Chapter Twenty-Four
Olympic Glory
A/N – As usual, in the last chapter I took a little diversion. It's assumed that these couples date, less JT and Shawna, but I thought it would be fun to detail dates for each of them. I will be honest, the double date with Lyndy, Wyatt, Shawna and JT was a lot of fun. From personal experience, years ago, my future wife would occasionally take her younger siblings on our "dates" and it was actually enjoyable. I also wanted to add on a more serious note that as Jack's health declines, remember he is in his early 90s, I will make sure the kids go out of their way to spend time with him as I did with my grandparents again as they aged. I am confident that what they teach us shapes our lives. So if you don't know, it is time for Annie to go to the Olympics. I expect she will do well but I know the family will really enjoy their time together when they make the trip. This experience, like Georgie's, will be one that she and for that fact, all of them will never forget. Look for some fun times, surprises and maybe a challenge or two. Once the Olympics are complete we will head to the end of the summer, the Company Rodeo, Wyatt's certification and a few other surprises. I appreciate my consistent feedback providers, I value your insights and ideas. But I will not lie, I would love to hear from more of you, so let me know what you think. Well let's go to the Olympics! Mature Content – Enjoy!
Jeremy stood next to Addie as the plane carrying the Albertan Olympians lifted off the runway. Jeremy leaned into his girlfriend's twin for support and although it was only less than a week it would seem like eternity that they would be apart. His pain was in his stomach as Addie whispered, "This love thing really sucks." He laughed as the small group gathered and headed back to the ranch. As the plane began its takeoff, Annie looked out the window. She could feel Addie in her thoughts and Jeremy in her heart, whispering under her breath, "Love you, see you soon." The girl next to her poked her, "Good lord Annie, you will see him in a few days." Annie smiled as the others around her joined in on the ribbing. The airlines, as part of their Olympic sponsorship provided free charter flights for all of the team members and coaches. After a stop in Vancouver to pick up the rest of the Western Canada group, almost 200 of them were headed to Los Angelas to represent their country, their province and their families. The airline also offered discounted fares to family who planned to go and luckily through a well to do customer, Ty and Amy had secured a property at a very reasonable rate, very close to things that would fit all of them comfortably. Everyone on the plane was excited as Annie was sitting by other members of the Equestrian contingent. They had a history of medal level performance, especially those from Western Canada as it was all farm land and cattle ranches and were expected to do well. Many around her asked about her cousin Georgie and the business the family ran back in Hudson. She was also overwhelmed by Documentary questions as several of the girls swooned over the view of her boyfriend, who along with Annie were in it several times. One girl laughed, "Man your boyfriend is hot and what about that Dr. Borden, he is as well. Are you related to him?" Another girl laughed, "Silly, that is Annie's dad and that beautiful women, next to him was the Miracle Girl, Amy Borden, her mom." One of the guys from the track team yelled over, "Yea, she is hot to and your sisters, are any of them single?" Annie rolled her eyes at all of the attention and went back to looking out the window. They had a few moments to deplane in Vancouver so she went to a private area and called Jeremy. "Hey, we are in Vancouver, are you missing me yet?" She heard a lot of horses in that background and a distracted Jeremy responded, "What is going on, it is kind of noisy." He laughed, "Well first I miss you a lot and the noise – I am at the Rehoming Center helping bring in 16 horses and let me tell you they are a handful. They are in bad shape and looks like they have been fighting over food and water. The poor things were found in a pasture on an abandoned farm in Saskatoon near the border. The authorities brought them here because they saw the Documentary." For that instant she completely forgot about the Olympics, "Are they settling Ok." He smiled, "There's the woman I love. Well most are but there are a few that are a little chaotic. Your mom and Georgie just showed up so they are going to try to settle them. Cass and Steven looked the others over but these three are just too out of control. Ellory thinks they were the dominant members of the herd." He was distracted and her mom came to the phone, "Hey sweetie how is the trip going?" She smiled as a warmth came over her. "It's fun so far but I am getting a lot of questions about the business, Georgie and my hot boyfriend, everyone saw on the Documentary. Oh and one of the girls said dad was hot and one of the guys asked if I had any sisters when he saw you. Luckily, they stopped when I just rolled my eyes." She laughed, "Well you can expect more of that and to be honest, the hot boyfriend and father isn't all bad." They each laughed when Annie heard some yelling in the background. Amy gasped, "Honey, I think Jeremy got bit by one of those crazed horses." Annie sunk onto the floor of the wall she was leaning against. Then to her relief, she could hear Jeremy in the distance, "Mrs. Borden, tell Annie I am fine, it is just a nick and it is hardly bleeding." Relieved she stood up and continued to listen. "Tell her I love her and to make sure she calls me from LA." Annie smiled as she heard a lot of hooting from the group." Amy came back on the phone, "Honey, he is really Ok, Steven said it is just superficial and he already has a bandage on it. Now go, don't miss your flight. We will talk to you when you get settled. Be safe, have fun and we all love you very much." The warm feeling returned as she said good bye and stood back up relieved. One of her teammates came over seeing the distress in her eyes, "Are you Ok Annie?" She smiled, "Well we got a huge load of horses in at the Rehoming Center and one of them bit my boyfriend. He is Ok, but it was kind of scary." The friend smiled, "Wow, my life is boring compared to yours." Annie smiled again finally gathering herself. "Well you are right but a little boring would be nice every once in a while." They heard the call for their flight and headed that way. Annie put her arms around her laughing, "Let's go to the Olympics!"
Annie was overwhelmed with the atmosphere of the Olympic village where all the athletes stayed. Georgie had given her a glimpse of it but she was in Paris for the games she won gold in but this was Los Angelas, a city that was overwhelming. The bus ride to the equestrian arena was almost an hour and she was anxious to see Theo and spend time with him. The other thing that was overwhelming for this small town country girl was the energy of the village and all of the activities going on. It seemed there was an endless opportunity to go to a party and be catered to. More than once she was approached by an aggressive male athlete and joked that she needed a sign that said, "I am Taken and Happy" around her neck. But none of that mattered because she was going to see Theo and then the Opening Ceremony was that night. When they pulled up they each got their bag of things they needed to keep in the stall for their horse. Annie was excited when she found the row he was in and even more when she saw the Troy, stable hand waving at her. After a quick hug, Theo noticed her and let out a resounding whinny of excitement, stomping his foot and bobbing his head. She opened the door and she held him as he buried his head into her neck grunting in his excitement. The held on to each other for a while as Troy laughed, "Well I think he is happy to see you. I have had him out a few times, and every time we went by the arena his head rose up and he looked like he wanted to jump the gate to get in. He has done great and settled quickly. I hope you don't mind but some of the other horses have struggled and we actually brought him to them to help them settle. And it worked! I am so proud of him." Annie smiled at her best friend, "Have you been helping the competition Theo? Well I guess that is Ok, you are such a good boy." She rubbed his muzzle and kissed him. He raised his head up almost like he understood her. All of the competitors got a chance to ride their horses and Annie's smile was wide as the cantered around one of the training rings. Her hair flew as she moved as one with Theo and those watching couldn't help but notice the bond between them. Several competitors watched her closely as they knew that she was considered to be favored to medal. She looked and saw she had 10 more minutes so she continued to enjoy herself. Out of the corner of her eye she caught something and looked over. A rider from another country was in trouble as her horse was moving erratically. Annie could tell she was ready to get tossed and sure enough the horse moved quickly and tossed her up against the rail. She could hear the bone in her leg break and then a scream. She went over with others to tend to her as a number of the arena personal including Troy, went to settle the horse. He was uncontrollable and all of a sudden she saw Troy get kicked in the side and fly through the air. She knew he was hurt but focused on the injured rider. Once she was being worked on by the paramedics she headed over to him. The horse was finally contained and several of the staff were looking at Troy as he was tended to. He was conscious but was in pain. From her viewpoint it looked like he had a dislocated shoulder and an injured side, but luckily there was no blood. Two ambulances showed up to take the injured riders to the hospital. Annie spoke to the paramedics, "Troy works for us, here is my information so please call when you know anything. He has family so I will give them a call." Before she could ask, the paramedic gave her a card with the hospital information. Her first call was to Troy's family and she filled them in assuring them that the injuries were serious but healable. Her next call was to Caleb, as she knew her parents were busy. Caleb answered the phone, "Hey Annie did you win yet?" She giggled, "Caleb the Olympics haven't even started yet. Aren't you watching the Opening Ceremony tonight? Anyway hey, there has been an accident. Troy was helping to settle a crazed horse and got kicked. He seems Ok but he is on the way to the hospital. I already called his family and am going to text the hospital information to you. Can you let my mom and dad know. I am sure his family here has already called his dad in Hudson." Caleb laughed assuredly, "Troy is tough, this is not the first time he has been kicked by a horse, so he will be fine. How is Theo?" She smiled, "He is awesome, I just finished riding him." They finished their call and Lyndy took Theo back to his stall. As she headed that way she way the coach of the rider in a heated discussion with Olympic officials and she overheard the conversation. "We are required to drug test the horse, you have no authority to stop us. We have moved him to quarantine and will let you know if we find anything." She expected the story was not over and went to get ready for the team gathering to prepare for the Opening Ceremony.
The Canadian athletes were on their way to the Opening Ceremony staging area. When they arrived the head of the Canadian Olympic team stood in front of them to announce who would be the flag bearer. Annie almost fainted as he talked about who was selected. Saying that she comes from Olympic heritage, an amazing family and is part of an amazing organization that helped all kinds of animals and was recently highlighted in a Documentary shown across Canada. He smiled, "But most importantly it seems she was your choice as her teammates started an underground promotion making sure she was selected. Please join me in congratulating Annie Borden who will be carrying our flag in the opening ceremony." The group erupted as Annie's smile almost broke her face. Her friends screeched and encouraged her to call home quickly, which she did. The word spread like lightning back home and it now seemed that all of Hudson would be watching their hometown hero. Amy, Ty, Jeremy and the kids were getting inundated with text, emails and calls. Back at the gathering in LA the Canadian Olympic Chairperson continued his speech revving up the team. All of a sudden off to the side of the group several well-dressed security people were clearing a path. Annie knew right away what was happening and immediately saw Maryanne Trudeau along with Elana, Emmie, Ezzie and young Bart walking their way. She immediately caught their eyes and the girls headed her way screaming her name. Maryanne and Bart headed to the podium and the director introduced her as the group was overwhelmed as Maryanne Trudeau was a well-respected person and the number one supporter and political connection of the team and the games. They also wondered why her three daughters immediately went to Annie Borden. Maryanne got everyone's attention and began, "Hello Olympic athletes, on behalf of Justin and my family I am excited to be here as the Olympic Games are about to begin. The entire country is behind you and we are so proud of what you have and will accomplish. You are the best at what you do and are true examples of Canadian drive and competitiveness. We are a proud people, famliy centered and proud of our heritage. We are hardworking and committed to do what is right and just. Canadians care for others and always are there when someone needs a hand. My famliy and all of Canada salute you." A resounding applause came from the group as she continued. "So I expect you are wondering the attention my three girls are giving Annie. Well the Borden family and the Trudeaus have been friends for several years. We met years ago and over the years have become more than just friends but famliy. Amy and Ty Borden are close to Justin and I and to be honest, Amy is like a sister. We are there for each other all the time talking almost weekly. Our children have also formed bonds that will last a lifetime. We have 6 children and they have five and their ages are close. Our son Brad, who is a year older than Annie and her twins sister Addie is in Europe playing hockey and our oldest daughter, went to the University of Calgary, worked at the Marion Fleming Equine Center and met her husband, Rusty who works there as well." She smiled brightly, "And soon they will be giving us our first grandchild which we are over the moon about." Everyone applauded again along with some U of C call outs. Maryanne refocused, "I bring this up because our story is a true depiction of who we are as Canadians. We don't use status as a barrier to do what is right, as everyone is equal no matter what. That is what makes us a proud and dynamic people. And you are a representation of that and we are confident that you will all be successful. So best of luck and in the words of my friend, Amy Borden, have fun." The place erupted as she finished her comments and she went into the crowd for selfies. She made her way to Annie and gave her a big hug. She whispered in her ear, "I just talked to your mom and the entire town is watching tonight to see the flag bearer for Canada. We are really proud of you." The opening ceremony began and soon the team found themselves getting cued to enter the stadium. Annie was at the lead with Elana. Emmie and Ezzie by her side. Maryanne and Bart watched from the dignitaries booth and millions watched from their homes. The Heartland and Miracle Ranch houses were packed and as soon as they heard Canada announced they cheered loudly. All of a sudden a scream from of all people Shawna was heard, "Look there she is!" Maddie screamed as well, "And Elana, Emmie and Ezzie are with her." Amy and Ty held each other's hands tightly as tears formed in their eyes. Their daughter was carrying th Canadian flag in the Olympics. It was something they and the rest of the family would remember forever. Annie could contain herself in her joy as she walked carrying the flag high with the three Trudeau girls by her side. The family listened as the announcers mentioned her name and gave a quick bio, mentioned her cousin, her family and their business. They were surprised at the depth of the information but found later that each athlete had to write a bio so it could be used when they competed, or in this case were highlighted. They mentioned not only Georgie but her mom and dad as well as the Equine Center named after her grandmother along with the Rehoming Center that was just highlighted in the Documentary. Everyone back home was so excited for Annie and enjoyed the rest of the ceremony. Annie felt like it was all a dream and couldn't wait to call Jeremy when she had the chance. Now it was time to focus on the competition and fulfill her other dream in life, to win the gold.
Even with all of the excitement of seeing Annie carrying the Canadian flag it was still a busy week for everyone. Amy and her team were working long days as the request for their services continue to grow. Also since Amy, Georgie, Katie and Lyndy would be gone they had to rescheduled some appointments to free up the workload on the first two days of next week. Ellory had volunteered to oversee the remaining trainers and if needed would handle any challenging situations. Since only Ty and Wyatt would be gone, Cass took the lead for the time they were gone but their demands were manageable. Besides handling their kids, Clay and Steven along with Haley were also going to take on a few extra things. Even Lou and others took over a few things that needed attention while they would be gone. The Borden family was the heart of the Equine Center but they felt strongly that everything would be handled. As the day approached for them to leave they were getting excited. Annie was having an amazing week, experiencing all that the Olympics afforded her. She attended several other events and cheered on her Canadian teammates. There were organized events, spur of the moment ones and countless interviews. The Equestrian team was interviewed by Canadian TV together and individually as it was expected that they would do well. Annie was sought after by several members of the media because of her family, the business and the still fresh Documentary on the Rehoming Center. Annie met so many people from around the world. Early on several of the younger men tried a little too hard to get to know her but after a while the word got out that she had a boyfriend showing up in a couple of days. Plus her friends on the team liked it because when the guy would find out they didn't have a shot with Annie they hoped at getting together with them. But it was mid-week and Annie had a mission. She stood anxiously at the baggage area, looking feverishly around for her man, who was able to come in two days early. She could barely contain herself and had been waiting over an hour. Shuttle buses ran on the hour from the Olympic Village so she made sure that she was there early. She had her Olympic outfit on and like the rest of the athletes got the attention of the people around her. Several visitors from Canada came up to her, noticing who she was and wishing her luck. As she was distracted, she felt a set of strong arms wrap around her back and soft lips kiss her neck. She screamed in delight, turned around and kissed him deeply, not caring that so many people were watching. A couple of younger girls giggled at them as their parents shuttled them away. After a few minutes they broke apart and she whispered breathlessly, "You're here!" They went to get his bags and she held his arm tightly. They caught the shuttle and were going to put them in her room. He couldn't stay there but Troy, who had almost fully recovered, was picking him up later as he would be staying with his family until the Bordens arrived. As they drove Jeremy was overwhelmed with the size of the City and all of the Olympic presence. He had never been out of the country and it overwhelmed him how big LA was and how many people were there. She smiled still leaning into him, "This is definitely not Hudson." They dropped off his bags and Annie had to go to a training session which Jeremy was excited about. As they approached Theo's stable he lifted his head up and neighed loudly seeing Jeremy approach. Theo knew what he meant to his owner and partner as he leaned his head way out of the stable to greet him. Jeremy and Annie smiled, "I think he is happy to see you Jer. I think he may love you as much as I do, well maybe almost as much." He helped her tack him up and Annie ran through the course several times. Annie was smiling as it seemed that seeing Jeremy made Theo even more excited as he attacked the jumps with determination. He was performing at a level even she was impressed with. After the session they toured the village and some of the venues. It was warm but not too hot and they enjoyed the time outside. They were able to catch some of the beach volleyball competition as Jeremy laughed as his eyes grew wide, "How do they play in those very small swimsuits." She smacked him, "Really that is all you see, they are amazing athletes." He laughed, "Yea that too." They grabbed a quick dinner at a café she had been to before. They sat close, held hands and enjoyed their time together. They really wanted some time alone so she took him to a park she had found that she had gone to relax and be alone. They sat on the hill and began to kiss holding each other. Their hands ventured a bit, as the area they were in did provide them some privacy. Annie giggled, "Seems you have missed me." He sighed whispering into her ear, "If you only knew. Annie I am so proud of you and love you so much. Being apart for just a few days made me realize that even more." He reached into his back pocket and pulled out a small box. Her eyes widened as he opened it and showed it to her. "Annie Borden, I want to promise you that one day I will ask you to marry me and this ring is my pledge. You are everything to me and I can't wait to spend my life with you." She was speechless as he put it on her finger as he giggled, "Don't worry, your mom, dad and Addie know. I asked all of them for their permission. Addie was a little difficult with a lot of questions but you mom and dad were very happy for us." They sat in silence as she finally spoke, "Jeremy, I love you so much and can't wait to spend my life with you." She hugged him tightly and kissed him deeply. He spoke up, "We need to get back, Troy is coming in an hour." She frowned, "Great, I am going to miss you all over again." They headed back as Annie kept looking at the beautiful promise ring, holding it out in front of her. He smiled as he saw she was happy and knew it was the right time to do it. "I have had it for a while but figured now was the right time to give it to you. I know you have a little bit going on but I just had to and your dad agreed. I had asked him about when he gave you mom her promise ring. His words of advice were simple, do it when it feels right." She smiled, "The time was perfect." As they got back to her room her roommates were there and she showed them her ring and introduced Jeremy. One of them laughed as Jeremy blushed, "Wow he is even hotter in person and by the way nicely played" There was a knock on the door as Troy had arrived with his cousin. They loaded up his cousin's truck and gave them a minute to say goodbye. They held each other for a kiss goodbye as she whispered with a tear in her eye, "You have made me the happiest person in the world, I love you and will see you tomorrow." He smiled, "I love you too and everyone home does too. Your family, Georgie and Katie can't wait to see you." They had one final kiss as he hopped in the truck. She waved goodbye clutching her new promise ring on top of the world.
The competition was starting on Saturday with the finals on Monday. Annie kept up her regular routine of training with the difference now be it that her #1 cheerleader was there watching her. Theo was in the groove and with Jeremy's input, she tempered it and allowed him to have time to relax. She continued to notice a change in his attitude now that Jeremy was there, kind of like he wanted to show him how ready he was. When not at the arena, they hung out as much as possible seeing the sights, going to events and just being together. The team had several scheduled events and he was there with her just watching from a distance, beaming with pride. It was Friday and two things were happening. Mid-morning, the family was arriving and after they got settled, the team had a group press conference set where media teams from around the world would be asking questions. But first they stood at the airport anxiously looking for her mom and dad, siblings and two cousins. Jeremy was the first to see Wyatt and put his arms on her shoulders moving her in their direction. She screamed along with her three sisters and cousins running for a group hug, making a scene. Jeremy was a little more controlled as he approached Wyatt, and JT who lightly bro hugged him. The girls were still giggling wildly as Amy and Ty approached her for a hug. Amy held her for a while and whispered, "Annie we are so happy to be here and really excited for you. We know you are going to do great." The media was staged at the airport and immediately saw the group realizing who they were. An reporter came over. "Welcome Borden Family and also you Georgie Weber. Are you looking forward to watching your cousin carry on the tradition of family winners." Georgie smiled, "We are all excited to watch Annie compete and are confident she will represent Canada, the sport and our family well. She is a talented horse woman with a champion level horse, they are a formidable team." The reported asked, "Are you guaranteeing a gold medal like you achieved." She smiled again, "I can guarantee that Annie will do her best and as a family that is all we want from her." After Ty interjected that they needed to go, the media left them alone. As they walked to the rental car desk, Georgie leaned over, "Now that was fun, welcome to the media frenzy and by the way, we all know you are going to win!" Addie smiled, "No pressure sis." Amy and her daughters went with Annie to watch her training session, which would be the last before the competition. Ty and the men took all of their stuff to the house they were using and on the way picked up Jeremy's stuff, checking up on Troy, who was doing well. After the session, the family was going to be given a tour by Annie and then have a great family dinner. The ladies walked into the arena where the competition was being held and as Lyndy and Addie went to help Annie get tacked up, Amy, Katie, Georgie and Maddie found seats. Within minutes several people recognized Georgie and came up to her. The press caught on to the ruckus and came over with a barrage of questions. Amy stepped in and spoke, "Thank you all for the greetings but right now we are all focused on supporting Annie Borden and are going to watch her session. We would appreciate you respecting that for now. I am sure Georgie will speak to you later." They stepped back as Georgie grabbed her arm thanking her. Maddie whispered to the group, "Look at mom the enforcer." They all giggled as the other girls came over and her session began. They sat quietly watching her glide over the course as Theo looked magnificent. As she finished, Katie leaned over to Georgie, "She's got this in the bag." Annie came over and smiled, "So what do you think?" Amy smiled as the cameras flashed, "You were amazing Annie, and you both are ready." They got Theo settled and headed to the house to meet the men. After a couple of minutes to clean up they headed out to see the sights and sounds of the Olympic Village and other sights, using the van they had rented that fit all of them. As they walked around they were greeted and recognized by many as it seemed that Annie had made a lot of new friends. They were all astonished at the detail and pure scope of everything there, especially that in essence a small city had been created. Dinner was amazing as the group of 11 always drew attention. Dinner had been arranged by the family that provided them the place to stay and it was pretty high end. The ladies were all in summer dresses and the men also dressed sharply. They were all excited and in awe of the entire environment of the Olympics. JT joked, "Where is the country side and riding trails here, all I see is a lot of buildings and streets? Ty laughed, "Well this in definitely not home." Amy smiled at all of them, "We are very lucky to live where we do and enjoy the outdoors and clean fresh air. I for one could never live in a city like this." They all smiled in agreement realizing how lucky they all were. Jeremy smiled and added, "But more importantly, Annie's competition starts tomorrow so our champion needs her rest." It was a great day and even better evening and everyone was tired so it was an early night for everyone. The next few days would be action packed for sure.
The family met Annie in the dining hall and joined the team and other families for a nice breakfast. Annie was excited and a little nervous. After they finished, Amy, Georgie, Jeremy and Katie headed with her to the Arena in the truck Jeremy was borrowing. The others went back to the house and would be heading over shortly. They had seats reserved and would all be together. They had been prepped that during the program, when Annie rode they would be shown on Canadian TV. It was going to be a full day today and tomorrow as the qualifying heats would be held for Dressage, Eventing and Show Jumping. Annie had two rides both today and tomorrow and if she did as expected the finals would be on Monday for all three disciplines. Annie's first heat was coming up so the family settled. The competitors were announced as they took to the course. When she entered the starting area the family and many others from Canada, exploded in applause and well wishes. Other Canadian sport team members were there cheer them on as well as the team was expected to do very well. Annie sat waiting for the bell to ring as Theo held his head very high as he knew this was it and when the bell rang, they were off. They moved magnificently through the jumps as the family watched in awe. Theo was not only moving quickly but was clearing each jump with ease. As she approached two of the most difficult jumps, a double oxer and a water jump he flew like the wind over them. Not only was he clearing them but his takeoffs and landings were both perfect. As she cleared the last jump Amy and Georgie finally took a breath and everyone in the stands erupted in applause. When her scores were posted she was clearly the winner of her heat and again the crowd erupted. The family met and went to watch the Eventing competition which was on a course next to the arena. Annie's event and Dressage were inside of the main arena. Annie was on top of the world, looking forward to her next heat but along with the family really enjoyed the Eventing competition. Each of the girls had competed in local events but their mother was a champion several times. Maddie joked, "Come on mom you could take these guys, maybe next Olympics you can compete." She laughed leaning into Ty, "Only if you dad is my coach. He was the best coach I ever had." She leaned into kiss him and Addie scoffed, "You guys really, there are press everywhere. I can't wait when the Canadian station shows pictures of our parents making out," Everyone laughed as the competition continued. Soon they headed back for Annie's second heat. Just as the first session, Annie and Theo were flawless and after the heat ended, Annie was clearly in the lead and assured a chance to compete in the media heat. She was also pleased that Canada held the second, fourth and fifth position in Show Jumping. In both Dressage and Eventing there were Canadians in the top of both disciplines as well. The family spent the night together celebrating the day and talking about the next day's competition. Annie seemed calm and Jeremy had to ask her, "So how are you doing, you seem to be in a good place." She leaned into him smiling as she watched her family having such a good time. She whispered, "There are two reasons. I have you with me and I love you so much. And look at my family, they are having such a good time and are amazing. I love them all so much. Because of all of you I am not nervous, just excited and looking forward to tomorrow." She leaned into for a kiss and added, "And I know that no matter what I will always have all of you in my life." They kissed until Addie interrupted, "Good lord you to chill. Well at least the press isn't taking pictures this time." They all laughed and enjoyed the time together.
The next morning Amy rose in her husband's arms and saw a text on her phone and showed it to Ty. He smiled, "Well we need to get everyone going, looks like breakfast will be exciting." The two of them rustled everyone up and told them to be ready in a half hour and to dress a little more smartly. Everyone was confused but listened to their parents. Amy filled Georgie and Katie in on what was happening and were sworn to secrecy. They were all wondering what was going on as then headed out with Ty leading the way. Annie was going to meet them there, which to some of them was also a little weird. They were in a different part of the city and pulled up to a very large residence, mansion like. They all smiled as they saw Annie standing with Justin and Maryanne on the front steps to greet them. They got out and the Trudeaus greeted them, and everyone noticed the smile on Annie's face. Finally, Maryanne spilled the beans. "Good morning you guys, Jus and I are so happy to see you. We have been asked to interduce you all to someone that Annie has already met. Before we go, don't be nervous because they are fans of the Equestrian team and especially Annie. "Still confused they followed them inside and immediately noticed a lot of security people and others milling around. They walked into a larger room and noticed some breakfast pastries, coffee, tea and juice set out. On the one side there was a large fireplace and three people were talking quietly. When they stood up their mouths dropped open. The man spoke, "Good morning Borden Family, Mrs. Weber and Mrs. Foster." He reached his hand out, "And you must be Jeremy, I have to say we are very proud of your girlfriend." To this point no one had spoken as he continued, "I would like you to also meet my wife, the Princess of Wales. She reached out her hand to Amy and Ty and greeted them. Instinctively Amy and Ty bowed and she laughed, "No need to any formal bowing, we are just excited to meet you all. I must say we are so proud of your daughter and impressed with her skill. She is exceptional. But we understand that it runs in the family," as she glanced over to Georgie smiling. After some uncomfortable silence, JT spoke out, "Hi I am JT, is it true you will be king soon?" After some uncomfortable laughter, and Addie shushing her little brother, the Prince laughed. "Well JT that is true, my father has decided to retire and soon Catherine and I will be assuming the role of king and queen of England and all of its territories, including Canada." He smiled and leaned down to JT, "But we both know that the women are really in charge." Everyone relaxed as they were led to a large table as Catherine smiled, "Let's grab something to eat and chat, I know that our Olympian needs to leave soon." For almost an hour they sat and talked about anything and everything. The prince was very interested about the family business and all of the philanthropic ventures. The princess marveled at the family and spoke to Amy, "You have a wonderful family Mrs. Borden, your girls are all beautiful and the young men are handsome as well." Everyone laughed as Amy smiled, "First your highness, please call me Amy. Ty and I are very proud of each and every one of them and as you know as a parent are very excited as they grow and reach for their dreams." She smiled, "Well Amy, we couldn't agree more. Being royal is not the easiest life for a young child and our three have had their challenges. But like you we are proud of them and love them deeply." The room was quiet as William spoke up, "So Annie, are you ready for today? We are really excited but I do have a favor to ask. When you win the gold don't forget about us little people and come visit us one day in London." Everyone laughed as Catherine smacked his side, "William can be a little silly sometimes." They enjoyed the rest of the meal and as the left thanked them for their hospitality. Again JT spoke up, "Well you guys are always welcomed at the Miracle Ranch and the Equine Center. We even have a herd of Llamas and a place where we rehome horses!" Ty gave him a look and apologized for his son's outburst but Catherine put her hand out, "You know what JT, our family loves horses and ride as much as we can. Actually my daughter's horse has been a bit challenging lately. She is really into Dressage and competes regularly. Amy do you do house calls?" They all laughed as Amy blushed, "Well yes but England may be a little bit of a trip. I actually know several very qualified trainers in Europe, if you want, I can give their information to you." She smiled as she pointed to their assistant, "Evelyn will get that from you, thank you very much." They said their goodbyes and headed to the arena. They were all overwhelmed about what had happened and couldn't wait to tell the everyone at home.
With an amazing start to their day, Annie again performed well for her next heat. Her times still had her at the top of the competition but several others had slightly closed the gap. Late afternoon, they final heat was underway that would determine the riders to be in the final. The family was ready but most importantly so was Annie and Theo. Annie looked up at the family and then noticed that Justin and Maryanne had been joined by the Prince and Princess who received warm applause as they entered the arena. Annie blushed when the princess smiled at her giving her a thumbs up. She gushed until her attention was focused when the announcer called her to the starting line. With a new found pride and confidence they started their run. She immediately noticed that Theo was excited but in complete control. It was like he knew that they had special people rooting for them. They flew through the course and cleared every jump easily. As she crossed the line the crowd erupted in applause as she had broken the Olympic record which had been set by her cousin. Troy gathered Theo and Jeremy helped her down and brought her into a big hug. The family had come down and hugs were everywhere as everyone was on top of the world. Georgie approached her younger cousin, "Great job kid but did you have to break my record?" Annie blushed and smiled meekly, "Sorry about that, but Theo was is on fire, he is amazing." Georgie smiled whispering into her ear, "I'm just kidding little girl, I know you would and you are right, Theo is an amazing partner. He reminds me of Phoenix so much." They leaned into each other for a tearful hug as the other girls joined in. Ty spoke up, "Well let's go celebrate, we have a big day tomorrow." The evening was a lot of fun as they decided to order out and eat at the amazing house they were using. Addie, Maddie, Georgie and Katie all called home privately. Maddie and Addie were talking quietly to the men they loved telling them how much they missed them. Meanwhile Katie and Georgie were talking with their husbands but also with their kids who were missing them and excited as they had been watching Annie compete. Hannah could be head screeching to her mom, "We saw Annie, she was amazing and mom we saw you, Amy and Katie too, a bunch of times. It was so cool when that reporter asked you questions." They also talked about their surprise meeting at breakfast and everyone was impressed and proud of them. JT used Wyatt's phone and called Shawna and Trent to talk about the trip. After a few minutes Trent left them to talk alone and JT could be seen in the corner of the room talking, well mainly listening and smiling as Shawna was excited to talk to him. Annie and Jeremy made sure they called Max, Casey and then her GG and Lisa privately as well. She received congratulations but mainly just wanted to tell them how much she loved them and appreciated their support and love. Prior to this call, Ty and Amy had called them, including Scott and Lou to talk about this trip, especially meeting the royals that morning. Lou was flabbergasted, "I can't believe you met the Prince and Princess. Man, Justin and Maryanne really did good." Amy laughed, "Well actually, they said that they asked to meet Annie and us. Seems what we are doing has reached all the way to the royal palace. It had been a long and amazing day for the family but tomorrow was in the back of their minds. Annie was nestled into Jeremy's lap and let out a big yawn. Addie laughed, "Time for our champion to go to bed and get her rest, we have something to do tomorrow I think." Everyone laughed and after a round of hugs headed to their rooms. Annie had decided to stay with them the last few days so as Jeremy and Annie settled, they laid their quietly. He went to whisper something to her and laughed quietly. His Olympic champion was fast asleep so he joined her as they both dreamed of tomorrow and how much they loved each other. Amy and Ty were also tired but did find a little time to make out a bit. It would be a while but soon they were sleeping as well. They dreamed of their family and how special each other them were but mostly how much they loved each other.
After a great night's sleep for everyone the family was up and mulling about. They had a light breakfast since they were a little anxious about the day ahead. Jeremy, Annie, Lyndy and Wyatt left early to meet Troy and get Theo ready. When they arrived, Theo neighed in excitement as he saw Annie approaching, well running to him. She embraced him whispering, "Today is our day boy, we are going to rock it." He shook his head up and down as if he understood her completely. The others laughed as Jeremy spoke up, "You know I really think he really does hear what she is saying." They all laughed in agreement. Back at the house the rest of the family was getting ready for the day. Ty was on the phone talking to someone quietly about their small party after the event at the house. They kids packed some snacks and other things they would need for the morning. The first thing they were going to do was watch the Dressage Medal heat just outside the arena. Several Canadians were in the mix. After that they would join everyone else in the packed arena that was filled to the brim. There seemed to be a lot more media on board so Amy and Georgie kept everyone clear of them for now as the figured that afterwards there would be several press activities. The Dressage final was next and went well as a Canadian got the silver medal and the bronze medalist was a client that had helped from the states. They were getting excited and saw Lyndy and Wyatt heading their way. Lyndy whispered something to her mom and along with Georgie and Katie they headed to the stable to see Annie, Justin and Theo. Annie went to hug all three of them as Troy and Jeremy were putting the final touches on Theo's tack. Annie smiled, "I am good mom, I just wanted to see you three and thank you for coaching me and teaching all that you know. I love you all and needed to tell you all that." Katie smacked her shoulder, "Ok, enough of the mushy stuff, got kick some butt girl." They all laughed and headed back, Jeremy holding back to join them after a big kiss. Troy led Theo out as Annie headed to the staging area. Her heat began and the crowd was buzzing in anticipation. The competitor before her had a spill as the horse approached the last jump which was a very difficult and their timing was off. The horse abruptly stopped and the rider was thrown off to the side and luckily was Ok. It was just a minor delay and the competitor was the one who was just behind Annie in the standings. But Annie remained calm and in control. Theo on the other hand was ready, holding his head up high as the crowd began to get excited. She barely heard her name announced and when the buzzer went off they bolted from the starting line. As soon as they began they were in the zone as if it was just the two of them going through the course at home. There was controlled excitement but a calmness that enveloped their world. Later she would be told by her sister and Jeremy that she was so focused that it looked as though they saw no one watching them while they moved swiftly and efficiently. Theo made the jumps look easy and Annie seemed to anticipate every move they needed to make, acting as one. Soon after they cleared the last jump they realized they were finished and for the first time heard the roars of applause from the crowd, especially her family. She brought Theo over to the area where he would be settled in and waited for the score. It was the best score of her career and one that basically assured her of the gold. Also, she smiled when she saw it, she realized that it was 1/100th of second faster than her aunt when she won the gold medal a few years back. Her coach smiled up at her as she noticed Jeremy coming her way and Troy ready to take Theo back. Annie smiled, "Hold up Troy, I want the family to see him first." On cue, the entire family made it down to the area where she was waiting. Amy, Georgie and Katie went to give her a hug when she dismounted. The girls, Wyatt and JT went to congratulate Theo and he was loving the attention. Wyatt took a moment to look him over and gave a thumbs up to Ty who was watching him. Georgie smiled, "Really you had to beat me." Everyone laughed and Ty approached his daughter teary eyed whispering into her ear, "Annie you were amazing. As you rode, I saw your mom on the course I built for her so many years ago. It was beautiful just like you. Thank you so much." Amy over heard the discussion and joined them as the others gave them some space. She smiled joining in the quiet moment, "Annie, dad is right, no matter what that was amazing and you are an amazing rider. We both love you so much." They settled and watched the last few competitors. As the competition ended the final scores were posited and she had done it, she had won the gold. After the medal ceremony, Annie spent a little more time with Theo so Jeremy, Lyndy and Wyatt waited for her. The evening would be a family celebration, no media or Olympic hype as that would come tomorrow. She couldn't wait to be with the people she loved more than anything.