Chapter Thirty

The Bordens

A/N – Although the last chapter had several very different story lines I believe I accomplished my goal. We have the growth of the new Rehoming Center and a marriage between two people who are a big part of this family. Haley and Rusty's baby is just another example of the next generation which is a part of the family and company's growth. I laughed to myself when the Ty panicking idea came to me. Years ago, I had that happen to me personally and it freaked me out as well. With many families as the next generation grows, so does the number of its members. I will continue to do that although my main focus will always be the Bordens, but all the other non-family friends will be a big part of it. The company will grow and the family and extended family will as well. And the bonus it gives me a chance to take other family members and develop stories about them like JT, hint, hint. The fishing derby was an idea given to me by a reader. Although in my Heartland A/U Tim was never engaged much, I wanted to show again how JT always focusing on family and tradition. As I continue to develop his character you will continue to see how special he is and how his influence will be far reaching with friends and family. I won't lie the fish named Tim was my idea and it was kind of fun to write about as well. I feel I have neglected all of the Borden kids so I am going to sidetrack and spend some time writing about them in this chapter and don't worry I will also include Amy and Ty. Although this story focuses on Lyndy and a little JT, the other girls will be an integral part of the future and I feel the need to focus on them a bit. Wedged between storylines, I am going to take a quick look at each Borden and their partners. Also some big news in store for Amy and Ty, as you know I cannot go too long without writing about them. Keep me honest and let me know how I am doing and as always, ideas are always welcomed. Mature Content – Enjoy!

It was a calm morning for the Bordens after a packed weekend of family fun. The school age Bordens were on their way to class as Wyatt and Ty headed over to the barn to meet with the other vets to talk about the week. Before Amy and Lyndy went to work, they diverted to Heartland to see how the new grandmother and mother were doing and of course hold baby Sammy. When they arrived, Jack and Lisa were in the kitchen having coffee. Jack scoffed and smiled after they each gave him a kiss on the cheek. "Well, well, we never see you and now since there is a new baby here you are. I am jealous." Lyndy giggled, "GG we were just her yesterday silly and you will always be number one with us." Before she could continue as beaming Maryanne came out holding the new baby and immediately Amy and Lyndy pushed passed Jack to see her. Jack laughed and the two barely noticed him as they went to greet the new grandma and her grandbaby. Amy went to kiss Maryanne's cheek and asked, "So how is he doing and how are the new parents handing things?" She smiled warmly, "Well Haley is fast asleep getting some rest so I am stuck with watching little Sammy. Oh the burden of a new grandmother." They all laughed as a groggy Rusty walked out to hugs from the two women visiting. He smiled and grabbed a mug of coffee, kissed the cheek of his little boy and headed out the door. Amy stopped him, "Where the heck are you going?" He stuttered, "Well, I wanted to check in with Caleb for a few minutes to see what is going on." Amy looked at him sternly, "Rusty Monroe, you get a cup of coffee and a blueberry muffin for your wife, take it in to her and spend the day taking care of her and your baby, with grandma's help of course. In fact you are not allowed back in the barn until Friday and I will make sure Caleb knows. If I hear you have, you better run." He put his head down, got a coffee and muffin and started heading in to their room but not before Jack laughed, "Son, you better make sure you tend to what Amy says. You don't want to live with the wrath of a Borden/Fleming woman for sure." Maryanne laughed, high fived and hugged Amy after handing Sammy off to Lyndy. A reluctant Lyndy gave him up to Lisa as Amy and Lyndy headed out to meet with the others at the Miracle Ranch. When they arrived the entire group was together already waiting and Ty, Steven and Wyatt were there too. They spent 15 minutes going over everything for the week and thankfully, Georgie and Katie had set it all up already. As was the norm they were busy with a week full of horses both new and old. Ty and Amy spoke for a few seconds before the headed off for the day. Amy smiled, hugged him and whispered in his ear, "I am so proud of Lyndy, she is becoming a valuable part of the team and I have to say, her skills have really improved. And she understands the business side too. She is really a pretty amazing daughter." Ty smiled, "Yea, we have some pretty great kids. Wyatt is no different, he has stepped in and become a valuable member of the team. He needs no guidance and takes a lot of things on that are challenging with excitement and vigor. The other day he did a procedure and none of us knew he did that was really advanced. When Steven asked him where he learned it he laughed and said he watched him do it." She smiled and continued to hug him and giggled, "Well he the future son-in-law of the amazing Dr. Borden." He laughed kissing her forehead, "And Lyndy is you and your mom. Every time I see her work, I see you and how when you were young you amazed me. You know that is why I fell in love with you." He leaned back and kissed her with emotion until they both got interrupted by two throats clearing. They looked over and they saw, Wyatt and Lyndy rolling their eyes and finally Lyndy spoke up, "Geez you to, we have work to do and you are like making out. You need to go get a room." Amy scoffed, "Well we actually have a house that you live in." She whispered in Ty's ear, "Never mind what I said." Ty added, "Ditto." They kissed, stuck their tongues out and headed off for their day. Lyndy and Wyatt smiled feeling lucky to have such amazing parents and soon to be in-laws.

(Lets catch up on the Bordens)

JT and Shawna – Amy and Ty never doubted the decision to let JT start school early and be with kids a year older than him. As they sat with his teaching team for the first conference of the year, that was validated as the teachers had nothing but praise for not only his educational capabilities but the level of maturity he displayed with his peers. They were all aware of his gift but reassured them that it was never a point of bragging to the others. His counselor smiled and spoke up, "I have to say that he talks to me often about several things but it seems his GG is important to him and what he is going through. He also speaks often about Shawna Saunders, who we have seen he is close to. He misses being with her every day, but it seems they are inseparable out of school. For an almost 11-year old the bond they have is pretty strong and mature. Mrs. Borden, he told me he talks to his sister Maddie along with his other sisters to always get advice and make sure he is treating her right." Amy and Ty smiled as she talked, "Well we are very lucky as our kids are very close, even with the age differences. It makes us feel good to see how they get along and seek advice and comfort from each other." As they concluded the meeting the team assured them that JT is a special child and definitely extremely smart and mature. A new teacher commented, "Even with that he is one of the most kind and caring person I have ever seen. I can't imagine how he perceives things but to see him around his classmates and especially his friend Trent is simply astounding." She smiled and continued, "He also talks with us about his ability to talk with those from your family who are gone, astounding." Ty smiled, "Yes he still participates in semiannual meeting where a team of doctors and professors go over his experiences with him to try and understand his capabilities. There have been several papers written, but we make sure we protect him from those who overwhelm him with questions and tests. We talked to him and he appreciates it but also understands that when he turns 18 what he wants to do will be up to him." Amy and Ty smiled and ended the meeting, looking forward to going home and seeing their son. JT loved three things, his family, school and working around the ranch as much as possible, especially since that meant more time with Shawna. The family after school study group had been modified since the older Bordens were in college or graduated so Maddie, Ricky and Caroline Walsh went over homework with JT, Shawna and Trent almost every day. Once finished they went on to the ranch to help wherever they were needed. Shawna and JT really enjoyed the Llama herd and the Rehoming Center as well as driving around I his now personal Gator helping out wherever they were needed. Shawna was beginning to spend more time watching Lyndy and Amy work with horses and participated in the youth program. JT smiled as the training team had begun letting her help with some easy horses, even learning T-Touch from Amy. Shawna blushed, "Thanks Mrs. Borden for teaching me this. I really would like to learn more about helping horses like you, Georgie, Katie and Lyndy. My mom always calls you the Miracle Girl and has shown me the video. I am amazed at what you can do." Amy smiled, "Well sweetie, you keep coming to our kid's clinics and make sure you hang out with us when you can. You will know soon enough if it is something you want to do. Horses can be lifelong friends and will always be there for you. Amy smiled as she saw JT encouraging her and holding her hand and continued, "You know what, we need to get you a horse. Ask your mom and dad and if they are good with it, get with Ellory and lets find one for you. Having your own horse will help you practice your skills and give you a friend forever." Her eyes lit up and she went to hug her and then JT. JT was already planning to get with Ellory so they could begin finding a friend for Shawna. But for now JT's main focus was his GG. Although at times it angered him, he understood that his time with them was dwindling so he made it his personal quest to be there for him and make sure he was enjoying himself. It was a common scene to see Jack moving around in his customized scooter with JT and Shawna on either side. When he was up to it they would head to the pond to fish or go to the Miracle Ranch to watch Amy and the team work on the horses. They would picnic looking over the Llama herd and Jack promised to help Shawna pick out her horse. Many years later their relationship would become a foundation of the family and there heritage and past. JT was a happy as he had ever been with a great family, good friends and his special friend that meant everything to him.

Maddie and Ricky

Maddie was definitely a blond haired green eyed powerhouse. Everything she touched felt her drive, passion and ability to care so much. Although she was definitely an individual she possessed traits from her mom, dad, siblings and everyone around her. She continued to be an advocate for those who needed her support because life had given them challenges that people around them couldn't handle. Over her young life she had been recognized by the school, organizations, friends and family as a person who was there for you, no matter what. At the parent conference, Amy and Ty were pleased to hear that her drive had not diminished and her school work continued to be excellent. One teacher commented that she had never saw a young woman with such passion and commitment. The lead of the teaching team reassured them her schoolwork continued to be exemplary and bonds with Gwen and Sylvia were as strong as ever. But the best change in her life was meeting Ricky and growing their relationship. They were different but alike. Although she loved horses and they were important to her, her inner drive to help those that needed it had guided her to her interest in a future as a therapist. She was still deciding which specialized area but was continuing to move toward Occupational Therapy and still was given an opportunity to spend time at the University shadowing the students in the program. Several of them had befriended her and made it their mission to help her get a better grasp on what it took to be successful. Interestingly her experience with Gwen and Sylvia was valuable and gave her the ability to understand what she was observing and in some cases actually doing the therapeutic activities. Her parents fully supported her aspiration, understanding not everyone wants to be a horse healer or vet, even though Amy could see she had early signs of the family skill. Maddie knew it too and had recommended using horses to help with the actual therapy and with the family connections to the Equine team at the school she coordinated a meeting between the two. She brought her mom, sister Lyndy and cousin Georgie to the meeting. She thought having her recent graduate, famous mom, and famous cousin would definitely help her with her mission. The meeting went well and later in the semester they were going to have a trial program implemented. The high school and university teams were equally impressed and privately the university OT team assured Amy and Ty they looked forward to her joining the program when she got to college. Ricky was a good student but realized that maybe ranch hand life was his forte. Dating a girl who's family owned world renowned Equine Center with cattle, Llamas and a whole lot more gave him a unique opportunity to gain the experience he needed. He also enjoyed Rodeo and although Maddie was not that pleased, she supported him, especially since she saw how much he loved it. Rusty and Caleb took him under their wings, which made her feel better since she had two people to yell at if something ever happened to him. Both of them know the wrath of a Borden woman and made sure they kept an eye on her beau. Their relationship continued to grow and they each know they loved the other completely. Maddie was approached by several high school boys and asked out but she quicky turned them away. She was sure of her love and commitment to Ricky and could see a future. She knew they were young and she had talked to Lyndy and her mom about it a lot. One night, she went for a walk with her mom as she wanted to talk about him with her. Their walk started quiet when Amy put her arm around her and smiled, "Ok, spill, I expect this is about Ricky. Dad and I have noticed a change with both of you and I want you to know we both think he is a fine young man. He still calls me ma'am and dad sir even though we tell him not too." Maddie giggled, "He is such a dork, but he is my dork." She hesitated, "Mom, can you really love someone when you are 16, I mean not puppy love but real love." Amy stopped and walked her over to a bench to sit and face her. She smiled, "Honey, you are a very mature and bright young woman and we love you. Of course you can feel real love. I wasn't much older than you when I realized that I loved your father and we were young. We had our ups and downs but no matter what, we both know we were meant for each other and would be together forever." Amy blushed as Maddie laughed, "But mom you are Amy and Ty, the benchmark for all relationships." They sat quietly for a second, "Mom I feel like you did sometime, actually more and more each day. I love him and I know he loves me, but we both know we need to take our time and grow our relationship." Amy smiled and pulled her into a hug. "I think you are both making the right decision but I can see that you two are destined to be together. Be patient and safe. Trust me, boys can be a challenge and sometimes they make things difficult. Always stand your ground but understand a relationship is built on trust and compromise." Maddie understood and hugged her mom again tightly realizing she was lucky to have such amazing parents and siblings. They finished their walk and her eyes lit up as she saw Ricky over by the barn grooming a client's horse. She kissed her mom's cheek and ran over to him while Amy giggled seeing her daughter's excitement, remembering how she felt the same when she saw Ty, even to this day. She snuck up behind him and wrapped her arms around him tightly yelling surprise. He laughed, "Is this Gina Stephens?" She stepped back and smacked him as the horse he was tending too looked over wondering why these two humans were so weird. He grabbed each of her arms and looked into her eyes and smiled, "Hey Maddie Borden, done talking with you mom, you know I was watching you." She smiled a little, "You were?" He smiled, "Yea I figured you were talking about me." She thought for second then hugged him tightly. She leaned back and kissed him for several minutes. As they kissed, Caleb yelled over, "Hey young lady, that guy has work to do. You Borden woman are always distracting my hands." Maddie stuck her tongue out at him, laughed and continued to kiss him, "You bet I am." Amy yelled as she was walking over from the house, "Give it up Caleb, you don't have a chance."

Annie and Jeremy

Annie glanced over at her sleeping boyfriend and decided that after a wonderful night that she would leave him be. His first class was not for a few hours so she quietly got up, threw on some clothes and headed down for some coffee. As she got close to the kitchen she heard giggling and walked in on Maya, Bella and Camilla, talking quietly. Troy and Addie had already left for an early class and Desi left for the business school off campus. Annie spoke up, "Good morning, what is so funny." Bella spoke first, "Well, we are surprised you are up already, by the sounds of things last night you seemed rather busy with that hot boyfriend of yours." Maya added, "You don't seem to worse for wear." They all giggled again as Annie blushed, forgetting how thin the walls were in the apartment. She glared at them with her emerald green eyes she got from her father and scoffed, "Yea. Like you guys don't cause a ruckus too. What are you jealous." It was time for all of them to giggle and were startled when a very groggy Jeremy came down the steps in his shorts and no shirt. Camilla swooned, "Look it is lover boy, did you forget some clothes this morning?" Now it was time for him to blush as he quickly put on the t-shirt he was carrying. "Why do I feel like I am the source of you giggling?" Annie pulled him in for a hug, "Don't worry, they are just jealous." She kissed his neck and the three girls started gagging. They all headed off to class in good moods. Annie had found that this year was everything she expected and then some. It seemed that being an Olympic Gold Medalist brought a whole new world of opportunity and embarrassment for her. The turmoil had calmed a bit but sometimes instructors brought it up as it seemed her accomplishment made her an expert in many ways. Annie fought diligently to move forward and was slowly winning her battle. Her schoolwork and studies were going as good as possible, in fact better than even she expected. Her drive remained steady and focused on becoming a certified Equine professional. She wanted to be a valued part of the company and work with her mom, sister and cousins everyday side by side continuing to grow the family's horse healing legacy. She had also decided to try for the Olympic team again in less than four years so a practice schedule was in place and strictly adhered to. Her biggest cheerleader was Jeremy, who made it a point to be there for her as much as possible. She sat in her first class daydreaming about the wonderful night she had with Jeremy and twirling her promise ring. Winning the Olympic Gold was amazing but the night he gave her this promise was even more important. She knew that he was the right partner for her as they were a mix of personalities that matched perfectly. She loved horses, her family, school, generally her life. Jeremy had determined he enjoyed ranch work but in the Equine program, he excelled in understanding horses a little more deeply that a typical ranch hand. Also his business courses sparked his interest in understanding the workings of the company and since he was with Annie, he was given the opportunity to get a look from the inside. Caleb was the first to notice his interest and insight and began acclimating him to the business side of things. Rusty took charge of his ranch hand side of things and had to admit he was more than capable of handling everything thrown his way and a bonus was he had gained a sense of understanding horses since he had been observing his girlfriend and the others so much. For the most part Annie was very happy with her life and cherished everything she had. Working with her parents, siblings and others was a dream come true. Being coached by her mother and a former gold medalist was an advantage that many others didn't have. Her coach and teammates on the University's Equestrian team were great to work with and she learned a lot from them. Her mother always told her and her siblings, no matter what, you can always learn from others so don't think you don't need to. Just like I have shown you how to watch a horse to see what they are feeling, the same goes for those around you. Reading and learning from people is just as important in life as academics. These were words that meant a lot to her and she found that it came to her naturally, obviously a trait passed down from generations. Annie valued all of her relationships, most importantly the one that had been developing over the years with Jeremy. She loved him completely and she knew he felt the same. The quietly both watched her mom and dad as well as her sister and her fiancé. Especially with her parents she saw a bond that was lifelong and complete. Although many gave them trouble about it the way they looked and acted around each other was what they hoped for. Annie as so proud of Jeremy when the normally shy man asked permission from her father to give her the promise ring, that she constantly found herself fiddling with. It was a step in her life that she would always remember, just like her mom and sister did. She loved Jeremy, her family and friends and kept them close to her heart feeling as though they drove her to accomplish things in her life. But a bond she had cherished since she had been born was the one with her twin sister. They still had a unique way of communication and continued to feel what each other felt, just not as often as when they were young. She lover Jeremy and her family but her bond with her twin sister would always be special to both of them. As she headed off for her day, she felt complete and confident. Life for Annie Borden was great and she cherished each and every day.

Addie and Desi

Addie was busy working under one of the ATVs and felt a presence and then someone tugging on her leg. The hand felt a little more friendly than it should so she hoped and prayed it was Desi or things would be weird. She took a breath and mumbled, "Desi, I hope that is you?" There was some hesitation, but she heard him speak, "No it is Prince Harry, do you know where I can find someone to fix my royal Ferrari?" She giggled and responded coyly, "Well maybe but I have a boyfriend and I have to check with him. And you are kind of old for me if you want any other services from me." He laughed, "Well are these services that you give your boyfriend?" She roll out from under the ATV and smiled, blushing a little, "Well why don't you come here and I will show you." They laughed as they embraced in a big hug and began to kiss each other passionately. Things began to get a little heated when they heard a loud huff. In disgust, Rusty blurted out, "What is with you Borden girls, always making out with your men?" They separated unwillingly with an agreement they would meet up later. Desi was meeting with Lou for his continuing acclimation to the financial side of the business that was a part of his accreditation project in the Finance Department program he was in. Addie went back to her work smiling warmly with the thoughts of the man she loved deeply. Her life was just as she hoped for. She loved the Engineering program at school and was excelling in every facet of it. Her instructors were very pleased with her school work but even more with the extra projects she brought to her classmates and the department. Field trips to the Miracle Ranch and other areas of the company gave them hands on experience with the skills they were all learning. Lou and Lisa liked it because it strengthened their relationship with the University and gave them free labor. But for Addie it was much simpler, she loved tinkering with and fixing things and the knowledge from school helped her do that better. She was her father for sure, less the vet stuff and when she had a mechanical challenge she tackled it without hesitation until it was fixed or maybe even made better just like her Great Grandma Lyndy Bartlett. The family knew early on, even before she entered the university that she had the ability to do what she does and hoped, if she wanted it that eventually she would take over all support for everything mechanical at the company. Now they shopped a lot of it out, but long term, like everything else, they wanted it to be an internal function. Addie was all in and looking forward to being the person to oversee the mechanical side of the business. And a bonus, her man would become a part of the financial side of things along with being her partner for life. She loved Desi and his family loved her as well. His mom and Addie had become close after his accident, even after initially she was hesitant to let her in. Once she met her and the Borden family, along with her husband and siblings, they realized they were meant for each other. His family volunteered a lot at the Day Care, Rehoming Center and the Llama herd and his younger sister even adopted a horse. It was a challenge for the young lovers since they went to school on different campuses and didn't have the time together like her sister and friends they made the best of it. Ever since his accident he was driven to spend as much time as possible with her, since she was with him the entire time, from the hospital to all the therapy and recovery. As their life would carry on this bond would strengthen and their life would be full of love for each other and their families. Addie's capabilities were set to allow her to become a major part of the company moving forward and with Desi and her siblings it would continue to prosper and grow.

Lyndy and Wyatt

The transition from school to their life was very comfortable for this formidable couple. Lyndy's capabilities and skill was strong, especially as she continued to take on more and more horses. But for her the bigger sense of accomplishment was how her mom and cousins accepted her into the core group of lead trainers and valued her opinions. Her days were busy with helping horses at both the Equine and Rehoming Center. She also helped out on Saturday morning at the Hudson Dance Studio. Her love of dance had never left and helping young children experience what she had was rewarding. Occasionally Wyatt would go with her and marveled at her skill, beauty and most of all how she worked so well with the kids. It showed him that one day she would be an amazing mother. Wyatt was also excelling at his new role as a company vet. He loved working with the horses at both Centers as well as tending to the Llama herd. Being the new vet on staff, he was in charge of them but actually really enjoyed it but kept that to himself. His surgical skills were improving as well as Ty, Cass and Steven pushed him to do things out of his comfort zone, just like they experienced. But working with the company also gave him experience in other types of animals and he made sure that he helped out at either one of the clinics at least a few times a month. Although horses were his thing he was encouraged by his future father in law to broaden his experience outside of the equine world and he enjoyed it. They still were remembered as the couple who saved the horses, a label that would remain with them for a long time. Not only did it open doors for them but it drove them both to be the best they could. On top of a wonderful start to their new life they dreamed of and a wedding to plan. To this point the work that had been done had just been between the two of them. They have talked to Amy and Ty about it some but only for advice on a few things. For now it was theirs alone and it was important to them to keep it that way. Lyndy had talked to Katie about being her maid of honor and Wyatt had done the same with Clay. So far they had determined the wedding party, ring bearers, readers and had narrowed to two dates, both around the holiday season. Of course Ty would walk his daughter down the aisle but they decided that they wanted Wyatt to walk down with Amy also. Since his parents and grandma were gone, it was something they both wanted to show Amy and Ty what they meant to them. It was especially important to Lyndy because her and her mom have always had a special bond over the years which continued to grow every day. Although they received a lot of guff, they were always told they were just like her parents, in love and not afraid to show their love in public. When she was younger, her younger sisters would be embarrassed when their parents would kiss, hug and just be playful with each other. The people around them always gave her parents a hard time for being so lovey dovey and her sisters, especially Addie used to fake gag all the time. Lyndy loved it and when Wyatt started coming around and eventually falling in love with her he did as well. They never missed an opportunity, when crossing paths the catch a quick kiss and hug. They received grief as well but didn't care, always making sure the upped the ante when confronted. When Amy and Ty took guardianship of Wyatt after his grandma passed he lived with them in his own room at the house, which made JT excited as another man was in the house. Now their rooms were combined into a small apartment that they shared which gave them privacy and independence. They wanted to find their own place after they got married but for now it worked perfectly for them. They were deeply in love and were looking forward to a long life together. The company meant a lot to them and they both realized that one day it would be thiers along with their siblings and other relatives. Their intimacy continued to be their special bond and it was always respectful, discreet and unselfish. They would always tease each other that individually they felt the release of love making was a personal experience but each felt that it was felt more satisfying each other. They definitely wanted children but understood they needed to be in control of it, even though several times Amy had told her daughter that you never know. They were committed to each other completely and their love was a strong as any couples could be, just like their parents.

Amy and Ty

Amy laid on top of her husband catching her breath. Their bodies fit perfectly as they laid skin to skin coming down from an amazing high. She whispered, "Well Dr. Borden, that was amazing. You are quite a catch." Ty smiled, "Well Miracle Girl, you are pretty amazing yourself. You take my breath away" They each giggled and laid there a bit longer. Amy smiled into his chest and kissed him deeply on his lips. "You know I miss the full house but it sure gives us a little more alone time." He laughed, "Really alone time, what are we teenagers?" She blushed, "I remember we really had to work hard for alone time when we were young. A good trail ride always ended in some play time and later I used to sneak out to the loft after everyone was sleeping. It was a little scary but I was so turned on by you, I couldn't help myself. After we made love for the first time and I saw how wonderful you were I couldn't stop." She stopped and giggled, "Wow, I bet you ego is pretty high right now?" He smiled coyly, "Pretty wonderful, huh. I am defiantly quite a stud." The provoked a tickling attack by her and when he tried to stop her she ran away with him in close pursuit. Once he caught her he threw her naked body over his shoulders and carried her into the shower. He set her down gently and smiled, "We need a shower and have to get to work." She pouted and looked at him with her puppy dog eyes and whispered Ok. They had a full day and after a longer than normal shower they headed over to the main barn. As they entered Georgie smirked, "Well you two look happy, fun morning?" Amy smiled and pulled Ty down for a passionate kiss, "You bet we did." Amy and Ty's life had turned out even better that they expected. They were at the top of their profession and well respected around Canada, North America and now the world. They had amazing children who were in solid relationships with partners that were important to them. When they had Lyndy they made a vow to each other that they would commit to making sure their children had happy lives and each found their own path that they wanted and loved. Ty was going to be a father that was always there and supportive of his wife and children, not like the ones he had. Early on he was nervous and concerned he would become that, but with Amy and Jack's support he moved past his early life and enjoyed the privilege of fatherhood. But most importantly he completely loved his wife. She completed him and as they grew older that connection only became stronger. Amy was at a point in her life where she was content and happy as she had ever been. Most parents would be a little down when their kids became adults but for Amy, it was exciting and a culmination of how her and Ty had raised them. With five children there may be a problem staying connected with each of them individually but along with her husband, she made the extra effort to have one or two things that were just theirs. With Ty there were hundreds of things that bonded them together, but with each child it helped her give them the attention and love they needed as individuals. With Lyndy the connection was immediate and special. She was her first born and had her eyes, hair, passion and personality. They were alike in many ways and those similarities built a mother/daughter bond that would last a lifetime. And now with Wyatt as her fiancé, Amy and Ty continued to develop a bond with the both of them that was special and unique. It was a little weird but Wyatt was like their son after they took guardianship over him until he was 18. Even after that birthday, their connection was parental and they loved him as much as their blood children. With Annie and Addie, although they were identical she immediately saw their unique and different personalities develop. She would talk often with Ty about letting them grow as individuals while keeping their link as twins. Happily, that was how they had developed each with their own likes and dislikes but connected through their unique language they developed and their ability to feel what the other felt. They never forced it but allowed them to build it together. As they were now young and successful women they were still definitely sisters connected in a special way. Maddie was a special child from the minute she was born and after having twins, they were both initially apprehensive about Amy having another baby. Amy and Ty remembered the spunk she had at a very early age and how she attached herself to her older sisters trying to be just like them. Her maturity developed early, especially when it came to kids she knew that were not treated fairly. Her bond with Gwen and Sylvia at an early age made her a better person and her support of them no matter what was astounding. Ty saw it immediately and thought back when he was picked on as a young child hoping he had a Maddie around for support. To have one more child was something they discussed for quite some time. Amy wanted Ty to have a son and Ty wanted to make sure after the difficulty of having twins, that Amy would be able to. There were some challenges with some of the births of their four girls but the doctor assured both of them that Amy could handle it. So with the decision made it only took a few months for Amy to get pregnant. They were over the moon but made sure the time was right when they told the girls. They were all so happy although Addie squawked a little. During the pregnancy they were overly attentive and protective to their mom and although she loved it at times she need some space so Ty's job was to be the bad guy. It was just after the new year when Jackson Tyler joined the family. Amy had to admit but he was a really cute baby. The girls immediately started calling him JT and hovering over him. In his early years they immediately realized he was gifted picking up on things much earlier that his sisters. Having the four of them around him definitely helped but there was something about him that showed them and the team at preschool that he was special. Although it was a hard decision they were happy that the team convinced him to start Kindergarten early. He excelled in everything he did who with school and socialization but showed a level of modesty and humility as he grew. When he began showing signs of his gift, they were concerned that it might make him feel like a freak. But between the girls, Jack and a few of the teachers on his team they protected him and let his ability develop at its own pace. He did and had become an amazing young man and with Shawna around they saw a whole new level of maturity and growth. They were unsure of his future but knew whatever he did it would be done with drive and passion.

Amy and Ty had had the usual busy week. Amy was getting ready for bed and thinking that her friend Maryanne was heading home after her lengthy stay with her new granddaughter. Over the month she was here Haley's siblings and grandparents visited and once the baby was ready, she promised a trip home. Justin had arrived a day ago, to spend some time with the new parents and his new granddaughter and would be flying back with Maryanne tomorrow. As usual after Ty put his iPad down he was mesmerized with her nightly routine. Her beauty still took his breath away and he smiled so happy to have her in his life. He spoke up, "You are beautiful but I sense you have something on your mind and I bet I know what it is. You are sad about your friend leaving." She smiled blushing a little about the beautiful comment and spoke softly, "Well it has been nice being able to see her so much. I mean I love Soraya and Mallory but with Maryanne it is different. We have so much in common and I can always talk to her about anything, even boys." Ty laughed, "Hmm, talking about boys huh. And what would you be talking about." She smiled softly and began walking toward their bed. "Well, you boys are a challenge sometimes and it is nice to have someone to chat about that. I mean you are good for a lot of things but sometimes you are hard to understand." He smiled and furrowed his brow and looked at her, "So what am I good for?" She seductively went to lay next to him and began rubbing her hands over his strong chest and giggled, "Well you do have some very good traits. You are a great father and an amazing vet. You are kind and caring those you love and would do anything for them." She looked up at his with misty eyes, "You are my best friend Ty and I love you." She giggled, "And you are pretty good in bed, at least the best I have ever had." He leaned back, "You ever had?" She laughed and reach down into his boxers and spoke huskily, "Well you are, even though you are the only man I have ever did it with." He laughed again in between a soft moan as her fingers were exciting him, "Did it with? You are in a weird mood." She leaned up to kiss him passionately and continued to tease his growing manhood. He moaned again and moved his hand to her breast, kneading them gently. Now it was time for her to moan as she moved her kisses to his chest and his stomach. When she went below he gasped as he soft lips and mouth gave him pleasure. His hand move between her thighs and soon her moans increased. They played for a while longer until Ty moved over her and they joined in passionate and slow love making. Their movements, like always, were in perfect sync and after a while the each reached a joined climax and continued on after. They rolled to their sides breathing heavily and perspiring in each other arms. Finally Amy whispered, "Well we did it pretty good, don't you think." He smiled and looked int her beautiful blue eyes smiling, "Yea it was Ok." Her eyes opened wide and the began to aggressively tickle each other chasing each other around the room. Amy hushed them, "Ty quiet, there are kids here?" They settled in bed back into each other's arms and under the sheets. They laid there quietly and Ty asked, "What time is the going away brunch tomorrow?" Amy sighed, I think 10 and it was a little weird, but Maryanne said that her and Justn needed a moment alone with us before they leave." He smiled, "Yea that is a little weird." They held each other as Amy smirked, "You want to do it again, you aren't too bad and we can sleep in tomorrow a little." Ty said nothing and pulled her on top of him and she soon realized he was ready for love again. It would be a little over an hour before they finally fell asleep.

As expected the alarm startled both of them when it went off. Amy looked at the clock and poked Ty, "Babe, we have to get up we have to be at Heartland early to help get things ready." Ty groaned and before he answered the was a loud banging on the door and the voice of Addie was heard, "Come on you tow, your wonderful twin daughters are here with their hot boyfriends and we need to get going. I can't believe you are not up yet?" Amy quickly got on pajamas and her robe and headed to the door, pulling it wide open. She smiled, "Hello my beautiful daughter and good morning. Your dad and I will be down shortly, we still have a half hour so just chill. Why don't you guys head over and we will be there in a bit" Amy kissed her cheek and smiled, closing the door in her face and locking it. She heard a huff and then a grunt as Addie spoke again, "Annie and I will wait for you, sorry but we don't trust the two of you." She huffed again and stormed away. As planned the four of them arrived at Heartland in plenty of time to help set up. Lou, Casey, Mallory, Soraya and Lisa were busy getting the food ready and a lot of the guys had the porch set up and the small tent where the food would be served with extra places to sit. The guest of honors were arriving at 10am and everything was on schedule. Along with the proud parents, grandparents and little Sammy, Emmie and Ezzie had come to visit as well with their dad. Ricky and Maddie planned an early morning ride with them so they came over earlier. Family and friends were joining the brunch and it was open for any staff on duty that morning. Their flight left at 3:00 so they had plenty of time. Right at 10:00am the convoy of SUVs headed past the Heartland sign. A number of people headed out to greet the family as they got out smiling. Amy went to Maryanne immediately as she had little Sammy in her arms. A number of the woman huddled around them fighting for some time holding him, but since Maryanne was leaving she took control of her time. Justin went over to Ty, Scott, Jack and Steven and laughed, "Well we know who runs the show, I had to beg to get some time with my own grandson but I did get some grandpa time." Scott chimed in, "Trust me Justin, with this family the women control everything." Mallory let everyone know the food was ready and everyone enjoyed the food and fun. She even made sure the security team got fed. Of course the focus was on the new baby but the families also interacted with their friends. After a first round of food, with Clay's help, Maryanne got everyone's attention as the TV screen showed the rest of th Trudeau family on a Zoom call. She smiled and spoke up, "Well we wanted to get the family on line to let everyone know we have some big news. Sorry Haley and Rusty, but little Sammy will not be the sole center of attention. The room went silent as Brad, with his wife Cloe by his side, spoke up, "Well sis, we are excited to tell everyone that we are expecting and Sammy will have a new cousin in about 7 months." Everyone erupted in applause and congratulations. Up to that time, only Justin and Maryanne knew so the surprise was genuine. After things settled a bit the Trudeau family said good bye and a tearful Haley promised Cloe she would call her later. They still had an hour or so as the party continued with the family hovering around Haley and the baby. Maryanne got Amy's attention and whispered, "Can the four of us go for a walk, maybe down by the pond." Justin got Ty's attention and they joined them to head down to the benches that had taken the place of the old row boat they used to sit on. Amy smiled, "You guys we are so happy for you, another grandbaby, wow!" Maryanne laughed, "Well I don't think you will be far behind us?" Ty's eyes grew wide, "Whoa there, let's get them married first and then maybe a few years later. I am way too young to be a grandpa." They all laughed and were quiet until Justin spoke up. "Well I guess you are wondering what we needed to talk to you about. A while back our Director of Commerce was approached by her European counterparts about an upcoming conference with all of the commonwealth countries and a few other European countries that is going to be held in Paris. It's main purpose is to discuss the expansion of family owned businesses to grow the GDP in each country and stimulate economic and community growth. Each of the 20 attending nations have been asked to bring one example of a company, home grown and exhibiting a solid reputation and strong growth potential." Amy and Ty sat quietly trying to let him talk but she had to ask, "Justin, why are you telling us?" Maryanne smiled and took over. "Justin asked each province to provide a company and a committee was formed to select the one that would represent Canada. By the way we had no input but were so excited when your company was the recommendation from Alberta. The committee is planning to release their selection in a few days and we really hope it is you guys." Ty smiled and held Amy's hand, "That is amazing, but what would we have to do." Justin's smile went wide, "Well my friend, if selected you would go to Paris and represent Canada. You will have to give a presentation and talk about what you all have done here. Then the group would select three winners that would receive a substantial prize and a matching contribution to a charity of their choice." Amy and Ty sat for a minute to digest what they said and Amy smiled, "Just being considered is an honor. When can we let everyone know" Maryanne giggled, "Well we actually weren't even supposed to talk to you so for now we need to keep a lid on it. But we are pretty confident that you guys are going to be selected. Once we have confirmation Justin will provide a press release recognizing all of the nominated companies and then the winner. And the cool thing is Jus and I are attending as well." Her face got serious, "Amy I know Europe has some difficult memories for you so I hope you are OK." Amy smiled, "That is way in the past, and actually Ty and I talked about going there to meet with a prospective investor, who wants to open a Marion Fleming Equine Center satellite in Belgium." Maryanne looked relieve as Justin finished up, "So we need to head to the airport but we will be in touch as the announcement will be soon. It has been great seeing you guys and let's hope the next time we see each other is in Europe. The four of them walked back to a few interested eyes but the security team had gathered the vehicles and let them know it was time to go. Haley and Rusty were going to the airport, so Maryanne could have all the time she could with her grandson. Lyndy and Wyatt offered to follow and bring the three of them home and Justin hade sure the car seat was in Wyatt's truck. After a long goodbye and impatient security folks they headed out as the last hugs were from Amy and Ty. As they pulled away, JT went up to his mom and hugged her, "So, what's up, you guys were talking by the pond for a long time." Amy looked over to Ty trying to control their excited anticipation. They had no idea how they could keep it between just the two of them.