Hi guys,

I apologize for not uploading sooner, things came up and I couldn't upload as planned... I have now decided that I will try and upload weekly now, hopefully that will be a bit more of a realistic goal then uploading every four days... We'll just have to see...

The next couple of chapters are sort of a fill in, Lisa wont be back at Heartland till the next chapter (from memory, could be wrong) so please don't shoot me! I wanted to explore Jessie fitting in with the other characters in her absence and there is a few good reasons why I am writing the way I am. I don't need to explain them, I'm just writing my story how I want it to go...

Anyway, enjoy.

Chapter 26

Jessie pushed her food around her plate at dinner time, trying to ignore the conversation that Lou was having with everyone at the table about the dude ranch. What was the problem? It didn't sound like such a bad idea to her. She groaned as Lou started again.

'We need the extra money and it's a good way to make it.'

'It's a funny way of making money to me.' Jack replied. 'Paying a whole pile of interest to a bank for a loan.'

'That's just the initial investment and-' She paused as she tried to think of something to say. 'I think it's a good idea.'

'Well, it's none of my business.' Caleb interrupted as he grabbed his empty plate and got up. 'But I don't know of anyone who got rich off running a dude ranch.'

'Okay. Just so everyone is clear, it is not a dude ranch.'

'Whatever.'

'I think the dude ranch is a great idea.' Mallory added as Caleb left the room. 'I could teach lessons, help out over the summer-' She saw the look Jack gave her. 'Holidays. But that' s still under consideration, right Jack?'

'I'll be back later.' He headed into the kitchen, then followed Caleb outside.

'You haven't said much.' Lou looked at Amy and Amy rolled her eyes at her. 'Okay.'

'I think it's a good idea, but it's not really my place to say anything.' Jessie ate her last mouthful of mashed potato, then got up. 'I'll start the dishes.'

'No, you don't need to. You should get some rest.'

'Ugh, please. I've had enough of that to last me a lifetime.'

'I'll come help you.'

'Thanks Mallory.' Jessie picked up the stack of dirty plates and headed into the kitchen, Mallory in tow. 'Where's the dish detergent?'

'Under the sink. There.' She pointed. 'So you think it's a good idea?'

'Like I said, it's not really my place, but yeah, it doesn't sound all that terrible to me.' She turned the tap on, then looked at Mallory. 'So, what's this camp thing about?'

'Ugh, don't ask.'

'Okay, then I won't.'

'I'll wash, you two dry.' Amy commented as she walked in. 'Thanks for filling the sink Jessie.'

'No problem.' Jessie took the towel Mallory handed her, then waited for Amy to pass her a dish to dry. 'Jack really doesn't seem to like the idea of a dude ranch.'

'No kidding.' Mallory grabbed a cup Amy passed her and began to wipe it. 'Jack normally doesn't get mad like that, but when he does.'

'Does he get mad all the time?'

'No, unless you do something stupid.' Amy handed Jesse a plate. 'Or get on his nerves.'

'I'll be sure to not do either. I've copped more than my fair share of people being mad at me.' She handed the plate onto Mallory to put it away. 'I don't want any more of that.' The room fell unusually quiet after Jessie said that, and the girl concentrated on wiping the plates. She missed Lisa already, something terrible but she knew that she needed to get over it. Once she went to this foster home, she wouldn't be seeing her at all. It was better in the long run if she got used to her not being around, and there was no better time to start than now.

'I still think it's a good idea.' Mallory remarked to Lou as the woman carried in some more dishes for them to wash.

'Thank you Mallory.'

'So, Amy, what are you going to do for your birthday?' Mallory walked back over to the sink from putting the cups away. 'If it were up to me, I'd have a huge party with a DJ, but obviously that's not going to happen. My mom watches this show where girls have massively expensive sweet sixteen birthday parties and they get everything they want and they still end up hating everybody for doing it for them. Have you seen the show?' Amy didn't reply. 'So, what are you going to do?'

'I don't know.' Amy handed her another plate to dry. 'It's no big deal.'

'I totally understand. I can't even think how excruciating it'd be having a birthday without your-' She shut up as Lou elbowed her roughly. 'Ow.'

Even though she didn't finish the sentence, Amy knew what she was getting at. 'Okay, I'm gonna go do my homework.'

'Good one Mallory.' Jessie took over washing after Amy left. 'I can understand what she's going through. You didn't have to say that.'

Mallory rolled her eyes and turned back to Lou. 'So, what are you going to do for her birthday?'

'Never you mind Mallory.'

'Are you having a surprise party?'

'Mallory!' She turned to make sure Amy was definitely out of earshot 'How did you know?'

'I promise not to tell. But you gotta help me out too. You have to convince Jack to let me stay here for the summer. I could die at that camp.' She protested as Lou grabbed her shoulders and pushed her towards the door. 'Malnutrition, West Nile, multiple bee stings. My mom's allergic to bees. It could be genetic.' Lou handed her her coat. 'Is that a hint?'

'Goodbye Mallory.'

'Where do I put these?' Jesse asked as Lou walked back into the kitchen. 'In this cupboard?'

'Here, I'll take them.' She grabbed the plates and placed them in the draw they belonged in. 'Jessie, what did you mean when you said you understood Amy?'

'Lillian died a couple months before my birthday.' She replied, emptying the sink. 'That first birthday was the hardest. I made my own cake that year.' She chuckled. 'I wasn't about to let Robert make it, he was the guy who could burn water.'

Lou laughed. 'He didn't cook then I take it.'

'No.' The phone rang and she jumped at the sound of it. 'That's something I still have got to get used to.'

'I'll get it.' Lou picked it up. 'Hello? Oh hi Lisa. Yeah, she's right here. I'll put her on.' She handed Jessie the phone. 'Its Lisa.'

Jessie grinned wildly as she grabbed the phone off Lou. 'Lisa!'

'Hi Jessie.' Lisa chuckled at the surprise in the girls voice. 'What have you been up too?'

'I've been busy.' She walked into the living room and sat down on the stretcher to talk to her. 'I went out with Jack to help him with the cattle today, and I'm going out again tomorrow with him. I'm surprised you rang.'

'I keep my promises Jessie. I was going to ring you earlier, but the meeting I was at took longer then expected and now I'm in peak hour traffic stuck on the freeway back to Vancouver.' Lisa glanced out her windscreen to see if the cars in front would be moving any time soon. 'I hope your still taking it easy, your not completely healed up yet.'

'Yes, yes Lisa I am.' She chuckled. Lisa was such a worry-wart. 'The doc said the stitches can come out in a couple days, and I can't wait.'

'That's good.'

'Yeh, they're driving me nuts. They're insanely itchy!' She could hear Lisa giggle. 'It's not funny Lisa!'

'No, your right. I remember when I had stitches once, I was ten. I got bucked off my pony and tore a gash in my arm. By the time they were ready to come out, my mom swore I had almost scratched right through the bandages.'

'That must have hurt.'

'It did. So, what else have you been up too?'

'Oh, you mean since you disappeared?' Jessie teased. Lisa hadn't dropped by for the last couple of days and she was still surprised that she had gone away so suddenly but she didn't hold it against her. She couldn't expect her to just drop her life to be around for a girl like herself. 'Well, the police aren't charging me with anything, so that's something.' Se heard Lisa sigh with relief. 'It was self defense, so they don't hold it against me. I still feel, like numb or something though. I still can't believe I did what I did.'

'You haven't been having nightmares again, have you?' Lisa asked with concern in her tone.

'Not really.' It was true, she didn't really have the nightmares at the moment. 'I just don't think about it.' Time to change the subject. 'So, when will you be back?'

'A couple days at most.' The traffic started to move forward slowly again, then stopped again. 'If I ever get out of this ridiculous peak hour traffic.'

Jessie laughed. 'Glad it's you and not me stuck in the city.'

'Thanks Jess, thanks a lot.' She replied with mock annoyance. 'I'm going to have to go soon, my phone is going flat and I forgot my car phone charger. Is Jack around?'

'Ah, yeah.' She glanced up as he walked through the front door. 'He just came in.' She placed her hand over the mouthpiece. 'Jack, Lisa wants to talk to you.'

'I see you've been hogging the phone.' He teased as he walked into the living room.

'He's here Lis, so I'll say goodbye now.'

'Bye Jessie.' Lisa chuckled. She could imagine Jessie rolling her eyes when she said the last sentence. 'Stay out of trouble, you hear?'

'Yes, yes. Bye Lisa.' She handed the phone to Jack then grabbed her coat. 'I'm just going to say goodnight to Warrior.'

'Well, make it quick. It's getting cold outside.'

'Yes Jack.' Jessie hurried outside to the barn, and then went around out of sight from the house to call Cougar. A couple of low whistles, and her mountain lion appeared from the bushes near the house. 'Hey girl, I what have you been up to hey?' The puma purred as she walked around the girl sitting on a stump and rubbed up against her. 'So, you've been good then?'

The mountain lion liked her hands with her rough tongue and the girl laughed. 'Are you hungry?' Cougar purred louder. 'I guess that's a yes. Wait here, I've got some stuff for you.'

Going inside the barn, she headed over to her saddlebags where she had hidden some food for the lion and grabbed it out. Giving Warrior a pat on her way past, she went back to the stump just outside the door and placed the food down for the big cat to eat. 'Here you go girl. It's not much, but it's all I could get.' The mountain lion scoffed down the food she was offered, then looked back up at her. 'That's all I've got.' Jessie laughed as she scratched behind her ears. 'I'll get you more tomorrow. Off you go now, go hide.'

Jessie stood up as the mountain lion took off back where she had appeared from.

She felt bad for stealing the food from the garbage for her pet, but she couldn't tell them about her. She sighed as she walked back into the barn and over to Warrior. The stallion was still standing at the door, waiting for her and he playfully nudged her with his muzzle as she gave him a pat. 'No, no sugar cubes today.' She chuckled. 'You got your treat already.'

'There you are.' Lou exclaimed as she walked into the barn. 'Jack wanted me to come grab you. It's too cold for you to be out now.'

'Yeh, I was just about to head in.' She gave Warrior one last pat and a kiss, then headed after her. 'So, Amy's sixteenth is on Saturday and your having a party for her?'

'Just keep that to yourself.' Lou looked down at her. 'Don't tell her what we've got planned.'

'My lips are sealed.' Jessie chuckled. 'Is it okay if I'm around, or do you want me to stay somewhere else while it's on? I don't want to get in the way.'

'No, definitely not.' She sounded slightly shocked. 'Your invited.'

'I've never been to a party before.' Her face turned serious. 'I don't know if I should be there. I'm guessing there's going to be a lot of people.'

Lou hadn't thought of how Jesse would react to that. 'You don't have to stay with everyone if you don't want to. You can stay in my room till it's over if you find it too much.'

'Thanks Lou. I'll think about it. Is Lisa coming?'

'As far as I know she will be.'

'Good. What about a present for Amy?'

'Oh, you don't have to do that.'

'I want to.' Jessie insisted. 'I could do her a drawing. Does she have a favorite picture or something?'

'There's one of her and our mom that she keeps in her room.' Lou turned thoughtful for a moment. 'I can get you a copy of it.'

'Great.' She smiled. 'I'll get to work on it as soon as you get it for me.'

Hope you guys enjoyed and didn't find it too boring. I will try to upload again next week but I can't make any promises. Adios!