lb_heartland | Fic: Inheritance of the Heart 10-11/18

Inheritance of the Heart
Chapter Ten
Word Count: 3,652
Rating: PG-13
Pairings: Lou/Scott, but mostly, eventually... Ty/Amy.
Warnings: Character death (in chapter one only)
Disclaimer: I'm never going to grow up. That means... I'm not legally responsible for anything, right?
Summary: She went away thinking it would always be there, always be the same. She was wrong.
Author's Note: I hope that Ty's reaction is... believable and enjoyable and that this doesn't feel too rushed, Ty and Amy falling back into a rhythm and a relationship...

That Old familiar Feeling

"Where are Holly and Soraya?" Ty asked, and Amy looked around. She didn't see her friend or her niece anywhere. Soraya's parents' car was still there, so they must have walked somewhere, maybe into the shops nearby. She was actually surprised. She would have expected to see them there, smiling smugly and laughing at Amy and Ty for the kiss. The very long, very passionate, but altogether too public kiss. She couldn't hardly believe she'd done that.

She wasn't at all unhappy with the way he'd responded to it, though.

"I guess they decided we needed some... privacy."

"After you kissed me in public, on main street in the middle of town?" he asked, a teasing smile on his face. Amy blushed. She didn't really know what to say now. It was kind of awkward, but mostly it was good. At least, she hoped it was good. She looked at Ty, and he took her hand. "I'm not going to say I wasn't surprised, but if you hadn't done that, we might still be doing our best not to talk about what was going on. It couldn't last forever."

"I know. I kind of wanted it to," she admitted. "Soraya forced me to admit that I was scared. I know it was me. I pushed you away before, when I got confused. Not just when I left for college, but every single time. I spent so long trying to push you away, and then I finally did when I came back on that break... I don't want to do that again, Ty. I don't want to hurt you."

"I don't know, Amy. I think the last few years have taught us both a few things. No relationship is perfect. We'll make mistakes. We'll have fights. We just have to be willing to work through them."

"I wish I'd been more willing to work through the distance problem seven years ago," she said, shaking her head. "I didn't even really try."

"We might still have drifted apart then. Maybe we needed this time apart. Maybe this is all like that Jane Austen novel. Persuasion," Ty suggested. Amy looked at him, surprised. She wouldn't have thought he was the type to read Jane Austen. She'd done it for a literature class in college, one of her gen ed ones, but she hadn't expected Ty to know it. "What? My mom was sick for a long time. One of the things I did do was read to her. Watch movies with her. Anything I could to help her just a little. And I'm not an idiot just because I dropped out of school."

"I know that! I've always known that," Amy said quickly hurt by the way he'd pulled away and wishing he could understand that she never meant it that way, never felt that way. "I was just surprised by the reference. It wasn't meant to be a criticism. I've always thought you were brilliant."

"Brilliant?"

"That intuitive nature of yours, the way you worked with my mom... I envied you that," she told him honestly. He smiled at her. "I suppose we should find my niece and head back to Heartland."

"Yeah," he agreed. His phone beeped, and he groaned as he reached to flip it open. He frowned. "Okay, seven yearolds should not be allowed to play with cellphones."

"What? What did she say?" Amy asked, reaching around Ty to take his phone from him. He tried to keep it from her, but she managed to slip it out of his fingers. She looked at it, smiling at him as she did. "'Soraya promises to have me home by ten. Go on a date. Did you tell her you loved her yet?'"

Ty was clearly uncomfortable. "Give that back, Amy."

She held the phone out of his reach. "Are you going to say it?"

"Holly's seven. She thinks liking a person immediately means marriage," he said, catching her hand and pulling her over as he pried the phone from her fingers. "And while we have a lot of history and a lot between us, I know neither of us is ready for that yet."

Amy nodded nervously. Just the word marriage made her stomach twist. She tried to ignore the way she felt about that—it didn't have to be a bad omen, just a sign that she wasn't ready for marriage yet. She wanted to be with Ty again. She knew that much. If there was only one thing that was clear in this mess, it was just how much she'd missed him, needed him, and wanted him. He touched her cheek gently. She felt that small touch send a ripple through her. She shivered. He smiled at her, squeezing the hand he still held. "Relax. This isn't a date. We're still... getting to know each other again."

"So... what now, then?"

"We do something completely boring like grocery shop and head back so the end of the month paperwork gets done on time for a change," he offered, and she laughed.

"That sounds perfect, actually."

"You're sure about this?"

"Yes, I'm sure," Amy said, laughing at him. Ty made a face. He supposed that he'd asked her too many times over the last day, but it was an important step, and he didn't want her to feel pressured or uncertain. She needed to know that this was what she wanted, wholly and completely. She couldn't have doubts because this was going to affect them for a long time. "What? Are you... Do you have doubts? Do you want to back out of this, Ty?"

He looked at her, shaking his head. Lou and the lawyer had perfected the business agreement already, so it wasn't like they had anything to worry about there. "It's just that... it's complicated enough being business partners when we're just friends or even strangers. But... we're not just friends. If we decide to break up again, are we going to regret the choice we're making right now?"

"Ty, how many people do you know who can survive one break up and still be friends?"

"That doesn't—"

"Help? I don't mean that it's a guarantee that we'd hate each other and tear the business apart if we were to break up—and that's not a reassuring thought at all at this point since you have yet to allow us to call anything we've done dating—"

"Paperwork is not a date. A meal with your niece is also not a date. That doesn't mean we're not dating, just that we haven't gone on a formal date. It's not like we haven't enjoyed some of the other aspects of dating," he reminded her, pulling her into his arms and giving her a quick kiss. She sighed. "I'm just trying to make sure that we're not rushing into this business deal because the rest of this feels really good right now."

"I'm offended, Ty. You think I'd lose all sense over how good of a kisser you are?"

"You have to admit—all of this is pretty distracting."

She shook her head. "We can't focus on the practical and rational side all the time. It can't all be about business. You know that. Horses are social creatures, and that's a part of how we heal them. Well, guess what? Humans are social creatures, too. We look for moments like this. Besides, I still wanted to do this partnership even when I was being stubborn about how I felt about you."

Ty nodded. "I'm sorry. This probably isn't just me getting all protective of Heartland and worrying over nothing. Lee says I do that, but... This probably has a lot to do with my ex-wife."

"I understand," Amy told him. "Ty, I want to do this. I think that we have a strong enough bond, no matter what happens between us, and if we can make things work after all we've already been through, then I'm not worried about us making a business work. Heartland isn't just a business, though. Not for either of us. It's about the horses. It's my mom's dream. It's Grandpa's land. It's home."

He smiled at her. She was right. They weren't going to let things come between them again, even if they decided they were better off as friends again, especially not when it came to Heartland. He knew that Amy was recommitted to everything there, and he was glad. This summer had changed so many things for both of them. Part of it felt like it was moving too fast, and the rest was as comfortable as it always had been. He and Amy had so much history. It was easy to to fall back into old patterns when they worked together or even just when they were in the same room. He'd wanted to stay mad at her, and he quickly found he couldn't. They could have kept fighting all summer—but only if they'd really worked at it.

"You're all quiet again. Thinking too much?"

"That's what you do."

"I thought I didn't think enough."

"We could do this all day," he said, amused. "I don't think the lawyer will appreciate it. I'm sure he's frustrated enough with how many times I've changed my mind since the will was read."

"This is the right thing for Heartland, Ty. It's the right thing for both of us."

He kissed her. "Yeah. So let's go sign some papers."

"Just one thing," Amy said, stepping back and looking at him. He waited, wondering what this one thing could be. She had always been the one to want things a bit slower, the one who stressed about the relationship. Now their roles were reversed, and he really didn't like it. He knew why this was bothering him. He couldn't help that, not after all his ex-wife had done, but he didn't want to spend every moment worrying about what Amy was thinking or if she was going to change her mind. "We can't tell Holly we signed papers."

"What?"

"She's going to think that papers means something else. You know she's got it in her head that we're... well, getting married, and she's not going to let go of that idea easily."

He winced. "Okay. You're right. No mention of signing any papers. Though Lee was threatening a party to celebrate, so that might not help anything. Even the idea of us being partners will give her the wrong idea."

"Just be happy she loves you so much she wants you to really be family."

"If we told her that would make Lee family, she might back off."

"Great idea."

"Wow. I thought Ty was kidding when he said that Lee was threatening a party," Amy observed to Soraya, looking at all the decorations that were hanging on the barns and the outside of the house. Someone had set up a tent with lights in one corner of the field, and underneath it were some tables with food. "Or is something going on that I don't know about? Please tell me that Holly didn't convince everyone this was a wedding reception."

Soraya laughed. "No, you can relax. As much as your niece is convinced that you two are going to get married any day now, this is a party for the end of Tanya's class. Wizard going home yesterday was the thousandth horse Ty had personally helped, which seems like a lot, but he's been here so long and with so many horses coming and going, that number isn't that extreme. It's a bit of a belated welcome home party for you, and it's a celebration of you two becoming partners."

"Well, then, we've got lots of reasons to celebrate," Amy agreed with a smile. "I'm glad Holly called to invite you. Not that I wouldn't have, but she really seems to like you."

"I'm an actress, at least for now. I'm kind of notorious, and I give her some bragging rights, that's all," Soraya said with a smile. "Well, that and I promised to let her wear one of my dresses when she's old enough. Speaking of dresses and Holly, we're going to get you ready together."

"I'm fine," Amy protested, looking down at the business suit she'd worn when she went with Ty to sign the papers for the partnership. "This is plenty dressed up for any party."

"Oh, no," Soraya said quickly. "No, it's not. Not when Lee promised dancing and you and Ty haven't managed to make it out of here to have a real date yet."

"What, now you're creating dates for me?" Amy asked. "Is that why we're having a party?"

"Of course not." Soraya pushed her towards the house. "Come on. The sooner we get you into a dress and your hair done—Holly wants to do that, by the way—the sooner you can get back to Ty. Don't think I haven't noticed you've been looking for him ever since you got back, and he left you to take care of a horse."

"Am I that obvious?" Amy moaned, feeling pathetic. She had spent seven years without Ty, two of them without his friendship, and now all of a sudden, she felt bereft when he wasn't near her. She didn't know what to do.

"Only because I've known you for so long," Soraya told her with a smile. They headed up the stairs. "Let's get you into a nice dress and then Holly will do your hair—don't worry, I'll fix it if it's really bad. So, what's in your closet? What should you wear?"

"I don't know. I don't have a lot of dresses in there, and... No, Soraya, definitely not that one. I wore that one when I went with... Well, it wasn't with Ty, and it's not right," Amy said, refusing the black dress that her friend had pulled out of her closet. Holly looked at the dress like it was evil. Soraya picked up a blue dress, and Amy had to shake her head again.

"What about this one?" Holly asked. "I've seen it in the back of your closet for years, and... I always liked it. It's the color of Uncle Ty's eyes."

Amy looked at the dress and nodded. Holly was right about the color. During that first semester, before she came home and made the mistake of breaking up with Ty, she'd missed him. That dress had been in the store, and she'd bought it just to see the color of his eyes. She'd never actually worn it, though. "Let's see if it still fits."

A few minutes later, all dressed in green, still a bit surprised that she could fit in the dress and worried it was too tight, she was immediately ushered over to sit so that Soraya could do her make up and Holly could do her hair. "I've missed this."

"What, being tortured just to look good for a guy?"

"No," Amy laughed, looking at her friend. "All this. Getting ready together. We used to have so much fun doing all this."

"Well, we can do it again as long as I'm in town. Get Ty to take you out every night," Soraya teased. "Of course, I'm not sure who'll I'll get ready for. I tried to convince my guy to come back with me, just to see Heartland because he loved horses, but he didn't want to leave the country. Oh, well, right?"

"I'm sure there's someone out there for you."

"Yeah, someone," Soraya agreed wistfully. She looked at Holly. "Amy's very lucky."

"Lou is lucky," Amy corrected. "She and Scott have been together for a long time, and they're still happy. When it comes to Ty, I was an idiot, and we both paid for it. How is that lucky? Sure, we have another chance, but what if we didn't?"

"Just remember that you do, and make the best of it," Soraya said gently. She touched Amy's arm and turned her towards the mirror. "What do you think?"

"Thank you," Amy whispered, blushing. She hardly looked like herself, but that was okay. She couldn't wait to see Ty. "Come on. Now that you're done, you can show me off."

"For the last time, Lee, I am not wearing a tie," Ty muttered, trying to shove his brother out of his room. He had let Lee talk him into dressing up a little, even though this was supposed to be a casual party. Mostly for Heartland's staff, they'd said, but now Ty was starting to doubt that it was just the staff waiting. If they had gone and invited the town like the last time Lee threw a party, he was going to lock his brother in with Venture overnight. "What is really going on tonight?"

"Uh... I suppose that if I admitted to calling a tabloid to say I knew where Soraya Martin was would only get me in trouble, right?"

"You didn't."

"Well, no, and she's not big enough a star for that, but it had you going, didn't it?"

"I don't know why I had to have a brother. I always wanted a dog," Ty told him. Lee stuck out his tongue. "The dog would have drooled less."

Lee glared at him. Ty smiled, heading downstairs. He reached the kitchen just as the back door opened. Scott and Lou came inside, their little boy trailing after them in a little suit. Ty looked over at his brother. "Okay, what is going on here? This is not just a casual party. Not when Lou and Scott drive down. Something else is going on."

"Don't worry, Ty, it's not what you think."

"Sure it isn't." He shook his head. Someone had gone too far, and he wasn't sure if it was Lee or Holly, but something was up. He knew that much. He was about to say something else when he heard Amy, Holly, and Soraya laughing as they came down the stairs. He looked over and found himself staring.

Amy looked incredible. He hadn't seen her like that before, not on any of the rare occasions that she got dressed up, whether it was for Ashley Grant's party or one for school. Amy was happier out with the horses, and so was he. She looked beautiful no matter what she did, but this was something special. "Okay, I'm even more certain that something's going on here, but you look wonderful, Amy."

"Oh, so we've both been tricked?" Amy asked, coming over to him. She looked at her sister and brother-in-law. "What's going on?"

"You remember Lou's idea for a barn dance? We were thinking of making it an annual thing," Lee explained. "Of course, we had to have the star couple get dressed up. Our guests should be here any minute. Including the paparazzi."

Soraya smacked Lee. "I don't know how your brother hasn't killed you yet."

"It amazes my parents every year," Ty said, and Amy smiled at him. "I still don't think you're telling me everything."

"I doubt it," Amy agreed. "But I'm hungry, and I know I saw food out there. Shall we?"

He nodded, and they walked outside together. "I'm not sure if they're just all in one giant matchmaking scheme here or if something else is going on, but I'm trying not to worry about it."

"You worry too much. I do, too, so I'm not going to tell you to stop, but you've gotten almost paranoid, Ty. How about we promise, both of us, to make this a night that's not about anything but us? We'll eat and dance and the only thing that will bother us is if one of the horses gets sick or has a problem. Deal?"

"That sounds great, Amy," he agreed, kissing her. "I know you said you were hungry, but they left the music going, and we'd have the floor to ourselves. Want to dance?"

"Yes," she answered with a smile. They walked over to the dance floor and started moving to the music. It was a slow song. He held her close as they shuffled along. He knew he wasn't much of a dancer, but she didn't seem to mind. He was just glad to hold her in his arms again. He had missed this. He couldn't believe how much things had changed, how they had changed, but it still felt right to hold her. Maybe they could have made those changes together if they'd tried.

He didn't care about that. He couldn't afford to keep holding onto the past and wishing he'd made a different choice—or that she had. His marriage had taught him that. It had done a lot more than that, of course. He knew with Amy, with the way it had been so easy to fall back in love with her, the way it felt the same even though he knew it had changed, that there was hope. It wasn't always going to be like it was, but that wasn't what either of them needed. They had the past, and they had now, too, and the future.

He wanted to hold onto her for as long as he could. Maybe that could be forever.

Inheritance of the Heart
Chapter Eleven
Word Count: 4,511
Rating: PG-13
Pairings: Lou/Scott, but mostly, eventually... Ty/Amy.
Warnings: Character death (in chapter one only)
Disclaimer: I'm never going to grow up. That means... I'm not legally responsible for anything, right?
Summary: She went away thinking it would always be there, always be the same. She was wrong.
Author's Note: I struggled a bit with this section because I, er... Well, I'm not really sure how this kind of a case would go in a way that's not sensationalized on Judge Judy or something, but I tried to make it realistic. But, hey, at least the legal side of it's settled. Mostly.

Legal Truths

"So... Anyone willing to tell us what last night was really about?" Ty asked as he filled a coffee. Amy smiled as he handed her the cup. She had really enjoyed the party last night. She'd seen plenty of people from town that she'd lost touch with, as well as old friends and clients. Somehow, Matt had heard and managed to come down for the party, and Soraya had happily danced with him, telling him all about the movie she'd just made. Amy was glad to see they were still friends. She'd spent some time catching up with him herself, though Ty did claim most of her dances. She'd spoken to Ben and Lisa Stillman, too, and it was good to hear about Ben and Red's progress. They competed at the top of the circuit and even in the Olympics. She was thrilled for them. Lisa wanted Amy to come look at her horses, take over from a vet that she was not happy with. Ty had told her that she was free to consult wherever she wanted, and it wasn't like they could stop her. She agreed, but her responsibilities at Heartland came first.

Ty's parents had been there. She remembered Lily's smile with fondness, and Brad had claimed one dance while Ty danced with Lily. They had showed both of them the horses, and Amy hadn't missed the winking looks Brad gave his son.

She wasn't sure what was going on, not with the party, but it had been a nice reunion for everyone, even if she'd spent most of it in Ty's arms. Maybe it was better because she had, she thought with a blush. She looked at Ty, and that blush just deepened.

"What makes you think something's going on, Ty?" Scott asked as he went to the counter to take the coffee pot.

"Oh, the fact that you're still here, that you came down for a dance, that your brother was here and almost everyone that Amy and I have ever worked with in the past. So, what is it? If you just wanted to surprise Amy and give her a welcome back party, you could have said so."

"Ty, you're probably not going to like this," Lou said, feeding her son a bite of cereal. "But we asked as many people as we could to come by and support you. With the court case. Joni wasn't able to be down last night, but she said that she would be here today."

Ty stiffened. Amy could see he was really bothered by that. She wondered why, but then she had never heard why Joni had left Heartland. "That is really not—Why did you ask her?"

"Because she, of anyone other than you, has the most firsthand experience with your ex-wife's behavior, especially when it comes to Heartland," Lou answered. "Ty, I know you're not comfortable with this, and I understand how difficult it is, but we really just wanted to help."

Ty nodded, but his jaw was set in a tight line, and Amy could see that he was more than just uncomfortable. She went over to his side, and he pulled her close for a moment, resting his head against hers. She knew that being in court today was hard enough, but everyone's efforts to assist him weren't actually helping. He really didn't like having anyone involved in his personal problems. He was a deeply private person. She knew he didn't see it like the rest of them did. He was family, and family didn't consider it a burden. They took care of it together because they cared. He didn't have to keep this all to himself.

"Ty, Amy," Lee called, bursting in from the back door. "You have to come quick. Something's wrong with Venture!"

Ty bumped her in his hurry to get out to the yard, but she didn't care. She knew he was worried. It was already a difficult time for him, but more than that, Venture was very special to him. They had a bond that Amy rarely saw between a horse and owner, even with their experience with alternative medicine and people who believed in it. Seeing him with Venture, she saw a Ty that she really admired. She knew that he needed Venture, and Venture needed him.

"What is it, Amy?" Lee asked, watching Ty look over the gelding. Ty was studying him and shaking his head. He looked worried, and Amy didn't like what she saw in Venture, either. A horse didn't get this sick this fast, not usually. "He was fine yesterday. I know he was. He had that whole 'I'm-going-to-eat-you-look' all day, and Ty, you always check him before you go to sleep. You did check on him last night, didn't you?"

Ty glared at his brother over Venture's back. "I did. He seemed fine last night. Maybe a little tired. I teased him about partying too much."

"There were a lot of people coming and going last night," Amy began, looking at Venture's eyes. She saw a lot of pain there. "Maybe so many that we just didn't notice..."

"No, Amy, I know he couldn't have gotten into anything in his stall. He hasn't been out yet today. Something happened last night," Ty said. "I can't believe I'm thinking what I'm thinking right now. I know that she has done some terrible things to me, but this... I don't want to believe she could have done anything to Venture. We have to be wrong, Amy. This can't be poison."

"I'll run the tests, Ty, but I'm not sure what else it could be, not under the circumstances. Maybe it was an innocent mistake. There were people there last night that don't know what they're giving horses half the time. They just think if it's green it's good."

Ty nodded. He gave Venture another inspection, frowning. The horse turned his head towards Ty and leaned against him, closing his eyes. Ty worked some T-touch circles on the gelding's neck. "I'm supposed to be in court in an hour. I can't leave him."

"Ty, you know that I'm not his favorite person, but I'll keep an eye on him," Lee offered.

"I'll stay, Ty," Amy told him. He looked at her. "Yeah, I know, I want to be there to support you, but you'd feel better if I was here with Venture, and you know that as well as I do."

He kissed her quickly. "Thank you, Amy. I'm going to get a few things together for him before I leave."

"I'll take good care of him, Ty. Don't worry."

Despite Amy's words and knowing that she was there with Venture, Ty's mind wouldn't leave the sick gelding as he sat in the courtroom. He couldn't keep his mind on anything his lawyer or the other lawyer said. Scott was sitting behind him, Lou at his side. Tanya had volunteered to take the kids around Heartland, though Holly had wanted to stay with Amy and help her. They both agreed that was fine. He knew Amy could use the help, and Holly did love Venture.

It was just an odd feeling. Last time, he'd been alone. Jack had managed to figure out where Ty was and find the courtroom to join him after it had already started, but Lou and Scott had insisted on driving him. They said he wouldn't have his mind on the road. He knew they were right, but he felt crowded. This was too much. He wasn't used to everyone rallying around him like this, and he would have preferred some time alone to clear his head.

He missed Amy. He would rather be with Venture, but talking out Venture's treatment with her would have been the next best thing. Just talking to her would help, really. They had always had a deep connection, and their instincts for the treatment of horses usually coincided so well. He knew that Venture was in good hands—the best, really, but he was unsettled.

The smug look on his ex-wife's face as she sat across the room from him really didn't help matters. She didn't seem to care that her character was being ruined by everyone who spoke on Ty's behalf, and he knew that the worst was still to come. He had to get up there himself and talk about everything that had happened, things he knew that he hadn't shared before. He wanted to keep them to himself, and he really hoped that they wouldn't even need it. Wouldn't what everyone else had to say be enough?

Someone tapped Ty on the shoulder, and he looked back. Lee was there. He knew that his brother had insisted on saying his piece this time, and the lawyer had assured Ty that Lee knew what he was allowed to say and what to hold back. Ty wasn't really sure because his brother had really never known the meaning of tact or restraint. They thought it would be fine. Ty was just hoping Lee kept his mouth shut. "Venture's coming around. Looks a lot better than before. Amy says he responded well to the oils and everything we've done so far. He definitely misses you."

"Well, I would much rather be there than here," Ty muttered. "You sure Venture's doing better?"

"I wouldn't lie to you just to get you through this. Not with the parasite around. If she senses a weakness, she'll go for it," Lee muttered, shooting a dark look across the courtroom.

"Shut up and get ready. They'll call you up next," Ty told him. He turned back and tried to listen to what was going on with the case. He knew that it was important to pay attention to this, and he wanted to make sure it was going well. He just found it so hard to keep his mind on what was going on here when he wanted—no, needed to be somewhere else. Venture was his horse, his special... project and companion and everything. He knew that Venture would happily follow him everywhere, like Sugarfoot had with Mrs. Bell. Venture was a real sweetheart. Ty knew why his owner had refused to accept the idea of putting him down. It just wouldn't have been right. Venture had a full life ahead of him still.

If his ex-wife had anything to do with what Venture was suffering now, Ty really didn't think he could hold back this time. He just hoped that this case would be settled quickly. The divorce had been almost easy, since there was really nothing left for them to fight over. She'd already taken it all.

Jack had been angry. He didn't think that Ty should have let her get away with any of it. It wasn't that Ty wanted her to, but she hadn't been worth fighting. There were some battles that were worth it, but nothing with her ever was. He'd learned that the hard way.

Ty watched as Lee took the stand. His lawyer looked at him. "It's going to be fine. Your brother knows what he has to do."

"That has never meant anything to Lee."

"Relax, Ty. Your brother knows what he's doing."

"No offense, but I've only known you for a short time, and I've known my brother a lot longer. I know better than to trust him with anything," Ty said, looking at his hands. "Can't this go any faster?"

"It's going really well. Just focus on that."

Ty nodded, but he knew that wasn't going to happen. His mind was still back at Heartland, back with Venture. With Amy.

Amy looked at Venture again, rubbing his nose. He was such a sweetheart. She hated seeing him like this, hated knowing that he was suffering. The oils were helping, as well as the usual treatment, but she felt helpless. This was Ty's horse. This horse was the one he loved most of all, and she knew it had taken a lot for him to find and bond with Venture like he did. Ty loved horses; he really did. But he was always able to let them go, even Dazzle, the one who had helped him recover from the injuries he got in the storm. Ty was so pragmatic about it. Venture was different.

If Ty's ex-wife wanted to hurt him, she'd found the perfect way to do it. There was nothing that mattered to Ty more than Venture and Heartland. She'd already gone after the Heartland with this court case. Venture, though... Amy thought it was very suspicious that Venture got sick the day that Ty was supposed to be in court. He might not like the idea any more than Amy did, but she didn't think they were wrong. This was not an accident, not this type of poisoning.

He meant everything to Ty. Amy didn't know what she was going to do if she couldn't help him. She couldn't think about it. She had to get him better; there was no other option.

"Oh, Venture," Amy said, stroking him gently. "We'll get you through this, boy. We will."

"You're sure you can help him, Aunt Amy?" Holly asked, worried. She held out some small bottles to Amy. "These are Uncle Ty's oils from that guy in Utah. Special ones. I know, he told me not to get into them, but I thought maybe they could help. I know they're not ones you're used to, but it can't hurt, right? Ty said that guy said no oil is ever wasted."

"I'd rather use the ones I'm used to. I don't know all of what's in the blends, and I don't want to cause a bad reaction," Amy said gently. "But if that's lavender, pure lavender, then yes, I'd love to use some of that."

Amy took the bottle and opened it, letting Venture smell it. He eagerly tried to eat it. "Hey, none of that now! You can't eat it. But I will give you some. It will help keep you calm while we work with you, and I suspect Ty's given you some of this before."

"He spoils Venture rotten, actually," Lee said. "Saves the really special oils for that horse."

"You're back," Amy greeted him with a smile. "How's Ty?"

"Miserable. He hates this, and the worst is still to come. At least the parasite's already had her turn. She did her best to make herself a victim, a poor-me thing, but Scott and Lou said she was a terrible actress and every character witness Ty's had up has shown her other side. She's not going to pull it off. But he hasn't taken his turn yet. I know it's going to be hard for him. He doesn't talk about this stuff."

Amy nodded. She looked at Venture, biting her lip. "Lee, I need to go into town, just for a little while. I know. I promised Ty that I would stay here, and I can't be in two places at once, so I don't know how to do this, but... Ty needs me to be there. I don't think there's any way he can do it without me there."

"I know," Lee said. "Hell, if you hadn't said it yourself, I would have gotten you in the car and driven you there myself. Go. I'm here. I've even called in a favor or two. Trust me, Venture's in good hands. And don't let Ty tell you I ruined everything on the stand. I didn't."

Amy laughed. She finished massaging the oil onto Venture and gave him a kiss. "You'll be okay. Holly's here, and Lee and—Carey, is that you?"

"Long time no see, Amy. I heard you had to find your way in the world, too."

Amy ran over and hugged her old friend. "It's amazing to see you. I can't believe this."

"I'm told you're needed somewhere else and that a very special horse needed my help. I came for Ty, but if anyone had said you were here, I know I'd have come a lot sooner," Carey said. "Go. I'll tell you all about the new rehabilitation center at Ten Beeches when you get back."

"Yes, you will! That's a promise, and I'm holding you to it!" Amy agreed, starting towards her car at a jog. She couldn't believe how many people were coming around again, all these old faces. It felt good, felt like home, and she knew that she was so lucky. There was so much that she'd taken for granted, and now... She really had a second chance, a chance to fix her mistake and to be with the people that cared about her all along.

Like Ty.

That thought made her drive faster. She wanted to be there when he took the stand. She needed to be there for him. She hoped he was happy to see her and not mad that she left Venture to be there for him. She had left Venture with the best, but she felt like she couldn't win.

"Can you two please just... leave?" Ty asked, looking at Scott and Lou, who thought he had to be kidding. They didn't understand. He couldn't do this with them there. He knew they knew part of it, but this was so much dirty laundry put out for all to see. He hated this. He couldn't stand all of it being public, and while they'd called a recess, one that was taking far too long since Ty wanted to get back to Heartland and they already had lunch, he'd decided to ask them to leave. He appreciated the support, but he couldn't take that stand if they were there.

"Ty, really, we're here for you."

"I know that. And you've heard from Liz, Lee, and Joni all about the kind of things my ex-wife did, but I'm the one that knows the whole story, and I have to tell it, and I just can't do it with you two there. I wish I could just tell the judge, no one else, if I had to tell anyone at all."

"We know you're a private person, but don't you think it would be easier if you had someone to look at? A friendly face and not some judge you don't even know?"

"Well..." Ty shook his head. "Lou, I haven't told you yet, so why now? I'm sorry. I just don't want you there. I'd much rather you were there with Venture, Scott, and Lou, you... There's a reason I didn't tell my parents about this, and they're my family, too. Please, just go."

Lou started to protest again, and he shook his head, walking back into the courtroom. He went back to his table, thinking his ex had to be fixing her make-up again. His lawyer looked at him. "You look kind of pale, Baldwin. You feeling okay?"

"Considering what I have to do, no. Can't we just get this over with?"

"The judge is coming back. Try to stay calm. You don't look good. I think it might help with sympathy points, but don't take it too far."

"This isn't an act."

"I know. I'm just saying... Never mind."

The judge called them back to order, and Ty heard his name called. He walked up to the stand calmly. His hands felt sweaty, and his stomach was churning. He sat down and muttered the oath without much thought. He put his hands in his lap and tried to calm down. The doors at the back of the courtroom opened, and he looked up to see Amy slipping into the courtroom. She was wearing a skirt, but her shirt was the same one she'd had on in the barn and her hair was a bit of a mess. He frowned. What was she doing here? She was supposed to be with Venture.

Her eyes met his, and he thought she seemed to be saying that Venture was fine. He tried to relax. His lawyer started to ask questions. Lou was right. It was easier with a friendly face. He could pretend that he was just telling all of it to Amy. It was easy to tell it to Amy. That was just who she was, who they were together.

He explained how he'd met his ex-wife, a story Joni had already told in her way. They'd been at show, consulting with Nick Halliwell on one of his horses, another of Heartland's success stories and also to look at another one of his horses, a show jumper. Nick had gotten Ty up there to take Juniper around the ring, and that was when Joni was approached. Supposedly, there'd been a bad accident and the girl couldn't ride anymore, but she missed it. There was something in her that reminded Ty of an old friend, and so he tried to help her regain her confidence on a horse.

They started dating, and he remembered that he had never actually asked her to marry him. He'd said something that she took the wrong way, but he did genuinely care for her, thought he loved her, and so he went ahead with the plans. She said at first that she didn't care about the money. It didn't take long for that to change. She pushed him to buy more things, work more hours, and go back to school. She had an idea of him opening his own rehabilitation center—a horse whisperer place where he could practice his "magic."

He started to understand that she saw him as some sort of con man, like her, and that she thought he had a perfect gig and had started buying into his own propaganda. She didn't understand that there were reasons why what he did worked, and that he never considered himself any kind of faith healer, just someone applying natural methods and therapies when some people would only take the conventional route.

He admitted that they had started to fight almost constantly, usually over money, but the worst one came when he found out she was charging Heartland clients extra fees on "his" behalf. He'd told her that it was over, and she'd said he couldn't leave her because she was pregnant and that they needed to work it out. She claimed all the money was just for the baby. He really tried then, working longer hours and taking classes online, to the point where he was pretty much a zombie, and Jack Bartlett had started hiding the coffee.

Then she left. She took the money, all their possessions, everything they had, and she just left. He didn't even have his clothes. He'd have nothing at all if some of his stuff hadn't been put in storage at his parents. She was never pregnant, and she filed for divorce. He supposed the money in their account got where she wanted it or maybe she just found someone else to scam. He didn't know. He didn't contest the divorce or press charges, not for the theft or what she'd done to Heartland.

She'd gotten more than she deserved, and there was no way that he was letting one bit of Heartland go to her. Heartland was the dream of a woman who had given him everything when he had nothing, and he would never betray that dream.

"And what of the plaintiff's claims that you never loved her and were always in love with someone else, therefore neglecting her?"

"I made no secret of how much of my life was devoted to Heartland. I guess... there was someone I never got over, but I honestly gave everything I had to my marriage," Ty answered, looking at Amy. She smiled at him. He knew he would never have gotten through that without her.

His lawyer started talking again, going over the sworn statements of the clients that his ex-wife had scammed, ones that Ty had paid back as soon as he could, refunding the made up fees. The judge stopped him. "I think I've heard more than enough already. You can step down, Mr. Baldwin. Don't start, Ms. Green. Your client had her chance to say her piece, and she did not have any real evidence to back up her account of events. On the other hand, Mr. Baldwin not only had several witnesses and verified statements to his version of events, I find him at the very least a much better actor."

"Your honor, my client was not acting—"

"Quiet. I'm finding in favor of the defendant, Ty Baldwin. There's no grounds here that I can see for the plaintiff's claims. I would further caution the plaintiff because these documents could be used as grounds for an arrest on fraud charges. If I had been the one to arbitrate this divorce, I can assure you, it would not have gone so well for you. Case dismissed."

Ty breathed a sigh of relief. He shook his lawyer's hand, thanking him, and then he pushed past the gate to the back, going over to Amy. "How is Venture?"

"Still doing pretty well. I'm pleased with the progress he's made in such a short time," Amy told him. She smiled at him. "I'm so glad you won. And not just because I'm your business partner. There are so many reasons..."

Ty wrapped his arms around her. "I couldn't have done that without you. Thank you, Amy."

"You're welcome, Ty. I didn't want to leave Venture, but I knew I needed to be here for you. I don't think I could have left if Carey hadn't come, though."

"Carey?"

"I guess your brother called in a favor? I didn't even know you were still in contact with her."

"With all that's gone on, I forgot to tell you I'd helped her reestablish Ten Beeches. It's actually where Joni works now, since she left Heartland," Ty explained. He winced. "That's kind of my fault, actually. I didn't believe her when she told me what my wife was doing."

"I'm glad she's working with Carey, though. That's great," Amy said. She wrapped her fingers in his. "Everyone's waiting for us back at Heartland, and I think we have another reason to celebrate."

"I'm not in the mood to celebrate. I just want to get back to Venture."

"I'll keep you company if you plan on sleeping in his stall."

Ty smiled at her warmly, pushing a loose strand of hair back from her face. "You know, Amy Fleming, that is the reason I love you."