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Chapter 30.0

Jack quickly formulated a plan knowing that he needed to take charge if any of them were going to make it out of the storm alive. 'Lisa, hand Jessie to me and mount your horse. You'll need to carry her so that leaves me free to lead you back.'

She nodded, gently transitioning the girl over to Jack's waiting arms. The girl whimpered again from the movement but quickly quieted as she rested her head on Jack's shoulder. She fumbled for the stirrup, stiffly mounting the mare and finding the other stirrup with her foot before motioning for Jack to hand the girl back to her. 'Sssssh, we've got you.' She assured her as Jack tried to lift her as carefully as possible onto the horse. The girl looked up at her as she held her in her arms, Jessie bundled up tightly in blankets that only her face was visible. 'I've got you honey.'

Jack grabbed the mare's leadrope, looking around at the swirling snowstorm. A horrible realization flooded through him. He didn't know what way the ranch was, not in this blinding blizzard and there was no way of getting help. In this blizzard there was no getting word to anyone on the walkie-talkie and no one had any chance of coming to find them even if he was able to try and get help. He never had felt so alone, so helpless. Lisa and Jessie were relying on him. Their lives were in his hands. He looked back at Lisa, the woman cradling Jessie in her arms like a new-born baby. They had to get her back quickly but he had no idea which way to go. They were lost.

Warrior snorted, feeling Jack's tension and walked over to him, nudging him. Jack patted him, looking into the storm. Something was wrong. Didn't he know what way to go? He nudged him, pulling on the short rope that stopped him from going far from the buckskin gelding beside him. He knew the way, even if he didn't.

'Jack, let Warrior lead.' Jessie barely whispered, her voice so low that Lisa only just managed to make out what she was saying. 'He knows the way.'

Lisa looked over at Jack, he hadn't heard what the girl had said. 'Jack!' She shouted above the wind to catch his attention. He turned to her, coming over closer so she didn't have to shout. 'Jessie said to let Warrior lead. He knows the way back to the ranch.'

'Are you sure Jessie?' He asked the girl, hope flooding through him.

The girl nodded. 'He will lead us back to Heartland. Trust him.'

Did he really have any choice? It was starting to go black as night began to fall, they had to get back as soon as they could. 'I trust him.' He found himself saying, turning back to the stallion. He loosened the rope from his saddle horn, tying it to the gelding's halter instead so the stallion could lead them. He grabbed Lisa's horses leadrope so that he could lead her and tied it to his saddle then turned to the stallion. Warrior snorted softly as he stood beside him, patting him. He sniffed his hands, he could feel the stallion snort from the air rushing over his gloves. He patted him again. 'Lead us home boy.'

The stallion pawed the ground, anxious to get moving as he turned to his gelding and mounted. 'Go on boy.' Jack urged, taking hold of the gelding's reins in one hand and holding up the lantern in the other. The stallion started forward, his gelding following and Lisa's mare coming up beside. He glanced down at the ground, barely able to see the mountain lion keeping pace with his horse. Jessie certainly had a lot of explaining to do. That was a wild animal, not a house pet. Surprisingly, neither of the horses were at all worried about the cougar at their feet, another fact that bewildered him. What was the go with the mountain lion?

Lisa looked down at the girl as the horses trudged through the storm, Jessie's brown eyes looking up into hers. Oh Jessie honey. The girl's eyelids flickered, she was trying desperately to stay awake. How long had she been curled up beside her stallion trying to keep warm? Why hadn't she just come back to Heartland instead of staying out with this storm coming? What had happened? The girl closed her eyes, she waited for a moment to see if she would open them again of her own accord but the girl didn't. She shook her gently, waking her. 'Jessie, I know you're tired and you want to sleep but you can't honey. You need to stay awake.'

Jessie nodded, hearing her words faintly. She knew Lisa was right, she knew herself that to survive she had to stay awake but her body was screaming for her to sleep. Must. Not. Sleep. She told herself, trying to think of things to keep her mind off her desperate need for rest. 'Talk to me Lisa. Your talking could keep anyone awake.'

Lisa chuckled, knowing that despite the severity of their situation Jessie was trying her hardest to put a smile on her face. 'What do you want to talk about?'

'Anything.'

'Okay then.' She thought for a moment. 'How come you're worried about a mountain lion and are making us cart her along?'

'I knew you'd ask that.' She sighed, knowing that it was time to come clean about Cougar. 'I rescued her as a little kitten, she was barely bigger then my hand when I found her. I raised her on a bottle, she's been with me ever since.'

'You've kept her hidden all this time?'

Jessie nodded. 'I had to keep her a secret. I didn't want anything bad to happen to her if people found out. But now you guys know and-'

'Sssssh, you can't get worked up honey.' She interrupted her. It wouldn't help her getting worked up into a panic, she needed to stay calm. 'Let's talk about something else, shall we?'

'Okay.' She blinked the snowflakes out of her eyes, trying to huddle up closer to her. There were many things she wanted to ask her, many questions that needed answers but nothing was making sense to her in her foggy-minded state. 'Sing to me.'

'Sing?' The girl nodded. 'What do you want me to sing?'

'Anything.'

Jack glanced over at Lisa as he heard the woman start to sing an old country song to the girl, his face sober. Lisa was trying hard to keep her awake, he had heard their discourse but Jessie was struggling to stay with them. If she fell asleep, she would slip into unconsciousness as her body temperature went down further. They would lose her. There was no way they could help her if she went that far. Don't you dare die on us Jessie. He thought, looking at her. He couldn't help but feel sorry for her. What a terrible run of luck she had as of late with everything that had happened to her and now this into the bargain. When would she catch a break? He looked back at Warrior as the stallion led them on through the storm, his rump barely visible in the swirling, blinding snow. He was their only hope.

Amy peered out into the blinding snow from the kitchen window, cold fear snatching at her heart. They should have been back hours ago, it was almost night and still there was no sign of them. She heard footsteps coming up behind her, turning to see Caleb entering the kitchen. 'Still nothing.'

'They'll be okay.' He tried to assure her, placing his hand on her shoulder. 'Jack is made of steel and both Jessie and Lisa aren't shrinking violets. If anyone can make it through this, it's them.'

Ty chose that moment to walk into the kitchen, his eyes blazing as he saw Caleb with his hand on Amy. Caleb saw the look he shot him, quickly removing his hand from Amy's shoulder and excusing himself on the pretence he was going to go check on the stock. Amy looked at him then turned back to the window as Caleb left to go to the barn. 'Any sign of them?'

'Can't see a blooming thing in this snow.' She remarked coldly. 'They should have been back hours ago. It's almost night.'

'They'll be back.'

'I just feel so helpless, knowing they're out there and there's nothing I can do.' She sighed as she sank to a seat at the table. 'I want to do something, I need to do something.'

'You can do something.' Lou interrupted, walking into the kitchen with her hands full of empty plates from the early dinner they had taken. 'We can wash up.'

'I don't feel like washing up.'

She placed them down loudly in the sink, causing Amy and Ty to jump. 'We're going to wash up regardless of how you feel. Grampa and Lisa aren't going to need to come back to a dirty kitchen and dining room and it'll give us something to do while we wait.' She turned back to the dining room. 'Mallory, you can come help too.'

'I was just reading about a person who got lost in a blizzard.' Mallory begrudgingly left her laptop and walked in, grabbing a towel from the rack as Lou started to wash the dishes. 'They didn't find him till two years later and-'

'Mallory, don't you ever know when to keep your mouth shut?' Amy snapped. 'Grampa, Lisa and Jessie are stuck out there in the middle of one of the worst blizzards I can remember, goodness knows where and you come in here talking about trash like that. Where is your brain sometimes?'

'Amy!' Lou grouched, glaring at her as Mallory shrank back in surprise. 'We all might be worried about them but fighting isn't going to do anyone any good. Apologise to each other, now.'

'Sorry.'

'Sorry.'

'That's better.' Lou turned to Mallory. 'Mallory, please think before you speak in future. You do have a habit of saying the wrong thing at the wrong time.'

'Like all the time.' Amy added.

Mallory rolled her eyes. 'Sorry. I guess I know when I've been told.'

Lou sighed as Mallory stalked off, her bedroom door closing with a loud slam. The last thing they needed was to start arguing, tensions were high enough as it was but to have everyone under the same roof at each other's throats was not how she expected to be spending the evening. She turned back to Amy. She knew how she felt, she was worried for them too but taking it out on other people wasn't fair. 'They'll come back before you know it, I'm sure of it.'

'What if they don't?' Amy got back up, walking to the window without another word. Her eyes misted, thinking of them out in the storm. What if they didn't come back? By the time the blizzard cleared enough for people to go out to search for them there would be no point. 'They have to come back.' She whispered. 'They have to.'

Jack and Lisa's horses trudged on, following the stallion. Night fell, everything was black instead of a blinding white. The only light came from Jack's lantern, even it was snatched away by the storm before its light traveled a few feet. Neither of them had any idea if they were headed the right way, their faith and trust in the horse leading them. They had no other choice. If they didn't follow him there was no way they would survive. Warrior was their last hope.

Lisa looked down, trying to see the girl in the little light that Jack's lanturn offered. 'Jessie, are you awake?'

'Mmmmmm.'

'Jessie honey, you need to wake up.' She started to panic slightly at the girls sleepy reply and she shook her gently. 'Jessie, you can't sleep.'

Jack shorted the rope that Lisa's mare was on, bringing her closer to the gelding so he could look at the girl. 'Lisa, is she awake?'

'I'm trying to keep her awake.' She shook her again, focing the girl to open her eyes. 'I'm sorry honey, you can't sleep.'

'I. Know.' Jessie mumbled, her lips numb from the cold. 'Must. Stay. Awake.'

Lisa pulled the blanket over the girls mouth and nose, trying to cover her face better then it had been. 'Hang on honey, you can make it. It's not much further.' She hoped she was right for a faint flicker of hope crackled in the girls eyes. 'Your going to make it Jessie. Promise me you're going to make it.'

'I. Promise.'

'What do you want me to sing next?' She asked, her voice raspy from the cold but if her slight discomfort kept the girl awake it was worth the sacrifice. 'I've sung everything off the top of my head.'

'I. Don't. Care.'

'Nursery rhymes?'

'Yeah.'

Jack couldn't help but chuckle slightly as Lisa started to sing 'Twinkle Twinkle' to the girl in an effort to keep her awake. Watching her with the girl reminded him just how much Lisa loved her. He could see it in her eyes as she sang to her. She would do anything for her, even so far to sing little kids songs to her.

Suddenly Warrior stopped with a snort, pawing the ground. Jack's gelding stopped behind him, Jack halting Lisa's mare quickly. Something was wrong. 'I'll see what's wrong.' He exclaimed to Lisa as he dismounted, holding onto the rope to lead him to Warrior. The stallion snorted as he brought the light up to him. 'What's wrong Warrior?'

The stallion nickered, putting his head down and he followed the stallion's gaze. They had come to a closed gate, that was why the stallion had stopped. He lifted the lanturn to it, looking for the latch to open it as he tried to think what gate it was. It was one on Heartland, that was for certain but what one? He opened it, latching it back to let the other horses through and mounted again. There was no point in closing it, all the stock were down in the pasture next to the barn and he knew for certain it wasn't one of those gates.

'Why. We. Stop?'

Lisa looked down at Jessie as the girl's question reached her ears. 'There's a gate honey, Jack had to open it.'

'We. Close. Home. Then?'

'Yes, we're getting closer to home now honey.' She replied, noting that the girl had called Heartland 'home'. Her mare moved forward again, Jack guiding her with a short lead. 'It won't be much further, you just have to stay awake sweetie.'

'I. Know.'

'How is she?' Jack asked, trying to hear their conversation over the roar of the wind but unless Lisa was shouting he couldn't hear her. 'What's happening?'

'She's still awake.'

'Is she getting worse?'

'She's holding her own.' It was hard to tell really, the girl was really trying hard to stay awake. That was a good sign at least. 'How much further?'

'I don't know. Can't be much further now.'

They continued on, Jack having to swap from a lantern to a torch that gave a fainter light when the kerosene gave out. His gelding stumbled again, the horses were exhausted. Utterly spent. Warrior kept leading them on though, one hoof in front of the other. How much longer until they reached the ranch? Neither Jack nor Lisa knew.

Warrior snorted again, flicking his ears back and forward as he lifted his head up. They were close now, he could smell smoke coming from the chimney of the house on the wind. A new surge of energy flooded through him and he hurried on, forcing the horses to keep pace with him. They were almost there.

Jack felt the lead between Warrior and his gelding go slack again and pulled his horse up, Lisa's mare stopping beside him. 'I'll see what's wrong.' He shouted, dismounting. Carefully, holding onto the rope he walked to the stallion and looked for the reason why he had stopped. Another gate, but this one was one he knew. It was the gate to the house yard. 'Lisa, we're back. We've made it.' Quickly he opened the gate, following beside Warrior as they walked to the front door. 'Hand me Jessie.'

Jessie moaned as she felt him taking her off the horse, mumbling incoherently. She blinked, trying to figure out what was going on. Where were they? Had they made it?'

'Ssssh, sssh. You're okay.' Her head flopped uncontrollably against his shoulder, the girl not even having the strength to lift her head. 'I've got you. We're back at Heartland. We've made it.'

Lisa quickly dismounted, looking at Jessie as they headed onto the porch. The girl was still, limp in Jack's arms as he carried her and she quickly got the door for Jack.

'They're here!'

A flurry of people rushed at them as they walked inside, Jack quickly calming them down at taking control of the situation. 'Ty, Caleb, take care of the horses please. Be careful of the mountain lion-'

'Mallory.' Jessie mumbled. 'Cougar.'

Jack frowned, trying to make sense of what she was saying. 'Mallory, you know anything about her mountain lion.'

'Yeah. I've been looking after her for months.'

He didn't bother asking how or questioning her. Jessie was more important. 'Okay, you go bring her in and take care of her. Amy, Lou, you're going to need to help Lisa change Jessie into dry clothes. We need to get her warmed up.'

'Let's get you to Mallory's room.' Lisa caught the look in the girls eyes as she carried her down the hallway, Amy and Lou following her. She didn't want them seeing her scars. 'Lou, Amy, I can take care of getting her changed. Can you go move Jessie's bed away from the fireplace? She can't be warmed up too quickly because it will shock her body.' They nodded, heading back out and she saw Jessie visibly relax with relief. Gently she began to unwarp the blankets from around her, pausing to stroke her cold cheek gently when the girl whimpered in pain. 'It's okay honey, you're going to be okay.'