Hi all,

Sorry I'm late in updating, I've had a really tough couple of weeks that has set me back... I haven't been able to work on this story much either (the chapters further on) so I'm not sure when I'll update again. I really want to get more written before I publish..

Anyway, next chapter is the start of the cattle drive! Promise!

Hope you all enjoy. Adios!

Chapter 14.1

'Okay boy, I can do this.' Jessie said softly as she stood with the stallion outside the trailer the next morning. Warrior snorted, nudging her with his muzzle since the girl had stopped patting him and she chuckled as her hand went to his neck again. 'Alright, alright.'

'Just take it nice and slow Jessie.' Jack encouraged, standing just off to the side of the trailer. 'This is for you more than anything else, Warrior knows what he's doing.'

'I know.' She replied, glancing at him then back at the trailer. She took a deep breath then took a step forward, the stallion calmly following at her shoulder. She hesitated for a moment then walked up the ramp, her horse right behind her. She stopped at the entrance, her eyes adjusting to the dim light of the trailer. Another realization flooded through her. It wasn't just Warrior why she couldn't bring herself to load him into the trailer. It was the dark enclosed space too. An image of the cellar she'd been locked in flashed before her eyes. Before she even knew what was happening she could feel herself starting to have a full blown panic attack. She dropped Warrior's lead, turning to run away. 'I c-can't do t-this.'

'Yes, you can.' He stopped the girl as she jumped down off the ramp, Warrior looking at her curiously again like he had yesterday when she'd run off. He gently placed his hands on her shoulders. 'Jessie, calm down honey. It's alright. You can do this.'

'Y-you don't understand Jack.' She managed to get out between strangled breathes. 'I c-can't. I c-can't d-do this.'

'It's alright honey, it's okay. Just take a deep breath sweetie.' He could see the girl was having a panic attack, it wasn't the first time that she'd had one in front of him but it didn't get any easier to watch her go through them. He took the girl into his arms, talking to her softly. 'It's alright honey. I'm here. It's okay.'

'Everything okay Jack?' Ty asked, walking over to them. He'd see Jessie start to take off then Jack stopping her from where he stood filling up the watering trough in the pen, wondering what had happened.

'Everything's fine Ty, she's just having a little panic attack.' Jack looked down at the girl, Jessie slowly starting to calm down. 'It's alright honey, you're okay.' Ty nodded, getting the hint that he had the situation under control and headed back to his chores. He smoothed the girls hair back, stroking it gently like he'd seen Lisa do when the girl was upset. 'Your okay.'

Warrior snorted softly, watching Jessie and Jack intently. His ears flicked back and forth as he stood with his head high and his body stiff, alert for any danger that might have made the girl upset. Carefully he stepped off the trailer ramp, holding his head to the side so he didn't stand on the lead rope and he walked over to them. He sniffed at the girls hair gently, nudging her with his nose.

Jessie felt Warrior's warm breath on her neck and pulled away from Jack, turning to the horse. She wrapped her arms around him, breathing in his scent as the stallion gently lipped her jacket with his muzzle. Slowly she began to calm down, an overwhelming feeling of exhaustion washing over her. 'I'm okay boy. I'm okay.'

Jack watched the two of them, a smile coming to his face. Warrior was so sweet, he knew exactly what to do when Jessie was upset. There was nothing better for calming Jessie down then her horse, he could see that. Warrior was so gentle, so patient with her. It was hard to believe that this was the same animal all those months back that tried to kill him. He'd forgiven him for that though, it wasn't his fault and looking at him now a person would think there wasn't a mean bone in his body.

'I'm okay now.' The girl assured the horse, patting his neck gently as she pulled away. 'Thanks boy.'

'What happened Jessie?' Jack asked softly, touching her shoulder.

'I don't know.' She replied, her voice barely a whisper. She felt so exhausted, so drained. She looked back at the trailer, her mind fighting with itself. She knew she needed to go in there, to face her fears. More and more she was realising that it was definitely her that had the problem, not her horse. Warrior nudged her gently, blowing softly on her hands. 'But I'm going to get him in there if it's the last thing I do.' She picked up his leadrope. 'Come on boy, third time's the charm they say.'

'Jessie, you don't have to do it right now if you don't feel up to it-'

'If I don't do it now I might never be able to.' She cut him off as she turned Warrior around and walked towards the trailer. Confidently she walked onto the ramp, Warrior right beside her. Again she stopped, trying to find the courage. Finally, it was Warrior who moved first, walking right on into the trailer like he had been doing it his whole life. He looked back at her from the end of lead rope, his ears flicking. It's okay Jessie. He seemed to be saying to her. There's nothing to be scared of in here. Mustering as much courage as she could gather together she walked forward, joining the stallion just inside the trailer. She leant against him, closing her eyes as she gained strength from him. He wasn't scared even though he had more than ample reason to be. She didn't need to be scared. He wasn't.

Opening her eyes again she patted his neck then led him the rest of the way into the trailer. Warrior went straight into the stall without batting an eyelid, standing quietly as the girl tied him up then closed the partition. 'Good boy.' She praised, her hand on his shoulder as her eyes got accustomed to the dim light. You did it! The thought came over her like a river but this time empowering her instead of making her afraid. She breathed a sigh of relief, looking out the trailer to the pasture it was parked in. She'd done it. 'Good boy.'

Warrior snorted softly, bringing her back to reality and she quickly unlocked the partition and untied him. He nibbled on her hair as she undid his leadrope, chuckling as she turned to lead him out of the trailer. Jack was there at the bottom of the ramp as she led him out, grinning ear to ear. 'I did it!'

'Yes you did.' He encouraged, taking the girl into a warm embrace. 'See, I told you you could do it.'

'I know.' She chuckled, smiling as she looked up at him. 'Your right.'

'I think you need to thank this guy.' He nodded at Warrior who was standing quietly beside her, watching them with his ears pricked. The girl turned from him and to her stallion, hugging him warmly. He smiled again. There was no better feeling in the world than to watch someone overcome their fears. It probably didn't look like much of a step to someone else but to him it was a giant leap for the girl to take. It reassured him that one thing at a time she'd work through her past and the fears that came with it, she would move forward. Of course there would always be times when she went backwards but watching her with her horse now was one of the best things in the world.

'I couldn't have done it without him.' Jessie exclaimed, petting the horse then resting her head against his neck again. Warrior knickered softly as if he were agreeing with her. 'Thank you boy.'

'Well done Jessie.'

'Thanks Ty.' She replied back, looking at him across the pasture then turned her attention to her stallion again. One thing down, how many more for her to overcome in the future? That didn't matter to her as she patted her stallion over and over again. It didn't matter what happened now, she knew she could always depend on Warrior, Jack and Lisa no matter what. The black nudged her again, knickering low in his chest. 'Your the best boy.'

Jessie felt like a weight had been taken off her, the feeling of facing one of her fears head on empowered her like she had never felt before. She laughed, feeling the wind in her face as Warrior galloped underneath her, whizzing around the barrels they were practicing again. No longer was she hiding the fact that she was training him for barrel racing from the family, she was practicing in the arena using the barrels Jack and Ty had set up for her. Feeling like she did now, she felt like she could conquer the world.

'Woah boy, easy.' She brought him to a sliding halt before they hit the arena fence, patting his shoulder firmly to reward him. 'Good boy. Good boy.' She cued, the stallion pawing the ground and tossing his mane, eager to go at it again. She chuckled. 'Alright, alright, give me a moment.'

'How's it going Jessie?'

She looked up to see Caleb walking over to the fence and she nudged Warrior into a walk with a slight touch of her heel. She pulled him up next to the fence, nodding as Caleb climbed onto the rails and took a seat. 'Not too bad. We're doing okay, aren't we boy?' The stallion nickered softly, blowing slightly from his run. 'We might enter in the rodeo after all.'

'So what Mallory was saying is true then. About you thinking of going in the rodeo.'

'I still haven't made up my mind yet but I am seriously considering it.'

'Well, if I was competing in barrel racing I'd say you two could potentially pose a threat.'

'Potentially?'

'You do have some way to go before you and Warrior would be ready to compete, if you did want to enter.' The stallion took a couple steps closer to him, extending his muzzle forward to sniff him from a safe distance. He pulled back, a little surprised. 'Easy boy.'

'He's not going to attack you.' She chuckled. 'If he wanted to he'd have done it by now. Let him sniff your hand.'

Carefully and slowly he put his hand out to the stallion, the black sniffing him cautiously but made no move to be vicious. 'Well I'll be. He must have succumbed to the Caleb charm after all.'

'Hardly.' She rolled her eyes. 'Your not threatening him, he's reading your body language. Everything before you tried to approach him you were acting to what he took as potentially being mean to him. That's why he acted the way he did before.'

'Maybe he'll stop giving me the death stares now when I walk past his stall.'

She chuckled again, patting his shoulder as the stallion pulled away and stood quietly again, his attention still focused on Caleb but he was relaxed and calm in his presence. 'He's learning who he can trust, it's not easy for him.' She dropped the reins around the saddlehorn, stretching in the saddle. 'I'll take him around a couple more times then call it a day.'

'You know, I have a friend who competes in barrel racing. I'm sure she'd be more then happy to give you a couple lessons.' He saw the look that she gave him and he quickly continued. 'Not that you're doing badly but she could give you a couple tips to make you and Warrior even better.'

'I'll think about it.' Jessie replied after a moment. 'What's this friend's name?'

'Kit Bailey. She'll be riding in the Hudson Rodeo.'

'So the competition would be helping out the competition? That's a bit weird.'

He laughed. 'I can ask her if you like.'

'Sure.' She smiled, picking up the reins in her left hand again, her right resting down on her leg. 'Scott brought me some stuff to read earlier but I'd be more than happy to have a couple lessons if she's happy to give them.'

'Alright, I'll give her a call later.' He glanced around as Lisa's SUV rolled up the drive and he hopped down off the fence. 'I'll leave you to it.'

'Okay.' Caleb headed back to the barn as Lisa pulled up next to Jack's car and she waved as the woman hopped out. 'Hi Lisa!'

'Hey Jess.' She smiled, closing the door behind her then walked over to join her at the fence. Warrior eagerly stuck his muzzle over the fence for a pat which she happily obliged to give. 'Hey Warrior. Been a good boy for my girl?'

My girl. The words the woman spoke warmed her heart. 'He's been brilliant. We're getting better at the barrels every time we practice.'

'So no more hiding out in the forest to practice?'

'Nope.' Jessie shook her head. 'Jack and Ty set them up for me here while Amy isn't using the arena to get him used to running around the barrels in the sand. It's been a little different for him, we've had to go a little slower then what we were doing on the grass but I think we're making progress.'

'I'm glad to hear that.' She smiled then glanced around the ranch yard. 'Jack anywhere around?'

'Um.' The girl took her own quick look over her surroundings. 'I think he might still be out mending a couple of fences with Ty. He gave me the evening off to practice with Warrior. They should be back soon though.'

'Alright, I guess I'll just have to wait for him then.' Lisa turned back to Jessie. 'How about you take him around again and I'll watch you.'

'Sure.' Warrior was more then happy to oblige, tossing his head as they trotted along the fence back to the 'box', prancing with his tail held high. She stopped him, patting him as she got him quiet and focused, ready to take on the barrels again. Three, two, one. She nudged him with her heels and he jumped forward into a gallop in three strides, his focus on the first barrel they were approaching. He slowed slightly as they came into the turn and went around the barrel then sped up again as they headed for the second. Jessie's hat was blown off as they galloped to the second barrel, going around it the same as the first. She looked towards the third barrel as they came out of the turn, edging him on then slowing him to gather him to turn around it. Coming out of the turn she let him go, urging him on with her heels in his flanks. His ears were flat against his head as he bolted towards the 'box' to finish, sending the sand flying as he slid to a stop and threw his head up as the girl patted his shoulder. 'Good boy.'

Lisa clapped, smiling with admiration as she watched Jessie praise the horse. 'Nice run honey. You did good.'

'Thanks.' She glanced up at her, a huge grin on her face. 'I'm not a hundred percent certain if I'll be able to be ready in time though but I think I'm going to try competing.'

'You are?'

'I want to give it at least a go.'

'That's great sweetheart. What helped you decide?'

'I guess realising that the only way to face your fears is head on probably helped.' Warrior danced in place, half rearing and she turned him around to give him something else to focus his attention on. 'That's all for today boy, no more.'

'I wondered what time you'd show up.' Jack exclaimed as he brought Paint to a stop next to Lisa, dismounting the gelding as Ty headed onto the barn. 'Hey.'

'Hi.' She smiled as she turned to him. 'Jessie is going to go in the rodeo.'

'You are?'

Jessie nodded. 'I want to give it a go.'

'That's brilliant honey.'

'Thanks.' She patted Warrior's shoulder. 'I'm going to take him around a trail to cool him off. I won't be too long.'

'Okay Jessie. I can't stay too long so don't take too long.'

'I won't.'

Lisa chuckled as the girl rode off, jumping the horse over the arena fence rather than go out the gate and shook her head. 'Someone is in a good mood.'

'She is.' Jack agreed as they turned from the arena and headed towards the house. 'She's doing better this afternoon.'

'How did trailering Warrior yesterday go?'

'Warrior didn't have a problem at all. It was Jessie.'

'What do you mean?'

'She had some undelt memories to deal with.' He replied as he opened the door for her, helping her take off her jacket that Jessie had made her. Lisa practically lived in that jacket, it was the only thing he remembered seeing her wear more than once. 'She didn't say too much to me but what she did say was enough to make sense for how she reacted. I don't think the fact that it was dark and enclosed helped her any either, she had a major panic attack this morning.'

'Did she say why?'

'No.' He shook his head as they walked into the kitchen, heading over to get himself a cup of coffee. 'Coffee Lis?'

'Yes, thank you.' She took a seat at the table to wait for Jack. 'I thought she was a little out of sorts when I spoke to her yesterday. Why didn't you tell me about what happened?'

'I didn't know what was going on until last night. Jessie didn't say a thing all afternoon after we tried trailering Warrior the first time and she took off. It was only last night that she actually told me what was going on. I would have rung you but it was late.'

'She seems to be okay now though.' She glanced out the window as Jessie and Warrior came back into the ranch yard and headed to the barn. 'She said something about facing her fears.'

'She trailered Warrior after her panic attack, she didn't let it stop her.' He replied, pouring two mugs of coffee and handed her one as he took a place at the table. 'You should have seen her, Warrior helped her so much. She wouldn't have done it if it weren't for him.'

'Sounds like quite an eventful morning.' She replied, falling quiet as she rubbed her thumb over the handle of her coffee cup thoughtfully.

Jack frowned, seeing the change in her body language. Something was up. 'What's wrong Lisa?'

She sighed. 'I don't know. I guess I'm still getting used to how things are going to be from now on. Us looking after Jessie is a big change, for both of us.'

'What's the matter? Has your aunt been saying things again?'

'No.' She was quick to assure him. 'No, she hasn't.'

'Then what's brought this around all of a sudden?'

'I don't know.' She saw the look he gave her. 'I don't know. Honest. Forget I said anything, Jack.'

He frowned, about to say something but Jessie's arrival interrupted what he was going to say. 'You want a hot drink?'

'Yes please. It might be spring but it's getting chilly out there.' She rubbed her hands together, taking a seat at the table. 'So, hypothetically, how do I go about entering the rodeo?'

'I'll take care of it Jessie, you just let me know when you definitely make up your mind about entering. No need to worry about it.'

'Brilliant. Thanks Jack.'

'No problem.'

'You dusted your bedroll off yet Lisa?' She teased, turning to her. 'Your going to want an extra sleeping bag too, you're not going to have Cougar to keep you warm this time.'

'Very funny missy.' Lisa replied to her ribbing, taking a sip of her coffee. 'At least I might get some actual sleep without her around.'

'Awe, how could you say that about my baby girl?' She pretend pouted, her cat appearing in the kitchen from her bed in the living room upon hearing her name. 'Look at her.'

'Hello Cougar.' The mountain lion purred, rubbing up against her and she patted her head as the cat laid it down on her lap. 'You really are a big baby. You're worse then the cat I used to have as a kid.'

'You had a cat?'

'Is that a surprise?' She glanced at her. 'I love cats. I just don't love getting kicked out of bed by a cat.'

'I thought you'd have been more of a dog person to be honest.' Jack replied, handing the girl a mug of hot chocolate.

'I like dogs but nothing beats a cat curling up on your lap.'

'Or pushing you out of bed.'

'Or pushing me out of bed.' Lisa repeated with a teasing exaggerated eye roll. She looked down at Cougar, the cat purring loudly with her eyes closed. 'They're picking on me Cougar.'

'Can you stay for dinner Lis?'

'I'd love to but I really should be going.' She glanced at her watch. 'Oh shoot, I'm going to be late. I've got a person looking at a broodmare at five and its ten too.' She got up, the cat protesting with a slight meow that her headrest had disappeared. She gave Jack a kiss on the cheek then turned to the girl. 'I'll see you both on the weekend.'

'Thanks for watching me with Warrior.' Jessie smiled, standing up to give her a hug. 'See you later.'

'Bye.'

The girl sat down again as Lisa quickly grabbed her coat and hurried out, taking another sip of her hot drink. She glanced up at Jack, a glint in her eye. 'So Jack, what were you two talking about?'