Hi all,

Yeah, it's me, updating from the safety of my basement. I think by now you all should know I love my cliff-hangers lol, which I really do lol.

Ive never called emercency services and I dont really watch shows like 911 or anything, so please excuse my probably very inaccurate dialoge and description when Jessie calls for the fire brigade. I tried researching what calls go like but couldn't find anything that helped me.

Anyway, thank you all for the reviews and it's time to buckle up again folks. See you again when I emerge from my basement again.

Chapter 30.1

Jessie slammed her laptop lid down and placed it aside as she jumped off the bed, running towards the door. Quickly she remembered her phone, grabbing it off her bedside table then sprinted down the stairs three at a time, dialing the fire brigade furiously.

'911' The automated voice answered the call. 'Which service require?'

'Fire brigade.' She replied, her heart pounding as she ran to the front door.

'Fire brigade.'

'Hello.' She held the phone with her left hand, ignoring the pain in her shoulder from moving it as she struggled to get her boots on. 'There's a fire at my home.'

'What's your name honey?'

'Jessie.'

'Okay Jessie, what's the address?'

'I don't know the name of the road. The fire is at a ranch, Heartland ranch in Hudson, Alberta.'

'Alright, that's enough to go on Jessie. We've got a fire engine on the way. What kind of building is on fire?'

'Our barn.' She finally managed to get her boots on, almost dropping the phone as she tried to get her jacket on. 'Our barn is on fire.'

'Okay. Is there anybody in the building?'

'I don't think so but we have horses inside.' Warrior! Oh my God, he's in the barn! The realization flooded through her and she forgot her jacket as she ran out the door, her heart pounding as she ran towards the barn. 'My horse is inside.'

'Okay Jessie, we've got an crew coming. Don't go inside the building, you need to stay outside.'

'But my horse is in there.'

'I know, but you need to stay away from the fire. Is there anyone else with you?'

'No.' She looked around, searching for Jack. She was about to reply when the line suddenly went dead, and she looked down. The battery had died. She had forgotten to place it on charge 'Damn it!' She placed the mobile in her pocket, running closer towards the barn. Jack hadn't been inside and she realized that his coat had been missing too. 'Jack!' She screamed, running towards the open door. 'JACK!'

The roar of the fire sounded in her ears, mixed with the frightened and loud whinnies of the horses trapped inside. Above the noise she could hear Warrior, his screams echoing in the night. Tears ran down her cheeks as she stood watching the barn. Warrior. Oh my God. Jack, Jack where are you? 'Jack!' She screamed again, her throat feeling like it was getting torn apart by the ferocity of her calls. 'JACK!'

Suddenly a beam in the barn gave way, crashing to the floor. She looked up, the fire was licking at the roof. If Jack and the horses were still in there and it collapsed- More tears flooded down her cheeks as she fought inside herself, pacing anxiously in front of the barn. The fire brigade was coming but would it be too late?

Lisa stared at the black screen in numb silence, unable to move. What was happening? What was going on? She knew trying to call them would be hopeless, they needed to be able to ring the fire brigade. To ring someone who could actually get there in time. She closed her laptop, looking around her fancy room in her house. They needed her and she wasn't there. She looked at the clock, watching as the seconds ticked slowly by. A feeling of hopelessness and dread filled her heart. All she could do was sit and do nothing. She was helpless, nearly five thousand miles away. There was nothing she could do. Nothing, except hope, pray, and wait.

'JACK!' Jessie screamed into the flames again, hoping against hope that he would come out any second now but he didn't appear. A battle inside her mind was tearing her apart. She knew running in there was dangerous, that it was the worst thing she could do but what else could she do? She had rung the fire brigade. They were on their way. She looked towards the highway again but there was no sign of a fire engine. The sound of Warrior's frantic screams reached her ears again and she turned back to the flames. They weren't anywhere near and if Jack was in there-

She tore her sling off and ran forward, not caring for herself anymore. Sparks and smoke filled her eyes as she ran in, the heat from the flames unbearable but not detering her from her task. She pulled her shirt over her face, trying to remember what she had been taught to do incase of a fire. Her heart was pounding, her lungs struggling to get oxygen as she stubbornly continued on, the cracking of the fire and the horses mixing together to become one loud, long roar. Get down low. She remembered suddenly and she dropped to her hands and knees, finding it was a little easier to breathe near the ground. 'Jack!'

Jessie struggled on, trying to keep her focus on Jack. She could hear Warrior's screams getting louder and as the tears continued to fall down her face she knew she was doing the right thing. Human life was more important than animals. She needed to find him first then she would go back for them. God where are you Jack! Please! 'JACK!' She screamed, her lungs filling with smoke that made her cough violently. Her head down she crawled on, lifting her head every few paces to try and see if she could find him. 'J-ACK!'

Suddenly she saw a form lying on the ground and she crawled forward, tossing a burning piece of timber out of the way as she hurried to him. 'Jack! Oh god! Jack!' He wasn't moving, lying half on his side and half on his front on the concrete in front of a stall door. The sounds of the horses were forgotten as she came up beside him, trying to figure out what to do. The heat, the flames, the smoke- Tears poured down her face. Hold yourself together girl! She screamed inwardly to herself, frantically lifting a beam that had fallen on Jack off him, the pain in her shoulder and the burning in her hands making her cry out. You have got to get him out of here! The thought ran through her mind with a determined urgency, forcing herself to push her pain to the back of her mind. Get him out of here!

The girl tried to lift him, struggling with his weight. Suddenly she began to panic. She couldn't lift him. Oh what do I do! She grabbed onto his jacket, trying to pick him up so she could drag him out but the pain in her shoulder made her let go. She began to cry in frustration and pain, trying to figure out a way to get him out. An idea came into her mind and she dropped down to her hands and knees again, sliding her body underneath his. Get out of here! She could feel his weight was even on her back and she struggled forward, hoping that he didn't slide off. They were running out of time. They had to get out.

The hot concrete burnt her bare hands as she crawled forward, trying desperately to get out of the barn as quick as she could. Her shoulder was causing her excruciating pain, Jack's weight on her back felt like it was going to crush her. She almost collapsed as her shoulder gave out, forcing herself to keep going. She had to get him out, she had to get him out and go back for the horses.

Suddenly the glow of the flames and the smoke in front of her gave way and she surged forward into the cool darkness of the night. Coughing and gasping for air, she continued on far enough so Jack would be safe then she crawled out from underneath him and knelt down beside his still body. 'Jack!' She screamed, trying to wake him. 'Jack!'

He didn't stir. Her eyes blurred by tears and smoke she reached for his neck, her fingers trying to find a pulse. She cried in relief when she found it, throbbing steady under her fingertips. He was alive.

The sound of the horses brought her back to reality and she stood up again, finding strength inside her that she didn't think she had left. Be it stupidity or courage she ran back into the flames, this time not even bothering to go on ground level. She had to get the horses out, and fast.

She ran towards the first stall where Warrior was, flinging the stall door back. In her haste she didn't even wonder why it was unlocked as she ran in, grabbing at the stallion's halter as he spun around in his stall in a crazy, frenzied fear. 'W-wo-ah!' She coughed, the smoke stinging her eyes as she tried to hold onto the stallion to calm him down. 'E-e-ea-s-sy b-b-b-oy.' She was gasping for every breath she took, the mask she had made by pulling her shirt over her mouth and nose doing little to help her. Warrior neighing, rearing as she struggled to hold onto him. She didn't have time to play around. They had to get out.

She tore off her shirt, tossing it over the stallions head. Her hand never left the halter he was wearing as she waited for him to calm down and she hurried to lead him out as fast as she could. The stallion realized she was getting him out and he quickly followed her into the night. She took the shirt off him as they came out of the barn, gasping for air. She rested for a moment, still holding onto him then dragged him towards the corral. The fire brigade didn't need loose horses in the way.

Quickly she locked him up and ran back into the barn for the next horse. The hot lock stung her hands as she struggled to get Spartan's stall open, the gelding thrashing around in his box just like Warrior had been. Reaching for him, she tossed her shirt over his face and grabbed hold of his halter. The gelding settled after a moment, allowing her to lead him out and she hurriedly penned him in the corral with Warrior. Two down, two left to go.

She glanced up at the highway again, wondering what on earth was taking the fire brigade so long! They should have been here by now. Coughing and gasping for air, she stumbled back to the barn for Copper and Pegasus. The heat burnt her skin as she ran in, holding onto her shirt as she went for the next horse. She knew she was running out of time, she needed to get them both out in one trip. She was breaking, she could feel it. Her vision was going black as she stumbled in, grabbing a whip she'd remembered seeing as she made her way through the smoke to Copper's stall. Urgently she flung the stall door open, rushing in. She could hear the tell tale creak of timbers giving way above her and she slapped the gelding's rump with everything she had, the gelding leaping out of the stall more terrified of the girl with the whip behind him then the fire in front of him.

She ran out, running on the last of her strength as she reached for Pegasus's door. She heard the creak of the timbers again, tugging on the lock with everything she had. Suddenly it gave way and she flung the door open, stumbling into the gelding. Grabbing his halter, she dropped her shirt and the whip and hurried forward, trying to get the horse moving. Vaguely she became aware of the fact as the flames began to thin and she came out the other side that she wasn't leading the gelding, he was dragging her.

Jessie gasped as she let go of the horses halter, collapsing to her knees as she gasped for air. Pegasus stopped beside her, nudging her gently with his nose. She looked over at Jack, trying to catch her breath. He still hadn't moved. Stumbling to her feet again, she grabbed the geldings halter and led him into the corral, rushing over to open the other gate to let them out into the pasture so they would be away from the fire. Copper bolted in past her as she let the horses go, the four of them galloping as fast as they could away from the barn. She couldn't blame them as she heard part of the roof collapse. They'd almost died in there.

She could feel the cold wind chilling her to the bone as she forced herself to make it back to Jack, calling up what little strength she had left. Finally, she fell to her knees again beside him, not even bothering to wipe the dirt off her burnt hands as she succumbed to her exhaustion. She looked up at the barn as it continued to burn, a sense of hopelessness filling her heart. There was nothing she could do for the barn, the fire had taken too much of a hold. All she could do was watch as it continued to burn, lighting up the ranch yard like a New Year's Eve bonfire.

Jessie forced herself to look away from the fire, turning to Jack who was lying motionless on the ground beside her. Blood trickled from a gash on the side of his head, his face pale and grey in the orange glow from the burning barn. She felt for his pulse again, her heart in her throat as she thought it was gone for a moment then she closed her eyes in relief as her fingers found a pulse. Oh God Jack, you could have died. She opened her eyes again, pressing her fingers to his wound to stop the bleeding. 'Jack, p-please.' She sobbed, trying to wake him. 'Come on Jack, wake up. Please.'

She tried and tried again to wake him up, her mind not understanding in her panic that he was unconscious and unable to hear her calling him. 'Jack, wake up. Please. I need you.' She begged, her fingers warm and sticky from his blood as she started coughing again. The last time she'd been sitting beside a person like she was now, that person had been dead. 'Come on Jack. Please, wake up.'

Suddenly she felt something brush against her shoulder and as she looked around she saw Warrior there, standing behind her. 'Warri, I can't wake him up.' She sobbed, throwing her arms around the stallion's neck. 'I can't get him to wake up.'

Warrior snorted gently, sniffing at Jack. He curled his lip, smelling the metallic scent of blood and he pulled back. The man didn't move. He nudged the girl holding onto him, nibbling at her thin, smoke drenched singlet. She continued to cry into his fur, holding onto him like her life depended on it.

Vaguely she started to become aware of the sound of sirens in the distance and pulled away from the stallion to look up. She glanced down at her watch, wiping the door off the glass. Only twenty minutes had passed since she'd made the call yet it felt like a lifetime. 'Go on boy. I'm ok. Go on.' She sent him back into the corral, closing the gate and actually locking it this time as the fire engine roared to a stop in front of the barn.

She was back at Jack's side in an instant as the firemen jumped from the truck and started to set about putting the fire out. Jack's wound looked like it had finally stopped bleeding as she checked for his pulse again with her blood stained fingers.

'Miss.' The girl looked up at his voice as he knelt down beside her. 'I'm Captain Holt of the Hudson fire brigade. I'm here to help you.'

'I'm fine. He needs help.' She mentioned down at Jack. 'I can't wake him up.'

'An ambulance is on its way.' He assured her, having put a call in for one as soon as he'd seen the man lying on the ground. 'He's going to be fine. Is there anyone else in the building?'

Jessie shook her head. 'It's just me and him here. The horses are out too.'

'Okay. What's your name sweetie?'

'Jessie.'

'Alright Jessie. What's your grandfather's name?'

'Jack Bartlett.' She didn't bother correcting him as to the fact he wasn't her grandfather. She had more important things to worry about then minor details. 'I couldn't get him to wake up.'

'It's going to be okay Jessie, the ambulance won't be long and they'll take good care of him.' He assured her gently then saw the blood on her hands. 'Are you hurt?'

She shook her head. She wasn't about to go back to the hospital, no way at all. 'It's his blood. I'm fine.'

'Alright. Is there someone you want me to call? Does anyone else live here with you?'

'Yeah but they went out to dinner. Lou and Amy but I don't know what their phone numbers are and my phone is flat.'

'That's okay, where were they eating at?'

'Maggie's Diner in Hudson.'

'Alright, I'll go ring them. You stay here and keep an eye on Jack, okay?' The girl nodded and he saw her shiver. No wonder, it was freezing and she only had a singlet and jeans on. He thought for a moment then took his coat off and placed it around her. 'I won't be long.'

Jessie nodded again as the man got up and headed back to the truck. She shivered even though she was wearing his coat, biting her lip as she felt how sore her hands and her shoulder was. No, they weren't taking her to the hospital. She needed to stay here. That meant hiding her pain. Something she had learnt to do well. All she had to do was pretend she was hiding it from her father. She had learnt from an early age that her pain wasn't something he cared about.

Her fingers touched Jacks cheek gently as she felt herself about to start crying again. Why did this have to happen? 'Jack, wake up. Please.' Her voice was a broken, strangled whisper, her throat horse and her tone cracking with emotion. This was what she had been afraid of. Of letting herself get close to someone only to lose them. 'I can't lose you too.'

'Alright, I managed to ring them.' The captain exclaimed as he walked back over, carrying a couple of blankets. One he placed over the man to help keep him warm and the other he handed to the girl as she gave him his coat back. 'They're on their way.'

She nodded, wrapping herself in the blanket. 'Thank you.'

'That's alright.' He assured her. 'Do you want to tell me what happened?'

'I don't know.' Jessie replied honestly. 'I don't know what happened. I was in the house when I heard the horses and I saw the fire and called. That's all I know.' She looked over towards the paddock. 'I need to go check on them.'

'That's okay honey. I called the vet too since there were livestock involved. He'll look after them when he gets here.'

She nodded, hearing the sound of more sirens approaching. The captain got up, leading her away from Jack to let the paramedics get to work helping him. She watched in numb shock as they tended to him, getting him ready for transport to the hospital. Another car pulled up, with another two in tow and she watched as Lou headed off with Jack in the ambulance, Amy in Ty's truck and Kit and Scott staying behind.

'Gosh Jessie, are you alright?'

'I'm fine Kit.' She assured her as the girl ran over to her. 'I'm alright.'

'Are you able to look after her?'

She nodded, looking at the captain. 'I'll take care of her.'

'Alright, well I'll leave you in her capable hands then Jessie. You did well.'

Jessie looked down at the ground as the firemen walked away. 'I don't know what happened.'

'Let's get you to the house and think of that later, okay?'

'No, I need to check on the horses first. I need to see Warrior.'

Kit looked at Scott walking over with his vet kit. 'Jessie, they'll be fine. Scott will take good care of them.'

'I'm checking on Warrior before I go inside and that's final.'

She opened her mouth to reply but Scott interrupted her. 'You won't win an argument with her. The only way to get her to do anything is let her do what she wants first.'

'Fine.'

'Good.' She held the blanket tighter around her as they walked into the pen, Warrior trotting over to meet her. Her hand shook as she extended it towards him, sobbing in relief as she dropped the blanket and wrapped her arms around him. 'Warri. I'm sorry boy. I'm sorry.'

Kit frowned, wondering what the girl was talking about but Scott motioned for her to go with him and they left the girl alone to reunite with her horse.

'I'm sorry boy.' She sobbed, rubbing her burnt hands over his neck despite the pain. 'I know how scared you were but I had to get Jack out first. I'm sorry.'

The stallion knickered softly, nudging her with his nose as she cried. He curled his lip up, smelling the blood on her hands. The girl let go of him as he pulled away, snorting. 'I'm okay, it's Jack's blood.' Jack. She looked down at her hands, stained with blood and soot. Warrior snorted again, tossing his mane as he watched the men finish putting out the barn fire. 'It's okay boy, you're safe here.'

Exhaustion took hold of her again and she sank down to her knees, a coughing fit taking control of her. Tears ran down her cheeks again as she struggled to catch her breath, oblivious to Warrior standing protectively beside her.

Kit turned around hearing the girl coughing, letting go of the white gelding she had been holding for Scott as she ran over to her. 'Jessie, are you okay?'

'F-fine.' She replied, trying to take a deep breath to stop her coughing fit. 'I'm fine.'

'Let's get you inside.' Scott exclaimed, kneeling down beside her. 'Come on, let's go get you warmed up. It's freezing out here.'

Jessie didn't argue, nodding her head in agreement. 'The horses?'

'The horses are all fine.' Kit assured the girl as Scott picked her up and started to the house. 'You don't need to worry about them, they're okay.'

'Good.' She coughed again, utterly spent. Her hands hurt, her shoulder hurt, her chest hurt. She looked over Scott's shoulder at the barn as he stopped for Kit to open the door. She was still numb with shock and terror to even bother comprehending how it happened.

'I'll just put you down here and let Kit take care of you, I need to go back and finish looking over Pegasus.'

'Alright.' Jessie replied as he sat her down on the couch, staring off into the distance as he walked away.

'Where's your room Jessie?' Kit asked as she came over, having stopped to take her jacket off. 'I'll go find you some clean clothes.'

'Upstairs to the right.'

'Okay.'

She heard Kit walking away, looking down at her hands again. They were covered in blood and soot from the fire and as she looked down at herself she realised her whole body was covered in soot and ash. Quickly she stood up again, not wanting to cover the couch or the rug in ash. The room spun slightly and she paused for a moment, holding the blanket around her as she walked to the table and took a seat. She laid her head down on the table, closing her eyes as she let her tiredness take control of her.

'Alright, I found you-' Kit started as she walked down the stairs, then stopped as she saw the girl at the table. Tossing the clothes she had found onto the couch she hurried over to her, shaking her gently. 'Jessie, you need to wake up. You can't sleep yet.'

Slowly she opened her eyes again, lifting her head. 'You found me something?'

'Yes. Let's go get you cleaned up a little first though.'

Jessie nodded, allowing her to help her stand up and walk to the kitchen. The woman guided her to a chair and she sat down again, fighting the urge to go to sleep again. She stared out the window as Kit found a bowl and towel and filled it from the sink. The fire was out now, the firemen were just starting to pack up. She glanced up at the clock, wondering how long it would be before she heard how Jack was. She looked over at a photograph of him and Lisa she had taken at their fishing trip that was sitting on the desk, hoping he would be okay. Suddenly she remembered Lisa. 'Oh my God, Lisa. I need to ring her.'

'Let's just clean you up first then you can ring her.' She replied, placing a basin of warm water on the table. She sat down, wetting a cloth then looked at the girl. 'Let me see your hands. You're not hurt are you?'

She shook her head, letting the blanket go as she gave Kit her hands so she could clean them. She flinched, biting her lip as the water stung her burns.

'You are hurt.' She exclaimed, seeing the girl's burns as she gently tried to wipe the blood and soot away. 'What happened?'

'I don't want to talk about it.' Jessie looked away, focusing on anything but the pain from her hands. 'I'm fine.'

'Your not fine.' Kit replied, looking up at Scott as he walked in. 'Jessie's burnt her hands pretty bad.'

'It's not that bad.'

'Let me take a look Jessie.'

The girl sighed knowing when she was beaten. 'You aren't taking me to the hospital though. I mean it. I'm not going.'

Scott raised his eyebrows but didn't argue with her. 'You do realise your hands need to be cleaned and bandaged up so those burns don't get infected.'

'I'm pretty sure you two can handle it. I'm not going to the hospital.'

'Alright, I'll go find a first aid kit then.' Kit got up, looking around. 'Do you know where it is Jessie?'

'It's in the bathroom. Down the hall to the right.' She glanced back to the window as she headed out, her eyes misting again. What had happened to Jack? Was he okay? A tear ran down her cheek that she didn't bother wiping away. This was why she had fought so long not to get attached to a person, she was afraid she would lose them. She'd already lost too much and now was she going to lose more?

'Lisa.'

'Jessie.' Lisa almost cried in relief hearing her voice. She'd been frantic with worry for nearly two hours, unable to do anything but wait. 'What happened honey? Are you okay?'

'I'm alright.' She replied, curled up on the couch in clean clothes and with her mountain lion beside her as Scott and Kit cleaned up from looking after her hands. 'But Jack was hurt.'

She felt her blood run cold hearing the tone in the girl's voice. 'How bad?'

'I don't know. He's at the hospital. Lou and Amy are with him. I haven't heard anything yet.'

'It's okay honey, he'll be okay.' She could hear the girl breaking, her voice cracking with emotion. She longed to be there with her, to take her in her arms and tell her it would be alright. There was nothing she could do though then try to reassure her things would be okay. 'He'll be alright Jess.'

'But what if he isn't?'

'Honey, you can't think like that. He'll be fine.'

'They're back.'

Jessie looked around at Scott's voice, jumping off the couch as fast as her tired and sore body would let her. Jack was walking up to the house with Amy and Lou. Relief flooded through her. 'He's back.'

'See, I told you he would be okay.' Lisa replied, breathing a sigh of relief. 'Didn't I?'

'Yes.' She agreed bashfully. 'You did. I better go, I'll talk to you tomorrow.'

'Alright honey. Give my best to Jack.'

'I will.' Jessie ended the call, placing the phone down on the table as Jack walked in and she ran over to him. 'I was so worried about you.'

'I'm alright honey.' He replied, placing his arm around her as she held on tight to him. 'I'm okay.'

Jessie nodded, looking up at him with tears in her eyes. 'I thought I was going to lose you.'

'I'm not going anywhere honey.' Jack assured her, wiping a tear off her cheek. 'I'm okay, see?' The girl nodded again, resting her head against his chest as she hugged him tight. He looked down at her, stroking her hair. He could see in her eyes how scared and frightened she had been. He could only imagine what kind of effect the last couple hours had had on her if her reaction to him coming home was anything to go by. 'It's okay honey, it's okay.'