Hi guys!

The next chapter has arrived! I want to thank you all for your feedback and kind words, it's very much appreciated...

This chapter is shorter, with a bit of Jessie processing what has just happened... In aprox chapter 19 I think it is, Jack and Lisa have a heart to heart talk about what took place, starting their journey of getting through the experience... Remember, this is still at the beginning of their relationship, this is between seasons one and two, so neither of them has really told the other how they feel yet. I hint at it a little bit during that chapter, however they don't really profess their love for each other for some time after. (I want to write their relationship nice and gentle, them taking their time) I really am looking forward to writing the cattle drive episode lol.

Anyway, enjoy the chapter.

Chapter 16

Lisa carried Jessie up to the cave with ease as Caleb and Amy rode off, blinking in the dim light as she walked in. The cave was tidy and in order, obviously the girl had been living in it for quite some time. Warrior snorted as he saw her with the girl, eyeing her warily. 'Where do you want me to put you down?'

'Over there with those things.' She motioned with her head to a ledge where her belongings were scattered around in the process of being packed. Her heart was still racing as Lisa placed her down and she took a couple of deep breaths to calm herself. Warrior walked over to her, nudging her with his nose. 'Hey, I'm okay boy. I'm alright.'

'What would you like me to do?'

'You could tack Warrior up for me, I don't even have the energy to do that. His saddle and bridle are over there, no sense in leaving them behind since I won't be coming back here. I don't want to leave my things behind.'

'Alright.' She walked over and grabbed the tack, carrying the heavy Western saddle over to where Warrior was standing with the girl. She could see the girl was tense and frightened, she was herself and decided that the best thing was to try and get the girl to think of something else other then what had happened. 'Where did you get this saddle?'

'The Indian man and I made it.' Jessie rubbed the stallions face as Lisa placed the bit in his mouth, then helped her put the bridle in place and held the reins as she placed his saddle blanket on. 'He taught me a thing or two about leather work.'

'Its very nice.' She admired the detailing on the saddle as she placed it onto his back, the stallion turning to look at her. He stamped his foot and snorted as he cow kicked out at her and she jumped back out of the way. 'He doesn't like being saddled I take it.'

'He's just being ornery.' The girl yanked on the reins, not enough to hurt him but enough for him to know that that type of behaviour was unacceptable. 'He'll stand now, just be careful.'

Grabbing the girth, she began to do it up, keeping on eye on his hind leg. Making sure that it was snug and tight, she did up the cinch then checked to make sure the saddle wouldn't move. 'Okay, I think that's done.'

'Thanks, I wouldn't have been able to lift the saddle on.' Jessie dropped the reins and finished placing her belongings in the saddle bags. 'You can tie these on now, and roll these up.' She nodded towards the skins and blankets next to her. 'And we're done.' Lisa nodded as she went to work, her back turned towards the girl as she knelt down on the rock floor. Jessie looked around behind her, towards where Cougar was hiding. Taking a glance at Lisa, she clicked her fingers for the cat to come over closer. 'Cougar, listen carefully girl. I'm leaving here, and I'm not going to be coming back. I want you to stay hidden until everyone leaves, then follow me down. Okay?' The mountain lion purred as she rubbed against the girls hand. 'Good girl.'

'Did you say something Jessie?'

'Just talking to Warrior.' She lied as Cougar hurriedly slipt away into hiding again and she looked towards Lisa. Thoughts were racing around her head, not making much sense but she felt terrible for the situation that Jack and the woman had been thrust into. It was her fault. She should never had started to talk to them, open up to them. Obviously Matt had found out somehow, and then had seen he could use them to get to her. It was her fault. All her fault, and she felt terrible about it. 'I'm really sorry about my father nearly killing you, I don't know what to say. I didn't want you and Jack getting caught up in our fight. I-'

'Jessie, it's not your fault.' Lisa assured her as she picked up the blankets and placed them onto the saddle, tying them on with the leather straps. 'You don't need to be sorry. Jack and I are both fine. There's nothing to say sorry for.'

'I still feel bad about it.' Jessie handed her the last of the things to be tied to the saddle, her face sober. 'Things could have ended a whole lot worse then they did.'

'But they didn't, so don't blame yourself for what did take place.'

'I wouldn't have been able to forgive myself if he had killed you because of me.' She sniffed a little, then tried to brush it off as she handed her the rifle to place in the saddle scabbard. 'You and Jack have both been so kind to me. I-'

'Honey, it's okay.' Lisa placed the rifle where it belonged, then knelt down in front of the girl. She lifted the girls chin gently, getting the girl to look at her. 'We're fine. You don't need to think about what could have happened.'

Jessie nodded as she looked away, tears starting to form in her eyes. Her emotions were all over the place as visions began to play again in her mind. Matt shooting her mother, when she found the Indian man dead on the floor of his cabin with the note he had written at her. Pictures of torture, of torment. Images of what could have happened if she hadn't stopped him from shooting Lisa. She couldn't stop her mind from running away with her. It was all too much, the memories. Horrible memories and images conjured up by her broken emotions. 'When he had that gun at you, all I could see was him murdering my mom. I couldn't stop him. I would have stopped him if I could have, and what he said about me-'

'Hey, hey.' She pulled the girl into a warm embrace as the girl started to cry. She couldn't even begin to imagine how the girl was feeling, knowing that she had never been wanted in the first place and the nightmare she had lived through. The girl sobbed quietly into her shoulder as she held her close, stroking her hair to reassure her. 'None of what he said about you is true.'

'But it is.' The girl looked up at her, tears flowing from her troubled brown eyes. Her thoughts were a jumbled mess, and the words that came out of her mouth were just as confused. His words Never wanted echoed through her mind. She hadn't been wanted by the people who should have loved her the most. How could anyone ever want a child as broken and tormented as she? 'No one wants or will ever want me. I'm nothing. Nothing but worthless half-breed trash, the daughter of a drug addict and a serial killer.'

'Jessie, never ever call yourself that again.' She looked into her eyes with a stern but gentle look on her face. 'What that man said about you, none of its true. You are not trash, you are not worthless. Your beautiful and gentle and kind. Never say your worthless, because you not.' Glancing towards the mouth of the cave and home, she turned back and wiped the tears off the girl's cheek with the back of her hand. 'Come on honey, I'm going to take you back to Heartland.'

'Okay.' Jessie nodded as the woman picked her up, then looked over her shoulder at Warrior. 'Come boy. Follow.' The hoof beats sounding on the rock behind her told her that the stallion was coming, but as they left the cave she heard him snort and stop at the entrance. She glanced over at him, the stallion looking down intently at the men with his head held high and pawing the ground. Lisa stopped as she saw the girl looking at the horse, and walked back over closer to him. The girl reached out and stroked his head, then grabbed his reins. 'Come on, they aren't going to hurt you. It's okay.'

Lisa knew that it was more then just her reassuring her horse in the words she said. She could feel the girl was scared too, and her emotions were being picked up the the stallion who mirriod them back. 'Come on Warrior, your alright.'

'Come on.' She gently pulled on the reins and the stallion slowly started after them. 'Good boy.'

Slowly Lisa carried the girl down to where her horse was, going wide around the men so Warrior wouldn't freak out. The stallion was nervous and edgy, his eyes rolling as he looked at the men. Jessie managed to keep under control though, her gentle voice reassuring him as Jack walked over to them with her horse. Warrior snorted as she stopped, holding his head up high as he looked at him but the girl continued to quietly talk to him. 'Thanks Jack.'

'No problem.' He held the grey as Lisa put the girl onto the saddle, then helped her mount up behind her and handed her the reins. 'The police and Tim are going to take care of the man's body, so we're free to go. They've called the doc too, so when we get back she's going to come have a look at Jessie.'

'Alright.' Lisa gathered the reins, one arm around the girl's stomach as she sat behind her. Jack walked back over to where Paint was tied and she glanced at the stallion as he mounted. 'Will he follow Jessie?'

'He'd better.' She yawned, her eyes half closed but she opened them to look at Warrior. 'Follow boy.'

'Lets go.' Jack trotted Paint over to them, then looked at Jessie. 'You okay there?'

'Mmmhhhmmm.' The girl mumbled, her eyes closed as she leant against Lisa's chest. She was tired, so exhausted that she couldn't resist the urge to sleep any longer and soon as the horse under her continued walking she was fast asleep