In Times of Trouble |A Heartland Fanfiction

Chapter Three

Lisa had all three horses tied to the side of the trailer as they drew up, the sun was nearly down. She paused, Sable had her ears pricked to Lisa, a sign the mare was interested in her; a good sign. She dismounted and scratched Spartan's neck as she loosened his cinch and bridle.

"I'll get them some water." Ty pressed a hand to her back and then stepped around her taking a bucket.

Amy unsaddled Spartan and began to brush him out as Ty held the bucket for each of their horses to have a drink. She bent to clean his hooves, a lot of the cars had pulled out.

"How was Sable?" She asked as Lisa hung up her phone.

"She did alright." The woman made a face before answering. And as she moved, resting a hand lightly on the mare's neck Amy saw that her jeans were muddy.

"You fell." Amy murmured, she knew Grandpa had been hoping that partnership would work, her hopes might have been up too.

"Not entirely her fault, and certainly not the first time I've had a spill. She really isn't fond of her bit." Lisa dismissed it, but Amy didn't relax, Lisa bought and sold thousand-dollar horses, she would spend the money to help one. That was how they had met years ago; but a healing horse might not be a commitment she wanted to make.

"I've thought about trying her bit-less, she responds really well to leg pressure and it would be a sign of trust from her rider; but when she doesn't have a committed rider it doesn't seem fair." Amy admitted, eyes trying to read the blonde.

Lisa didn't respond and as Georgie approached, she was distracted, the teenager updated them on the search as Grandpa went to Lisa's side; she saw them share a look. There was something they weren't saying.

When Grandpa said he planned to spend the night Amy felt her gut clench, after today she had really been looking forward to holding Lyndy and holding her tight. They could leave, they had their truck, but Ty was nodding in agreement and Lisa said Lou was coming with supplies; they were right.

"Let's take a walk." Ty took her hand, pulling her along the lit path that led towards the gate. "I was looking forward to being home tonight, but we know it's only a night; our little girl is safe."

"Things are different once a parent. I know she is safe, but I keep thinking what if she wasn't, what I'd do if someday she isn't; those poor parents must be beside themselves." She admitted, knowing she could tell him anything; safe in the fact he would understand.

"So, we spend one night away from our little girl and hope we can help them. And we know that if we ever need any help with Lyndy we have people who won't hesitate to help us." Ty told her calmly, pulling her in tight for a moment.

Darkness had settled and the only hive of activity that remained was the pavilion where cops huddled around the maps. They found a quiet bench, and sat, taking the time to decompress. When Lou arrived, they rejoined the group, she had left the girls with Mitch and brought sleeping bags, food, thermoses of coffee and supplies for the horses. Promising to come back in the morning with supplies from Maggie's for all the searchers, she reported that Caleb and Cass were planning to come up too. It didn't matter what else was going on, Hudson would pull together and make the drive up to help their own; and that mattered. They'd find Abraham and Cyla tomorrow, they had to.

                                                                                               ...

As the kids decided to try sleeping in the trucks Jack stretched out a sleeping bag in the gooseneck of the trailer, his frame was too long to fold into a seat for the night. Lisa joined him, their saddlebags restocked for first thing.