Two chapters in one day! Be sure to go read the previous chapter first! Enjoy!

Chapter 12.1

'How's it going cowboy?'

Jack turned around at Lisa's voice, smiling as she halted her horse near Paint and dismounted. 'Hi Lisa.'

'Hey.' She walked over to him after tying the gelding up next to Jack's horse, looking at the fence he was fixing. 'Cattle bring it down?'

'Yeah. I've just spent the last half-hour looking for strays that got out onto Big River.' He twisted the wire with the pliers, making sure it was taunt before he was happy that it would stay put. He glanced around behind Lisa, looking for Jessie. 'Jessie change her mind?'

'She's off with Warrior at the moment.' She replied as he finished fixing the fence. 'She's working on something with him, she said she'd catch up but I think she's probably more interested in what she's doing then joining us.'

'Where is she?'

'At Amy's course.'

He nodded, putting the pliers he had been using back into his pocket. 'How's she been this morning?'

'Alright, I think. She's a bit better than she was last night at least.'

'That's good.' He placed his arm around her as they made their way back to their horses. 'And how are you?'

'I'm doing okay. It was a bit of a shock listening to her last night but I'm alright.' She smiled, looking up at him. 'Thank you for asking though Jack.'

'Anytime Lis. So, what is Jessie doing exactly?'

'I'm not supposed to tell.'

'Lis-' He raised his eyebrows as they stopped beside their horses. 'She's not doing something dangerous is she? She did quite enough of that when she rode Warrior down that cliff.'

Lisa chuckled, untying her gelding. 'No, not quite like that. Come on, I have a feeling that she'll still be practicing.'

'For what?'

She sighed as she mounted the chestnut. 'Don't let Jessie know I've told you but she's thinking about going in the rodeo. She hasn't made up her mind yet, she's afraid that she'll make a fool of herself and you'll be disappointed with her.'

'Why would she think that?'

'Probably because you're a rodeo legend. She's afraid she'll let you down.'

'I'd be happy for her just giving it a shot, she couldn't let me down. Winning isn't everything.'

'That's what I said to her. I think she's just like that though because of the way Robert treated her. She thought she could please him to earn his love, I think she still has that mindset even though she's in a completely different circumstances now.'

'I kind of got that impression the other day.' He agreed as they trotted towards the clearing. 'She was so worried that I was upset with her because she was late coming back to the ranch. Everything makes sense now though, I just wish she'd told us sooner.'

'Would have made things a lot easier for both of us to understand her behavior but she'll only share what she feels comfortable with. She has to learn to trust us Jack, I think her past will always influence her to a degree regardless of how much time passes.'

'All we can do is love her Lis. I just hope things get easier for her but I have a feeling that it's not going to be smooth sailing.'

'No, I don't think anything in life is smooth sailing.' Lisa agreed with a sigh. The trees encircling the clearing came into view and they slowed their horses down. Through the trees she could see flashes of Jessie and Warrior and she smiled. 'Looks like to me they're getting the hang of it.'

'Okay boy, let's try it again.' Jessie patted the stallion as she tried to keep him at a standstill, the horse dancing in spot, eager to get moving again. 'Easy boy, easy. Let's just have a rest for a moment then we'll go again.' Warrior snorted, tossing his head again. She chuckled. 'I know you want to run but you have to learn patience too.'

She'd been letting him go faster around the barrels now, increasing the speed slightly with each run. He'd improved greatly since they'd first started, he was able to make tighter turns without losing too much speed and he'd settled down somewhat now that he understood what he needed to do rather than try and bolt into it right from the start. He hadn't lost his eagerness though, after every run he was as willing as ever to go again.

'Alright, you ready to go again?' She asked, collecting him underneath her so he was ready to spring forward. The stallion snorted, dancing in place. 'Okay, let's go again.'

Warrior fought her for a couple of paces as she cantered him in a small circle to make sure he was on the right lead then she let him fly as they turned to run the pattern. He galloped forward, slowing slightly as he turned around the barrel then sped up again to head to the next barrel. The girl had to slow him a little more as they approached the barrel, feeling that his weight was off a little but they made it around the second barrel without too much problem. They galloped onto the third barrel, the stallion automatically slowing himself and tucking his hindquarters underneath him to make the turn then stretched out into a full gallop as they thundered to the 'box' to finish the run.

'Woah, easy boy.' Jessie chuckled as she slowed him to a halt again, Warrior snorting and sliding to a stop at their marker. 'Good boy, good boy.'

'Well done Jess.'

She looked up at the voice, seeing Jack and Lisa on their horses at the edge of the trees just across from her. She chuckled, blushing. 'How long have you been there for?'

'A few runs.' Lisa replied as her and Jack rode over to her. 'Your actually doing quite well.'

'You think so?'

'You are Jessie.' Jack agreed, halting Paint near a tree not far from the girl and her horse. 'Why didn't you say anything about you wanting to try barrel racing Jess? You know I would have been more than happy to let you use the arena to practice.'

The girl dismounted, loosening the girth a little so Warrior could have a rest and she rubbed his forehead thoughtfully. 'I don't know.' She knew exactly why she hadn't said anything but she didn't want to voice the real reason as to why she hadn't told him about what he'd been doing. 'And out here is just fine, there's nothing that can distract him while we're training where at the ranch there's a mountain of different things.'

'Fair enough.' He agreed as he and Lisa dismounted, tying their horses up then coming over to the girl. 'You and Warri are doing quite well though.'

'We're getting better.' Jessie rubbed the stallion's forehead again, the stallion closing his eyes as he leaned against her. 'Aren't we boy?' He snorted, blowing on her. She chuckled. 'That's what he thinks of it I guess.'

'Have you tried timing a run yet Jessie?' Lisa asked, patting Warrior's shoulder as she stood on the other side of the horse across from the girl.

'Not yet, I can't either. Warrior's like a bomb about to explode before each run, it's hard enough to hold him in without trying to struggle with a stopwatch.'

'Do you want me to time your next run?'

'Sure.' She shrugged her shoulders. 'I'll let him have a bit more of a breather then I'll go again and probably call it quits after that. I don't want him getting bored of it though I highly doubt that would be likely.'

'So what's gotten you interested in barrel racing all of a sudden?' Jack questioned after the girl had been silent for a couple minutes. 'Any particular reason why you're training Warrior to do the barrels?'

'There is actually.' She blushed, knowing she couldn't hold off telling him about wanting to go in the rodeo any longer. 'I've been thinking about going in the rodeo. That's not a silly idea, is it?'

'Not at all Jessie. I think that would be a great idea.'

'Yeah, I still haven't made my mind up if I'm going to enter or not though.' The girl sighed, turning back to her stallion. 'I don't know if I should. What do you think Jack? Should I try?'

'Do what you want to do Jessie, don't make a choice based on what I think honey. You have to do what is right for you. If you want to enter, I say go for it but it's entirely your choice.'

'Not helpful Jack.'

'There's plenty of time for you to decide.' He rubbed Warrior's neck, the stallion sniffing his jacket as he patted him. 'How about you have your run and I'll give you some pointers, okay?'

'Alright.' She nodded, giving the black one last pat as she placed his reins over his neck and reached for the stirrup. He snorted and flexed his neck as she mounted, pawing the ground in his excitement to get moving again. She turned him around, feeling his muscles tense up beneath her like a coiled spring. She glanced over at Lisa as she and Jack stepped back to give the stallion some space. 'You ready to time me?'

'Just give me one moment.' Quickly she found the stopwatch on her phone. 'Okay, found it. On my mark-'

Jessie steadied the stallion as he snorted, holding him in at a halt. He was excited, she knew he was getting that from her emotions. He was ready to give it a proper shot and she was too. 'Easy boy, steady.'

'One-'

'Steady mate, in a moment.'

'Two-'

Warrior tossed his head again, pig rooting as he tried to jump forward but the girl held him in. 'Wait.'

Lisa cast a nervous glance over to the girl trying to control the stallion then pressed the start button on the stopwatch. 'Go!'

The stallion exploded forward, racing towards the first barrel. Jessie slowed him as they came around, turning so close to the barrel that she could feel it brush against her leg but it didn't fall over. They came out of the turn, Warrior galloping straight for the second.

Jack glanced down at Lisa's phone, watching as the seconds ticked buy. 'Come on Jess, you can do it.

Around the second barrel they zipped, tight and controlled just like the first one then headed for the final barrel. She could feel the stallion gathering himself underneath him as they came out of the turn, exploding into a full gallop in barely three strides. 'Go boy go!' She urged him as they galloped towards the 'box', her heels in his sides. Their momentum carried them past where Jack and Lisa were standing, the girl breathlessly pulling Warrior up into a slide stop past the 'box'. 'Good boy.' She praised, patting the stallion. Warrior flexed his neck, dancing in place for a moment then she turned him towards Lisa and Jack. 'How'd I go?'

'Twenty-three point two seconds Jess.' Lisa read out, a proud smile on her face. 'Not bad.'

'Not bad at all Jessie. This boy needs to learn a little patience though.' Jack chuckled , placing his hand on the girl's leg as she stopped Warrior between them. 'That's a decent time for a beginner however.'

'But would it be good enough for a competition?'

'Depends on the competition.'

'Hudson Rodeo?'

'I'd say you'd have a fair shot at it. You won't know unless you give it a try.'

'That time wouldn't make a fool of me?'

'Hardly. You still have plenty of time to improve though, you can only get better with practice. '

'Alright, well, what do I do know?' Jessie leant down over Warrior's neck to fix his bridle up. 'If I were to decide to enter the rodeo?'

'I think getting Scott to look him over would be a good idea, he looks like he's in good condition but it couldn't hurt for him to get a check up. He could give you some tips too on how to get him ready for competition. Maybe give you a proper training schedule for him too.' He glanced down at his watch. 'He'll be arriving soon actually to check Banjo over, I should probably head back to go get the gelding in. I think Ty went to town, Caleb's busy and Lou doesn't cotton well to going and catching a horse from the pasture.'

'I should be thinking about getting on my way too.' Lisa remarked, seeing what the time was. 'I'll ride back with you guys but then I'll have to go.'

'Do you think Scott would have time to check Warrior over too?' The girl questioned, waiting for Jack and Lisa to mount their horses. 'I probably should have gotten him to look him over before I started training him but I didn't think of it.'

'Couldn't hurt to ask. It'd save him coming back later to do it.' He patted Paint as Lisa got on her chestnut. 'You still planning on coming to the cattle drive Lis?'

'Yep. Wouldn't miss it.'

'Is Lou going to come?'

'I've got no idea Jessie, I've asked her but I think she's already made plans.' Jack turned Paint to follow Warrior and Treasure, riding just behind Jessie next to Lisa. 'Callie is really appreciative of getting the help, I've arranged for some other neighbors to come join us so we'll have plenty of help.'

'I can't wait to be back in the mountains on horseback again.' Jessie said with a hint of wistfulness in her tone. 'Riding all day, camping beside a warm fire at night, listening to the sounds of nature as dusk sets in-'

'Your making me wish it was the weekend already Jessie.' He teased. 'I can see you're excited.'

'I am. What about you Lisa?'

'Probably not so keen on the camping part but I don't mind putting in a good day's work.' She hastened the gelding slightly so he could catch up to Warrior. 'And I'll be with my two favorite people so I can't complain.' She winked at the girl and she smiled. 'What's happening about our sleeping arrangements though? I don't have a tent.'

'I've got a spare one for you and Jess, no need to worry about that. Just make sure you have bedding, you've got a bedroll?'

'Somewhere in the basement gathering dust.'

Jessie chuckled. 'You might want to shake off the dust Lisa, you might be getting to go camping more often than you have been.'

'Well I'm glad that's sorted.' Jack slowed his horse down to let Lisa go ahead as the trail narrowed to one horse width only. 'We'll have to have an early start Saturday, it's going to be quite a long day.'

'How early Jack?'

'We're leaving Heartland at seven.'

'That's going to hurt Lisa.' Jessie teased cheekily. 'Early morning.'

'I'll survive.' She replied to the girls ribbing. It was a known fact that she wasn't exactly a morning person. 'What about the horses though? Do I need to bring one?'

'That's all sorted, we're taking the horses Lou brought for the dude ranch to see how they go. Depending on what Scott says about Banjo depends on if Jessie brings Warrior or not. Lou was going to get her to take him but he's gone lame. I'll be taking Paint of course though.'

'I might need your help there Jack.' Jessie glanced back at him. 'And I'm going to need Paint too.'

'With what?'

'Warrior. I don't think he's going to cotton to the idea of going in another trailer very well, he was pretty upset from being moved last time. I think it traumatized him. He's never been in a trailer before that, except for that time when he was a foal.' She patted the stallion's shoulder, Warrior turning to sniff her boot then focused his attention back on the trail. 'He's going to have to learn to be trailered, there's no way of getting around it, especially if I want to compete with him later on down the track and things like that.'

'I have some free time this afternoon, I'll be happy to give you a hand.'

'Thanks.'

'Well.' Lisa exclaimed as they reached the bridle path crossroads, the three of them halting their horses as they prepared to part ways. 'I have to be heading back home so I'll see you two later.' She glanced at the girl with a cheeky look in her eyes. 'Be good for Jack, Jessie.'

'I'm always good.'

'I'll ring you tonight. Bye Jack.'

'Bye Lis.' He smiled then turned Paint to follow Warrior down the path back to Heartland. Once the path was wide enough for two horses he rode up beside the girl. 'I know I apologized to you on the phone last night Jessie but I am really sorry about what happened.'

'I know.' She nodded. 'It was both our faults what happened, I should have been more open with you about what was going on.' The girl sighed, patting her stallion again. 'I think it's going to be as much a learning curve for me as it will for all of us.'

'Just take it one day at a time Jess. That's all you can do.'

'Yeah.' Silence descended upon them as they rode back to the ranch, each of them absorbed in their own thoughts. It was easy for him to say that, it was easy to say take it one day at a time, but putting it into practice? That was a whole different story. Her fingers ran through Warrior's fur as she thought, her mind sorting through what she was trying to work through. She knew she had to move on but it was easier to think that then actually do it. She sighed again as they came out of the trees and headed across the yard to the barn. It was just going to take time.

'I'll take Warrior in for you, can you go get Banjo?'

'Sure.' She nodded as they halted outside the barn and she handed him the reins after they had dismounted. 'How long till Scott turns up?'

'He said he'd be here around now but he's probably running a bit late. That's fine though, Banjo still needs to be brought in.' He turned to lead Paint and Warrior into the barn. 'Halter is on the gate.'

'Okay.' Jessie headed towards the small pen the gelding had been turned out in, grabbing the halter and lead rope off the gate as she walked in. The gelding was grazing in the far corner, lifting his head to look at her as she approached. 'Hey boy. How you doin?'

The gelding stiffly walked towards her with quite a drastic limp, bobbing his head up and down as he walked. It was his near foreleg she could see as he came closer, walking slowly to meet him. Banjo dipped his head down to let her halter him and once his halter was on she turned her attention to his leg. Gently she felt down it, the horse flinching when she touched a tender spot. She frowned, standing up again. 'You pulled your muscle, didn't you?' The gelding nudged her as she scratched behind his ears and she cued him to walk forward back to the gate.

By the time she'd managed to get the horse to the gate Scott's truck was pulling up outside the barn. Jack walked out to meet him and she led the horse out of the pen towards the barn.

'So this is the horse?' Scott asked as Jessie led a limping gelding over to them. 'Where did Lou get this one?'

'A person was giving him away, Lou picked him up to save him from ending up on the meat truck.' Jack explained, the girl stopping the horse next to them. 'He was fine since we got him then he just went lame.'

'There's a lot of heat in his leg.' Jessie remarked, patting the gelding. 'Whatever he managed to do he did it well.' The vet nodded as he started his examination of the horse and she let him go about his work. Banjo tried to pull away from Scott when he tried to lift his leg and she quickly tried to get him under control. 'Woah, easy boy. Easy.'

'Easy mate.' Scott quickly stepped back, grabbing the horses halter with Jessie to try and calm him down. 'Steady boy.'

Banjo snorted, flicking his ears as he stood calmly again and the girl stroked his shoulder to reward him. 'Good boy, easy.'

'What's wrong with him Scott?'

'He's got bowed tendons.' He replied, trying to examine the gelding's leg again. 'Lou wants to use him as a trail riding horse?'

'That was the plan.'

Scott shook his head as he ran his hands down the gelding's leg again. 'He's not going to be able to be ridden for sometime, I'd say this was the reason his owners were trying to get rid of him. He's only going to keep coming up lame.'

'What can we do?'

'You can try water therapy and I can give him some painkillers to help him but he's not going to be able to cope with heavy riding. My advice would be to find someone looking for a companion horse because if he gets ridden he's going to keep coming up lame.'

'I told Lou I wasn't too keen on her getting this horse but you know Lou. When she gets an idea in her head there's no changing her mind.'

'You want me to tell her the bad news she got a broken down horse?'

'If you want. I'd just say 'I told you so' and I highly doubt that she'd be happy with me.'

'Should I go turn him out again?' Jessie asked, giving the gelding one last pat.

'In a small pen so he can't move around too much. Maybe a stall if you've got a spare one so he can rest his leg. I'll grab him some painkillers for you to put in his feed. It should help make him more comfortable.'

'I'll take him.' Jack offered and the girl handed him the leadrope. 'Have you got time to check over another horse before you go Scott?'

'I don't have anything booked for the rest of this morning so yeah, I can.' He nodded. 'Which horse?'

'Warrior. Jessie can fill you in. Come on boy.'

'I just want him to get checked over and get your opinion.' She turned to him as Jack led the gelding towards the sheltered stalls beside the barn. 'I was thinking of maybe entering the Hudson Rodeo doing barrel racing but I wanted to make sure that he was up to it first.'

'Good idea.' He grabbed his case and followed the girl into the barn. Warrior was in the first stall next to the door, stuck into his haynet. 'How's he been going?'

'Brilliant.' She unlatched the door and walked in, clipping his leadrope onto his halter as Scott walked in. 'Lisa kept him in really good condition while I was in the hospital.'

'I heard about that. I'm glad you're doing better.'

'Thanks.' Her eyes were focused on the ground when she replied.

He saw the change in her body language and knew it was time to change the subject. Lou had filled him in on what had happened to her. The girl had had a pretty rough time of it. 'Hey boy.' He cautiously walked in, extending his hand to the stallion to sniff. 'Your not going to try and attack me this time?'

'He's doing a lot better since the last time you saw him.' She replied, stroking his neck strongly but gently. We both are. Echoed in her mind as the horse sniffed his hand then knickered softly. She smiled. 'He's okay with you, aren't you boy?' Warrior rubbed his head against her and she laughed. 'Stop it you big baby.'

Scott chuckled. 'You two have a real connection.'

'We're like an old married couple.' She patted him affectionately and he settled down to munch on his hay again. 'We've been through a lot together.'

The girl fell silent, letting him check the stallion over. Warrior amused himself with trying to get the hay out of the net, not bothered at all by the vet going over him. Her hand ran over his fur thoughtfully, a distant look in her eyes that came whenever she went to the memories of her past. You've never let me down boy. I owe my life to you.

'Well I'm happy to assure you that Warrior is in prime health.' Scott announced after he finished his examination of the horse, the girl jumping slightly as if she had forgotten he was there. 'Sorry Jessie.'

'It's okay, I was just thinking.' She replied, turning to him. 'How's Warrior?'

'Warrior is a prime picture of health Jessie. He is more than able health wise to enter the rodeo if you wanted to.' He placed his stethoscope back in his case and placed it outside the stall. 'Your doing a very good job of looking after him.'

'Thank you.' She blushed, unclipping the lead then headed out of his stall after the vet. 'Could you give me any advice on getting him ready for competing?'

'What's his exercise and training regime?'

'He gets ridden nearly all day sometimes, depending on what we're doing. We could be checking fences or moving cattle, it's very varied. I do normally take him for a five mile gallop every morning, with a proper warm up of course and then we do some barrels and then cool off. He gets a bit of a break then we're normally out working.'

'Okay.' He nodded as they walked out of the barn and headed towards his truck. 'I'll print out some info on training a barrel racer and drop it by later. I've got a couple good books too you can borrow to put together a proper training program for him.'

'You think I can do that?'

'Your a smart girl Jessie, I know you can figure it out. I can give you a couple schedules you can try but every horse is different. You know Warrior best, I'm sure you will be more than able to get him in prime condition for the rodeo. Just keep doing what you're doing with him and I'm sure he'll be fine.'

'Thank you for checking him over and for your advice Scott.'

'Your welcome Jessie. If you need any help or have any questions please feel free to ask. I'd be more than happy to help.'

'I'll keep that in mind.' Jessie glanced over at Jack as he came over. 'Jack, I'm just going to go grab something to eat from the house.'

'Okay Jessie.'

'See you later Scott.'

'Bye.'

The girl sighed as she walked back to the house. Even with Scott assuring her that Warrior was more than capable of being able to compete she still couldn't make her mind up completely. She really wanted to do it but the nagging worry at the back of her mind was reminding herself of her fear. She glanced back at Jack as she went to open the door. She really wanted to make him proud of her.