Heartland: My Journey

Chapter #4

By the time Amy, Lou and Jack got home, half the town was almost done repairing the barn.  We had a few more boards to put in up in the loft and then we had to sand all the boards so the horses didn't get splinters.

I was painting the outside walls of the barn when a pair of strong arms wrapped around my waist.  I chuckled.  "Caleb, I'm working," I said.

"This is amazing.  If Clint could see you now," Caleb said, kissing my cheek for a long period of time.  I turned around in his arms.

"You know, you could give me a hand here," I said with a smile.  "I have an extra paint brush.  It's all alone-- just like me." I dabbed my paint brush on his nose, leaving a red spot.

"Oh, so now you're blaming me for abandoning you?" Caleb asked.  "It's not my fault I'm the only one who knows how to use a drill."

"I heard that, Caleb!" Ty shouted from the loft.

"Stop snooping, brother!" I yelled back.  I looked back to Caleb.  "Stay with me."

Caleb kissed my lips and then pulled away.  "I can't.  I have to help Ty.  I just thought I'd come down and brighten your day a little."

"Trust me. . ." I started.  My head started to pound, my vision came and then went, like I was seeing white.  I felt dizzy.  I hung onto Caleb's hand to steady myself.

"Hey, are you okay?" Caleb asked, placing a hand at the small of my back.  It tingled from where his hands touched me.

"It's fine.  I'm just a little dizzy, it'll pass," I said, shaking my head a little to regain my vision.

"Maybe I should stay with you.  You don't look too good," Caleb said, looking concerned.

"No, I'm fine now," I said, gaining my balance quicker than last time.  "I'm good." I smiled with reassurance.

Caleb raised an eyebrow.  "You sure?" He asked.

I nodded.  "Yes," I said.  "Now go help Ty.  He needs it."

"I heard that too!" Ty shouted.

"I know!" I yelled back.  I kissed Caleb quickly and then turned back to painting the barn.

"Chick!" Mallory yelled from inside the barn.  "Amy and Lou are back!"

"Alright, let's go show them what we're doing," I said.  I followed Mallory out to meet Amy, Lou and Jack.

Amy looked at me, "So this was your big secret, huh?" She asked.

I smiled.  "It was worth it, right?" I asked.

Amy nodded with a grin forming, "Yes, it was.  I'm going to hug you now," she said.

"Okay," I chuckled.  I gave her a quick hug and then turned towards the barn.  "Want to help me paint?"

"Yeah, sure!" Amy said, willing to lend a hand anytime.

I thought back to Spirit.  "Actually," I said.  "Do you mind having a look at Spirit?"

"Why?  Is he still not better?" She asked.

"No, it doesn't seem like it," I said.  I looked over to my horse in the field.  He was going crazy, looking to jump the fence.

"Spirit, no!  Amy, he's going to jump!" I yelled.  I took Amy's arm and started sprinting to Spirit.  It was too late.  He jumped, flying in the air for a few seconds and then landed.  "Spirit!"

The horse just galloped over to me.  He stood there with his head down, as if he was asking to be pet like a dog.  I grabbed his halter.

"And that's a wrap!" I heard Caleb yell from the barn.