Hi guys,

Decided I might as well treat you all to the next chapter so here it is earlier then I first intended but anyway... Its still a fill in chapter, nothing much exciting happens in it I'm afraid, just expanding on Jessie's character through her interaction with those around her... Three more chapters guys, three more chapters till it gets interesting again.

Chapter 32

Pulling Warrior to a stop atop a rise, Jessie looked down at the ranch as she patted his neck. She felt better now, awake after the thrill of the chase with the mustang and she giggled as she lent down and hugged Warrior. 'That showed them, didn't it boy?' She giggled again. 'The look on Caleb's face was priceless.'

Lingering a few minutes, she turned Warrior towards a trail she'd seen with Jack the other day. It was time to go exploring. 'Come on boy.' She leant down over his neck as they went through the undergrowth then let him have his head once they were clear of the trees.

Warrior bucked a couple of times in sheer joy, the girl sitting effortlessly through his antics and she laughed as the wind blew in her face. This was what life was. Galloping with the wind through your hair, in gorgeous mountain countryside. It was perfect.

Slowing him down as they came to the end of the trail, she gasped in amazement as the trees opened into a clearing with a lake glistening on horizon. What really caught her attention though was the old run down buildings. What were they doing out in the middle of nowhere? 'This I've got to see boy.'

Halting him beside a cabin, she jumped down and let him graze as she started to explore. The cabins were falling down, the door on the ground of the one she was looking at, the hinges long since rusted away. 'Cool.' Carefully, she walked inside. There were bunks lined up against a wall, a couple of tables and chairs and a fireplace that looked like it hadn't been used in a very long time. The floorboards creaked under her step and she carefully made her way back to the door, still amazed at what she had found. It was like a hideout, and she wondered when was the last time anyone had gone to see them.

Her stomach growling, she glanced up at the sky and was reminded that it was after lunch time. Surprisingly, she had an appetite now, and blamed it on the ride. Picking up Warrior's reins, she grabbed a couple of stalks of grass sticking out the corner of his mouth. 'Okay boy, let's get back.'

'How did your ride go?' Mallory asked as Jessie walked back into the barn, Warrior waiting outside for her to return. 'Nice of you to leave me with all the work.'

'Relax Mallory, I'm happy to give you a hand.' She started looking for the brushes she used on the shelf as Amy and Caleb walked in leading Storm. 'I'm just going to brush Warri down, turn him out, grab a bite to eat then I'm free.'

'Ugh, your going to be forever. I'll be finished here before you even finish you lunch.'

'I can't wait to try him over fences.' Amy exclaimed as she led Storm to his stall. 'I don't know. I want to, but I-'

'But you just don't want to rush things.' Caleb finished the sentence for her.

'Yeah.' She gave him a pat. 'Yeah, exactly. I just want to have a feel for him before-'

'So-' Ty interrupted, leading the black gelding out of his stall. 'How's Spartan been doing?'

'Fine.'

'Well, he looks great.'

'Why wouldn't he?'

'Okay. I'm sorry I asked.'

'Oh. Good. Well, at least your sorry for something.'

'Amy, come on.'

'Just turn him out, okay?' She asked, leaving the barn.

'Looks like you're not the only one who's been replaced.' Ty rubbed Spartans forehead. 'Come on, I'll take you out.'

'So, what did that guy used to do around here?' Caleb asked Mallory after Ty had left.

'It's complicated.' She replied, leaning against the front of the empty stall she had been cleaning 'There's a lot you need to know. Starting with-'

Jessie rolled her eyes as she finally found the brushes she had been using behind the cans of hoof ointment and headed out to where she had left Warrior tied to the corral fence. 'I'm back boy.' She started brushing his neck with the dandy brush, then looked over at Ty. 'So, your Ty.'

'Yes, I'm Ty.' He replied, leading Spartan into the corral. 'You mustn't have been here long to want to talk to me.'

'Why wouldn't I? I don't have a problem with you.' She scratched behind Warrior's ears as she brushed his neck. 'I'm Jessie, by the way.'

'Where'd you come from? Another neighbor like Mallory?'

Jessie laughed. 'No. Jack's looking after me till I'm able to go to my foster home. I'm an orphan you see.'

'Sorry to hear that. You must miss your parents.'

'Yeah, I think not.' Jessie switched sides, having finished brushing the other already. 'My father killed my mother when I was five, I took off and was found by an older couple who looked after me till they died, then I came here.'

'But you said you were an orphan. What happened to your father?'

'He died not long ago.' She left out the part that she had killed him. 'So yeah, I've had a run of bad luck. Haven't I boy?' She scratched between his ears and Warrior nickered softly. 'These folks aren't half bad though.'

'When they're not ignoring a body.'

'So, your settling in okay?' Jack asked as he walked over, closing the gate to the corral so Spartan didn't bolt.

'Yeah. I mean, more or less. Leaning towards the less.'

'You met Caleb.'

Ty didn't reply to that in a direct way. 'I don't know what I'm doing here, Jack.'

'Your working. Unless you've got a better offer. Some place you'd rather be. As for Amy-' He paused. 'Well, don't let her run you off.' He headed towards the house, stopping by Jessie on his way. 'If your hungry, help yourself to the left overs in the fridge on the top shelf.'

'Thanks Jack, I'll duck in soon.' She placed the brushes down near the post, then grabbed Warrior's reins. 'Come on boy, I'll turn you out now.'

'You know.' Mallory said, looking over at Jessie who was sitting on the couch with a book in her hand. 'Since you didn't help me with the barn chores, maybe you want to help me set the table?'

Jessie chuckled as she placed the book aside and got up. 'I'm all yours. What do you want me to do?'

'Grab some glasses, that would be a start.'

'Alright, I'm on it.' She walked into the kitchen, glancing over at the door as Jack walked in. 'Hi Jack. Mallory's putting me to work here.' She grabbed the glasses from the cupboard. 'Is Lisa dropping by?'

'Not that I'm aware of. I think she already had plans.' He headed into the dining room, where he noticed Mallory setting an extra plate on for herself. 'Well, I take it you're inviting yourself for supper.'

'No, not at all.' Mallory quickly began picking up the extra place. 'I'm just trying to be helpful. Show you there's no downside to me staying here.'

'Mallory-' He stopped her before she could take it back to the kitchen. 'Mallory, I figure I ought to know your upsides and your downside by now.' He placed the things back on the table. 'I made a promise to your folks, and I'll more then likely be keeping it.'

'More then likely? How much more?'

Jack's reply was interrupted by the door opening and Lou and Amy walking in. 'Hey everyone.' Lou placed the bags of groceries she was carrying on the table. 'Good news. The architects' plans have finally arrived.' Jack didn't say a word as he walked around her to the table and began looking through the shopping. 'For the equestrian retreat.'

'Did you get any orange juice?' Amy asked, looking through the bag.

'Mallory will be eating with us.' Jack added. 'So you might want to double up on, well, pretty well everything.'

'Oh, I get it. Nobody give a damn. What was I thinking?'

'You know Jack-' Mallory walked into the kitchen as Lou walked out. 'Lou didn't just stay in Hudson so she could buy groceries and wash dishes.'

'Well, I wonder what she thinks she'll be doing if she gets that dude ranch up and running.'

'You could at least show a little excitement for her guys.' Jessie said timidly, placing the last of the glasses on the bench. 'She really wants to do it, so just let her.'

Jessie was watching as the boys helped Scott with the mustang the next day, sitting atop the fence as they drove him into the chute where they could give him antibiotics for his wounds. Surprisingly, the stallion was calmer then he had been when Amy was around and she wondered why. 'Is he going to be okay?'

'Yeah, he will be.' Scott replied as Ty and Jack got the stallion into the crush. 'Wild stallions get cut up like this all the time and they're fine.' He glanced over at her. 'But I don't need to tell you that, you've probably seen first-hand more mustangs then I have.'

'Your more then likely right there.' She hopped down off the fence and walked over to the stallion. The stallion looked at her with his big brown eyes, and she patted his back gently beside Jack. 'Your alright boy.'

Ty looked at the girl in amazement. The stallion was actually calm, licking his lips as he glanced back at her. 'I think he likes you.'

'Well, I don't want him to. He should be free, not here.' Jessie took a step back, the stallions eyes following her. 'Its funny, he doesn't like Amy though.'

'Yeah, I don't get it. Amy gets near this horse, and he freaks out.'

'Stallions don't like to be bossed around by mares.' Scott replied, looking over at the girl. 'Where Jessie isn't trying to dominate him, so he shows her a reasonable level of mutual understanding.'

'Are you saying my granddaughter's bossy?' Jack questioned.

'Runs in the family.' The vet chuckled, looking over the mustangs wounds. 'I don't see any signs of infection, but better safe than sorry.'

'Still, you got to wonder. Each day he's handled he's gonna be a little less wild than he was the day before.'

'And a lot less likely to survive on his own' Scott agreed. 'Let him go.'

Jack opened the gate and the stallion ran out into the paddock, then headed after Ty and Scott back to the barn. Jessie stood awhile longer, leaning on the fence with her chin resting on the rail. The stallion raced around, then stopped, calling to the mountains. A whinny sounded back, mixed into his echo. There was another mustang out there, and the stallion was calling to it.

'So.' Jessie started as she walked into the barn, seeing Ty mucking out Spartans stall. 'Why is Amy so intent on gentling that mustang when he clearly doesn't want to be here.'

'I have no idea.' He placed down the rake he was using and walked over to Warrior's stall. 'Do you want-' His question was cut short as the stallion snapped his teeth when he tried to grab his halter, the black missing his face by less than an inch. Ty jumped back as Jessie quickly got between him and the stallion. 'Man! What is his problem?'

'Easy boy, easy. Woah.' She gently cooed as she reached out slowly and grabbed his halter, rubbing his forehead. 'Easy boy. He's not going to hurt you.' She turned to Ty as the stallion started to calm. 'I'm sorry. I should have warned you about him. Warrior was abused as a colt by men, and he's still not over it yet. No ones to touch him except me, so he doesn't hurt anyone.'

'He sure doesn't like me.' The stallion was eyeing him cautiously. 'That's for sure.'

'Its not just you, he doesn't like any men full stop.' She continued to rub his forehead. 'It's not his fault he reacts like he does though, he's just been bitten too many times to trust any man.' Glancing over her shoulder, she nodded in the direction of the tack rack. 'Can you pass me his bridle please?'

'This one?'

'Yep, that's it. Thanks.' She placed the bit into his mouth, placing the headstall over his ears. Warrior nudged her and she laughed as she pushed him back. 'Hey.'

Ty laughed, watching the two of them interact with each other. 'I mightn't know much about horses but you two sure are something.'

'Inseparable is probably the best word to describe us.' She rubbed his ears then opened the stall door and led him into the hallway. 'I'm going to go take him out for a run since Jack's busy. I'll help you with the stalls when I get back.'

'I'd appreciate that.'

'Mmmhmm.' She nodded as she grabbed a lock of the stallions mane and vaulted onto his back. 'I'll be back in an hour or so.'