Hi guys!

Thank you all for your reviews and kind words, they mean a lot to me! You'll all be happy to know that this story (Old Deamons, Uncertain Futures) is now complete! I have 33 chapters for this story so I'll be uploading them all when I get a chance and continue to keep writing in the meantime with the next part of this saga. I am so grateful for the support and appreciation for this story, I honestly didn't think anyone would enjoy it but you have all been so welcoming of this storyline and my own character creation, Jessie and for a few chapters, Cindy.

A person PM'd me after the last chapter I wrote to let me know that there are no rats in Alberta (who knew? I certainly didn't lol) so to everyone who lives in Alberta please excuse that little error in this story lol.

Things are going to get tense in this chapter, like I said this story starts with a 'bang' of drama and that defiantly comes to a climax at the end of this chapter and the next. I hope you all enjoy it, things will get better I promise *eventually* but things have to get worse before it gets better. I have a feeling however you all will like the way the storyline in this story gets wrapped up at the end, however it is quite a rocky ride for our characters throughout the entire story. If it wasn't well, there wouldn't be a story lol and I think you all know by now I don't like the characters having it easy.

Anyway, enjoy. *Procedes to go hide in bunker knowing the reaction of all with the cliff-hanger at the end*

Chapter 2.0

Lisa slowed her horse to a stop as they reached the top of the hill overlooking the ranch and patted the horse's shoulder while she caught her breath. She laughed as Jack and Paint came ambling up the hill, stopping beside her. Jack had lost his hat, his hair blown messy by the wind. His eyes sparkled from the thrill of the race and he looked all the more handsome. She nudged her horse closer to his as she playfully punched his shoulder. 'I beat you.'

'Yes, you did. No need to brag.' He teased her as she kissed him on the cheek. 'And only because you had a head start.'

'Hey, it wasn't me who went before you said go.' She teased, her eyes sparkling. 'You started Paint before you said go.'

'True, true.' He looked at her cheekily. 'Call it even?'

Lisa rolled her eyes in mock disrespect. 'I won fair and square, but for the sake of your manly pride, we'll call it even.'

'Pride huh?' He teased. 'Can we go back now and retrieve my hat?'

'Certainly.' She laughed, turning her horse then glanced on the gathering clouds on the horizon as the wind started to pick up. 'Maybe we should-'

'Head back?' He finished the sentence. 'Yes. That's going to be a dozy when it breaks.'

'Too bad it's going to storm, we were having such a nice, peaceful ride.' She nudged the grey into a canter down the path towards the ranch. She breathed in deep of the fresh, clean air. She felt better now. 'I think I needed that.'

The cool breeze blew across Jessie's face, teasing her back to the waking world. Her side hurt, her chest hurt, her whole body hurt. As she took her hand from her side she saw it was covered in blood, her head swimming as she saw it. Something is dreadfully wrong. She felt weak, hot, dazed. Her clothing was saturated in blood. It wasn't that bad she had thought at first when she'd been injured but it just wouldn't stop bleeding. She winced as she felt the need to cough, sitting up with much difficulty. She coughed into her hand, then took it away. Her hand was bloodied. She wiped it away on her jeans, concerned that she'd coughed up quite a bit of blood. Her chest hurt dreadfully, each breath she took felt like she couldn't breathe. Her mind was racing as she tried to stay calm. Something was really wrong. He really had hurt her when he'd beaten her.

She looked up at the sky, it was going black with storm clouds as night began to fall and the sun started to slip behind the trees. The first low rumbles of thunder began to roll in the distance. It was time to be moving, they still had a long way to go.

She looked at Cindy still sleeping beside her, shaking her gently by the shoulder to stir her from her slumber. 'Cindy, we have to get moving. Wake up.'

Cindy's eyes fluttered as she sat up, blinking as she looked around her. 'Where are we?'

'We escaped, remember?' She saw Cindy thinking, then the girl nodded as she remembered. 'Come on, we have got to get moving before the storm hits. We're still a long way from Heartland.'

'I'll get Warrior tacked up.' She went to stand up, then saw the blood on the pine needles the girl had been lying on. She gasped as she knelt down beside her, seeing the dried and wet blood soaked through her clothes. 'Jessie, you're really hurt!'

'It's not that bad.' She tried to push her hand away. 'Don't worry about it Cindy.'

'Jessica, you're hurt. Don't argue with me.' Cindy lifted her bloodstained coat and shirt, shaking her head as she saw the wound. 'You should have told me that you were hurt bad!'

'It ain't nothing.' She tried to brush it off. 'I landed on a bit of brick or something when I fell while Howard was fighting me. It'll be alright.'

'No, it's not and neither are you.' The girl replied sternly as she tore pieces of cloth off her singlet she was wearing to wrap around the girls torso. 'Its been bleeding out this whole time, we need to get you help.' She wrapped the makeshift bandages tightly, stuffing cloth between the bandages and her wound to stop the bleeding. 'This isn't going to last long. We need to get you to someone who can help. Where's the nearest ranch?'

'We're not going anywhere other than Heartland. I can make it there. Lisa will know what to do.'

'You need to go to hospital.'

'I hate hospitals.' Jessie winced as the girl pulled her shirt down again. 'Let's just get to Heartland.'

'You can be so stubborn sometimes!'

'So can you!'

'Ugh, arguing isn't going to help any. I'll get Warrior saddled. We need to get you somewhere as soon as we can.' Cindy crawled out from under the tree, tossing the water bottle to her. 'Drink some. You need to keep your strength up.'

'Yes Cindy.' She coughed again, bringing up more blood. Her side hurt, her chest hurt. What was going on? Sure, it had been a bad fight, but she had been beaten up before by the boys. Why was this any different? It was like she was struggling to breathe, like she was under water. 'We're still a good way from Heartland. We're going to have to ride hard to outride the storm. I'll guide Warri, you hang onto me.'

'Your in no condition to be guiding Warrior Jessie, it's better if I do it.' Cindy led the stallion over to the saddle, throwing the things back into the saddlebag. 'You can just hold onto me.'

'Listen Cindy.' She grunted as she struggled to her feet, her breathing labored. 'If I black out, I can't hold onto you, where's if I'm in the saddle, I can't fall off since I'm jammed in against the horn. You'll still be able to take the reins if need be. Please, you have to trust me on this. And no matter what happens, you need to give that phone to Jack and Lisa or another of the adults, okay? I'm relying on you to make sure that the other kids get rescued and that phone holds the key.'

'Okay Jessie, I will.' She checked the cinch on the saddle then made sure they weren't leaving anything behind, then helped her get out from under the tree. 'Are you sure about this?'

'Yes. Bow Warri.' She tapped his knee with her hand and the stallion went down so she could get on. Cindy helped slide her into the saddle, then Warrior stood as she picked up the reins, tossing his head. 'Easy boy, steady.' She patted his neck as she grimaced from the pain. 'Easy.'

'Are you alright?' Cindy asked, seeing how pale she looked.

'I'm fine, get on Cindy.' She gave the girl her hand, helping lift her on behind the saddle. She gasped as she clutched her side, breathing heavily. 'You on?'

'Yes.'

'We've got everything?'

'Yes.'

'Where's the phone?'

'Wrapped up in the saddlebag like you asked.'

'Good. Let's get moving.' Jessie nudged Warrior's sides gently and he quickly jumped into a canter. She held him back as they reached the trail, peering out cautiously in both directions before letting him bound out. He was fighting the bit, ready to go but she held him at a steady canter. Once they reached the road, she would let him fly. She bit her lip as her side throbbed, trying not to worry Cindy any more by crying out in pain. She reined him in as they reached the road, again checking to see if the coast was clear. It was. She loosened the reins as she turned him with a nudge of her heel. 'Okay boy, let's go. Hold on Cindy.'

Warrior leapt into a gallop, the force of the wind blowing against her wound bringing tears to her eyes but she didn't rein him in. They had to make it to Heartland tonight and they were running out of time. Any moment now Howard or Ruth could come up behind them and it would be all over. No. She wasn't going to let that happen. She couldn't let that happen.

Thunder rumbled overhead as the clouds thickened, Warrior still running strongly in that mile eating gallop of his. She glanced up worriedly. It was starting to become dark and the clouds would cover the moon. They'd have no light to guide them. They'd get lost in the storm when it broke. They had to get as much ground covered as fast as possible or she knew they would never make it. Trying to keep the worry out of her voice, she turned to Cindy casually. 'Got a light of any description?'

'Actually, I managed to nab a touch and batteries. They're in the saddlebag. I thought we might be in need of them.'

'We certainly will. Thank you for getting them Cindy. We'll have to get it out soon.' She slowed Warrior as they came to a crossroads. She looked both ways, trying to decide what way to go. One was rougher, harder going but took almost twenty miles off going over the mountain rather than around it if she remembered reading the map she'd gotten a glance at correctly. The other was smoother, but longer. She looked up at the sky. Oh, what path should she choose? Warrior snorted, pawing the ground. 'Which way boy? Which way do we go?' She loosened the reins, letting him choose his own way. 'Come on boy, you know best.'

Warrior snorted, then started towards the shorter path. He pawed the ground. 'This way? Are you sure boy?' He nodded, champing at the bit. 'Alright.' She let him go, the stallion quickly jumping into a gallop. 'I trust you boy.'

The storm rumbled overhead as the thunder crashed louder. The wind began to pick up, howling through the trees alongside the pass over the mountain. Jessica felt Cindy bury her face in her back as Warrior galloped faster to get away from the trees before the storm broke. She was scared. She couldn't blame her for being scared. Her parents had been killed in a plane crash because of a storm. That was why she was so frightened of them. 'Its okay Cindy, it's just the sound of horses galloping in heaven. Nothing to be worried about.'

'I don't like storms.' She whimpered, holding onto her tight. 'How much further?'

'Still awhile to go I'm afraid but each stride takes us closer. Don't worry, Warrior will get us there safe and sound. He's not scared of the storm and I'm not either.'

'Well, I'm not you.' Cindy held on tighter as the thunder rumbled louder. 'Can't we stop and wait for it to pass?'

'I would, but there's nowhere safe to stop. I'm sorry Cindy, we have to keep going.' And if we stop, I don't think I'll make it. She thought to herself, trying to keep herself from blacking out. 'Come on Warri, let's go.'

The storm broke in all its fury just as they came off the mountain path and onto the highway leading to the ranch. The sun had long since sank over the horizon, everything was pitch black except for the light from the torch shining on the side of the road, showing them the way. In a few moments, they were soaked through, their threadbare coats more suited to a picnic in the park than a rainstorm.

'Keep that light on the curb Cindy!' Jessie shouted above the sound of the wind, getting a mouthful of rainwater for her troubles. She drank it eagerly, her mouth parched and her forehead hot. She could guess that it was from her wound. It was probably infected by now and causing her to get feverish. The rain felt so nice on her skin, so nice and cold. She leaned her head back, opening her mouth to catch the rain and drink it as fast as she could swallow. Suddenly, Warrior slid to a stop, rearing high as she clutched to the horn, a tree exploding from lighting not two hundred yards from them. 'Woah, easy boy, easy.'

Quickly she got him under control, patting his soaked shoulder as he quivered in fear. 'Easy boy, easy. Steady.' Her ears were ringing, her eyes sore from the bright flash. She shook her head to stop the ringing then looked back at Cindy. 'Are you alright?'

'Yes.' She shouted over the sound of the wind. 'You?'

'I will be if you don't squeeze me so tight that I can't breathe.' The girl loosened her hold. 'Thank you. Come on Warri, let's go.' She nudged him on, daring not go faster than a canter so he didn't slip. The thunder crashed, the lightning lit up the sky, they pressed on. 'Come on boy, get us home.' She pleaded, then coughed again. She didn't know why she had asked him to take her home, Heartland wasn't her home. She didn't have one. Not that it mattered now, all that mattered she was making sure Cindy got to safety and getting herself looked after.

She was starting to see black as her side hurt worse and worse. She placed her hand to it, then down in the torchlight. The rain washed the blood away. It had bled through again. She groaned. She had thought it wasn't that bad. It should have stopped bleeding by now. Why hadn't it? She was sure there were no arteries or veins that had been severed, but it was still bleeding with a slow steady stream. It just wouldn't stop.

The darkness threatened to take her in its grasp but she fought it off the urge to faint. She had to get back to Heartland, she had to get Cindy to safety. She scrunched her eyes shut as Warrior slipped, jerking her body roughly. She gasped in pain as she held her side, her breathing fast and shallow. 'Easy boy, easy.' Warrior sidestepped as he regained his footing then stood snorting as the rain poured down on them. 'Eaaasy eaaasy.' She cooed as she patted his shoulder with her free hand, still holding onto the reins as she stroked him. 'Cindy are you okay?'

'Yes.' She timidly replied, holding on tight. 'How much further?'

'A couple more miles. Just hang on Cindy, we'll be there soon.' She nudged Warrior and the stallion stretched out into a canter as fast as he dared. She held her gaze on the light from the touch Cindy was holding to keep her focused. Her side was aching, the darkness was closing in but she pressed on. She couldn't faint here. She had to get Cindy to safety. 'Get us home boy, please.'

As they came over the rise, down off in the far distance she could just see the lights of the homestead. Slowing the stallion slightly, she turned him off the highway and towards the road to the ranch. Her vision was going black, her hearing was like she was underwater but she pressed on. 'We're almost there Cindy, not much further now.'

A flash of lighting startled Warrior and he reared as it came too close for comfort, shattering an old pine in the paddock not far from the road. 'Woah boy, Woah!' The stallion reared again, Jessie clutching onto the saddle horn as tight as she could. Her ears were ringing and her eyes burned from the brightness. Warrior screamed as he reared high, taking the bit in his mouth. 'Easy, easy boy! Woah!'

Holding onto the reins, she tried to get him under control as the wind and rain picked up. She could hear branches and trees breaking as she struggled to hold him steady and not let him bolt. Warrior pranced underneath her, snorting, pawing the ground, tossing his head. She bit her lip till she felt it bleed as she tried not to succumb to the pain of her wound. The stallion pig rooted, jumping forward and jarring her more with his jagged, stiff legged movements. 'Please boy, calm down!'

'Jessie, are you okay?' Cindy asked as she held on tight to the horse with her legs. 'You don't sound so good.'

'I'll be fine once I get him under control.' The stallion backed up as she tried to walk him in circles to calm him. 'He's really spooked.'

'Just let him go, we're almost there anyway. If he wants to run, let him run.'

'It's too dangerous for him if he bolts, he could slip and break a leg. Easy, easy.' She patted his shoulder as he finally stopped spooking and stood. She could feel the tension running through his muscles, could feel how nervous he was as he flexed his neck and held the reins gently. She tried to show him that she wasn't frightened, but she was. She was terrified, even though she wouldn't admit it to Cindy. He was picking up on her emotions and it was only making him more nervous and on edge. 'Come on boy, it's not much further now.'

Warrior lifted his head high as he struggled to go faster, but she held him in at a choppy canter. Each stride jerked her already bruised body and caused more pain as she held onto the horn to hold her upright. Just hold on Jessica, you can make it. She thought to herself. Your made of strong stuff, it's not much further now. You've been through worse before, this is nothing.

Turning him into the drive, she let him go as another crash of lightning lit up the sky. Warrior bolted, taking the bit in his mouth and she didn't try to stop him. She was almost spent, every last bit of strength getting sapped from her body as she clung to the horn. Just a bit further.

They were galloping past the paddock now, Warrior having leapt over the cattle grid in one giant bound that had almost sent her and Cindy flying off his back. She pulled on the reins, trying to slow him before they crashed into something, pulling him in with everything she had. He slowed slightly as he bolted past the corral and into the ranch yard, skidding to a stop as the fence around the house came into view. 'Woah boy, woah!' He reared, and she felt Cindy let go of her and tumbled off his back. 'Cindy!'

'I'm okay!' She got to her feet quickly then lunged for the reins as the stallion jumped nervously. 'Easy boy, easy.'

'Just, get him under control.' Jessie wheezed as she slumped down on his neck, all her strength and energy drained. She lay still, her long brown drenched hair sticking to the stallions wet shoulder as the storm poured down on them. She didn't move.

'Jessie!' Cindy's eyes widened as she held onto the stallion, trying to calm him. Warrior stopped fighting and she quickly opened the gate as she held onto the reins and led him through. Leading him onto the porch, she dropped the reins as she knocked frantically on the door. 'Help! Someone please come help!'

The storm raged loudly outside but the laughter around the Bartlett dinner table drowned out the noise of the thunder. Lisa helped herself to more salad as Scott told of another prank he had pulled on Jack when he had been living in the loft and another roar of laughter sounded around the room. Lisa took her salad quietly, trying to be involved with the conversation but she had been unusually quiet the whole night.

'Lisa?' Jack leaned over to her as he had taken notice of her unusual quietness the entire evening. 'Something wrong?'

'Oh, nothing.' She plastered a smile on her face to reassure him. 'I'm fine.'

'You've just been very quiet, that's all.'

'I'm just tired. I had an early morning.' She glanced out at the window at the storm. 'Do you think it'll stop soon? I probably should get going.'

'I don't really want you driving in that weather. Its-' His sentence and everyone else's laughter was interrupted by a huge crash and clap of thunder and lightning. 'I think that got a tree.'

Mallory was up first, running for the kitchen window. Another bolt of lightning lit up the sky and she gasped. 'I certainly wouldn't want to be out there right now.'

'Do you think the barn will hold Grandpa?' Amy asked worriedly as the family joined Mallory at the window. 'It's getting bad out there.'

'The barn has weathered worse storms than this, the horses will be just fine.' He replied as Lisa stood at the window beside him. 'But I think we should go back and sit down, it's not a good idea to be near windows in a storm.'

Lisa looked at him as they walked back to the table. 'Looks like I'll be on the floor again in the living room if it doesn't give up soon.'

Jack chuckled, then looked over at Tim, Caleb and Scott as they sat back down at the table. 'You might want to bunk in with Mallory, I don't think you'll be the only one staying.'

She chuckled. 'Does she snore?'

'I don't snore.' Mallory protested, overhearing their conversation. 'But you better not.'

'I don't snore Mallory.' Lisa laughed, then was going to say something else when she thought she heard something on the wind. 'Did you hear that?'

'Hear what?'

'I thought I heard a horse neigh.' She glanced over at the window, then shrugged her shoulders. 'Guess I was wrong.'

Suddenly, there was a loud bang on the door, then above the roar of the wind, a girl calling out. 'Help! Somebody please come help!'

Lisa didn't wait for the others to go investigate, they hadn't even seemed to hear it. She heard a knock again. This wasn't a trick of the wind. Someone was there. She quickly went to the door, looking out the glass to see who it was. A young girl was there, dripping wet as she went to knock on the door again. The girl sprung back in fear as she opened it, then her eyes widened as she saw the body slumped over the neck of the horse behind her on the porch. Oh my God! Jessie! 'Jack!'