands with you here so I will leave you two alone."

"Thanks for what you said, Margaret. It means a lot."

"You're welcome."

Amy watched the door close behind Margaret, then turned her attention back to Ty. He had shifted again and was now lying pretty much flat on his back. She listened to his breathing and checked his heart rate on the monitor. "That's enough of the bad dreams, Ty. You're safe now." She said, hoping that he would hear her.

Satisfied that he was calm, she walked back to her chair and sat down. She let her mind wander back to that night in the loft. How his looking at her and his touch made her feel beautiful and loved. She'd never considered herself pretty or sexy enough to compete with girls like Ashleigh or Kit. It became a major source of jealousy until, over time, she saw how Ty looked at her. How he listened to her and didn't discount her feelings. How her world seemed so much brighter when he was around. All of that, and more, was confirmed that night in the loft. "I'm definitely going to revel in it!"

And with a smile on her face, Amy began tracing little hearts on his right cheek with her finger. She'd done this in the past when she found him napping. Usually, it didn't take him long to wake up. This time, thanks to the drugs, it took him just a little bit.

"Hey, sleepy head." Amy said, changing patterns and using that same finger to move the hair out of his eyes.

Ty heard her voice, but thought it was part of the dream he was having. "Amy" came out in a soft voice that seemed far away.

"Hey." She repeated, waiting for him to come to the surface and join her.

Ty opened his eyes slowly. He blinked a couple times as he turned his head to look at her, not sure if she was really there.

"I had this dream." He started softly. "This beautiful woman fought the evil snow monster and rescued me from my blue prison. And now you're here."

"That sounds like a pretty amazing dream." She said, flashing a very warm smile at hearing his voice.

"Are you really here?" He asked. Still not quite awake.

"I'm right here, Ty." She said, placing her right hand on the side of his face as proof. Ty slowly raised his left hand and placed it over hers. He looked at her for a moment. "You are so beautiful." And then closed his eyes. For him, her touch meant everything. The thought of his actions putting her at risk and the regret it triggered came on suddenly and he withdrew.

"I'm sorry." Came out softly after a moment. Nothing followed.

Feeling him withdraw, she became concerned about what he what he might be thinking. Ty had always placed her needs over his own. At one point, getting arrested for helping her try recovering Spartan after he was stolen. Needing to derail his thoughts she summoned her courage, got up, leaned over the bed and as gently as she could, cupped his head in her hands. "Maybe I still haven't found him."

"Ty, we're both here and we're both safe. That's all that matters." She said in a calm matter-of-fact voice. Then waited for him to open his eyes. When he didn't, she continued.

"Ty, open your eyes and look at me. I'm right here. I found you and I saved you because I love you and I want us to have a life together." After a pause. She added "Do you love me?"

After almost too long a moment, he opening his eyes and looked at her. "Yes. I'd do anything for you."

"Good. Now that that's settled, tell me how you're feeling. Where did you go just now?" She asked, removing her hands.

Ty thought about it. About his own injuries and how stupid he was. But then thought about Amy and what she must have gone through to get to him. He'd heard bits and pieces of it, enough to understand the risk she took. "I never wanted to put you at risk like that."

"You really didn't leave me any choice, Ty. When you didn't show up, Ghost did. That meant I had to find you. So that's what Harley and I did. We found you."

Ty took a moment to process this new information. He hadn't known about Ghost or her taking Harley out into the storm. And then there was the fact that she said he left her no choice. That last detail pretty much forced him awake and he was about to comment on it when he remembered her words about them both being safe.

Amy could see the gears turning as he worked through it. Not quite to the surface yet, but he was getting there.

"Wait, you took Harley out in the storm?" Ty said, surprised. The morning of the accident when he was lifted out of the truck, he never saw Harley, still sitting on the other side.

"It was the only way, Ty. A vehicle couldn't get through so I had to take Harley. You won't believe it but he actually kept us warm."

Ty thought about this. He couldn't quite visualize how that happened and gave up. "Is he okay?"

"Scotts watching him. He thinks there might be some nerve damage or muscle death in the back legs. He's doing some tests to confirm."

"Was that from being in the cold? I don't understand?"

"It was amazing Ty. When we found you, I had to stand on Harley to get on the side of the truck and get to you. Then Harley walked around to the other side and sat down right against the roof of the truck. He did that on his own!" Amy shared, still amazed at the telling of it.

"It could only happen because of the bond he felt with you, Ty. He did that for you!"

"I didn't want that." Ty shared, feeling suddenly undeserving again. He'd aways had great respect for horses. Considered them highly intelligent and loyal to a deserving rider. He didn't feel very deserving right now.

Amy, feeling a tug on her heart, leaned over so her face was inches away from Ty's. She needed him to hear her and see, in her eyes, that she meant every word.

"I know. I also know that it's hard for you to believe that you're worth it some times but you are, Ty. You've become like a son to Grandpa and grown into the man that I love. And if that doesn't do it for you, remember that horses don't have it in them to lie. Harley did what he did because of his bond with you. His need to protect his rider. Even if it meant sacrificing himself in the process."

Amy turned away for a moment after that. Her excitement waned as she thought about Harley's actions several times that morning while they were working to raise him. She'd pushed those thoughts out of her mind after that. They were back now, causing her to choke up a bit and tears to form. Part of her gift with horses is her ability to feel empathy for them. She thought about Harley sitting down in that spot by Ty's truck and having no plan other than to block the cold and keep them warm for as long as he could.

Ty also went silent for a bit. Her emotions back in check, Amy took the opportunity to kiss him gently on the lips. Not once, but twice.

"I'm not sure what to do, Amy."

"What do you mean?"

"What if I lose my foot or they find something worse during surgery? What if I can't be a vet anymore?"

"Not going to happen, Ty" She declared. Then bringing his right hand up by his face she continued. "See these fingers? They're okay. Just like the ones on your other hand. You can lose a foot and still be a vet. But you're not going to lose your foot. The doctor told you that, right?"

"He did."

"So don't go there." Amy asserted.

After a moment to push all the worry out of his mind, he smiled at her. "I've missed you."

"I've missed you too. It doesn't feel like Christmas without you. Everyone was worried about you and they're glad that you're here and safe."

"Yeah, I'm here but I'm not so sure that I'm safe."

"Whatever happens, we'll get through it together. Okay?" She asserted, sitting her butt on the edge of the bed, still holding his hand and looking at him for confirmation.

"Okay."

"Good. Now that that's out of the way, I want another kiss."

"Oh, but my breath …"

His objection was interrupted as Amy quickly moved and covered his lips with hers.

"Oh, you have stinky breath!" She said, faking a disgusted look.

"I warned yo…"

Another kiss.

"Yup, really really stinky breath!" Amy said, going in for a final smooch.

"You're crazy." Ty declared. That sparkle returning to his beautiful green eyes.

Feeling better about the situation, Amy softened her stance. Her being assertive like she was, felt unnatural, but it was one of the things that Dr. Ferguson told her. "Don't let him wallow. He needs to stay positive so he can move forward. Healing begins in the mind."

"So, what do I do?" She asked him.

"Treat it like a wound that you have to clean out. Acknowledge what happened, talk it out until any regret is dealt with and he's ready to move forward. Or at least he's in a better place, mentally."

So that's what she did. And had to admit that it felt pretty good. "I can do this!" She told herself, feeling better about the situation.

Kissing Ty one more time, Amy excused herself to go check if family had arrived.

Exiting Ty's room, she found Margaret walking toward her.

"How did it go?" Margaret asked. She'd been monitoring their movement on the video monitor but with the sound turned down. She saw Amy headed to toward the door so she came over to check on her. Margaret knew how traumatic the first interactions could be and she was aware of what Dr. Ferguson had told her.

"I don't know." She paused to collect herself. A moment ago, I told myself I can do this. Now I feel overwhelmed. I want to be strong for Ty. Help him move forward, but I'm also dealing with my own emotions and it's just…"

"Hey, you. Come here." Lisa said, walking up to Amy and pulling her into a hug. She mouthed "Thank you" to Margaret who smiled and returned to her station.

"I know it's rough and I can't even imagine everything that you're feeling. But you have family here and we will help Ty together. And we're here for you, too."

Pulling back to look at her and wipe her tears away, she shared "I don't think we said that till now and I'm sorry about that."

"That sounds really good because I don't think I can do this by myself. It hurts so much to see him lying there, Lisa. It's like I'm happy to see him and knowing that he's okay. But I'm also sad because he's not really okay and he won't be for who knows how long. And then I start worrying about what it's going to be like for him after he gets out. It's all just swirling around in my head."

"Tell you what. How about you focus on you for the rest of the evening. We're going to meet with the doctor in a bit and then we'll be in to see Ty." Lisa shared this as they walked to the waiting area and joined the rest of the family.

Immediately, Amy was surrounded. Everyone had the same question. "How is Ty?"

"He's awake now. We talked and he knows everything that happened because of the accident."

"Is he pretty upset?"

"I think he was… He's worried that he might lose his foot and not sure he can still be a vet. I reminded him what the doctor told him. He's going to need more shoring up but I think he's feeling better for now."

"That's good to hear. That young man is going to be just fine. But getting there is going to be challenging so we're all gonna have to do what we can to support him."

Hugging Grandpa, Amy continued. "He also feels guilty for putting me and Harley in danger. So that may come up again. I told him that he left me no choice. I wasn't about to lose him because he means so much to me and I love him. I think it actually hit home when I told him that Harley felt such a strong bond with him that he was willing to sacrifice himself. Ty always considered horses to be strong intelligent creatures."

"That's true." Jack confirmed. "The bond between a horse and his rider shows the true measure of a person. What Harley did, well…. It confirms what I've come to believe about that young man."

"Amy, you told him all that and you told him about Harley?!" Lou asked, somewhat surprised.

"Dr. Ferguson said to get it all out there. Be upfront, deal with the emotions and get him in position to move forward."

"The more I hear about this Dr. Ferguson, the more I like him. He sounds like a straight shooter." Jack shared, feeling a bit better about the prospects for his adopted son.

"You do like a straight shooter." Lisa confirmed, smiling at him.

"Grandpa, he's going to have to move back into the house. Until his feet heal."

"That would be a very good thing. He will need a lot of support." Dr. Ferguson shares, walking up to join them. After quick introductions, and patiently answering two of Mallory's many questions, he continues. "Ty may have some neuropathy or phantom pain to deal with and that could get frustrating. We'll do what we can to sort out and shut down the nerve endings during surgery. Plus, both feet will be very sensitive to the cold so he's going to need extra protection when he ventures out."

"Sounds like something for the Christmas wish list." Lisa offers.

"Can he still ride a horse?" Caleb asks.

The doctor thinks about it for a moment. "There's no reason that he can't, after his feet heal and the sensitivity is gone. Or greatly reduced. Putting pressure on the front of his foot is definitely not in the cards anytime soon."

"It would be a shame if he gave up riding Harley."

"He may not ride for a while. But he and Harley are going to be spending a lot of time together. They have a strong bond and Ty owes his livelihood to that horse." Amy admitted. "Both are going to need therapy and I have just the solution."

Looking at each of them, the doctor continues. "The main thing is that he's going to need to adjust his gate and running may not be in the cards. Only time and determination will tell. You all being here for him greatly increases his odds of getting through this and moving on. Thank you for that."

After all the explanations and warnings they all sit for a bit. Mallory and Caleb ask a few more questions which Amy and the doctor answer.

"So, what happens next?" Lisa asks holding on to Jack's hand for a bit of support.

"Surgery, tomorrow night."

"So soon? I thought frostbite cases were left alone for a week or so, just to see if the body deals with the problem on its own." Amy asked, feeling worried that something else was going on.

"What does that mean?" Mallory asks.

"It means that the dead parts just fall off on their own." Caleb explains.

"Cool. Imagine taking your sock off and not all the toes came out. I think I saw that in a video once." Mallory shares, to the disgust of everyone except the doctor. A look from Jack ended that particular commentary and anything close to it.

Dr. Ferguson explains. "It's called auto-amputation. An injury or in this case, extreme cold, causes the tissue to freeze and subsequently die. In some cases, the appendages may fall off on their own. Unfortunately, we don't have that luxury as we think there's a clot forming behind the middle toe on Ty's left foot. We've noticed his foot swelling and that's forcing us to move up the schedule."

"Do you know the time?" Amy asks, starting to feel anxious.

"I've reserved an operating room for 10:00 pm. We've added medicine to Ty's IV that should help break up the clot or at least prevent it from getting worse."

"So, he'll be free to have company tomorrow during the day?" Lisa asks. Remembering Jack's comment when they got there.

"Yes, by all means. The more, the merrier. It is Christmas after all."

"We had that same thought. Thank you, doctor." Jack shares, leaning forward to shake his hand.

"Oooooh, you're my type of family! Usually, I get one or two tae showing up when someone's injured. You've brought the whole brood and then some!" He observes, looking at each of them looking back at him. "I ken that look. Whatever yer plottin, I want in!" He adds with a huge grin.

They spend the next five minutes formulating a plan. After the doctor departs with his own list of tasks, they go in to see Ty, two at a time.

First, it's Lou and Caleb with Caleb leading the way.

"Hey buddy, you're looking pretty good for a guy having hung upside down." Caleb shared with his usual cheery enthusiasm.

"Caleb!" Lou admonishes to no avail.

"Yeah, well tell that to my toes." Ty replies without missing a beat. His quick response tells them that he's not wallowing, which is a good thing. But it's too soon to tell just where his heads at. Something they're all concerned with.

"How are you feeling?" Lou asks, moving in for a hug and making eye contact. "You know you really had us worried." She admonishes. Then adds "And not just about you." Feeling a need to make sure that he understood what and who he risked.

The change in Ty's expression said more than the "I know." He shared. His sincere reaction softened Lou's approach and, after surveying the length of him in hospital garb, IV hanging and feet covered, she stepped back next to Caleb. She knew the extent of the frostbite from talking with Amy and was just now understanding how his decision that night, was going to affect his daily life for the foreseeable future.

Lou's initial impression of Ty sprung from his asking about breakfast when he first got to Heartland. A typical juvenile delinquent with questionable ethics. But with Jack's guidance and support, he became a dedicated hard-working ranch hand and then a true family member. Above all, she came to love Ty for how he helped Amy move on and how he loved and watched over her. Even at times when they weren't together. "Kudos to Mom for picking a good one." She told herself many times.

Not one for awkward silence, Caleb piped up. "Not me. I didn't know a thing about it until I saw the picture of Harley on the back of that tow truck. Then I got worried."

"Wait! Harley was on the back of a tow truck?"

"I guess Amy didn't share that bit of news with you." Lou explains. "Harley had been in the cold and sitting for so long, Scott was afraid that he would injure himself if he tried standing up. So, after the tow truck driver got you and Amy out and moved your truck out of the way, he, Scott, Grandpa and Amy worked together to carefully lift Harley off the ground and transport him to Scott's clinic. Amy told me it took them almost an hour to raise Harley. She thinks Scott was extra careful because he respected the sacrifice that Harley was prepared to make. He wanted Harley to see his rider again."

Ty thought about this for a moment. "Scott has always focused on the wellbeing of the animal. He never wavers on that. I think he did it for Amy, too. He didn't want her to regret bringing Harley."

"Yeah, that's pretty much what he told me. He said he's never seen a horse do anything like that so… consider yourself very lucky."

"And he's a hit on Social Media and has his own GoFundMe page or whatever you call it." Caleb shared, calling the latter up on his phone.

"You're kidding?" Ty asked, surprised at it all. Then looking at Caleb's phone. "Okay, you're not kidding."

"Hey, if the Miracle Girl can have her 15 minutes of fame, Harley is entitled to the same. I figure." Caled declared.

"The money goes toward his recovery?"

"That's the plan. The account was set up so all monies go directly to Scott. But they must be used exclusively for Harley's care. And from the looks of it, Harley's going to be sitting pretty." Caleb shares as he shows the GoFundMe page to Ty.

"$23,480?!"

"It's tripled since yesterday afternoon." Lou adds.

"I guess I won't worry about how the bills will get paid. I hadn't thought about that till just now. Wow!"

"So, are you in a good place for what happens next?" Lou asks, finally. Noting the time and the fact that Lisa and Jack are waiting.

"You mean the surgery tomorrow night? I guess I have to be. Amy pretty much laid it out for me earlier."

"Yeah, about that." Lou adds, pausing for a moment to gauge her words. "She's trying to be strong for you. Actually, I think she was incredibly brave to head out into the snow storm to look for you. I don't know if you'll ever understand how much that scared us, Ty. She just took off. So… you can't do this again. You two need to talk it out so this doesn't happen again."

Feeling the weight of her words piled on top of what Amy shared earlier. Ty takes a deep breath, waiting for his emotions to settle. He's trying hard not to go to a dark place up in his head so he goes for a bit of humor instead. "Yeah, I don't think I wanna lose any more toes." Ty quips, causing Lou to swat him.

"You little shit!" She says before giving him one more quick hug and heading for the door.

"I guess we're out of here." Caleb shares, walking close to the bed.

"You good?"

Taking a minute to figure out how to say what he wants to his friend, it finally comes out this way. "Not really. For the first time in my life I'm in the hospital because of my own stupidity, Caleb. And it's going to cost me. It almost cost me my career and could have ended with Amy in the hospital also."

"That's what happens when someone loves you like Amy does. Heck, if I thought Ash was in trouble, I wouldn't hesitate either. You just have to live with the fact that Amy and her family think you're worth the risk. That's on you, buddy."

"When did you get so smart?" Ty asks, looking curiously at Counselor Caleb.

"I got into a fight with Ash about something and we ended up talking about it. I know it sounds weird but I really like talking with her. She doesn't put me down when I say something hair-brained. And she's really starting to understand why I like the rodeo so much. Oh, that reminds me. I need to ask you about that WiFi setup you and Amy have."

"I have to say I was surprised when I first heard about you two. But I'm happy for you, Caleb. You deserve to be with someone who respects you and has a good heart." Then pausing for a moment adds I'm just sorry it took Ashleigh a while to find hers."

"Nah, she just needed someone to see who she really is, underneath all that bravado. And that it was okay to just be that person."

"Wow! You two must have talked quite a bit." Ty said, happy and somewhat amazed at the insight his friend shared.

"Very funny." He quipped then got serious. "The way I see it. You rode the bull and you lost. You didn't plan to lose but you did. Now you have to get up, dust yourself off, fix what's broken and keep going."

"I know. Thanks, Caleb."

"Hey, anything you need. You call me. Even if it's just a beer break or to let off some steam."

"I'll definitely take you up on that. Thanks."

"Later." Caleb said as he headed for the door.

About four or five minutes later, Lisa walked into Ty's room. Ty was expecting Jack to be with her but he wasn't. Ty didn't know if this was a good thing or a bad thing. In the end, his concern trumped all.

"Is Jack okay?" he asked.

"I'm fine, Ty." Jack said, entering the room. "I'm especially glad to see that you are. Or will be. You had us all worried." He shares, walking to the side of the bed. Lisa was busy surveying the room, noting the relocation of the bed and medical panel. She gave Jack a moment with Ty.

"Must be nice having a view of the world outside." He mused, looking out the window at the falling snow, not quite sure how to say what he wanted.

"Yeah, it's sorta fun watching the cars and people move about. When I'm not sleeping anyway."

"I know you'll get through this, Ty. You've had every reason to give up on people and life but you didn't. I couldn't be more proud of you for that. I wish this hadn't happened but wishing doesn't make it true. All we can do now is help you heal and keep going. So that's what we're gonna do."

"I appreciate that, Jack. I really do."

Lisa had a reason for wanting to be last. She promised Amy that they would be there to support both her and Ty. And to Lisa's mind, that meant helping Amy get Ty right in the head. Especially if he's going to be facing surgery the next evening and deal with the aftermath. But there was something more.

She'd told Jack earlier that there were things that needed to be said and she needed to be the one saying them. "You remember what I told you in the barn, right?" She reminded him.

"I do. And I love you." He confirmed after realizing there was no changing her mind.

"I think Lisa has some things to share with you so I will see you tomorrow, Ty. Have a good night."

Jack walked toward the door. He told Lisa in a softer voice "Don't beat him up too much. He has to be strong enough for surgery and other things."

"I won't leave any bruises." She replied, before a quick kiss and Jack's departure. Then she moved to the spot Jack and occupied.

"Before you begin, I've already heard …" Ty started but was quickly interrupted.

"I imagine you have and it's good to know. It means that they care about you. I need to say my peace." Lisa asserts, pausing to take a breath and measure her words.

Ty doesn't say anything but turns and looks out the window, preparing himself for another tongue lashing.

"That man who just walked out of the room considers you his son. He loves you the same as if you were born into the family. That same man loves his granddaughter very much. He has already lost two women who meant the world to him. They still do. When Amy made the correct decision to go looking for you, he was afraid that he was going to lose two more people that he loved. That ages a person, Ty. Those worries run deep and are hard to get settled once they're stirred."

Ty takes her words to heart. Especially since they involve Jack, the father figure in his life who he's come to love and respect very much. Her words deserve an answer and Ty struggles a bit to find them.

"I told Jack once that I wasn't use to people sticking up for me. Or worrying about me. I guess I'm still not. Some days anyway. I just…" Ty pauses, trying to put words to what he was feeling at the time. "I needed to see Amy. That's about the only way I can say it." Finally turning to Lisa, he finishes. "I am sorry, Lisa. I am. And I will apologize to Jack also."

"You make it count. You get through the surgery and no matter the outcome, you focus on healing and moving forward. Make this count, Ty. You fall. You get back up and you keep going. And you never do this again."

"I will, Lisa. I promise." Ty offers.

"You have grown so much since you came to Heartland. The transition from a juvenile delinquent into a trusted and hard-working ranch hand, then into a member of the family and the man that Amy loves with all of her heart. All that has been amazing to watch and you've done so many things to prove that you belong here, Ty. You are family."

"I know of your troubled past. Jack shared parts of it with me. But I hoped by now that you would realize that there was no way that you could ever lose any of us. Especially Amy. You were such a bright light when her world went dark after her mom died. I don't know if you realize how much you've helped her and how much that means to everyone in the family."

"So you think about what I've said and I hope that it sinks in. You are more than deserving to be loved and to have a family around you, supporting you. And we will all be there, Ty. So rest up, I hear you have a busy day tomorrow."

With that, Lisa kissed the top of his head and left the room. She spoke briefly with Margaret before meeting up with the rest of the family in the waiting area. Jack got up when he saw her and they hugged for a time. Then he said "Let's go home. Ty needs to rest up and we've all got things to do."

They'd just left the parking lot when Tim's truck rolled in. He was late getting to Heartland after being away on a business trip regarding his rodeo school. He was looking to expand in the Spring and had a meeting with several people offering resources and a larger indoor facility.

Finding the house empty, he checked the voice mail and heard a message from Scott about Harley and something about Ty being in the hospital. A quick call to the hospital confirmed that Ty was there so he grabbed a bite and headed over.

Grumbling about being the last one to know what was going on, he never bothered to contact anyone in the family. Thus, his entry concurred with their exit.

After a brief argument with the Security guard about him being family and that he's only a few minutes after visiting hours. A phone call was made to the Nurse's station. Margaret had signed out for the evening, swapping hours with another nurse so she could be there during the day tomorrow. It was her replacement, Helen who answered the phone.

"All right, already. You can come up. But Ty is sedated and if you agitate or irritate him in any way, I'll have security throw you out. And remember, we're on the third floor. I'll not have you disturbing any of our patients. Is that clear?"

"Fine!" Tim confirmed before handing the phone back to the Security guard.

…..

Amy followed Lisa's SUV all the way back to Heartland. Her thoughts remained on Ty and what they'd talked about. The gentle snow continued but the roads had been treated so the drive was slower than usual, but otherwise uneventful.

They'd gotten about half way down the drive when they noticed a car parked in front of the house. Lights on and engine running.

"Are we expecting anyone, Grandpa?" Lou asks, trying to see if she recognized the dark colored sedan or its occupant.

"Not that I know. No one called." Jack confirmed.

All eyes, except the driver's were on the visitor as they parked on either side. Exiting both vehicles, they walked toward the driver's side when the door opened and Lily stepped out.

"I hope I'm not intruding." She said.

"Lily, it's good to see you." Jack said, being the first to greet her with a hug. Lisa followed, as did Amy.

"When did you get here? I hope you weren't waiting long." Lisa asked.

"Only about an hour or so. I couldn't leave till the end of my shift. Then I just got in the car and drove here." She said, looking around at everyone.

"You had to work on Christmas Day?" Lou asked, not remembering the back story.

"People stepped up to cover for me while I was recuperating from surgery. I owe them."

"Well, we're glad you're here. Let's get out of the cold. Are you hungry?" Jack asked.

"Is it true?" Lily asked, turning to Amy.

"Is what true?"

"About the boots and the accident?" She asked, a mix of concern and sadness spreading across her face.

…..

"HO! HO! HO! MERRY CHRISTMAS!" Santa Caleb called as he entered the room the next morning.

Ty grumbled something and didn't move. The second round of "Ho! Ho! Ho!" did the trick and he opened his eyes just enough to see Caleb leaning over the bed looking at him.

"What the…?" he managed, rubbing his eyes. "What time is it?"

"IT's CHRISTMAS TIME!" Caleb announced with a jovial "Ho! Ho! Ho!". Fully embracing the roll and wanting to cheer up his friend. To that end, he was wearing black boots, red pants, a black belt with a huge buckle, a red shirt and a fake Santa beard-mustache combo topped off with a black cowboy hat.

When Ty managed to get his eyes to stay open, he sized Caleb up and offered "You don't look like Santa. And wasn't yesterday Christmas?"

"He's a busy guy. Called me up this morning and asked if I'd cover the hospital for him. He running a bit late. One of his reindeer got a flat." Caleb shared with a chuckle.

"Wait, you visited other kids in the hospital?" Ty asked, completely ignoring that last bit.

"There were only two. One saw me as I was walking by his room. Must have been the beard." Caleb shared, running his hands through it and puffing it up a bit.

"What did you say?"

"Just that I was checking in to see how he was doing. I was at his house night before last delivering presents and noticed that he wasn't there."

"How?"

"I caught his dad in the hallway. You should have seen the look on that kid's face when I walked in. It kinda made me feel good. Ya know?" He shared with his easy smile. Simple joys were the ones that Caleb appreciated the most.

"Knowing you, Caleb. I do."

"Anyway, I'm here to transport you to the Christmas Room. So, let's get you wrapped up in something appropriate and into this tricked out sleigh."

The tricked out slay was, in fact, an extra wide wheelchair with holiday warping paper covering the backrest. Red and green streamers were meticulously woven into the spokes of the wheels and two very large and fake candy canes had been taped to the underside of the arm rests. The piece de resistance was a string of battery operated white twinkling lights wrapped around the frame.

Moments later Elf Rufus, an orderly, walked in carrying a Christmas themed blanket from Heartland. He was dressed in green scrubs and sporting the mandatory elf stocking cap. "Merry Christmas, Ty! This just arrived so let's get you into a new hospital gown and ready to go. You don't want to keep Santa waiting, do you?"

"I'll put you on my Naughty List." Caleb joked. "But you'd probably like it there so maybe not."

The whole process took only a few minutes. Ty had already received a bath and a hair wash earlier that morning so only the gown change was needed. Out with the standard hospital blue and in with the holiday green! First, Elf Rufus disconnected the IV. Then both he and Caleb helped Ty sit up so he could remove the old gown. The new green one was more like a bathrobe with ties in the front. They cautioned him to go slow so as to minimize any movement of his feet. Once the bathrobe was in place, the IV was reconnected.

As of this morning, doctors had confirmed the extent of Ty's injuries. They noted no further progression of the frostbite and were reviewing X-Rays, and MRI data to determine the best course of treatment. Medication was controlling pain and keeping the blood clot in check. The swelling had gone down so they were in good shape for surgery that evening.

Once Ty had the new gown on, the orderly moved the wheel chair closer to the bed and removed the side panels. Then he went to the door and stuck his head out. Almost immediately, a second orderly came in dressed the same as the first. They spoke for a bit and then moved to the side of the bed.

"Here's how it's going to work, Ty. I'm going to pick up you and very gently sit you on the sleigh. Elf Jacob is going to hold your feet and make sure they don't hit anything while we're moving you. Once you're seated, Jacob will carefully set you feet down on the pedals. All I need you to do is relax. Sound good?"

"Works for me." Ty responded. Not quite sure what to expect, Ty was more than happy for any excuse to get out of bed and out of this room. For a little while, at least. He hadn't completely forgotten about the ten o'clock surgery. But he was doing his best to.

The transition went smoothly and twenty seconds later, Ty was sitting in the official Christmas sleigh. The side panels were replaced and a special metal guard attached to the front like a bumper to protect his feet. Both orderlies checked that everything was connected properly. Once satisfied, they folded a green bed sheet in half and used it to cover his lap and his feet. Then they opened the blanket and encased him in it. Tucking it in around the edges till he started to look like a weird Christmas present.

Stepping back to admire their work they high-fived and announced "All yours, Santa." Before walking out the door.

"Here we go, Partner." Caleb said before getting behind the wheelchair and pushing it toward the door. When they got close, someone on the outside opened it for them and Caleb proceeded through.

Once in the hallway, they were met by a procession of hospital staff wishing Ty a Merry Christmas. Though technically, it was the day after. Margaret was the first. Leaning in, she gave him a quick hug. The hallway had been decorated with Christmas ornaments hanging from the ceiling, and red and green crepe paper decorating the front of the nurse's desk.

Traveling further down the hall, they met three more doctors and even some other patients who wished Ty a Merry Christmas.

When they got near the waiting area, the path was blocked by Jack, Lisa and Amy. Caleb pushed Ty right up in front of them and stopped.

"You couldn't be at Heartland for Christmas, so we brought Heartland here." Jack announced. Reaching to shake his hand. "It is good to see you, Ty. Merry Christmas!"

"Merry Christmas, Ty!" Amy said, leaning in for a hug and a kiss. Then all three of them moved aside.

Caleb pushed Ty into the waiting area as he looked around in amazement. From left to right the room was laid out exactly like Heartland. Including a working electric fireplace. Jack's favorite chair was in the left corner. A sofa had been placed in front of the fireplace with a throw from Heartland and in the right corner was a fully decorated Christmas tree with what looked like a weird primate climbing up the side.

At Margaret's suggestion, the furniture was moved to allow ample room for a extra-wide wheel chair to get through.

The area under the tree was packed with presents, all wrapped in holiday themed paper and bright bows. There was at least one present for everyone there. Two for some and at least three for Ty, based on Mallory's most recent snooping. Due to time constraints, they'd left some gifts at the house for opening later.

Joining the celebration were Scott, Cassandra and Jonathan. He and his tow truck were instrumental in getting Amy and Ty out of Old Blue and took very good care while lifting and transporting Harley. They all agreed that he should be there. Surprised by the invitation, Jonathan was more than happy to join them. He even gave Scott and Cassandra a ride to the hospital in his tow truck. Scott again complimented him on how smooth the ride was, inside the vehicle.

"I'm sure that's true, doc. Things are definitely stiffer on the back end." Jonathan said with a chuckle. Cassandra just looked at Scott and shook her head. "You're never strapping me to the back of anything."

"Never say Never." Scott chided her. "I have no doubt you'll do what's necessary for an animal in your care. Otherwise, I wouldn't have you working with me." He was looking directly at her when he said that last part.

As far as compliments go, this was about as good as it got from Scott. He was acknowledging her dedication as a point of fact and delivered it as such. Jonathan heard the words and his respect for Scott went up several notches.

"Okay, maybe once." Cassandra conceded.

"Now you're talking!" Jonathan declared with a smile and a quick glance her way.

For Ty, the surprise attendee that morning was Lily, his mother. She was sitting on the sofa between Amy and Lisa. As he rolled himself over by her, she got up and gave him a hug that lasted a while. This was a hug between a mother and her son. A non-verbal exchange of unconditional love and support.

"Merry Christmas, Ty." She said, sitting back down on the edge of the sofa.

"When did you get here?" He asked, still getting over the surprise of her visit. He knew she wasn't completely healed from her surgery so her making the trip meant a lot to him. But he was worried about her.

"Last night. I came after my shift was over. Lou called me after they found you and Amy. I needed to see that you were okay." She said, reaching for his hand. "I'm sorry, Ty."

"There's nothing to apologize for. You didn't know this was going to happen." He said, trying to make her feel better. "Besides, those were really nice boots. I just have to make sure I don't have a cow the next time I wear them!" He continued. Going for a laugh.

"Ha! Ha!" Lily replied, paying him back with a smile.

"Anyway, I made the decision to travel so that's on me. Noone else." He conceded. Allowing the spoken words to sink in as did those of his visitors last night.

"And yet everyone is here to support you. I'm proud of you, Ty." She said, getting teary eyed.

"Thanks" is all he could muster. Her coming to see him and her words meant a lot and he found himself getting emotional. A place that still made him feel uncomfortable and awkward at times.

Their exchange wasn't lost on Amy and Lisa. Both felt relieved that Ty was in a better place mentally and even cracking jokes about it. Amy noticed Ty going quiet and got up. She didn't want him feeling sad for too long. Especially not today.

"How about we go see a man about a horse?" She suggested, moving Ty over by Scott and Lou. Both were sitting in chairs to the right of the fireplace. Next to the tree.

"How's Harley?" Ty asked, feeling anxious about the health of the horse that saved them.

"He's doing better. He's eating and his gut is working normally so the only concern is his back legs. As of this morning, there's enough money in the GoFundMe account to rent a treadmill for month." Scott explained.

"How is that going to work? If there's weakness in his rear legs, isn't there a chance of him falling and injuring himself further?"

"He's still in the harness we used to raise him, Ty. I can't risk taking him out of it until I know all four legs are strong and stable enough to support him. Otherwise, he will fall. And then things get more complicated."

"So, you're going to have him walking on a treadmill while still in the harness? That I'd like to see." Ty said, trying to imagine what that would look like.

"I'll have Cassandra send you a video. They're installing it tomorrow. The goal is to exercise the legs in a safe manner. We'll start slow, with most of his weight handled by the harness. As he gets stronger, we'll allow more of the weight on his legs. If that goes well and there are no issues, we'll speed up the treadmill."

Ty thought about it for a bit. "How big is the treadmill. Maybe I could use it with him. It sounds perfect for me. Not sure how well I'm going to walk after surgery."

"You're welcome to come and use it, Ty. It might not be a bad idea." Scott ponders.

"That sounds like a really good idea." Amy adds. "I assume the treadmill has railings to keep the horse in place while it's moving. That would be perfect for Ty."

"We can definitely rig up a harness for you. In fact, I'm sure Cassandra would love the idea of strapping you into something appropriate." Scott shares, imagining all the possible configurations until Lou pokes him in the ribs.

"Maybe I'll show up when she's not there." Ty concedes.

"Merry Christmas, Ty." Lou shared, changing the subject.

"Thanks for taking such good care of Harley, Scott. Merry Christmas." Ty replied.

"You're welcome, Ty."

The last stop on the tour was with Jonathan. He and Ty talked about the process of raising Harley and Ty thanked him for rescuing him and Amy and getting Harley safely to Scott's clinic. "You have a good family, Ty. I'm glad I was able to help. I hope you recover and heal quickly." Jonathan said before shaking his hand.

"Thanks." Ty replied before Amy wheeled him back to his spot next to the sofa and Lily.

The next hour was spent sipping eggnog, munching on Christmas cookies and opening presents. A new cowboy hat and gloves for Jack. A charm to add to Lisa's bracelet. Mallory got her very own copy of "Relationships for Dummies" courtesy her parents. She'd stolen their copy so many times, they thought it was a good investment. And they really wanted theirs back. But her favorite was a tall mug for hot chocolate and packets of mix to go with from Jack and Lisa.

"I think we should try that out the first chance we get." Jack told her. Mallory just smiled at him, while imagining the number of marshmallows it would hold.

Amy got a beautiful gold bracelet from Lisa and Grandpa. There was an engraving inside that she didn't share with anyone. Neither Lisa nor Jack asked about it. It was only for her. She also got a bag of mixed candies from Mallory.

Lou got a beautiful burgundy sweater that Lisa found on one of her trips. The sleeves were long enough and Lou thought the color was perfect. Scott added a pearl necklace to the outfit, eliciting a grateful kiss.

Ty got a new tool box from Jack. "I noticed the one you had was getting a bit rusty so I figured an upgrade was needed."

Caleb got a travel mug to replace the one that he'd run over when it fell off the hood of his truck. He thought it was just okay till he opened it and saw a makeshift coupon for free refills from Maggie's and Heartland.

Jonathan received a framed 8x10 print of Amy standing next to Harley. A note stuck to the front read "Thank you for being there for us. Your kindness will never be forgotten and always appreciated."

Amy came over and gave him a hug. Reminding him again how much it meant that he helped get her and Ty out of the truck and transporting Harley to Scott's.

"You're all such good people. Thank you." Was all Jonathan could muster, feeling himself getting emotional.

Ty's second gift was a tall box containing a pair of winter boots. They were a unique design incorporating latches instead of laces so they were easy to put on and take off. What made then unique is that they came with three inserts, two of which could be warmed in the microwave. The third was a battery powered insert that would keep the boot warm for an extended period.

"They should work well for when you have to be out in the cold while you're doing vet stuff." Mallory shared. "I checked 'em out on-line after the doctor sent me a link. They're from everybody."

"Thank you very much. I'm sure they'll get a lot of us and keep my remaining toes very happy."

It was Amy's next present that got everyone's attention. It was a square box about 14 inches on a side and pretty heavy. The label said "To Amy from Ty", but it wasn't his hand writing.

"Be careful with that." Lou cautioned.

Amy set the box in her lap and removed the bow and wrapping paper. The flaps were held shut with packing tape so Jack gave her his pocket knife to cut it with.

All eyes were on her when she pulled out the beautiful glass sculpture of a horse, kneeling to a little girl standing in front of him. Her tiny hand is reaching out and just touching his forelock. The level of detail was amazing. The horse looked so life like and the little girl was wearing jeans, a pink top and a cowboy hat.

"It's how I see you, Amy. How you're able to connect with the horses. It's like they seek you out because they know you want to help."

Amy handed the sculpture to Lily before turning to Ty for a hug and several kisses. "It's so beautiful, Ty. Where did you find it?"

"Lily found it in an antique shop. She took a photo of it and showed it to me. I called the place right away and they held it for me."

"I love it." She said before kissing him again.

Turning to Jonathan he asked "How did you find it?"

"After transporting Harley, I came back for your truck. Sorry about the steering wheel. I have it but you may have a hard time reconnecting it."

"Not a problem."

"Good. Anyway, I always check a vehicle to see if there's any cargo or lose items that will cause problems. Especially when a vehicle is flipped on its side like yours was. That's when I spotted the two garbage bags. You had them strapped to the bed of your truck. When I dropped off your truck, I gave the two bags to Lou."

"Thank you for finding them. It means a lot."

"My pleasure, Ty."

There were a few more presents to open and then everyone settled in. More eggnog and cookies were consumed and Dr. Ferguson came by along with Margaret. They both talked to family members, shared stories and enjoyed a few laughs. Amy thanked the doctor for the overnight decorations and the Christmas elves.

"Not to worry. The staff had a lot of fun decorating. We weren't sure what to do with the stuffed animal till some wee one told us to stick it on the tree." Dr. Ferguson was looking at Mallory during that last bit.

Then Dr. Ferguson presented Ty with a beautiful scarf, all the way from Scottland. "May it keep you warm and remind you of this day and all the people here who love and support you. Merry Christmas, Ty!"

The doctor and Margaret chatted with Jack and Lisa for a bit before heading off to other duties. All the gifts had been opened and individual conversations were starting up.

Then Tim piped up. "There should be one more. It was leaning against the wall by the tree, earlier. But I don't see it now."

"Dad, I'm pretty sure Mallory found them all." Amy replied.

"Hey, I'm Elf Mallory."

"Just have a look." Tim suggested.

Amy got up and walked over to where Tim pointed. Sure enough, down on the floor, next to the wall and buried under discarded wrapping paper was one more gift. She handed it to Elf Mallory for delivery."

"Who's it too?" Lou and Lisa both asked as none of them had seen it before.

"Here you go, Ty." Mallory said as she walked over and handed it to him.

Everyone was curious about this new gift because only Tim knew about it. He felt bad after his talk with Ty the previous evening. He'd been mad at Ty for putting his daughter at risk and after too short a mostly one-way conversation told him "If you do something this boneheaded again, it won't be Amy coming for you." But it was Ty's words about depending on someone to feel happy that resonated with him.

After storming out and driving over at least one curb on the way out of the parking lot, Ty's words started to resonate. Tim knew, from personal experience, exactly how Ty felt as he was trying to get to Heartland. Pulling over, he made a quick phone call and then turned in the opposite direction.

After anxiously removing the wrapping paper, what Ty found was a 40-inch-long tube like you'd store architectural drawings in. But it was wider than that. Almost eight inches in diameter.

"You could definitely fit a new leg in that." Mallory joked.

"Nah. Not wide enough for the toes." Scott countered right before Lou swatted him.

"Hah! Hah! Any other guesses?" Ty asked, looking around the room. As if seeing it for the first time, he noticed the decorations on the walls, the beautifully lit tree, packed with ornaments and the weird monkey thing hanging on it and all the presents. Then he saw the faces of the people he called family and friends. And he went silent.

Amy recognized it the moment it happened. Lily did also and squeezed Lisa's hand. Tears forming in her own eyes.

"Hey. You have so many people in this room who love you." Amy said as she leaned over to hug him. Ty seldom got emotional due to his time in juvenile detention. It was a defense mechanism that Amy learned about on-line after getting frustrated one day. Since then, she'd been on the lookout for the rare occasions when it happened and to make sure that he knew it was okay to go there.

She leaned in close to whisper in his ear "You're safe here." The phrase she'd used each time it happened. Then lifting his chin with her hand, she kissed him before sitting back down.

After taking a moment to collect himself, Ty looked up and faced them. "I didn't expect this. Thank you. All of you. I don't know how you pulled it off but…"

"Yeah, well. That's what happens when you get adopted into the Bartlett Fleming family. It's pretty much a package deal!" Scott interrupted with a grin.

"So, open the present already! I want to see your new leg." Mallory jokes, feeling just a bit excited about the possibility.

Ty carefully twists the top off of the tube and hands it to Amy. Inside is a thick green cloth all rolled up, completely filling the tube.

Only Lisa noticed the change in Jack's expression when he saw the contents. Seeing her looking at him, he simply put his finger to his lips. She studied him a bit longer, trying to understand the change in his expression.

"Looks like a towel or a blanket." Mallory guesses.

"Love the color." Lily adds. "Goes with his eyes."

Hearing her, Ty turns to her.

"There they are." She says, smiling back at him. It does her so good to see him surrounded by people who truly love him.

"Careful when you pull it out." Tim cautions.

With Amy holding onto the outside of the tube, Ty slowly pulls the green cloth out and sets it on the arm rests of his wheel chair. Tim walks over and takes the tube and towel from Amy and they all watch as Ty slowly unwraps the cloth.

Inside is a beautiful one-of-a-kind walking cane. Ty holds it up for everyone to see. It's made of a single piece of mahogany, beautifully carved and stained a dark burgundy color. The staff is thicker than other walking canes, measuring almost an inch and a half in diameter. The base flares out into a horse's hoof, measuring four inches across. The hoof is distinctively wrapped in an antique brass plate. A black rubber pad in the shape of a horse shoe is attached to the bottom.

What catches people's eye is the intricately carved horse's head on the other end. From the top of the staff, the horse's neck, long enough to be grasped by an adult hand, extends at a 45-degree angle to the base of the head. The head, facing forward as if in motion, measures five inches from ears to muzzle. The eyes are glossy black pearls. You could tell by the meticulous level of detail that this was a labor of love.

"That particular cane was carved by a father for his son, after his son was injured in the rodeo. He lost all of the toes on one foot after a bad ride. His son recovered with the help of this cane and then he donated it to the rodeo circuit Jack and I travelled with. It has helped at least a dozen cowboys over the years."

"This is incredible, Tim. Thank you." Ty says, trying not to get too choked up.

"That was a very thoughtful thing to do, Dad." Lou shares.

Jack and Tim make eye contact for a moment. Jack knows the history of that cane and in a rare moment, feels nothing but gratitude for Tim's thoughtfulness. His expression says it all. "Well done, Tim. Thank you."

Tim acknowledges this with a quick nod before continuing.

"There are two more things you need to know. First, you always hold the cane by the horse's neck. You never cover the head or the eyes. Folklore has it that your horse's spirit is carried in the cane and it will help you move forward. And from what I'm hearing, you have a very devoted horse so don't screw that up."

"Got it. What's the second thing?"

"When you no longer need it, you must clean it and restore it to the like-new condition you see it in. I have the kit with all of the necessary supplies. Ask me for it when the time comes. After that, it goes into storage until it is needed again."

Overwhelmed by his thoughtfulness, Amy gets up and walks over to Tim for a hug. "Thank you." She says and then kisses his cheek. "I know he'll recover much quicker using it."

"I know he will, honey. He's a good man. Definitely worth finding. Even in a storm."

Moved further by his kind words about Ty, she pulls him tight for a second hug.

Scott is the first to come over to see the cane. He marvels at the detail and tells Ty "This is similar to Healing Amulets that Native Americans use." He sets it down next to Ty's wheel chair and notes that it's perfectly balanced to stand on its own.

"So, who's hungry?" Caleb asks.

…..

It was 1:35am the following morning. Ty was still in surgery. Amy, Jack and Lisa were in the waiting area. Everyone else was home. Amy was alternating between pacing around the sofa they'd borrowed from the Employee lounge and plopping herself down in frustration.

After the fifth cycle, Lisa got up. "Amy, how about we go for a walk? Bring your hat and coat as I think a bit of cool night air will help at least one of us. Hopefully, both."

They grab their stuff and, after a quick kiss between Lisa and Jack and a promise to call if there's any news, the two women head out.

Waving to the security guard who met them earlier, they walk out the door and are immediately welcomed by the cold winter air. They pause for a moment, taking several deeper breaths. Feeling more energized, they pick a direction and start walking.

"It's hard waiting. Isn't it."

"I'm pretty much going crazy, Lisa. I know we'll get through it but I worry that Ty is going to find a way to blame himself for this and every step is going to remind him of it. He's dealt with other people causing him physical pain. This time, it's his own doing and I'm not sure how he's going to deal with that."

"We'll just have to check in with him from time to time. See where his head's at." Lisa shares before kicking a pile of snow and watching it sparkle as it flies all around them.

"He's gonna have to make peace with himself sooner rather than later."

"I know. The problem is if he gets all up in his head, it's going to make it more difficult to reason with him."

Lisa stopped to look at her for a moment. "Tell me what you told Ty when you were in to see him."

Amy shared everything she told Ty, including the fact that Harley was willing to sacrifice himself to save the two of them. To save Ty. And I love him and want to have a life with him."

"That sounds perfect. Do that. Again. As often as needed. Jack and I will do the same." Lisa said before hooking her arm in Amy's as they continued to walk around the parking lot.

After two more loops, they started to get cold and headed back inside. Amy had just taken off her coat when Dr. Ferguson walked up.

"How did it go?" She asked, walking over in front of him and beating Jack.

"It went well. We did have to remove the middle toe on the left foot. The clot had blocked blood flow to it and part of it was already dying so we made the decision to remove it. I was hoping to save it and preserve some balance on that foot, but it would have caused problems down the road and he'd end up back here."

"I'm sure you did what you thought was right." Jack offers.

"He's back in his room now all bandaged up and sedated. I don't imagine he'll be awake until mid-day tomorrow. I'll have the day nurse contact you when he wakes up."

"Thank you for taking care of him." Amy says, going in for a hug.

"You're the brave one, Amy. You and Harley found him. You went out into a storm and you found him. I'm going to be telling that story for a good while. Ty is in very good hands with you. All of you. Have a good night."

The three watch as Dr. Ferguson walks back down the hall toward his office. Lisa steps away to use the washroom, when she returns she notices Jack off by himself. She wasn't sure how he was going to take the news shared by Ty's doctor.

She catches Amy's eye and points at Jack. Amy nods and slowly begins to gather her stuff for the trip home. Coat and hat in her hands, she plops down on the sofa and takes a deep breath. "Forward is the only direction." She tells herself.

Lisa walks over and stands next to Jack. Getting no acknowledgement from him, she bides her time gazing out the window in the same direction he appears to be. The snow has stopped and he watches as cars and people travel past the window.

"Penny for your thoughts." She says, after a moment. Then turns to face him.

"I thought Ty had more sense than that." He shares, without turning to her. For Jack, hearing the doctor's words made it all real for him. Up till that point, there was still the possibility of a better outcome. He'd hoped for it for his adopted son."

"He's lost four toes on two feet. Based on my math, that leaves six very good toes to pick up the slack. And yes, choosing to stay on the road was the wrong decision. But we both know Ty's history and all the things that went wrong for him along the way. I was mad at him too, Jack." Lisa shares and then pauses for a bit. "But when he looked at me told me that he just had to see her. I understood."

Jack turns to her after a bit. He too knows what love makes you do some times. "Love makes you do strange things. Sometimes, the best of intentions don't end up that way. Let's go home."

The two of them lock arms and with Amy at their side, walk out of the hospital determined to help Ty move forward.

To be continued.


Author's Note:

This was probably the hardest chapter for me to write. I wasn't sure just how injured I wanted Ty to be. I wanted there to be some cost for his decision as I think it's a symptom of an underlying issue that he and Amy need to address. Complex multi-character dialogue is still a challenge.

I've very much liked Lily's character since the episode where she gives Ty the urn with his dad's ashes in it. Her crying while helping Amy wash the horse gave me cause for another story. But at the end of that episode, she was a peace with the past and wanted Ty to get there also. I look forward to more of their interactions.

As for Dr. Ferguson, I liked the idea of him being Scottish. Just something different. Chalk it up to me watching Outlander. A dip or two into the dialect and words didn't go quite as planned.

Ty's hospital room is my idea of how a room should be set up. As for his medical condition with the frostbite, I do know that they use X-Rays, MRI and ultrasound as diagnostic tools. I did have a family member who lost appendages so I'm somewhat familiar with it. Though when I hung out with them over several weeks, the toes were never covered.

Finally, thank you for your patience. I know this chapter has been a long time coming. I do feel an obligation to write as I'm leaving the characters and my audience hanging. Not really something I want to do.

I did say that I wouldn't abandon it and I won't. But life gets busy and making time for this can be challenging so again. I appreciate your patience.

Now that this chapter is done, I can go read some really great stuff from SBR! I'm a couple chapters behind. Take care all!