Hi guys,

Well, I'm here again with another chapter! (Yes, I surprised myself too lol)

In response to Sriram, no, Clint doesn't take Jessie to foster care before Amy's birthday (I'm not quiet that mean *chuckles evily* but I do like putting my characters through Hell and back) so you can breathe easy for a couple chapters lol

Anyway, enjoy and drop me a review with your thoughts... Its probably a boring chapter but I need to give them a little break before the next storm hits *grins* so it is a fill in between the rest of the storyline...

Chapter 27

'So, Amy's out on her morning ride?' Jessie asked Caleb as she walked into the barn to tend to Warrior. 'She wasn't inside.'

'Yeh, she takes Spartan out each morning.' He replied, mucking out an empty stall. 'I didn't feed Warrior, I thought I'd leave that to you.'

'Thanks.' She walked into his stall, rubbing the stallions face as he nudged her. 'I'm going back out with Jack anyway, don't want him running on a full stomach. Can you hand me that brush?'

'Here.' He handed her the dandy brush off the shelf, then leaned against the stable door. 'So, Amy mentioned that this guy's a mix of thoroughbred and mustang. Isn't he a bit much horse for you? Being a stallion and all.'

'No. We have an understanding, don't we boy?' Warrior whinnied gently as she brushed a ticklish spot. 'Our relationship is built on respect. I respect him, and he respects me in return. Warrior is a free spirit. If you try and force him to do something, he will fight you till the cows come home. I respect that he's way smarter than me, if I want to go somewhere and he refuses, he's got good reason.'

'At least he's not trying to bite my head off.' Caleb could see the stallion watching him, but he wasn't looking like he wanted to kill him. 'I still believe you have to show them who's boss.'

'If I did that, I'd be dead long ago.' She swapped over to the other side to brush him down. 'The men that abused him tried to do that, that's why he hates men so much. He's only just starting to trust Jack.' Going over his coat, she quickly finished getting the dirt off him. 'I'll saddle him up and take him around the round yard a couple of times.'

'I'll grab your tack.'

'Thanks.' Jessie rubbed his forehead as Warrior leaned against her. 'Your just a big baby, aren't you?'

'Where did you get that saddle from?' Caleb asked as he placed the tack over the stall door. 'I haven't seen one like it before.'

'That's because it's one of a kind.' She tossed the saddle blanket over his back. 'I made it, with help of course.'

He whistled softly. 'No wonder it's so good. You wouldn't find quality like that in a tack store.' He turned as he heard Amy leading Spartan into the barn. 'I can take care of that guy if you're in a hurry to get to school.'

'Thanks, that would be great.' Amy saw Jessie in with Warrior. 'Morning Jessie.'

'Hi Amy.' Jessie nodded at her as she grabbed the saddle and placed it on Warrior. 'You off to school?'

'Yep, see you this afternoon.'

'Hey.' Caleb stopped her as she started to leave the barn. 'You wanna hang out sometime? Saturday night? Maybe catch a movie or, I don't know, do something?'

'Um.' She wasn't too sure, turning to look at something out the door. 'That would be-' There it was again. A flash of white through the trees. 'Oh my God, come here!'

'What?'

Jessie raised her eyebrows as she led Warrior out of the barn, following Amy and Caleb. 'What are you looking at?'

'I saw him again.' Amy replied, looking through the trees for the stallion.

'You saw who?' Caleb asked, stopping beside her.

'The ghost horse.'

'The ghost horse?'

'This mustang.' She began to explain. 'I saw him get driven away from his herd the other day, and now I just keep seeing him.'

'Okay.'

'I can't see anything.' Jessie patted Warrior as the stallion lifted his head and snorted, looking at something. 'But Warrior must have heard something.'

'A ghost.'

'Shut up, I do.' Amy playfully nudged him with her elbow. 'I saw him yesterday on Plummers Road. He just keeps getting closer and closer to Heartland. I know it sounds crazy, but it's almost like he's looking for me or something.'

'I'm sure he is.'

'Look, there he is.' Jessie nodded in the direction of the appaloosa. The stallion trotted around on the other side of the arena, then began to graze. Warrior snorted softly as he watched him with interest, his ears pricked but his body relaxed. She patted his neck with one hand, the other holding onto his reins. 'He looks like Warrior did when I found him. That stallion must have been in one hell of a fight.'

'Yeh, it was something to watch.' Amy agreed. 'We should really try and get him in a pen or something. Look at those wounds.'

'How do you figure that you're gonna get anywhere near that horse?' Caleb asked, looking at Amy.

'Thought you were a prize-winning cowboy.' She teased.

'Um, hello.' Jessie interrupted. 'Warrior and I've had plenty of experience with wild horses. I could chase him down and get him in the round pen.'

'Nah, leave it to the experts kid.' Caleb patted her shoulder as he walked past, Warrior snorting and stamping his foot at him. 'I'll go saddle Shorty.'

'Amy?'

'Let Caleb do it Jessie.' Amy replied. 'Besides, your still supposed to be taking it easy.'

Jessie rolled her eyes. Did they think her incapable of catching one wild horse? 'At least let me come with you two. I'll stay out of your way.'

'Fine, you can come.'

'Gosh, can they wrap me up in anymore cotton wool?' She murmured as Amy went to grab Spartan. Rubbing Warrior's shoulder, she threw the spilt reins over his neck and mounted. 'Good boy.' Her fingers played with his mane as she watched the stallion, waiting for Amy and Caleb. The stallion was magnificent, a gorgeous leopard appaloosa and as she watched him graze she knew that that horse belonged free. Robert had said she had the gift, the gift of listening to horses and inside her was telling her that this horse belonged in the wild. There was something about him that said he wouldn't bow to no human.

'Right, let's get going.' Caleb led Shorty out of the barn with Amy in tow. 'Jessie, can you open the gate?'

'Fine.' She rolled her eyes as she nudged Warrior with her heels. Grabbing the latch, she made Warrior walk forward while holding onto the gate and opened it all the way up. 'So, what's the plan? I think we should just drive him into the pen.'

'Just let me handle it. Yah!'

Jessie rolled her eyes again as Caleb spurred his gelding into a gallop, the mustang bolting off with a snort. 'Good one, idiot.' She scoffed as she nudged Warrior after them. They didn't need to chase him, she could have got him in the pen by just taking it slow and forcing him to slowly graze towards it just by her presence but no. Caleb had to show off.

Pulling Warrior to a stop, she rested her arm on the saddle horn as she watched them chase him in the small valley. Caleb had his rope out, obviously intending on lassoing the stallion and she just shook her head. What was the go with guys just showing off to impress the girls? There was a way more simpler way of catching him then trying to rope him.

Caleb roped the stallion, and she could hear Amy happily shout when he got him, then she began to laugh as he was pulled off his horse by the stallion and dragged in the grass. She nudged Warrior into a gallop toward them to turn the stallion back before he reached the trees. 'Expert hey?' She teased as she galloped past. 'Least I'm still on my horse.'

'You all right down there cowboy?' Amy asked as she pulled Spartan up beside him, smiling cheekily as he groaned when he saw Jessie turning the stallion back. 'Maybe you should leave it to the 'kid' to get him.'

'Very funny.'

'Come on boy, let's go back.' Jessie turned the stallion back towards Amy and Caleb. She knew she could drive the stallion to the round pen single handily, but it was more fun to watch Caleb try and rope him. 'Do you want to give up and just let me get him back yet?' She teased as Caleb mounted Shorty, having recovered the rope from where the stallion had shook it off. 'You know the second time is always the lucky one. Just remember to have the lasso wrapped around your horn first. A body can only take so much grass skiing.'

'Thanks for your advice Jessie.'

'Mmmhmm.' She slowed Warrior again as Caleb set off after the mustang again, this time wrapping the lariat around the saddle horn before he got yanked off again. 'Well done.' She mock applauded . 'You do realize there was an easier way.'

'Yeh yeh, you've had your laugh.' Caleb replied, leading the stallion back towards the ranch. 'And how would you have done it?'

'Well, first of all I wouldn't have chased him like a bull out of the gate.' Jessie patted Warrior who hadn't even raised a sweat. 'I'd have taken it nice and gentle.'

'What matters is that we've got him.' Amy interrupted their little feud as they reached the ranch and Caleb let the stallion run into the pen. 'What a beauty.'

'Sure is.' Caleb replied, looking at her and not the stallion. 'So, what about Saturday night?'

Amy went to reply, then heard the school bus leaving the drive. 'Oh my God! School!'

'Hey, don't worry, I'll drive you there.' Caleb dismounted Shorty, handing the reins to Jessie. 'Can you take care of him? Thanks?'

'Okay.' She muttered, not amused as Amy threw Spartans reins at her and hurried after Caleb. 'What was that about taking it easy? Come on then.' Dismounting, she led the three horses into the barn, letting Warrior wander into his stall while she untacked the other two. Jack still wasn't around, Paint was still in his stall and so she led him out and quickly brushed him down before tacking him up. What was taking him so long? She thought they were going to start the cattle right away. 'Come on you two.'

Leading Warrior and Paint over to the fence around the house, she tied the gelding to the post and dropped Warrior's reins on the ground. The stallion wouldn't go anywhere if she ground-tied him, but she didn't know if the paint had the same training. 'I'll be right back.' Going inside the house, she could hear Jack on the phone and she sat down at the table to wait till he had finished.

'I'll definitely have a chat with her. Fine, Mrs… Miss Adams.' He corrected. 'I've got your number. I sure do. You have a nice day now.' He hung up the phone as Lou walked in.

'So, we need to talk. Like adults.'

Jessie saw the look Jack gave Lou when he glanced back her. 'Don't let me stop you two. You never do anyway.' She murmured the last sentence under her breath as she got up and grabbed herself some toast while she waited.

'And you need to talk to dad.' She added as she followed him into the kitchen.

'Already have.' He placed the phone back on its charger.

'Oh.'

'I thought partners were supposed to tell each other everything.'

'Look, I know you're still probably one hundred percent against the idea-'

'You know Lou.' He interrupted. 'I'm a man who likes his privacy and the thought of sitting at this table making small talk with folks I don't know or care to know does not sit too well with me.'

'The dining in the house situation would only be temporary.'

'It's hard enough to get along without some stranger's big ears flapping at every little single thing you say.'

'I know. I see your point, and I but-' She had a better idea. 'Look, can I show you something?'

'It's going to have to wait till I get back from the cattle.' Jack turned to Jessie. 'You ready to go?'

'Yep.' She wiped the crumbs from her toast off her mouth. 'The horses are out front, all tacked up.' Glancing over at Lou, and she got up and put her plate in the sink. 'Did you by any chance get a copy of that photo yet?'

'It's in your drawing book.'

'Okay, great. Thanks Lou. Let's go Jack.' Walking outside, she picked up Warrior's reins and placed them over his neck. 'So, was Lisa checking up on me yesterday?'

Jack laughed as he mounted Paint. 'Kinda, but kinda not. We were discussing some plans.'

'Ooooh.' Jessie teased, vaulting onto Warrior. 'What kind of plans?'

'Lunch plans for when she gets back.'

'So, like a date?' She chuckled as she kept Warrior beside Paint as they cantered out of the ranch yard. 'Sounds like fun.'

'Your as bad as Mallory, you know that?'

'Don't compare me with her Jack. I'm nothing like her.' She pretended to be offended. 'I think it's cute. You and Lisa are good together.'

'Glad you think so.' He teased back. 'Come on, let's go find these cows.'

Jessie was standing watching the wild mustang in the round yard that afternoon while Lou was showing Jack something on the computer in the office. The stallion was running around the pen, obviously distressed and he wasn't about to start calming down any time soon. She sighed deeply. That horse didn't belong here. She could feel it. He belonged in the wild.

'So, what's the go with that horse?' Jack asked as he walked up and stopped beside her. 'Where did he come from?'

'How about I let Amy tell you that.' She turned to him. 'It's not really my place. For the record though, that horse doesn't belong here.'

'I can see that.' The stallion reared, trying to find a way out. 'That's what I thought about Warrior.'

'That's different. He chose to stay with me. You can't force a free spirit like that horse to become gentle. It just will never happen.'

'How did you ever become so wise?' He looked down at her with a smile on the corner of his lips. 'When your only twelve.'

'I listen to the horses.' She replied, looking up at him then back at the stallion. 'Robert said I had 'the gift' with horses, and sometimes I wonder if he's right. I don't know. I don't know if I believe that hog-wash. To me, 'the gift' is more just common sense. Knowing when to let go. Sundance and Warrior were exactly like this stallion when I got both of them. Wild, spirited. The difference between them is that Warrior chose to accept me as his friend, his leader, while Sundance didn't. I knew when it was time to let Sundance go. I think Amy is going to have to learn that too.'

'You know Jess.' Jack placed his hand on her shoulder. 'Never let anyone say your just a kid. You've got more common sense and knowledge then I've seen in many adults.'

'Well, it wouldn't be that hard if they're all like Caleb.' She heard Jack chuckle at that. 'I had to grow up fast. I had to learn to think like an adult if I wanted to survive. I never had a childhood. I might only be twelve, but I feel like I'm a hundred and twelve with what I've been through.'

'And it's shaped you into the beautiful, strong, courageous young woman that you are.'

Jessie blushed. 'That's the first time a person other than Lisa has ever called me beautiful.'

'Well, you are Jess. Your beautiful, not only on the outside, but on the inside too. You have a big heart, your kind to animals and people even after what they've put you through. Your smart too.'

'You really think I'm smart?'

'Of course I do. Come here.' He invited her for a hug ad the girl smiled as he put his arms around her. 'Don't ever think you're not.'

'Thanks for saying that Jack. It means a lot to me.' She looked up at him, then turned a she heard the school bus down the road. 'Looks like Amy and Mallory's back.'

'Yeh, I've got to have a few words with Amy. Her teacher called earlier.'

Jessie cringed as she looked back at the mustang. 'That sounds like fun for her.'

'Hmm. Not really. You stay here, I'll just go talk to her.'

'Ok.'

Jack walked over to meet Amy as she walked down the driveway. 'Got a call from your teacher, a Miss Adams.'

'She called.' Amy sighed.

'Something about a study session you never showed up for.'

'I'm sorry. I just totally forgot. I got involved with-' She paused. 'Something.'

'That wouldn't be the something, would it?' He nodded in the direction of the round yard where Jessie was still at the fence watching the stallion. 'Where the hell did he come from?'

'He's the one the rancher's almost shot.' Amy explained as she walked over to the fence, stopping beside Jessie. 'He just kinda followed me home.'

'You don't think you can keep him here, I hope.'

'I'm gonna try.'

'He's a wild horse Amy. Not easy to gentle.'

'Wild horses are gentle all the time.' She glanced at Jessie. 'Warrior's proof of that.'

'Warrior also chose to stay with me Amy.' Jessie replied softly. 'I would never force him to stay with me if he didn't want to.'

'Yeh but there's even a penitentiary in Colorado where the convicts work with them. It's like they learn from each other to trust.'

'Too much trust is not necessarily a good thing. Now, you take him even halfway and he'll lose his abilities to cope in the wild.'

'Let me at least try.'

'Fine.' Jack gave in, against his better judgement and the look that Jessie gave him. 'But don't let it interfere with school, you got it?' Amy nodded and he started for the house. 'You girls are gonna drive me into the ground.'

Amy looked at Jessie as Jack walked away. 'You don't think I've got what it takes to gentle him?'

'No, I'm not meaning that at all.' Jessie assured her as she watched the mustang. 'What I'm saying is that some wild horses are better being left to be wild. Yes, I've trained mustangs, I've broken in more than just Warrior, but only to keep the balance of the herds where Robert and I lived. If there were too many horses, we would round a few up, choose the ones that would take to training the best and let the rest go. All I'm saying is, is that if I caught this horse up there, I know in my heart that he's better being free.'