Hi all,

Well... I had some un-planned excitement take place this Saturday just past... We had a storm that was classified as a level two cyclone (we live in-land but it was such a storm it was like a cyclone) and we lost part of the roof off our house... It came off my bedroom and another bedroom, and our hallway/office is also water damaged too... We're waiting for the insurance assessor to come out and check the damage... All our sheds roofs and the house roof was damaged in the storm too so we may need to get them all replaced aswell. We'll just have to wait and see what happens.

We did manage to save everything from my room but my furniture is a write-off, lets just say that's the most adrenaline rush I've ever had, getting everything out before as the rain poured through the ceiling. Never thought I would see the day when I had a swimming pool in my room... I've since moved out to our granny flat until my room can be repaired but our house is an absolute mess with stuff ect. Not how I wanted to spend my Saturday night.

As such, I don't know when I'll be able to upload again... I've really got to get caught up in my course I'm enrolled in, I need to work on later chapters and my brain is just so overwhelmed with other things going on at the moment... I hope to update soon, I will try my best to.

Anyway, enjoy!

Chapter 21.1

'Okay boy, let's try that again.' Jessie patted Warrior's neck as she turned him around again, fighting with him slightly to try and keep him under control. 'Easy mate, easy.'

'How's he going?'

She glanced around, seeing Ty watching her at the fence and sighed as the stallion tried to get his head again, half-reating in protest. 'Two days out herding cattle and all this guy wants to do is go hell for leather. I thought he'd be over this by now, it's been a few days since the drive but apparently-' She turned him around again, the stallion tossing his head and fidgeting when she wanted him to just stand still. 'He thinks barrels are boring now.'

He chuckled, leaning on the fence. 'Maybe he needs a break. I'm just about to head down to the dude ranch and pony back Betty and Slick, maybe you want to join me?'

'I'd love to Ty but right now I really need to try and get this guy to focus his attention on what I'm trying to do with him.'

'Alright.' He slapped his hand on the top rail of the fence as he turned to walk away. 'Offer's still open till I leave if you decide you want to come along.'

'Thanks. Unlikely to be taken up but thanks anyway.' Jessie turned Warrior back facing the barrel they were trying to practice turns around, the stallion shying underneath her. 'Mate, what is the matter with you today? You had your run, now just settle down.'

The stallion continued fighting her every step of the way as she tried to keep practicing with him, glancing over to see Ty leave out of the corner of her eye. Warrior took that split second of her not concentrating to his advantage, dropping his shoulder and giving a whopping buck. Before she knew what was happening she'd hit the ground, groaning as she looked up at the sky. 'And the ground doesn't get any softer.'

She heard Warrior snort and trot away, propping herself up on her elbow as she checked to see if she was hurt. Slowly she got to her feet, her head aching slightly but she was thankful she'd decided to wear a helmet while training him. Brushing the sand off her clothes she glared at Warrior as he stood calmly at the fence line, eating grass growing under the bottom rail. 'What's the go with you?'

Jessie groaned as she stiffly walked over to him, it was true that the ground only got harder each time you fell off. She couldn't remember when the last time she'd come off was, normally she would have sat his buck easily but she'd been distracted and he'd known it. 'Alright, parties over mate.' She grabbed his reins, tossing them back over his neck as she sorely clambered up into the saddle again. 'Come on.'

He snorted, trying to get his head back as the girl walked him back towards the barrels but she wouldn't let him have an inch. 'One last time and we'll finish.' She promised, walking him to the 'box' and halting him. He half-reared in protest as she nudged him forward, jumping into a jarring canter as he continued to fight her. 'Mate, what is going on?'

They made it around the pattern, the girl giving up trying to hold him back as they came out of the final turn, letting him go. The stallion snorted, bolting forward towards the fence and for a moment she thought he was going to jump but was almost thrown out of the saddle again when he slid to a stop. She dropped the reins, dismounting with a sore and exasperated sigh. 'Why don't you want to do the barrels mate?' She asked, rubbing his forehead. 'What's going on?'

She knew she wasn't going to get any reply and so gathered his reins and led him back into the barn. Sighing, she tied him up outside his stall to untack him, winching from walking. 'You didn't need to dump me to get your point across.'

'How'd practice go?' Caleb asked as he walked out of the feed room, raising an eyebrow as he looked at her. 'What happened to you?'

'Don't ask.' Jessie groaned as she tried to lift the saddle off the horse's back but her shoulder didn't take too kindly to the weight. She closed her eyes, she hated asking him for help but there was no point in making her shoulder hurt anymore then it already did. 'Caleb, can you get his saddle off for me? This guy thought I needed a reminder of just how hard the ground can be and was more than happy to make that happen.'

'I take it practice didn't go so well then.' He replied, heading over to her to grab the saddle off her horse as she stepped aside.

'That's the understatement of the year.' The girl patted the black, replacing his bridle with his halter while Caleb took care of returning her saddle to its place on the tack rack. 'I don't understand what's gotten into him of late. He's been like this ever since the cattle drive. I guessed that for a couple days he'd probably be a little out of routine but it's Thursday. I thought he'd be back to his usual self by now.'

'Maybe he's just bored?'

'That's what I'm thinking.' She sighed, turning him loose into his stall. 'If he doesn't improve in a couple of days I might get Scott to come over and make sure there's nothing else going on.'

'He might need a bit more of a break, you have been working him pretty hard. Maybe you should just let him relax for a couple days, take him out on a trail ride. No work.'

'You know Caleb.' She turned to him, giving Warrior one last pat over the stable door. 'That's not a bad idea.'

'Well, I don't have those.' He grinned.

'Don't push it.' Jessie teased, heading out of the barn, shaking her head. Caleb was so up himself at times it was almost driving her to insanity. She glanced around, breathing in deep of the morning air as she headed to the house to have breakfast. Lisa had taken her to her doctor's appointment on Tuesday, she'd run more tests on her that she'd just been thrilled about. Who liked getting their blood taken again? Not her. She had to go back next week to get the results, hopefully it proved what she'd been trying to say to Lisa. That she was just fine. Somehow she didn't think that was likely though. Her instincts were telling her that something wasn't quite right.

She'd had her psychologist appointment the day before too, Jack had taken her to that since Lisa did end up being busy. There wasn't much to think about that, she preferred not to think about it. Mainly it was already what she was doing. Trying not to think of the past and to move forward. It was a requirement of Jack and Lisa's guardianship from the child welfare department to take her there though, there wasn't much she could do about it.

She winched slightly as she walked up the stairs, her bottom sore from the tumble she had taken. Opening the door she headed inside, taking off her jacket and gloves with a little difficulty. She could smell breakfast cooking as she hung her jacket up, heading into the kitchen. 'What's cooking?'

'I've got some bacon and eggs here for you.' Jack looked up from the newspaper he was reading, frowning as he saw how stiffly she was walking. 'What happened to you?'

'Warrior.' She sighed, taking a seat next to Amy. 'I don't know what's going on with him lately. He's been really difficult. He was fine out on our run but as soon as he got in the arena and I tried barrels with him he was really difficult. I just don't know what's gone wrong. He's been a bit stubborn about the barrels since the cattle drive.'

'Maybe he's bored.' Amy offered, looking up from the book she was reading. 'I mean, on the cattle drive it was all new and exciting and fresh for him.'

'I'm thinking it's that.' Jessie nodded as Jack handed her her plate of breakfast. 'I was going to stop trying to practice with him for a couple days then try again and see if that makes any difference. If that doesn't, I was hoping maybe we could call Scott to come have a look and make sure there's nothing going on with him.'

'We can do that.' Jack agreed, picking his newspaper up again then looked back at Jessie. 'You didn't hurt yourself falling off did you?'

'No, I think I'm okay. Bit sore but I'm not hiding any broken bones.' She smiled cheekily. 'I'll be fine.' She glanced around into the living room hearing Lou's voice rising as she talked on the phone. 'What's going on there?'

'I don't think I want to know.'

'Probably something to do with the people she has coming to stay at the dude ranch today.' Amy interjected.

Jessie stopped between a mouthful, looking over at her. 'They're coming today?'

'Yeah.'

'Oh boy. I'm going to look like a real advertisement for the joys of horseback riding.' They chuckled and she sighed. 'I completely forgot.'

'I understand. Bye.' Lou hung up the phone as she walked into the kitchen, placing it down on the table. 'Nadine Lipchuck just cancelled on us for Oprah. Can you believe that? It's a disaster.'

'It'll all be fine.' Jack assured her, glancing up from his newspaper.

'Whose Oprah?' The girl questioned.

'No it won't Grandpa. I've only ever read about trust and self-esteem exercises. I've never actually done them.'

'Don't answer my question then.' Jessie muttered under her breath as she carried on with her breakfast, trying to fade into the background.

'There's a reason I hired Nadine Lipchuck-' She continued, taking the book that Amy had been looking through. 'the famous equine facilitator with a best seller.'

Amy rolled her eyes. 'Personally I think her book's a bunch of crap.'

'How can you say that? She's the pre-eminent voice in EGE.'

'What?'

'Equine guided education.'

Jack walked over, taking the book to have a look. 'How can anyone claim that leading a horse around a pen makes you 'one with your authentic self?''

'Exactly.' Amy agreed. 'Crap.'

'So.' He continued, handing the book back to her and he headed back to his newspaper. 'Where are these guests of your arriving?'

She glanced up at the clock. 'In half an hour.'

'So what are you going to do Lou?'

'I'm not going to fail at this Amy.' Lou was pacing in front of the table, getting herself worked up. 'Your right. Who needs Nadien Lipchuck? You can do these exercises. I know you can. You'll be great at it.'

'Okay, why did you convince your New York work buddies to come here anyway?'

'Because they paid full price even when I offered them a discount and they know anybody who's anybody in New York. They'll spread word about this place faster than any website. Plus, they eat up stuff like Nadien's book. They love anything to do with self-help.'

'Fine.' She finally gave in. 'I'll get them in a saddle but I'm not going into all this inner-productivity garbage.'

'Leave the garbage to me.' Lou glanced around as the door opened and Ty walked in. 'Did you travel all the horses to the paddock?'

'They have all been delivered.'

'Must have been a good ride.' Amy remarked, turning around in her chair as he headed to the cupboard to grab a drink. 'The morning was really nice.'

'Yeah, it was. It was a good view.' He looked over at Jessie who was still finishing off her breakfast. 'How'd Warrior go?'

The girl looked up at him with a glance best described as if looks could kill, he'd be dead. 'He dumped me.'

Ty raised his eyebrows. 'That good hey.'

'Just brilliant.' She sighed, getting up to put her plate in the sink. 'Jack, maybe you could have a look over Warrior for me. You might spot something I haven't noticed.'

'Sure.' Jack placed his empty coffee mug on the sink. 'Be happy too.'

'Thanks Jack.'

'I think your guests have arrived.' Caleb remarked, looking at Lou as he came into the house.

Lou peered out the window, sighing. 'What have I done?'

Jessie couldn't help a small smirk, glancing out the window as Lou, Caleb and Ty headed out to welcome the guests. They were dressed like city people and she couldn't help but chuckle at the thought of them finding out they had to use an outhouse. 'I wonder how this is going to go.'

'Just wait for their reaction when they find out you've got a mountain lion as a house cat.' He placed his arm around her, noticing the girl winching when he touched her shoulder. 'You sure you're alright?'

'I'm sure. It was just a tumble. I've had worse.'

'Let me look at your shoulder.'

She shook her head. 'I'm fine. Leave it Jack. If it gets worse I'll get Lisa to take me to the doctor but I don't want you looking at it.'

'Alright, alright.' He put his hands up in surrender as the girl headed over to the window. 'Do you think you're going to be able to help today?'

'I'll manage.' Looking out the window she wondered what Lou and her guests were talking about. One of them had given her a bag, obviously a present of some sort. 'I think you're going to have fun teaching these girls how to ride.'

'Fun wasn't exactly the word that came to mind.' Amy remarked as she got up and pushed her chair back. She saw Jack heading to the sink. 'I'll wash up.'

'Thanks Amy.' He turned to Jessie. 'Let's go have a look at Warrior now then.'

'Alright.' The girl followed him to the mud room, grabbing her coat and with a little difficulty managed to get it on. She saw Jack noticed her wincing but she was thankful he didn't press her any further about what had happened. The last thing she wanted was having to show him her shoulder, knowing if she did then he'd see her scars too. She joined him out on the porch after a moment, looking down at the guests as Lou and them hopped in Caleb and Jack's trucks to head to the dude ranch. 'Okay, I'm ready.'

Jack nodded, looking down at her as they walked over to the barn. 'How'd he manage to get you off?'

'A split second that I wasn't concentrating on him that he took to his advantage. I lost my concentration and the next thing I know, I'm lying flat on my back in the sand.'

'Has he acted like this before?'

'He's always been high spirited but he's never really been so unmanageable about something.'

'Nothing spooked him when you were out riding?'

'No. He was perfectly fine.' She sighed as they walked into the barn, seeing Mallory tacking up Copper out the other side. 'I don't get it. I just don't get what's going on.'

Jack walked over to Warrior's stall, the stallion poking his head over the door as he approached. He grabbed the horses halter, patting his neck. 'What's gotten into you mate? Hey?'

'I wish I knew.' She replied, leaning against the wall watching Jack and the stallion interact. 'He's perfectly fine now. It just doesn't make sense why he doesn't like doing the barrels all of a sudden.'

'Hand me his lead.' He asked, opening the stall door. The girl passed it to him and he clipped it onto the horse's halter, leading him out. Warrior snorted, following him and he handed the girl her horse. 'Take him out and trot him up, we'll just make sure he isn't lame.'

'Alright. Come on boy.'

Jack watched the stallions gait carefully as the girl walked and trotted him around outside the barn. He leaned against the door frame, looking at both of their body language. Both of them were calm and Warrior was listening to her cues intently. As they turned around again he motioned for her to bring the stallion back over. 'He's not lame.'

'No. I made sure of that.' She patted him as she brought him to a stop just inside the barn door. 'He behaved perfectly fine just then.'

'You made sure there wasn't anything wrong with his saddle?'

'Yep. No burrs, his cinch wasn't too tight. Double checked to make sure it was sitting on him properly.'

He nodded, running his hand down the stallions near foreleg then continued checking his other legs. The stallion sniffed him gently as he finished checking his off fore then patted him as he let him put his hoof down again. 'Well I can't see any reason why he should have acted the way he did.'

'Maybe he was just having an off day. Or an off week for that matter.' She sighed, rubbing his forehead. 'I'll go turn him out into the pasture with Paint then I need to do his stall.'

'I think Lou wanted a stall left dirty, she mentioned something this morning.'

'Oh.' The girl chuckled. 'I can't wait to see their faces.'

Jack laughed as he rolled his eyes. 'Yeah, some people really take offence to having to clean up after animals.'

'Well, it mightn't be pleasant but it has to be done. Come on boy, I'll go take you out.'

Warrior snorted as she led him out to the pasture, shaking his head as she led him through the gate then closed it behind them. 'Wait a moment boy, patience.' He snorted again, pawing the ground as she put the latch down then turned back to him. She un-clipped his lead, giving him a quick pat on the neck. 'Alright, off you go.'