Wednesday Evening
Laughter and chatter floated across the yard, from the overturned rowboat toward the ranch house. Stepping onto the porch, Andrew heard them loud and clear, even snippets of their conversation. He headed in their direction anyhow.
"Hey." Andrew said as he walked up, interrupted what seemed like a tiny party, a sisterly celebration of sorts.
So engrossed in their conversation, he startled her. "Andrew. Hey!" Surprise danced in her voice, on her face.
Lou quickly stood up from her spot on the boat's hull. "Andrew, you can have my seat. I'm gonna to head back to the ranch."
Before she walked away, Lou leaned over, kissed the top of her sister's head and whispered. "Be honest."
Amy watched her sister for a moment, then patted the boat bottom, motioning for him to sit next to her. He sat down, sideways, facing her but leaving plenty of room between them. He started.
"Bébé, je suis désolé.."
Amy interrupted. "Please, Andrew. Let me go first."
He lowered his head, nodded, expecting the worst.
She sought his eyes out with hers. "I am sorry that dinner was.." She shook her head, frowned, trying to find the right word. "...awkward, to say the least. Know it didn't go as you had hoped."
"Yeah. Things went a bit sideways."
"A bit?" She smirked.
"I just wanted everyone to be together. Your whole family. For you. Like old times." He confessed. "I wanted to surprise you."
"It was a wonderful surprise. It's been forever it seems since I've seen Lou. I've missed her. I have missed them all." She smiled genuinely. "Thank you."
He stroked her cheek with the back of his curled forefinger. "I love you. And, I love to see that beautiful smile of yours, bébé."
She blushed as she tucked her chin, lowered her eyes demurely.
"That's why I flew them in. I wanted to see you happy."
"I am happy. Andrew. You're here. I've missed you so much...So, having everyone together is icing on the cake."
She reached out, touched his knee. "And, thank you for the tickets to the States and to the Games. You are so generous...I didn't mean to sound ungrateful. I was just caught off guard."
"But?" He said, discounting her words.
"No buts." She smiled, push a golden wisp behind her ear. "Like I said before, I want to be there to support you and Dandy. I want to witness the culmination of every thing you dreamed about, perservered all these years, worked so hard to accomplish."
"We." He said quietly. "We did it together."
"Yes, we worked together. As a team." She leaned in just a bit more, looked up at him. "Andrew. But, this is your dream."
"I thought it became our dream."
She deflected his comment, continuing with her line of thought. "Before I can commit to going, I have to check my schedule, make arrangements, talk with Alicia. After all, I have two businesses and school. That's all. I definitely want to go and will do everything in my power to be there. Okay?"
He nodded. "Fair enough." He breathed a sigh of relief.
"Now. If I can go, it's for you, Dandy and the team. Period. This is your moment. Not mine. Okay?"
"Okay."
"Good." She was on a roll. "Andrew. I have no desire to coach competitive jumping at that level ever again."
"Bébé, you are so talented. You are a natural." He complimented her. "Look what you did for Dandy and me."
"You are not listening." She lightly scolded him.
"Sorry." He sighed heavily. "Okay. I'm listening."
"I have coached the Saudi team and I have coached you. I enjoyed both, but for different reasons. I learned so much from each experience and have memories that will last a lifetime...But, I am done with that." She held his eyes as she talked.
He frowned, but replied reluctantly. "Okay. If that's what you want."
"Yes. That's what I want." She echoed him, then grasped his hand. "Andrew. We make a good team and have accomplished a lot together." She paused. "You have brought immense light and happiness back into my life. You and your dreams have encouraged me to follow my own dreams, accomplish my own goals."
He pulled back from her, his hand slipped from her grasp as he jumped to conclusion. "Are you breaking up with me?" His eyes narrowed.
His conclusion, his question did not surprise her. She expected it.
"No. I am not." She said honestly, firm in her conviction.
His body language showed relief, though she knew he was not thoroughly convinced. She reached out, took his hand again.
"From our first conversation, I have known what you wanted to do. You wanted to ride Dandy with the Canadian Team in the Games. It was a dream you and your dad had together. You were unwilling to let that dream go."
Andrew struck a somber tone. "I couldn't. After dad...passed, it became an obsession with me. I had to follow-through."
"I know." She said tenderly. "I love that about you. Your passion, your persistence. You sold me on your dream."
"I was a pushy pain in the ass." He said quietly, acknowledging his brashness. "You fell in love with Dandy. She was the one who sold you."
"The two of you together sold me. You both had passion beyond words."
"We couldn't have done it without you."
She smiled. "Andrew. Now I need you to listen to my dreams."
"Of course." He leaned in slightly to listen.
"I wish you had known my mom." She paused. "She was everything to me. I grew up watching her. Her incredible gift with horses. She inspired me. And, I wanted to be just like her." A soft laugh escaped her lips.
"Our dream was to work together, work with abandoned and broken horses, help them reach their potential, find new purpose, new homes. The plan was that I would go to college, earn a degree, then come home to work with her, take over the Heartland business some day. Her death..." She swallowed hard, trying to blink away the sting in her eyes.
Andrew drew her hand to his lips, kissed it tenderly.
"Her death changed everything." A tear ran down her cheek, she didn't try to stop it. "Sorry. It still hurts even after all that time."
He reached out, wiping away her tear, gently with his fingertips. "No need to apologize. I completely understand. We share that, the loss of the guiding light of our being. Your mom. My dad."
"Yes, we share that." She whispered.
A breeze blew a strand of hair across her cheek. Gently, his finger drew it behind her ear. His warm lips kissed her cheek, comforting her.
She breathed in deeply, smiled gratefully at him, his compassion, his understanding, then continued.
"Now. Here it is. 11 years after her death. And, finally I am at the point in my life, financially and emotionally, that I can actually follow through on that dream."
After a pregnant pause, she said with confidence. "First to the UC to earn my degree. Its going to be hard, but I am more than ready."
"Of course you are ready. You can do anything you put your mind to!" He squeezed her hand, encouraging her to continue.
"Classes start Monday..."
"Bébé, I am proud of you." His tone was genuine and encouraging.
"I plan to start Vet School in the fall."
"Vet School? In the fall?" He wasn't expecting her to say that. "Had you mentioned Vet School before?"
"No...I have been working some with Scott Cardinal, helping with his field work, seeing clients, vetting their animals, mostly large ones like cattle, horses, mostly on the weekends."
"Oh. You didn't mention that either." He shook his head, then recanted. "Never mind that. Please go on."
"Turns out I have some abilities with all sorts of animals, not just horses. And, I love it."
"You have an amazing gift with horses. I am not surprised that gift extends to all animals." Curious, he asked. "But, why Vet School? You have always focused on your mom's natural methods."
"True, but I often still need a vet. As a vet, I can diagnose and treat issues with the best combination of behavioral methods, natural therapies and traditional treatments."
He nodded, moved on. "Tell me. How can you start Vet School in the fall without an undergraduate degree?"
"Well. In meeting with the Deans of the Vet School and Agriculture School, if I do.."
"Amy. You certainly are full of surprises. When did this happen?" He tried to keep things light.
"This past Monday." She admitted.
"Oh. I thought you were just meeting with an advisor."
"Well, on one of the trips with Scott, I met the Dr. Singh, the Dean of the Agriculture School. He suggested, then arranged the meeting with his brother, the Dean of the Vet School."
"Well, that was fortunate..."
"No kidding. So if I do well in my required classes and on the M-CAT this summer, given my experience and work, I can apply and potentially start Vet School this fall."
"I have no doubt that you'll do well this summer, then start Vet School in the fall. So. Congratulations."
She didn't respond as she waited for his next questions.
"Amy. Why didn't you tell me all this?"
"I wanted to tell you in person, not by phone or text, because I knew this would upset you. Plus, I didn't want this to affect your performance. I have already done that."
"My performance? What are you talking about?" His brows drew together.
"When I first told you about school. You got upset, got ninth. Up til then, you were doing well."
"Oh Amy. That's on me. Not you." He was firm.
She nodded.
"For the record, I am not upset with you about Vet School. I am disappointed that you didn't say anything.. until now. If we are to be in a committed, lasting relationship, we need to be honest with each other. We need to talk. Always."
"You are right. I am sorry."
His eyes traveled upward, as though he was reading her words in the sky, reading between the lines, formulating his next words. His gaze returned to her.
"Did you ever consider moving to Bromont?...Be honest." He asked.
"Andrew. Yes. I considered it very seriously." She was sincere, her tone gentle. "But no. I can't move. This is my home. This is where I belong."
He sighed. "I guess I knew that Bromont wasn't...but when the coaching thing came up. I just thought maybe..."
She pressed her lips, shook her head No.
"And marrying me? Is that out now too?" He asked pointedly, but not really wanting to know.
"Andrew. I do love you." She tried to catch his eye. "Marriage isn't necessarily out, but I am just not ready for it. I have been very honest about that."
He nodded, then turned toward the pond, stared as he tried to compose himself. They sat without talking for some time.
Finally, Andrew broke the silence, looked at her. "Amy. I am so very proud of you. Moving forward with your goals and plans. I have no doubt that you will be an incredible vet."
"But?"
"No buts. I want you to know I support you as you have supported me, without reservation. Always."
"Thank you. That means the world to me." Feeling relieved and happy, she closed her eyes as she kissed him deeply.
When she opened her eyes, gazed upon his face, she saw something she had never seen before, resignation. "Andrew, talk to me. What are you thinking?"
He didn't respond.
"Andrew?"
"It's just that.." Andrew trailed off. "I want to be with you. By your side. To be married. Not sure that you feel the same. Where does this leave..us?" He shrugged.
"That leaves us, still committed to each other." She said quietly. "As we are now, in a long distance relationship."
He sighed heavily, mumbled something unintelligible.
"Andrew. If you don't want to do long distance, you could always move to Hudson." She raised an eyebrow. "I would welcome that."
"I would move here in a heartbeat to be with you." He shook his head, exhaled deeply. "But, I can't. You know that. Mother funded this year on my promise that I would return home and run the resort. I can't go back on that."
"I know..." She said quietly, then added. "But, it's still your choice. Long distance or..." She didn't want to finish her sentence. But, she didn't have to, he understood.
"My choice? Why is it my choice? What about you? You could go either way? Just as easy for you to break-up as to do the distance thing?" His voice raised just slightly, cracked with hurt.
"No! That's not it, Andrew. I don't want to break up...But, after everything I just said, if you want to, I understand."
He hung his head, but spoke his position. "No. I do not."
She grabbed his hand as she moved closer to him.
"Andrew. Look. With you on tour and me in Alberta, we are already in a long distance relationship. So...if neither of us wants to break up, we don't have to. Nothing changes between us. Right?"
He sighed, then gave her a tender kiss on her forehead. "I love you."
"I love you too."
Their eyes met, searching for something, more than bittersweet resignation to a long distance relationship, more than the beginning of the end. She touched his face with her fingers, her thumb stroking his cheek. She smiled, hoping to reassure him, reassure herself.
His gaze broke from hers first, as he pulled her into an embrace, wrapping his arms tightly around her, as though he would never let her go.
She didn't want to let him go either, knowing that he had been the one by her side, helped her to heal, restored her confidence, opened her heart and mind to possibilities again.
He whispered in her ear. "Amy."
His warm lips brushed against the lobe of her ear, then moved down her neck, kissing her skin lightly, causing a reawakening. His hands cupped her face tenderly as his lips descended on hers. His lingering kiss tasted sweet, wanting, melancholy all at once. Hers lips responded in kind, but her heart ached for him, for their relationship.
As they pulled apart, she suggested. "Come on. Let's go check my schedule for the Games then get some dessert."
As they walked back to the barn, side by side, hand in hand, with a sliver of daylight between them, he was unusually quiet.
"Something still on your mind, Andrew?" Amy asked.
He shrugged. "Think jet lag is catching up with me. All of a sudden I feel utterly exhausted."
"Understandable...if you like, we can skip dessert and I can drive you back to Fairfield."
"Thanks. I think that may be best." He gave her a fleeting smile.
Back at the ranch house, the two found Lisa and Jack sitting on the front porch bench, talking, drinking a glass of wine.
"Well hello, Amy and Andrew." Jack greeted them.
"Hey Jack, Lisa." Andrew replied quietly, Amy nodded.
"We're about to head back to Fairfield. We have an early plane to catch. And, I need to attend to a few things first." Lisa informed them.
"Mind if I catch a ride, Lisa?" Andrew asked, then explained. "The time zone thing..."
"Of course. You must be exhausted." Lisa empathized. "It always takes me a day or two to recover when I travel to or from France."
"Why don't you take your vehicle, Lisa? Andrew's luggage is still in there." Amy suggested.
"Good idea." Lisa added. "We're getting a car to the airport so you two are welcomed to use the Porsche while we're gone."
Amy thanked her.
Jack suggested. "Lisa, why don't you and Andrew head on over? I have a bit more packing to do. Amy can run me over in a while."
Lisa nodded, knowing that Jack wanted to talk with Amy. "Makes sense."
The four walked to Lisa's car. Amy hugged Lisa goodbye. "Have a great trip Lisa. Don't work too much. Have some fun."
"Thanks. We will!" Lisa responded, then whispered in her ear. "Are you okay?"
"I will be." She whispered back.
"I love you."
"Love you too. I will miss you." She gave her another hug. "Don't let Grandpa be a stick in the mud."
Lisa chuckled.
"Hey. I am not a stick in the mud." Jack replied, acting hurt.
The women looked at each other, knowing otherwise.
Amy then hugged and kissed Andrew. "Get some sleep, Andrew. And sleep in as long as you like. Come over when you are up to it. Love you."
He nodded. "Good night, Bébé. See you in the morning."
She and Jack waved as they drove away, then climbed the stairs to the porch. Sitting next to each other on the bench, they gazed across the vista before them. Some time passed before Jack spoke.
"How did it go?" Jack smoothed his mustache with his thumb and forefinger, gazing at his granddaughter.
She exhaled wearily. "Grandpa, I won't lie, it was hard. But I was honest." She said not looking at her grandfather.
"How did Andrew react?"
"I was expecting him to be upset about Vet School but instead Andrew was so incredibly supportive and understanding."
"That's good."
"You were right, of course. Truth is, I hurt him by not being honest, not including him in my plans. So, he now questions our relationship.."
"So. How did you leave things?"
"Between a rock and a hard place." She said flippantly. "But. You'll be glad to know. We're still together. I am still going to school. He's still going on tour. No moving trucks or wedding bells. Nothing changed."
"Doesn't matter how I feel Amy...what's important is you. Are you happy with your decisions?" He asked.
She turned to face her grandfather. "Happy? No, not really. But, relieved that we talked. I was honest about everything, school, marriage, moving."
"The truth is freeing."
"I guess." She shrugged her shoulder. "It would have been better if he yelled, got angry, or something."
"If he had, would you have changed your decisions?"
"No...But, Grandpa, I feel so bad, so guilty about the whole thing. Hurting him like I did."
"You care deeply for Andrew."
"Yes, of corse." She nodded. "I really do love him. I don't want to break-up but he wants more than I can give."
"Amy. You were truthful. He's a grown man. He made his choices too."
She put her hands over her eyes. "Grandpa, I don't want to lose Andrew in my life. He's been there for me, helped me overcome...so much."
"Then don't. And, make sure he knows that."
She nodded, slipped back into silence, putting her head on his shoulder.
After some time, Jack cleared his throat, changed the subject. "So Harley? What's going on with him...?"
"He was just off today. Lethargic, melancholy, mopey." Amy explained, as she sat up straight. "I had been thinking of selling him. And, I think he could sense that."
"Horses are mighty perceptive creatures, almost as much as humans." He raised a single bushy eyebrow at her as he leaned in. "You know. Moving forward doesn't require leaving everything else behind."
"I decided to keep him."
"You'll want to reinforce that with your actions and words."
She sighed, again recognizing the irony. "I love you Grandpa." She smiled at him as she said it.
"Amy. I love you too."
Thursday
Well past noon the next day, Andrew drove through the Heartland gate, parked at the barn. He exited the SUV, entered the barn, making a beeline to the loft. He knocked once, then opened the door.
"Amy?" He called to her.
"In here." She responded from the bedroom.
He found her sitting on the edge of the bed, talking excitedly on her cell phone. She grinned, motioned for him to sit next to her.
"Alicia. Hey. Andrew is here..."
Andrew leaned in to kiss her neck, his breath tickling her. A giggle escaped her lips in response.
"Stop." She whispered playfully, then kissed his cheek. She continued her conversation with Alicia.
"Yes! Me too!...Yes, I will tell him...I gotta go. Talk to you soon. Bye." She put her phone down, turned to him, smiling.
"Good news. Checked my schedule, changed a couple of things. I can go. Alicia can too." She squealed. "We're both so excited. Thank you!"
"Oh. Bébé." He murmured.
He leaned in again, kissing her neck, gently eliciting another giggle, as she drew her arms around his neck. Their lips met in a single soft kiss, tender and warm. They parted, smiled.
"Sleep good?" She asked.
"I did. Feel like a new man." He said, though his face said otherwise. "You?"
"Not so much." She sighed, but did not elaborate. "So. Ready for a ride and a picnic? I have a special lunch for us...okay, mostly Lou prepared it. But I picked the fruit."
They both laughed, knowing the meal preparation was not her strong suit. Amy stood, then motioned for him to follow her to the kitchen.
"Looks like a pretty day." He said as he looked out the window.
"Think we lucked out on the weather while you're here."
"Looks that way..." He stood next to her. "So. Which horse am I riding? Harley?"
"Take Spartan, I'll ride Harley." She was firm.
"Are you sure? I mean Spartan is your horse. I've never ridden him before."
"Today's your lucky day." She reassured him with a quick peck. "Plus, I have to ride Harley, reinforce that I'm keeping him."
"He's not the only one." Andrew hinted, smiled suggestively.
"Come here you!" She kissed him hard, once on the lips, laughed. "Come on. Daylight is wasting!"
Amy picked up the wicker picnic basket, headed for the door. Andrew followed closely behind.
An hour or so later, stretched out on the old blanket, full from the leftover fried chicken, Brie, sliced pears, candied pecans, crusty bread and champagne, Amy and Andrew lazily gazed at the blue sky above, filled with puffy clouds.
"Spartan is an excellent ride. So responsive, intelligent. He seems to anticipate my every thought, every direction."
"He is a special horse." She agreed. "He's been with me through thick and thin since the accident."
"From everything you've said about how badly he was treated, then injured in the accident, seeing him now, it's so hard imagine. He's truly incredible. You did that. You healed him."
"Mmm. He had the will to live." She deflected his compliment.
"Give yourself some credit. You really are gifted, Amy. I know that." He sat up, looked down at her. "You know, last night, I thought a lot about our conversation yesterday."
Amy sat up too. "Oh?"
"Honestly, it was not what I wanted to hear. Not at all." He confessed. "But I do appreciate you being straight with me."
"Andrew.." she started.
"Hold on." He held up his hand, then continued. "Amy, you have supported me through my journey. And, no matter what, I will do my very best to fully support you. Whether we are together...or not."
His brown eyes misted, despite the smile on his lips.
"Oh Andrew." She threw her arms around his neck. "Thank you."
"I got you something." He stood up, walked to Spartan, returned with his leather satchel. He sat down on the blanket next to her.
"I saw this in an antique store in Paris. I immediately thought of you." He handed her a package wrapped in silver paper, tied with a white satin ribbon.
"Andrew! You didn't have to.." She started.
"No. But I wanted to." He kissed her temple. "Open it."
Carefully she unwrapped the package. Nestled in layers of tissue paper was an antique perfume bottle made of french blue opaline glass, footed and topped in ornate details in a metal, darkened by age.
"Oh Andrew. This is so incredibly beautiful." Her eyes lit up. "Thank you."
"Did you notice the horse on the finial?" He pointed to a horse, exquisitely detailed, perched on top, it's front right leg raised slightly as if ready to take a step.
"It's amazing. The horse is so tiny but so detailed. Look there's saddle, bridle and reins."
"The perfume decanter dates to the 1700s. The foot and top are made of gold. The glass is hand blown. See the tiny bubbles?"
"Oh. I really love it." She lifted the lid to smell the perfume. "No perfume?"
"No. I wanted you to fill it with one of your magic potions. Nothing smells as heavenly as you."
She smiled.
"Nor looks as beautiful."
She demurred. "Thank you."
Amy looked at her watch. "It's getting late. We need to get back, that event starts at six." She started to gather their things.
"It's at the Vet School, right?" He asked.
She nodded. "Yes. At the Foothills Campus."
"Will the Dean be there?"
"The Dean of the Vet School, Dr. Singh? No idea. Why?"
"If he is, will you introduce me to him?"
"I suppose, if he's there. But fair warning, he's more than a little prickly."
"No worries. Now come on, we don't want to be late."
At ten after six, Andrew guided Amy, his hand on the small of her back, to join the line at the reception table, just outside the ultra modern hall, on the top floor of the same building where she had her meeting with the Drs. Singh.
Amy was dressed elegantly, in a sleeveless black cocktail dress, backless with a tailored bow tie at the nape of her neck, its hem fell just above her knees. She wore smoky kitten heels, carried a matching clutch. All compliments of Alicia. Lou arranged her golden tresses in a loose braided bun, with strands whimsically framing her face. She wore only a hint of makeup, lipstick, eye liner and mascara.
Andrew was oblivious to the eyes focused on Amy, as his own were lovingly admiring the beauty standing beside him. He had never seen her as she was tonight, dressed beautifully, yes, but it was her glow, her confidence, that caught him off guard. She simply took his breath away.
He too was well dressed. He stood out in a European styled suit, custom tailored in a solid steel gray light wool paired with an open collared white dress shirt and quick wingtips in a polished black. Amy stole glances that made her heart a little giddy.
The two made an impressive and handsome couple.
"Good evening." The young woman sitting at the reception table greeted them. "Your tickets please."
Amy handed her their tickets. "Welcome Ms. Stillman and Mr. Bartlett." Before Amy could correct her, the young woman handed her two white envelops, then recited her rehearsed spiel without taking a breath.
"Your bidding paddle, name tag, program are inside your envelop. Your table number is written on the front. Currently, we are in the cocktail hour with open bars strategically placed around the reception hall behind us. Dinner is served at 6:30. The silent auction which is open now, ends at 7:00 just before our guest, Dr. Hickerson, is scheduled to speak. We have a live auction following her speech. Enjoy!"
"But, our name.." Amy started.
The woman looked to the next couple in line and said, "Next."
"Thank you." Amy muttered as she stepped away.
"Well, Ms. Stillman, my very beautiful wife, shall we step into the reception hall?" Andrew asked her teasingly.
She played along. "Why of course, Mr. Bartlett, my very handsome husband."
Laughing as they entered the hall. They stopped just inside the room, struck by its size, soaring ceiling, floor to ceiling windows reflecting the horizon beyond.
"Wow. It's beautiful." Amy remarked.
He agreed, then asked. "Would you like a drink of some sort, water, juice?"
"If they have orange juice, that would be great. Otherwise, water is fine." Then she added, "While you do that, I'm going to look around, check out the silent auction over there." She pointed to the long tables on the left.
As they parted, she walked around, taking in the splendor of the massive hall. Like the style of the rest of the building, it's design was modern, floored in a rich, wide planked cherry wood that anchored the room. The curtainless windows were encased in polish metal, the glass a lightly tinted blue. The ceiling was dazzling, adorn with polished frames dripping with crystals of varying size and length, reminding her the icicles handing from the roof eaves of the barn, sparkling in the sunlight. Below that, round tables, covered in flowing white tablecloths, china, gleaming crystal, white tapered candles. Centerpieces of cut crystal vases filled with stems of orchids.
"Amy Fleming?" She heard behind her. She turned to see Partha Singh, smiling ear to ear. His wife, Sunny Ray Harper next to him.
"Dr. Singh! Ms. Harper! How wonderful to see you both." She leaned in, hugged both.
"Now Amy." Sunny Ray gently chastised her. "Sunny Ray and Partha, please."
"Of course." She smiled. "You both look just lovely."
"As do you." Sunny Ray returned. "I almost didn't recognize my friend and soon to be vet student! Congratulations!"
"Thank you!" Amy beamed. "There's still a lot to do on my part.. but I sure hope so!"
"Have you have recovered from Monday's meeting?" Partha asked. "My brother can be, well, my brother..." He chuckled.
She laughed. "Well, not really..I am still pinching myself. I still can't believe that I will be starting University on Monday. I am thrilled beyond belief. Thank you both so much."
"Monday will come soon enough. Let's enjoy tonight. At what table are you seated?" Partha asked.
Amy checked her packet. "27."
"That won't do. Sit with us. Table 2." Sunny Ray insisted.
"I can't. I am with Andrew Pierson...my friend." She added as an after thought.
"Of course, you can. Bring him along." Partha suggested.
"Well okay. Thank you." Amy conceded.
"Good. Now that is settled. Let's go see if there are any good bargains in the silent auction. I heard a rumor that there is an exquisite handmade saddle over there." Sunny Ray took her arm.
As the two looked at the auction items, paintings, spa days, baskets of homemade goods, jockey silks from various horse races, and such, Sunny Ray spotted the saddle, beautifully made inlaid with mother of pearl.
"Isn't this exquisite?" She gushed. "Opening bid is only 500. What a bargain." She checked her paddle, labeled with a bolded 20, wrote her number on the sheet along with a bid of 600.
"I've never been at a silent auction before. How does this work?" Amy asked as they moved to the next item.
"Easy. See something you want, write down your bid paddle number and your bid on the sheet. At the end of the silent auction, if you have the last, highest bid, you win. Of course, you also have to pay for your winnings." She chuckled.
"Seems easy enough." She said as she checked her paddle number, 237.
"Oh you haven't lived until you've won a hard fought battle in a silent auction." She said, then nudged Amy as the next patron entered a bid of 700 on the saddle.
"Well, hey, Paula. I see you are trying to outbid me on that saddle." Sunny Ray said.
"Nope. Not trying, I just did." Her laugh was good natured. "It's for a good cause, right?"
"So right you are." She agreed, as she upped her bid to 800. Both women laughed.
Amy and Sunny Ray moved down the table. The last item was a framed picture of an athletic, bay mare and her foal defiantly standing in a sea of desert sand.
"What's this?" Amy asked. "Do I bid to win these two horses?"
"Oh, no. This must be the new wild horse externship that Baljit is trying to establish with Dr. Hickerson, one of the school's famed professors. She's speaking tonight."
Amy looked at the bid sheet, empty of entries. "No one has signed up for this one."
"My dear. Look around. This is a room full of high end racehorse owners. I'm not surprised. They would much rather fund research on increasing lung capacity of racers."
Suddenly, the lights in the room dimmed, then blinked several times. Sunny Ray linked arms with Amy, pulling her away.
"It's dinner time. Come. Let make our way to our table."
"I need to find Andrew first. We'll meet you there."
"Good. See you in a few, dear." Sunny Ray walked away, panels of hand painted silk from her tunic fluttering behind her.
Amy set out find him, in the sea of 400 people, hoping see his tall handsome physique. Finally, she found him seated at their assigned table, her orange juice and his wine sitting on the table in front of him. Every seat around the table 27 was taken. Andrew was surround by good looking people, men and women, all leaning toward him, in rapt attention listening intently to him telling a story.
"Andrew." She said, touching his shoulder, catching his attention.
"Bebe! There you are!" He turned, smiling broadly as he looked up at her. "I looked everywhere for you but gave up. Figured you'd eventually show up here."
"No worries." She smiled back. "Dinner is about to be served. Hope you don't mind, but we are changing tables."
"Oh. Please, stay Andrew." A voluptuous red head sitting to his right, said as she leaned in closer, showing a bit more cleavage, touching his arm. "We are so enchanted by your story. You must finish it."
"It was a pleasure meeting each you. But, you'll have pardon me, I am dining with my lovely wife, Ms. Stillman." He stood, kissed Amy's cheek just as a flash lit their faces. "Lead the way, my dear."
After some searching, they found Table 2 situated, front and center in the room, mere feet from the long head table and the speaker podium, which were both elevated on a stage.
After introductions and pleasantries, Amy and Andrew settled into their chairs between Partha and Sunny Ray and three other couples, associated somehow to the Agriculture School. The conversation was lively, interesting as they dined on a salad of field greens, beef tenderloin, scalloped potatoes, and brussel sprouts. As their dinner plates were removed and coffee and dessert served, Amy asked Partha who was seated at the head table with his brother.
He pointed out Baljit's wife, Prisha, the four department heads and their spouses.
"The woman in the middle, next to Baljit, is Dr. Mirna Hickerson, our guest speaker tonight. She's a full professor in the Ecosystem and Public Health Department."
"Sunny Ray told me that she and Dr. Singh are trying to establish a new wild horse externship."
He sighed. "It's likely a pipe dream, noble cause, but a pipe dream none the less."
"Why is that?"
"The economics of it. Ranchers, farmers, racehorse owners, even domestic pet owners want to fund their own interests. Wild horses, wild animals in general, are not a priority these days. No profit in it."
"Wild horses run through the land on our ranch in Hudson from time to time. I think they are the most majestic creatures I have ever seen."
"Yes. They truly are."
Just then, Dr. Singh stepped to the podium, welcomed the crowd, made opening comments, announced that the silent auction was closed, then introduced those seated at the head table. Lastly, he introduced Dr. Hickerson.
"Dr. Mirna Hickerson is a highly accomplished and world renown veterinarian, researcher, educator and wildlife rescuer. She is a productive, influential tenured professor in UC's Ecosystem and Public Health Department. She has worked tirelessly traveling this earth, on her own or with Vets without Borders, caring for endangered and at risk animals, ensuring their health, their successful reproduction, their longevity, She is a positive force in funding and ensuring the preservation of wildlife diversity, starting with the Giant Panda as a young girl, at the tender age of ten. She has dedicated her life to the wild animal kingdom, to educating and inspiring our future veterinarians, to promoting awareness wherever she goes."
"Now, in conjunction with the University of Calgary Veterinary School, she is establishing an externship for a deserving UCVM student to study, vet and preserve wild horses around the world. Of course, this is only possible with your generous support." He paused for effect, then continued.
"She recently returned from the Namib Desert of Namibia, on coastal region of Africa. There she studied and vetted a band of beautiful feral horses who have run free across the harsh, unforgiving desert under the scorching, relentless sun for over a century. These magnificent, athletic horses have declined in number to just 65, in the latest counts. With her selfless efforts, these horses have a real opportunity to rebound and thrive."
He paused as the audience clapped politely.
"Without further delay, please welcome this outstanding veterinarian, ecosystem warrior and my long time friend...Dr. Mirna Hickerson."
Amy quickly got to her feet, stood grinning, clapping for the woman who hugged Dr. Singh, then stepped up to the podium.
"Thank you Dr. Singh for that lovely introduction. And thank you everyone for your warm reception. Especially the enthusiastic, young lady in front!" She winked at Amy, who blushed, sat down but kept clapping.
Throughout her 30 minute speech, Amy listened with rapt attention to Dr. Hickerson's every impassioned word, studied every photo, every graph displayed on the jumbo screen behind her. The professor talked of the origin of Namib Desert horses, beginning in 1915 with the release of riding and cavalry horses from a German breeding program during World War 1. She described their athleticism, their strong build, their resiliency and beauty. She discussed their challenges with extreme drought, culls, disease resulting in their dwindling numbers. Lastly, she described efforts to rebuild the band, through both traditional and natural methods and how they each could assist through funding, voluntarism, education.
Amy was moved. Her heart tugged as she imagined what Heartland would be without the occasional appearance of the wildies across their lands, running free with the Canadian Rockies as a backdrop. Before the speech was through, Amy vowed to herself to donate to the externship, get involved.
At the end of the speech, Amy stood once again, clapping loudly, but this time within the sea of a standing ovation.
Dr. Singh returned to the podium, thanking her profusely, then announcing the live auction for several high dollar items with proceeds to benefit aqua therapy research center was about to commence. As he spoke, Amy watched Dr. Hickerson exit the stage, head for the front reception area. As soon as Dr. Singh left the podium, she excused herself to seek out the professor, to shake her hand, at least.
By the time she exited the grand hall, only a few remained in the reception area. Dr. Hickerson was not among them.
Sitting at the reception desk was the young woman who checked them in.
"Hi." Amy aid as she approached her.
"Hello! How can I help you?"
"Could you please tell me where I could find Dr. Hickerson?"
"You just missed her. She just left to catch a plane."
"Shoot.." Amy then asked. "Well, is it too late to make a donation to her externship?"
"The silent auction is closed. I'm sorry."
"Well, could you tell me the amount that they raised?" Amy asked. "Please?"
"Marge. Could you come here?" The young woman spoke to an older woman with jet black hair.
"Yes?" Marge asked the younger woman.
"This lady wants to know how much money was raised for the externship. Can we give that information?"
"Um. Sure." She looked through the papers attached to her clip board for some time. Finally she looked up. "Let's see. 100 dollars."
"Oh. That's all?" Amy didn't hide her disappointment.
"I suspect more donations will be received later." She reassured her.
"What if I wanted to make a donation?" Amy asked.
"Do you know your bid paddle number?"
"Yes. 237." She answered confidently.
"Name?" Marge asked.
"Lisa Stillman."
Marge searched through another set of papers, then verified the information. "You'll have to write a check as we already moved the credit card processor to the live auction."
"No problem. Who do I make the check out to?"
"UCVM. Make a note in the memo for Bid Item 30 Externship."
Amy pulled out her personal checkbook, wrote a check for twenty thousand dollars, then handed it to Marge. "Thank you."
Marge looked at the check amount, smiled. "No thank you Ms. Stillman. Your donation will go a long way to support that very important cause."
Amy nodded, then headed back to Table 2, retook her seat.
Andrew leaned over, whispered in her ear. "Where did you go? I missed you."
"To the Ladies Room to powder my nose."
Hello Readers.
Hope you and yours enjoyed the happiest of holidays. And, that 2022 brings you only joy, health, kindness and togetherness.
I hope too that you enjoyed this long chapter as their world gets smaller.
SBR
Ps. Please, please get your Covid vaccine and boosters, if you can. Regardless, double mask, to protect yourself and your loved ones. Put Covid out of business.