"Oh good, you're here!" Lou exclaimed as Ty walked into the kitchen, stifling a yawn.

"What do you mean, 'oh good, I'm here?'" he demanded warily. He had come to know Lou pretty well since he had first arrived three years ago on the Heartland property (which, by the way, he still didn't understand the name of), and he knew that when Lou said 'oh good!' it meant she had something for them to do. Usually, it was something they did just to get her to shut up about it. Lou was pretty hardcore, and while she was a good businesswoman, in Ty's opinion, she was also selfish, and oblivious to all the other things going on around her.

"I need you to go into town for me," Lou said in a no-nonsense tone, and she rambled off a list of things that needed to be picked up. "And then I need you to clean the stall that Bolt used to be in, because tomorrow we've got a new horse coming."

"Lou, it's six o'clock."

"So?"

"So I'm tired,"

"Your point?"

"I'm still working,"

"Yeah, doing what I just told you."

"No," Ty protested. "Doing anything else I can find that doesn't require I drive."

"Since when have you turned down an opportunity to drive that ugly old truck of yours?"

Ty closed his eyes and counted to five. "Lou, I am not your guinea pig."

"No, Ty, of course you're not. You're my . . . my saddle-horse."

"Your what?"

"My pawn,"

"I thought so,"

"So will you do it?" Lou's grin widened.

"No," Ty shook his head vehemently. "I can still hear the hammers banging."

Lou looked confused, and as Jack entered he chuckled. "From fixing the fencing, Lou."

"Oh," she said. "Well then. After dinner you can go."

"I don't think you're going to get out of this one, Ty." Jack laughed.

Ty shook his head as Amy came inside. "Your sister is evil."

"Why?" Amy glanced at Lou.

"Because she thinks I'm her saddle-horse."

"Her what?"

"Her pawn. Her patsy. Her camel."

"Oh," Amy shrugged. "That's normal Lou behavior. She's everyone's mom."

"Everyone's dictator," their friend Mallory grumbled as she entered.

"Oh, Mallory! Did you feed the horses?"

"No, that's Ty's job."

"Okay then, did you stack the hay bales?"

"Yes, boss."

"Boss, I like the sound of that." Lou mused.

Amy glanced over at Ty for the dozenth time during dinner. This time, she nudged him with her elbow. "You've barely touched your food. Are you alright?"

"I'm just tired, Amy." Ty shook his head and brought a piece of chicken to his mouth. "Don't worry about me."

Nobody else at the table noticed this exchange. They were too busy talking about Peter and Lou's weekend getaway, Mallory's sudden announcement that she was staying the week, and Jack was busy talking to his girlfriend Lisa. The one person who did notice, however, was not the most subtle of the group.

"Ty, you on a diet?" Amy's father, Tim, laughed loudly.

Ty glanced up at him, swallowing his chicken.

"Don't start, dad." Amy glared at him.

"I'm just saying, we make the food for him, he should eat it." Tim mumbled, crossing his arms as though he saw nothing wrong with his comments.

"We make it?" Jack turned to Tim, on hand on his thigh. His other hand had clenched his fork as he raised an eyebrow at his ex son-in-law. "As I recall, Tim, you no longer live here, and the only reason you are here tonight is because Lou needed to talk to you about that cattle you think you're buying."

"Sorry, I didn't mean to cause any trouble." Tim held his hands up. "Geez, I'm sorry."

"You never mean to cause trouble," Amy rolled her eyes. "Yet somehow that's exactly what ends up happening."

"Amy, please, it's okay." Ty whispered.

"No, Ty, it's not. He's just trying to find something to pick on you for. Dad, why is it you don't like Ty? What did he do?"

"Well he's dating my daughter, for one."

"The daughter you didn't see for ten years." Amy reminded him.

"I'm just going to go," Ty muttered, starting to stand up.

"No, don't." Amy pulled him back down.

"Okay. . ."

"Dad, Ty hasn't done anything wrong."

"It was just a comment, Amy!" Ty protested. "I don't care."

"Well I do!" Amy's voice was loud now, but everyone had fallen silent the moment Tim had spoken. "Dad, Ty takes great care of me. I wouldn't be with him if he didn't."

"I know that," Tim started to say.

"Then tell me what's wrong with him? Why don't you like him?"

Tim shifted uncomfortably in his seat. "No reason, Amy, it was just . . . a comment. Besides, last I knew, you guys weren't even a couple anymore."

"Tim, maybe we should just go on outside," Jack said.

Ty shut his eyes and rubbed his forehead. It was starting to hurt again, and the rising voices weren't helping. Amy noticed this, of course, and put a hand on his thigh. He didn't seem to be able to summon the strength to look over at her, much less move his hand on top of hers, which he knew was what she wanted. It was . . . an assurance, to her, that he was okay, and he knew she would get worried if he didn't.

"No, Jack, we won't go outside. I mean look at the guy. First he's kissing and running, then there's a girl called Kit, then he's passing out in the snow, Amy, and all of a sudden you're making out every two minutes." Tim's voice rose louder.

"Dad, that isn't fair. Ty and Amy have been together for a long time." Lou said.

Knives. Jabbing, pain-inducing, large knives, stabbing his skull, repeatedly, continuously. . .

"If I get an opinion, I think Ty's okay." Peter spoke up. Jack and Tim glared at him. "Okay, I don't get an opinion, I understand that."

Pain. Sharp. Hard. Long. Lasting.

"The point here is, I want Amy to be in a lasting relationship!" Tim bellowed.

"I gotta go," Ty stood up quickly and disappeared out the door, letting it smack shut behind him.

"Ty, come back!" Amy stood and ran after Ty.

"Amy, I'm fine, honestly." he said, not slowing down, but shoving his hands in his pockets.

"Ty, wait, please." Amy grabbed his arm and turned him to face her. "I'm sorry I started an argument back there."

"Amy, it's okay. I appreciate you sticking up for me. You didn't have to, but I appreciate it."

"I just . . . dad makes me so frustrated!"

"Ames, I know he does."

"I'm sorry,"

"Stop apologizing," Ty rolled his eyes a bit, but it made his head hurt. The porch light came on, and the sudden burst of extra light burned in his eyes.

Amy blinked in surprise as he brought his head to her shoulder. "Are you okay?"

"Yeah, I'm just gonna stay here a bit." he mumbled.

"Ty, seriously."

"I'm fine, Amy." Ty said, but it was pretty hard to sound convincing when your using another person's shoulder to block out light.

Amy ran her fingers through his hair. When he did something similar to her, it felt nice, almost massage-like. "Does your head still hurt?" she whispered.

"Yes," he admitted, and his tone was sheepish.

"Is that why you weren't eating?"

Ty sighed and lifted his head. His eyes were tired, and even in the dim light she saw that his skin was paler than it should be. "I don't feel that great, Amy. I just want to go up to bed and sleep."

"Do you want me to come with you?"

"You're going to get in trouble, Amy. I know your family."

"Yeah, but. . ." Amy bit her lip and glanced over her shoulder. She really, really wanted to follow Ty.

"I'll be okay, Amy." he laughed softly. "It's just a headache, okay? Tomorrow I'll be good as new, alright? We can go out for that trail ride you've been wanting to take."

Amy smiled. "That sounds fun."

"You're fun,"

"Are you sure you'll be alright?" she asked again nervously. Ty's lips twitched, as though he were fighting back a smile, and she ducked her head as she laughed. "Sorry, I know I already asked that."

"Go inside, Amy." Ty smiled. "I'll be in the barn tomorrow bright and early, I promise. We can go out before anyone else even wakes up. How does that sound?"

"Really great," Amy's voice was full of bubbly enjoyment, and her smile was so big it almost hurt.

"Goodnight," Ty bent forward slightly and kissed her cheek. "I love you."

"I love you too, Ty." Amy kissed him on the lips until he let her tongue in, and for a moment she refused to pull away as Ty's arms wrapped around her waist. When she did pull back, she let out a content sigh and rested her head against his chest. "Goodnight."

As she watched Ty disappear into the growing darkness, she slowly stepped backward, towards the glowing porch. She waited until she heard the barn door pull close before going inside, still smiling softly over their kiss.