Author's note, Jax and Courtney in this story is like Jax and Lois. They're best friends, grew up together.

Chapter Three

Courtney hauled the bag of feed over her shoulder and piled it with the others in the shed where they keep all the food for the animals. She turned and grabbed another one, working along side Nikolas and Sonny, who were helping. Lucky was out patrolling the wild life section, checking the fences and counting the heads of the animals being held there.

When she heard gravel crunch under tires she stopped and wiped a gloved hand over her forehead. "I'll be right back you guys," she said to her hands.

"No, problem, boss," they said in unison and she smiled.

She headed out of the shed and saw the familiar red convertible. Standing next to the car was a tall man with blond hair and devilish blue eyes, glaring at the dirt that had clung to his nice, crisp business suit.

She stuck her hands in her back pockets and whistled long and loud so the man could hear, "Well, well, well," she said and lazily swaggered over to the man. "Look what the cat dragged in," she said.

The man grinned at her and said back, "Yeah, dragged is right," he said, the Australian accent clear and loud as wiping at his now ruined dress pants.

"Teach you to wear formal wear to my fine establishment," she teased.

"Shut up and come here," he said, smiling at her.

She grinned at him and stepped forward on her toes and kissed his cheek. She wound her arms around his neck and hugged him.

"How have you been, Jasper Jacks? I haven't seen you and you're beautiful wife since the foundation fundraiser, what was it, two weeks ago? How is Brenda?" she asked.

"She's beautiful as ever and very pregnant," Jax said and earned a not so gentle punch on the shoulder, "Hey! That hurt. What was that for?" he asked.

"She's not here to smack you so I will," and to prove it she hit him again, gently this time.

"All right, all right. I came to give you your government check for supplies," he said, holding out the check for her.

"Why, thank you very much," Courtney said and tucked the flannel shirt she wore, sleeves rolled up, over her white tank-tee. "Why didn't you just drop it in the mail?" she asked.

"I wanted to check for myself, see how everything was doing," he said. He scanned the land and mountains. The sun was beating down today and most of the workers were shirtless.

"Everything's okay. Another rotation of kids are due this weekend," she told them.

"Yeah. I heard you got another foster placement. How she settling in?" he said.

"She's doing okay. A little shy around the kids and especially the animals but Dillon's helping her out."

"That's good."

"Want to come in and have a drink. We just made lemonade," she asked.

"Don't mind if I do, as long as Lucky didn't make it," Jax made a sour face and it cracked her up.

"No, no I think you're safe with Diego's," she said and led the way up the back steps to the wraparound porch and into the kitchen.

Lucas, Trent, and Sage were sitting at the kitchen island playing a card game. Lucas's rottweiler was snoring at his feet and Sage's Maltese puppy was curled in on her lap. Trent's fat and flabby bulldog was under the table, chewing on a knotted length of rope.

Rocky came to greet Courtney and Jax at the door, "Hey, there boy," Jax knelt to give Rocky a little rub behind the ears.

"Hey, Jax," Lucas greeted him. "Want to play?" he asked.

"What are you play and what's the odds," Jax said as he sat down next to Sage. He pats the puppy that was in her lap and the dog stretched, yawned, and kissed his fingers.

"Its poker, Texas Hold Em and we're playing with gay farmers," Trent told him.

"Gay Farmers?" Jax asked, completely puzzled.

"Jolly Ranchers, Jax," Courtney told him as she took out a pitcher of iced lemonade and poured him a glass.

"Oh, I get it," Jax laughed. "Sure, I could use some candy. Thanks, love," he said when Courtney handed him the glass.

Lucas dealt him in the next hand. Soon Courtney joined in and had most of the Jolly Ranchers in front of her.

"Huh, full house," Jax said and took the pot with at least thirty Jolly Ranchers. He picked them up one by one and color-coded them saying, "And this one was Courtney's, and this one was Courtney, oh yeah, I think this one was Trent's."

They turned when the door busted open and Lucky hurried in, panting, "Courtney, there's a problem in the wild life section."

Courtney stood from the game and went out the door. She turned left to the stables. She hurried down the long line of horses and flipped open the lock that held her chestnut stallion, Gilbo.

She hastily saddled him up and led him out of the stables where Lucky and his side hand, Danny, were waiting on their horses and mounted him, "Aye," she called out and set the horse running to the east where the wild section was with Lucky and Danny behind her.

Courtney stared down at the bones of a lion, fury, rage, and sadness mixing inside her. She tried to control her breathing but it still came out labored. Someone poached on her land. Someone killed an innocent animal and took their fur and anything else that was profitable. They weren't going to get away from it.

Lucky laid a hand on his sister's shoulder. He knew she cared deeply about her animals and grieved when she lost one, even if it was from sickness and old age. This senseless act must have been killing her. "There's a break in the electric fence along the south side of the section. Big enough to drive a car through and out again without getting electrocuted," he told her.

"Son of a bitch," she yelled in fury kicked a rock that was close by.

Lucky and Danny stood back and let her curse viciously and pace of most of the rage. When she was calmed, Lucky went to his sister, "Come on, lets go back and we can figure this out."

Courtney nodded and went to her horse, mounted her and set her to a gallop back towards the house. When they got there Jax was waiting outside for her.

"Hey, I just heard what happened? I'm really sorry," Jax said. He knew how much Courtney loved her animals.

"Thanks."

"I'm going to make some calls and get the authorities out here."

"Thank you, Jax," Courtney said again, lifted a hand to his cheek and went back inside Rocky sensed his mistress' mood and followed her.