A/N – Thanks again for all the good wishes.

Chapter 30

"Grandpa, look at me, the tea is an anti inflammatory and will help hold down the swelling in your joints, the cream will ease the pain. At least try."

"The pills help."

"And fishing and fly tying doesn't."

"Amy."

"Please Grandpa, this can help, just try, do it for me."

"Fine, make me a cup of the tea and show me what to do with this stuff."

Amy fixed two cups of tea, ginger for her and her joint relief tea for him and brought them out. He took a sip and didn't find it unappealing then held out his hand where Amy gently rubbed in the cream over his joints and the back of his hand.

"It smells."

"You work in manure, cowboy up Grandpa, should we do your knees ?"

"We should not Amy, if this helps I'll do it tonight before bed."

"Ok, I've pushed enough. Read the paper and I'll try to get through some of this mess."

After about 40 minutes Amy covered her grandfather's legs with a light blanket and took his glasses to lay down on the small table. She worked through paperwork for a couple of hours while he napped. She had a snack rather than a big tiring lunch and fixed a sandwich for Jack.

"Hey Grandpa." She whispered gently and kissed his head.

"Marion ?" He whispered opening his eyes.

"It's Amy, Grandpa."

He took a deep breath, "Of course it is, I must have fallen asleep. The cream helped Amy, thank you."

"You're welcome, come Grandpa, are you hungry, I have a sandwich for you."

While he ate Amy cut up an apple and shared it with the dogs who had come looking for her. She had brought some work to the table and was reading documents and initialing and signing as she went.

"Not what you thought you would be doing a few years ago I guess."

"I'm usually more on top of things, the past week has been strange. I'll catch up."

"How's it going with Ty ?"

"I think it's going well. It's early and there's still a lot to get through. He say anything to you ?

"Not really anything to hang your hat on. He loves you Amy."

"And I love him Grandpa, always have."

"Can I have coffee, what's the deal with the teas ?"

"You can have coffee, you should have at least 2 cups of the tea a day or more if you'd like."

Amy continued working and signing or making notes.

"What is all that anyway ?"

'Letters to donors thanking them, loans, rehab notes, donations, training reports, reports from the centers, financial statements, fund transfers, you name it, I look at it."

"You work hard Amy, you look tired."

"I was taught to work hard Grandpa, I do my best."

"Betty says Ty has at least gotten you to slow down a little."

"The girls said something like that to me. I remember watching how hard Val and Lisa worked and I always admired that in both of them and wondered if I could do it. Balance this stuff, the incessant paperwork and day to day with actually working with the horses and still finding the time to spend with the kids and family."

"Worth it ?"

"Ty would call that a loaded question Grandpa. How do you measure something like that ?"

"I guess you don't, are you happy Amy ?"

"It would be a lie to say I've been unhappy and a lie to say I've been completely content. It's always been a fine line."

"And just today ?"

"Today I am happy and content."

"There have been other days between, let's call it then and now when that's been the case ?"

"Yes Grandpa there have."

"Then I guess you're pretty much like everyone else, we live our lives day by day Amy, those days when we are both happy and content are the best of them. You have two families that love you, seems happy, content and fortunate to me."

Amy smiled and reached over to kiss his cheek before cleaning off the table.

"Ty mentioned that Georgie and Wyatt are on the way."

"I hope she's not too mad at me, I miss her Grandpa."

"I think just seeing you might swing her. She seemed to gravitate towards Lisa when Lou started going away a lot after the divorce."

"I hoped that would be the case."

"Ty seems to be making friends with Jackson."

Amy smiled and showed her the picture of "their fish" Ty forwarded to her after she had seen it.

"Would you look at the smiles on both of them."

"I thought you were fishing with them Grandpa."

"Lisa suggested that a ride with her might be better advised, by the look of things she was probably right."

"He's going to take it hard when you two are gone, April should be back by then so that should help."

"Ah, the neighbor girl."

"Yeah, between her and Cars there's always one around."

"Her folks are farmers ?"

"Small dairy farm, artisanal cheese, eggs and the like. Erma is an amazing cook and baker, they do weddings on the farm, really down to earth folks and April is very much like JT."

"You had mentioned a lot like Mallory."

"Not as gossipy but the questions that girl can ask."

They were interrupted by the roar of motorcycles getting close. Amy smiled, "come on Grandpa let's see how it went."

On the way out of the house Bryce called over "Amy, Barclay and Colton are up next, is that good for you and Ty ?"

"That's perfect, is Spartan out ?"

"North meadow, resting up for tomorrow."

"I'd like to switch off tomorrow with Jasper please, Spartan's a bit old for a whole day."

"I'll take care of it boss."

"I guess he must be getting on."

"He's 24 Grandpa, I've let him slow down a little. He's healthy with no issues but."

"I know how it is Amy." Amy nodded as they walked across the lawn towards John and Jackson who was standing with his fists in the air like Rocky.

"I was sorry to hear about Paint Grandpa, I remember his smiling face every morning, first you saw."

"He was a good friend, Buddy though has worked out for me, a good horse is a good horse."

"I look forward to meeting him one day." They had reached the group and they steered towards John. "Have a good time JT ?"

"Awesome mom, the best."

Ty walked over then and snaked his arm around Amy, "looks like a fun ride Jackson."

"I need a bike home Amy, can I grab your Norton ?"

"Sure John."

"What about this ?" Jackson pointed.

"Not mine Jax, here you go Ty" John said with a smile at Amy and flipped the keys.

Ty caught them, smiled at Jackson and dropped them in his pocket.

JT grinned a mile wide.

Betty who had driven over to the house to unload the food with Lisa came walking back.

The girls who had backed their bikes into the shop joined the group as well.

"Mad pull out the Norton for John to ride home please." Amy asked

"Charlotte, get the Chief parked please." Betty added.

"Sure thing Gran" Charlotte said trotting over to the house.

"Take care of the Harley for you Doc ?" Maddie asked.

"Thanks Maddie, that'll be great, I have a riding date." He said it digging the keys out of his pocket.

"Girls we're taking Barclay and Colton, you need to exercise them."

"We know mom, bad week last week all around so we put them on rotation." Maddie said.

"That's fine Mad."

"Hey Doc what's going in the auto shop ?"

"What makes you think I know Maddie ?"

"Mom said."

"Ever think your Mom said it to throw you off ?"

"Hey, that's not fair." Amy cried.

"So that's how it's gonna be with you two ?" Maddie asked smiling.

"Bye Maddie."

"Later Doc."

They walked towards the family barn where two horses were tacked to the round pen.

"These are Maddies' and Charlottes' ranch horses, Colton and Barclay, between jumping and liberty they've been stretched for time. Ty, Spartan's getting older, we'll rest him today for tomorrow and I won't do the whole day tomorrow on him. Besides we have a little over two hours and I won't run him like that. Race you to the preserve ?"

"Dodger, Duncan stay boys."

"Ok, so, how did this used to go, what was it 1,2,3 go ? Ty said kicking Colton off into a canter and pulling away moving quickly to a gallop.

"Hey that's cheating" Amy called out laughing while getting Barclay on the move.

They had an hour together and spent a lot of it giggling and laughing. They were more in sync every day and Ty started to allow himself to relax in this place which was still so odd for him. Amy caught him staring off at the treetops while she was checking the clock. "We have to get back before 6:00, what are you thinking about ?"

"Everything is so different and then so familiar."

"Ok, that sounds like more than we have time for. Want a quick shower, now's the time."

"I'm good I think."

"Better than good Ty but I agree, short workout" she said with a huge grin. "Come, on adoptions are great, especially when they're kids. We will talk later and get out in front of it."

"It's really nothing."

"Then we'll do something else."

They rode back at a brisk canter once they left the preserve and were met by the girls, Brin and Bobby who were sitting outside the family barn.

"We'll get them stalled and feed them mom."

"Thanks girls, where's your brother ?"

"In here mom, with Cars."

"Oh hey Dr. Borden wasn't sure if you had to work more."

"I think I'm slacking to see my first adoption Jackson. How's Buck Cars ?"

"He's great sir, back at the house though, mom dropped us off cause of the bar b que."

"Did someone switch the laundry to the dryer in the guest house ?" Amy asked.

"Gran did it when she checked stock."

"Thanks Mad, we have some time Ty, I can send someone when they get here. I'll be in the office kids."

"Hi Brin, Bobby" she called out "didn't mean to ignore you."

"Hi Amy, we're good." Brin called back.

Amy sat and started working through the ever shrinking backlog of work. She was hoping to be caught up before Thursday, checking in and dealing with 36 horses was daunting under the best of circumstances but until they knew the condition of what they were getting until the moment the trailers leave the shelters they didn't know for sure. They had five on sight surgeons ready and would make calls depending on what was coming.

"That is a worried face, don't you ever relax ?"

"Well strangely enough lately."

"I don't mean that I mean fish or write, do you still write ?"

"Sometimes, not like I used to."

"Maybe you should start again, I think it used to help you."

"Mom, trailer pulling in." Charlotte called out as she walked out waving at the two kids hanging out the back window."

"This helps, come on."

Amy put on a big smile when she came out of the office and immediately went up to shake the hand of a man about their age.

"Will Morrow, Ms. Fleming, it's a pleasure to meet you."

"Please call me Amy, this is Dr. Borden, my daughter's Charlotte and Madelyn. The one on the right there's mine too JT and his friend Carson. That's Brin and Bobby. And you two are Willie and April, we have a neighbor named April. So two horses for two kids huh, shall we let them choose ?"

"They will ?" Willie the boy asked

"Of course they will, girls if you'll get the horses into the round pen please, JT, herd those two lucky children in there to wait and we'll see."

Soon the girls and JT had the four together. They had met before as a group but Amy always liked this part when there were two riders.

"Take a step towards them kids let's see."

The kids each stepped forward. The horses were off towards the far rail.

"Click you tongues and hold out your hands."

That did it and the horses started moving they were wary but each surely headed towards one.

"There you go, April your horse is ?"

"Trike !"

"And I've got Rubin."

"Now let's hear our agreements." Amy said standing before the two.

"We promise to take care of our horses who are our best friends. We will feed them and keep them clean and healthy and wear our helmets." They said it together as they had memorized it and Ty smiled listening to them recite it.

"And ?" Amy asked.

"And it we ever can't to call Pegasus."

"Right. Excellent, now usually I get a hug" she said bending over and getting two smiling happy hugs. "Ok the girls will help you get them in the trailer and I'll sign some papers with your dad while Chuck here, this is Chuck, will load some goodies for them. Your dad says you have good saddles ?"

"Yes ma'am" Willie answered.

"And helmets ?"

"Yes ma'am until we're ready."

"That'll be up to your folks but no arguing."

"Yes ma'am."

"Ok then." She was smiling and they smiled back.

"Mr. Morrow, Will sorry, if you'll follow me we can take care of the paperwork.

Soon they all stood waving as they pulled away.

"Two more off to a happy home !" Carson said waving.

"Keeping track Cars ?" Amy asked.

"Naw, just like seeing it." He said smiling at her.

"Well we have 20 minutes or so for the Habermeyer's to show up, I can sign my name 4 times in 20 minutes." She said it heading through the office door.

"Does she actually slow down ?"

"Well, if she hasn't been signing and reading on the trail with you or the past few evenings then yes, she does." Charlotte answered.

"So it's like that ?"

"Not really that bad but we'll spend a few hours after dinner together in the living room or the family room and we'll all go to bed and she'll stay up working, sometimes pretty late. Or we'll all go fishing and she'll end up reading something eventually."

"When you heading back Doc ?" Maddie asked, they were strolling along the rescue barn, saying goodbye to all the horses they had helped. Ty watched the horses respond to the twins as if were Amy and thought it was funny that they spoke to them like she did, with that silly patter she had of asking the horse something and then answering her question out loud.

"After next week for 2 or 3 I think."

"We'll miss you Dr. Borden."

"Thanks Maddie, you'll keep the Norton for me I guess ?"

"Sure thing Doc. Want to spill on the auto shop ?"

"Nope."

"Last one pulling in" JT called out from the door of the barn.

Everybody came out to wave at the Habermeyer Clan as they pulled up in their red truck and trailer. There was a younger couple in their 40's, a teenaged girl and an older gentleman.

"You must be John, I'm Amy, we spoke on the phone" Amy said walking towards the elderly gentleman and putting out her hand.

"Good to meet you Amy, this is my son Dave, his wife Julie and my granddaughter Alisha."

"Nice to meet you all, my boyfriend Dr. Borden, Ty, my daughter's Madelyn and Charlotte, son, Jackson and these are Carson, Brin and Bobby. Oh and that's Chuck coming over."

"Grainger, you're the Grainger twins. We were in kindergarten and 1st grade together." The young lady said. "Remember mom you and their mom, uh."

"Gloria and Mitch, Betty and Jim's son and daughter in law. Well Betty, Jim had passed by then." The older gentleman spoke up.

"That's us, Alisha, that's right, you had two tiny dogs and a yellow kitchen." Charlotte said. "Wow, I hardly remember any of that."

"And mules." Maddie added.

"Betty ? Your Grandmother ?"

"We'll get her John, Jackson please fetch Gran."

Jack and Cars ran off. "Jackson's the baby."

"He's running, they said his leg was crushed." Julie said.

"Not quite but pretty bad and several surgeries with one more to go. They're the best part of my life."

"We lost track, things happened so fast."

"They needed to be in Ithaca for treatment, I met Betty and the girls several weeks after they came. A decision needed to be made about the leg, it was getting circulation but the bones were a mess, there were surgeons who said it could be fixed but someone needed to step up and I was already in love with them by then so."

"John ? Is that really you ?" Betty called out walking over.

"It is Betty, it's good to see you well."

"And you." She said hugging him " and Shirley ?"

"Passed a few years ago."

"Sorry to hear, you're Dave right, you used to love my oatmeal raisin cookies."

"I remember, you'd send Mitch with them when he came over to fish and ride the mules."

"That's right and you must be Julie, I had left Cortland for a few years when you came on the scene. So you say your daughter went to school with our two, what a small world." Betty added.

Amy smiled "Girls take Alisha and go fetch Trenton for Mr. Habermeyer. Should we sign some paperwork ?"

"He doesn't have to swear and promise out loud ?" Ty asked with a chuckle.

"No, I think it works with the little ones, they're always so serious." Amy laughed "John here gets to sign."

Sitting down Amy pulled out a file.

"That was something special you did taking in that family. Mitch and Gloria were good people."

"This might sound strange John but it was nothing, I couldn't imagine my life without them." She said smiling at him.

"Now Trent's been at your place a few times, you're good getting him down ?"

"He's been perfect, thanks so much for this."

"Don't thank me, you're paying for this one."

"We both know that's not the case."

"Still, thank you John, now if you'll sign at the arrows please."

"I leave the check with you ?"

"Sure, just leave it on the desk and let's get you on the way."

They walked out of the office and Trent immediately acknowledged John.

"Looks like we have a pair, you all should feel free to call Betty and come down with the family to ride and visit."

"Thank you Amy, it was wonderful meeting you and seeing the children again and Jackson, I saw him in the hospital, you were a beautiful baby young man."

"He was, thank you Julie, Dave, Alisha it was good meeting you all."

"Safe drive home" Betty called out as they turned the truck and everyone waved.

"Mom ?" Charlotte asked.

"Let's go, Bar b que awaits and mom's hungry."

"Jack and Lisa set up so we're good." Betty added.

"Then let's eat." Jackson said taking his mom's and Ty's hands and walking towards the house.