Chapter 21
They walked along, the girl's stopped to look at clothes joined by the women and the men wandered off to a kite store where they picked kites for the boys for flying back at the ranch. They found the Caldwell's sitting on a park bench eating apples eating apples and joined them. Ty placed JT on a bench and John dropped Cars down as well.
John walked over and bought a bag of apples from a truck parked to the side and when he got back Meg and Sam walked over. Meg hugged him and Sam shook his hand. Charlie grabbed the bag and handed it around.
"This was all Maddie and Charlie, Brin's a lucky girl to have found that one."
Amy smiled, she was sitting next to Ty who had sat down next to JT.
"So are we fishing Monday Dr. Borden, you can ride Merlin, we got waders and rods."
"I guess that's the question of the hour Jackson."
Amy bit into her apple and wrapped her free hand around Ty.
"This is a good apple." Ty wondered at her choice of words considering the timing of the statement.
When it was time to go Ty leaned over and whispered to Jackson "want to keep riding buddy ?"
"I can walk but riding's fun so if you want."
Ty smiled and hoisted Jackson up. Amy wrapped her arms around Ty's left arm careful to not interfere with his grip. She reached over and kissed Ty's cheek. He leaned over to kiss her lips.
Lisa and Jack were walking with Betty, John with Cars and Trish behind. They were a few yards behind Amy and Ty.
"Carson, that there is what we call a full court press." John said which made the other three in front of him laugh.
"I'm glad she did it, he's so annoying, I can't figure him out and I need something solid to hang my hat on you know."
"Hush Betty, enough, I've waited almost 14 years for this."
"Yes well, you and Jack are saints."
Amy looked over "you ready slugger ?"
"I've been thinking that I've actually kind of made this decision before, back then I chose beaten by bikers first before you. Can I have your watch please Ames ?"
Amy took it off and handed it to him and he lowered Jackson to the ground when they reached the jewelry store. A second later Ty walked in. They stood outside waiting for about 10 minutes, to Amy it felt like forever.
"What are we waiting for ?" Charlie asked
"Dr. Borden's inside, maybe he had to go to the bathroom." JT answered.
Jackson turned when the door opened and Ty came out, he was not wearing a watch. He walked over and put the bag he was holding down between his legs and pulled out the Tag Heuer box. He took out his iPhone and handed it to Trish. "Just hit play Trish" and when the music began Amy her smile and the tear in her eye said it all, the song was "Modern Woman."
"Let's start this over" He took out his watch, leaned over to kiss her and had her put it on him. He took hers out and showed her the inscription they had all apparently waited for, leaned over and kissed her gently again "Because I love you now and forever" and put it on her wrist. She ran her hand over her watch and reached her arms around his neck and kissed him gently as well. Leaning over to his ear she whispered. "Those are the only two commitments I will ever require of you Ty, I'm completely open to negotiations for an upgrade when you're ready." When she stepped back, she looked into his eyes and with a mischievous smile said without taking her eyes from his "Come on troops, Mom's hungry."
Ty's smile said it all when he heard her comment and they started back with Amy and Ty leading the way, Jack leaned over and patted Ty's shoulder "well done son, you two will get it right this time I hope ?"
"Don't worry about it Jack, this is what we want, have always wanted."
"Amy, we're good right ?"
"Of course Ty, what do you mean ?"
"You said two commitments ?"
"Seriously Ty ?" She said stopping to face him. "You promised we'd have a baby !" She said it loud enough for all to hear without realizing it.
"Whoa Whoa" Maddie called out. "A weird watch ceremony to babies ?"
"Yeah, let's have a baby !" JT called out.
"It doesn't work that way JT !"
"Calm down Charlie, Ty and I have committed to loving each other forever and always being there for each other, these are promise watches."
"Amy, the boys ?"
"Have been watching horses and Alpacas give birth since they were babies. We breed animals Grandpa, they know babies don't drop from the sky. Oh Grandpa your watch, Ty take out his watch."
"Not here Amy, we can wait."
"No Grandpa, look he's already got it out."
"Careful Ty, be careful, don't drop it" Jack winced when the watch shifted in Ty's hands.
Amy and Lisa stared at Jack for a minute.
"Oh my god Ty, you told him didn't you." Amy cried out slapping his chest laughing.
"Really Jack, what, you lasted 2 minutes ?"
"Sorry son, Amy this is."
"Fine Grandpa but before you cast it off let Lisa at least read the inscription, out loud please."
"Grandpa, you are always in our hearts. Love Amy, Ty, Charlie, Maddie and JT."
"You are as bad as my wife." Jack muttered. "How much ?"
"More than a Harley less than a truck" she paused then and smiled and then in the interest of honesty "um not one of your trucks Grandpa, like a real one."
Lisa tried to hide her smirk but couldn't help herself at the last comment and just laughed.
Arm in arm Amy and Ty turned towards the VIP entrance.
"So my name is on that inscription." Ty whispered leaning over "that sure of yourself ?"
"We're miserable apart Ty, I'm miserable apart."
"I'm all for being a whole Amy, I love you."
"Whole is good Ty, I love you so much."
Amy leaned her head on his shoulder as they turned in.
The kids were all talking in the back of the group.
"Ok, the children require a stop. Let's go back to baby please ?"
Amy and Ty broke apart and turned "Maddie, this isn't the place" and then seeing the looks on her kids faces. "I want to have another baby and I want to have it with only man I ever loved."
"And when did you have a baby ?" Charlotte asked.
"Jackson was my 1st baby, my sweet precious little baby boy Mad, just like you two were my precious little girls. I just want to carry a baby, y'know, inside, sing to it, feel it grow."
"We get it mom, time clock, be a woman, sorry." Maddie said.
"JT ?" Amy asked meekly.
"I'm the #1 first baby, we going for a boy or girl because I pick boy, you know, maybe even things up a little."
"You get one maybe two scoops Jackson, you don't get to choose the flavor."
"Yeah, I get it Dr. Borden, a guy can hope though."
"A guy can definitely hope Jackson." Ty agreed and walked through the gate holding Amy's hand with his other arm around Jackson's shoulder.
They walked on into their camp where Pavel had lunch set out. The kids picked up the Carmichaels along the way and the Caldwells, who had stopped for something in town showed up a short while later, the latter were immediately set upon by Brin and the girls. A few minutes later, with the food uncovered they began to serve themselves. This time Amy and Ty sat with the Caldwells and chatted.
"So promise watches and babies, is there a time frame or a count down ?"
"Cutting straight to the heart of it huh Meg ?"
"We've had way too many bizarre conversations Amy, our daughters are in love, this may actually be the least bizarre conversation we could have these days."
"How bizarre a conversation have you two had ?" Ty asked intrigued.
"I got this Meg, Brin has a new bathing suit, Maddie bought it for her remember ?"
"Yup."
"A shopkeeper would have no problem with two teenaged girls stepping into a dressing room while one tried on a bathing suit. It's even stranger because neither of us had a problem with them say, having a sleepover and sharing a bed, or changing together before they were a couple. They've seen each other naked a thousand times Ty, they have gym together, showered together and have slept together."
"Ok, I get it."
Meg smiled at Ty, "we trust them Ty, it's just as parents and with Amy and Charlie and Bobby."
"I get it Meg."
She smiled and nodded "and now back to you two ?"
"We have issues to work out Meg and we're committed to working through them."
"For example ?"
"Ty feeling like he's a kept man."
"You can keep me anytime Amy."
"Thanks Sam, I'll keep that in mind if Ty doesn't work out."
Meg swatted at Sam smiling and looked at Ty "Yeah, I think we all get that in our group. I would think it would be different for a husband and wife or committed couple. You have things, she has things, money's not an issue unless you want it to be Ty. I'm a Piano Teacher and accompanist, Sam's an Endocrinologist, he'll always make more than me by a huge margin, I knew that going in, we're together that's more than enough. Do you have a schedule, are you moving, anything ?"
"I have to talk to my business partner before I commit to Pegasus, it's only right and things here are moving pretty fast. I doubt there's more than logistics at this stage."
"So is that a yes Ty, are you committing to the position assuming Scott is OK with it ?"
"Yes."
"I'll put you on the schedule." Amy took out a phone and sent a text.
"Good, you'll need a second, two actually but one to start who'll train the second."
"A second ?"
"Like Barb and Katie, someone you are good working with, communicate with well, trust, a passionate advocate committed to Equine Ortho and Rehab and vet school and if he or she can say teach the rudiments of trick riding and hunter jumping I would not be adverse to the idea."
"Georgie."
"Unless someone else fills that bill, I could actually add the words 'my niece' to the description to really firm it up but good luck getting past the trick riding."
"We have been a good team lately but there's Wyatt and her school to consider."
"We have an Ivy League Vet and Law School just down the road Ty."
"I'll talk to her and we'll all talk to Lou."
"Fine and we'll all figure out what to do with my dad."
"Yeah, your Dad and I, we've been sort of rocky."
"Imagine that, without Lou and Dad I've had a rather pleasant 8 years, Grandpa has been dealing with him. Lou's coming in the next week or two, Dad, who knows. He can be as nasty as he wants any where else but not on our ranch Ty. So he's married to Wyatt's Aunt, Casey McMurtry from the rodeos, I remember her but not much."
"Right, and Shane, who knows, your father had a big fight with him." Jack said coming over and sitting down with a plate.
"Shane's fine Grandpa, he's in school in Ottawa. We talk and text every now and then and I've seen him over the years. He'd be thrilled if I got Pal here. It's about 4 hours or so with good traffic from the capital."
"Good to know, good for you Amy."
"And the baby ?"
"Sorry Meg, when things settle and he's here. I'm not interested in a pregnancy on my own, I'd like him with me and I really want to do this."
Meg leaned over to whisper in Amy's ear. She did it with a smile to those around "And since we're both old fashioned at heart ?"
"If Dr. Borden wants to advance our relationship, up the ante so to speak, I'd be open to negotiations." Amy whispered back and then smiled at Ty.
Charlie, JT and Maddie who were over at the other side of the camp with Trish, John, the Carmichaels and the other children came over then and kneeled down by Lisa who had sat down with a plate near Jack. It was funny that they said it together "How about Grand Mere ?"
"Excuse me girls ?"
"Us calling you grand mere. Lisa is weird for us, we didn't know you as Lisa first and Gran is Gran so Grand Mere." Charlotte said. "It sounds pretty."
"Grand mere would be wonderful girls, I don't know what to say."
"Nothing to it. Trish suggested it, she didn't like us using Lisa either she said we should be comfortable, and there's the whole French thing, Trish speaks French."
"Grand mere, I like it."
"Then GG and grand mere it is." Maddie proclaimed. "So you got a box too, whatcha get ?"
"A lovely brooch that you'll see tonight."
"Charlie and I have Pegasus necklaces, pretty neat. Gran's is amazing."
"I guess we should all be getting dressed. John is there anything I need to know ?" Amy asked.
"Cooter will be here in 10 minutes and take the girls to the Saratoga clubhouse for a brief ceremony and we'll meet you at the jumping course entrance where we'll deliver Brin at 2:00. Bobby checked, it's a nice and clear view from the top of the buses."
The group broke apart either heading to their own busses or trailers.
Ty pulled out his afternoon clothes. Dark Grey Ariats with a white linen shirt. His jacket was a light weight blue blazer with thin lapels and cut slim.
Amy had her coach's gear out, tight spandex light grey jumping slacks and a white silk blouse. Her custom fitted matching jacket had the Pegasus logo on her left breast over the words Pegasus Equestrian Team.
"The grand mere thing, it's why Jackson won't call me Ty isn't it."
"I think so, actually now it's pretty evident."
"Ames."
"Ty, don't get into your head and don't rush on, JT's fine with it. He likes you and wants to get to know you. He's as scared of all this as you are. The Dr. Borden thing is his just way of staying safe for now. He doesn't know what to expect from all this but he's anxious for," she paused a second "just spend time with him, he's pretty easy to fall in love with."
"And me?"
"You're pretty easy to fall in love with too. Be honest with him and be yourself. Go slow, get to know each other. He knows there's a time factor in all of this."
"Anxious for a Dad Amy ?"
"You will be a great Dad Ty, the perfect Dad, I know you will."
Amy had just pulled on a fresh pair of panties when Ty pulled on his shirt. He was already wearing the ariats and socks. She walked over to him, naked except for the panties and looked up into his eyes as she began to button his shirt starting at the second button from the top. She smiled at him as she gently buttoned it down. He could feel her hands touch him softly with each button. He couldn't take his eyes off of hers. She snapped his sleeves and did the buttons on those and he tucked and did up his slacks. She had his gaze the entire time and then reached over and around him threading his belt. When it was around she unsnapped the buckle and reached behind her for a small box she had brought over. "I have two of these, I wear one every now and then." Ty looked over and then watched her take a belt buckle out. It was dark brass with a mother of pearl inlay of a white horse's head between the scrolled words Pegasus Ranch.
"There, a man who owns a ranch should have a belt buckle."
"It's your ranch Amy."
"Look at me Ty."
"Amy, you are driving me crazy, put some damn clothes on please, I can't think straight."
"Fine" she said laughing, "give me a minute but I will say my piece before we leave this trailer."
"And I'll listen but can I ask that my response not have to be weighed against a trip over Niagara Falls."
"Awww, John likes you Ty, he probably just would have held you over the edge for a couple seconds, I doubt he would have dropped you. I'm sorry about that by the way."
"Well I sort of deserved it, a little."
Ty waited with his jacket over a chair until Amy came out.
"Maybe just a little, you are very fetching in fit jeans Ty."
"Those tall black boots, silk blouse and those stretch pants have got to be a part of my top 5."
"I'll remember that, you know I could probably dig up a riding crop somewhere."
"Say your piece Ames." He answered laughing.
"Ty, if you can't accept a true partnership with me then we are exactly where we were 8 years ago. It didn't work then and it won't work now. My greatest treasure are those kids, the money is nothing, but you can't take one without the other. Those kids need parents that are equal and share everything. They need to see that to grow and feel safe and learn what a real marriage is, two people sharing one life as equal partners."
He sighed and knew she was right.
"I'll make you a set of keys to the truck Ames, the bank owns most of my house. I don't have much else, Harley and the Norton. My share of the clinic and Heartland stock business."
"You have me Ty, and I have you, I don't need anything else. I think I still have my truck keys somewhere. That code you entered is a master, it'll open any keypad in any Pegasus property anywhere."
"The money is nothing ?"
"I would trade it for you Ty if that's what you need."
"I don't need that. You'll have to give me some time to get used to the spending part of all this Amy but I'll say this, the watch is awesome."
