Hi guys,

Here is the next chapter of the story, a little later then intended but better late than never I guess.. I do want to apologise however for the delay in uploading, if you read my last update on A Mother's Love you'd have read about me trying to find our neighbours dog. We still are no closer to finding him and I'm utterly exhausted. He's been missing five days now, and hasn't been seen since last Thursday. What's more, it's the middle of summer here and it's been hitting the high 40's here (celcuis that is) and there's no water anywhere he could find. Please pray he is found before Saturday, they say it's going to hit almost 50 and will hit 50 in some parts of our region.

In other news, I've had more tests done today and am waiting for some results. I've been getting really dizzy and breathless lately, but the doctor still doesn't know what is going on with me. I guess it's just another waiting game...

Anyway, I want to thank everyone who took the time to review my last chapter. I'm really glad that you all expressed your enjoyment and enthusiasm for it, to be honest I thought it wasn't that great but I'm glad you all liked it...

Enough from me, enjoy the update!

Chapter 20

Lisa and Jessie were still asleep when Jack walked out of his room the next morning, Jack smiling when he saw them asleep together on the floor. They looked so peaceful together, Lisa with her arm around the girl dozing quietly next to her. Looking at Lisa, he was again reminded what had drawn him to the woman when he had first met her. Her caring, kind, loving spirit. He could see she had lost the battle in maintaining a distance from Jessie. Her heart had been captured wholey by the girl. Jessie deserved it. Deserved someone to give her some love, but he also knew it was going to be hard on both of them when she left to go to the place Clint had found.

Hearing a noise behind him, he turned and put his fingers to his lips as he saw Lou and Amy walking down the hallway. 'Ssssh.'

Amy quietly walked up next to him, smiling as she saw Lisa and Jessie. 'How long do you think they've been there for?'

'Jessie looks pretty comfortable.' Lou added, the girl sleeping deeply next to the older woman. 'Do we wake them up grandpa?'

'No.' He shook his head. 'We'll leave them be. They need to sleep. Just go do what you need to, but quietly. I'll stay and watch Jessie when Lisa wakes up.'

'Okay, I better get out and do my chores. Lou, can you pack me some lunch for school?'

'Sure thing. I'll have some breakfast ready when you come back in.'

'Thanks Lou.'

Lou looked back at Jack as Amy quietly headed out of the house. 'Want me to make you something while I'm at it?'

'Just some breakfast. I don't know what I'll be doing today until I talk to Lisa. Someone needs to stay here to keep an eye on Jessie.'

'Well, I'd love to help but I've already got plans.' She saw the look he gave her. 'So you can count me out of babysitting a kid I don't know. Between you and Lisa, I'm sure you can handle it. I already made plans with Scott weeks ago. I'm not canceling now.'

'I didn't ask you too.' He heard a door open behind him and Mallory walked into the hallway. 'You go have fun. We'll be fine.'

'What's the hold up?' Malloy asked, slightly annoyed that her path was blocked. 'It's too early for a traffic jam.'

'Sssssh!' Jack glanced back at Jessi and Lisa, seeing if they'd been distunbed by her loud talking but they didn't stir. He motioned towards them. 'It's too early to be loud, so keep the noise down Mallory.'

'Sorry.' She cringed as she whispered back. 'They look so cute Jack. Look at them. You'd think Lisa was her mother. Hey, maybe Lisa should take care of her. She's got no kids of her own. She'd have no problems looking after her. She's got the money.'

'Is not that simple Mallory, and don't you go suggesting that to either of them. Lisa has a lot on her plate, so don't go saying that she should take care of her full time.'

'But Jack, look at them! They're perfect for each other!'

'Mallory.' Lou glared at her. 'I'm sure you have things to do.'

'Alright, alright.' She put her hands up in defeat. 'I'm just saying-'

'Don't. Get Mallory.'

'Fine. Ugh, you never like my suggestions anyway.'

'You know Grandpa, maybe Mallory's right.' Lou added as the girl headed of to grab her stuff together for school. 'Jessie does seem to have become attached to her.'

'I know Lou, I can see that but there's more to it. Lisa doesn't have the time or the experience to deal with a kid like Jessie. Clint was on the phone with me yesterday after the doctor came around. He's already found a place for her to go, and she'll be leaving once the doctor says she's well enough.'

'Does Lisa know?'

'Not yet.' He shook his head, then looked back at them. 'But Lisa knows it's best for her. I'm sure the family he has lined up will be more than capable of looking after her. Apparently they have experience with kids like Jessie, and they haven't given a kid back in the time they've been foster carers.'

'Well, maybe you should let them both know soon.' Lou glanced at him knowingly as she headed for the kitchen. 'Before they get too attached to each other.'

Jack knew Lou was right. He would need to let Lisa know, sooner rather than later. Quietly, he walked over around them and sat down on the couch. He smirked, looking at Lisa as she slept. She looked so beautiful, so peaceful. He was worried that she wouldn't have been able to sleep last with the way she had been so worked up about what had happened. He knew she tended to overthink things, he did too sometimes and what had happened the day before wasn't going to be quickly forgotten by any of them but there was no point worrying about it. It was over. They were safe.

Lisa felt someone watching her and she opened an eye to look. She saw Jack sitting on the couch and smiled sleepingly at him. 'How long have you been sitting there?'

'Long enough to notice your the most beautiful woman alive.'

She blushed slightly, looking over at Jessie. The girl was still in a deep sleep, not disturbed the least bit by their whispering. She gently moved her arm out from under the girl, then crawled out from under the blanket and sat next to Jack. 'My arms numb.'

Jack chuckled slightly as he watched her rub her arm. 'How long have you been stuck with her lying on you?'

'Since two this morning.' She yawned softly. 'Jessie woke up crying after I put some more wood on the fire and she fell asleep next to me. It took her a little while, but I managed to get her back to sleep. I think she had a nightmare about yesterday. She wouldn't say what it was though and I didn't press it.'

Jack nodded understandingly. 'And you, did you manage to get any rest?'

'A little.' Her tired eyes looked at him. 'After Jessie fell asleep in my arms, I managed to get some myself. I guess I just got tired enough to, my brain wouldn't turn off before.'

'Lisa, is there something else troubling you?' He asked gently. There was something else going on, something deeper that he just couldn't put a finger on. It worried him. What was Lisa hiding? 'It's not entirely from yesterday, is it?'

'I'm fine Jack. Really.' She lied, but smiled at him as she tried to maintain the image she was okay when she really wasn't. 'I'm still a little shaken from yesterday, but I'm fine. I promise.'

'If you're sure-'

'I am Jack. I am.'

'Well, if you ever want to talk about anything, you know I'll always be here.'

'I know. Thank you Jack.'

Jack looked back down at the girl, still sleeping soundly. He knew he needed to tell Lisa. Tell her that Clint had someone to look after her. 'Lisa, there's something I need to tell you.'

'What is it Jack?' Lisa looked up at him, trying to read the expression on his face.

'Lis, Clint rang yesterday while you were at Fairfield. He's found a placement for Jessie.'

'Already?' She asked in disbelief. 'You can't be serious.'

'I am serious Lisa. Clint said that as soon as the doctor says that she's good to go, the family can take her.' He saw the look on her face. 'Its for the best Lisa. You said yourself yesterday that you couldn't take care of her if you wanted to. These people, they know how to manage looking after kids like Jessie. Clint couldn't speak enough good about them.'

'I know.' Her voice wavered a little. She hadn't expected the girl to be placed into a home so soon. She wanted to believe that it was for the best, but she couldn't help the nagging feeling of worry that was twisting her stomach into knots. 'It's probably better for her anyway. She won't get attached to us.'

'I think she already is.' He looked down at her. 'We're going to need to tell her. The sooner, the better.'

'Are you going to tell her?'

'You can if you want, if you feel that she would take it better.'

Lisa shook her head. 'No, I don't think I could. You tell her Jack, when you think she's ready.'

'Alright.'

'I need to be getting back to Fairfield.' She glanced at the time on her phone. 'Can you stay with her Jack? I don't know how long I'm going to be, but I'll be back as soon as I can. I know you have things you need to do yourself.'

'It's fine Lisa, it can wait. You take all the time you need.'

'Okay.' She looked down at Jessie, then at Jack as she stood up to leave. 'Just, be careful with her. Don't let her up and about. She really shouldn't be off her stretcher.'

'Don't worry Lis, I've got it under control.' He could smell Lou cooking breakfast. 'Stay and have a bite to eat before you go.'

'Its fine. I'll grab something on my way home. I'll see you later Jack.'

Jack watched her as she quietly left, then turned back to the girl. He could tell that Lisa was upset with finding out that the girl had been placed so soon, but he knew it would have been worse if he had waited longer. He could see she was attached to Jessie, but why she had gotten so involved with her was beyond him. Sure, it was terrible what she had been through and they had almost been shot or worse over her but what he couldn't figure out was why she was so emotional about it. Even since they had talked to her that first time, Lisa hadn't been herself. She was hiding something. But what, and why?

The warm light shining on Jessie's face began to tease her out of her sleep and she groaned as she began to wake up. Rubbing her face as she sat up, she opened her eyes and looked around. Jack was sitting on the couch across from her, but she couldn't see Lisa anywhere. A small tinge of panic began to take hold of her, but she forced herself to stay calm. 'Where's Lisa?'

Jack placed the newspaper down as she heard Jesies voice and looked over at her. 'Lisa had some things to take care of, she'll be back later.' He could see in her eyes a flicker of fear. 'Don't worry, you'll be fine with me. Can I get you something?'

'Some water please.' She replied timidly, watching him cautiously as he got up and walked into the kitchen. She pushed the covers off herself as she brought her legs under her, trying to stretch. She felt sore, her back and leg ached and she felt a twinge of pain in her ankle as she moved but still got to her feet anyway. Carefully and slowly, she made her way back over to the stretcher and sat down. The house was quiet. Except for Jack, there was no one else inside. A shiver ran up her spine. How could she know if she could trust him when no one else was around? Was he going to hurt her? Would he hit her? She could see Lisa liked and trusted him, but would she see a side of him she hadn't?

'Here you go.' He walked over to her, noticing that she had moved back onto her stretcher. 'What's wrong? You look like you've seen a ghost.'

'I'm sorry.' She jumped at his voice and gingerly took the glass he was holding towards her. 'I just-' Her mind hurried to find an excuse. 'I just didn't sleep well last night.'

'That's not good. Were you in pain? Do you need something?'

'No, its fine. It's not bad at the moment. I can handle it. I just had a bad dream, that's all.'

'Lisa said you had a nightmare.'

Jessie nodded. 'It was awful.'

'Do you want to talk about it?' The girl shook her head. 'You know, it might help if you voice it. Get it out. What was it about?'

'It was about my mom and Lisa.' Her voice slightly shaky, she stared down at her hands as she began to pick her skin. 'What happened yesterday, it brought back memories of what happened to my mom.'

'I see.' He nodded understandingly as he took the empty glass from her. 'But your okay. You don't have to worry. He won't be coming after you anymore. Your safe.'

'It wasn't me he had in my dream.' She bit her lip. She really didn't know if she could trust him, but she couldn't bottle it up any longer. 'It was Lisa.' Flashbacks of him killing her other ran in her mind, but instead of it being her mother's body that hit the floor, it was Lisa. 'He had Lisa like he had my mom, and he killed her. I couldn't do anything about it. I stood there as I watched her die. He laughed as he stood over her body and said it was my fault. I watched my mom die. I watched my mom die and there wasn't anything I could have done about it. Lisa could have been murdered yesterday because of me. Why is everything always because of me? Why is everything that happened in my life caused by me?'

'It's not your fault. Nothing that has happened to you is any of your fault. Don't think that it is because it isn't.' He pulled a tissue from the box and handed it to her. 'Jessie, there is nothing that you can do to control another person's actions. Don't let your father saying that it was your fault get to you, because no a word of it is true. None of it. It's not your fault your mother died. It's not your fault what happened yesterday. Your only a child. Don't blame yourself.'

'I just can't help thinking that it's my fault. That night that he killed her, they were arguing about me. What am I supposed to think? And yesterday, you two were almost killed because of me. How can I not think it was my fault?'

'Jessie, you were only five. He was the adult. It was him that pulled the trigger, not you.'

'But if I hadn't been there then they wouldn't have been arguing.'

'From what you've told me Jessie, things were just as bad before you were born as they were after you were born. Your father was the way he was long before you came along.'

'And I made it worse.'

'You couldn't help being born Jessie, that definitely wasn't your fault.'

'Maybe.' Jessie bit the skin beside her nails furiously, making it bleed. 'But when you've thought it was your fault your entire life, and then hear the things my father said yesterday it's a hard habit to break.'

'I know it is, but the first step to working through it is accepting the fact that you couldn't change what happened. Sometimes things like what happened to you happen, you have to move forward. You can't stay forever in the past.' The girl nodded, and he could see that she was thinking about what he had said. 'Now, you must be hungry. How about something to eat for breakfast?'

'It's probably more near lunchtime then breakfast, isn't it?' She glanced behind her at the clock. It was almost eleven. 'I must have needed that sleep.'

'I couldn't agree more.' Jack got up, handing the girl another tissue so she could blow her nose. 'I'll go grab you something to eat.'

'Thanks, and can you grab me another drink too?' Jessie saw him nod as he disappeared around the corner into the kitchen and sighed. He was right. She needed to stop blaming herself. There wasn't anything she could have done. It wasn her fault. The sooner she accepted that, the sooner she would start feeling better. She knew it, but old habits die hard. She had blamed herself all her life, even though deep down inside she knew she shouldn't have.

Glancing around the room, she wondered about Cougar. She really needed to go see her, go check on her. The mountain lion couldn't hunt and she wondered when the last time that she had eaten was. The deer carcass she had left in the cave had been completely eaten, she couldn't guess when the last time cougar had a decent meal was. She really needed to get something for her, but she couldn't tell anyone about her feline pet. They'd insist on her going to a zoo or something, or worse.

'Here we go.' Jack walked back into the living room, carrying a tray that he placed down onto the coffee table and handed a plate off it to the girl. 'It's not much.'

'Its food Jack. Anything I'm given is better than some of the things I've had to eat.' She dug into the chilli and rice with gusto. 'You can't afford to be picky when your starving.'

'I guess not.' He saw in her face how grateful she was to have something to eat. 'So, Warrior seems to be in a good mood this morning.'

'That's good. He can be a bit of a handful at times. I will admit that.'

Jack chuckled. 'I hadn't noticed. So, do you know what his breeding is?'

'Definitely mustang. There's a black mustang stallion left in the ranges near Pike river that's Warrior's half brother. They had the same father, a gorgeous black full blooded mustang but Warrior's mother was a thoroughbred. I saw him running with her when he was a foal. A tall bay, she was if I remember correctly.'

'We guessed there was some thoroughbred in him. He's a particularly fine animal.'

'Yeh, he got that from his dam. His father was quite good too, but he was a bit slow. He was more of a heavier type mustang. He could win quite the fight too. Warrior has his mean streak if the mood takes him.'

'So I noticed.'

'What Robert couldn't figure out was what a thoroughbred was doing in the high country.' She continued between bites of her meal. 'Its mustang country, and she was definitely a thoroughbred. With Warriors speed, you could say she might have been a racehorse in her day before she ended up in the ranges.'

'Our vet ran some DNA tests on Warrior last week when he was getting the bullet out of him because we were wondering what blood he had in him. It would be interesting to see what it shows, because most race horses these days are DNA tested. If his dam was a racehorse, it might be in the system.'

'That would be interesting to know, but I'd say it was just a horse that did its time on the track and got dumped. Robert told me more than once about what happens to the horses once they've done their time. Warriors dam was one of the lucky ones. I know domestic horses don't normally do well in the wild, but she was quite something when I saw her. That stallion took care of her well.'

'I bet Warrior would have been one heck of a herd leader if he was still out there.'

'Yeh, you definitely wouldn't want to come between him and his mares, that's for sure.' Jessie handed her empty bowl back to him. She was still cautious of him, but she was stuck here. Talking to him was better than twiddling her thumbs in boredom all day and he didn't seem to be too bad. 'So, not that your company is bad or anything, but where is everyone else?'

'Amy and Mallory are at school. They'll be back in a couple of hours. Caleb's out working, or he's supposed to be and Tim doesn't live here. He works next door.'

'You don't like him much, do you?'

'Ancient history that isn't worth the breath to recite it.' Jack handed the girl an apple, then looked around for something to her to do. 'Do you want to read or something?'

'I like drawing, if you've got some paper and pencils.' She glanced up at the window hopefully. 'But I'd really like to be out with Warrior.'

'Unfortunately, your supposed to be on bedrest. Drawing I guess it is then.'

'I guess so.' She groaned. She really wanted to see her horse. 'Can't I see him? Please?'

'Your not really supposed to be walking on that leg of yours, so no.' He handed her a pencil and paper with a book to lean on. 'You just sit tight, Lisa will be back soon and you can show her what you've been up too.'

'I guess so.' Putting her pencil to the paper, she started to draw Warrior. Casting a glance at Jack every so often, she inwardly groaned as he showed no sign of leaving. Cougar was around. She could feel it. She needed to check on her, but there was no way she would be able to with him watching her every move. She could just hope he would hurry up and need to do something…

Hopefully the dialogue in this chapter didn't bore you to tears but I need to give them a little break, don't you think? Anyway, hope you enjoyed and be sure to drop me a review! This was my 20th chapter, so a little milestone! Adios!