People watching was a hell of a pastime. You could learn so much about an individual as well as overall human nature by just observing behaviors and mannerisms of fellow man. Amy spent a great deal of the evening doing just that from her place at the wooden picnic table. She chatted with Soraya for a majority of the time who introduced her to a few of her own friends that showed up, but aside from Ty and Jack, she knew no one well enough to engage in deep conversation. She learned Jack and Lisa were a true opposites attract love story based simply on the clash of rustic cowboys and posh equestrians mingling in the yard. It wasn't a huge crowd, but enough to make it easy for her to become invisible.
Wherever Lisa drifted in the crowd, Jack wasn't far behind. Amy wondered if he even noticed how he gravitated toward his wife. She found herself spending a lot of time watching them interact within the venn diagram of their marriage. It was as fascinating as it was inspiring. Amy knew better than to believe in the fairytale she imagined for their love story without even knowing all of it. Jack's brooding while Lisa was gone for those few months said a lot. She was sure that was probably the root of some arguments over the years. So far as Amy understood, Heartland was Lisa's home base, but she still owned and operated quite a lucrative farm of her own not far from there, as well as her breeding investments in France.
Feeling eyes on her, Amy's gaze drifted toward Caleb who grinned and waved, beckoning her over. He arrived not long after Lisa to set up the music, getting into an argument with Soraya over the playlist he was supposed to send her yesterday but didn't. Amy kept out of what felt like a lover's quarrel, though spent much of the afternoon waiting for the tension to snap between him and Jack. Caleb didn't entirely ignore his old boss, but there was clear animosity in their curt pleasantries. They hadn't spoken a word in the last couple hours since the party came into full swing.
Sighing, Amy stood and wandered over, figuring she could use another drink anyway.
"You looked a bit lonely sitting there. Wanna give it a try?" Caleb lifted the headphones from his ears and held them open for Amy, who hesitated.
"I really have no idea what I'd be doing."
Caleb only shrugged and dropped the headphones over her head. "Neither do I, really. But I sure look cool doing it."
Amy resisted the urge to roll her eyes while she shifted over in front of a control board that looked like a complicated network of dials and buttons all backlit by neon LEDs. The entire thing was hooked up to a laptop where Caleb's Soraya-approved playlist displayed.
"So, I just pick a song?" She scrolled through the list. "Then what?"
Reaching around Caleb explained the Cue and Sync buttons, allowing her to mess around with the transitioning of songs further down the track. Then he tapped the large round platter in the middle, indicating to her to spin it. She jumped, laughing as the track scratched like an old school record. It was a cool device to mess around with but after two songs she'd had her fill and handed Caleb back his headphones. "Thanks, that was neat."
"Anytime," he grinned. "So how are you liking Hudson?"
Amy looked out toward the crowd. At Lisa who was in the middle of regaling a small group with a story and Jack who smiled warmly while he listened. At Soraya who was laughing at something her friend Jen showed her on her phone. Then her eyes landed on Ty leaning up against the fence sipping from a red solo cup and nodding absently at something their vet, Scott, was saying. "It's not exactly what I expected." Was it a surprise to hear Ty spent time in prison? Yeah. But could she believe it? Also, yeah.
"Is that good, or bad?"
Amy shrugged. "Both. But I'm here for the foreseeable future so I just have to take it in stride, I suppose." Her attention lingered on Ty while she answered, which she only realized when he glanced up to find her looking in his direction. Blinking, Amy turned away to give Caleb a smile. "So what do you do when you're not-" She mimed scratching a record, missing the way Ty's expression hardened at the ease with which Amy was able to be so close to Caleb when she could barely stand to be within three feet of anyone else. He didn't get it. Then reminded himself that there were a lot of unknowns when it came to Amy. He just wished it didn't annoy him so much to be left in the dark.
"I'm a rodeo stock contractor," Caleb replied, moving around tracks on the controller to keep the playlist running.
"I have no idea what that means," Amy shook her head, passing a sideways glance toward Ty who was no longer against the fence. Her head swiveled to find where he wandered off to but Caleb's explanation demanded her attention.
"The short of it is I buy roughstock for rodeos. Broncs, bulls, steer. Ever been?"
Amy's brow lifted. "To a rodeo? No. Coming to Heartland is the first time I've been within touching distance of a horse."
"Well, we'll have to get you to one some time." His smile was wide, genuine. Amy once again wondered if this was him flirting or merely trying to make friends. Her attention moved to Soraya. No way was she about to let herself get involved in another undefined, yet clearly drawn relationship.
"Uh, yeah, I'll tag along with Soraya next time she goes." The name drop was intentional. She needed to gauge Caleb's reaction to the idea of Soraya potentially cock-blocking his chances.
"Alright, awesome." Caleb merely continued grinning, seemingly oblivious to his questionable signals.
Amy let out a breath, more confident now that he was merely just trying to be nice. Otherwise, he probably would have preferred she went alone, right?
"That BBQ is calling my name again. Thanks for-" she waved a hand over the table, smiling as she stepped away toward the cooler to grab another can of ginger ale on her way back to the food table. As great as Maggie's chili was, Stumpy's pork barbeque was going to undoubtedly turn into a craving. She idly wondered if she could get Jack to talk him into making a large enough batch for her to freeze.
The music quieted as Caleb changed to a slower song, increasing the volume instead on the cacophony of conversation.
"You and Caleb looked pretty buddy-buddy."
Dropping the tongs with a clatter, Amy shot Ty her signature glare. Pop-up book from hell, indeed. "Jealous?" Stupid thing to conclude, but why else would Ty care that she was talking to Caleb?
"Because you seem perfectly fine with him hovering in your personal space? No. Just curious as to why." Grabbing for a plate, Ty put himself deliberately in her space when he had to lean near her to reach.
Amy stilled at the closeness, but otherwise didn't flinch away. Her jaw tightened when Ty purposely lingered inside her invisible fence for a few seconds longer than necessary. She breathed again when he leaned away, though still watched her closely while waiting for some kind of response.
"What are you even talking about?" She avoided eye contact while loading a bun with a heap of barbeque.
"You know what I'm talking about," Ty insisted quietly, taking the tongs when she shifted down for the cole slaw.
"No," Amy replied sharply. "I don't." She continued shuffling down the length of the buffet, putting distance between them that Ty continued breaching.
"Okay. Pretend you didn't jump out of your skin that day you ran into me in the barn. Or how you freeze any time someone even comes close to touching you. That is if you don't jerk away first." He kept his voice low enough for only her to hear, glancing around them to ensure no one else was close enough to eavesdrop. He might want answers, but the whole town didn't need to know their business.
"Oh." Reaching the end of the table, Amy grabbed a napkin. "Yeah, see there is this little thing called boundaries. I like mine." Nevermind the fact that he cornered her and scared her half to death once already.
"Right." Ty shook his head but didn't push. Amy gave him a look as if asking if that was all before returning to her spot at the picnic table where she'd been pretty much all evening.
Gathering his plate, Ty nearly walked right into Kit when he turned around. Her appearance startled him, figuring by now she didn't plan on showing up. "Ah, hey."
The tension was palpable as she gave him a tight-lipped smile. "Hey."
"Did you just get here?"
"Not long ago, I-" she paused. "I wasn't sure if I was even going to come."
Understandable. Selfishly, Ty hoped she wouldn't have if only to avoid this awkward encounter. "Well, Lisa will be happy to see you and there's plenty of food."
The disappointment on Kit's face at Ty's reply was clear, but he didn't know what she expected to happen. Claiming he was glad to see her would be a lie and would probably lead to yet another misunderstanding.
Saving her dignity, Kit didn't push for a conversation that would likely end the same as their last. Even she knew now wasn't the best time. "She was, yeah. It's nice to have her back."
Ty nodded in agreement. A strained silence spread between them before Kit broke it. "I'm just, uh, gonna grab a plate to go. I really only came for Stumpy's barbeque."
Though he didn't fully believe that, Ty chuckled. "I promise not to tell Lisa."
Kit's laugh was strained. "Thanks."
"Have a good night, then," Ty said, finding no reason to continue lingering.
"Hey," Kit said, stopping him. "Do you think we could try our last conversation again? Maybe over coffee?"
And there it was. "You're the one who drove away, Kit." After pretty much accusing him of having a relationship with Amy of all people.
"I know and I realize that maybe I wasn't being fair. I want to have a chance to get everything out in the open."
"I told you everything," Ty insisted. "You didn't want to hear it."
Pressing her lips together, Kit's chin trembled like she was trying to hold back tears. "I'm sorry. I heard the gossip and it struck me off guard. I'm ready to listen."
Maybe it was his perpetual guilt over how he treated Kit white he was gone, but somehow Ty found himself agreeing. "Okay. Sure."
Kit let out a relieved breath. "Great. I'll call you tomorrow?"
"Um, sure, yeah." Unfortunately, he couldn't use the inmates as an excuse over the weekend. He didn't know see how yet another discussion of his fuck ups and lack of communication would change anything, but he backed himself into this corner on his own and now he needed to see it through.
Flustered and having lost his appetite, Ty joined Amy at the picnic table. Amy lifted her eyes slowly from her plate, narrowing them with suspicion when Ty sat across from her. There were plenty of other places for him to sit. Like with Kit, for instance. But he wasn't paying her any attention, instead watching Kit at the buffet so Amy went back to eating.
"I think I messed up." Ty said suddenly.
Amy glanced up then around, wondering if he was talking to someone else. "You'll have to be more specific."
"With Kit."
Amy sat up straighter, putting her hands up. "Uh, uh. Your girlfriend, your problem. I'm not getting involved with your lover's quarrel again." Last time it was accidental, she sure as hell wasn't about to do it by choice.
Ty scoffed, turning back toward Kit only to find her gone. "That's fair."
"Damn right it is," Amy grumbled before shoveling a forkful of food in her mouth.
Pushing his plate back, Ty stood and reached his hand over the table. "Let's dance."
The dumbfounded look Amy gave him was almost comical with a mouthful of barbeque. "Wh-what?"
"Dance." He wiggled his fingers at her.
Amy stared at his hand while she swallowed her bite of food. "I-I don't-"
"If you don't know how that's fine, you'll learn if you're here long enough." They were invited to and hosted enough gatherings that Amy would have ample opportunity.
The shock wore off to be once again replaced with suspicion. "Why are you being nice all of the sudden?"
Because he was trying to test a theory. Instead of answering, Ty merely continued to stare her down with his hand out in invitation.
"What about Kit?" Amy asked, looking around the yard at the gathering of people. She was grasping at straws now.
"I don't see her, do you?" In a way he was relieved for that, though probably wouldn't have asked if she was still there. That was something he'd have to unravel with himself later, preferably before he had coffee with Kit. "Besides, it's not like you guys are in competition."
Amy frowned, unsure how to take that comment. Ultimately, she decided he was right. She wasn't vying for Ty's affections, so if Kit wanted to lay claim she could do so without a fight. Amy just didn't want to be accused of something she didn't do.
Out of excuses, Amy sighed and got up. She didn't accept Ty's hand but walked around the table to join him on the patch of grass designated as a dance floor. Amy still hesitated when Ty held his hands up again for her to take. She chewed the inside of her cheek feeling the regret sinking in. She should have declined. Giving herself into his hands put her in a place she might not be able to escape.
"We don't have to." Ty said, though kept his hands open in front of him.
Amy glanced at the people around them. Witnesses in all directions. Then she placed her palm against Ty's, sucking in air when his fingers curled around her hand, the other finding her waist, connecting them together. She placed her free hand on his shoulder.
He moved and she nearly tripped over his feet in her distraction. Then stiffened in his grasp when his hold tightened to steady her. "Wow, you are pretty bad at this, aren't you?" He teased, covering up the fumble and trying to take her mind away from her fear. She was a ball of solid anxiety in his hands, her movements stiff and her attention somewhere other than him.
His voice focused her attention, though, and when Ty moved again, Amy matched his steps. "Not many opportunities to dance in the city."
"I seem to recall Vancouver having a stellar nightlife. Though they're not necessarily dancing the two-step."
Amy knew all about Vancouver's club scene. Being a college student made it almost mandatory to spend weekends on the town or suffer FOMO come Monday. Freshman year was the time to explore and experiment. To live and learn before getting serious in the next few years. Live was precisely what Amy did, but the lesson learned was harsher than she ever expected.
Ty sensed Amy's mind drift when her eyes stared over his shoulder. "I take it the club scene wasn't really your thing."
"Not really," she answered quietly. It was too loud, too crowded. Too many bodies grinding up against one another beneath strobing lights that only succeeded in giving her a headache. Yet her decision to leave put her in more danger than staying would have wasted her night. Leaving in a group was always safer than alone.
The memory caused anxiety to bleed through her veins, her heart leaping into a sprint. Ty could feel her tense further, her hand sweating in his. Looking in her eyes, her pupils dilated to nearly consume the bright blue iris. She jerked away from him, her mouth opening to allow larger airflow as panic began to consume her. "Amy, hey." Ty didn't move, merely tried to get her to focus on him. He learned his lesson with trying to touch her when she was in this state. "Hey, you're okay. Look at me."
Blinking, Amy glanced up at Ty's worried expression. Shaking her head, she looked for a break in the crowd. "This was a bad idea." Spotting one, she bolted through it, nearly plowing into Lisa.
"Whoa, hey." Seeing the frightened look on Amy's face stopped Lisa in her tracks. "Amy?"
Feeling her lungs constrict, Amy was barely able to murmur an apology as she darted for the house, desperate to place a solid barrier at her back. Lisa turned to watch her leave, grabbing a hold of Ty when he tried to follow. "What's going on? Is Amy alright?"
Ty paused, looking toward the house just as the front door shut behind Amy. "I don't know. She, uh, she got spooked by something."
"Oh? By what?"
By him. Again. Proving his theory.
"Grandpa didn't tell you?" Of all the things, Ty would have thought Ty's theory would have been among the first things he clued her into if for no other reason than to ensure Lisa treaded lightly.
"Tell me…?" Jack got her up to speed on quite a bit since she got back, including the heated rivalry that caused so much trouble between Ty and Amy since she arrived. Judging from the way they were just dancing, Lisa figured they found a way to smooth things over. Perhaps not.
Sighing, Ty didn't know if now was the best time to discuss Amy's questionably dark past with Lisa, but someone needed to talk Amy into opening the likely locked door and she was probably the best person to do it.