Hi all!

Java is here! She's been here one night so far, seems to be settling in well. She's asleep behind the couch as I write this after playing out in the backyard this morning. Please pray and keep fingers crossed that she'll be a dog for service work, I've got to do some temperament testing and such to make sure that she'll be suitable so I really hope she'll pass. A passing mark on the temperament test is no indication that she'll make it to a full service dog but it will show up issues that may make her unsuitable for work. She really is a lovely dog, I hope she'll be the one I'm looking for!

Thanks again for the reviews guys, I had to laugh reading a couple of them. Was waiting for Jack and Lisa to kiss worth it now? *smiles* Enjoy the nice calm of this storyline while it lasts, another stormy storyline starts in chapter 30, only 11 chapters left to go. I can't wait to put you all through the wringer of my cliffhangers again. *Chuckles*

Anyway, enough said. Enjoy!

Chapter 19.1

Song after song Jack and Lisa danced on, completely oblivious to the world around them. They only had eyes for each other as they danced, Lisa's smile lighting up her entire face as she looked up at Jack. Time was forgotten, each of them absorbed in the other's presence as the sun began to sink down over the horizon, bathing everything in a gorgeous orange glow.

Jessie was still sitting out of the way of everyone, alone and feeling slightly out of place, watching them dance as the light began to fade. A small smile was on her lips, they looked so cute and happy dancing together. Her smile faded however as her memories interrupted the happy atmosphere of her mind, thinking of her parents. This is what she should have seen, this is how things should have been. All her memories of them though were ones she'd rather forget. She had nothing happy to remember them by. She'd never even seen them dance or hold each other and look into the others eyes like Jack and Lisa were. All she could remember as far as she went back was fighting, yelling, the beatings her father gave her mother when he was around. A single tear dripped down her cheek, a silent emotion that she couldn't hold in any longer. This is what should have been, parents that loved each other and loved her. This is what her childhood should have been.

Slowly Lisa became aware of the setting sun, glancing around as she saw the shadows getting longer. 'Do you see Jessie?'

Jack glanced around, spotting the girl sitting under the shelter by herself. 'She's over there.'

Lisa looked over her shoulder as they continued to dance, wondering how long the girl had been sitting there alone. 'She looks so lonely.' She turned back to him as the song ended, an idea coming into her mind. 'Jack, you should go dance with her.'

'You wouldn't mind?'

'Of course I'd mind.' She chuckled, her hand on his shoulder. 'But I have to get used to sharing you with her.'

'Alright.' He smiled as the song ended and they stopped dancing, letting go of her. 'I'll go ask her.'

'Okay.' Lisa nodded as he walked away and she took a seat in an empty chair near where the other people were still dancing. She smiled, watching as Jack went over to the girl.

'Jessie?'

The girl jumped at the voice, looking up to see Jack standing in front of her. 'Oh, sorry.' She mumbled. 'I didn't see you there.'

'Would you care to dance?' He asked, offering her his hand.

'I-I don't know how.' She stuttered, a little shocked by him asking her to dance. She'd never danced with anyone. Ever. 'I've never danced before.'

'I'll teach you.'

She hesitated for a moment then nodded, taking his hand as she stood up. 'Okay, but I might tread on your toes.'

'It's a good thing I have steel-capped boots then.' He chuckled as they walked to the dance floor. 'I taught Marion how to dance when she was little, she was barely knee-high to a grasshopper. She would stand on my toes, it was the cutest thing.'

Jessie chuckled as she let Jack place his arm around her waist and she placed hers around his. 'I think I might be a little too heavy to do that, even with you wearing steel-capped boots.' He chuckled and she smiled, following his lead as a new song started. She looked up at him as they danced, her eyes glistening. 'Thanks Jack. No one has ever danced with me before.'

'Your welcome honey.' He replied, looking down at her. Gently he wiped a tear away that was rolling down her cheek, holding onto her hand again. She turned her head away for a moment, the sunlight shining off her brownish blonde hair as she regained her composure. She sniffled, continuing to follow his lead as they danced slowly in time to the music. He glanced over at Lisa and their eyes met, the woman smiling as she sat watching them. 'You underestimate yourself Jessie. You're a very good dancer.'

'I am?'

'You are. You haven't stepped on my feet once yet.'

She looked up at him, a playful glint in her eyes that replaced her tears. Deliberately she placed her foot on his with a cheeky grin. 'That's one.'

'Oh you.' He chuckled knowing full well the girl had done it on purpose. 'You have quite a mischievous streak.'

'So I've been told.' She flicked her hair back, still grinning. 'And I know you wouldn't want it any other way. Admit it, you like my teasing.'

'I do.' He was just happy to see her happy, even when she was being slightly rascally. 'But just remember, what goes around comes around.'

'Mmhmm.' Jessie agreed, her eyes still sparkling with happiness. 'I'll keep that in mind.'

Lisa sat back, smiling as she watched them continue to dance. She caught a little bit of their conversation, chuckling when Jessie deliberately stepped on his foot. She was a cheeky thing when she was happy and carefree. She much rathered seeing her like this, lighthearted, childish and playing around then sad and serious like she normally was. It wasn't often that Jessie was as genuinely as happy as she was right now, dancing with Jack. It warmed her heart, watching her be happy. That's all she ever wanted for her, wished for her. Jessie had to grow up way too fast, it was so beautiful getting to watch her without her barriers and her memories getting in the way. She was blossoming, showing them who the real Jessie really was. A girl without her past holding her back. A girl enjoying life in the moment she was in. It was a memory she knew she'd cherish when things got hard as she knew they would. However she decided not to think of the future, just enjoying the moment watching them dance for what it really was. A beautiful tender moment between Jack and Jessie.

The song came to an end and Jessie looked up at Jack again. 'Thank you for asking me to dance. I enjoyed it.'

'Your welcome honey.' He smiled, tucking a loose lock of her hair back behind her ear. Another song started to play. 'Do you want to do another?'

'Maybe later. I'm feeling rather tired.'

'Okay. Later then.'

They walked over to Lisa, the girl still beaming from ear to ear as the woman got up and walked towards them. She smiled, looking down at Jessie. 'How was your dance?'

'My partner was very patient.' She chuckled, looking up at Jack. 'I'll give him back now, I think I stepped on his toes more than enough for one dance.' She glanced back at Lisa. 'Go on, I know you want to dance with Jack again. Don't let me keep you. I'll just be here, keeping your seat warm.'

She raised her eyebrows, turning to Jack. 'I think someone's giving you a hint there.'

He laughed, offering her his hand. 'Care for a dance Lis?'

'I'd love to.'

Jessie sat down again as Lisa took Jack's hand and they headed out to dance, smiling widely. She'd enjoyed dancing with Jack more than she thought she would, it made her feel good inside that someone had actually wanted to dance with her. Glancing around she couldn't help but chuckle seeing Jake and Mallory dancing. Obviously somehow she'd been convinced to dance with him. It was quite funny too, especially how she'd been acting earlier. She had to hand it to Jake for being persistent though. That boy really must like her to keep going after her like he was.

Her silent ponderings were interrupted however as the calling of the cattle got louder.. She frowned, looking towards where it was coming from then shook her head as she got up. Cattle were walking into the camp, plowing over everything in their way.

Jack and Lisa were interrupted from their dance by the cattle, Jack quickly taking charge of the situation. He let go of Lisa, turning a couple of steers back from running further through the camp. 'Alright, alright everybody. Just keep it down. Keep it down. Don't get them running.' He continued forward noticing Jessie was ushering the cattle towards the yard. Everyone was gathering round, trying to stop the cattle from doing any more damage than they already had. 'Let's push them back to the pen. Nice and easy here.' He took hold of Lisa's hand as she came up beside him, glancing around. 'You got to wonder where our so called 'Trail Boss' is.'

'Come on, move it.' Jessie encouraged, clapping her hands to get the group of cattle moving back towards their yard, helping the others rounding them up as best she could. She looked around, spotting a couple steers sauntering unhindered towards the tent her and Lisa were sharing. 'Jack there's a couple heading for our tent.'

'I've got em Jess.' He assured her, quickly jogging over towards the steers and turning them back before they could get to the tent. The steers started to run and he looked up gratefully to see Lisa ready to help him drive them towards the yard. 'Coming your way Lis.'

'I got them.' She assured him, driving them on. 'I got them.' She almost slipped over in the mud but managed to get her footing in time with a laugh. 'Whoops.' The steers ran into the yard and she quickly closed the gate behind them. 'All right.'

'How on earth did they get out?' Jessie asked as she ran over, breathless and her cheeks red from chasing the cattle. 'You locked the gate behind them.'

'I was just wondering that.'

'They could have bumped it loose, couldn't they?' Lisa offered, glancing around for some reason as to why the cattle might have gotten out.

'I highly doubt it.'

A low steer calling caught Jessie's attention and she looked around, seeing the black and white steer she'd had so much trouble with earlier making a run for it towards the trees. She patted Jack's arm to get his attention, nodding towards the direction the steer had taken off in. 'I'll go get him. Take me less time to get after him then someone else trying to tack up a horse and head out.'

'Alright, just be careful.'

'Don't worry.' She called back over her shoulder as she jogged off. 'I will.'

Lisa chuckled, smiling. 'She's a go getter.'

'That she is.' He agreed, placing his arm around her as they walked back towards where the others had started dancing again. 'Shall we finish off our dance?'

'We shall.'

Jessie grabbed Warrior's leadrope off the gate as she opened it, closing it behind her so Paint didn't escape. 'Sorry to interrupt mate but we've got a runaway.' She exclaimed as she lifted his head from his grazing, snapping his leadrope onto his halter. Warrior snorted, trying to get another mouthful of grass as she pulled him away from Paint. 'The quicker we go get this guy, the quicker you can get back here.'

He shook his head then settled down to follow her as she led him out of the pen and closed the gate securely behind them. Giving him a pat as she halted him and turned to his shoulder she grabbed a lock of his long mane and sprung onto his back. Holding onto the leadrope in one hand she nudged him gently with her heels and clicked her tongue. 'Okay boy, let's go.'

The light was fading rapidly as they quickly headed after the stray steer, following the general direction she'd seen it last take. Warrior's muscles were strong and taunt underneath her as they cantered up the hill towards a grove of trees, her legs wrapped securely around his sides. She brought him to a halt as they came to the top, looking around as the stallion flexed his neck, eager to get moving again. The steer was nowhere in sight. 'Where's the steer boy?' She asked, patting his shoulder. 'Do you know where he is?'

She dropped the tension on the lead, letting him know she wanted him to take over. The stallion flicked his ears then cantered on again, still continuing north-west. She continued to glance over the landscape closely, the dim light as the sun began to set causing a slight problem. How far could a steer run in a short amount of time?

They cantered over another small crest and she sighed in relief as she saw the steer grazing in the valley below them. 'Good work boy.' She patted his shoulder, letting him find his way down to the steer. The steer looked up as they approached, snorting, then turned tail to run towards the shelter of a small grove of pines.

Warrior stretched out into a gallop automatically, the girl holding onto his mane to steady her as they ran after the steer. He ran around in front of it, cutting off its escape and the steer shook his head, pawing the ground. Warrior snorted too, eyeing the steer warily in case it went to charge him. They stood at a standoff, unmoving for what seemed like an eternity to the girl then the steer made the first move. Letting out a bellow that sounded more like a child complaining it turned around, trotting back in the direction of the campsite.

Jessie sat back, letting Warrior do his job as they drove the steer back towards the yard. She glanced up at the sky, the last few rays of the sun sinking fast over the horizon. She frowned as they continued on. She didn't think they'd come this far.

By the time she could hear the sound of the cattle in the distance night had fallen. She looked ahead, the first dim lights of the campsite coming into view and she sighed in relief. In all honesty she was exhausted, just staying awake on Warrior was becoming an effort in itself. She couldn't help but yawn as she let the stallion have his head and the responsibility of driving the steer. One thing she knew for certain that as soon as her head hit the pillow she was going to be dead to the world.

'There she is.' Jack exclaimed as he saw the girl driving the steer towards the campsite and he hurried to meet her as a couple hands moved in to take care of the steer, Lisa beside him. 'We were just going to come look for you honey.'

'I'm okay.' She replied wearily, sliding off the stallions back. Her legs almost gave out under her they were that sore and numb but she held herself up using Warrior's withers and regained her bearings. 'For a steer he can move pretty fast.'

'Are you alright Jess?' Lisa asked worriedly, placing her hand on the girl's shoulder. Her almost falling off her horse hadn't gone unnoticed. 'You didn't fall off did you?'

'No.' She shook her head, patting Warrior as the stallion gently sniffed her coat. 'I'm just tired. He got a lot further away then I first thought.' She glanced over at the cattle in the yard. 'Is that all of them?'

'I haven't counted them yet, a couple more wandered back in not long ago and we got them but for the most part they're all here. It's too dark to go looking for strays anyway. They'll come back.'

'Let's go put this boy away and get you some dinner, hey?' She slipped her arm around the girl and Jessie nodded. 'I'll come with you.'

'Thanks.' The girl yawned as she led Warrior back towards his pen, Lisa opening the gate for her to lead him in. She patted his neck as she unclipped his lead and let him loose. 'Good work boy.' Warrior gently brushed his muzzle across her cheek then then headed back to graze with Paint. She walked out, Lisa closing the gate behind her and checking to make sure it was locked as she tied his leadrope out of the way. 'I think dinner and bed sounds like heaven right now.'

Lisa chuckled, the girl placing her arm around her and she around her as they walked back to the camp. 'If Jack had known you were this tired he'd have gone after the steer himself.'

'It's okay, I don't mind. Gives me a sense of worth, of belonging. Getting to do something.' She glanced over at the cattle yard as they walked past, giggling slightly as she realized Jack was giving Ty and Caleb an absolute roasting. 'I have a feeling he figured out how the cattle got out.'

'Yeah.' She agreed, directing the girl to an empty chair beside where she and Jack had been seated. 'You just stay here honey, I'll go get your dinner.'

'Sounds like a good idea.' Jessie sighed with relief as she sat down, rubbing her aching legs. She couldn't remember the last time she'd actually ridden all day without so much as a ten minute break off her horse. She guessed it had to be back before she'd been shot. Her countenance sobered as she paused rubbing her legs for a moment, trying not to think of the thoughts she'd triggered. She closed her eyes, breathing deep for a couple of seconds then opened them and carried on. There was no sense in thinking of the past.

'Here you go.' Lisa exclaimed as she came over, handing the girl a bowl of warm beans and a couple thick slices of bread. She took a seat beside Jessie as the girl began to dig into her meal. 'You want to head to bed when you finish?'

She nodded, replying between bites. 'I know it's early but I'm exhausted to be totally honest. I've still got to make my bed too.'

'I've got to make mine as well.'

'What do you think of the tucker?' Jack asked as he came over, taking a seat with them.

'I'm not complaining. It's nice and warm and at least I can enjoy it, unlike breakfast.'

He chuckled. 'Yeah, Lou isn't here trying to take our plates away while we're still eating.'

'So, you figure out how the cattle got out?'

'In an indirect sort of way. Yes.' He replied, glancing over his shoulder towards where Ty and Caleb were tasked with watching the cattle. 'They wouldn't admit it but they got into a fistfight and my guess is one of them left the gate open. They won't be in such a hurry next time though, they're watching the cattle all night.'

'Boys.' She rolled her eyes. 'They can be so immature sometimes.' She placed her empty bowl aside and stretched as she stood up. 'I'm off to bed. See you in the morning Jack.'

'I'll be back.' Lisa promised, getting up. 'I'll go tuck her in.'

He nodded. 'Sleep well Jess.'

'I will.' Jessie replied over her shoulder as Lisa and her walked to their tent, bypassing the other people sitting around eating. She yawned again as she lifted the tent flap and walked in, stumbling over Lisa's bedroll. 'You trying to kill me here?'

'Let me turn my torch on.' She teased, grabbing it from her pocket. 'We'll shed some light on the issue.'

'Lisa.' She rolled her eyes, laughing at the lame joke as Lisa's torch lit up the inside of the tent. 'That's the worst pun I've ever heard.'

'That was a bad one, wasn't it?' Tying the torch up on the pole above them so they had light while they started to work she knelt down beside her bedroll to roll it out. 'You want a hand Jess?'

'No, I've got it.' Jessie replied, untying the strings her bedroll was tied up with. She yawned as she rolled it out, grabbing her sleeping bag and pillow. 'This looks so good right now.'

'Anyone would think you've just been riding a horse all day.' She teased, tossing out her bedroll then screamed.

The girl whipped around, her eyes falling on the rattlesnake curled up at the end of Lisa's bedroll. She gulped, wide awake as she judged the distance between the snake and Lisa. 'Back away nice and slow Lisa, don't scare it.' It's tail was up as it shook its rattles, eyeing Lisa off as its tongue flicked in and out. 'Careful.'

Slowly Lisa backed away, her heart pounding in her throat as she watched the snakes every move. Snakes were one of her least favorite favorite reptiles, especially when one was less than a meter from her. Carefully she backed away on her hands and knees, trying not to startle the snake into attacking her. Rattlesnake bites were rarely fatal but regardless of that fact in the back of her mind she didn't want to test that theory out.

'Okay, stand up now.' Jessie encouraged softly once Lisa had gotten enough room between her and the snake. The woman slowly got off her knees, still focused on the snake curled up in her bed. Getting to her feet she slowly got around behind it while its attention was still on Lisa, her sleeping bag cover in her hand. Before the snake could react she had it by its head, dropping it into the bag and tying it up with lightning quick reflexes.

'What's wrong?' Jack asked, having heard the scream from their tent. He looked at Lisa, then Jessie and back to Lisa again. Lisa's face was as white as a sheet, she looked like she'd just seen a ghost. 'What happened?'

'Rattlesnake.' Jessie replied, holding the bag out at arms length as the rattler angrily moved around inside. 'In Lisa's bedroll.'

'Oh my god Lisa, are you okay? You didn't get bitten?'

'I-I'm fine.' She stuttered, finding her voice as she let out a breath she didn't know she'd been holding. She looked at Jessie in total shock. 'Jessie, what on earth were you thinking girl? You could have been bitten!'

'Well, this guy won't be biting anyone.' The girl replied as she got to her feet again, the snake settling down a little. 'Can we do something with it please? I'd like my bag back.'

Jack looked between the two of them again then stepped forward, taking the bag from the girl. 'I'll go take it far far away from camp.'

'Thanks. Hopefully he doesn't decide to surprise us with his presence again.' Her heart was still pounding slightly, taking a couple of deep breaths as Jack carried the snake out of the tent. She heaved a sigh, looking down at Lisa's bedroll where the snake had been hiding. If Lisa had been a few inches closer to it when she'd unrolled it she'd have been bitten for sure. She walked over to her, placing her arm around her as she looked up at her. 'You sure you didn't get bitten Lisa?'

'I'm sure honey.' Lisa replied, her surprise slowly abating as she felt the girls arm around her. 'Jessie, that was very foolish, catching that snake like that.'

'Lisa, you have to remember that I lived out here for a long time. I had to learn how to deal with snakes. I often had to relocate rattlesnakes that decided they liked living in the caves I wanted to stay in. It's easier to just shoot them but obviously, I don't have a pistol strapped to my hip. I didn't fancy the idea of sharing a tent with it either.'

'I guess I need to get used to the idea that you're not an ordinary twelve year old.' She kissed the girls head gently. 'Just please, don't do that again. I don't think I could handle the shock.'

'What I'd love to know is how it got in your bedroll in the first place.' Jessie glanced around the tent again. 'It must have crawled in when your bedroll was on the ground.'

'That's my guess.' Lisa sighed heavily. 'I don't think I'm going to be able to get a wink of sleep tonight.'

'Ah, it's nothing.' She tried to shrug what had happened off but in reality she had been as scared as Lisa had been. Lisa could have been bitten- 'No sense losing sleep over it.'

She looked down at Jessie, wondering why the girl was acting like nothing had happened all of a sudden. 'Jessie, I'm sorry for snapping like that. I was just worried you could have been bitten.'

'It's fine Lisa, forget it.'

'Jessie-' The girl turned, hugging her tight. 'Hey, it's alright.' She assured her, stroking her hair. 'It's okay.'

Jessie nodded, pulling away after a moment and quickly regaining her composure. 'Sorry.'

'It's alright honey. You don't have to apologize.'

'All's well that ends well, don't they say?' She quickly wiped a stray tear off her cheek and turned to finish making her bed. 'I hate snakes.'

'They're not very high on my fan list either.' Lisa agreed, shivering at the thought that a snake had been in her bed. 'And people wonder why I don't like camping.'

Jessie chuckled despite the severity of the atmosphere. 'I have a feeling that this might have turned you off camping completely.'

'It certainly doesn't make camping very appealing, let me tell you that.'

'You two okay?'

'We're okay Jack.' Lisa replied, turning to him as he came into the tent. 'That was a little scary.'

'A little?'

'Okay. A lot.'

'Lisa handled it pretty good though.' Jessie encouraged, rolling out her sleeping bag. 'She just backed away and let it be.'

'There wasn't much else I could do.'

'Well, you didn't panic. That was the main thing.' She unzipped part of her sleeping bag, stuffing her pillow in the hood. 'Right, now after that little bit of excitement we could have done without, I'm going to try and get some sleep.'

'Alright, I'll see you in the morning honey.' He went over to her, giving her a kiss on her head. 'Sleep well.'

'Haha, yeah. We'll see.' She chuckled as he left. 'I have a feeling I'll be having a dream with a snake in it somehow.'

'Your not going to be the only one.' Lisa agreed, handing the girl her bag so she could change into her pajamas. She turned around to let the girl change, turning her attention back to making her own bed. Another shiver ran up her spine as she straightened out her bedroll and pulled out her sleeping bag. She'd carried that bedroll, with the snake inside it. It was only by some miracle she hadn't been bitten when she'd picked it up. One thing that she hadn't admitted to many people, only her sister knew to be honest was that she was absolutely terrified of snakes. Everyone had something they were scared of and for her, it was snakes.

'Okay, I'm done.' Jessie exclaimed as she zipped up her fleecy onesie and placed the day's clothes aside. 'Man, it's chilly.'

'It is a little.' She chuckled as the girl quickly crawled into her sleeping bag and snuggled into it. 'Do you think you'll be warm enough?'

'I think so.' She tucked her hands in under the covers, trying to warm them up. 'I had to make do with less.'

You shouldn't have had to. Her thoughts resounded in her mind and she crawled over to the girl, kneeling down beside her. 'You want me to plait your hair?'

'Na, it's too cold to get back out. I can just put up with it being left out.'

'Okay.' Lisa smiled, stroking her cheek gently as she lent down to give her a kiss on her forehead. 'Sleep dreams. I love you.'

'I love you too.'