Hi all,

Time for a nice chapter of Jack/Jessie bonding! Wont be much longer now till the cattle drive folks and Jack and Lisa's first kiss *laughs* I promise it will be worth it, I loved writing their dance too lol.

Song used here is I Choose You, I thought it was a fitting song for Jack/Jessie when I first heard it so I wanted to use it at the earliest time.

Anyway, hope you all enjoy!

Chapter 13.1

Jessie stood quietly with Warrior later that afternoon, looking at the open trailer. The first and last time she loaded him into a trailer had ended so badly. She closed her eyes, trying to calm herself down. She knew it was silly, nothing was going to happen to her or to Warrior. It was just a damn horse trailer yet somehow she couldn't bring herself to lead him into it.

Jack frowned, watching her from the other side of the fence. She'd been standing there for a good half hour already but yet she'd made no move to take the horse into the trailer. Warrior was asleep, his off hind leg cocked as his head started to droop. It began to dawn on him that it wasn't really the stallion who had the problem. It was the girl. He opened the gate quietly, walking over to them slowly. 'Jessie, are you okay?'

The girl stiffened, hearing his voice then chafed at herself for her reaction. It was just Jack. 'Yeah. Great. Just getting him used to being near the trailer.'

'Honey, I think he's fine. He's asleep.' He came over closer, stopping beside the girl. 'Why don't you see if he'll load hey?'

'I can try.' Her hand tightened around the lead rope, looking into the trailer.

'Come on, get that horse unloaded!' Howard roared at her, the sound of the stallion kicking inside the trailer getting louder by the second. 'He's going to absolutely trash the trailer!'

'If you'd stop yelling he'll calm down.' Jessie replied, glaring at him. The stallion had been kicking in the trailer for the last half hour, she'd wanted them to stop so she could check on him but he wouldn't listen. She could only imagine what the stallion was going through. He hated being cooped up, he'd never been in a trailer before except as a foal. It was all new to him. 'Stand back, I'll get him out.'

She walked up to the trailer, seeing other children she guessed to be the foster kids watching her from around the yard but her mind was only focused on one thing. Warrior. His neighs and kicking got louder and more urgent as her hand went to the latch to let the door down. She was getting bad vibes from this place and if she was getting them she knew he would be too. Warrior had an innate sense of danger and it was no surprise really that he was acting this way. Something wasn't right, wasn't right at all. She unlocked the door, lowering the ramp to the ground and walked in. Warrior was fighting the halter, trying to rear and kick out at the same time. 'Woah, steady boy. Easy. There's a good boy. Steady.' He stopped, standing still for a moment as she walked up to him. His eyes were wide and fearful as his sides heaved, his coat drenched with sweat. 'Easy, easy boy.'

She cautiously grabbed his halter, undoing the lead rope as she continued to speak to him softly. Keep yourself together girl. She told herself as she tried to calm him. He can feel your emotions.

Slowly he started to calm down and she unlocked the partition door keeping him in the trailer. It was a big trailer, with room for six horses but he was the only one right at the front. 'Steady mate.' She swung the door back, talking to him softly. 'Easy.'

He exploded forward as soon as the door was opened, dragging the girl behind him as he bolted out of the trailer. 'Easy Warrior!' She exclaimed, trying to hold onto the lead rope as he spun around, almost knocking her off her feet in his fright. 'Woah boy, easy! Steady!'

'That animal is crazy.' Howard exclaimed, walking over to him, a whip in his hand. 'You have to teach him who's boss!'

'Don't you dare hit my horse!' She yelled at him, seeing the whip he was holding. Warrior screamed and reared up, pawing the air as the lash stung his back. The halter clip snapped, weakened by his frantic efforts to get free in the trailer. He roared, the halter falling to the ground as he raced towards the man. 'No Warri!'

Howard saw the horse going to charge at him and turned tail, fleeing into the trailer with the stallion right behind him. The stallion's teeth snapped the air right where he'd been just as he locked himself behind the partition. 'Get away from me!'

Jessie ran in after him, cautiously placing her hand on the stallion's shoulder. 'Woah boy, easy.' Warrior snorted, pawing the ground viciously, trying to get to the man. 'Easy. Easy.' Slowly he started to calm down and she managed to get the lead around his neck and pulled him away from the man and led him out of the trailer. Already she could see the huge welt coming up on the stallions back from the whip. Anger welled up inside her. 'It's okay boy, he's not going to hit you again. I'm going to make sure of it.' She glared at the man emerging from the trailer. None of this would have happened if he'd been okay with going in the trailer. It had only served them to start off on the wrong foot. She patted his neck gently, speaking to him softly. 'I'm so sorry I brought you along. I promise you're never going to go back in a trailer again.'

The lead-rope fell to the ground as the girl turned and ran out of the pasture, leaving Warrior with Jack. Warrior woke, looking up as the girl climbed over the gate and disappeared, snorting soflty as he swhished his tail. What was up with her?

'It's okay mate.' Jack assured him, grabbing hold of the stallion's leadrope. He rubbed the stallion's forehead, looking in the direction the girl had gone. 'She's just going through some things, it's not your fault.'

He fell silent, patting the stallion as he wondered what was going through the girls mind. Warrior stood quietly, starting to doze off again in the evening sunlight. He sighed, looking towards the barn where the girl had disappeared inside. Whatever was going on with loading him into the trailer had nothing to do with the horse. The stallion was as unfazed and unworried as could be. He patted his neck, looking at the trailer. Well, there was no sense in setting the trailer up and not loading the horse inside. 'Alright boy, let's take this nice and easy.' He cued the horse to walk forward, approaching the trailer slowly. Warrior snorted as they reached the ramp and he stopped to let the horse sniff and have a look inside. 'See, it's just a trailer. Nothing scary at all.'

The black shook his head, sniffing the ramp then turned to look at him. Jack patted the stallion to reward him, pausing for a little longer to make sure that he was okay with being near the trailer. 'Alright, let's go inside hey?' He walked onto the ramp, turning back to let the stallion walk up it in his own time. Warrior sniffed the ramp again then carefully and cautiously placed a hoof onto the ramp. 'That's it. Good boy.' He encouraged him, waiting for the horse to feel comfortable enough to walk up the ramp. The stallion backed away again, taking his hoof off the ramp and looked at him again. 'It's alright. Nothing to be scared of.'

Warrior snorted again, his ears flicking as he contemplated what the man was trying to do. He looked around again for Jessie but the girl was nowhere to be seen. 'Come on boy, you can do it.' He looked back to the man as he spoke to him, blowing softly through his nostrils. Carefully he put his hoof on the ramp again then the other and stood still, flicking his ears again. 'That's it, good boy.'

He watched the stallion carefully, reading his body language. Warrior was still checking the trailer out but it was curiosity, not fear. He waited, not pressuring the stallion into coming into the trailer at all. The stallion would come in on his own time and of his own accord. 'Good boy.' The horse snorted again then walked up the ramp to him, nudging him with his muzzle. Jack patted the horse with a smile on his face as he stopped beside him. 'That's it. Good boy.'

He waited, patting the stallion till he felt Warrior was ready to walk inside. 'Alright, let's go inside.' Slowly he walked forward, the horse following close at his shoulder. He patted him as he placed the horse into the stall, tying the horse up then closing the partition on him. The stallion snorted, flicking his ears as he heard it lock. 'Easy mate, easy.' He placed his hand on his neck to calm him, speaking softly to him. 'Good boy.'

The stallion snorted again, trying to look at him then settled down after a moment. He blew softly, sniffing the inside of the trailer then found the haynet that had been hung up inside. Jack chuckled as the horse set to work on the haynet, completely relaxed and unfazed by being confined in the trailer. 'Good boy.'

He let him have a few mouthfuls and a little time to get used to being inside the trailer then untied him and unlocked the partition. 'I'm going to have to drag you away from that, aren't I?' He chuckled, interrupting the stallion's snack. 'I think that's enough time in here for one day.' The stallion snorted as he led him out of the trailer, Jack looking up to see Jessie watching them from the fence as they walked down the ramp. He was about to say something to her as he led the stallion to the gate but the girl took off inside the barn before he got a chance. What's wrong Jessie? He wondered, unlocking the gate and leading the stallion through. What's going on?

Warrior's hooves scraped on the concrete as he led him into the barn and to his stall, taking the lead rope off as he let him go into the loose box. He closed the door behind him, locking it securely then turned his attention to Jessie. He looked around for the girl but she had disappeared again. He sighed, turning back to the stallion as Warrior nudged him playfully. Whatever had happened that Jessie associated with loading her horse into a trailer had obviously shaken her quite a bit. 'Patience boy, I'll get your tucker.'

Jessie lay staring at the ceiling in the darkened room, wishing for sleep to come. She'd barely said two words to anyone at dinner, even Lisa when she called like she had promised too, taking off to her room as soon as she had finished eating. She felt so stupid, she couldn't even look at Jack. She must have made an absolute fool of herself, unable to even load her horse into a trailer when it was evident that he wasn't the problem. It was her, again.

She growled as she turned over onto her stomach then punched her pillow as hard as she could. Cougar jumped off the bed, startled from her sleep by her unexpected outburst of frustration. She looked down at the cat after she'd unleashed her anger on her pillow, slumping back down on her bed in exhaustion. She patted the bed beside her, encouraging the cat to jump back up beside her. 'Sorry girl. Come here.'

Cougar slinkered back over to her, rubbing up against the girl's hand as it dangled over the side of her bed. She patted the cat aimlessly then grabbed her phone beside the bed and turned it on. It was only ten o'clock. She growled in her throat. It was going to be another long, sleepless night.

She rolled back over onto her back and Cougar climbed up onto the bed, curling up beside her and laid her head down on her chest. Her fingers automatically went to the cats head, massaging her between her ears as the puma purred loudly. Her eyes averted to the ceiling above her again, wishing that she could fall asleep.

She was so angry at herself, embarrassed that a simple thing like loading Warrior into the trailer was impossible for her to do. She closed her eyes, hoping that she could fall asleep but all she saw was Warrior's terror inside the trailer. She'd promised herself and him that she wouldn't put him through that again. Another image flashed through her mind, the picture of Jack leading Warrior out of the trailer. Her stallion had been so calm and quiet, following Jack like a little lamb. Somehow it made it harder for her, seeing him as carefree and untroubled by being trailered. Maybe it was just her that had the problem? He obviously hadn't been affected by being trailered like she thought he would have. It reminded her that everything was all in her head.

She checked her phone again, only five minutes had passed since she last checked it. She flopped her head back down on her pillow again, sighing. Something so stupid- She pushed Cougar off her, throwing back the covers and got out of bed. There was no sense lying there when she knew she wasn't about to get any sleep anyway.

Quietly she made her way to her door, opening it softly so she didn't wake anyone sleeping. She could see a light on in the living room as she walked out of her bedroom and made her way down the stairs. Jack was sitting on the couch, reading something. For a moment she contemplated heading back to her room but it was too late.

'Jessie.' He glanced up from the notebook he'd been writing in. 'What are you doing up honey?'

She sighed. 'Can't sleep. I was going to go grab some water.'

'Go grab yourself a drink then come sit down with me. Okay?'

'Alright.' She nodded, making her way into the kitchen. Quietly she got a glass from the cupboard then filled it at the sink, staring out the window into the night as she sipped the cool water slowly. The house was silent, almost deafening silent. There was nothing that unnerved her more when she was upset then silence. She finished her drink, placing the cup down in the sink then made her way to the living room. Jack was stoking the fire as she walked in and took a seat on the couch. 'Your not usually up so late Jack.'

'Same problem as you. Can't sleep.' He placed another log on the fire then sat down beside her. 'You haven't been yourself this afternoon Jessie.'

'I know.' The girl sighed, tucking her legs up underneath her to keep herself warm. 'I don't know what happened, I just couldn't lead him into the trailer.' She shook her head, looking down at the ground. 'It's just stupid.'

'What happened?' He asked softly but the girl shook her head again. 'Jessie.'

'It's just silly, I couldn't lead him in there after what happened last time.'

'When you went to the foster home?'

'Yeah. He was so scared and frightened when we arrived, I promised him I wouldn't put him through being in a trailer again. I promised myself that I wouldn't. Today when I saw the trailer I just couldn't make him go in there. I didn't want to see him the way he was again.'

'Jessie, Warrior was absolutely fine with being trailed.' Jack replied. 'He didn't have a problem with it at all.'

'I know. I was watching you with him.' The girl still wouldn't look at him. 'It makes me feel so stupid knowing that he's okay with the trailer and I'm not, I'm not the one who has to stay in it.' She fell silent again, her eyes focused on the rug on the floor. 'It's all just in my head.'

'No it's not Jessie. You care about Warrior and what you saw him go through affected you. You want to spare him going through that again. It's only natural that you reacted that way.'

'But it's downright silly.'

'Not when you love something honey and I know you love Warrior dearly.' He placed his hand on her shoulder. 'It's something you need to work through and this time it's going to be Warrior who helps you. He was an absolute angel being trailered, he trusts me and I know he trusts you. He's happy to do whatever you ask him to do. You just need to trust him. You've both been through a lot, it's only natural that you two need to work through some things together. You should probably head back to bed now and try to get some sleep.'

Jessie nodded, what he was saying made sense. She breathed deeply, glancing up at him. 'Thank you Jack. I'll try again tomorrow.'

'Good girl.'

'I'm still not tired though.'

He chuckled. 'Come here you rascal.'

Jessie smiled, scooching over for a hug. She glanced at the notebook Jack had been writing in when she'd walked in, trying to read what he'd written down. 'What's that Jack?'

'Just something I've been working on.' He placed the book down on the table and turned back to her. 'I write songs when I can't get to sleep sometimes.'

'Can I look at what you've got?'

He sighed, picking it up and handed it to her. 'It's not very good. I just can't seem to concentrate on it.'

'Maybe because a certain woman has you a little distracted?' She teased with a cheeky grin and he rolled his eyes. 'I'm right, aren't I?' His silence spoke louder than any words might and she chuckled, resting her head against him. 'Lisa's one lucky girl. We both are.'

'You two mean the world to me, you know that?'

She nodded. 'I do. I'm pretty sure Lisa does too. We're both lucky to have you.'

'That's sweet of you Jessie.'

'It's the truth Jack. If it weren't for you I'd still be in foster care, living goodness only knows where.' She fell silent again, turning her attention to what Jack had written. Obviously he'd been trying to work on this song for a long time. The page was weathered and the ink had started to fade slightly but she could still make out the lyrics he had written.

Let the bough break,

Let it come down crashing.

Let the sun fade out to a dark sky.

I can't say I'd even notice it was absent,

Cause I could live by the light in your eyes.

I'll unfold before you,

What I've string together.

The very first words

Of a lifelong love letter.

'This isn't that bad Jack.' She exclaimed after she'd finished reading what he'd put down. 'Whose it to?'

'You.'

'Me?' She frowned, looking up at him. 'Why?'

'I started writing this song the night that Lisa and I decided that we would get guardianship of you.' He replied, his arm still around the girl. 'I wanted to write a song that was special for you but I couldn't seem to figure out what to put down.'

'Maybe we could work on it together?' Her eyes glistened in the firelight. 'Maybe it's not a song to be sung by one person.'

'I'd like that.' He replied, taking the notebook back from the girl as she handed it to him. He pondered quietly for a moment, thinking of what he was trying to say to her by the song. 'I think I've got something.'

'Okay. You put it down then I'll think of something once you're finished.'

Tell the world that we finally got it all right.

I choose you.

I will become yours and you will become mine.

I choose you.

I choose you.

'I think we kind of chose each other Jack.' She replied softly after she finished reading what he'd put down. 'Even when I pushed you away you were still there for me, your love was what brought me around.' She took the pen he handed to her, a small smile on her lips.

There was a time when I would have believed them,

If they told me you could not come true.

Just love's illusion.

But then you found me and everything changed.

And I believe in something again.

My whole heart,

Will be yours forever.

This is a beautiful start,

To a lifelong love letter.

Jack smiled, taking the notebook and pen from her as she handed them back. No words were exchanged between the two of them but words weren't needed. He could see in her eyes, could read between the lines of what she had written. She was trusting him with her heart, was opening herself up to him. Looking at her, he was reminded again that if he had his choice over again there was no doubt in his mind that he'd chose her. Even though she couldn't fill the space in his heart that Marion left he'd been given a second chance at having a daughter again. She'd come into his life and changed it for the better, she never could know just how much having her around meant to him. She'd never had a proper father figure, that was one thing he was promising to her that he was going to give her. By choosing to get guardianship over her in essence even though it was just a guardianship and not adoption she had become his daughter.

Tell the world that we finally got it all right.

I choose you.

I will become yours and you will become mine.

I choose you.

I choose you.

We are not perfect,

We'll learn from our mistakes.

And as long as it takes,

I will prove my love to you.

Tell the world that we finally got it all right.

I choose you.

I will become yours and you will become mine.

I choose you.

I choose you.

I choose you.

Jack glanced down at the girl once he'd finished writing, smiling as he saw the girl sleeping. Carefully he placed the notebook aside, trying not to disturb her too much but the girl was out of it. She wasn't waking anytime soon. He smiled again as he stood up and picked her up gently, the girl sleeping on as he carried her up the stairs to her room. He placed her down softly onto her bed, tucking the blankets up around her as Cougar curled up next to the girl again. He learnt over her, kissing her forehead gently. Sleep well honey.