Chapter 5
Amy woke early even for her and sat up. She had not slept well and had a stiff neck and a mild headache. She had stayed in her room after seeing Lyndy to bed and showering the night before. Upset as she was, she was in no mood to socialize with anyone and was trying to write in her journal which sometimes calmed her down before bed when her phone rang and Finn's picture showed up on the screen. She was happy to see his face and lay back closing her journal as she hit the call button.
"Hey handsome."
"I didn't wake you ?"
"No, I was trying to write in my journal but my head wasn't connecting, I'm glad you called."
"You keep a journal ?"
"Yeah, my mother kept one and I started a few years after she passed, Ty suggested it and bought me my first."
"What do you write about ?"
"Well, I have two, one for my work, just thoughts about the horses, herbal remedies that seem to work, behavioral stuff, basically work notes that I can refer back to over time and get ideas. The one I was just writing in or trying to is my personal stuff, just this and that, my feelings. Usually it helps me sort things out."
"Write about me yet ?"
Amy smiled "I have written about you and no, it's private."
"It's nice to know you think about me when I'm not around. How was dinner ?"
Amy thought for a moment before answering "Interesting, did you know your grandfather worked at Heartland in the 50's ?"
"Sure, he mentioned it when I told him about us."
"And what did he say ?"
"That you come from a long line of beautiful women actually. We didn't get into it, why ? Is this important ?"
"Not really, apparently 70 years ago your grandfather had a thing for my as yet unmarried grandmother. Lyndy actually."
"The singer, Bartlett, sure, we have some of her records, I didn't put the two together, that it was your grandmother I mean." He laughed then "Ok, is this important ?"
Amy laughed as well "not really anymore I hope, the whole thing was kind of absurd actually."
"Want to fill me in ?"
'Not really," she laughed "maybe some other time, don't worry about it."
"Well then I won't, anyway I just really wanted to hear your voice and wish you good night."
"That was sweet, and nice, thank you."
"It was a nice kiss Amy, good night."
"It was a nice kiss Finn, talk tomorrow ?"
"You bet."
"Goodnight." Amy said hitting the call button to disconnect.
Getting out of bed she did some stretching which took care of most of her aches and she hoped coffee would take care of the mild headache so she started a pot brewing before heading into the bathroom and getting dressed.
Back in the kitchen she filled her tall travel cup, grabbed a yogurt and a banana and after getting her boots and hat on headed out to morning chores leaving Lyndy's monitor on the kitchen table which let whomever know that she was out and Lyndy was still asleep, a sign they had set up for mornings like this. She'd get a text when Lyndy was up.
The coffee helped as did the work which she started in the barn as it was still dark out and once done there she moved outside to work and watch the sunrise. She stopped as the sun started come up and leaned against the side of one of the outside stalls watching.
"Sunrises and sunsets, they never get old do they ?"
"Or the views or the stars at night." Amy said not turning "Good morning Grandpa, Lyndy up ?"
"Not when I left, she's still asleep as far as I know, Lisa's in the kitchen. Look, I'm sorry Amy, I shouldn't have said what I did."
"Apology accepted, excuse me Grandpa, I'd like to get back for Lyndy and have to finish up."
"Amy."
"Yes Grandpa ?"
"Can we talk about it ?"
"I really have to get done Grandpa, I'd like to take most of tomorrow off, I've arranged for Jade to sit with Lyndy today and the center opens back up on Monday."
"Fine, I have to get out to the herd anyway, maybe we can talk later ?"
"Sure, not about Finn though."
She finished her morning chores and was on her way back to the house when the text came in from Lisa that Lyndy was awake and she immediately texted back that she was already on the way so that when Lyndy popped out of her bedroom door Amy was there to see her smile and hurry into the bathroom.
"Don't forget to wipe and wash your hands sweetheart." Amy called through the door and then listened as the toilet flushed and she heard Lyndy move the step and wash her hands.
Lisa watched Amy go by from the kitchen and poured a cup of coffee and a cup of milk for them to have when both mother and daughter walked into the kitchen.
"Lyndy, I have oatmeal and banana is that Ok ?" Lisa asked.
"Yup, thank you Grandma. Good morning grandma."
"That was nicely done Lyndy, thank you Lisa." Amy added sitting down as Lisa put a coffee mug in front of her and Lyndy's milk down near her.
"Did your grandfather catch up to you ?"
Amy nodded after taking a sip of coffee "He did, apology accepted."
"So we're all good ?"
"No, he still wants to talk and I have no desire to talk."
"Just talking Amy."
"Not just talking Lisa, talking about Finn and that conversation is over."
"Grandpa hasn't apologized ?" Lou said walking in "Good morning."
"Good morning Aunt Lou, there's oatmeal."
"Good morning Lyndy, coffee for me first I think."
"Here you go Lou." Lisa said sliding a mug of coffee across to her.
"So Grandpa ?"
"Apology accepted."
"Sounds like not ?" Lou said looking across at her over her mug.
"He wants to talk about it and I'd rather not listen to his whole he cares about me and his ranch dominance speech. I've heard it and I'm sick of listening to it. I forgave him, that should be enough."
"What are your plans for today Amy ?"
"Get this little nugget dressed and when Jade gets here I'll start with Brandy in the round pen, exercise Spartan and Harley, work with Benedict and finish with a trail ride on Flash who I think is ready for Jess."
"Jade's taking me to story time with Miss Clarissa at the library."
"And then Maggie's for lunch and then ?"
"The park to play in the playground !"
"I should be mostly done by when they get back."
"Can we go for a ride later momma ?"
"If I have time sweetie otherwise you can help me today and we have tomorrow."
"Picnic with Finn !"
"Picnic with Finn, where should we go for our picnic ?"
"The big field by the water and we can dip our feet."
Amy smiled "then we'll need to remember towels."
"And the picnic !"
"Jade promised to pick up turkey and fresh bread for us at the deli so we can make sandwiches in the morning. How's that sound ?"
"With potato chips ?"
"Absolutely, potato chips are the most important part."
"And juice."
"And juice and water and snacks."
"That's a good picnic." Lyndy said finishing her oatmeal.
"All done ? give your plate and cup to Lisa and go get washed and brushed. Dress or jeans ?"
"Dress please."
"Dress it is, I'll get it ready while you get yourself ready and then we'll do your hair."
Amy was sitting and braiding Lyndy's hair in the living room while a Peppa Pig dvd ran in the machine. Lyndy sat and watched when they were done and Amy leafed through a magazine waiting for Jade and apparently Parker to show up. They were joined by Lisa a few minutes later. They both glanced up when they heard Katie stirring in the attic room. She was downstairs a few minutes later.
"I overslept again." She said coming down the stairs in jeans and her hair braided loosely. "Parker here yet ?"
"Not yet Katie, go have some breakfast they should be here soon." Amy said. "Your mom left to town already."
"What do you and Parker have plans to do Katie ?" Lisa asked as she passed.
"Finish up our civics presentation, maybe go for a ride, not sure of the order." She answered heading into the kitchen.
Amy's day went well and she was sitting on the porch nursing a bottle of water when her truck pulled in and Jade pulled up to the house. She waved at Amy as did Lyndy who snapped open her booster seat and climbed out of the back with Jades' help.
"Happy smiles all around, did you two have fun together ?"
"We had a great time, didn't we Lyndy, how about you and me put this bag in the fridge and get washed up and changed ?"
Lyndy nodded and Amy smiled "thanks Jade, you have plans or do you want to stay for dinner ?"
"No dinner, sorry Amy, plans are dinner out with the folks, Parker ready you think ?"
"They're upstairs in Katie's room, they should be finishing up. Just let her know you're here."
Amy learned that Katie had apparently volunteered to make dinner with the promise that she would use the sauce Lisa purposefully left on the counter in full view for the lasagna and to accompany it with a salad as Peter would be there and probably Tim and Jessica. With Lyndy napping in the living room Amy started on the salad.
"Thanks for understanding and helping with Lyndy last night Katie."
"Not a problem, everything uhm, Ok with that ? They said you had gone to sleep early when I came down to say goodnight."
"I don't know that I have an answer to that honestly, I guess it is for now which is the ongoing saga of my life, just get through whatever it is and things will get better. I don't even know, is your dad here ?"
"He's in Hudson hanging out with mom, he was here before when you guys were out. His stuff's in mom's room."
"Of course it is." Amy muttered.
Dinner was almost a full table, Jack, Lisa, Tim, Jessica, Lou, Peter, Katie, Amy and Lyndy who was quite happy that dinner was lasagna tempered only slightly by the news that Katie did not use ketchup.
"Peter, how long are you staying ?" Amy asked.
"Not long, back to work early Monday. How's the center coming along ?"
"Construction and most of the upgrades are done and inspected, kids are back on Monday. Well, 8 kids, teens, not sure of the combination we're getting but I think Clint's shooting for 2 sets of 4, boy's and girls, fosters actually rather than from juvie. Georgies, not Tys, at least for now. They'll live at the ranch, go to school in town, do chores and learn general horsemanship."
"I assume you'll have help ?"
"There's a full time housekeeper slash cook with a studio apartment, Clint who'll be either director or assistant, more part-time than full, he'll handle the money and liaison part, the kids keep their own rooms clean, there'lI be two counselors, Logan for the boys and a woman named Michelle who's a teacher going for her Master's, I've got Scott, Cass, Caleb and Finn lined up for special interest stuff and we'll play it by ear, Jade said she'd love to help, a few others. CPS hasn't done anything like this so we've got leeway to learn."
"What's your title ?"
"I'm still deciding, my duties won't change, the title Director comes with the house, which is actually just the second floor, the first floor is a bit of everything including the big kitchen and dining room."
"You'd move ?" Lou asked.
"Actually Lyndy and I would move, and our horses of course. I'm considering it."
"And they have a big barn and I can get my room painted any color I want. It'll be purple of course." Lyndy added excitedly.
Amy smiled "of course it will and we can pick your furniture together."
"How big is this space ?" Lisa asked trying to recover from the news.
"The second floor has three bedrooms one with an en-suite bathroom, a second bathroom between the two other bedrooms, a kitchen and small dining area, you know like ours." She said pointing to the kitchen, it's a nice space."
"And it's all funded ?"
"CPS money, donations of course and we're registered to be a rescue facility, fix 'em, train 'em and sell 'em."
"What about your business here ?"
"I'll still have it dad, probably smaller, but Clint's fine with me fixing horses and taking on some client horses as long as it's safe and doesn't cost the facility anything. The kids are gone all day, I've got Logan to help between college classes besides, it's added income, I'm on salary. We may consider bording."
"Logan's going to college ?" Lou asked.
"If he wants to work for me he goes to college, Clint agrees. He'll start at Foothills Community and maybe UC later on."
"You've done pretty well without college Amy."
"I have several regrets Dad, not going to college is up there near the top."
"I guess we should sit down later and talk about all of this." Jack said, "it's the first any of us have heard of this."
Amy sighed "Katie, could you ?"
Katie smiled and nodded "come on Lyndy bug, how about we get you into a bath and I'll read you a story."
"Thanks Katie." Amy said giving Lyndy a kiss and watching her walk off holding Katie's hand.
"Let's just get this over with now, I haven't made a decision yet, what's there to talk about ?"
"It's a big decision Amy."
Amy stared at him for a second and then purposefully went around the table from him, to Lisa, to Lou and to her dad. "So's doubling the herd, saddle breaking a horse at 90, deeding out chunks of land, buying a million dollar thoroughbred, opening a diner in another country, buying a ranch with your fiancé, running for mayor, breaking up with your fiancé and getting back together with your ex, heading off to Florida to train for the Olympics, selling an adjoining ranch, running off to South America and getting married, all big decisions made without a family discussion. Why is my life up for a vote when you all just do whatever the hell you want ?"
"What about Heartland ?"
"What about it Grandpa, I've given my whole life up until now to this ranch. I've worked my ass off since I was 15 years old and done more than my share to pay its' bills and keep it going, what about Heartland ?"
"It's your home Amy."
"It's your home Grandpa, that much has always been abundantly clear. My home would have a big airy barn with lots of stalls and a bathtub I could soak in peacefully at the end of a hard day."
"Amen to the last one." Lisa muttered. "When would this happen honey ?"
"Sometime over the summer, for one thing Cooper took his furniture and the apartment upgrades aren't done yet."
"You have to furnish it on your own ?" Lou asked
"There's a stipend, not huge but I actually own a bunch of what I would need."
"So how much time do you have to make a decision ?"
"I told Cliff about two weeks so they could get the kitchen done once I've decided, I think if I do it I'd like my appliances, they cost a fortune."
Jessica nodded "If you decide to do it Amy, we'll buy you the new appliances for the apartment rather than moving the stuff installed and obviously get our own furniture, it's all kind of surreal for me anyway like a perpetual stay in an AirBnB."
Amy smiled "A nice AirBnB though ?"
Jessica laughed "A very nice AirBnB, I actually love how it's laid out."
"Ok well I'm glad the space hasn't gone to waste, anyway, I need to save Katie from Lyndy and Jess, you get to keep the mattress."
With Lyndy down Amy settled in the living room with Peter, Lou, Jack and Lisa. Tim and Jessica had gone back to the loft. It was a quiet evening, Jack and Lisa were reading the paper, Lou and Peter were both reading something work related and Amy was leafing through one of the horse magazines when she felt the vibration on her phone and pulled it out of her back pocket to check a text.
"Nice night, feel like taking a walk ?'
She smiled "Just put Lyndy down."
"Sit on the porch and hold hands ?"
She smiled again "that can definitely be arranged."
"See you in 20 minutes."
She lay the phone down alongside her which was next to Lou and realizing that everyone was looking at her looked up and around.
"What ?"
"You look pretty happy Amy, care to share the news ?" Lisa said.
"A gentleman caller to visit with me on the porch, so if you'll excuse me, I'm going to brush out my hair."
"That's pretty adorable you know, him coming to sit with her." Lou said to Lisa when Amy was behind her closed bedroom door. "You don't think Finn is the reason she's considering moving do you ?"
"Why are we having this conversation ?"
Lisa shook her head "Oh Jack, grow up because I'm sure it's a consideration, she's a grown woman."
"Thank you Lisa," Amy said walking into the living room "Of course it's a consideration but certainly not the main one, this right here is the main one, a complete and utter lack of privacy which is unnerving at this stage in my life. Excuse me but I'm going to wait on the porch."
She opted for boots rather than her moccasins, then grabbed her long wrap sweater and black hat before heading out and settling on the end of the bench. Sunset was just beginning and she could feel the light diminishing in small fractions, a fleeting thought which was gone as soon as Finn pulled in driving his grandfather's pick-up.
She was smiling again when he got out and came up the stairs. She loved his smile which seemed almost impish and it looked to her like he hesitated for a second before bending over and kissing her gently. As he turned to sit she stopped him and pulled him back for another brief kiss.
"Good night so far ?"
Amy shrugged "Good and weird, I told them about the apartment, it sort of came up in conversation."
"Better than just bringing it up I guess, you were worried that would be awkward."
"It was awkward anyway, hey I was promised hand holding."
He laughed "how about ?" He said softly reaching across to take her left hand with his and reaching his right arm behind her pulling her in slowly to his side.
"This works." She answered softly taking off her hat and dropping it on the chair to her right and then laying her head against his shoulder.
"So how did it go ?"
"It's over, I told them it's not a vote, I think they were too surprised to actually react."
"You guys don't have a porch swing, why is that ?"
"Probably to keep us young women from necking."
"You can't neck on a bench ?"
Amy giggled "You can actually do a lot on a bench but I've always thought a porch swing was more romantic."
"The uhm, well, I noticed the center house has a porch swing."
Amy giggled again "You noticed that did you ? Lyndy loved it. Jess was nice and said they'd buy the center new appliances rather than replace the loft ones."
They sat quietly for a long time and watched the sky. Finn's thumb gently rubbed her hand and Amy turned hers over so that their fingertips touched lightly. They seemed both lost in the moment when the screen door opened which startled them both.
"Sorry, sorry, hi Finn." Katie said "we doing night check ?"
"You know Katie, you dealt with Lyndy, Finn and I'll do it."
"You sure ?"
Amy turned sitting up and Finn nodded, "we're sure."
"Shower for me then, good night you two."
"Night Katie." They both said together standing.
They worked through the barn quietly and moved on to the outside stalls.
"These two are unshod." Finn said pointing at Shadow and Flash while Amy worked across at two other stalls.
"They're gentled wildies, Shadow here is mine and Flash is Jessica's. I had to see how they'd do, Flash can get a regular keg shoe I think, I don't how how much more than trail riding or the occasional herding he'll do. I'll check with Jess. Shadow's mine, I'm not sure, with him I might go with a rim shoe."
"Well, their hooves look fine for now, let me know what you decide."
"You've been checking hooves ?"
Finn smiled across at her as he closed Shadow's stall "it's what I do Amy."
He was checking the last stall and she walked across to him and waited as he finished the stall which was Brandy's and a double. She smiled as he brushed off his hands against his jeans.
"I guess I should be heading home, looks like we got a short walk in after all."
They were standing face to face and Amy took hold of both sides of his open dungaree jacket and pulled him down to her maneuvering past their hats to kiss him. It was the exact moment that Jessica came around the corner and stopped suddenly seeing the scene before her.
"Er, excuse me I was looking for Katie."
Amy turned and smiled, the blush rising on her fair skinned cheeks.
"I gave her the night off, what's up ?"
"Nothing I just wanted to check, well, I promised to come see her and Parker's civics display for the Civics fair in school on Monday and take some pictures, I forgot to ask
for a time, I'll text her or catch up tomorrow. Uhm carry on, sorry."
"We were just heading back." Amy said as her arm stretched around Finn's waist and he reciprocated with his arm around hers.
"You two make a nice couple."
"Thanks Jess, how does your other half feel ?" Amy asked as they walked up to her and they all turned into the barn.
"I honestly think that deep down he's fine about it Amy, he needs to get to know Finn a bit better, we all do. It'll all fit into place."
"And the apartment, moving out ?"
"Me, personally ? I think it might just be what you need to really get back on your feet. Tim ? I can't really say at this point, we haven't talked about it and I was serious, order whatever you want for the kitchen and let me know what you'll be taking of the rest and we'll deal with it."
"Thanks Jess, it's good to know you're on my side."
"Don't think for a second Lisa isn't Amy. She loves you as if you were her own."
"I know Jess, thanks for saying it though."
"Well," she said as they passed the stairs to the loft "goodnight you two."
They switched to holding hands walking back to the ranch house and stopped at Finn's truck for their goodnight.
She didn't notice Jack standing by the sink and looking out the window when they stopped and faced each other. He watched as Amy dropped her forehead playfully on his chest and he dropped his head to kiss hers before she looked up and they kissed goodnight.
"Sleep well Amy, sounds like you have at least two powerful forces on your side."
"Goodnight Finn, you're a powerful force in all this too you know."
"I'll always be on your side Amy, always."
She brought her hand up at that moment and gently lay her palm against his cheek before reaching up to kiss him gently one last time.
"Good night Finn, see you tomorrow around 10 I guess."
"I'll text when I leave Amy, let me know if I need to pick anything up."
Once in the truck he smiled at her one last time as he turned and pulled back. She sighed when she turned towards the house and caught her grandfather moving from the sink.
She sat to pull off her boots after hanging up her sweater and hat.
"Uhm, I didn't mean to eavesdrop Amy."
"I know Grandpa."
"Are you happy Amy ?, I mean you look happy."
"Happier than I've been in a while Grandpa and I didn't think that was possible."
"Then I'm glad."
Amy nodded and then kissed his cheek. "Goodnight Grandpa."
"Goodnight Amy, sleep well."