Chapter 40.1

'Surprise!' Cindy laughed as they ran to meet each other, embracing each other tightly. 'You happy to see me?'

'Of course I am!' Jessie replied with a huge smile, looking down at her. 'How- Why-?'

'Lisa picked me up, I'm staying for the weekend.' She answered Jessie's stuttered questions. 'You surprised?'

'Yes, I am! I had no idea.' She looked up at Lisa as the woman walked over. 'So this was the 'Fairfield business' that you had to take care of.'

Lisa chuckled. 'Guilty as charged. You've had such a rough week Jack and I thought a dose of some time with Cindy was just what you needed and Eleanor was more than happy to let her come and sleepover.'

'Lisa was telling me on the way that you've got yourself a couple of orphan kittens.'

'Yes, I do. You want to come see them?'

'You bet!'

'I'll grab your stuff from the car for you Cindy.' Lisa called after them as the two girls raced up to the house, a smile on her face. Some time with Cindy was exactly what the girl needed to get her mind off what had happened. She grabbed the girls bags from the back of the car and headed inside, Jack meeting her at the door. 'Well, I think that worked.'

'I'd say.' He chuckled as the sound of childish laughter rang out from the living room. 'You want a hand Lis?'

'Sure. I have no idea what that girl packed in here.' She exclaimed as she handed him the girls bags. 'You want to bunk out in Jessie's room Cindy?'

'Yep.' Cindy replied then looked at Jessie. 'You've got your own room?'

'You bet. Want to come see?'

''Sure.' She placed the kitten she had been holding back in the box with its sister and followed her up the stairs as Jack tagged along behind with her luggage. 'Oh Jessie, your room looks awesome.'

'Yeah, they all pitched in to get it ready for me.' Jessie explained. 'I love it.'

'I can see why. My bedroom looks nothing like this.' She teased, playfully bumping her shoulder. 'I'm jealous.'

'Oh Cindy.' She laughed, punching her back. 'I'm sure your room is just as good as mine.' She glanced back at Jack as he walked in. 'Just put her stuff over in the corner, it'll be out of the way there.'

'Alright.' He nodded, then glanced over at Cindy as he put her bags down. 'How have you been going Cindy?'

'Great, happy to be here though. Thanks for inviting me to sleepover.'

'No problem Cindy, we're happy to have you here.'

'So, what are we going to do today? She asked, turning back to Jessie. 'How's that stallion of yours?'

'Warrior is good, I was hoping to go for a ride today. You want to come along?'

'Well, I didn't pack riding clothes to just leave them in my bag.'

'Alright, well I'll leave you to get changed and then we'll head out and have a quick ride before the kittens need their next feed. You want to help with their feeding?'

'You bet.'

'Okay.' She chuckled, looking up at Jack as they walked out. 'Looks like you'll be having a hard time prying the kittens from her.'

He laughed, placing his arm around her as they walked down the stairs. 'I don't mind.'

'How on earth did you two manage to keep it a secret that you were having her over without me figuring out?'

'Oh, that was simple.' Lisa interjected as they joined her in the living room. 'We didn't tell Mallory.'

Jessie laughed, that certainly was the truth. Mallory wasn't one to be able to keep a secret secret for long. 'Well, while she's here maybe we could go shopping for my rodeo outfit? Bring her along?'

'You know Jessie, that was exactly what I was thinking for us to do tomorrow.'

'Brilliant.'

'Okay, I'm ready.' Cindy exclaimed as she hurried down the stairs, dressed in more suitable attire for riding. 'Let's go.'

'Boy, that was quick.' She laughed then glanced at the clock. 'Alright, let's go take Warrior for a quick ride then we'll feed the kittens.'

'She's got milk all over her face.' Cindy squealed as she sat feeding the kitten not much later, enjoying immensely the little furball as she eagerly drank her milk. 'You little rascal.'

Jessie chuckled, looking up from feeding Miracle to see Hope drenched in milk. 'Oh Hope, you're supposed to drink it, not wear it. Here-' She passed Miracle to Jack to finish feeding and got up to give the girl a hand. 'Here, just hold it up a little higher. There we go.'

'Now you're actually getting something in that little stomach of yours.' She exclaimed, the kitten grasping the syringe between her paws. 'When will they be big enough to drink from a proper bottle?'

'A couple more days, they're starting to eat more. Their eyes will start opening in a day or two. You're here at just the right time, they're so adorable when they're this young.'

'I know. I can't get over how cute they are.'

'Yes, they are cute.'

'I see something else that's cute.' Lisa remarked in Jack's ear as she walked past, watching him feeding the kitten. 'Who knew you were such a softie?'

'Sssh.' He replied quietly. 'It's a secret.'

'So I see. That's why Jessie has been flooding my messages with pics of you with the kittens.'

'Oh that girl.' He chuckled, refilling the syringe to give the kitten some more milk. He glanced over at Cindy and Jessie as they fed the other kitten, laughing and giggling as the kitten got sprayed with milk. 'I think your idea was definitely a good one. Jessie hasn't been so lighthearted all week.'

'Let's just hope Cindy's presence will encourage her appetite.'

'Yeah.'

'Okay, okay, that's enough for you.' Jessie exclaimed, gently taking the kittens paws from around the syringe so Cindy could take it away. 'You'll explode if you have anymore.'

'Look at your little tummy. You're so fat.' Cindy giggled, holding the kitten up. 'Okay, what do we do now?'

'Let Cougar do her job.' She gently took the kitten from Cindy and held her out for Cougar to clean her over. The big cat's tongue was bigger than the kitten was but she was so gentle cleaning her, purring loudly as she made sure the kitten was cleaned thoroughly. 'Good girl. Okay, you can have her back now.'

'They're so adorable.' She exclaimed for the twentieth time in the hour, holding the kitten gently. 'Aren't you such a cutie?'

'Well, when you two finish with the kittens-' Lisa interrupted, washing her hands from giving Miracle a pat. 'What would you like for lunch?'

'Whatever, I'm not fussy.'

'What about you Jessie?'

'Whatever you make, just make sure you have plenty. I'm starving.' Jessie answered as she gently took Miracle from Jack and let Cougar clean her over too. The big cat cleaned her just as gently as she did the other one, purring loudly as the little kitten squeaked sleepingly. 'Alright, back in the box you go.'

'They're getting bigger.' Jack remarked, getting up to clean the from giving the kittens their meal. ''I rang Scott about Pegasus, he's going to drop by later and check on him and give the kittens a look over too.'

'Good, I was going to ask him to do that anyway. I just want to make sure they're doing okay.'

'They certainly have quite an appetite.' Cindy chuckled, placing the almost asleep kitten back in the box with her sister. 'I'm so glad Grandma let me come, these kittens are just so absolutely drop dead adorable.'

'We'll see if you say that at two in the morning when they're demanding a feed.'

'Oh, you guys couldn't be demanding, could you?'

'Okay girls, how do turkey and salad sandwiches and some leftovers from dinner sound?'

'Fine by me Lisa.'

'Yep, sounds good.'

'Hey Lisa-' Cindy exclaimed, suddenly getting an idea. 'Could we bake some cookies later?'

'Sure, as long as it's okay with Jack.'

'Just don't let my kitchen get into the mess it was last time.' Jack added. 'I was still wiping flour off the benches a week later.'

'You sure you don't want to have a flour fight with us Jack?

'Quite sure, thank you Cindy.'

'Well I'll go put these little ones back beside Cougar's bed so we've got the table back.' Jessie exclaimed as she picked up the box. 'You need a hand with lunch Lisa?'

'No, it's alright, I've got it under control.'

'Okay. Come on girl.' Cougar trotted ahead, lying down on her bed as she walked into the living room, placing the kittens down in the box so she could keep an eye on them. 'There you go, you can keep an eye on your babies.'

'So, how has school been going Cinds?' She asked as she walked back into the kitchen, sitting down at the table again.

'Good, made a couple new friends.'

'That's great.'

'What about you?'

'Been busy with my schoolwork, good thing though is I get to stay here to do it.' Jessie replied, wiping the syringes over as Jack handed her the ones he'd washed for the kittens next meal. 'And these two are certainly keeping me busy, wanting to be fed every couple hours.'

'I can imagine.' She chuckled. 'Especially if they act like the way they just did.'

'They do. Every single time. They must think it's the last time they're going to be fed or something the way they carry on.'

'Alright, there you go girls.' Lisa exclaimed as she placed a plate in front of both of them. 'Dig in.'

'Thanks Lisa.'

'Looks good, I'm starving.' Cindy picked up her sandwich, taking a huge bite then she saw the look that Jessie gave her. 'What?'

'Apparently the kittens aren't the only ones who like to eat.' She chuckled, eating her sandwich at a slower, more ladylike way.

'What are our plans for this afternoon?'

'Well, I've got a person coming by to give me some pointers on barrel racing with Warrior and Scott is dropping by of course.'

'Can I watch you and Warrior practice?'

'Sure.'

'Cool.' She glanced up at Lisa. 'Are you going to stay to watch Jessie practice?'

'I'd love to but I'm afraid I have to head back to Fairfield shortly, I've got an important client interested in one of my breeding studs and some other business to attend to but I'll be back tomorrow to take you two shopping.'

'What about you Jack?'

'Well, I'm still under orders to take it easy and with Lou pouncing on me every time I want to wash a plate, I've got a lot of free time on my hands.'

'Looks like I'll be having an audience watching me practice.' Jessie remarked as she finished the last of her sandwich. 'I could have another one of those?'

Lisa raised her eyebrows. 'You could?'

'For some reason I've got quite an appetite. Must have been the morning ride.'

'Must have.' She agreed but inwardly she was relieved that the girl had a good appetite. It had been rather hard getting her to eat anything the last couple of days. 'I'll make you another one then after I finish Jack's and mine.'

'Thanks. Maybe we could make some banana bread later when we make the cookies too.'

'Oh I love banana bread.' Cindy exclaimed, placing her plate in the sink after she had rinsed it off. 'Grandma taught me how to make it this week.'

'Cool. How is your grandma going?'

'She's good, says I'm keeping her on her toes again.' She chuckled, grabbing an apple from the fruit bowl. 'But I think she's glad I'm back home. I think she missed me. Who wouldn't miss my teasing?'

'I know I do.' Jessie replied with a grin, but it was true. She did miss her, even though they talked nearly every day. 'I'm glad things are going well for you Cindy. Sounds like you've been having a lot of fun.'

'Alright boy.' Jessie ran her hand over Warrior's shoulder as she led him from the barn out to the arena, the stallion walking eagerly with his ears pricked towards the arena. 'You remember this, don't you?'

Warrior snorted, flexing his neck as he sidestepped, prancing slowly with his tail up. He knew what was going on and he was excited to be at it again. 'Steady boy, easy.' She cautioned the stallion as Jack opened the gate for them and she led him in, the stallion swinging around her in a small circle. 'Easy mate, easy.'

'Someone is excited to be back at it.' Jack remarked, closing the gate behind the two of them. Jessie had managed to get the stallion to stand, talking softly to him as he walked back to join Cindy. 'You okay with him honey?'

'Yeah, I'm fine.' She assured him, blowing into the stallion's nostrils to get his full concentration on her. Warrior blew back at her, standing quietly and she rubbed his forehead, spellbound. It was still like a dream, their connection. She'd had other horses before, she'd ridden other horses of course yet none of them could hold a candle to Warrior. He was gentle as he was spirited, beautiful as he was headstrong. He blew on her again, nudging her cheek gently with his muzzle and she laughed as his whiskers tickled her cheek. 'You ready to warm up boy?' He snorted again, nudging her gently as she reached for the stirrup, pulling herself up and over onto his back. He flexed his neck and back, prancing a couple of steps as she gathered up the reins. 'Okay, let's warm up.'

'So, have you ever seen anyone barrel race before?' Jack asked Cindy as Jessie started doing slow laps around the arena to get the stallion warmed up.

'On the internet, when Jessie mentioned she might go in the rodeo, of course I had to look it up to see what she was going to do.' She grinned, watching Warrior give Jessie a playful buck. 'He's in high spirits today.'

'He sure is.'

'I'm hoping to come watch at the rodeo but it depends on Grandma, if she's got the money to bring me over.'

'I'm sure we can work something out so you can come, I know Jessie would love to have you there.' He glanced around, hearing a vehicle pulling up. He waved as Kit came over to join them. 'Afternoon Kit.'

'Hi Jack.' She climbed up into the fence. 'Glad to see you up and around again, you look a whole lot better than the last time I saw you.'

He raised his eyebrows as he turned his attention back to the girl. Jessie had Warrior cantering strongly now, the stallion moving along nicely on the bit. 'Jessie's just getting him warmed up.'

Kit nodded, then glanced down at the girl standing beside Jack. 'Hey. I'm Kit.'

'I'm Cindy.' The girl replied, looking up at her. Suddenly, she smiled as she recognised her. 'Hey, I saw you on the internet! You're a rodeo cowgirl.'

'That I am.' She laughed.

'Hi Kit.' Jessie brought Warrior to a halt near the fence, the stallion tossing his head as he prance in place. 'Thanks for coming over.'

'No problem.' She hopped off the fence, giving the stallion a pat. 'You ready to do some barrels?'

'Ready as ever. We haven't done any for over two weeks, have we boy?'

'Alright, just go slow and steady and we'll see how you go.'

'Okay, let's do this.' Warrior snorted as she turned him towards where she always started her run, the stallion prancing with his tail up and on the bit, trotting towards the box. He tossed his head as she turned him in a small circle to gain his attention, patting his shoulder. 'Alright, slow and steady this time. Okay?'

Warrior snorted, tossing his head again and she chuckled. 'Alright, alright, let's go.'

She turned him to the first barrel, touching his flanks lightly with her heels. The black shot forward, fighting her to go faster but she didn't let him have his head. He bucked, once, twice, the girl sat through them, guiding him onto the first barrel. He snorted again as she turned him around the barrel and headed for the second, the horse still arguing with her to go fast but still managed to keep control of him.

'Is he always like this?' Kit asked, watching the horse literally leaping out of his skin but the girl holding him back as cool as a cucumber. The stallion wanted to run, it was quite evident as they came around the second barrel and headed for the third but she was keeping him at a medium canter as easy as could be.

Jack chuckled, shaking his head as Warrior bucked again. 'Yep. Quite a bit of horseflesh that one.'

'I'd say.'

'He's never like this though when I ride him.' Cindy piped up. 'He's always well behaved. He's just testing her, he likes giving her a hard time on the occasion.'

Jessie let him fly as they came out of the final turn, the stallion leaping forward so fast her hat was blown off. She laughed as she egged him on back to the box, collecting him underneath her to a sliding stop as the fence approached. 'Okay, you were not happy going slow.' He snorted as she patted his shoulder, tossing his head and she looked up at Kit. 'This guy only has two speeds. Go and flat out.'

Kit laughed. 'That's exactly what we want in a barrel racer, as long as the horse knows which of those two speeds to use when they're needed.' Warrior sniffed her jacket as he took a couple of steps closer towards the fence and she patted his neck. 'Mind if I take him around?'

'I don't know.' She hesitated. 'Not many people have ridden him.'

'He's fine with me.' Cindy remarked, Warrior turning to sniff her hair. 'Hey, cut it out.'

Jessie chuckled, pulling him away as he began to nibble on the girls hair. 'He knows you Cindy, Kit is practically a stranger to him.' She thought for a moment, patting his neck for a second then dismounted and held his reins out to her. 'Okay, give it a shot but I will warn you he has a mind of his own.'

'I'll keep that in mind.'

She joined Jack and Cindy at the fence, watching as Kit mounted Warrior. Warrior was spinning around, managing to just keep the stirrup out of her reach. 'Stand Warrior. Halt.' The stallion pricked his ears towards her, snorting heavily as he stood still. 'Good boy. Behave yourself.'

Kit mounted, picking up the reins as the stallion stood quietly then nudged him gently with her heels. Warrior snorted, looking back at her, refusing to move. 'Git up.'

'Looks like someone is in the mood to be mischievous.' Jack remarked, looking down at the girl. 'That's exactly how he acted the first time Lisa got on him.'

'But Lisa said he was an angel-'

'Yeah.' He chuckled. 'No.'

'Okay Jessie, any advice?' She called, trying to get the stallion to move forward. 'Help?'

Jessie shook her head with a chuckle. 'Warrior. Go on.'

Warrior snorted again, a mischievous look coming into his eyes. He jumped forward into a trot, snatching at the bit for more rein. Kit tried to hold him in, turning him towards where Jessie started her run.

'Oh boy.'

Warrior jumped forward into a full gallop towards the first barrel as Kit tried again to pull him in. Ignoring her completely he spun around and the barrel and bolted towards the second, including a buck just before he slowed to turn. Kit's hat was blown off and she lost a stirrup as he spun around, the woman holding onto the saddlehorn as she tried to get her stirrup back. Around the final barrel they went, the stallion bolting forward into a flat out gallop towards the fence. Sand went flying as he slid to a stop, completing his run with a whopping buck that sent Kit flying over his neck.

'You okay?'

'Yeah.' Kit replied, spitting out a mouthful of sand. She glared at the horse as she brushed her clothes off, Warrior trotting back to get a pat from Jessie. 'I swear that horse enjoyed that.'

Jessie had to stifle a laugh, rubbing Warrior's neck down. 'You terror you.'

'You sure you're ok Kit? That was quite the dismount.'

'I'm fine Jack.' She walked back over to the fence, rubbing her leg. 'That was some ride. You're crazy. This horse is mad.'

'Yep. So I've been told.' Jessie grabbed his reins, mounting the stallion again. 'Alright, so, I let him run now?'

'I guess so. I think he was just proving a point that he knows what he's doing.' Kit replied, climbing back onto the fence. 'It would have been nice if he didn't have to prove it so strongly.'

'She did warn you.' Cindy chuckled. 'He's never been able to buck me off.'

'That's because he's never tried to.' She trotted him past, turning him back towards the barrels.

'I'll time you.' Kit grabbed her stopwatch from her pocket. 'Whenever you're ready.'

'Okay.' Her hand ran down his shoulder, her touch convening to him she wanted him to stand still. 'In a moment boy.' Warrior flexed his neck, his front hooves dancing as he sidestepped. She grabbed his reins, collecting him underneath her, readying him to go. 'Alright, ready boy?' He snorted, half rearing in anticipation. 'Go!'

Warrior dug his hind hooves into the sand, leaping forward into a full out gallop. She guided him towards the first barrel, her hands easy on the reins as she let the stallion take control. He knew what he was doing, he'd proven that. All she needed to do was let him do it.

He slowed and spun around the barrel, changing leads automatically as he headed for the second. The girl leant down over his neck, urging him on. 'Go boy go.'

'Yeah! That's it!' Jack shouted as they went around the second barrel. 'You go girl!'

'Go Jessie!' Cindy yelled, the two of them looking at each other then back at the girl. 'Go Warrior!'

Jessie could hear them urging her on as Warrior thundered towards the third and final barrel. 'Come on boy! Come on!' The stallion spun around the barrel, bolting forward towards the finish. She could hear them cheering her on, her heels nudging the stallion for even more speed. Warrior surged forward, his ears flat against his neck. Suddenly the fence loomed ahead and he put the brakes on, sliding to a stop so low his hindquarters scraped on the ground.

'Woohoo! Twenty-five six.' Kit shouted, looking at the stopwatch as the girl praised her horse. 'That was awesome!'

'Good job honey.' Jack exclaimed as Jessie jogged Warrior back over towards them. 'He was brilliant, you both were.'

Cindy jumped over the fence, approaching Warrior as he came to a halt. 'Good boy. Good boy.'

'No 'great run Jessie' or 'well done, that was fantastic' Cindy?' She teased, grinning widely as the girl patted the stallion.

'Oh you.' The girl slapped her on the leg. 'Great job Jessie.'

'Well-' She looked over at Kit. 'Was that any good?'

'That was better than good. That was great.' She nodded. 'You'll be ready for this rodeo in no time.'