Hi guys,

Nothing much to say, I don't feel much like talking... Thank you all for your support and enjoy the update...

Chapter 4.1

'Here we go.' Jessie announced as she slid the fish from the frying pan onto the plates. Carefully she got up from beside the fire and carried the plates over to the table. She looked over at Jack and Lisa as they put the fishing gear and other things away and motioned for them to come over. 'Dinner is finished.'

'This looks awesome Jessie.' Jack complimented as he walked over, pulling out Lisa's chair for her then took a seat beside her. 'You've done a great job.'

'Thanks.' She blushed slightly, looking down as she avoided his gaze. Receiving compliments without getting embarrassed was another thing she had to work on. 'I hope you like it.'

'You've done better than I could have.' Lisa added as she cut a piece of lemon and squeezed the juice out over her fish. 'I could never get the hang of cooking over an open campfire.'

'Just like I can't get the hang of fishing.' She giggled, getting herself a piece of lemon after Lisa had finished with it then handed it on to Jack. 'As long as Jack and you can catch it, I'll cook it. I think that's a pretty good deal, don't you?'

'I'm not complaining.' He replied as he dug into his meal. 'You've done well Jessie, it's as good as it looks.'

'Thank you.'

'It is Jessie.' Lisa reinstated, the girl's tone conveying her lack of conviction. 'You're a good cook.'

Jessie smiled, savouring her fish. Silence fell upon them as they slowly ate their dinner, the three of them each absorbed in their own thoughts. She was the first to be finished, pushing her plate away as she leaned back against her chair. 'What are we doing tomorrow?'

'I thought we might go for a bit of a hike and do some more fishing.' He placed his knife and fork back on his plate as he finished his meal. 'What do you want to do Jessie?'

'Hiking and fishing sounds great.' She agreed, scraping the scraps from her plate into Cougar's foodbowl on the ground next to her. 'I might do some drawing too. What about you Lisa? What are you going to do?'

'Enjoy my time with you two doing whatever you guys are doing.' She handed the girl her plate so her scraps could be added to the mountain lions dinner. 'I don't have anything planned.'

'Maybe we could do some drawing together.'

'Sure.'

'Great.' The girl placed the food bowl on the ground and clicked her fingers. 'Here girl. Here's your supper.' The mountain lion padded over to them and quickly set upon eating her dinner. 'Good girl.' She cleaned her hands in the bucket of water Jack had brought up from the river to wash the dishes in and grabbed the gloves so she could get the lid off the camp oven. 'Who's ready for dessert?'

'So that's what you had cooking in there.' Jack cleared the table away as the girl headed over to the fire. 'What'd you make?'

'Just wait a moment Jack and you'll see.' She chuckled, getting the lid off. The smell of banana bread filled the air and she breathed in deep of it. There was nothing she liked more than banana bread cooked in a camp oven. Carefully she pulled it out then carried it over to the table. 'Lisa, can you get that cooling rack please? It's hot.'

'Here you go.' She glanced over the girl's shoulder as she placed it on the table, the smell giving away what it was. 'You made banana bread?'

'Yep. It's my favorite.'

'Aren't you full of surprises?' Jack teased. 'Your spoiling us Jessie.'

She chuckled. 'Consider it payment for putting up with me the last couple of months. I know it hasn't been easy, I guess I'm kinda trying to make it up to you both. I hope you like it.'

'Banana bread was a favorite of mine when I was a kid.' Lisa grabbed three bowls from the box and placed them on the table. 'I haven't had fresh baked banana bread in ages.'

'We'll just let it cool for a moment then I'll cut it up.' She grabbed a tea towel and carefully undid the ring around the cake, placing it aside. 'We've got butter?'

'I'll grab it.'

'Thanks Jack.'

'Here's a knife.' She handed one to her, bypassing the cougar still eating near the table. 'Your going to have to cook all the time, now that we know how good your cooking is.'

'Hey, my talents are only used for special occasions. I can't have everyone knowing how good I am, can I? They'll expect me to cook all the time.'

'I guess not.'

'Here you go Jessie.' He placed the butter down on the table as the girl began to cut it up and place it into the bowls. 'Lisa's right, I'll be able to retire from cooking with you around.'

'Don't hang your apron up just yet Jack, there's no way I'm taking over the cooking of breakfast at Heartland each morning.' She spread the butter in the bread and passed the bowls around, sitting down at the table again to eat her piece. 'I'll stick to barn chores and I have to run Warrior each morning.'

'It's okay Jessie, I was only teasing.'

'I know.' She smiled, enjoying the warm bread with the melted butter on top. Cougar rubbed up against her, purring loudly and she chuckled as she looked down at her. 'You want some too?' The cat rubbed her chin over her leg again and she gave in, cutting off a piece for her pet. 'Alright, here you go. Spoilt cat.'

'That was very nice Jessie.' Lisa commented as she finished hers off. 'I enjoyed it.'

'You can have some more if you like.'

'How about we save it for breakfast hey?'

'Alright.' She nodded, placing her empty plate with Lisa's. She stood up, glancing up at the sky as the sun began to set. 'I might just go for a quick walk to watch the sunset. Is that okay?'

'Sure honey.'

'Don't go too far.' Jack cautioned as he got up to help Lisa clear the table. 'It'll be dark soon.'

'I won't go far. Come on girl.'

Jessie headed down towards the river with her mountain lion beside her, the sunset light sparkling on the water. She climbed up a rock on a hill near the river, sitting down with her legs crossed as she gazed over the sunlight landscape. Cougar sat down beside her, resting her head on her leg and she automatically dropped her hand onto the cat's fur. She breathed in deep of the beauty as she sat silhouetted against the golden orange sky. The sun was slipping down behind high-peaked mountains in the distance, heralding the end of another day. The girl sighed in contentment, her fingers intertwined in her cat's fur. For the first time in a long time peace filled her soul. It was so peaceful here, so beautiful. It was like she was one with the nature of this place.

The last fading rays of sunlight danced on the river as Jessie sat in the quiet stillness. Her heart was at peace, her mind was at peace. She could relax, she could let her guard down. She could be a child again for a moment, just enjoying a beautiful sunset. She didn't have to worry about where her next meal was going to come from, didn't have to glance over her shoulder every two minutes because someone was after her. She was safe, she was content. There was nothing to fear, nothing to worry about now. She had Jack and Lisa.

Carefully she got up, the sunset over now and cautiously climbed down off the rock and headed back to the cabin. The firelight flickered in the distance and Cougar followed close behind her as they walked through the long grass. She could see that Jack and Lisa had finished cleaning and they were sitting beside the fire on a log waiting for her. 'It's so beautiful up here, that sunset was breathtaking.'

'You and Cougar on that rock made for a spectacular photo.' Lisa smiled as the girl took a seat between her and Jack. She grabbed her camera from her pocket, turning it on so she could show her the picture. 'What do you think?'

'It's beautiful.' Their silhouettes were almost black against the sunset sky, the picture conveying the peace and sinerary of the landscape. 'I'll have to try and draw that. It's gorgeous.'

'I hope you guys still have a little room left.' Jack exclaimed as he brought a packet of marshmallows out from their hiding place in his pocket. 'We can make smores.'

'Oh gosh.' Lisa chuckled with a smile. 'I haven't had toasted marshmallows or smores since I was a kid.'

'I've got room.' The girl replied, grabbing a long stick to toast her marshmallows with. 'I don't like smores though so I'll just have the marshmallows.'

'You don't like smores? More for me than I suppose.'

'Here you go.' Jack chuckled as he passed the bag to them. 'Want me to do yours Lis?'

'Sure.' She watched Jessie put her marshmallow on her stick and place it in the fire. 'You trying to sacrifice that Jessie?'

'I like mine crispy.' Jessie took it out after a few moments, blowing out the flame. 'Burnt on the outside, gooey on the inside. Just perfect.'

They sat quietly, toasting their marshmallows as the sound of the crickets mingled with the crackling of the fire. Jessie absent-mindedly toasted her marshmallows and ate them, listening to the sounds of the forest around them. Jack got up after a bit once they'd finished, putting the things they'd used away. The girl yawned as she leaned against Lisa, her eyelids getting heavy. 'I think it's almost bedtime.'

'Bedtime?' Lisa chucked, placing her arm around her. 'It's still early.'

'I think we tired her out, Lis.' Jack replied as he sat down beside them again. In his hands he held a small box, a gift for Jessie from both of them. 'You've had a big day.'

'Mmmhmm.' She murmured, trying to stay awake.

'It's not quite over yet Jessie.' She took the box from Jack and the girl sat up, looking at her with a confused look on her face. 'Jack and I have something for you, something special from both of us. The girls helped do your room as you're welcome to the family and we wanted to give you something too.'

'What is it?'

'You'll have to open it.' He smiled, Lisa handing the girl the box. 'Go on.'

'Oh guys.' Jessie breathed as she took the lid off to reveal the gorgeous watch she'd seen at Maggie's a couple weeks back. 'It's beautiful. You didn't have to do this for me.'

'We wanted to Jessie.' She replied gently. 'We wanted to give you something you can carry with you always, something to remind you how much we care about you. Turn it over honey.'

Carefully she took the watch out of the box, tilting it so she could read the inscription on the back. 'To Jessie. Know that you are in our hearts now and forever. Love, Jack and Lisa.' A date was inscribed under the message, the day they'd received guardianship of her. Her eyes started watering and she placed the watch back in the box as a tear slid down her cheeks. 'T-thank you so much.' Her voice was thick with emotion as she hugged Lisa then Jack. 'It's beautiful. I'll treasure it always.'

'Your family now Jessie.' Jack gently wiped a tear off her cheek. 'I promise you that I'll try to be the kind of father that you deserve, and know that you'll always have my love. This is a new beginning Jessie, it's the start of a new life for you. I'm glad to be a part of it and I'm proud to call you mine.'

'And even though I could never take the place of your mother.' Lisa interjected after a moment. 'And wouldn't dream of trying to take her place, know that I'll always be here for you, no matter where I am or what I'm doing. I hold you in my heart Jessie and if you hold me in yours we'll never be apart. You're growing into a beautiful young woman Jessie, and I couldn't be more proud of you.'

'I don't know what to say.' She uttered quietly, slightly in shock. She wasn't expecting this, she hadn't expected this. She looked up at Lisa and Jack as they both hugged her, a peace filling her heart. Her search was over, the longing of her heart had been filled. They didn't have to choose her but they did. Even as broken and crushed as she was they still saw worth in her. She meant something to them. 'Thank you.' She paused for a moment, then smiled as she looked at both of them. Words she hadn't said in years came to mind that she spoke with the innocence of a child who knew she was loved. 'I love you both so much.'