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Chapter 24.0

Jessie looked at Matt with fire in her eyes as she again told him to let Lisa go. She could see Lisa was on the verge of collapsing, the way the man's arm around her neck stopping her from breathing. She had to do something. She was about to black out or get shot. Her leg protested from standing for so long but she grit her teeth through the pain. Slowly, ever so slowly she began to inch her hand closer to her pistol. Her heart pounded. She could miss him completely and get Lisa, there was so many things that could go wrong. One fraction of an inch was all it would take. If she killed him, Lisa would be a witness to murder. If Lisa got killed, she couldn't live with herself. There was only one thing for it, and that was to shoot the gun out of his hand. She could only pray that it wouldn't come to that. She couldn't be sure of getting the pistol with the first shot, there was so- She forced herself not to think of it as she tried to speak with authority. 'Last warning. Let. Her. Go.'

'Oh Jessie, Jessie.' Matt snarled, smirking at her as the woman tried to speak, his hand covering her mouth. 'That's not going to happen.' His finger went to the trigger. 'Say your goodbyes.'

Before Jessie's pistol could clear leather a shot rang out and Lisa fell to the ground, motionless. 'No!' Jessie screamed, running to the woman as her father's laughter rang in her ears. She fell to her knees beside the woman's body, already the dirt underneath her was turning crimson with her blood. She began to cry, looking at Lisa. The woman was dead, killed because of her. 'NO!'

'No, no.' She whispered, her eyelids twitching as she spoke in her sleep. 'No.'

Lisa looked at Jack, hearing the girl's sleep-talking and glanced back at her. Cindy and her grandmother were occupied with a game of Chess and hadn't noticed the girl stirring. 'Has she been having nightmares again?'

'She hasn't said anything to me about her having nightmares.' Jack looked over at the girl, concern evident in his expression. 'She's been under a lot of stress lately, it's probably brought them back.' The girl turned over again, frowning as she continued to mumble in her sleep.

Matt laughed, leaning down over her as he reached for her jacket. 'That's what happens when you try and run from me.' He chuckled as he yanked her to her feet, the pistol still warm from the shot pointed at her head. 'People die.' The girl sobbed as he pushed her towards the trees, back to where he had left the man tied up. 'When will you ever learn?'

Tears ran down her face. 'Why? Why do you hate me? Why did you have to kill Lisa?'

'Shut up and keep walking.' He growled, forcing her to walk on. They walked to the grove where Jack was tied, the man looking up as he pushed the girl forward. The girl buckled under his grasp, falling to her knees and he kicked her roughly in the ribs. He pointed the gun at her, laughing as he enjoyed the expression of terror in her eyes. 'Na, not yet Jessie. You can relax, your time hasn't come. Yet.'

Jack glared at him, the poor girl cowering on the ground. He'd heard the shot and he knew by the look in the girls eyes the man had killed Lisa. The girl sobbed as she tried to get up but was sent sprawling on the grass again with another kick to her ribs. 'What do you want?'

Matt didn't reply, instead another bullet found its mark. He looked back down at the girl as she cowered at his feet, aiming the pistol at her. 'I've waited a long time for this.'

'No!' Jessie's eyes flew open, her heart pounding as she gasped for air. She couldn't breathe, she couldn't breathe.

'Hey hey.' Lisa was at her side in an instant, wrapping her arms around the girl. 'Hey, it was just a dream. Your okay, your okay. Ssssh, sssh.' She kissed the girls head gently as she held her tight. 'Your okay. It wasn't real. It's just a dream.'

She nodded as she slowly calmed down, taking a deep breath. She closed her eyes, learning into Lisa's arms. It was okay, it was just a bad dream.'

'What's wrong with Jessie?' Cindy asked Jack as she quietly walked over to him, the chess game she'd been having with her Grandmother well and truly interrupted. 'What happened?'

'She just had a bad dream.' Jack replied softly, looking back at the girl and Lisa. 'Lisa's looking after her, why don't you finish your game off and then we'll go look after Warrior for Jessie okay?'

'Alright.'

'Your okay.' Lisa reassured the girl gently, stroking her hair. The girl wasn't crying, she just lay there in her arms with her head on her shoulder as she slowly began to calm down. 'You okay.'

'I'm fine now.' Jessie pulled away, holding herself together as she looked up at her. 'Thanks.'

'Are you sure?'

She nodded. 'It was just a dream.'

'Do you want to talk about it?'

The girl shook her head. 'No.' She sighed, yawning. 'I'm fine. I think I'll try and get to sleep again.'

'Alright honey.' Lisa kissed her head gently as the girl laid back down again. 'Sleep well, my girl.'

Jack and Lisa sat on the couch together after everyone had gone to bed, quietly watching the fire in silence. Cindy was going to be leaving tomorrow, the girl had insisted on sleeping with Jessie since it was the last night they were going to be together and so she was asleep on the floor next to the girls bed. Mallory had bunked in with Amy for the night so Eleanor could have a room and Lisa had insisted on staying too so she could keep an eye on Jessie. If she was being totally honest, she was really concerned about the girl. Jessie was starting to shut her out, shut down again and Cindy hadn't even left yet. She could only imagine what the girl was going to be like when Cindy did leave.

'Penny for your thoughts?'

She smiled, looking up at him as her head rested on his shoulder. 'I'll give you them for free.' She glanced over at Jessie, the girl sound asleep with Cindy lying beside her. 'I'm worried for her Jack. She's not herself lately.'

'She has been a bit out of sorts, Cindy leaving, her leaving.' He sighed. 'I just wish there was more we could do to help her.'

'We've done what we could.' She assured him, though it was little comfort to both of them. The decision if she was going to have to leave or if she could stay wasn't up to them. It was up to the authorities and now the waiting game had begun. 'It's out of our hands.'

'I know.' He kissed her head gently, Lisa snuggling up closer to him. 'Are you cold?'

'A little.' The temperature inside had fallen as it got colder outside, the wind picking up as a slight patter of water on the roof told it was raining.

Jack grabbed a blanket off the back of the couch, placing it over her. 'That better?'

'Thank you.' She smiled again, turning back to the flames dancing in the fireplace. Jessie started to stir, tossing and mumbling in her sleep again then the girl sat up with a slight sob, quickly wiping her eyes dry. 'Jessie honey, are you okay?' The girl shook her head, not looking at them. Her heart ached for her. It broke her seeing her like this. 'Come here sweetheart.'

Jessie got up carefully so she didn't disturb Cindy and went over to them, Lisa moving over so the girl could sit between them. She sat down, snuggling up to Lisa as the woman shared her blanket with her. She blinked sleepingly, yawning softly. 'Thanks Lisa.'

'Your welcome honey.' She placed her arm around her, Jack getting up to stoke the fire again. 'Nightmare?'

'Yeah.'

'Was it the same one as before?'

Jessie shook her head as Jack sat down beside her again. 'It was a different one.'

'Do you want to tell us Jessie?' Jack asked gently. 'We're happy to listen.'

'It was about Cindy leaving.' She replied, looking down at the floor. 'It was just silly.'

'It's not silly if it made you this upset honey.' Lisa brushed the girls cheek gently with her fingers. 'You know Cindy is going to be looked after, her grandmother is a very nice woman.'

'That wasn't what it was about.'

'Then what was it?' Jack encouraged gently.

'I don't want to talk about it, please.' She looked up at him, her eyes pleading with him not to keep pressuring her. 'Please, just leave me alone.'

'Alright honey, if that's what you want.' He placed his hand gently on hers. 'You know Lisa and I'll be here when you're ready to talk.'

'I know.' She smiled at them. 'You've both been so good to me. I'm going to miss you guys terribly when I go.'

'We're going to miss you too sweetheart.' Lisa replied, fighting back tears as she kissed the girls head gently. She really hoped and prayed that a favourable decision would be made before that happened but logically she knew the chances of that were slim at best. 'But we'll keep in touch this time okay?'

'Yes.'

'And you are always welcome here.' Jack added, the girls hand still in his. 'Your always going to be welcome here.'

'Thank you.' Her eyes started to water but she quickly blinked the tears away. She'd done more then her share of crying for one day. Her heart yearned to stay with them forever, they were the people she wanted to live with. They cared about her, they looked after her, they made her feel safe. Cindy had that, in her Grandmother. Would it ever be possible for her to have that too? That was what her dream had been about, a result of her thoughts that wouldn't leave her even when she was asleep. She couldn't share that with them though, could she? She didn't want them to ask her to stay just because she wanted it. She didn't want them saying she could stay out of feeling sorry for her. She couldn't take it being from pity. She didn't want pity, she wanted love. 'That means a lot to me.'

'I'll try and come see you when I head through Vancouver.' Lisa continued. 'I have to go there pretty often.'

'I'd like that.' She snuggled up closer to her, her legs tucked up underneath her on the couch as she tried to get comfortable. Lisa chuckled, fixing up the blanket over her then started to gently stroke her hair. Her eyelids started to droop again, her body relaxing against Lisa. She yawned, closing her eyes as the woman kissed her head gently. She felt safe in her arms.

Jack smiled as Lisa's eyes met his gaze, the girl falling asleep on her. Gently he placed the girls hand back down on the blanket, grabbing another one to place around Lisa so she wouldn't get cold. She smiled, whispering a thank you as he covered her shoulders and he nodded. He kissed her cheek gently, Lisa's eyes sparkling. She looked so beautiful in the dim firelight, stroking the girls hair softly as Jessie fell fast asleep, dead to the world. 'I'm going to head to bed. You'll be okay here?'

'I'll be fine Jack.' She whispered, touched by his concern for her wellbeing. He had been so gentle when he had wrapped the blanket around her, a smile coming to her lips as she thought of it. His kindness, his gentleness was what she loved most about him. She looked down at Jessie asleep in her arms, reassured that Jack was the perfect man to be a father figure for her. He had always been so gentle with her and Jessie, he could never understand just how much that meant to her. 'You go to bed, I'll be okay.'

'I'll see you in the morning.' He kissed her cheek gently again, lingering for a moment with his hand on her shoulder. He knew what she was thinking from the look in her eyes as she gazed at Jessie again. She was thinking about them trying to get custody of her. If they didn't- He knew it would be devastating for her. Lisa loved the child with her whole heart, it was plain to anyone that could see their connection. 'Things will turn out, you'll see.'

Jessie and Jack worked quietly together in the kitchen next morning, preparing a special breakfast for everyone to enjoy as a farewell to Cindy since it was her last meal with them. Both Jack and Jessie were working hard to get it prepared while everybody was still asleep so that it would be on the table in time before Amy and Mallory had to catch the bus. Jessie was making up blue-berry muffins, knowing they were another of Cindy's favorite things to eat and Jack was at work with slicing up bread for french toast.

'Jack, can you pass me that muffin tin?' Jessie asked quietly as she finished mixing the batter in the bowl. 'These are ready to go in.'

'Sure.' He grabbed it and handed her the tray, taking a peek into the bowl. 'That looks good.

'Let's hope they taste as good as it looks.' She carefully divided the mixture up into the tray, placing them into the oven once she had filled it up. 'They'll be done in about half an hour.' She glanced at the clock. 'By the time that they finish cooking I think everyone will be running to the kitchen because of the aroma.'

Jack chuckled, glancing down at her as he paused what he was doing for a moment. The girl had snuck in to help him prepare breakfast and he was grateful she had otherwise it wouldn't have been ready in time. He'd wanted to make Cindy's last meal with them special and hopefully by keeping Jessie busy it would help keep her mind occupied. 'Thank you for helping Jessie, this was meant to be a surprise for you too but you had other ideas.'

'Jack, you were loud enough to wake the dead.' She teased with a smile. 'I wasn't about to sit back and let you have all the fun cooking while I slept.' She glanced around, wondering what she could do next. 'Now that the muffins are in I'm all free. What do you need me to do now?'

'You could start on pancakes if you want.'

'Alright.' The girl headed to the pantry to grab the ingredients she needed to make pancakes. She glanced out to the living room, a smile on her lips as she saw both Lisa and Cindy still sleeping peacefully. Her smile soon faded however as she glanced at the clock. In less then three hours they would have to say goodbye, Eleanor having chosen to leave early since she had an appointment she had to make it to in Calgary. Quickly she forced Cindy leaving to the back of her mind, focusing instead on the task at hand as she searched for the baking powder. 'Got everything from the cupboard.' She exclaimed as she placed the items on the table. 'I'll just need the eggs and butter once you're finished with them.'

'You can take them, I'm done with them for the moment.'

'Thanks.' The room fell silent again as they both set to work on their part of preparing breakfast. Jessie glanced out the window as she sifted the flour into the bowl, her reflection staring back at her. She paused, placing the sifter down. Her eyes looked haunted, sad, broken. Was this what other people saw when they looked at her? A girl who didn't really even live inside herself anymore?

'How's it going?'

Jack's question stirred her from her trance and she quickly picked up the sieve again. 'Just have to add the eggs, milk and butter now.' She replied, trying hard to sound cheery. She glanced at the oven, the aroma of the baking muffins already starting to waft around the room. 'They're looking good.'

'They are.' He agreed, grabbing an empty frying pan for Jessie to cook the pancakes in. 'Your a good cook Jessie.' The girl blushed slightly from the compliment. It was true. The girl was a good cook, she knew horses and life on a ranch and the new drawing on Amy's dresser hadn't slipt past his attention. The girl was talented from what he'd seen and somehow he knew that that wasn't all she could do. 'Isn't there anything you can't do?'

'Accept change for one.' She replied, placing the butter into the pan to melt. 'I guess its something I have to deal with though hey? Unfortunately I have a feeling that I'll be having my fare share of 'change' before I turn eighteen.'

Jessie's reply brought Jack back to reality, reminding him of what the girl was going through. 'I'm sorry Jessie, I shouldn't have said that.'

'You didn't mean it.' The girl shrugged. 'Don't worry about it.' She placed a little bit of pancake batter into the pan, the batter sizzling as it hit the butter, letting her know that it was hot enough for her to start cooking. 'So-' She tried to make conversation. 'When are you and Lisa going on your next date?'

'Date?' He echoed.

'Don't play with me Jack.' She teased. 'I saw the way you looked at her last night. Someone has got you hook, line, and sinker.' Jack blushed, turning back to the french toast he was cooking. 'Where are you going to take her next hey?'

'Sometimes you notice too much for your own good.' He chuckled, glancing at her. It was hard sometimes to remember that she was the same age as Mallory, they both acted so differently even though they were both twelve. Jessie had matured quickly where's Mallory was still practically a kid. It sobered him for a moment. Jessie never really had had a childhood. 'I haven't decided. Maybe to Maggie's in town again? I haven't even thought that far.'

'Let me give you a little advice.'

'You give me advice?'

She chuckled as she nodded. 'Lisa loves horses and she likes being outdoors. Take her on a trail ride and have a picnic with her. She seemed to enjoy the one we had the other day and I think she'll enjoy it more when we're not around.'

'Don't say that, she likes spending time with you two.'

'You know what I mean Jack.' She rolled her eyes. 'She hasn't had much alone time with you with us around.' She flipped another pancake then pulled it out of the pan and flipped it onto a plate. 'One down, a mountain more to go.'

'What's going on in here?' Lisa asked sleepingly as she walked in, yawning softly. 'I thought I heard you two talking.'

'Breakfast.' Jessie replied, pouring more batter into the pan. 'Jack and I are cooking breakfast.'

'Morning Lis.' He smiled as he looked at her. 'You look like you could use a cup of coffee.'

'I could do with a cup. Thanks.' She took a seat at the table, yawning again as she glanced at the clock. 'I'm not normally up at this time.'

'So you're not a morning person?' Jessie smirked, turning the heat up on the stove a little. 'I'd never have guessed.'

'Jessie.' She chuckled, taking the mug that Jack handed her. 'How did you sleep?'

'Good, thank you for being my pillow all night. Sorry 'bout that. I didn't mean to fall asleep on you.'

'It's fine, I didn't mind. I'm just glad you were able to get some rest.' Lisa looked over at the oven as the aroma that had woken her got stronger. 'Those blueberry muffins in there?'

'Most definitely are. They're Cindy's favorite so since we're having a special breakfast I thought I'd make her some. She can take some with her for the road too.'

'That's so thoughtful of you.'

'Selfish more like.' Her eyes glinted mischievously. 'I dreamt about blueberry muffins last night and I woke with a craving for them. Cindy was just the excuse to make them.'

'Oh you.' She exclaimed with a smile, tossing a hand-towel her direction which the girl promptly caught. 'Cheeky thing.'

'You bet I am.'

'Is that blueberry muffins I smell?'

Jessie turned around at Cindy's voice as the girl walked in and nodded. 'Yep.'

'They smell so good.' She looked in the oven hungrily. 'How much longer till they're done?'

'Another ten minutes.'

'Can't I have one now?'

'Cindy-'

'Yeah yeah, I have to wait. I think I had better leave till they're done, they're talking to me.' She sighed. 'I'm going to get Grandma up.'

'Okay.'

'Knock on Amy's door too please Cindy, Mallory and her need to get up for school.'

'Sure Jack.'

'Anything I can do?' Lisa asked as Cindy headed down the hallway, placing her empty cup in the sink.

'There's some fruit in the fridge that needs to be cut up to put on the pancakes.' Jack replied as he pulled out the last piece of the french toast, placing it aside with the rest of them. 'There's some cream and maple syrup in there too.'

'Alright, I'm on it.'

'Pancakes are done.' Jessie announced, flipping the last one onto a plate. 'Anything else?'

'Just eggs and bacon.' He handed her another carton of eggs. 'I'll do the bacon.'

'Something smells good in here.' Mallory exclaimed as she walked in, helping herself to the fridge as Lisa tried to get something out. She grabbed the orange juice, ignoring the fact that Lisa was slightly annoyed with her barging in. She poured the last of the juice into a cup for herself, tossing the empty cartoon in the bin. 'We're out of juice.'

'Good morning to you to Mallory.' The bacon sizzled as it cooked in the pan. 'I'm good this morning, glad you are too.'

'Jack, stop being so melodramatic.' She rolled her eyes as she sat down at the table, grabbing a strawberry that Lisa had cut up. 'So, how's everyone doing with Cindy leaving today-'

'Mallory why don't you go see if we have some juice in the cellar?'

'You don't keep juice in the cellar.'

'No matter. Go check anyway.' He ushered her out of the kitchen before she said something else without thinking. He turned to Jessie, the girl flipping another egg over. 'How are they going?'

'Good. Almost done.' She replied, a slight strain in her voice. 'Mallory sounds happy about Cindy leaving.'

'You know what Mallory is like. Speak first, think later.'

'Yeah.' Jessie shrugged, satisfied that the eggs had cooked long enough. 'You want me to set the table now? These are finished.' He went to reply but the sound of the timer on the oven beeping cut him off and she quickly turned it off. 'I'll just get these out first.' She opened the door, the aroma of cooked muffins greeting her. 'Mmmm.'

'Are they finished?' Cindy asked, hurrying back into the kitchen. 'Are they cooked?'

'Yes, yes Cindy.' She replied, looking at the knife she had poked into one of them. The knife was clean. 'They're done.'

'Yay.' She went to grab one, then pulled her hand back as the muffin burnt her skin. 'Ouch, they're hot.'

'They just came out of the oven Cindy, of course they are hot.' Jessie chuckled. 'Go run your hand under the tap and take a seat at the table. I'll bring you one in.'

'Brilliant.'

'I've finished up here.' Lisa put the fruit she had cut into a bowl ready to take out to the table. 'You want a hand getting those muffins out Jess?'

'That would be great.' She replied in relief as Lisa took the other side of the tray with a kitchen mitt. 'They are hot.'

'Morning Grampa, Jess, Lisa.' Amy greeted as she walked in, looking around the kitchen. 'I was going to say I'd help but everything looks like it's under control.'

'You could set the table Amy if you want to.' Jack put the frypan into the sink to cool down. 'Is your sister up yet?'

'I think so.' She grabbed the plates from the cupboard. 'Lou, are you up?'

'Yeah.' Came the reply from up the hallway.

'I could have done that.' He grumbled, slightly cross with Amy for shouting in his ear.

'Told you there was no juice down in the Cellar.' Mallory reported as she walked back into the kitchen from the outside, hanging her coat up. 'But you didn't listen.'

'Mallory, help Amy set the table please.'

'Sure Jack.' She rolled her eyes. 'You wake up on the wrong side of the bed this morning?'

'I heard that.'

Jessie slunk out of the kitchen, leaving Jack to deal with Mallory. She headed over to the table where Cindy was seated, waiting for her. She chuckled, placing the plate she had been carrying down in front of her. 'Your muffin Princess.'

'Jessie.' Cindy teased. 'Your supposed to call me Your Majesty.'

'Oh, sorry.' She curtised. 'Your Majesty.'

'Better.' The two girls broke into laughter at their silly discourse, Jessie taking a seat beside her. 'Jessie, this muffin tastes awesome. Even better then the ones Grandma makes.' She learnt over close to her ear. 'But don't tell her I said that.'

'Your secret is safe with me.' She promised with a smile, turning as she heard footsteps coming up the hallway. It was Eleanor. She couldn't help the pang of emotion that rushed over her as she saw the woman but she quickly contained it. 'Morning Eleanor.'

'Morning Jessie.' She sat down next to Cindy. 'I heard you two laughing from down the hallway. What mischief are you two up to now?'

'It's just a silly little joke between us Grandma.' Cindy replied, breaking a piece of her muffin off. 'Here. Try this. Jessie made it. It's really good.'

'So this is what woke me this morning. I could smell it from the room.' She ate the piece Cindy gave her, nodding in agreement. 'Wow, they are good Jessie. Where did you learn to cook like this?'

'A lady I knew taught me. I'm glad you like it.' She faked a smile even though inwardly she was breaking. 'I can write you out the recipe if you like.'

'I'd appreciate that.'

'Alright, I'll go write it out now.'

'Aren't you going to eat?' Cindy asked as Jessie got up.

'I already ate.' She lied. 'Thanks for asking though. Do leave me a couple muffins for later though please.'

'I'll try not to eat them all.'

'Thanks.' Jessie turned, making her escape from the dining room to Mallory's room. She closed the door behind her, slumping against it as she closed her eyes. Pretending everything was okay was absolutely exhausting. She reminded herself it was only for Cindy's benefit, the girl didn't need to know just how much of an effect all this was having on her. It would only serve to worry her and she didn't need that. This was supposed to be a happy time with her. She was going home.

The sound of chairs moving on the floorboards and clanking plates reached her ears, telling her that they were all sitting down to eat. Laughter rang out, Cindy's high pitched laugh recognizable a mile away. For a moment she wondered what they were laughing about, contemplating going back out there to join them but at the moment she didn't feel like faking it. Lucky for her, the excuse of the recipe was her escape. She didn't have to sit with them and pretend everything was okay. Sighing, she walked over to the desk and grabbed a blank piece of paper and a pen and began to write….