The Village Idiot
Long after the sun had set, Michael and Ty ventured into the now dark village to meet David and Henry. As they made their way the few blocks to the restaurant, they passed several century-old buildings still in use: a schoolhouse, library, dress shop, and chapel. Each was built in a modest Victorian style, carefully restored, gleaming in white paint, and bathed in a soft, warm glow of lights.
Ty gestured toward the Corolla Chapel. "Is that where we're meeting up in the morning?"
"Yeah. They're gonna have coffee and donuts for us."
"Sounds good. How many do we have?"
"Volunteers? Altogether, including the four of us, we have 17 confirmed."
"That's it?" Ty asked, stunned.
"Yeah, so far. The herd manager is hopeful she can round up another 5 or so."
"Bet we had at least five times that in Virginia." Ty said wistfully, running his fingers through his hair, still damp from his shower.
"True, but the Chincoteague mission was a much bigger deal with the swim and all. Here, we have less than half the horses and half the area to cover."
"Yeah, but we have to find them before we can vet them." Ty countered.
"Look on the bright side. We're just checking for open wounds, not doing a full vetting." Michael replied with his usual optimism.
"I suppose."
Michael shot a sideways glance at his friend. "Can I count on one more?"
"Still working it."
"Josh couldn't help?"
"No. He and Brent only have Alicia's number. Apparently, she made all the arrangements. So…"
"Mirna?"
"No, she can't disclose student contact information without Amy's consent."
"Makes sense."
"I don't know what else to do, Michael. I can't call her family. Jack was pretty adamant about me staying away from Amy. Thought about asking Lisa anyhow, but that puts her in an awkward position with Jack. Considered calling Scott, maybe Caleb or Soraya. But, then they're probably still pissed at me too. So they're out too." He walked through his thinking.
"Soraya?"
"Yeah. She was Amy's best friend growing up. She moved to London before I… left."
"Gotcha." The two walked in silence for half a block.
"Celina gave me Andrew's number." Ty revealed. "We could call him."
"You mean Andrew Pierson?"
"Yeah."
"Seriously?" Michael was incredulous.
"Hear me out." One corner of his mouth twitched slightly. "We could publish a Wild Horse Externship newsletter after each mission and text it to our donors, past and present."
"A newsletter is a great idea and we should definitely do that. But what does that have to do with Amy? She's not a donor."
"Andrew donated in her name, right?"
"Right."
"Well, that essentially makes her an indirect donor, or at least an interested party. Remember how he asked us to contact her about his donation?" Ty explained his reasoning. "We just have to tell him about the newsletter, convince him Amy would want to get it too and get her number. It shouldn't be a hard sell."
"Who's we?" Michael said, knowing the answer already.
In the darkness, Ty's eyebrows lifted as a hopeful grin spread across his lips.
"Ah. The Royal We." Michael said, seeing right through Ty's attempt to enlist him. "Thank you, but no."
"You called him the first time around. You've already made a connection with him." Ty rationalized.
"You call him if it's such a brilliant idea." Michael snapped back.
"Well, I can't. I'm certain he'd recognize my name. Surely, Amy would have mentioned me."
"Sorry. But, no."
"Fine." Ty huffed, though clearly it wasn't. "This Pact Act of yours is ridiculous."
"Some day you'll thank us." Michael replied, just as they arrived at the restaurant.
Opening the front door to the Village Idiot, the sound of lively laughter, underscored by a dull roar of conversation, rushed out to greet them.
Just inside, a teenage hostess barely looked up from her phone.
"Hi!" Michael greeted her.
"We're at capacity." She informed them, appearing entirely bored.
"Our friends have a table to see the band." Michael countered. "They've saved our seats."
"You'll have to wait until somebody leaves before you can go in. Fire Marshal Code."
"How long is the wait?" Ty asked.
"As long as it takes." She said, dropping her eyes back to her phone, ending the conversation.
Obliging, they stepped aside to wait. Ty nudged Michael, lifting his chin toward a table of four just a few feet away.
"They're about to leave." He said discreetly in his friend's ear.
"Looks that way."
Unlike Michael, who looked away avoiding intrusion, Ty couldn't help but be drawn in. He studied the table intently, though he tried to do so discreetly. His gaze followed the lone man at the table as he handed the black check folder back to the waiter, offering a thanks.
"Thanks. I'll be right back." The waiter said before disappearing.
"Could we look for more horses, GiGi?" A little girl, no older than four or five, her long yellow hair neatly braided, said, tugging at the elderly woman's sleeve, and heart, beside her. "Pretty please?"
"Why, of course, my dear horsey girl." GiGi said with a warm smile, her silver hair framing her aging, but pleasant face, as she leaned slightly toward the girl.
"No. Libby." Her father stepped in, reminding her. "It's been a long day. And we're leaving tomorrow."
"Daddy, please!" Libby pouted, but her plea went unanswered. Turning to her mother, whose features she mirrored so closely, hoping for a different response. "Mommy?"
"Your father said no, honey…"
"Oh, fiddle-dee-dee! You two can be such sticks in the mud!" The elderly woman stepped in, nudging the young parents with a playful jab. Her blue eyes were bright.
"Mom." The man replied gently. "Remember what Dr. Verrege said? You need your sleep."
"Nonsense Thomas. I'll sleep when I'm dead." She responded in complete seriousness.
"Mother!" He muttered under his breath, casting a glance at his daughter, hoping she hadn't heard or understood. "Libby, sweetheart, it's too dark out there. We won't see anything, let alone horses."
"Who said we have to look for them tonight?" The grandmother interjected again.
"Mother, please." Her son implored, sounding tired.
"Good point GiGi. How about a compromise?" The young mother spoke up, attempting to mediate the discord. "We could head home, get into bed, then tomorrow morning, bright and early, before we head to the airport, we can search for horses for a little while." She gave her husband a hopeful look.
"And before bed, we can read the first chapter of your new book." GiGi offered, sweetening the deal. "That Corolla horse one, Chestnut."
"Really?" Libby's face brightened with hope as she looked from her grandmother to her father. "Please, Daddy!"
"And, you'll brush your teeth then get straight to bed without complaint, young lady?" He said adding stipulations.
"Promise." She held up her hand like she was giving an oath.
"On your solemn promise, yes, Sally Elizabeth Carillon, we will do that." He relented, glancing gratefully first to his mother, then to his wife, he silently mouthed, I love you.
"Oh goody!" Libby beamed, her mood instantly lifted. "GiGi, did you hear that? We're gonna see more horses!"
"I heard. Now, what do you say to your mom and dad?"
"Thank you, Mommy and Daddy." She said sweetly, adding, "Thank you, GiGi." At her tender age, Libby already knew how to express her gratitude with a heart full of love.
"You're welcome, honey." The parents said in tandem.
The waiter returned with the black folder, placing it on the table. "Your credit card, sir."
As Thomas signed the receipt, GiGi pushed back her chair. Standing up, she declared with a laugh. "Let's blow this popsicle stand, shall we, Libby? We have a chapter to read."
"Yea!" Libby jumped out of her seat and hugged her grandmother, her pigtails flying.
Relieved, the mother and father chuckled, then stood to leave.
As mother and daughter walked hand in hand toward the door, Michael stepped aside, and Ty held the door for them. GiGi and her son, holding her elbow, trailed just behind.
"Thank you, young man," the woman said to Ty with a smile as they reached the door.
"Enjoy your evening," he said, returning her smile.
She paused for a moment, then softly patted his forearm. "Sleep when your dead. Life is short. Persue what truly brings joy to your heart." She winked at him.
"I will." Ty replied, feeling a bit sheepish, knowing he had been caught. Watching as they walked away, his heart tugged at him.
"Ty, we can go in now." Michael said, grabbing his attention before heading through the restaurant to the outside patio. Wordlessly, Ty followed, his mind occupied with thoughts of her.
Sitting at the nearly full picnic table across the venue, Henry spotted them as they stepped out into the patio. He stood and waved.
"There they are." Michael said, waving as he began to head toward them. Ty stopped him by nudging his arm.
"Hey, I'll catch up with you in a bit. I need to make a call." Ty said, almost out of nowhere.
"Everything okay?" Michael asked, concern in his voice.
"Yeah." Ty replied, but then added, "It's just that that old lady in the restaurant reminded me so much of Mrs. Bell."
"Mrs. Bell?"
"My adoptive grandmother. Back in Hudson."
Michael blinked in surprise. "You're adopted?"
"Not in any official or legal sense." Ty said, pausing as he struggled to explain. "But, yeah, I am."
"Oh, wow. Okay. And you need to call her now?"
Ty nodded slowly, his expression serious. "I do."
"Okay, I'll let you get to it."
Ty hesitated, then spoke again. "Michael, I haven't seen or talked to her in years, not since... I just… I hope she's okay."
"Hope so too." Michael said, giving Ty's shoulder a reassuring squeeze before nodding and walking away.
Ty found a quiet corner and scrolled through his contacts until her number appeared. After looking at her picture for a moment, he took a deep breath, tucked a stray strand of hair behind his ear, then pressed Call.
Instead of hearing ringing, a rapid, high-pitched beep-beep-beep echoed in his ear. "The number you have dialed is no longer available." The line went silent.
Without hesitation, he dialed the number again, hoping for a different outcome, but once again, the same message played. A wave of dread washed over him. Staring at her picture, he silently chastised himself for not keeping in touch, hoping she was okay and had gone to live with her niece.
His eyes flickered as he struggled to recall her name, finally whispering it aloud. "Vanessa," he muttered. Scrolling again through his contacts once more, he found her number and called.
She picked up on the first ring. "Hello." She said, her voice light and sing-songy.
He recognized it instantly. "Hello Vanessa? It's Ty Borden."
"Well, I'll be. To what do I owe for the pleasure of your call?" Her tone shifted, suddenly cool.
"I'm trying to get a hold of Mrs. Bell." He said, his voice steady, though a hint of concern crept into his words. "Is she there? Is she okay?"
"She's not here, but when we talked an hour ago she was fine." She replied, her tone shifted again, now laced with concern. "Why do you ask? Did something happen?"
"I just tried to call her, but her number is disconnected." He explained.
"Hmm. That's odd." She thought for a moment. "Wait, what number did you use?" Vanessa asked.
After he recited the number, she replied, "Oh, that's her old landline. It was disconnected more than three years ago." Then, with a hint of sarcasm, she needled him. "You'd know that if you had called or visited her every once in a while."
Her words stung. "You're right. And I'm truly sorry." He said, his voice quiet with regret.
"Save your apology for Aunt Sally." She replied sharply.
"I really want to apologize and make things right, but I don't have her number. Could you help me?" He asked earnestly. "Please?"
Her heavy sigh was audible. "She does miss you." She said, her tone softening. "Fine. I'll text you her contact info."
"Thank you. I miss her too. Is she still in Hudson? Has she moved back to the retirement home?" He asked.
"She's still on the farm, living on her own." She explained. "That's why I made sure she got a cell phone and keeps it with her all the time."
"You have no idea how relieved I am to hear that." He admitted. "I'll be in Hudson in a few days. I'd like to stop by and see her."
"She'd like that." Vanessa replied. "But please, call first."
"I will as soon as we hang up." He promised.
"You do that." She said, then hesitated. "And, Ty, you should know...Sugarfoot isn't with her anymore. He passed away peacefully in his sleep a few months ago."
"Oh no, I'm so sorry to hear that, Vanessa. How is Mrs. Bell handling it?"
"As you can imagine, it's been tough for her, still is." Vanessa replied. "But thankfully, she has Stanlie to help her with the farm and keep her company."
"Stanlie? I thought you said she lived alone."
Vanessa chuckled lightly. "Stanlie is a miniature Black Leopard Appaloosa. Amy found and trained him a few years ago when Sugarfoot retired. The three of them were inseparable."
"Thanks for letting me know."
"Thanks for reaching out. Don't be a stranger."
After they said their goodbyes, Ty immediately called Mrs. Bell.
"Hello? Who's this? You best not be one of those peddlers." She said, her tone as feisty as ever.
"Mrs. Bell, it's me, Ty." He said, a bit nervous but relieved when she answered.
"Well, I'll be. Dr. Tyler Borden! What a wonderful surprise!"
His heart lifted. "It's so good to hear your voice, Mrs. Bell. I've missed you—and I'm really sorry I haven't called or visited sooner." He said, his sincerity evident.
"Fiddle-dee-dee. Don't worry about that. You're calling now, and that's what matters." She said. Then, with a hint of concern, she added. "Is everything all right, Ty? Are you in some kind of trouble? Are you in jail again?"
He chuckled. "No, no, nothing like that, I promise. I was just thinking about you." He went on to tell her about GiGi, how she reminded him of her, the things she said, the things she did, and how it inspired him to finally reach out.
"Sounds like a real firecracker. I think I'd like to meet her one day, just to thank her." Mrs. Bell replied.
Ty smiled. "I'll be in Hudson in a few days. I'd love to stop by, see you, and take you out to dinner, if you're up for it."
"Pssh. No need for that." She said. "Just come by in morning. We'll spend the day together. Wear your work clothes, I could use some help in the back garden. Then we'll have a nice home-cooked meal. Heartland beef sound good?"
He laughed. "Perfect. Is 9 too early?"
"Make it 6. We've a plenty to do. But, first we'll have breakfast on the porch. You can meet Stanlie." She instructed.
"I'd like that." He paused, then added gently, "Mrs. Bell, Vanessa told me about Sugarfoot. I'm so sorry."
She fell silent for a moment. "Thank you, Ty. God rested his soul. He was 33 years old. He lived a long, good life. But I miss that old rascal. I miss him a lot." She said with a heavy sigh.
"No doubt. Sugarfoot was special. He never met a stranger, two-legged or four." Ty replied.
"That's true." She agreed, then mentioned her name. "When Amy brought Stanlie over for the first time, Sugarfoot gave him a tour of the house—he even showed him his bedroom! Such a gracious host." She chuckled. "That is, until they teamed up, stole the basket of apples, and disappeared until supper."
"Classic Sugarfoot." Ty said with a smile. "I wish I'd been there for his funeral. I would've liked to pay my respects."
"He had a nice turnout and beautiful weather. Jack gave a good sendoff," she said softly. "He's buried here on the farm, under the old beaked hazelnut tree, right next to Mr. Bell. You can visit them both when you're here. Maybe pick up some hazelnuts while you're at it—they've been falling like raindrops."
"I'll bring rice cakes, too." Ty offered with a gentle smile.
"Oh, he'd like that. But don't expect them to last long—Stanlie's developed a taste for them."
"I'll bring extra."
"Thank you, Ty. You've got a good heart." She said warmly.
"I'm not so sure." He murmured.
"I'm sure." She retorted firmly.
When he didn't respond, she said. "By the way. I got your letter a while back."
"I wanted you to know that I was leaving Hudson."
"Not just Hudson, Ty. You left everbody, including Amy." She retorted pointedly, then asked. "What I want to know is have you stopped running yet?"
He hesitated before answering. "I honestly thought I had, Mrs. Bell. I really did. I mean..I've built a good life in Vancouver, have a great job, amazing coworkers, friends. I even adopted a kitten, A.K." He paused, the weight of his thoughts pressing down.
"But?" She prompted gently.
"But then… this summer, I started having Amy sightings."
"Amy sightings?" Mrs. Bell repeated, intrigued.
"Yeah. It started with my friend telling me about meeting her on campus when Old Blue broke down, and he stopped to help. After that, she just kept showing up—in my dreams, my thoughts, even my nightmares. Her picture was broadcast at a vet conference, then posted in the paper. I kept spotting Old Blue on UC campus, and then… I actually saw her there too. It felt like she was everywhere. Even the kitten I adopted looks like her kitten."
"And today…" He took a deep breath. "I ran into her on the beach. Here, in North Carolina, of all places."
"I see," Mrs. Bell said thoughtfully. "The universe finally brought you two back together. You were just too stubborn to make it happen on your own."
"Maybe." Ty considered.
"No maybes about it." She said firmly. "I've told you before, you two are meant to be together. You're good for each other."
"Not sure Amy would agree. She's the one called it quits." Ty said, his voice heavy, his words belying the full truth.
"Is that so? I heard a different story." She said without elaborating.
"It's probably too late, anyhow. Too much water under the bridge. Too much to take back."
"You can't take back the past, Ty. But, it's never too late to set things right." She advised. "You need to set things right."
"I know." He replied.
"Well, this is your chance then. How did your meetup on the beach go?"
"It was really nice, actually." He said, a wistful note in his voice. "Like no time had passed. She didn't seemed angry at all."
"See? A good first step. When will you see her again?"
"That's just it. I don't have her phone number." He said, hoping that she did.
"Well, why didn't you say so to begin with? Hold on." She said, then went quiet for a moment. "Okay, just sent it to you."
"Thanks."
"Listen, Stanlie's telling me he's hungry. Got to go." She said.
"Thanks, Mrs. Bell. I'll see you in a few days."
"Looking forward to it. Say hello to Amy for me."
"I will."
After their goodbyes, Ty immediately checked his texts for Amy's number. Along with it, Mrs. Bell had sent a hilarious photo of herself with Sugarfoot and Stanlie, all three wearing ridiculous hats and flashing exaggerated, toothy grins. Ty couldn't help but laugh out loud.
Taking a moment to collect his thoughts, he carefully composed a message to Amy, revising it twice before finally pressing send. On a whim, he followed up with a second message. "Mrs. Bell says hi." He attached her photo, smiling to himself as he hit send.
When Ty finally joined the group, they were deep in lively conversation. Henry was sharing a funny story about the Chincoteague Carnival, keeping the entire table in stitches.
"Well, look who finally decided to show up." Henry teased. "I was starting to think you'd never make it!"
"Sorry. I had to make a couple of calls." Ty said vaguely, giving Michael a side eye glance and nod. "Looks like you made some new friends."
"We have." Michael gestured to their tablemates as he made the introductions. "Ty, meet our Canadian friends—Matthew, Jill, Shawn, Gus, Richard, and Barry. They're all part of the band. Everyone, this is Ty. He and I are leading the program where Henry and David are externs."
After exchanging handshakes, Ty sat across from Michael at one end of the picnic table, his back to the band stage. David was seated on his left, then Mathew. Henry and Jill sat to Michael's right. The remaining four band members took up the rest of the seats at the other end.
"So, Canadians too. Where abouts?" Ty asked.
"We hail from Mississauga. Port Credit actually. You?" replied.
"Ah, on Lake Ontario. Nice. I'm on the west coast in Vanvouver. Ever play out there?"
"We played at Vancouver Folk Music Festival, in Jericho Park, few years back. Think it was 2015." Matthew said. "Right?"
Nodding in agreement with her brother, Jill asked. "Ever been?"
"To the festival? No, can't say I have." Ty replied. "What's like?"
"It's a blast. Great music, good vibe, laid back. You should check it out." Jill suggested.
"Jill's in the line up next summer." Matthew said proudly.
"Do you perform solo as well?" Ty asked Jill.
"Yeah, mostly." She replied, nodding toward her brother. "Matthew usually solos too, but sometimes we perform as a duet or with the band. It just depends."
"We're performing together in Calgary next spring." Matthew added. "Just the two of us."
"Yeah, early April at the Ironwood Stage. If you like what you hear tonight, you should come. Bring all your friends."
"Bring your girlfriends too." Matthew winked.
"Thanks. Mine would love that." Michael said.
"Great. Let us know. Maybe we could get together while we're there." Jill suggested. "Message us through our Facebook page."
"Sounds perfect."
"So, Ty, tell us about yourself." Matthew asked. "You're a vet, right?"
"Right. I specialize in wildlife medicine and surgery at an animal rescue. Beyond that, there's not much to tell." Ty replied.
"Ty and I both went to vet school at UC." Michael said, filling in more details. "And, we externed together in endangered wildlife program in our last year of school."
"We had some wild missions back then." Ty chimed in. "No pun intended."
"Like what kind?" Jill asked curiously.
"Let's see…the first mission, we worked with Marot on Vancouver Island, then Gray Fox in Manitoba, Great Blue Heron along the northern coast of B.C… ah..." Ty began, counting on his fingers.
"Don't forget the Peary Caribou in Nunavut." Michael added. "Wolverine in Quebec or Black-footed Ferret in Saskatchewan."
Ty chuckled. "Speaking of Saskatchewan, how about the Grizzly Bear. Remember that one?"
"Who could forget? Quite the grizzly experience!" Michael quipped, and they both smirked.
"Wow, that sounds amazing! Is that why you decided to start this externship, to keep that adventurous spirit alive?" Matthew asked.
"I guess, partly." Ty said glancing at Michael, then added seriously. "But mostly, this externship is about raising awareness of wild horses in North America and Africa, helping to ensure their health and survival."
"And, inspiring young vets to get involved in this kind of work." Michael finished his sentence.
Neither one mentioned the financial plight of the Vancouver Animal Rescue.
"Sounds like you guys do really important work." Matthew said, directed his question to Henry and David. "What made you two sign up?"
"Oh, definitely, the adventure!" Henry jumped in, replying enthusiastically. "I've been helping out at my dad's vet practice since forever. After graduation, I'm joining him full-time. We mostly work with domesticated animals, some horses, and every now and then, a wild horse from the Rockies. I've always been passionate about horses, so when this externship came up, it felt like a cool chance to try something different."
"How about you, David?"
"For me, it's all about gaining experience." David said, more seriously. "It's only our first mission and already we discovered the first documented case of Pythiosis in the Chincoteague ponies and performed pretty intensive surgery on eight of them at Virginia Tech. The facilities and staff there were incredible. And I've learned so much already, especially from Ty. He's an amazing surgeon and teacher. Now we're here, ready to help the wild horses in this beautiful place. It's been incredible."
"Sounds like you're hooked." Jill said with a smile. "Do you see yourself doing this full-time?"
"No, though I wish." David admitted. "My family has a ranch in Montana that I'm expected to take over. So, the experience I gain here will be invaluable. But I do intend to volunteer with Vets Without Borders or something like that. This work is too important not to be part of."
"How about you Henry?"
"I'm thinking about getting into some veterinary mission work too. Maybe through UC. Might even team up with Michael and Ty again." He said with a playful raise of his eyebrows.
"Count me in." David jumped in immediately.
Michael and Ty exchanged a glance and shrugged. "Why not?"
"So, the legacy lives on." Matthew said with a grin.
"And, now you're on a mission to save the wild horses of Corolla." Jill ventured.
"Well, I wouldn't go that far." Ty said modestly. "We're here to check on them. Hopefully, they're all healthy and don't need saving."
"Still." Matthew said thoughtfully, "A healthy herd is essential to Corolla itself. Everywhere you look, the ponies are a symbol of the town-signs, statues, businesses, museums, art, books, wild horse tours-it's all tied to them."
"True that." Michael agreed. "It's a symbiotic relationship. The town, in return, has done incredible work to keep the horses healthy, wild, and protected. They've even purchased several thousand acres just for the herd and restricted development in key areas. And, horses that become old, or injured or diseased, are moved to a farm in Grady so they can live out their lives in comfort. It's pretty amazing."
"I'm not surprised at all." Matthew replied.
"So, what happens if you find...what is it called again? That disease?" Jill asked.
"Pythiosis." David replied.
"It's also called Swamp Cancer." Henry jumped in with a grimace. "Though it's not actually cancer—it just looks like a nasty cancerous growth."
"But, its actually a disease caused by the aquatic fungus Pythium insidiosum." David explained. "Treatment involves surgically removing the lesions, applying topical antifungals, and providing weeks of follow-up care,"
"And, if left untreated, the horses will die from the disease." Henry said bluntly.
"That's awful." Jill exclaimed.
As the externs continuing talking, Michael leaned forward, handing a menu to Ty. "Decide what you want. The waiter will should be back soon for our orders. The others already ate."
"What's good?" He said, studying the menu.
"From what I hear, everything. So, I'm ordering the sampler."
"Hmm. I'll get that too."
"Beers on you." Michael reminded him.
"A deal's a deal. What do you want?"
"Penny Hill IPA"
"Sounds good. Think I'll get the Corolla Blonde Lager."
"Hey Ty. You buying the next round?" Henry interrupted, leaning in.
"Sure, why not? How about three pitchers for the table? The IPA, Lager and Swan Beach Honey Pale."
"Might as well get the Corolla Saison too. We'll do the whole flight." Henry suggested. "There's 8 of us afterall."
Thirty minutes later, as showtime approached, Zach was clearing their plates to a round tray. "Want a box?" He asked Ty, gesturing to his barely touched food.
"Thanks, but no." Ty replied, his hand instinctively rising to massage his jaw.
"Another pitcher of lager, then?" Zach asked, picking up the empty pitcher.
"Sure, why not? But, make it the IPA."
"Coming right up."
As Zach hoisted the tray of dirty dishes and walked away, Michael leaned in. "Jaw bothering you?"
Ty shrugged, taking the last swig of beer in his glass.
Matthew stood. "Hate to leave good company. But, we gotta check out a couple of things before our first set."
"Yeah, it's about that time." Jill agreed, stood from her bench as well.
"Y'all leaving?" Two older men, likely in their sixties, stood at the end of the table.
"Well, not exactly." Matthew replied.
"They're the band." Henry piped up.
"Well I'll be! We wanna catch y'all, but we can only stay for the first set. Morning's gonna come early." The taller of the two said.
"If that's the case, you can keep our seats warm. Enjoy!" Matthew replied.
"Thank ya."
"Hey Michael. We're saving those seats." Matthew pointed toward the end of the table. "Don't give them away."
"Got it." Michael replied.
"We'll guard them with our lives." Henry added seriously.
"You do that." Matthew laughed.
As Matthew and Jill left the table and the newcomers took their seats, Michael introduced himself and the others.
"I'm Frank. This is Sid."
"You two live here?" Michael asked.
"Yeah. All our lives. Me and Sid operate Corolla Wild Tours." Frank replied.
"Wild horses tours?"
"Yep. Been giving 'em since '96. We can hook y'all up." Sid said handing them each a business card. "Except for tomorrow. We're booked."
"Love to, but can't. We're working while we're here." Michael replied.
"Actually, we're here to check on the horses." Ty added, then suggested. "Maybe you could help us?"
Frank narrowed his eyes. "Are you the vets working with Dr. Cook and Miss Albo?"
"We are." Ty replied.
"Well, how about 'em apples?" Frank declared. "We got four cruisers and guides earmarked to take you out in the morning."
"Wow! Thank you."
"Least we can do. Them horses are our livelihood."
"We hear 5am at the Corolla Chapel." Sid remarked
"You heard right." Michael replied.
The six men huddled together, planning their strategy for the next day. Frank proposed using drones to locate the horses. Before they knew it, applause filled the air, and the band began playing the first few chords of a slowed rendition of a familiar tune. Their attention turned to band.
Comes a time when you're driftin'
Comes a time when you settle down...
Ty was captivated by the song, the strum of the guitar, the soulful harmony between the siblings, and the soaring violin solo. The lyrics felt personal, like a wise friend softly speaking in his ear, urging him that his time has come.
As the song ended, he paused mid-clap when he spotted her at the far end of their table, standing as she clapped in appreciation. His gaze stayed fixed on her, watching intently until she turned to retake her seat and finally noticed him.
Staring back in disbelief, her expression softened, a tender smile appeared on her lips. She raised her hand in a gentle wave of hello. Ty smiled in response, waved back.
As Matthew reflected on the song from the stage, Ty watched Amy take a seat beside a brunette woman, whom he instantly recognized as Alicia from Michael's photos.
"Ty's here." Amy informed her, leaning into her friend.
"You're kidding. Where?" She looked at Amy, then followed her gaze. Spotting Ty, her expression was cool, clouded by the slightest frown. "What's he doing here?"
"So, I gather you didn't know."
"No." She said bluntly, then muttered. "Michael."
Ty nudged Michael's foot under the table, gesturing toward the women. Michael leaned to get a better view, then broke into a toothy grin, his excitement barely contained. Without hesitation, he rose to his feet and made his way over to the women.
"Well, hello ladies." He said, still grining, benting slightly between them, his hand resting lightly on Alicia's back.
"I can't believe that you told him we were here," Alicia said quietly, her voice calm but laced with a hint of disappointment.
"I didn't. Alicia, I swear." Startled by her reaction, his grin vanished as he crouched down. "I can explain."
As the band played the next tune and her friends sorted things out, Amy glanced back at Ty. He gestured toward his phone. Curious, she pulled out hers and read his messages.
Amused, she looked back at him, then texted, "So you talked to Mrs. Bell?"
"Yeah. We had a nice conversation," he replied.
"She misses you. A lot."
"I miss her too." He admitted.
Before she could text back, Michael interrupted, appealing to her. "Amy. I didn't tell Ty."
She threw him a bone. "Alicia, he's telling the truth."
"How do you know?"
"The Alicia-Michael Pact Act." She shrugged.
"The what?" Alicia was confused.
He smiled in relief. "He told you."
"Well, he texted. Alicia, Mrs. Bell gave him my cell." She explained.
"She did?"
"Yeah." She stood from her seat. "Look, I gotta take care of a couple of things. Michael, will you keep my seat warm and fill her in?"
"You okay?" Alicia asked, protective as usual.
"Yep. Promise."
"I'll keep her company, if she'll let me." Michael said, glancing to Alicia, who gave him an encourging smile.
Ty's eyes followed her as she left the table and walked toward the restaurant indoors. Her long blonde hair tumbled down her bare back, the hem of her short dress swayed with each step.
Unable to stay behind, he followed her, at a distance but eventually caught up. In a secluded alcove housing a bank of old pay phones, she stood, her back turned to him.
"Amy," he said softly, his voice just loud enough to carry over the faint music drifting in from outside.
She turned toward him, her phone pressed to her ear, lifting a hand to pause him. "Hey, Grandpa! How's everything there?" Her face lit up with a smile as she listened to his unusually lengthy response on the other end.
She chuckled. "Wish I could've seen that! Norton sure has a knack for getting under his skin." She paused, her smile widening as she listened again. "Lisa! Hi! Yes, everything's great. The ocean is absolutely beautiful. We even saw wild horses on the beach." She nodded, her voice warm. "Yeah, Alicia kept that a surprise."
Her expression shifted slightly as she listened again. "Oh, before you both go, I have some news… Yes, good news, Grandpa. I got accepted into vet school at UC." She laughed as their voices rose with excitement. "Thank you. I'm really excited too."
She laughed again, glancing at Ty. "Hey, I have someone here who wants to say hello." She held the phone out to him, raising her eyebrows encouragingly.
Ty shook his head, stepping back quickly.
Amy hesitated, then smoothly brought the phone back to her ear. "Oh, maybe another time," she said lightly. "Alicia had to step away...Love you both too." Her tone softened as she ended the call, a small smile lingering on her face.
"So Mrs. Bell, huh?" She asked, without making reference to his refusal to talk to her grandparents.
"Had to call her niece Vanessa to get her number first. I can't believe she has a cell." He remarked.
"It's been a godsend, actually. She tripped and fell in her garden a few weeks ago but was able to call for help," Amy explained. "She gave us all a scare."
"Is she okay?" he asked, concern creasing his forehead.
"She's fine now. But she's getting older and not as steady on her feet. But, you know how she is."
"Independent."
"Yeah." She nodded. "Grandpa, Lisa or I try to stop by every day or so to check on her."
"Thanks for looking after her. I really appreciate it." He said, his tone suddenly protective.
"Of course, we would. That's what friends and family do. Look out for one another." Amy replied firmly, her eyes meeting his.
"That's not what I meant. I just wanted to thank you. She's important to me too, you know." He sighed, assuming that his words rang hollow.
"I know." She relented, her tone softened and sincere.
A moment of silence passed between them.
Amy spoke first. "So, we're meeting the chapel at 5?"
"Yeah." He said, thankful she changed the topic. "Thanks for agreeing to come with. Do you need directions?"
"No, it's close to where we're staying. Do I need bring anything?" She asked.
"Just yourself. And, Alicia, if she's coming too."
"Doubt that she will, it's kinda early. But then again, you never know, Michael may change her mind." She shook her head. "Crazy, huh?"
"Yeah. He just told me today. He's been talking up a storm about her ever since they met. But, I never fathomed that you two knew each other."
"She never let on that it was Michael either, even though he's all she talks about. He makes her so happy." She smiled. "So best man?"
"So maid of honor?"
"Like Caleb and Ashley's wedding all over again."
"Yeah. Maybe you'll dance with me this time." He said hopefully.
Before she could answer, her phone rang. She looked at her phone. "It's Lou. I got to get this. I'll see you out there in a few." She said, walking away. "Lou! Hey, I was just going to call.."
Happy Holidays Dear Readers! I wish you and yours a bright, happy and healthy new year. Thank you for your support and encouragement throughout the life of this story and the others. There's more to come on Small World and Learning to Fly but wanted to post a little something to mark the season.
SBR
ps. Made some typo corrections.