Thanks for the reviews, sorry there's been a delay in getting a new chapter up. Life got crazy this week. I'm assuming Aunt Evelyn stayed at Fairfield even though she initially arrived at Heartland.


Jack with the help of the driver brought in the packages and set them in the corner of the living room. Aunt Evelyn and Lisa were in the livingroom. Jack grabbed himself a cup of coffee and settled in the chair. "All of the packages are inside." Lisa smiled at him. Evelyn looked on at the two of them "Thank you, hope it didn't strain you too much." Jack snickered. "No strain at all. Now I should go finish the barn work." He leaned over Lisa to give her a kiss "I'll be back in time to help finish supper." Lisa returned the kiss "I'll see you later." Evelyn looked at Lisa after he was out the door. "So he doesn't have ranch hands like you do at Fairfield to keep this place going? I know it's smaller than Fairfield." Lisa looked up "Heartland isn't like Fairfield, it's a working cattle ranch Aunt Ev, Jack and the family do everything around here. They have Mitch and Caleb but there's still a lot of work Jack does himself." Not too impressed Evelyn as she looked around "I see. This house is very rustic, I don't see this as being you." Before Lisa could respond Katie came back into the room. "Lisa, can we go see the horses now" Lisa looked at her Aunt. "Yes, how about we go ahead and go over to Fairfield, settle your things and come back before supper." Lisa went Jack a text to let him know their plans. Katie, Evelyn, and Lisa all headed to Fairfield.

Lisa showed Evelyn to her room before taking Katie out to see the horses. "I'll be back in a few minutes, we are going to go out and see the yearlings."

Evelyn watched Lisa with Katie from the window, she looked so happy with Katie, but she couldn't help but wonder if this was really a good life for Lisa. She had so much potential in life, after all she was a successful businesswoman. She was respected in the breeding and racing world. What on earth did she see in an old rugged cowboy, who chose chasing some cattle over being with his wife. She just didn't understand being at Heartland when she had this beautiful house at Fairfield, why she would even want to steer away from it.

Lisa and Katie came back into the house "Katie, go get washed up please." Katie ran towards the bathroom. Lisa grabbed a cup of coffee and walked into the living room. "Did you get all settled in?" Evelyn sat down on the couch. "Yes, you have such a beautiful house here. So grand and exquisite Lisa." Lisa looked around "yes it's a nice house, but can get lonely and is too quiet some days. We should be heading to Heartland soon for supper, the rest of the family should be home soon." Lisa gathered Katie from the room she was playing in and they headed back to Heartland.

Jack was walking out of the barn when Lisa pulled in. He walked over as she got out of the car. "Hi Beautiful" He wrapped his arms around her and kissed her. She returned the kiss "Hi cowboy. You about to come in?" Keeping his arm around her "Why yes I am. I'll make supper so you can spend time with Evelyn." They walked into the house.

Adam, Georgie, Amy, and Tim all filtered in as the table was being set. As they were eating, Evelyn was telling all about her recent travels prior to arriving at Heartland. "So Jack, where all do you like to travel too?" Time spoke up first "the back field is about as far as Jack goes." Jack rebutted with "I've been to Arizona a few winters" Lisa interjected grabbing his hand "he came to France once." Jack finished "I like to stay close to home these days though." Evelyn was puzzled "Lisa likes to travel, I hope you aren't keeping her from it." Lisa looked over "no I still travel plenty" Evelyn was confused "so you don't live together and you don't vacation together. So spending very little time together works for you?" Lisa and Jack spoke the same time "we spend plenty of time together." Amy decided to speak up "I think spending time apart from your spouse is healthy. It brings you that much closer when you are together again." Lisa gave Amy a look of gratitude. Evelyn looked at Amy. "I see." Soon the apple pie was served around the fireplace as Evelyn handed out the various "gifts" to the family. Lisa volunteered to make a pot of coffee, Evelyn followed her into the kitchen. The family transitioned into a team building conversation.

In the kitchen, Lisa was standing at the coffee pot. Evelyn leaned against the sink "your husband is a very stoic, man of mystery." Lisa glanced at her aunt. "He's not much of a mystery once you get to know him." Evelyn walked closer to Lisa unbeknownst to them Jack was about to enter the kitchen when he heard them talking. "Why don't you two live together?" Both having a seat in the kitchen "Aunt Ev, we don't live together because we are both set in our ways. It may seem odd to everyone else but it works for us. We spend time together and apart." Evelyn leaned in "Lisa, I was like you. I married a man who had less money than me and it did not end well. Jack is not your equal the way Dan was. I see trouble down the road." Slightly shocked Lisa spoke "Aunt Ev, my money has never been an issue with Jack. He didn't marry me for the money." Before Evelyn could answer Jack rounded the corner. Lisa stood up. "Hi" Jack wrapped an arm around her and kissed the side of her head "just checking on that coffee" Lisa kept her arm around him "it's almost ready, I'll bring you a cup." Before walking out "sounds good, love you." He headed back to the living room but couldn't get what Evelyn said out of his head. Lisa soon brought in the coffee. Evelyn follows her back in. Shortly after it was just the three of them left. "So Jack, I'm looking forward to having lunch with you and Lisa tomorrow." Lisa was next to Jack holding his hand. "I am too. Lisa's told me about you and how close you two are." "Yes, my niece and I have quite a bit in common, she and I have always had a passion for traveling. When she divorced Dan, I saw her thrive and put all of her energy into her successful business. She's always been a bit of a free spirit and I'd hate to see her lose that ever." Lisa wasn't sure what her aunt was getting at but she got an uneasy feeling. "Fairfield is still doing well, the industry has changed some with the economy but it's still a very large portion of my life, just like Heartland is to Jack. It's getting late, I think we should head home, I'm sure you're jet lagged after traveling all day." Evelyn gathered her coat "I'll see you tomorrow Jack, supper was enjoyable." Jack helped Lisa with her coat. He wrapped his arms around her "I love you. Drive carefully will you please." She smiled before kissing him "I will, I love you too." He kissed her again. Evelyn observes their goodbye from the porch. "I'll see you in the morning Cowboy." They walked out onto the porch. "Night Evelyn."

Lisa and Evelyn were driving back to Fairfield, "Lovely little family Jack has, it's much different from ours." Lisa glanced over "I guess our family is different, the Bartlett-Fleming clan are all so close." Evelyn looked at Lisa. "I see that's why little Katie's parents aren't around and your husband isn't under the same roof." Lisa parked the car "I understand that it may not be a traditional marriage, but it works for us. Trust me." Evelyn still had her doubts and now Lisa was just frustrated. They both retreated to their respective bedrooms for the evening.

Meanwhile Jack was sitting in the living room thinking about Evelyn's comments about their marriage. He knew that he didn't always show how much he loved Lisa, especially in public but he knew or hoped Lisa knew. He wished it was a night that Lisa stayed at Heartland so they could talk. He got up and went to his bedroom, he saw the picture of him and Lisa next to the bed. After a few minutes he made a decision.

Lisa had changed and looked at the picture of them, she was really wishing that Jack was there. The conversation with her aunt was unsettling. She was lost in her thoughts she didn't realize the bedroom door had opened until she felt a hand on her shoulder "Lis." Startled, she turned and looked at her husband "Jack, what's wrong? Did you try to call me?" Jack looked at her worried face "no I didn't call, nothing is wrong except I was missing you and I need to tell you something." Lisa sat down on the bed and looked up at Jack. "What is it?" Jack sat down and took her hands in his. "I love you, Lisa. I know I don't always show it but I hope you know just how much you mean to me. I can be stubborn at times and we don't always get enough time to ourselves." Lisa smiled at Jack "I love you Jack, I do wish we had more alone time but I also love being around the family. We got married knowing that there were things each of us wouldn't give up." Jack leaned over and kissed her. Lisa pulled Jack closer "I love you." Jack responded by lowering Lisa back on the pillows.

The next morning Jack woke up early, looked down at Lisa curled up next to him still asleep. He kissed her head before slipping out of bed. Jack went into the kitchen and made two cups of coffee, taking them back up to the bedroom. Lisa was starting to wake up as he entered. "Morning sleepyhead, I brought you a cup of coffee." Getting back in bed, he put his arm around Lisa." Lisa took a sip "morning,Thank you." They drank their coffee in silence, when Jack was done he put his cup on the side table. Lisa looked up at him and kissed him. "Did you let the girls know where you are?" Jack looked down at her "I texted Amy on my way out, she is going to look after Katie. Georgie is going with Tim to the team building event, he asked me to help out." Lisa looked at him "what about lunch?" "I know, I'm going to be back in time. I'll meet you at Maggie's. I better head out soon though." He kissed Lisa before heading out. Lisa also got up by now Aunt Evelyn should be up.