Hi guys.

It's 11pm here and I'm uploading this chapter with my phone lol. I'm going to keep this author note short and sweet, as I really need to get some sleep lol. I thought I should upload first though, so here I am.

Hope you all enjoy, in the next chapter we get some Jisa one on one time then some Jessie and Lisa alone too. I hope you all enjoy that, it was quite fun to write getting into the characters and how they'd respond to what happened...

Anyway, enjoy the update!

*Edit* I am so so Sooooooooooooo sorry about my mistake in uploading the wrong chapter! I have fixed it now, so you can read the proper update. Note to self, don't upload at 11pm!

Chapter 18

'How is she really?' Lisa asked as they walked into the kitchen, Jack walking over to join her since the stew was on the stove. 'Is she going to be okay?'

'I won't lie to you, it's going to be a long journey to get her to where she needs to be.' She replied, looking at Jack and Lisa. 'She's severely malnourished, it's going to take a long time to get her at the weight she should be for her age. I also did run bloodwork on her as well, to make sure that there isn't any other underlying issues to cause her to be this way. I'm still waiting on the rest of the results.'

'Well, what can we do?' Jack asked, glancing back at the sleeping girl. 'Is there anyway we can help?'

'Letting her stay here is the best thing for her at the moment. Being in a safe environment will play a huge role in her recovery. She's going to need careful monitoring, plenty of good food and as much water as she will drink. It's important that she stays hydrated so that if her wounds do somehow get infected she won't get dehydrated from fever. I have got some medication to help with her pain.' She handed Lisa a small box. 'The instructions are on it, it's not as strong as what I gave her but it will do. If you find that she says the pain is getting worse, let me know and I can adjust her dosage.'

'Alright, I think we've got it under control.'

'Okay.' Barbra nodded. 'I'll drop by in a couple days to see how she's doing but if you have any concerns don't hesitate to call. I'll contact her case worker too and let him know she's staying here. He'll probably drop by at some time too.'

'Sure. Thanks for coming out.'

'Your welcome. I'll see myself out.'

Lisa looked at Jack as the woman headed out to her car. 'I hope it's okay Jack that she stays here. I know I should have asked you first but-'

'Lisa, is fine. I was going to offer for her to stay here anyway.' He assured her, heading back over to the stove to check the stew. 'She seems to be coming quite attached to you.'

'I know.' She glanced over at Jessie, the girl still sleeping peacefully. 'If you don't mind Jack, I was thinking maybe I should spend the night. Just so I can keep an eye on her, since I practically dumped her on you anyway by telling the Doc she could stay.'

'Lis, don't worry about it. Between Amy, Lou and I we are more then able to look after her.'

'I won't leave it all to you guys though, I will come over and help. Besides, it's going to take awhile for her to trust you and Caleb.'

'Lisa.' Jack grabbed her shoulders and turned her to face him. 'Lisa, stop. What's really gotten you set off like this?'

'Oh Jack.' Lisa looked up at him, her eyes going watery. 'She's been abused. Her whole back is covered in scars, from her father. He hit her with a belt or whip or something. She looks terrible. How could anyone treat a child like that?'

'I don't know Lis, I don't know.' He pulled her close against him. 'She's safe here though. She's safe now. No one will treat her like that again.'

She nodded as she wiped a tear out of the corner of her eye. 'I know.'

'She's going to be okay now. She's going to be fine.'

BANG!

Jessie woke up with a start, her heart racing as she sat up. She looked around in confusion, wondering why she was where she was then remembered as she heard footsteps. It was just the front door. Someone had slammed it. Her heart returning to normal, she glanced around. The living room was vacant, but voices were audible in the kitchen and she could hear the sound of cupboards being opened. Something cooking on the stove, it's delicious smell wafting into the room made her stomach growl and she was reminded just how hungry she was.

'Told you you would have woken her up.' Mallory remarked over her shoulder as she carried the bowls to the table, seeing the girl sitting up. 'Slamming doors isn't a recipe to keep people sleeping.'

Jessie chuckled a little. 'I think that smell would have woken me up before long anyway. What is it?'

'That would be Jack's stew, and it should be edible if he hasnt burnt it.' She began placing utensils down on the table. 'Last time he made stew it was so disgusting I couldn't taste food again for a week.'

'That's cause I told you to watch it and you got sidetracked.' Jack's voice rang out form in the kitchen. 'If I remember correctly.'

Mallory rolled her eyes. 'Nevermind the details.' The table finished being set, she walked over to the fire and placed another log on it, then sat down on the couch opposite the girl. 'So, what's the go? Where did you magically appear from?'

'There nothing magic about me.' She chuckled slightly again. something made her feel at ease around this girl, even though she had already caught onto the fact that she talked incessantly. 'I'm your ordinary girl who just happened to be on the receiving end of a few bullets and bad luck.'

'I'd say.' Glancing over at the kitchen, she lowered her voice. 'Take it from me Jessie, your bad luck just got worse. They're down and out crazy around here.'

'Are you spinning yarns again Mallory?' Jack asked, walking into the room and placing things om the table. 'The craziest one around here is you.'

'What can I say? Everyone loves me.'

Jessie chuckled again. 'Well, in that case I should fit in very well. Apparently I'm crazy too.'

'My definition of crazy is jumping a horse over a six foot fence tackless, and since you managed that without killing yourself, I'd say your quite fitting to have the title of crazy.'

'Oh, so you heard about that then?'

'Heard about it? It was caught on camera. I saw it with my own two eyes!'

Jesse's cheeks went sightly red as she blushed. 'No one of my more enlightened ideas I must say.'

'What? It was awesome!' Mallory exclaimed. 'That horse of yours jumped that fence with inches to spare. I haven't seen anything like it, not even at horse shows and trust me, I go to a lot.'

'Warrior has got springs, that's for sure. He jumps like a stag.'

'You should enter him in a show jumping competition. He'd definitely win for sure.'

'I've never thought about it, but that might be fun if I got the chance.' Jessie mused over the idea. 'Do you show jump?'

'I don't, but Amy does. She won the Fall Finale last week.'

'Okay, I'll keep that in mind.' She nodded, not knowing what she was talking about but decided to go along with it anyway. 'So, Mallory, what's the go here? Who's who?'

'If you want the family history, you've come to the right place. Jack's the old dude-'

'I heard that Mallory.'

Mallory rolled her eyes again as Jack called out from the kitchen and continued. 'Lisa's his girlfriend. He's Amy and Lou's grandfather. Tim, who you haven't seen is his son in law.'

'Ex.'

'Jack! Stop butting in!

'Just making sure your telling the whole truth.'

'What did I say?' Jack laughed. 'You're crazy.'

'To be correct I'm only half crazy, they're full crazy.' Mallory looked at him, then back at the girl. 'Anyway, Tim is the EX son in law.' She emphasised the ex for Jack's benefit. 'And Caleb whose off goodness knows where is the ranch hand. Then there's me of course. The loyal neighbour who just comes around to annoy everyone everyday.'

'Okay.'' Jessie nodded, then furrowed her brow. 'So, Amy and Lou's Mom-'

'She passed away just over a year back.'

'Oh.'

'It was a car crash.' Mallory explained, going sober for a moment. 'It happened so quick. One moment she was here, and the next.'

'I know.' She could understand how they felt. It was the same thing with Lillian and Robert. One moment they were there, the next they were gone. 'Life can change in an instant and your never the same after it happens.'

'I agree.' She glanced at the girl, seeing the look of thoughtfulness and sadness on Jessie's face. 'Your very wise for a kid my age.'

Jessie chuckled, interrupted from her pondering. 'I had to grow up quick to survive. I learnt a lot in the bush.'

'Bet you didn't learn that from the bugs and the bees.'

'No-' She paused for a moment. 'No, I didn't. Someone I held dear to me died like that. One moment they were here, the next. Gone. It's funny, when something like that happens it makes you grateful for what you do have.'

'Dinner's ready.' Jack exclaimed as he walked in, carrying a huge pot of stew. 'Mallory, can you go grab the bread and salt off the counter? I'll start serving up so we can eat before it gets cold.'

'Sure Jack. You want me to call Amy and Lou?'

'They'll come when they're ready. They said they wouldn't be long.'

'We are talking about Lou here.' Caleb added as he took his bowl of stew from Jack. 'The stew could freeze over before she comes.'

'Is that Jack's stew I can smell?' A voice from in the doorway asked as someone took off their coat and Tim walked into the room. 'Glad to see I made it to dinner. By the time they finally finished documenting that corpse I was beginning to think that it was going to be midnight before they finally finished. That girl made quite nice work of him. Half his head-'

'Tim!' Jack groused, motioning to the girl behind him. 'You've said more then enough. If all you've come here to do is hear the sound of your own voice I suggest you turn around right now and exit through the door you came in.'

'That's not a very warm welcome Jack.'

'And I don't need you coming in here with the crap that comes out of you mouth, so shut up and sit down.'

'Oooookay.'

Jessie played with a loose string on the blanket that was covering her as the two men spoke, feeling rather uncomfortable and out of place. She glanced at Tim as he sat down at the table, surveying him with a cautious eye. Obviously there was something more then just a mutual dislike for each other. She could sense it, and it made her feel ill at ease. I think Mallory is right. This family is crazy. She had more peace and quiet living in the forest by herself then she was going to get in a lifetime stuck here. Running back to the cave was sounding better and better every minute.

'Lisa's had to duck back to her own place, so until she gets back I'm afraid your stuck with me.' He handed her a bowl of stew. 'It's not much, but it's warm.

Jessie looked over at Jack as he disterbed her from her thoughts and took the bowl with a small smile. 'I don't mind eating whatever you give me, as long as it's not rabbit, deer or rattlesnake. I've had enough of that to last me a lifetime.'

'Rattlesnake?' Mallory walked back in, placing the plate of bread on the table. 'You ate that?'

'Yep. You don't get much meat from them though.' She giggled at the look of horror on her face. 'They're all skin and bone. Literally. I do prefer rabbit and dear but you can only cook them so many different ways before you start to tire of it. I shouldn't complain though, there's more things less palatable that I had to eat.'

'Like Jack's stew.' Tim added from the table.

'Hey, I'd have you know that this recipe has been in this family for five generations.' Jack protested. 'If it's that bad, then why are you sill sitting here eating it?'

'Point taken.'

Jack turned back to Jessie. 'Is there anything else you'd like?'

'A glass of water please if it's not too much trouble.' She began to gingerly eat the stew, then dug in as she tasted how good it was.

'No problem.'

'I'm back.' Lisa announced as she came through the front door, hanging her coat and scarf on the hat rack. She walked into the living room, placing a couple of bags down near the coach then walking back into the kitchen over to Jack. 'Sorry I took so long, there was a couple of things that came up.'

'That's ok.'

'Anything I can do to help?'

'Not really.' He grabbed a glass from the cupboard and filled it up. 'Dinner's on the table. Everything's under control.'

'How's Jessie been?'

'Asleep since you left, she's only just woken up now.'

'That's good. She's had a decent sleep then.' Lisa grabbed a bowl for herself of the stack on the bench. 'I brought over a few things that might fit her. I don't need them any more, so she can put them to good use. Has she been talking?'

'To Mallory. That girl could make a brick wall talk with her endless chatter.'

'That's good.' She followed Jack into the living room, the bowl the girl was holding already empty. 'You finished that off pretty quickly.'

'Mmmhmm. It was good.' Jessie took the glass of water Jack passed her and took a couple sips before glancing over at Tim. 'I've got no idea what he was whining about. It was good. The best stew I've tasted in a very long time.'

'There's plenty more left if you want extra.' Jack added, taking her empty bowl. 'Do you want more?'

'Only if you're sure there's enough for everyone else. I don't want to put you out.'

'It's fine Jessie, really. There's more than enough.' He looked at Lisa. 'Want me to grab you yours too?'

'Yes, if you wouldn't mind.' She sat down on the floor beside the girl as Jack headed back over to the table. 'Did you have a good sleep?'

'It wasn't too bad.' Finishing the glass, she handed it to Lisa who placed it on the table. 'How's Warrior?'

'He was peacefully eating when I drove in, so he's fine.'

'That's good. Do you know where Jack put my stuff?'

'It's probably in the barn. I can ask him later.'

'Okay, thanks.'

'I should probably go eat my dinner with Jack.' Lisa looked over at the table. 'Excuse me.'

Jesie nodded as Lisa went and joined the others at the table, then dug into the rest of her dinner that Jack handed to her. As she quietly ate, her mind wouldn't rest. Thoughts raced about. Thoughts about the day. Thoughts about what had happened. She didn't want to think about it, but the memory of her father's unblinking gaze was etched into her mind. She couldn't shake it. His cold, glazed eyes. The words he had uttered repeating in his mind like a mantra. Never wanted. Never wanted. Never wanted. She closed her eyes as her thoughts tempted to overwhelm her. She needed to stop thinking. She had to get it out of her mind.

Finishing off the rest of the food, she leant down and placed the empty bowl down on the floor then started to pick the skin next to her nails off. it was a thing she did whenever she was stressed, and it had turned into a bad habit. She was worried. Worried about what would happen to her. She knew she shouldn't be worrying, but she couldn't help it. She was safe here. Her father was dead. He wouldn't be able to hurt her anymore. She should be able to rest without fear of him but there was something in her stomach that was telling her that even though he was dead, her troubles had only just begun…..

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