Hi all

Well, I was going to give you all a Christmas present and update buuutttttt, apparently I cant update my stories anymore using my phone *sigh* So, now I'm stuck using my laptop to update and its very annoying! I liked being able to just go on my phone (I have my chapters stored in the doc manager on here) and update etc but now I cant. Unfortunately this means I wont be able to update all the time either, since I have to get on my laptop and I'm not on it much at all. Hopefully they'll re-give us the option to use the desktop version on the phone again...

Anyway, I hope you all enjoy. I'm not having the best time at the moment, I'm very tired and stressed and just drained. My horse and dog have been good but I just dont have the energy to do much with them *cries* I'm just sick of being sick... Anyway, thats my rant for today. On with the update.

Chapter 22.1

She chuckled as the stallion raced away, galloping with his tail up across the pasture to where Paint and Spartan were grazing. His behavior earlier that morning made no sense at all. He was perfectly fine with everything else. Nothing was out of the ordinary. She sighed, turning away and heading back to the gate. If she didn't find out why he was acting up how was she going to be able to compete in the rodeo?

'What are you up to Mallory?' She asked as she walked back into the barn, watching the girl tack her gelding up. 'Anything I can help with?'

'No, I'm fine.' She glanced at her. 'But what happened to you?'

Jessie rolled her eyes. 'I had a flight on Air Equestrian that had quite the rough landing. Warrior wasn't being well behaved this morning.'

'Woah. Must have been quite the adventure then. You've never come off before while you've been here.'

'Yeah.' She raised her eyebrows, leaning against the wall. 'I'm trying to figure out what's going on with him but I can't think of anything out of the ordinary.'

'Maybe changing the location you've been training might have something to do with it?' She shrugged. 'Just an idea.'

'Hmm. You might be onto something there. I'll have a think about that. Other than boredom I can't think of any other reason why he'd act like this. Thanks Mallory.'

'No problem.' She finished doing up the gelding's girth then made sure he was tied up and wouldn't be able to get loose. 'Can you keep an eye on Copper while I go find Amy?'

'Sure.'

'Thanks.'

'You want me to take him out front?' She called after the girl as Mallory quickly headed through the barn.

'Please.'

'Alright.' Jessie chuckled, heading over to the gelding. She untied his leadrope, leading him through the barn to the hitching rail outside. She tied him up again, giving him a pat. 'You stay right here mate.' Mallory walked back over to them, her body language showing she was obviously cranky about something. 'What's wrong?'

'Amy's too busy to help me.' She complained, untying the gelding. 'Apparently she has to help with Lou's guests.'

'Anything I can help with?'

'I was hoping to have a jumping lesson with Copper.'

'Well I don't really have much to do at the moment, Jack's taken off someplace.' She glanced around but he'd disappeared. 'I don't know much about teaching someone how to jump but I'll help you if I can. What were you going to do with Copper?'

'Amy said to lunge him over the round poles.'

'Well, let's see how he goes then.'

Mallory smiled. 'Thanks Jessie.'

'No problem Mallory. Let's go set them up in the corral.'

Jessie stood watching Mallory with Copper in the round pen a little later, trying to help her train him but she could see that Copper didn't really have his heart in it. 'Maybe he's not cut out for jumping Mallory.'

'Of course he is. He's just lazy.' She replied, groaning as Copper tripped over the poles again. 'Pick your feet up mate.'

She raised her eyebrows. If Mallory didn't want her advice there was no point sticking around. 'I'll leave you two to it then. I've got tack to clean.'

'Alright. Pick your hooves up Copper!'

The girl chuckled as she walked away, hearing Mallory still going on at Copper. 'I don't think he's going to be jumping anytime soon Amy.'

'No.' She agreed as the girl walked past her into the barn. 'But she's dead set on it.'

'So, what are you going to do with Lou's guests?'

'I have no idea. I'm still thinking about that.'

'Well, when I started learning Lillian led me around on her mare. I think they're probably a little old to be ponied though.'

Amy chuckled. 'Maybe just a little old.' She glanced up as she heard a car pulling up, sighing as she saw it was Ashley. 'I wonder what she wants.'

'Yeah.' She remarked to her as Ashley pulled up. 'Hey.'

'Hey. Is Caleb around?' Ashley asked as she got out of her car.

'Actually he just took some guests out to the cabins.'

'Oh right. Hillbilly haven.'

'He should be back any minute.'

'I'll just wait here.' She glanced around, noticing the barrels in the arena. 'So, who's doing the barrel racing?'

'I am.' Jessie walked out of the barn. 'Do you?'

'Not yet, but I'm planning on it.' She smiled, flicking her hair back. 'You using your cow pony?'

'Yeah.'

'How fascinating.'

'Well-' She could detect a hint of sarcasm in her reply. Like mother, like daughter and why was she interested in who was doing barrel racing? Was she up to something too? 'I'd love to continue this conversation but I have chores to do.'

'Okay, whatever.'

Jessie headed back inside the barn, glancing back as Caleb's truck pulled up near Ashely's car and Lou and the guests hopped out. She picked up the rag she was going to clean her saddle with as Lou led them through the barn.

'This way to the horses guys.'

She looked up at Amy after they'd passed, a huge grin on her face. 'Have fun teaching them.'

'Very funny.' She rolled her eyes as Ty pulled up, heading out after Lou towards the back pens where the horses were kept. 'Are you coming?'

'No, I probably should get this tack cleaned.' The girl replied, grabbing the saddlesoap off the shelf near the tack. 'I'm sure I'll hear about whatever you guys put them through.'

'Okay.'

Jessie turned back to her saddle as Amy left the barn, wiping it over with the damp cloth to get the dust off then started to rub the saddlesoap into the leather to give it a decent clean. She wondered about Warrior as she continued cleaning his tack, trying to figure out just what was going on with him was rather maddening. Other than boredom and change of his training location she couldn't come up with any other reason why he would be acting the way he had.

'Alright, so first off we're going to muck out a stall.'

She glanced up, a slight grin on her face as Lou led the three women into the barn. 'Hey Lou, Warrior's needs cleaning. I didn't get around to it.'

'Brilliant.' Lou turned to the women. 'Guys, this is Jessie. Jessie, meet Mackenzie, Lauren and Nicole.'

'Hi.'

'Hi.' Mackenzie said as the other two nodded then she turned to Lou. 'So, what exactly is mucking out a stall?'

'Oh, that's just the word we use for cleaning up horse crap left in a stall.' Jessie offered with a teasing grin.

'No way.' Nicole replied, glancing into the stall.

'Forget it Lou.' Lauren added. 'We didn't pay you to shovel horse poop.'

'It is not about shoveling poop, okay?' Lou turned to her. 'It's about team skills. You need to work together to get the clean-up done. As quickly as possible. I'm timing you.' She lifted up the stopwatch she was holding. 'Go.'

'You shovel.' Lauren took charge, looking at Mackenzie then at Nicole. 'You work the wheelbarrow.' She saw the looks they gave her then quickly continued, rather unamused by the whole proceedings. 'I'll dump it.'

'Eww!' Mackenzie complained as she tried to pick up the manure with the stable rake, some of it getting on her boots. 'It got on my Jimmy Choos.'

'Hurry up! It's a test.'

Jessie couldn't help but chuckle as she watched the three women try and clean out Warrior's stall. Seriously? All it was was his feed that had gone in one end and out the other. It was just grass. She rolled her eyes as Mackenzie and Nicole held their breaths while she dumped the manure in the wheelbarrow. Pansies. It was pathetic honestly, watching the way they carried on about the horse poop. They should try living out in the wilderness for as long as she had. Cleaning up manure was like a walk in a park compared to the life she'd lived. 'I think I'll go see where Jack is.' She mentioned to Lou as she walked past. 'Do you know where he is?'

'He's out moving the horses into the small sand pen out back.'

'Thanks.' She glanced back at the women still complaining about the smell, rolling her eyes as she headed out of the barn. Jack was right where Lou said he'd be, leading Tambourine, the black dude ranch gelding into the pen. 'Hey Jack.'

'Jessie.' He acknowledged as he let the gelding loose, standing at the gate to open it again for Amy and Ty who were leading the other two horses over. He nodded towards the barn. 'How's it going in there?'

'Pathetic. I honestly don't get what is so utterly terrible about mucking out a stall.' She replied, joining him in the yard. 'What's so bad about manure? It's just grass that's gone through a horse's digestive system.'

'And now you know why I wasn't so crash hot on this whole 'dude ranch' business to begin with.' He patted the gelding as he let him go. 'City slickers who've never seen a shovel before.'

'Or got their boots dirty.' Amy added, bringing in Betty. 'Makes for pretty funny watching though.'

'If you can stomach the complaining.'

'The smell isn't so bad once you get used to it.' Ty led Slick in, the mare instantly heading straight for the gelding once he'd been turned loose. He turned to Jack. 'Lou want any other horses?'

'I think she wanted Checkers brought in too.'

'I'll go grab him.'

'Thanks Ty.' He headed over to Jessie. 'I don't think we'll be going out to check on the cattle after all today.'

'Ah I don't mind.' She smiled, watching the horses mingle in the pen. 'Warrior could do with a break. Maybe that's why he's acting up.'

'Could be.'

The girl sighed. 'I just wish I knew for certain though. Now that I really want to enter the rodeo everything seems to be going wrong.'

'You'll figure it out.' He encouraged, patting her on the shoulder. 'I know you will.'

'Thanks Jack.' She glanced around as she heard footsteps coming over. 'Looks like they managed to survive the horrendous experience of mucking out a stall.'

Jack chuckled. 'Don't tease about them too much Jessie. You know what goes around comes around.'

'Choosing your horse calls upon long-buried instincts you never knew you had.' Lou started as they walked into the pen and she handed them each a leadrope. 'Instincts that will allow you to match your inner self with your equine soul-mate.'

'Can we just pick a damn horse?' Nicole questioned.

'Go ahead.'

'That one's mine.' Lauren pointed to Tambourine. 'He's gorgeous.'

'I think he's mine.' Nicole nodded towards the palomino who was grazing near the fence.

'I want that one.' Mackenzie pointed towards Betty. 'It looks nice and calm and safe.'

'Oh, they're friends.' She chuckled as the palomino and the grey touched noses.

'That's so cute.'

'Yeah well.' Caleb added from where he stood at the gate, watching as the three women chose their horses. 'Betty's as blind as a bat. That's why she's sticking so close to Slick.'

'Oh really?' She looked back at him. 'You're pretty funny.'

'Alright, now that you've chosen your horses.' Lou interrupted. 'You need to go catch them. Nicole, you go get Slick first. Just walk up to him nice and calm and clip the lead onto his halter.'

'Come on Slick, come here.' She walked up to him but the gelding shied away from her, snorting. 'Stay still.' The gelding trotted off and she frowned as she pulled back. 'What's wrong with him?'

'Go easy.' Jack cautioned, watching the gelding's body language. 'You're the boss.'

The others laughed as she tried to catch the horse again but the gelding took off on her again. 'Don't laugh, okay? This is hard.' She exclaimed as she tried again, this time taking it a little slower. The gelding turned to her as she approached, reaching for his halter. 'Just let me-' She finally managed to clip his lead onto the ring under his chin. 'Yay.'

'Well done.'

Lauren was next, walking up to Tambourine slowly yet confidently. The gelding stood stock still as she approached and she caught him without any trouble at all. She smiled as she looked at them, quite happy she'd managed to get her horse easily.

'Alright Lauren.' Lou exclaimed as they clapped. 'Good job. Mackenzie, your turn.'

'Come here Betty.' Mackenzie called as she walked towards her, patting her legs. 'Come on.'

'He's not going to come to you like your Lhasa Apso.' Nicole called out.

'What the hell is a Lhasa Apso?' Caleb asked and the others chuckled. 'Well, what is it?'

'It's the breed of a dog. My dog.' Mackenzie replied, walking slowly towards the horse. Carefully she lent out and attached the lead to the mares halter. 'I did it.'

'Good job.' Lou encouraged. 'Now that you've caught your horses, it's time to learn how to tack them up.'

'I'm good Lisa.' Jessie smiled as she spoke on the phone to her, sitting down with Cougar on the couch later that afternoon. 'How have you been?'

'Busy.' She laughed, walking from the stables where she'd been most of the evening working. 'What have you been up too?'

'Well Lou had her second lot of dude ranch guests turn up today, some of her work colleagues from New York. That's been-' She paused for a moment, petting Cougar as she thought of how best to describe how their first day had been. 'Rather interesting. They've never been around horses before and the first thing Lou made them do was muck out a stall. Mind you, Warrior left it in a worse mess then usual.'

'Oh boy. I can imagine.'

'Yeah. It was pretty funny.' She chuckled. 'And the first time they got on a horse? One of them put their right leg in the stirrup instead of the left and managed to get on facing the horse's tail. She thought no one noticed her, the look on her face as she got off again was absolutely hilarious.'

'Sounds like you've had quite the day then. I'm sorry I missed that.'

'Well, sum up today in one word and that word would have to be interesting.' Cougar purred loudly, laying her head down on the girl's lap and kneading her legs with her paws. 'What have you been up too?'

'I got a new contract for a breeding stud that I've had my eyes on to improve the bloodlines.' She put her phone on loud speaker as she walked into her house, taking off her coat and hanging it up on the hook next to the front door. 'And I spent some time watching some of my horses practice runs at the track this morning.'

'Sounds like fun. I'd love to come watch sometime.'

'I'll bring you along when I get back, okay?'

'Brilliant.'

'So, what else have you been up to? How's barrel racing practice coming along?'

'Not great to be honest Lisa.' She sighed deeply, stretching her sore shoulder then wincing again. 'Warrior hasn't been himself all week since we went on the cattle drive. I tried practicing with him this morning and I came off.'

Lisa gasped, walking into her kitchen to get something to eat for dinner. 'Are you okay honey? You should have let me know straight away.'

'It's okay Lisa, I'm not hurt.' She could hear the woman sigh in relief. 'I've just got some bruises and I'm a bit sore but I haven't broken anything. My shoulder and bottom hurt the worst but I'll live.'

'Are you sure you don't need to have someone check you over?'

'If it doesn't get better in a couple days I will let you take me into the doctor. I haven't let anyone look me over, I haven't seen my bruises yet myself.' She lowered her voice slightly as she heard Jack walk back through into the kitchen. 'You know why.'

'I do. Just make sure you rest honey, okay?'

'I will.'

'Good girl. Can I talk to Jack if he's around?'

'Sure, he just came in to check on dinner. Just give me a moment.' Cougar meowed softly, protesting as the girl got up and she chuckled, clicking her fingers for the cat to follow her. She headed into the kitchen, the cat at her heels. 'Jack, Lisa wants to talk to you.' He nodded, placing the knife he'd used to check how the potatoes boiling in the pot were cooking down on the bench. 'Okay, he's here. I'll say good night to you now.'

'Alright, night honey. Have a good sleep.'

'Talk to you tomorrow.' She smiled, handing the phone to Jack. 'I'm heading upstairs to finish that assignment I have due. Call me when dinner is ready.'

'Okay sweetheart.' He put the phone up to his ear as the girl left. 'Lisa. How are you?'

'I'm good.' She smiled, hearing his voice. 'Jessie said she fell off Warrior today. What happened?'

'I don't know, I wasn't there.' He replied, wondering when Lou would be coming back to finish doing dinner. 'She came in for breakfast looking a bit stiff and sore and admitted she'd fallen off. I don't know what happened, Jessie can normally handle whatever Warrior throws at her but he's been a bit out of sorts lately.'

'She's not hurt, is she?'

'Not too bad I don't think. She's been babying her shoulder a bit though and she's got a slight limp. She won't let me look at her though, she said that she'll only let you if it gets worse.'

Lisa sighed, taking one of the many empty seats at her dining table to eat her salad she'd brought ready-made. 'I just wish she'd feel comfortable enough to let you check her over and make sure she's okay but we both know why she won't.' She couldn't blame the girl for why she didn't want Jack seeing her scars, she didn't want him seeing hers either. 'I'd come over tomorrow but my day is packed full.'

'I'll keep a close eye on her Lis, if I think she's getting worse I'll be taking her straight in to get looked at, don't you worry.'

'Thanks Jack.'

'I'll let you know if anything happens.'

'You should have really let me know earlier that she'd had a fall.'

'There wasn't much you'd have been able to do about it anyway Lis.'

'I know.' She sighed again. 'How's she been going other then coming off Warrior?'

'She's been good. Off her tucker a little the other day but she's holding up pretty well. When will you find out about her test results?'

'When she goes back next week. I'm not going to be able to make that appointment though Jack, I'll be in France.'

'I'll take her in and let you know what they are.'

'Thanks. I was just about to ask you if you could.'

'Well I saved you the trouble. Great minds think alike.' He heard her chuckle over the phone and he smiled. There was nothing he liked more then hearing her laugh. 'How long will you be in France for?'

'Two, maybe three weeks. Hopefully Jessie and you can survive without seeing me for that long.'

'We'll be just fine, don't you worry.'

'I know.'

He glanced up as he saw Lou and their guests heading towards the house. 'I'm going to have to go now Lis, we'll talk tomorrow?'

'Look forward to it. Bye Jack.'

'Bye Lis.' He hung the phone up as Lou and the women walked into the house. 'Dinner's almost finished.'

'I'll give you a hand.' Lou remarked as she walked over to him then glanced back at the ladies. 'Bathroom is just through there if you want to wash up, first door on the right.'

'Thanks.'

'I'll go let Jessie know dinner's almost on the table.' Jack said as the women headed towards the bathroom. 'Potatoes are almost done.'

'Thank you Grandpa.'

'No problem.' He smiled, heading into the living room and up the stairs to the loft. Jessie was seated at her desk, her cat lying at her feet. 'Dinner's almost ready.'

'Okay. Be right down.'

Jack went to leave then turned back. 'What about Cougar?'

She shrugged, turning to him. 'What about her?'

'I don't know how Lou's guests are going to cotton on a full grown mountain lion watching them while they eat. You know what happened on the weekend.'

'Yeah.' She chuckled. Apparently the visitors that had come two weeks early weren't appreciative of Cougar's presence. 'Just ask them how they are with cats.'

He caught the mischievous glint in her eye. 'You wouldn't happen to want me to specify on her species might you?'

'If they survived cleaning Warrior's stall they'll get over her.'

'Okay. See you downstairs.'

'Alright.' She agreed, turning back to her work. Cougar purred, looking up at her and she smiled. 'Your not scary, are you? You're just a big giant baby.' She returned to her work, finishing off a couple more questions then got up and put her chair back. 'Come on girl.'

The sound of people talking reached her ears as she and her big cat walked down the stairs. Jack and Lou were in the kitchen while the three women sat in the living room. She lent down next to Cougar. 'Wait here girl.' Cougar sat, hidden from view as she walked into the living room. 'Mind if my cat and I join you guys?'

'Sure.' Nicole offered. 'Pull up a seat.'

'Where's your cat?' Mackenzie asked, glancing around. 'I've got a dog at home but I've always been more of a cat lover.'

'She's probably hiding somewhere.' Obviously they hadn't noticed the giant sized cat bed next to the fireplace. She sat down on the rug on the floor next to the fire, trying to hide how sore she was. 'She's a bit of a Cougar, this one.'

Cougar leapt forward from her hiding spot on hearing her name, bounding into the living room. The response was instantaneous as she rubbed up against the girl, loud purrs emitting from her throat. Jessie chuckled at the gasps, grinning widely. 'Told you she was a bit of a cougar.'

'Oh my god.'

'Is that a real mountain lion?'

'She's huge!'

The girl laughed again as the cat licked her cheek, enjoying immensely the surprise on their faces. 'Yes, she's a real mountain lion. This is Cougar. Don't worry, she won't attack you. She's a giant baby to be honest.'

'I thought owning big cats was illegal.' Lauren exclaimed after she'd gotten over the shock of a mountain lion bounding past her.

'No but you do have to have a permit which I have. Well, Jack does actually but she's mine.' The cat rubbed against her again then laid down, half on her lap and half on the floor. 'It's alright, she's harmless. You guys can pat her if you want. She won't mind.'

Mackenzie was the first one to make a move, cautiously extending her hand to the cat to sniff. 'Hi kitty.'

'I think she likes you.' Jessie chuckled as Cougar licked her hand and purred louder. 'She normally only does that for me and a couple other people.'

'I've always wanted to pat a mountain lion, I just didn't expect that it'd be here.' She smiled, patting the cats back. 'Can I get a photo with her?'

'Sure.'

She handed Lauren her phone and she took a photo of her sitting with the girl and the puma. 'Thanks so much Jessie.'

'Your welcome.'

'I can hardly imagine that Lou would be happy about her living in the house.' Lauren remarked as she handed the phone back to Mackenzie. 'Her and I were roommates back in New York for a time.' The cat blinked at her, yawning, then placed her head back down on the girls lap. 'How'd you get her anyway?'

'I found her as an orphaned kitten, she was so young her eyes weren't even open yet. Her mom had been killed by a hunter. I raised her a bottle and she's been with me ever since.'

'So-' Nicole sat back in her chair, looking at the girl. 'Lou never spoke of a sister named Jessie.'

'That's cause I'm not family. Technically.' She replied, patting the cat as she looked into the fireplace. 'I'm an orphan. Jack is my legal guardian but we're not blood family.'

'Oh. I'm sorry.' She cringed inwardly, watching the girls body language. 'I didn't know.'

'It's okay.' The girl replied softly. 'These people here, they're the closest thing to family I've ever had.' She patted Cougar thoughtfully for a moment, a cloud of emotion passing over her face that she quickly brushed off as quickly as it had come. She stood up, faking a smile. 'I'll just go see if they need any help with dinner.'