Ty Borden shivered violently under the blankets, sleepily trying to pull another one over himself. He could hear the horses neighing in the barn below, and he heard a girl's voice talking to one named Spartan.

Amy, he thought drowsily. He vaguely wondered if he would be any warmer with her bed with him, but he pushed that thought away, knowing her grandfather Jack was in the main house.

"Hey boy," Amy's voice was saying in the barn.

That was one thing about sleeping in the loft--you could hear everything that went on underneath you, and anyone downstairs could, most likely, hear everything that went on above them, another reason Ty didn't have with him.

"Where's Ty? Did he not feed you?" Amy was asking.

A beam of sunlight struck him in the face, making his head hurt as though knives were stabbing his skull. Ty groaned and pulled the blankets up over his head. He was exhausted, and freezing. Why was the loft always so cold?

"Ty didn't feed you either?" Amy was asking another horse. "Where is he? You don't know, do you boy?"

Ty groaned, a bit louder this time, wondering if Amy could hear him. His stomach did a flip, and he momentarily regretted the beer he had had the night before. He tried to sit up, but all the muscles in his body protested in fury, and he winced, lying back down. He huddled himself what he considered to be a tight ball, pulling all the blankets tighter around himself.

"Where the hell is Ty?" Amy was asking yet another horse. The amount of horses in that barn was incredible. "He hasn't fed any of you. Look, your stalls aren't cleaned yet either. I can understand if he had done one chore but not the other, but both?"

"Amy," Ty groaned.

"Did you hear something?" Amy asked.

"Amy," Ty groaned again, this time louder, and he heard her coming up the stairs to the loft.

"Can I ask why you've suddenly turned into a blanket burrito?" Amy's voice asked, and Ty glanced over at her.

"What time is it?" he asked.

"It's eight o'clock, why?"

"I'm tired,"

"Did you go out with Caleb last night?" Amy demanded, hands on her hips. She looked annoyed, but still pretty.

"Maybe,"

"Are you hungover?"

"I don't know," Ty groaned as she went to open the window. "Shut it, shut it, it's too bright."

Amy rolled her eyes, shutting the window again. "Your head hurts?"

"If by 'hurt,' you mean 'knives are stabbing my skull and I don't think it's all there anymore,' then yes, Amy, yes it does." Ty closed his eyes, feeling Amy sit down beside him.

"You really don't feel good, huh?" her voice was softer now, and he could feel her fingers brushing through his hair.

"Nuh-uh," he mumbled, and a shiver went up his spine.

"You're shaking," Amy said.

No shit.

"I'm sorry I didn't feed the horses," he mumbled. He wanted to sleep so badly.

"That's okay," Amy's voice was hesitant, and he knew she was biting her lip with concern. "Ty, are you okay?"

"I'm fine," he said.

"You feel a little warm." Amy whispered, starting to move her hand from his head.

"No, that feels good." Ty murmured. "Leave . . . leave it there."

Amy hesitated, but placed her fingers back on his forehead. "Did you get any sleep?"

"I d-don't know," Ty shivered violently, cause Amy to jump a little. "I think so."

"Did you just wake up?"

"Yeah, when you and your loud mouth entered the barn."

Amy huffed angrily. "Well if that's how you're going to be about it."

"I'm s-sorry, Amy." Ty sighed. He tried to move so he could grasp her hand, but again his muscles protested and he winced.

"Your muscles hurt?" Amy whispered softly. He could feel her lips brushing his ear.

"Yeah,"

"I think you've been working too hard. You've been pulling a lot of late nights. Maybe you're coming down with something."

"God, I hope not."

Amy felt his forehead again as he stopped shivering. "I don't think you have a fever. Maybe a little warmer than usual, but I don't think it's a fever."

"That's good,"

"Maybe you should just stay up here today," Amy suggested. "Get some rest. I'll get Lou to cover your chores for you."

"No, that's okay." he grunted as he tried to sit up. "I'm okay."

"Are you really that hellbent on shoveling horse manure?" Amy's voice was skeptical.

"If it keeps Jack from whipping my ass, then yes."

Amy laughed, and her eyes danced. "Get a couple hours of sleep, and then you can come work. I'll tell Grandpa that you had a late night."

"Thank you," he whispered.

"I'll see at you lunch," Amy whispered. She gave him a kiss, and then she was gone.