Amy's phone vibrated in its leather case attached to her belt. She checked its display. Her breath caught when she saw the call was from him, as it was well after midnight in London.
"Andrew! Are you okay?" She answered his call, worried, leaving the veranda without a word or even a glance toward Lisa. She headed down the pathway at a good clip, seeking privacy.
"Oh mon bébé." His French accent more pronounced than usual. "No. I am not okay. I can't...stop thinking, stop replaying. I can't sleep." His sigh heavy in her ear, heightening her worry.
"Amy. Je suis désolé s'il vous plaît pardonnez-moi." His native French seeped into his words. He exhaled in frustration. "Urrgg. I mean, I am so sorry for the way I behaved earlier today."
Amy came to stand still, hung her head, her tone remorseful. "Andrew. I should apologize to you. I sprung UC on you. It wasn't fair." She heavily exhaled. "I am so sorry."
He continued, unswayed by her words. "No Amy. I want you to know that I support you. That includes you going to school, getting your degree."
"I know." She said quietly.
"I love you. You know that, right?" His voice cracked.
"Yes, I know." She nodded, her words hushed. "And, I love you too."
"I don't want anything to get in the way of that. Of us. Okay?" Emotion seeped in.
Amy nodded, but didn't respond out loud.
He reacted to her silence, he pleaded. "Amy. Please. You mean everything to me. Okay?"
"Okay."
"I've been thinking a lot about it. You know that we have that break in a few weeks?"
"Yes."
"Well. I changed my flight. I'm coming to Hudson." He said.
"Wait. Why? What about Bromont? Your mom?" She was surprised, caught off guard, began to pace aimlessly.
"She'll get over it. Forget Bromont. For now." Then he added. "I want to see you. In Hudson."
"Oh Andrew. I want to see you too." She said honestly. "But, meeting in Bromont is fine. Really."
He was insistent. "It will be better in Hudson. We will be better. We will work this out." He paused. "I want to work this out."
She nodded, whispered. "Okay."
"Good. Please cancel your flight. I will call you in the morning before you go to bed."
"Wait! Before you go." She said louder than she expected. "Tell me about your round. About Dandy."
"Not much to tell. We placed ninth. Dandy was great, she did her job. I screwed up. My head wasn't in it. I took the first turn too wide. It threw off our rhythm, time. So, we're essentially out of this one." He stated with resignation, finality. "The team too."
"Oh Andrew. This is not your fault, it's mine. I was thoughtless. I am so sorry." Again, her voice, full of remorse, regret.
"No. Amy. It's not your fault. I will call you in the morning. I love you."
"I love you too." She replied, but he had hung up before she got the words out.
Her pace quickened, her gaze steady, straight ahead, but unseeing. She was immersed in her thoughts of their conversation, of his words, his change in plans, of her regret for upsetting him, for tainting his round.
He jogged up from behind, stopping beside her, panting.
"Amy!" Aaron Brown, Fairfield's stable manager, was out of breath. "Whew...Didn't you hear me calling you?" He bent over, hands on knees, trying catch his breath.
"Sorry Aaron. Guess my mind was elsewhere." She gave him a weak smile, as she regained her focus, presence.
"No kidding." He stood up, faced her. His freckled face was flushed, his salt and pepper hair clung to his damp forehead, tiny beads of sweat on his upper lip, his heavy breathing had slowed.
"Everything okay?" She asked, concerned.
"We need to talk about Thunderstruck. You need to see something. Come on." He led the way to the stables.
"So. What's going on?"
"I found a hot spot, a bit of swelling right above back left hoof. Tendon maybe. He doesn't seem to be in pain."
"Okay. Did you call Scott?"
"Yeah. He's on his way." Aaron said as they entered the stable, then made their way to Thunderstruck's stall. The three-year-old bay colt was standing in the middle of his stall, his head hung low, his black tail still.
"Hello Thunder. You are quite the handsome horse. I hear you have a bit of swelling." She reached her hand into his stall. The colt raised his head, exhaled, low and gentle, through his nose, curious, stepped toward her and her outreached hand as they watched.
"Good Boy." She said, the back of her hand stroking the gleaming reddish-brown coat of his neck, up and down. "I didn't see any hesitation in his step. Did you Aaron?"
"Nope. But, it was just one step."
"Right. Let's get a closer look."
Aaron slid the stall door open, Amy took one step in, never breaking her connection with the colt, her hand still touching his neck.
"Thunder. I am going to have a look see. Okay?" The horse simply turned his head toward her, watching her with mild curiosity.
She reached into her pocket, pulled out a pink Canadian mint from her pocket, offered it to him from the palm of her hand. Thunder lipped her softly, searching for the treat, taking his reward.
"Be sweet. And, another one is all yours."
She combed his silky black mane with her fingers, her other hand cupped his side palm down. "Such a beautiful coat Thunder."
As she sidestepped, the palms of her hands traveled down the length of the horse's body, to his thigh. As she crouched down, her right hand continued down his leg, searching, feeling for swelling and warmth.
"Yep. Here's that spot. Hot, slightly swollen. He doesn't seem too sensitive to touch there." She glanced back to Aaron. "Good eye."
"That's why you hired me." He deadpanned.
"Good decision on my part." She grinned at him.
He grinned back. "So. Cool bath, wrap and box rest?"
"Yep. Scot and a scan will tell us for how long."
"Let's get him over to the wash stall. It will be easier for Scot to exam him there."
"Yep." As she stood, her hands traveled back over the bay colt's body towards his head. "Good boy. We are going to get you fixed up soon. But, first I promised you a mint."
With the mint on the flat of her palm, the colt's lips and whiskers tickled her as he eagerly scooped up the mint. "Good boy!" She rubbed his forehead, a reward for both of them.
As Aaron haltered him, Amy explained the plan to Thunder. "First, Scott is going to come by and exam you. He's a good vet. You'll like him." She paused. "Then, Aaron's going to give you a nice cool bath. You'll love that. A little something for the swelling, perhaps Devil's Claw, maybe something more. Some rest. Maybe some hydro later."
Scott completed his exam, his findings showed nothing significant. Afterward, Amy walked with him to the parking area, stopping at his truck.
"Call if the swelling doesn't subside in 24 hours. Or if it gets worse. We'll switch from your herbs to Bute. I'll text you the scan results."
"Sounds good. Thanks Scott. I appreciate you coming by."
He nodded. "So, how's it going with Calpurnia?"
"She was still pretty skittish when I left this morning. We added a little chamomile to her feed to calm her. And. She's eating. Which is good...But, she'll need some time."
"I have no doubt you'll figure her out. You always do."
She smiled. "I didn't ask earlier...but how are you these days?"
"Good. Busy." He pursed his lips as though he wanted to say more, but true to form, he did not.
"Get any help from UCVM while Cassandra is out?"
"Some. They sent over a couple of third years, but.." His voice trailed off.
"Not what you're looking for?"
"They are okay." Over the last few years, Scott's business had grown but his ability to keep help beyond Cassandra was lacking. Each new assistant or vet student stayed only a few weeks before taking off for greener pastures, bigger cities, more money, better hours. Out of necessity, Scott worked intensely long days in the field, alone, or sometimes with a vet student and Cassandra generally manned the office with an assistant. With her out on maternity leave, he was doing double duty.
"Sorry to hear." She was empathic to his plight.
"It's temporary." As he got in the truck, he rolled his window down. "Great seeing you, Amy." He smiled as he put his truck in reverse.
"Scott? Wait." She stepped up to his window, right before he let off the brake, stepped on the accelerator.
"Forget something?"
"I know you're busy. So, I hate to ask for a favor."
"What do you need?" His brown eyes were curious.
"Would you write me a letter of recommendation? I am enrolling in evening classes at University of Calgary."
"Sure. But. Why me? Wait." He stopped, his eyes narrowed. "Are you enrolling at the vet school?"
She nodded, a grin spreading over her face. "Kind of. I am only going to take a few classes, focusing on horses. I am going to take some business classes too."
"Amy Fleming, a vet? Well, it's about time!" He grinned.
She laughed. "Not sure about being a full-fledged vet. But I want to expand my knowledge, eventually get a degree."
"Good for you. Come by the office on Friday, I'll have it ready. Three copies enough."
"Yes. Thank you. And I will see you then." Then she added. "I owe you."
He nodded, waved as he eased the truck into reverse. Suddenly, he pressed the brakes, stopped the truck, then called. "Hey. Better yet. I'll bring the recommendations to you on Saturday."
"I can pick it up. No need for you to come out to Heartland."
He grinned. "Well. You can return the favor... "
"Sure. What?"
"Come with me on Saturday's field calls."
Surprised, she pursed her lips as she pondered his request. "Well. I have some time Saturday."
"Good. Pick you up at 8:00." He offered immediately.
"Make it noon." She countered. "I have morning plans already."
"Deal. Noon it is." He waved, backed his truck out and drove away before she could change her mind.
"What did I just do?" She said aloud admonishing herself as she stood watching his truck leave Fairfield grounds. She sighed, got into her own truck, headed to Maggie's to pick up dinner.
Maggie's dinner crowd was already starting to thin when Amy walked in. The bell, hanging above the door, announced her entrance with a high-pitched tingle. From behind the counter, Tim glanced toward the door, out of habit. Seeing her, he waved at his daughter.
"Well. Hey Amy. Come on in." He grinned as he wiped his hands in his apron.
"Hey Dad. How's going?" She strode to the counter, leaned across to receive his kiss on her cheek, then deposited herself on the stool.
"Good timing. You missed the big crowd." He pulled out his order book. "What can I get you?"
"Veggie chili and cornbread. To go. Please."
"Aw. Why don't you stay? You can tell me about your day." He asked in an unusually nice manner.
She hesitated, but acquiesced. "Sure. Why not?"
"Good. I'll get your order in." Tim disappeared into the kitchen, leaving her at the counter alone, staring off into the distance at the tv mounted on the wall, its volume muted. Turned to evening news, a female reporter, with blond hair, was talking into a microphone. Amy read the words, Poisoned Eagles Rescued, as they scrolled across the bottom.
"Amy." His weary voice distracted her as he dropped onto the stool next to her.
"Caleb. How are you?" She smiled, happy to see her old friend.
"Good. Exhausted but good."
"And, that sweet baby of yours?"
"Carson is good. No, he's perfect." He said full of pride.
"I bet...So parenthood? Everything that they say it is?"
"It's great!"
She smiled.
"Okay. To be honest. It's terrifying as hell." He exhaled wearily. "Seriously. Amy. I have no idea what I am doing. Most of the time, I'm a zombie for lack of sleep." His hand went to the back of his neck, his fingers trying to rub away its stiffness.
"Oh Caleb."
"Don't get me wrong. I love my little guy. And. I love being a dad. But, it's just crazy to think that Caleb O'Dell is a dad." He shook his head side to side, referred to himself in the third person.
"You're a good dad. Caleb. I have no doubt."
He shrugged. "I'm trying."
"That's all you and anybody can do. Try...So. How's Cassandra?"
"She's good. She loves being at home with Carson. It's gonna be hard for her to go back to the clinic."
"Couple more weeks, huh?"
"Yeah. Time flies. It's hard to believe Carson's almost a month old." He put his hand up to catch Tim's attention. "Tonight, she had a craving for cheeseburgers and fries. Note the plural in cheeseburgers!"
Amy raised her eyebrows, smiled. "Well, she is eating for two."
"That's what she tells me."
"Hey Caleb. Your order is up." Tim put the bill and a large paper sack, dotted with tiny grease stains, on the counter.
"Keep the change." Caleb placed a twenty on top of the bill.
"A buck fifty. Gee thanks."
Caleb grinned, rose from the stool, his order in his hand. "Gotta go. See ya Amy, Tim." He touched the brim of his worn cowboy hat, tilted his head, then headed for the door.
"Don't be late for school tomorrow." Tim badgered him. Caleb glanced back briefly, unfazed as he left the resturaunt.
"Order up." A hand tapped the bell at the kitchen window.
"Ah. Your order is ready Amy." He said turning toward the portico into the kitchen. He placed a steaming bowl of chili and two cornbread muffins on a plate on the counter in front of her. "What do you want to drink?"
"Water. Thanks." She inhaled the chili's aroma. "Looks good Dad." Unfolding her napkin, she spread it across her lap.
He returned with a large glass of ice water. "So. Tell me. How was your day?" He leaned in slightly, one forearm on the counter, almost eye to eye with her.
"Can't complain. It was kinda a normal day." She positioned a spoonful of chili to her lips. "Oh. Hot." She drew her hair behind her ear, leaned forward, blew on the bowl.
"How 'bout some details?" he pushed.
"Let's see. We're getting a couple new horses at Fairfield so we will be full again. One of our new racers, Thunderstruck has some minor swelling near his back hoof. Nothing serious." She blew on another spoonful, when it cooled, took a bite. "Hmm. Good.'
"Made fresh today. I added cilantro this time. Can you taste it?"
"Yeah. Its tastes fresher somehow."
He smiled.
"Let's see. Remember that paint horse, Maggie May, we got for rehoming."
"Yeah."
"Well, Simon has decided to adopt her. Which is good for the both them. He needs a good horse and she needs a good owner."
"Make sure he pays for her and her stabling. We don't need another freeloader." He grumbled.
She ignored him as she slathered butter on the muffin, then took a small bite. "Hmm. Good." After swallowing, she asked. "What's new with you?"
He pursed his lips, wrinkled his nose, stood upright. "Nothing special. Breakfast, lunch and dinner here with Rodeo school between."
"And, Jade?"
"Yeah. She's still our best prospect. Even if she's hardheaded and doesn't listen."
"So. She is a lot like you."
"I'm not hardheaded."
"Sure Dad." Amy rolled her eyes. "How's Susan?"
"Good. She was here earlier but had to grade papers."
"Sorry I missed her." She took another bite. "Mmm. So. What about Montreal with Susan? Give that any more thought?"
"No. Not really."
"You should, Dad. Susan is really nice. She's good for you. And I think getting away with her would be good too."
"Do you now?"
"I do."
"My daughter giving me relationship advice?" he cleared his throat. "Does that mean I get to give you some in return?"
"You already did last night. That's plenty." She smirked.
"Ah. That was nothing. So Andrew?"
"He's good. He's coming for a visit in May. The team has a break."
"See. At least, he's committed to your relationship." He said sarcastically, making a clicking noise with his tongue as he winked.
She glared at him.
"Come on Amy. Don't give me that look. Andrew is an eligible bachelor. He's rich, successful, famous. He's good for you. You are good for him. If you don't play your cards…"
"Dad. Please Stop. That's enough."
"Amy…Its just I want…"
"Dad. I know. You want what's best for me."
"I do. For you and Lou, both."
She sighed wearily, knowing he would likely never change his tune.
The tinkle of the bell sounded as restaurant's door opened, attracting Tim's glance. A middle aged couple peered in.
"Hello folks. Come on in. Sit anywhere." Tim greeted them. "I'll be right with you." He turned, filled two glasses with ice water, put two menus under his arm, then headed to their table.
Several minutes passed before he returned to the counter. "Where were we?"
"Moving on to the next topic."
"What's that?"
"I decided to enroll in evening classes at the University of Calgary starting next semester."
"Well. Amy. That's great. If that makes you happy..."
"Thanks Dad. It does."
"You know. You don't need it. A degree, that is."
"Maybe not. But I want it. For me."
"What about Andrew? Does he know?"
"Andrew?...Of course he knows. He's supportive. He knows it's important to me."
"That's good. Just make sure he knows that he's important to you too. That he's your number one priority."
Exasperated, she sighed as she pushed her half eaten bowl forward. "Thanks Dad. Chili was good."
"You done?"
"Yeah." She pulled a ten out of her pocket and put it on the counter. Then she leaned over and kissed his cheek. "I have to go. Love you Dad."
"Love you too." He watched her walk out the door. She didn't glance back.
Simon was leading two horses into the barn as Amy parked Old Blue in front of the ranch.
"Hey there Simon." She called as she entered the barn a few minutes later. "How's things?"
"Hey Amy." He glanced up, then continued putting away tack. "Can't complain. You missed dinner. Jack's stew...Again."
Amy chuckled. "Yeah. I had dinner at Maggie's. With dad. Sort of." She made a beeline for Calpurnia's stall. The mare was standing, backed into the corner.
"Ah." He deadpanned. "Didn't get enough last night?"
"Yeah. Guess not. Dad is always...well..dad." She asked. "How'd she do today?"
"She ate everything. Aside from that, she just stood in that corner."
"Hmm. We'll give her some space...And, Maggie May?"
"She's doing okay." He crossed to her stall, reached up and rubbed his paint's forehead. "She ate a bit. Drank some too."
"Sounds like improvement to me." Amy stepped up next to him. "You know. You spending the night with her really helped."
He shrugged. "Hope so."
"I know so. You are good for her. And, she's good for you."
"Thanks." He lowered his eyes, smiled coyly. "I am going stay with her tonight too. Okay?"
"Of course." She stepped over to Spartan as he strained, stretched his nose toward her. "Hey Spartan. How's my boy?" She stroked the side of his neck with the back of her hand. "Ready for a ride?"
"I'll help you tack up."
"Thanks. I am going to pony Harley too." She remarked as she side stepped to his stall. "Hey Harley. Up for a little sightseeing today?" She let him muzzle her outreached palm. "You miss him, don't you?" She whispered.
Mounted up on Spartan, Simon handed her loops of Harley's thick cotton lead rope. "Sure you don't want company?" He asked hopefully.
"Thanks. But. We're good. We'll be back before you know it."
"Okay." Somewhat disappointed, he continued. "Soon, we can ride together."
"Yeah. That will be nice." Clicking her tongue, Amy urged Spartan into motion with Harley a step behind on the right. Within a few strides, they progressed to a trot, then a slow gallop.
The April evening was cool, with random, barely perceptible undercurrents of the day's warmth. The trio headed across the open vista of hardened ground and rock interspersed with tall brown grasses dead from winter's freeze and low sprigs of green emerging at their feet. The sky stretched a cloudless gray, the sun hung low and unadorned.
Without fanfare, they reached the rocky shore of the river, running fast and high from the snow melt. She stayed perched on her mount, staring across the river and into the distance while Spartan and Harley drank from the cold river. A chilly breeze rose from the swift waters, rustling her hair, their manes and tails. She was oblivious, even as the horses raised up, looked to their left, their ears swiveling, eyes scanning, their bodies on alert. Spartan raised his head higher, snorted, then listened.
A whinny sounded, echoed from a short distance away. Both horses relaxed, responded back, welcoming their stable mate.
"Amy." He said as Buddy stepped up on her left.
She jumped slightly, then smiled at him. "Oh grandpa. You startled me."
"Didn't mean to. Mind if I join you?"
"Sure."
"Missed you at dinner."
"Yeah."
Side by side, in comfortable silence, the two watched the river, its rapid waters rushing over rocks, reflecting the fading sun.
Several minutes passed, before Jack broke the silence. "It's getting late." He observed. "We should ride home."
She sighed, nodded, then asked. "Have you ever had a song get stuck in your head? No matter what you do, you can't get it out?"
"Sure." He chuckled. "Something stuck in yours?"
"Yeah. Remember that song, that one that we sang at Caleb and Ashley's wedding?" She hummed a few bars.
"I sure do. "Walk me over this bridge."
"Yeah. That one." Gazing across the swollen river, she sang softly the chorus.
"So walk me over this bridge
The river's so deep and so wide
Just walk me over the bridge, my darling
We'll get to the other side"
"Pretty song." Jack's eyes became misty.
She nodded, turned to him, asked. "Grandpa. What if the river really is too deep and too wide? What if there is no bridge?"
"So, what are we talking about? You and Andrew?"
She nodded.
"I see."
"How do you know?"
"Know what?"
"If it's too deep, too wide? If there is enough to build a bridge on."
"What does your heart say, Amy?"
She chuckled softly. "Andrew was a godsend. He came at a low point in my life. And, for the last year, working together as a team, towards a mutual goal. It felt so right. Really good. My heart was happy again."
"And now?"
"Grandpa, I love him. I do."
"Has something happened?"
"No. Not really. Nothing has happened." She shook her head, her exhale shaky. "And, I've always known. After the Games, he is moving back to Bromont. To run the ski resort. That was the deal he made with his mother."
"I see. So that's why you hesitated? Why you said No to his proposal."
She nodded. "That. And our reason for being a team, for being together, will end after the games. I don't know what goals we will have in common after that."
"A couple's goals change, evolve over time. That's natural Amy."
"I guess. But is what we have enough to base a marriage on?" She let out a sad chuckle. "I know Grandma Lyndy was brave. She gave up..." she trailed off.
He finished her thoughts. "You are right. Lyndy gave up a lot for me. For us. And, I won't lie, it was hard on her. And, on us." He paused. "Thankfully, our love was strong enough to get over that rough water, to build that bridge."
"When did you know?"
"Looking back its easy to know. Looking into the future, well, that's tougher. But, it came down to this, Lyndy had to decide whether our love, the promise of our life together was enough for her."
"Just Grandma Lyndy?"
"Well. We both did. But, remember, my life didn't change all that much except that I was gaining a beautiful, talented, smart woman in my life. So my decision was easy. Lyndy, well, she had her singing career..." he exhaled a heavy sigh. "She had to decide.. and she did. We had a wonderful life together." His thumb and finger traced his bushy mustache from the middle to its ends.
She gazed across the river again.
"Amy. You get to decide if the river is too deep. If it's too wide for you. Andrew has to do the same. He already decided, that's why he proposed." He touched her arm. "And just because Lyndy decided to walk over the bridge with me, that doesn't mean that you can't decide differently. It doesn't make you less brave."
She looked at him, swallowed, then said. "He's coming to visit in a couple of weeks."
"Well, that's good. That will give you two a chance to be together, to talk. Work things out. One way or another."
"Grandpa. I don't know what to do." She sighed. "I don't want to upset him any more than I already have. The World Games are coming up. He's worked so hard. We worked so hard."
Before he could respond, she almost whispered. "He got ninth today."
"In competition? I thought you said he got fourth."
"Grandpa. That was yesterday. Today he got ninth. And. It's my fault." She looked straight ahead, blinking to cool the burn of the shame she felt.
"Amy. Andrew would never say that. Or blame you."
"No. Of course not." She explained. "But. This morning. I wasn't thinking. I told him I planned to enroll in evening classes at UCalgary. I upset him. Right before his competition. Then he got ninth." She confessed.
"Amy. You can't blame yourself for his performance. He doesn't."
She didn't respond.
"Look. You know I don't like to get involved. But, Amy it sounds like you still have some thinking to do. Heck. You may have already decided. But. Whatever you decide, you need to reflect on it, let it marinate, let it gel, but be certain. And, then you owe it to Andrew, to yourself, to your relationship to talk to him in person, not over the phone. Be honest, but be kind. There are two hearts, two lives at stake here."
She nodded. "I will."
"Let's head back while there is still some daylight."
She nodded. They both clicked their tongues urged their horses home.
Hello Readers. Happy Wednesday. Hope you enjoy this chapter. Let me know your thoughts. SBR