Chapter 2
Amy woke up as she always did at just about 5 AM. After showering and dressing she walked into the kitchen where her adopted mom, Betty Grainger, was pouring her a cup of coffee.
"Morning Amy, busy day today ?"
"We'll see what it brings Betty, didn't seem too busy when I closed my eyes last night."
Betty served Amy her normal hot cereal breakfast, even in summer, and a glass of OJ.
"How's that new horse Crooked Prince ?"
"I checked him yesterday, I think we can help and I don't think he needs surgery but no promises. We'll start by getting films today and then I have a few thoroughbreds to look at. Tell the girls we jump after lunch and I want the chores done by then."
"JT ?"
"Have him exercise the pups if he wants and his normal mucking out his horses, Alpacas and bunnies, he can ride when he's done."
"Have you heard from Dr. Sherman ?"
"Preliminary in November 6th they'll call when it's confirmed."
"Thank god, the last one."
"Put in a good word for me Gran." Amy said dumping her bowl and cups into the sink.
"It wouldn't hurt you to talk to him every now and then young lady."
"I talk to her horses Betty, that should be enough." She emphasized the her, put on her hat and walked out.
Lisa landed in Buffalo at 6:15 AM on what she could only describe to Jack as "a god awful red eye stopping in Buffalo on the way to DC with no first class." After waiting calmly until 7:00 AM for the customs windows to open she was in her rental and on her way by 9 for about a 3 hour drive with the standard Buffalo rush hour traffic. She stopped once at a familiar Tim Horton's for coffee and a bathroom break and pulled up and through a large metal gate with a large horse in it's center a little before 1:00. She drove under a sign that said "Pegasus Stables, Equine Rehabilitation and Rescue" and onto a circular drive with another sign that read "Please do not pull up at the house for business, proceed to lot by barn."
Lisa drove slowly and pulled up at the house in her rental Audi SUV. She took a second and looked around. There were three large barns, not fancy, red like at Heartland though newer. There was construction going on further down. She noticed 3 round pens, several paddocks, sand and jumping rings in the distance and a track. An actual race track. The house was nice, in various shades of blues with some interesting color variations.
"Can I help you ?" A woman's voice called from the porch.
Lisa turned and headed for the steps, "I'm sorry, my name is Lisa Stillman."
"You're here to see Amy I take it ?"
"I am and you are ?"
"Betty Grainger, good to meet you."
Just then Lisa was bumped and looked down to see a small alpaca ? llama ? Butting at her foot.
"Just ignore the little buggers, they're all over the place."
Lisa turned and as predicted the puffy little thing scampered away. "Is she around ?"
"Lunch soon, she'll be back, she doesn't take kindly to missing meals but I guess you know that."
Lisa turned and looked at her for a second puzzled by her answer.
"Girls, JT, come out and meet Mrs. Stillman."
"What Gran, oh hi, I'm Jack or JT." The little boy who opened the screen door was adorable and walked with a slight limp. He held up his hand which she took.
"I'm Lisa, it's good to meet you Jack."
"Jack, Lisa is your great grandmother and you're named after her husband Jackson who's your mom's grandpa."
Lisa turned sharply and Betty smiled at her, "don't look at me, I'm on your side."
"Wow really, are you from Canada like mom ?"
"I sure am."
Lisa started to tear up as soon as the girls walked out onto the porch. "Oh my, you two are absolutely beautiful." It's obvious that the picture was a couple years old because while JT had of course grown the girls had blossomed and were gorgeous.
"Lisa, on the right is Madelyn who prefers Maddie and Charlotte is on the left. Girls this is Lisa Stillman, she's your great grandmother."
"I guess that's a hugging offense" Charlotte said with a smile and opened her arms.
She was followed by Maddie and then Jack.
"Maddie, show Lisa the bathroom please and Charlotte, I'm sure there's a bag in that car for the guest room."
"I've got a motel Betty."
"Not on your life Lisa and from what I've heard I bet you can use a glass of wine."
"That would be good honestly, I was so scared."
"Don't lose that feeling, Amy's crap runs deep, I think you're good though. Go pee and then we'll talk or better yet after you talk to that husband of yours. Tell him you're safe for now and she's fine."
Amy walked across the field from the barn when the porch came into view. As always she had two dogs with her, one on her right and one on her left. She didn't recognize the car and stopped when she reached the top of the stairs to the porch.
There were her daughter's, her son, Betty and Lisa Stillman, the last two sitting with glasses of wine.
"Guess my schedule's changed after all, I have to wash and pee. Lisa, you look well, everyone at home good ?"
Lisa nodded and stared at her.
"Good, back in a minute." She turned for a second and nodded, "rest."
Lisa smiled as both dogs immediately lay down and and watched her as she walked in to the house.
"That went well." Betty said off handedly.
"Maybe the calm before the storm ?"
"Mom's cool, no use in wallowing over what's done." Maddie said off handedly.
Amy got back into the kitchen and yelled through the door, "let's eat, Mom's hungry."
Maddie laughed and got up followed by the other kids who Lisa saw each stopped to hug and kiss their mom.
When Lisa walked in Amy wrapped her in her arms and kissed her.
"You had something to do with this old woman ?" Amy sat down at the head of the table with Jack on one side and the girls on the other. Lisa saw a place setting next to Jack and headed for that. Betty sat across from Amy, Amy was looking at her.
"Depends."
"I didn't adopt you, you know."
"You couldn't get by without me, I could be retired on a beach in Florida right now."
"And this one on a beach in Toulon, what are you both still doing here ?"
"I'm making sure my grandchildren don't have to eat your cooking."
"And we sure appreciate that Gran."
"That's enough out of you JT."
"Sorry mom."
"And you, what's your excuse, oh that's right, stubborn old man in Alberta."
"Who misses you."
"I miss him too Lisa, and you."
"Not going to ask about him ?"
"Ty ? I thought he'd marry Helena, poor thing, guess not."
"You have spies."
"Of course I have spies. So Georgie and Wyatt and Mitch and Jen all living in my little loft. I was surprised when Ty moved out."
"He has a small house."
"So I hear, I'm sure he's happy with it. You know, I saw you at an auction a few years ago in Antwerp."
"I wish you would have said hello."
"No point in regrets, you're here now." Amy's phone rang in her pocket, it was distinctive.
"Excuse me I have to take this. 'Hi Dr. Sherman, it's Amy. Yes, oh that's great, I'll let him know, we'll all be there, thanks so much."
"C'mon mom, what did he say ?"
"He said that your last X-rays were amazing and you're scheduled for surgery first thing November 7th . We go to the city on the 5th."
"My last one."
"Last one sweetheart." Amy said and her look broke Lisa's heart.
"Uhmmm."
"Let's finish lunch, before all the uhmmmm's, unfortunately I have a rough list of things I have to do but we can do them together."
Lisa asked the kids about school and horses, they discussed small doings at Heartland and around Hudson. Lisa was shocked with the depth of Amy's knowledge of events at home.
"Are you done Lisa ? We might as well walk, talk and I'll show you around, oh, and give you a treat. How long are you staying and are you alone ?"
"I don't know and yes."
"Betty ?"
"Already in the guest room."
Amy nodded and led Lisa out the door after grabbing her hat. Lisa didn't notice before for some reason but there were a fair amount of people walking around. "The whole story of the kids is upsetting with them there, even Betty." Amy said getting Lisa's attention.
"Let's take care of the preliminaries before the deep family stuff" Amy began "Pegasus is 1200 acres on an adjoining 5500 acres of state and federal land accessible to land owners meaning us, we care for it on their behalf and if they ever choose to sell it's ours. I control in total 6700 acres. We have two barns with a total of 72 indoor stalls not including the medical barn that has 16. That facility under construction will house 2 surgical theaters, 2 exam and small procedure rooms and 6 pre and 6 post operative stalls. The first barn is for staff and family. My kids collect horses and thinks mom doesn't notice."
"I wonder where they get that from ?"
"I spoil them Lisa, that much is obvious."
"They're wonderful Amy, how ?"
"Did I get them ? Right place, right time, worst possible circumstance. Mitch and Gloria Grainger left the hospital with their two twin daughters and yet unnamed newborn son. Their car had a blow out and hit a tree at 55 miles per hour just south of Cortland. Mitch and Gloria died on the spot."
"My god, how horrific."
"The girls both had both legs broken from the accident which left the yet unnamed son with a badly mangled right leg, every bone broken, circulatory issues, the works. The girls were brought here early on as part of their rehab, they were a wreck both mentally and physically. Betty, who's obviously their paternal grandmother, would bring them and we had a good time. Betty has or had some medical issues and couldn't keep up with the baby and two 8 year olds so they wanted her to put him up for adoption. It was heartbreaking, they were wonderful kids I had fallen in love with them all, so I adopted them. My heart and my life Lisa."
"And Jack's leg ?"
"Reconstructed by the best orthopedists I could find, seven surgeries so far, this one coming number 8 should be the last. His legs will be almost perfectly the same length and should grow together at that point."
"I saw a picture of him with a brace and a crutch."
"That must have been old, maybe two years ago, with the girls, jumping outfits ?"
"That's the one."
They walked into the first barn, several teenagers smiled at them and one walked over with a chart. Amy scanned down, "good work team you can saddle up as soon as you're done."
"Thanks Amy !"
Lisa made a beeline to Spartan who snorted when they walked in. "Hey Spartan, how are you these days."
"He's fine, rules the roost."
After visiting with Spartan they continued on. The second barn were rescues or recovering hospital patients that were mostly healed of their troubles and going through training or rehab. Again, this time a young woman came over for Amy to look over a chart, she walked over to examine the horse, got down on her knees and checked his legs and made two changes on his chart. After another minute of instructions they moved on.
"How many employees do you have Amy ?"
"Without counting vet staff which varies, 6 full time trainers, 6 riders which are licensed jockeys that exercise and the like and pitch in, 12 regular full time ranch hands and about a dozen high school and college volunteers through the year. We take 6 promising interns in the summer."
"Georgie talked about interning here a year or two ago, the summer before vet school applications."
"That would have been interesting, I never saw the application and I see every one."
"Amy, excuse me ?"
"What's up Sandy ? Oh this is Lisa Stillman, Sandy Martin who coordinates rescues and adoptions for us. I should say anything that needs coordinating"
"We have six leaving for Delaware, Para and comfort horses and we have those six in isolation."
"If they're clean once their blood work gets back make the switch."
As they left the second barn Lisa stopped in mid stride and stared into a paddock right in front of her. Amy stopped a few steps away and turned. "Want to meet him ?"
"Is that ?"
"The most recent triple crown winner ?"
"My god Amy, it was you." Lisa confirmed.
"Come on grandma" Amy said laughing and walking her over.
Cloister looked up and immediately trotted over to Amy smooshing his muzzle against her face. "Hey boy, life treating you good these days ?"
"What a gorgeous horse, oh Amy." Lisa was gushing.
"Want to ride him ?"
"Are you serious ?"
"Sure, I have to run him in a little while, he needs a warm up."
"Yes, I mean is it allowed ?"
"It's not like you don't have a jockey's license."
"Then yes, of course."
"Uh, You're not going to drool or anything ?"
"Oh stop."
Amy laughed and called out "Bryce get mine and an extra flak jacket and helmet please. We'll get changed, let's get Cloister in the exercise ring."
"Sure thing boss."
"How's Roberta ?"
"Any day, last one though, shutting down the factory."
"Stopping at 4 she told me"
"Yup and this one's a boy so two and two, it's going to be a rough few weeks though."
"No it won't, it'll be in your pay at the end of the week, 8 weeks from the birth off, full pay and no arguments. Drop the kids here if you have to when the time comes, my girls will deal with the lot."
"Amy you don't."
"You're not going to cry are you because Roberta cried and you know how I feel about that stuff."
"Thanks Boss."
"So you're a good boss I take it ?"
"The best, I learned from you Lisa." She wrapped her arm around Lisa's waist and walked with her.
Amy took Lisa back to the family barn and into the office where she opened a large closet and pulled out a pair of stretch pants and a vest for her, turned, looked at Lisa and handed her one of each. The office had it's own bathroom that Amy pointed to.
When Lisa stepped out Amy was on the phone and pointed to a seat. "He's great John, I'm just getting changed to run him. I don't think Prince will need surgery but you need to give me some time. I'd prefer that too. I think you can trust me, call the clinic later. Bye John, kiss that baby for me."
"Crooked Prince ?"
"Yeah, poor guy, they thought bone but I think hamstring. We'll X-ray him later or tomorrow and see, doesn't feel like the bone to me, we'll figure it out."
Amy ran in and got changed and on their way to the practice ring Amy asked about Fairfield.
"Spy ring doesn't extend that far ?"
"I know what stock you bring in from Europe and when you don't does that count ?"
"How can you possibly ?"
"Spies Lisa"
"Business has picked up, it was bad for awhile there."
"I know, I could have helped, I'm sorry about that."
"You're doing well ?"
"Financially ? I'm pretty flush."
"Sure looks that way, you have a race track Amy."
"Not full sized, enough for me though."
"Still."
"I guess. Shoo, go on, find your momma"
"Those are ?"
"Alpacas, adorable little buggers. These guys around here are pets, rescues, we have an actual herd of around 480 or so, I guess. Shearing next week if you like a show."
"I can't imagine what your Grandfather would say about them, they are adorable though."
"I guess you'll find out soon enough, seems Grandma Busy Body has sent a PrivateAir ticket from Calgary to Syracuse in the name of one Jackson Bartlett. I got a copy a few minutes ago. It probably has a note from you attached to it by the way, Betty has no shame. Come on, up you go, let's freak out Georgie."
Lisa rode Cloister around the exercise ring and Amy filmed it on Lisa's phone and sent it to Georgie. "He's amazing Amy, his gait is remarkable."
"He's a rocket Lisa."
"I saw."
"You were at the derby ?"
"It's how I'm here, I saw the monitor from the Derby club. John Branch walked off the TV screen to hug a woman, you Amy."
"Yeah, he was pretty happy."
"I can imagine."
When they were done Amy took a selfie with Cloister and Lisa and sent that to Georgie as well.
"There, that should freak her out a little."
They walked over to the track and Cloister immediately nudged at her "in a second sweet boy, I promise."
"The gate please Pablo."
Moments later a starting gate with three slots moved out onto the track.
One of the trainers walked over and gave Amy a leg up. "You want us to time you boss ?"
"What the hell, might as well."
Amy walked Cloister into the gate and calmed him, a second later the bell rang and Cloister shot out.
"Look at her go." One of the trainers called out.
"She's fearless, look at his extension."
"Woo hoo, let him go Amy !"
Lisa watched Amy fly around the track and was shocked when Cloister hit the last turn and picked up a whole different gear, when she was done she clocked a 2:04."
"You just placed at the derby boss with no competition , that was amazing."
Amy jumped down and pulled off her helmet, her face was flushed, her eyes flashing blue and her smile captivating and as she stood next to Cloister, full of life and joy, Lisa took a picture and sent it to Ty.
Ty and Georgie had been on calls all day, phone service sketchy as usual as they drove through the foothills. "I swear I had better cell service in Mongolia."
They had pulled over for a coffee break before the long haul home when Georgie and Ty's phones started beeping.
"Why is Lisa sending me a video of her riding" then as the horse filled the screen "oh my god Ty, it's Cloister, Lisa's riding a triple crown winner !"
"Ty, Ty ? What's are you looking at ?"
"Amy, it's Amy and Cloister Georgie."
"What ?"
