Hi all,

My profound apologies for not updating sooner... Things in my life havent been good at all the past month or so, I'm not really in a good place mentally and so just havent felt like writing or anything.

However, I am back now to give another chapter. I really want to start uploading on a regular basis again but I don't know if that'll happen in the near future. I'll just have to see how I go.

On a good and exciting note though I am meeting a dog in the coming week with the hope she'll be suitable to train as a service dog for my health conditions/problems. I had a terrible anaphylactic reaction a couple months back now and since then I havent stepped foot out of the house. Its probably silly but I'm just too scared and worried aboit having more reactions since I dont know what actually triggered my last one. I hope to meet this dog early this coming week at my house so I'll let you guys know how it goes. ...

Anyway, enjoy!

Chapter 16.1

Jessie looked around as she stood with Warrior, giving him a quick brush over before she tacked him up. Lots of people she'd never met before were there, going about their preparations for the day with their own horses. The only other person she knew besides the people from Heartland, Tim and Lisa was Jake. She'd caught a glance of him as he led his pony past, obviously looking for Mallory. She chuckled, brushing the stallions back. It was so funny watching the two of them, she remembered them quite well at Amy's birthday party.

'How's Warrior?' Jack asked, leading Paint around to where the girl was grooming her horse.

'He's settled down, he'll be better once we get on the trail. He really missed his run this morning, I thought it best not to tire him out too much.'

'Fair enough.' He glanced around. 'You stick with Lisa and I or one of the others okay? I know you know how to look after yourself but I'd prefer if you stuck close with the herd.'

'Don't worry, I won't go far. By the time today ends you'll be begging for me to leave you alone.' She teased with a smile.

'Alright, well, I'll leave you to it then. I have a speech to finish writing.'

'Have fun.' She turned back to Warrior as he led Paint away, chuckling as the stallion tried to nibble her hair again for the third time in as many minutes. 'Cut it out mate, I know you're mad at me for taking you away from your hayet but you can't eat my hair.'

'Howdy.'

Jessie jumped at the strange tone, turning around to see Jake standing behind her with his cowpony. 'Hi. Jake, isn't it?'

He nodded. 'Yep. Have you seen Mallory around?'

'She was just here.' She glanced around but didn't see her. 'You just missed her.'

'Oh well.' He shrugged his shoulders, ground tying his pony as he came over closer. 'This your horse?'

'Yep. This is Warrior.'

'He's nice.'

'Thanks.' She smiled. 'You can give him a pat if you like, he won't bite.'

'How long have you had him for?'

'I can't remember for sure. It's been a few years though.' She placed the brush down and picked up his saddlecloth, running it down from his withers onto his back so his fur would lie flat. 'How long have you had your horse?'

'I learnt to ride on her, I've had her a long time. She's a good cowpony.'

'Quarter horse?'

'With a bit of appaloosa.' He replied as she placed the saddle on her horse. 'What's Warrior?'

'Thoroughbred mustang mix. He was a wild horse, till I tamed him.' She did the cinch up on his saddle, the stallion nudging her bottom with his nose. 'Cut it out Warri!'

Jake laughed. 'I'll leave you to it, I'll go look for Mallory again. See you around.'

'Bye Jake.' Jessie checked his flank cinch was tight enough then grabbed his breastplate and put it on, glancing around again as she did so. It appeared most people were ready to go, their horses tacked up and waiting. Quickly she grabbed his bridle and swapped it with his halter, stuffing his halter and lead into the extra saddle bags she was carrying. 'Okay boy, we're ready.'

'Alright folks, gather 'round.'

She heard Jack calling everyone in to begin the cattle drive and started walking Warrior to over to where they were all slowly congregating. Her eyes searched for Lisa amongst the crowd, spying her over next to Tim. 'Hey Lis.'

Lisa turned around, smiling as the girl stopped next to her. 'Hey Jessie. How's Warrior?'

'He's settled down now.' She patted the stallion's neck and he blew softly on her cheek. She giggled as his whiskers tickled her face. 'He's a good boy.'

'Hi Jessie.' Tim glanced over at her. 'Lisa was just talking about you.'

'All good things I hope.'

'Only good things.' She teased, placing her arm around the girl.

'So what's it like? Living at Heartland?'

'It's pretty good.' Jessie nodded, still holding firmly to Warrior's reins so the stallion didn't try and take off on her. 'Yeah, it's good. It's better than other places I've had to live.'

'Jack been working you hard?'

She rolled her eyes. 'Hardly. He and Lisa won't let me do much at all.'

'That's not entirely true missy. You still are getting over what happened and we don't want you pushing yourself.' Lisa replied. 'That reminds me, you've got a doctor's appointment next week.'

'Brilliant. I can't wait.'

Tim chuckled at the girl's fake enthusiasm. 'I take it you don't like doctors appointments.'

'That's the understatement of the year.'

'Alright folks, quieten down.' Jack started, looking around the group gathered around. He waited until a hush fell over the crowd then started the small speech he'd written for the occasion. 'Ray was a fine rancher, a valued friend and a good neighbour. Started cowboying way back and stayed at it for some fifty odd years.' He glanced down at his notes. 'There's nothing Ray enjoyed more then, well, aggravating a cow.' He saw Amy chuckle when he glanced up at the crowd. 'I saw him throw a rope on one just to hear it bellow.'

Jessie chuckled, noticing a few other people chuckling too. While she'd never met the guy personally she could see that by the amount of people gathered here to help with the cattle drive he'd obviously been a good man. She patted Warrior's neck, resting her head against his warm fur as Jack continued.

'Last time we spoke, he mentioned something about leaving me his longhorns. I thought 'You son of a gun. You pawing those two grass guzzlers off on me while you go sun yourself in Phoenix.' Turns out he was talking about his will, and uh, a couple of weeks after that, his daughter, Callie, calls. Now, I know that he would have been tickled to see all of you here at what we're calling the First Anual Ray Phillips Memorial Spring Cattle Drive.' The people around him nodded in unison, some clapping and some voicing their agreement. He searched the crowd out for Lisa and once their eyes met she gave him an encouraging smile. She knew how much he hated speaking to people. 'So uh, let's mount up and we'll head on out.'

'We'll have to introduce you at some point.' Lisa remarked to Tim, finishing off the conversation they'd been having before Jessie had joined them. 'I'll catch you up on the trail Jess.'

'Yep.' Warrior snorted as she placed the reins over his neck, Lisa going off with Tim to get her horse. She patted his shoulder as he started to paw the ground in eagerness to get moving. 'Woah, steady mate. Patience.' Around her people who already had their horses with them were mounting up. Amy was already on the palomino, heading towards the pen to help the others bring the cattle out and get them moving. Warrior shook his head again, sidestepping away from her and she quickly got a tighter hold of his reins. 'Easy mate, easy.'

He stood still again and she cautiously placed her hand on his nose, talking softly to him to calm him down. 'It's okay mate, just relax and we'll be moving shortly.' He was a highly strung horse at the best of times but all this was new and exciting for him. It was no surprise that he was being a little hard to handle. 'Patience boy.' She waited till she was satisfied he was calm enough then grabbed hold of the saddle horn, found the stirrup with her left foot and mounted. He flexed his neck, dancing with his front hooves a little as she found the other stirrup. 'Easy boy.'

Jessie kept a firm but gentle hold on the reins to keep him under control as he fussed, eager to get moving. She stroked his shoulder, just waiting for him to stand quietly so they could go. There was no way she was going to reward his behaviour, otherwise she knew his impatience was just going to get worse. 'Take it easy boy, we'll start moving soon.'

She glanced around again, waiting for Warrior to calm down. Lisa was mounting a paint horse that Lou had brought for the dude ranch, Caleb was in the pen with Tim and others getting the cattle moving towards the gate and Jack was mounting Paint, looking rather unenthusiastic about the saddle his horse was wearing. She sighed. Lisa had put a lot of thought into getting him that saddle she'd hoped he would appreciate but the girl could sense that Jack wasn't too happy about it. Part of her could understand the reasoning between both of their thinking, Jack liked his old saddle and Lisa thought this one would be better. At least he was giving it a try though. She patted Warrior again as she realised he was standing quietly. 'Okay boy, let's go.'

A gentle nudge with her heels to his sides and Warrior willingly stretched out into a prancing trot, his tail held up like a banner as he bucked a couple of times from excess energy. The girl sat through them expertly, keeping his head up and keeping contact on his mouth to control his excitement. He dropped his head, feeling the bit as they made their way over to where Jack and Lisa were.

'Someone's looking awful fresh.' Jack remarked as the girl stopped Warrior beside them. 'You sure he's going to be alright out here?'

'He'll be just fine once we get out on the trail and gets to burn some energy.' She assured him, holding Warrior firmly at a halt. 'What's the new saddle like?'

He didn't seem to acknowledge her question as the gates were opened and the cattle started filtering out of the yard, moving Paint alongside them to keep them moving. 'Alright, let's keep them moving.'

'I don't think he likes it very much.' Lisa sighed, nudging the mare into a trot to keep pace with Warrior. They took a position at the back of the herd like Jack had asked them to in the truck, giving Jessie the job of keeping her eyes open for any cattle trying to break free from the herd and bring them back since Warrior had excellent cow sense. 'I don't know Jess. Maybe I shouldn't have given him that saddle.'

'Lisa, just give him a little time to get used to it. Jack can be pretty stubborn sometimes.' Warrior shook his head again, daring a cow to try and break free from the herd and she quickly settled him with a hand on his shoulder. 'It's none of my business but don't be offended if Jack doesn't like it. It's nothing against you, he just is set in his ways.'

'Ain't that the truth.'

Jessie chuckled. 'Jack is a good man, he just has a tendency to be a little stubborn.'

'I know. He doesn't like change very much.'

'I'd never have noticed.' They looked at each other and chuckled. 'I'm glad you came along Lisa.'

'I'm glad too.' She smiled at the girl, enjoying the time they had together. 'There's no place I'd rather be.'

Jack glanced around at the cattle being moved along, slowing Paint down to a walk again to give the gelding a break. It was nearing noon already, they'd been on the trail for a couple of hours already and were making good progress. If they kept moving the cattle at this pace they would make it to the campsite earlier then they'd expected. The cattle were being well looked after by the other riders, giving him a chance to give Paint a quick rest. They'd slowed the cattle down to a walk now, keeping them moving slow but steady. So far, so good.

He glanced up at the sky as the sun disappeared behind a cloud. Rain had been forecasted but it was only supposed to be a slight drizzle. Still, the temperature was dropping slightly. He looked over his shoulder towards the back of the herd where Jessie was keeping the cattle together, Warrior expertly turning a steer who thought the grass was greener further away from the herd. He chuckled, watching her work. She was a natural with a horse and she had more cowsense than most other people he had working for him over the years.

'Well-' Lisa asked, riding over to him and slowing her horse to keep pace with Paint. 'How's that saddle breaking in for you?'

'No offence, but I'm kind of partial to my old one.'

'Really? Well what was all that complaining about your arthritis kicking in after the fall round-up?'

'I didn't complain, I just mentioned it.'

She shook her head. 'Well, you're going to notice a huge difference after a couple hours on the trail in the rain, let me tell you.'

'I'm already noticing. I'm the only cowboy here riding on a couch. Figured that's what you and Tim must have been giggling about back there.'

'No we weren't. We were talking about real estate.'

'Well I don't see the connection between my saddle and real estate.'

'Jack.' Lisa chuckled.

'What?'

'They're both about protecting your ass-ets.'

They both had a chuckle at her pun, Jack glancing back over towards the herd as they kept moving. 'How's Jessie doing back there?'

'She's just fine Jack. She's more than capable of being there by herself.' She assured him, taking a look at Jessie and Warrior herself. 'Warrior's settled down nicely and she's managing just fine.'

'I just worry about her sometimes.'

'I know you do Jack, I do too but I think coming on this cattle drive is going to be better for her then either of us will know.' She slowed her horse again as the mare tried to speed up again. 'How's she been sleeping?'

'Okay, I think. She doesn't say much to me to be honest. She did have a rough night I told you about but I think she's been going okay. She hasn't said much about being tired but her panic attack the other day did wear her out some.'

Lisa nodded. 'I've got her an appointment next week to see Barbra, that was the earliest I could get since she was away at a conference or something.'

'Something really has you worried, doesn't it?'

'I just want to make sure it's nothing else Jack. Living rough for as long as she did is bound to have had some type of health effect on her. I'd rather we found out now rather than later.'

'I'm sure she's just fine Lisa.'

'I hope so.' She fell quiet again, focusing her attention on her horse again. Maybe she was just being paranoid. Maybe there was nothing wrong with the girl. She knew that if she ignored her feelings though maybe later on down the track she'd have cause to regret it. If she had known something was wrong earlier- She forced herself not to think of it. She had been blessed with Jessie now but she resolved she wasn't going to make the same mistakes over a second time.

'Good boy Warri.' Jessie praised, patting the stallion as they turned another steer back towards the herd, a huge proud grin on her face. Warrior had settled down, focusing diligently on his job of keeping the cattle together. He snorted, prancing as he chased the steer back towards the others with his tail up high. She chuckled, pulling him back to a fast walk once the steer joined the rest of the cattle. 'Good work boy.'

She glanced around as Warrior kept pace with the herd, comfortable knowing the horse would alert her to any steers trying to stray from the herd. Lisa was up front with Jack, Mallory was paired off with Ty and it looked like Caleb was trying to teach Amy how to rope. She chuckled as Caleb threw the rope over Amy then watched as the two of them took off, Caleb chasing Amy.

Warrior snorted and she quickly turned her full attention back on her job. A slight nudge of her heel and he was after the steer that had broken away from the rest of the group at the back. A few strides and they were in front of it, turning it quickly back towards the herd before it got too far away.

'Nice work.'

She glanced around behind her, seeing Jake riding over. 'Thanks.' She patted the stallion's shoulder as she slowed him down beside his pony. 'I can't take the credit though, it's all him. Ain't it boy?'

'I can take over riding here if you want a break for a little bit.'

She glanced around, looking for Jack and Lisa. They were up towards the front, just off to the side. 'What do you say boy? Want to have a little run?' The stallion knickered, tossing his head. 'I'll take that as a yes then. Thanks Jake.'

'No problem.' He tipped his hat. 'Say hi to Mallory for me. She keeps avoiding me for some reason.'

'Sure.' She replied over her shoulder, cantering Warrior around behind the herd and across to the side that Jack and Lisa were riding on. She slowed as she came up beside Ty and Mallory, a cheeky smile on her lips. 'Hey Mallory, Jake said to say hi.'

Mallory glanced around, catching Jake's eye as he followed the cows. 'Thanks Jessie.'

'Anytime.'

'I'll admit, he does look pretty good on a horse.'

'So what's the problem?' Ty asked, urging his horse on gently as it started to slow again.

'It's just that when he's not on a horse, when he's on his own two feet- Even when he was wearing cowboy boots, you know the ones with the heels?'

'Looking good on a horse isn't everything Mallory.'

'No, of course isn't not.' Mallory replied, glancing over at Amy and Caleb as he tried to rope her and Amy tried to get away while laughing. 'And riding, roping. Anyone with half a brain can throw a rope. Even you learned.'

Ty looked at her. 'Thanks Mallory.'

'Have you actually tried throwing a rope Mallory?' Jessie asked with a slight tone of amusement. 'Trust me, it isn't as easy as it looks.'

'Of course I have. I can rope a dummy pretty good.'

'Using a roping dummy and trying to rope the real thing are two very different things. Trust me. As soon as you add in an animal with a mind of its own four legs to run away on it becomes a whole different kettle of fish.'

'And you can rope?'

'I had to learn how too.'

'So that makes you an expert?'

She stopped Warrior in front of the horse Mallory was riding, her temper starting to get a little frayed. 'What is your problem with me Mallory?'

'Jessie-'

'Stay out of it Ty.' She snapped, turning back to Mallory. 'Do you have a problem with me?'

'N-no.'

'Good.' Jessie patted Warrior, nudging him with her heels. 'Lets go.'

Warrior shook his head as he spun around, fighting with her to gallop but the girl held him in at a canter so they didn't spook the cattle. She sighed as she got further away from Mallory, kicking herself for the way she'd gotten mad with her. Of course Mallory would have a problem with her. Mallory considered Heartland as her own little domain and she'd turned up and with that had upset her little world. She shrugged her shoulders, leaning down to pat the stallion. She'd probably just made whatever problem the girl had with her worse. 'I'm such an idiot boy.'

'Oh, hey Jessie.'

'Hi Lisa.' She slowed Warrior to a walk beside Lisa's mare, sighing again deeply.

'What's wrong?'

'I think I just stuffed up big time.'

'Oh?'

'I had a go at Mallory. She just gets on my nerves sometimes.'

'Oh.' Lisa nodded, glancing over at her. 'What happened?'

'She just said a couple things and I kind of snapped. It's not her fault, I shouldn't have said anything.' She rested her hand on the saddle horn, letting Warrior stretch out into an extended walk while she relaxed in the saddle. 'I think Mallory has a problem with me and I don't know just what it is.'

'I noticed that this morning, when she asked to go with Jack instead of Caleb.' She replied, turning her attention back to the trail ahead. 'Mallory is very close to Jack.'

'So she's jealous of how much time Jack has been spending with me and not her.' It made sense now. She sighed again. 'What do I do now Lisa?'

'I'll talk to Jack.' Lisa smiled at her. 'Don't worry, I'm sure you guys can figure something out.'

'Thanks for your vote of confidence.' She rolled her eyes. 'The last thing I wanted to do was become a burden or cause any kind of problems.'

'Your not a burden and you're not causing problems Jessie.' The woman was quick to assure her. 'I'll admit it hasn't been easy getting used to having you around permanently but that's an adjustment that all of us will have to get used to. Mallory included. Jack asked her what she thought about you staying before we put in for your guardianship and she was fine with it.'

'She's probably having second thoughts about that now.'

'Jessie, Mallory will be fine. She'll get over it.'

'I hope so.' She glanced up as thunder rumbled above them. 'Oh brilliant.'

'You got a rain slicker?'

'Yeah.' Jessie grabbed her coat off the back of her saddle, putting it on over the coat she was already wearing. Lisa was doing the same thing, trying to put her coat on and control her horse at the same time. She leaned over, grabbing the paint's bridle. 'I'll hold him.'

'Thanks.' She replied gratefully as the girl halted her horse and she could put her coat on. Quickly she did the buttons up, picking the reins up again after her jacket was on properly. 'Don't want this coat of yours getting ruined.'

The girl smiled, urging Warrior on into a walk again as they kept pace with the cattle again. 'I'm glad you like it.'

'I wear it all the time Jessie.'

'I hadn't noticed.' She grinned cheekily then pulled up her sleeve to show her her watch. 'I wear this all the time too.'

'Good thing its waterproof.'

'Yep.'

'Have you heard from Cindy lately?'

'I spoke to her a couple days ago. Why?'

'Oh no reason really. I was just wondering how she was going.'

'She's good. Jealous that she couldn't come on the cattle drive but she had a birthday party to go to this weekend otherwise she'd have come along. She's settled back into her routine again, back in school and hanging out with her friends.'

'I'm glad she's doing well then.'

'Me too. A couple of the other kids have kept in contact with me too. Fiona and her sister are in Vancouver now, apparently they've been placed with a pretty good family. They've both got jobs now after school, working in a retail store.'

'Good for them. I like Fiona.'

'I do too.'

'What about the others?'

'Bobby's in a little town over the other side of Calgary, I'm not sure about the twins or Rachel though. I haven't heard from them.'

'That's a shame.'

'Yeah but it is what it is.' Jessie shrugged. 'Nothing I can do about it though.'

'How's it going Jess?' Tim asked as he joined them. 'Your stallion behaving himself?'

'Warrior is just fine, thank you for your concern.' She didn't really like people using her nickname other than Jack and Lisa. 'We're taking a little break from riding drag.'

'So I noticed.'

She rolled her eyes, glancing around as she heard another horse coming up behind them. 'Hi Jack.'

'Hey Jess.' He replied, slowing Paint down to keep pace with the three of them. 'Hi Lis.'

'Jack.' She nodded. 'We might be in for some rain.'

'Appears so.' He glanced up at the sky above. 'It should pass though.'

'Hey, Jack.' Tim interrupted, unable to give up the opportunity to tease him. 'I never figured you for such a high-tech guy.'

'I'm just keeping up with the times.' He replied with a slight grumble.

'Lisa was telling me that saddle's made out of the same stuff they use in the space shuttle.'

She nodded. 'That's a half-inch of fast-recovery foam.'

'Fast recovery huh?' We can use it to recover from all the jokes people are making about that saddle.'

Jack rolled his eyes, not in the mood. He saw Callie riding not far from them and rode over to her. 'Hey Tim, you uh, have you met Callie? Callie's Ray's daughter, just up from Calgary.' He urged Paint on into a trot. 'Come on Lisa, Jess.'