Heartland

Chapter Five.

Chapter Five: Breaking Out.

I had woken up at midnight. I looked around my dark hospital room. I turned on the lamp on my bedside table. I got out of bed and went to my window. I started crying as I looked at the sleeping town of Hudson. My room was on the second floor. I went to my door and opened it. I walked out into the hospital. I ran down to the elevator and pressed the button to the first floor. I went out right into the emergency room. There was a room next to the elevator that said "employees only". I went in and found the boxes of patients clothes. I found the box labeled Tara Cohan. Ty had left me a new pair of clothes. I put my pair of jeans on and the sweatshirt that said "Texas" on it. I put on my boots that were in the box. I snuck out of the room and out of the hospital.

I walked to Maggie's where I saw Soraya sitting at the counter, working on homework, through the glass doors. I knocked on the doors and she came up and unlocked them for me,
"Tara, Amy said you were in the hospital. Something about trying to kill yourself?" I walked in and sat at the counter and she sat next to me.
"I didn't try killing myself. I was in the hospital, I broke out," I said.
"Oh honey," she replied.
"Can you take me to Heartland? I need to get my stuff and get to New York." I asked.
"Why would you leave?" She asked.
"I'm a mom and my daughter is in New York," I explained.
"I'll take you to Heartland but you can't leave. You have to stay. The hospital can't choose to keep you there it's your decision," she said.
"I'm a minor, my legal guardian can chose to keep me wherever he wants. And he chose the hospital," I explained.

I walked from the Heartland arch to the barn. By the time I got to the barn it was two in the morning. I went in the barn and snuck up the stairs. I shook Ty awake.
"Tara? What are you doing here?" He asked. He sat up and turned the lamp on.
"I broke out," I replied. I laid in bed with him and snuggled up to his warm body.
"I didn't try to kill myself. And I won't do this again," I whispered. He looked into my eyes.
"I love you," he said.
"I love you too," I replied. He kissed me. We both fell asleep.

I got woken up by footsteps coming up the loft stairs.
"If she broke out she's probably in here," I heard Jack say. Panicking, I shot out of bed.
"Tara don't go just stay," Ty begged.
"I can't go back Ty," I replied. I opened one of the loft doors.
"Tara stop you'll hurt yourself!" Ty shouted. I looked at him and then jumped down to the ground outside. I ran into Sky's stall. I tied a lead rope to her harness on both sides and I hopped on her bareback. I kicked her hard and she galloped down the driveway.
"Stop!" I heard a man yell. Jack, the man, and Ty were watching me gallop away from the loft door I left open. No way was I going back to the hospital.

I stopped Sky when we got to the point at the river where Ty and I were kidnapped. I let Sky graze and drink while I laid in the shade of the tree I was tied too. My phone started ringing. I grabbed it before I went to bed last night.
"Hello," I answered.
"Tara Cohan? I'm Officer Callahan from the Hudson police department-."
"I'm not coming in. You can count on that," I interrupted.
"You will once you hear this," he said.
"What is it?" I asked.
"The flight to New York, that your grandparents and daughter were on, crashed. Both of your grandparents died. Your daughter, Maisie, needs you," he said.
"I don't believe you," I replied as I hung up the phone. If my grandparents died in a plane crash, there was no way my daughter would've survived. Right?

I got a text from Ty,
"I may be with the police and they told me to text you but, the officer wasn't lying Maisie is in the loft with me right now waiting for you. Stay safe and be smart. I love you." I text him back,
"Oh my god. It was real? They died! They're dead? Is she okay? Is Maisie okay?" I asked. He replied,
"She's perfectly fine, someone was watching out for her. Tara she needs you, come home."
"Ty I can't, they'll send me back. Take care of her, please," I replied. I got a call from Ty's phone.
"Officer Callahan again, I'm looking at these texts. Look, were not here to send you back to the hospital." I hung up. I mounted Sky and galloped to the top of the hill. I could see everything, including Heartland. It was faint, but I saw an ambulance and cop cars. They were definitely taking me back.

I sat on the hill for a few hours when it started getting dark. I could see my breath. It was getting cold. I could see the flashing lights at the ranch from the police cars. My phone started ringing.
"What do you want?" I answered.
"It's getting cold. Isn't it?" the same officer asked.
"A little cold never hurt me," I snapped.
"You've never lived in Canada. The wind shield tonight is supposed to be below zero," he said.
"If I did come back it wouldn't be because of you. It would be because of Ty and my daughter," I replied. I hung up. I texted Ty,
"Wanna bring me a coat?" He text back a little later,
"Can't, cops are monitoring my cell. They saw that text. They didn't want me to send this one." I called Officer Callahan.
"Hello," he said.
"I'm not going to hurt myself. Or anyone around me," I said.
"I believe you. I'm just here to get you home safe," he explained.
"I'll be in front of the barn in half an hour. If any cops approach me I'll run away. If I'm sent back to the hospital I swear to god I'll kill myself," I warned.
"You can't kill yourself. If you do Maisie will be sent into foster care," he said.
"You mean she's mine?" I asked on the verge of tears.
"Forever," he replied.
"I'll be there," I said.

I walked Sky up to the barn. I sat ready to ride her away. All the cop cars were by the house and the cops all sat on the hoods. I saw Ty in the barn waiting for me. He was holding Maisie.
"Ty! Maisie!" I exclaimed. I got off Sky and ran into the barn. I hugged him and took Maisie from him.
"Okay Jack she's home safe," Officer Callahan said as he came into the barn with Jack.
"Thank you," Jack said as they shook hands. He reached and shook my hand.
"Keep a close eye on her. Child protective services will be here in the morning to sign Maisie into Jack's care. He will be her legal guardian," Officer Callahan explained.
"Thank you sir. I apologize for my behavior. I think you can understand how scared I was," I said.
"It's alright. We got you home safe," he replied. Officer Callahan left. He was followed by the other three police units. The ranch was cleared of police cars. When everything was calmed down I hugged Jack.
"Thanks for letting her stay with us," I said to Jack.
"You're welcome. Maisie is your family, you need her here," he replied. I put Maisie down and held her hand. I took her out to Sky. I put Maisie on Sky's back and had her hold Sky's mane. I led Sky into the barn and into her stall. I lifted Maisie off and tossed her into the air a few times.
"Mommy stop," she said giggling.
"I'm sorry Moo," I apologized as I put her down. She ran, grabbed two brushes, and ran back into the stall. She handed me a brush and we both started brushing Sky. Ty came into the stall with another brush and started brushing the other side of Sky. I smiled at him. This was my family. Finally everything in my life was about to go right.