A Country Girl.

Chapter 60

Hailey

I woke up in my room the next morning. It was early, I could tell from the lack of sun, I could see it just peeking over the horizon. I took a deep breath, remembering all what had happened yesterday. I hadn't had an episode for awhile and never one as severe as yesterday. I could remember every detail vividly. From roll out from under Patches and passing out to sitting on the couch screaming in fear when ever someone came near. My hands still shook slightly but I ignored it and went to take a shower.

After getting clean and dressed, I went down stairs for breakfast.

I walked into the kitchen, Amy was at the stove and Ty was sitting at the table. "Morning" I said, they both jumped, "oh morning Hail's" Ty said smiling, a hint of concern in his voice. I looked at him confused, "since when do you call me Hails?" He shrugged pulling me into a hug. I hugged him back, but when I went to pull away, he refused to let me go. ' what's going on?' I pushed away from him, confusion was evident on my face. He looked a little hurt. I looked over his shoulder at Amy and she wore the same worried expression Ty had. "What is going on? Why are you acting so strange?" I asked, I could tell the question hurt Ty more and I felt bad, but I needed to know. He sighed "I'm sorry, I'm just a little shaken." I saw the tears fill his eyes ' wow I wasnt expecting him to be so effected by the incident.' He angrily wiped away the unwanted tears, I smiled at him sadly "hey" I said tenderly, he looked me in the eyes "I'm ok, I promise" I whispered hugging him tightly. He hugged me back, I could feel every bit of fear,sadness, and love that he held within him. "It's ok, I'm not going anywhere" I whispered in him ear, he pulled back and smiled down at me. I kissed him and we sat down at the table. Amy smiled over at us and turned back to the stove. I leaned on Ty's shoulder and he held me close. I smiled, sighing contently, and closing my eyes and soaking up the feeling of his love.

At breakfast everything was quiet. As I ate a thought came to me "hey Ty, how is Patches?" I asked turning to him, he glanced at Amy, then Papa, and back to me. "He ran off after the inci" Papa said, "we tried to find him, but failed" "this cant be happening again" I sighed, Ty placed a reassuring hand on my back "if you want we can go look again" he said "thank you" I said with a smile. He smiled back and nodded, turning back to his food.

The rest of breakfast was silent, which left me plenty of time to think of where Patches could be. Once we finished Ty and I went out and saddled up Griffin and Majesty.

"Where do you think he could be?" I asked "I don't know. Jacob and I looked everywhere and we couldn't find him anywhere." I sighed staring at my rains in deep thought, then something hit me, literally. I turned to see what it was, but I saw nothing. I turned back and Ty was chuckling. I glared at him "did you throw something at me?" "Maybe" he grinned, I smirked and rummaged through my pocket. I pulled out a rock I had picked up cuz I thought it was pretty, ' perfect ' I smiled to myself and looked up at the back of Ty's head. I urged Majesty closer, and threw the rock at Ty.  "ow!" he yelped rubbing the back of his head, I laughed so hard I almost fell out of my saddle. "its not funny, that hurt" he whined, "oh stop being a baby, you started it" I said coming up next to him "I just threw an acorn, not a rock" "well that was all I had." He glared at me, I smiled sweetly, he pushed Griffin forward. I rolled my eyes and followed, remembering why we were out here.

We searched for a couple hours, and found nothing. I felt defeated, tears threatened to spill as we made our way back to the house for lunch. 

"hey, you guys are just in time" Amy said setting out plates of food "did you find anything?" "no" I said plopping into my chair. "oh" she said softly, she came over and hugged me from the side "I'm sorry sis, but I think he might be gone" I shook my head, tears slipping down my face. "hey!" Ty said, making Amy and me jump, " Hailey, didn't you say that you had found a hidden meadow?" I wiped the tears from my face "yeah" I sniffed "but what does that have anything to do with this?" "Hailey. We have looked everywhere, how many times, and found nothing." he said slowly, waiting for it to sink in. As I thought about it, realization dawned on me, "wait" Ty nodded "do you think he could of found the meadow?" "maybe, after all, peach did." 

At the mention of Peach, new tears filled my eyes, Ty's eyes widened went he realized what he caused "Hailey, I..I'm sorry" he said coming over and hugging me, I melted into his arm and cried, I couldn't hold back the tears. "shhh it's ok, I didn't mean to say what I did" he said stroking my hair, I sniffled "it's fine" I mumbled into his chest. He gently kissed my head and pulled away "do you want to see if he's there?" He asked, I wiped the tears away and nodded "but I don't know where it is, I wasnt paying attention to where I was going" he smiled "we'll find it, and Patches" He said kissing my head again. I hugged him and we sat down for lunch. Amy had gone to get Papa, and they came back and sat at the table.

"You alright honey?" Papa asked seeing my red eyes "yeah" I said not looking at him, he turned to Amy "later" she mouthed and we continued eating in silence. Once finished Ty and I left again. "Good luck guys, I hope you find him" Papa said as we made our way out the door and over the where the horses were tied. "Me too, we should hopefully be back before dinner" I called back, jumping up on to Majesty "do you have your phone?" I nodded, he nodded back, and ducked back inside. Ty and I turned and headed toward the forest, ' please please let us find him, safe ' I prayed.