Chapter 15.1

The house was a flurry of activity when Jessie walked in from tending to Warrior, the smell of breakfast filing the air and making her hungry. She took her jacket and gloves off and hung them up on the rack, walking into the kitchen where Lou was serving up breakfast.

'What do you think I should call him Lou?' Jack asked, looking up from the speech he was trying to write. 'A good friend, a fine friend or an old friend?'

'How about a friend of a friend?' She replied, handing him his breakfast then set straight at serving the next plate.

'How about a man's best friend?' Mallory offered as she stepped up to get her breakfast.

'Right. The works?'

'Yes.'

Jessie stood back, watching Lou basically throwing the food on the plates, wondering what on earth was going on as she served up Mallory and sent her on her way. She raised her eyebrows as Lou served up Ty and Caleb then handed her a plate. 'Thanks.' Lou made no acknowledgment that she heard her and she shrugged her shoulders as she walked into the dining room, glancing back at Lou. Lou was strange at the best of times but today she was being more 'Lou' then usual.

'Why can't Copper come?' Mallory asked as Jessie sat down beside her. 'Jessie is taking Warrior, I should be able to take Copper.'

'We have to make sure that Lou's trail horses are suitable for any dude to ride.' Amy replied, taking a bite of her bacon. 'Jessie is only bringing Warrior because Banjo, who she was going to be riding can't be ridden.'

'Am I like a guinea pig?'

'No, we're all doing it Mallory. It's like taking the horses for a test drive.' Ty added as Lou came into the dining room, already starting to clear away the plates and cups. 'Woah.' He complained as she took his cup but was able to stop her from grabbing his plate. Lou didn't seem to listen as she continued around the table.

'Except you can't even reach the pedals.' Caleb interjected.

'Hey!' Mallory protested as Lou grabbed her plate then went for Amy's but she was able to stop her from taking it.

'Come on people, hurry hard.'

'Don't you even think about taking my plate.' Jessie growled, pushing her hand away as she protectively covered her partially eaten breakfast. 'No one comes between me and my food.'

'Just hurry up then.' The look the girl gave her was enough to know that she meant business and when Jessie got like that it was best just to leave her alone. She passed her by, heading to Jack. 'Let's go Grampa.' She grabbed the cup he was still drinking from out of his hand. 'Breakfast is history.'

Jessie couldn't help but giggle at the look Jack gave Lou, quickly finishing off the rest of her breakfast so that she actually got to eat it and not have it taken off her. 'What is the go with her?' She whispered to Amy as she shoveled the rest of her toast into her mouth. 'She on steroids or something?'

'Something's going on for sure.' Amy replied, glancing at Lou as she came back in to get the rest of the plates. 'What's the rush?'

'Grampa said he wanted an early start so I'm just making sure that you guys get an early start.' She grabbed Amy's plate with her partially eaten toast still left on it, grabbing Jessie's cup as she went past too. She looked over at Caleb and Ty who were still eating. 'Come on, hurry up you two.'

'Yes mam.' Caleb grumbled under his breath, quickly eating the last couple mouthfuls of scrambled eggs before she took his plate away. He and Ty exchanged a look as she took their plates then headed back to the kitchen. 'Woah.'

'Someone's in a hurry.' Ty added, standing up. 'She'll be sweeping us out the door next.'

'We better go get the horses.' Amy added as she pushed her chair back and got up. 'You alright loading Warrior?'

'I'll handle him, thanks for asking though.' Jessie replied as Ty, Caleb, Amy and Mallory headed outside, Lou coming back in to finish clearing away the rest of the table. 'Are you sure you can look after Cougar for me? I mean-'

'Cougar will be just fine Jessie. You went over her feeding regime and everything three times last night. I think I can handle looking after her for two days and a night.'

'Okay then.' She raised her eyebrows as she rolled her palms against the edge of the table. 'Sorry I asked.'

'Come on Grampa, you're finished.'

'I've still got the rest of my toast to go-' Jack protested as she took the plate then glared at her back as she continued on her way back to the kitchen. 'Guess I don't.'

'Apparently you snooze you lose.' Jessie teased with a cheeky grin, getting up from the table.

'I'll go grab my things from upstairs, can you make sure my bedroll gets packed please?'

'Sure Jessie.'

'Thanks.' She replied over her shoulder as she quickly went up the stairs taking them two at a time. Cougar was still snoozing on her bed with her head on her pillow, basking in the morning sunlight that was filtering through the window. 'Sorry to disturb you girl but I need my pillow.' The cat yawned as she pulled the pillow from underneath her, glaring at the girl for disturbing her sleep. She gave her a quick pat, trying to remember if there was anything she had forgotten. 'Sorry girl, I'll make it up to you when I get back.'

She grabbed her saddlebags off her chair that she'd packed with what she needed the night before, going over their contents in her mind. Clothes, check. Phone, check. She felt for her pocket knife pouch on her belt. Pocket knife, check.

'I'll see you later girl.' She gave the cat a pat as she headed towards the door, Cougar soundly asleep again after her little interruption. She chuckled, grabbing her phone from her pocket and quickly snapped a photo of her cat then headed out of her room. The house was quiet as she walked down the stairs guessing that Jack and Lou were already outside with the others. She yawned as she placed her things down on the chair in the mud room, grabbing her coat and gloves off the rack again. For spring the mornings were quite cold and nippy, she'd been reminded of that when she'd gone out before sunrise to feed Warrior and make sure he was ready for the trip. It was only going to be a short drive but nevertheless she couldn't help but be slightly concerned about her stallion.

Picking her stuff up again she headed outside, her breath carried away as vapor in the chilly air. Already they had the trailer out the front of the barn, Ty and Amy trying to load the palomino and the grey as she walked over. Throwing her things inside Caleb's truck she headed past them on her way to get Warrior from the barn.

'Are you sure you don't want to come, Lou?' Mallory asked, holding onto the tent she was carrying to pass to Lou.

'Hey Ty, what's the hold up?'

'I guess not.' She mumbled under her breath as Lou took the tent she'd been carrying to load into the front of the trailer.

'It's Betty.' Amy replied as Ty tried to lead the palomino onto the trailer. 'She won't go anywhere without Slick.'

'So load them together.' Lou replied, dusting her hands off as she threw the last tent into the storage compartment of the trailer.

'We're going for a little trip boy.' Jessie said softly to Warrior as she led him out of the barn, looking around as the others packed the trailers for the trip. Warrior snorted softly, stepping back with his head up, catching onto the excitement. 'Woah, steady boy. Easy.'

'Warrior playing up?' Jack asked as he walked past with Paint, stopping to look back at her as the girl tried to calm the stallion down. 'Maybe put him back into his stall till the last minute, we'll load him on last so he'll be the first off.'

She sighed with relief. 'Thank you so much. I'll take him back.' The stallion snorted, pawing the ground and she turned him around as Jack walked off towards the trailer with his gelding. 'Woah, easy boy. Steady.' She stroked his neck, letting him loose into his stall again and closed the door behind him. Warrior turned around, poking his head over the door as he looked around. She patted his neck, placing his lead rope up on the hook next to the door. 'Patience boy, it's alright. We're just going for a trip, that's all.'

She turned to where the tack was kept, grabbing Warrior's bridle, saddle and saddle cloth then headed out the barn with them. 'Where can I put these?' She asked to noone in particular, glancing around as Jack headed out of the trailer after loading Paint. 'Where do you want them?'

'Put them in the back of Caleb's truck.' Lou called from around the side of the trailer. 'Where's Warrior? Why haven't you loaded him yet?'

'Jack told me to wait to load him, we're putting him on last.' She shouted back over the sound of the activity in the ranch yard, placing her tack in the back of Caleb's truck with the rest of the saddles and bridles. She glanced up as she heard a car pulling up, jogging over to Jack with a smile on her face as Lisa pulled up.

'Hi. Sorry I'm late.' Lisa apologised as she parked the car near the corral, Jack and Jessie walking over to her. She looked around then glanced at her watch. 'Actually, I'm not late. You all are early. Are we in a rush?'

'That's putting it mildly.' Jessie replied, smiling as Lisa gave her a hug after she'd gotten out of her car. 'Hi.'

'Hey honey.'

'Well, Lou's kind of got a drill-sargent thing going on here.' Jack motioned to the activity going on in front of the barn after they'd finished their hug. 'She's been pushing us to get moving all morning.'

'Oh, alright.' She raised her eyebrows, glancing at the others then headed for the back of her car to get her things out and Jack's surprise she'd been talking with Jessie about.

'Oh, you got a new saddle.'

'It arrived in time?' Jessie asked with a slight grin. 'Boy, aren't you lucky.'

Lisa rolled her eyes, ignoring the girls teasing as she pulled the saddle out of the car and handed it to Jack. 'Look at it. It's called the E-Z gallop. It's got water and snack pockets. Look at all the extra padding. And the ad said it's like riding on pillows. And-' She continued. 'It's doctor recommended for arthritis.'

'You don't have arthritis.'

'No.' She chuckled. 'I brought it for you.'

'All right people!' Lou exclaimed, taking the saddle from Jack and carried it back to the trailer. 'We're rolling.'

'Wow.' Lisa exclaimed in surprise, raising her eyebrows.

'Yeah, she's been like that all morning.' Jessie rolled her eyes, grabbing the other couple of bags Lisa had in the back and her bedroll. 'She's up to something, that's for certain.'

'I'll go see if they've got the other horses loaded.'

'Okay.' She grabbed the other bag that Jessie hadn't picked up as Jack headed over to the trailer and she closed the back door of the car. 'I don't think he likes the saddle very much.'

'He's probably just surprised Lisa. Give him a little bit to process it. You know what men are like.'

Lisa chuckled, listening to Jessie was quite funny sometimes. She sighed, following the girls lead and placed her bag down in the back of Caleb's truck. 'Yeah, I do.'

'I have no idea whose going in what car-' The girl continued as she followed her over to the barn. 'But I am not going with Caleb. Can I come with you and Jack?'

'Of course. We wouldn't have it any other way.' She touched the girls shoulder gently and Jessie smiled at her, then turned her attention to Warrior. 'How's practice coming along?'

'Good.' She grabbed the leadrope and pushed the stallion back away from the door, clipping his lead onto his halter as she opened the door. Warrior jumped forward, snorting as he almost dragged her into the isle. 'Woah, easy boy.'

'Easy, easy.' Lisa carefully approached him, grabbing the other side of his halter as the girl recovered her bearings. 'You okay honey?'

'Yeah. Fine.' She rubbed her shoulder, not at all apreciatve of him yanking on it. 'Someone hasn't had his five mile gallop today, he's not at all happy about it either.' The stallion pawed the ground and she grabbed a firmer hold of his lead, one hand holding onto the other side of his halter. 'Woah, easy boy.'

'Let's just get him loaded.'

'Agreed.'

Warrior shook his head, trying to run ahead as they led him out of the barn but they kept him on a tight lead and at a walk. He snorted, arching his neck as he danced in place, picking his hooves up high as the sunlight shone over his black coat. Something was going on, something new and unsual.

'Woah, easy boy. Easy.' Jessie struggled to hold him, thankful that Lisa had a firm hold of him on the other side. The stallion jumped again, mini rearing and she was forced to give him a little more lead then she would have liked, Lisa having to let go of him. 'Easy boy, easy.'

'Come on, what's the hold up?'

'Give us a minute Lou.' Lisa replied, trying to figure out the best way to help the girl with the stallion. 'We're having a slight problem with loading Warrior.'

'Easy boy, easy.' She cooed, extending her hand towards him once all four hooves were back on the ground. He sniffed her hand, his ears flicking back and forth. 'I know you're full of beans and you want to run, and you'll get your chance but right now I need you to get in the trailer. Okay? It won't be for long and I promise you nothing bad is going to happen.' He snorted again, pawing the ground but his attention was completely on her as she continued to speak softly to him. 'We're going on a cattle drive into the mountains. You like the mountains, don't you boy?' Her hand was on his nose now, the other getting a closer hold on his lead. She ran her hand up up his midline, resting just under his forelock and began to rub it gently. Out of the corner of her eye she could see Lisa standing back, giving her space to get him calmed down. 'We're going into the trailer now, okay?' She glanced at the trailer behind her to see who he'd be standing next to. 'Paint is in there, you want to join your buddy don't you?'

She waited for a little longer till she was happy that he was calm enough then led him towards the trailer. Warrior snorted, hesitating then calmly followed her inside. 'Lisa, can you grab the haynet outside his stall? I think it's best if he has something to occupy him while he's in here.'

'Sure.'

'Thanks.' She ran his leadrope through the ring, tying it with the quick release lock as she continued to speak softly to him. 'Paint is right there, there's nothing to be scared of. You won't be in here long.' She ran her hand over his neck as she locked the partition in place. 'We'll be there before you know it.'

'Here.'

'Thank you.' Jessie took the haynet that Lisa held out to her, tying it in the stall with him. Warrior sniffed at it as she tied it up then quickly set to work like he was back in his stall in the barn. She shook her head. He really was something. Putting up a giant fuss about being trailered then once he was in it acted like he'd lived in one his whole life. 'Okay, he's in.'

'He's okay?' Jack asked as the girl came out of the trailer and he went to close the door. 'I though putting Paint next to him might help him.'

'Right now I think he's more concerned about his haynet than his stable mates.' She replied as Jack closed the door, checking to make sure it was latched properly. 'He should be okay.'

'Alright, everybody in. Get moving or you're going to be late.'

'Here we go again.' The girl mumbled under her breath as she rolled her eyes at Lou, chuckling when she saw the look on Jack's face. 'We better get moving, don't want the drill-sargent to get any more moody.'

'No.' He agreed, grabbing the keys for the truck out of his pocket. 'Alright, Lisa and Jessie, you're in the red truck with me. Everyone else, hop in with Caleb.'

'Awe, but Jack-'

'Mallory, Caleb's truck. Now.'

'Fine.' She huffed, turning to head after the others.

Jessie followed Jack to the truck, Lisa beside her. She glanced back at the trailer as she hopped in the passengers side, schootching over into the middle so Lisa could climb in beside her. 'I hope Warri is going to be okay.'

'He's going to be just fine Jessie.' Jack replied, closing the door and putting his seatbelt on. 'You in Lis?'

'Yep.' She closed her door, finding her seatbelt as the girl looked for hers. 'Here honey.'

'Thanks.' She clicked it in, glancing in the mirror at Caleb's truck. 'Alright, I think we're ready to go.'