Chapter 6.1

Lisa looked down at the girl curled up on her lap, Jessie fast asleep as she gently ran her fingers through her hair. It was just after lunch the next day, Jack was packing up the remainder of their picnic they'd had, giving the rest of the food to Cougar who was lying down next to him. 'When should we start heading back?'

He glanced at his watch then at the sky. 'We'll let her sleep for the moment, it was quite a long walk for her to take in her condition. She needs to rest. We'll head back in an hour or so.'

'Sounds like a good idea.' She nodded, her fingers still running through the girl's hair. Lisa turned to him with a smile as she felt him watching her. 'Let me guess what you're going to say. Jessie and I are cute together.'

'That's not entirely correct.' Jack replied, moving over closer to her. In the sunlight her hair shone, her eyes sparkled with joy. She took his breath away. He brushed her cheek gently then looked into her eyes. 'Jessie is cute but you're beautiful Lisa Stillman.'

'Jack.' She blushed, chuckling as she looked away. 'Are you always this charming?'

'Maybe.' He slipped his arm around her and she lent her head down against his shoulder. He kissed her head gently. 'I've enjoyed this weekend with you and Jessie.'

'I have too.' She sighed, closing her eyes as she breathed the moment in. 'I never want this feeling to end. Happiness, peace.' She opened her eyes again, looking down at the girl. 'Jessie has been the happiest I have ever seen her, she's really blossoming into a beautiful young girl.'

'It's because of you Lisa. You're the reason why she's coming out of her shell. You're doing such a good job with her.'

'It's not just me Jack, it's because of you too.' Lisa took his hand in hers, glancing up at him. 'I saw you yesterday, how you were so patient and gentle showing her how to fish. You and her playing tag with each other, sitting quietly beside her at the campfire singing with her. Jessie adores you, you have a connection to her too. She's never had a man treat her with respect and honour as you do, she trusts you. That's a huge step for her to take and she only has you to thank. No one else would have given her the time or attention and care that you have.'

He smiled, his eyes averting to the girl in her lap. 'I want to make things right for her. I want to be the kind of father she didn't have. Jessie deserves that,at the very least.'

'Well I couldn't think of another person who would be better at it then you.' She encouraged with a smile. 'If someone told me five years ago that I'd be taking in an orphan girl and looking after her with a handsome cowboy I would have said it was crazy.'

'Is it crazy?'

'No.' Lisa replied sincerely, her eyes glistening. 'There is nowhere else and nothing else I would rather be doing then be right here with you and Jessie. For the first time in a long time I feel that I belong somewhere, that I have purpose. You and Jessie could never know how grateful I am to both of you. I can't imagine my life without either of you now.' She wiped a tear away that threatened to slip down her cheek. 'You both are all I need.'

'I'm glad to hear that.' He kissed her head again gently. 'You and Jessie mean the world to me.'

'And you to me.'

Jack glanced down at his watch after some time had passed, his arm still around the woman with her head on his shoulder. He smiled, seeing she'd fallen asleep too, her hand still resting on the girl's hair and her other holding onto his hand. It almost seemed sereal, like it was too good to be true to have them in his life. After Lyndy had been taken cruely by cancer he'd thought he'd never find another woman he could love as much as he did her, that was until Lisa Stillman had walked into his life and taken his breath away the first time she'd spoken to him. When Marion had been killed in that tragic accident that almost cost Amy her life too he'd thought his role as a father had been taken forever. Then little orphan Jessie had come into his life, yearning and crying out for love and affection. While he knew Lisa and Jessie could never replace the people he'd lost, their presence in his life helped to ease the pain their absence left in his heart.

'Lisa, wake up.' He whispered gently next to her ear as he saw the time was nearly two. They had to drive home, it was getting late and they still had a long hike in front of them to get back to the cabin. The woman stirred slightly then went back to sleep. 'Lis, we have to go. It's getting late.'

The low sound of Jack's voice beckoned to her and she woke with a yawn, looking up at him as she blinked her blue eyes sleepingly. 'What's the time?'

'Almost two, we need to get moving.' He glanced up at the sky. Clouds were starting to blow in and a slight breeze swayed the tops of the pines. 'Weather is starting to turn bad too.'

'Was a storm on the forecast?'

'No but the weather can be unpredictable this time of the year.' Jack placed his hand on Jessie, shaking her gently. 'Wake up Jessie, we've got to get moving.'

Jessie opened her eyes, yawning as she looked up at Lisa and Jack. 'I'm up. What's the rush?'

'We have to go home and we have to hike back yet.'

'Oh yeah. Can't we just stay another night?'

'I'm afraid not Jessie.' Lisa chuckled as the girl sat up. 'I need to get back tonight, I have a couple business meetings tomorrow.'

'It was worth a shot.' She shrugged. 'What do you want me to do?'

'I've got everything already packed Jess, we've just got to fold up the blanket and we can go.' Jack stood up, taking a corner as Lisa and Jessie got off the rug, Cougar still lying on it sleeping. 'Cougar, off you get.'

'Come on Cougar.' The girl patted the lion, encouraging her to get up. 'You can sleep in the car. Up you get.' The cat yawned, showing her fangs then reluctantly stood up and walked off the rug, her tail twitching with annoyance. 'Sorry but we've got to go.'

Lisa grabbed a corner, lifting it with Jack at the other end so they could shake the grass off before they folded it. 'Jessie, do you want to come sleepover at my place tonight?'

She thought about it for a moment as Jack placed the folded blanket into the picnic basket. 'I'll stay at Heartland for tonight Lisa, I need to spend some time working with Warrior. Sorry.'

'No it's okay Jessie, no problem at all.' She assured her, slipping her arm around her as they made their way back to the trail leading to the cabin. 'I'm going to be busy for the next few days but I'll try and come over to see you when I get five minutes.'

'I look forward to it.' The girl smiled. 'I might ride Warrior over to your place sometime too but I'll let you know first.'

'Sure.' Lisa turned to Jack. 'What are you plans for the week Jack?'

'I don't really know yet, I've got a few things that need taking care of. There's a couple fences on the boundary that need some attention, I'll probably fix them tomorrow.'

'I can help.'

'Thank you Jessie.'

'Your welcome.'

'Don't forget you need to send in the rest of those tests for your schoolwork Jessie.' Lisa reminded as she thought of it. 'They need them back as soon as possible.'

'I know, I'll try and finish them off tonight.'

'Good girl.'

'I'm going to run ahead.' Jessie announced after a bit, itching to go for a run. 'I'll see you back at the cabin. Come on Cougar.'

'What took you two so long?' Jessie teased with a smile as Jack and Lisa emerged from the trees. 'I've been waiting here for ages.'

'Haha rub it in Jess rub it in.' Jack chuckled, placing the picnic basket in the car next to where Jessie was sitting on the back 'Lisa and I had a nice little walk.'

'Hmmmmm.' Her eyes twinkled. 'Whatcha talk about?'

'You.' Lisa replied with a smile, the girl jumping out of the back so Jack could close it up. 'We had a nice little chat about you.'

'What about?'

'How naughty you are.'

'Jack.' She playfully punched him in the arm with a teasing grin. 'I'm not naughty.'

'No you're not.' He agreed, placing his hand on her shoulder. 'Your a good girl.'

'That's better.'

'Where's Cougar?'

Jessie nodded in the direction of the back seat. 'She's already in there, fast asleep.'

'We're ready to go then?' Lisa asked, glancing around to make sure they weren't leaving anything behind. 'You made sure the campfire was out?'

'I already put more water on it, it's definitely out. I also checked the cabin over twice.'

'Thanks Jessie.' He grabbed the keys from his pocket. 'I think that's that then, let's head back home.'

Jessie and Lisa went around to the other side as Jack got in the driver's seat and she laughed as she opened the back passenger door. Cougar was sprawled out the entire length of the back seat, blicking as she looked up at her. 'Cougar, I need to fit in here too you know.' She chastised with a grin. 'Come on girl, move over.' The cat yawned as she pushed her over to make room for herself on the seat. As soon as she had sat down the cat laid her head down on her lap and promptly went back to sleep. She rolled her eyes as she closed the door. 'Cougar.'

'All settled back there?'

'Yeah Jack, just let me put my seatbelt on.' She quickly put it around her as he started the car, adjusting after she had buckled it in so it didn't pinch her. 'Okay, I'm clicked in. Ready to go.'

'Did you enjoy yourself Jessie?' Lisa asked as they headed back to the main road.

'Enjoy it?' She repeated in disbelief. 'I loved it.' Placing her pillow against the window she rested her head against it, getting comfortable for the road trip. 'It's the best weekend I've ever had. Thank you both so much for bringing me up here. Can we do it again sometime?'

'I'm sure that can be arranged.' Jack smiled, glancing back at her in the mirror. 'What was your favorite part of the weekend?'

'One part?' She chuckled. 'The whole weekend was like a dream come true. If I had to pick a few things I'd say you teaching me to fish, curling up to Lisa next to the fire, singing with you and watching the sunrise and sunsets. What about you?'

'I'd say us reeling in that rock was pretty funny.' He heard the girl laugh from the back seat. 'But I enjoyed singing with you and our hikes. Nothing beats singing around the campfire toasting marshmallows and watching the stars.' He glanced at Lisa. 'What did you like best Lisa?'

'I just liked spending time with you both. Watching Jessie play with Cougar in the water yesterday is something I'm going to cherish and you two playing tag-'

'Yeah, Jack almost pushed me into the river.'

'Almost, but not quite.' He teased.

'I'm sure if you pushed me in Lisa would have made you go for a swim too.'

'I probably would have.' She agreed, looking at him with a mischievous grin. 'That would have made for quite a memorable moment.'

'Hmmmm.'

'As I was saying.' She continued with what she was saying before she got interrupted. 'Probably our time next to the campfire is my favorite from the whole weekend. There's something about sitting beside a campfire with those you care about. It's the little things that make the best memories. Like when you managed to get your hot chocolate all over your face Jessie.'

'Yeah yeah, pick the most embarrassing moment of the weekend.' Jessie chuckled. Jack had made a joke when she was trying to drink her hot chocolate and she'd managed to get covered in it when she tried to laugh at the same time she took a drink. 'That was Jack's fault.'

'Leave me out of this one you two.'

'Sure Jack, sure. You thought it was funny.'

Lisa smiled listening to their banter. 'I really had a good time with you two. I haven't had this much fun for a long time.'

'Now you get to go back to your boring old life hey?'

'I hardly think it's going to be boring with you around, my young mischievous rascal.'

'I'll take that as a compliment.'

Jack was about to reply to their conversation when his phone began to ring. He glanced down at it, frowning as he saw the incoming call. He didn't recognize the phone number. 'I'm surprised I've got the signal for a call to come through.'

'You want me to get it?'

'If it's important they'll leave a message Lis.' The phone rang out, then as soon as it stopped not a couple moments had passed before the same number rang again. He sighed, picking it up out of the center consol's cup holder. 'Jack speaking.'

Jessie watched the scenery flashing by, her head resting against the pillow. She was sad that their trip was over, she'd really enjoyed her time with just Jack and Lisa. For the first time she felt like she had family. They were family now, they'd taken her into their lives, giving her a home and a place in their hearts. She smiled, looking down at the watch around her wrist. They'd caught her off guard by their gift but it wasn't the actual item that had surprised her the most. It was the meaning of it. The inscription on the back meant everything to her. It warmed her heart, filling her with peace and love. She wasn't alone anymore. She had them.

'Who was it?' Lisa asked as Jack hung the phone up, trying to read his face. Something was wrong, she could see it in his expression. 'What is it Jack?'

'Callie, the next door neighbour's daughter called.' He replied soberly. 'He passed away last night.'

'Oh Jack, I'm sorry.' She placed her hand on his arm. 'Did she say what caused it?'

He shook his head. 'She didn't. Ray was going to take his cattle into the high country next weekend like he does every year, she was wondering if I'd be able to get some help to take them up till she gets things with his estate sorted out.'

'I'll help.' Jessie offered. 'Warrior and I are good with cattle.'

'I'm free too next weekend.' She agreed. 'So I'll come.'

'Thanks Lisa, Jessie.' He replied, silence descending upon them. Finally, he spoke up again. 'Alright, who's ready to do some singing?'