Chapter 46

'That's a good boy.' Jessie cooed, scratching Warrior's neck as he slid to a stop, the stallion shaking his head and flexing his neck. 'Good boy, that was a good run. You're doing so well.' She chuckled, turning him in small circles to control and contain his excitement. The stallion snorted, prancing in protest but quickly settled down. 'Good boy.'

'Hey Jessie-' Amy started, riding Spartan to a stop at the arena fence. 'I'm heading out with Spartan on a trail ride. Want to tag along?'

'What do you think boy?' Warrior knickered softly and she chuckled as she turned him to the gate. 'I'll take that as a yes. We've done enough barrels for today, I swear we're almost able to do them in our sleep.'

'You two have improved a lot these last two weeks.' She complimented, opening the gate for the girl. 'I've been watching you practice.'

'We're getting there.' She grabbed her lasso off the post as she rode out of the gate then stopped Warrior, waiting for Amy to join her. Amy closed the gate then came up alongside her and they headed out of the yard at a walk. 'I'm sorry for before, turning down your offer to help me train him. I hope you don't hold it against me.'

'Of course not. I understood what you were talking about. Wanting to do it by yourself. What's brought this up? It was ages ago.'

Jessie sighed. 'Things play over in my mind, every conversation, every little detail. It drives me crazy. I thought you being busy the last couple of weeks was from me not wanting you to help us train.'

'Of course it's not Jess, I've just been busy.'

'I'm glad that's all then.' She breathed in relief. 'Because I was hoping maybe you could give me some input about the training plan I've written up for Warrior. The rodeo is next weekend, I don't know if I'm going to be ready in time.'

'Sure, I'd be happy to give you a hand.'

'Thanks.' The girl smiled. 'I just hope my saddle is fixed in time. This one is okay but I really want my old one back.'

'I'm sure it will be.' She assured her and the girl just nodded before turning her attention back to her horse. She frowned slightly. Even though she had been kept rather busy and hadn't seen much of her the girl seemed to be distracted and distant most of the time. 'Something bothering you Jessie?'

Jessie sighed, shaking her head. 'It's nothing.'

'You sure?'

'Just starting to get slightly nervous about the rodeo.' She rubbed Warrior's shoulder with her gloved hand. Even though it had almost been a month now since the barn fire her burns were still healing and she still had to wear her gloves for another week, at least. She fell silent again, that wasn't what was really on her mind. It had been over a week of waiting, waiting to get the results of the test. It was really driving her crazy, the waiting. Waiting to find out if Scott was related to her. She hadn't told anyone what she'd found out, only Cindy, Lisa and Jack knew. She could only hope that the results came soon so she could get things over and done away with. The not knowing and her mind that had a habit of racing away with her was proving to be very unnerving. She glanced over at Amy out of the corner of her eye, wishing for her to not ask anymore questions. 'Feel up for a race?'

'You bet.' She dug her heels into Spartan, slapping the reins against his rump. 'Yah!'

'Git up boy!' Jessie yelled, kicking Warrior in the flanks and the stallion leapt forward into a flat out gallop. She laughed as he tore past Amy's gelding, his ears flat against his head as they raced up a grassy slope. 'Go boy, go!' She slapped him with the end of her reins, hearing Spartan gaining on them and the stallion responded with more speed. She laughed again as she pulled away from Amy, racing on and on. Finally she started to pull him in, slowing him down as they reached a bridle path cross road. She smiled, turning him around and gave his sweaty shoulder a pat as they waited for Amy. Her eyes sparked, her heart racing with adrenaline. This was exactly what she had needed. 'Good race.'

Amy chuckled, patting Spartan as she stopped him beside the stallion. 'Spartan is fast but man, Warrior was a tornado. There was no catching him, not even coming close that second time.'

'He's got legs, that's for sure.' She laughed, Warrior knickering in agreement then touched noses with Amy's gelding. 'I hope you don't feel too bad about losing.'

'No, I don't mind.' Spartan moved forward a couple paces and they started on down the bridle path to the river. 'Spartan's a quarter horse, long distance racing isn't really his kind of thing.'

'He did pretty well though, you would have had us if it was a short race.' Jessie ran her hand over his neck again, giving him rein so he could stretch his neck. 'It's the mustang in him, it gives him excellent endurance and he gets his speed from the thoroughbred, obviously. I couldn't ask for a better horse.'

'You two have a real connection.'

'So do you and Spartan.'

Amy smiled, patting her gelding. 'We do. But we weren't always like this. I never wanted Spartan at first. I hated him.'

'Why?'

'Because my mom died rescuing him.'

'Oh, I'm sorry. I didn't know.'

'It's alright Jessie.' She assured her then sighed. 'I really did hate him. After the accident, when Scott brought him to Heartland I didn't even want to see him. Because it was my fault why we were rescuing him in the first place. But I didn't give up on him, I knew my mom wouldn't have and now he means the world to me.'

Jessie nodded, thinking for a moment then spoke up again, her voice gentle and soft. 'Do you miss her?'

'I do. I do miss her.'

'I miss Lillian, she was the closest I had to a mother after Judith was killed.' She fell silent again, the only sound that of the horses hooves on the well traveled bridlepath. 'I guess I asked that because sometimes I feel guilty for missing her. Like I shouldn't be missing her, after these years. She's in a better place, I know that but at the same time-' She shrugged. 'I wonder if the pain ever goes away.'

'I don't think it ever does.' She replied soberly. 'I think it just eases slightly over time. It's been a bit over a year now but it's still hard.' They were silent again for a moment then she looked at her. 'What was Lillian like?'

'Like Lisa, in some ways. Lillian was a lot older than her though.' Warrior stopped, his ears pricked as he listened to something then he snorted and continued on. 'She was gentle and kind, she had a way with horses. Her mare Cherry Blossom and her were so close, almost like me and Warrior. I learnt to ride on that horse, I wish I knew what happened to her. After she died, I turned Cherry loose with the mustangs. It seemed like the proper thing to do, Lillian always let her run with the mustang herd near our cabin. Cherry came from there and Lillian wanted her to have her freedom. I don't know how she married a guy like Robert though.' She sighed heavily. 'But she loved him, even with the crap that he put her through.'

'Sounds like you liked her a lot.'

'I did. I really do miss her sometimes.' Jessie fell silent again, twisting some of Warrior's mane through her fingers. 'But it is what it is. I'm just thankful to be where I am now, this was everything I used to dream of. I never had family before this place, I never really could call a place home. I'm just grateful for what I have, I can't dwell on things that are now just distant memories.'

Amy was about to reply when she halted Spartan, listening. 'Hey, can you hear something?'

She halted her stallion, her hand on Warrior's neck. He snorted softly, his ears pricked. Then, she heard what had caught Amy's attention. 'Sounds like it's coming from over there.' She pointed towards where the sound had come from.

'We should go check it out.' Spartan stretched out into a canter, Warrior a nose in front of him as they rode towards a row of trees. 'That's the river down there.'

Jessie heard the sound again, now the faint cry for help was louder. 'Come on boy.' The stallion smoothly transitioned into a gallop, pulling away from Spartan as she urged him on towards the river. She found a break in the trees, slowing the stallion slightly as the ground sloped down towards the river. Spartan was right behind her as she looked up, taking in the situation. A horse was loose on the riverbank, a man swimming towards a boy that was getting carried away by the current. 'Grab the horse Amy.' Warrior half reared as she half-halted him, the stallion tossing his head as she calculated the best way for her to help. The man reached the boy as Amy dismounted, catching the loose horse.

She turned back to the river, watching the speed of the current. It was flowing strongly, too strong for the man to be able to swim back to shore with the boy. She looked back at Amy who was mounting her gelding again, her hand going to her lasso. 'I'll help them out.'

'I'll go get help.'

The girl quickly made a loop with her lasso, her stallion galloping alongside the river bank as she dropped her reins. 'Grab hold.' She yelled, whirling the lasso above her head. She was reminded of the fact that she hadn't done any roping for awhile as her hands protested to the movement but she continued on, waiting for the right moment then she let the lasso fly. It reached its mark, landing around the man. Quickly he put the rope under his arms, holding onto it and the boy. Tying the lasso to her saddle horn she turned Warrior, urging him up the bank. 'Git up boy, go on.'

Slowly the stallion walked forward, dragging the two people out of the water. Jessie watched as they came in, stopping her horse and leaping down off him as they came to the shallows. Quickly she ran to them, helping the man get the boy onto the bank. 'Are you okay?'

'I'm fine.' The man replied then looked down at the boy, the boy coughing violently. 'You okay son?

'Here.' She took off her coat, handing it to the man to wrap the boy in. It was then she noticed that he was a police officer. 'Amy won't be long, she's gone to get help.' She glanced up at the bank, hoping that was the case. The morning has certainly gotten quite exciting very quickly.

'I heard about your morning rescue. Quite the adventure you went on.'

Jessie chuckled, turning around at Mallory's voice as she untacked Warrior. 'If that's what you can call it. I hope the boy will be alright, he seemed okay with the paramedics when Amy and I left.'

'It was just lucky that you two were there.'

'Yeah, that river probably would prove quite a challenge to a strong swimmer and add the weight of another person to that-' She pulled Warrior's saddle off, the stallion heaving a huge sigh of relief as the weight was lifted from his back. 'It would have been quite hard for the Constable to get him to shore on his own.''

'But 'Jessie the hero' saved the day.'

'I'm no hero.' She laughed, picking up a handful of straw off the ground and threw it at her. 'The real hero is the Constable. He was the one in there getting the boy out.'

'Hero.' Mallory teased, knowing how much she hated being called that.

'Mallory, need I bring up Jake?'

'Don't-'

'Well, you teasing me-'

'Alright, alright. I'll stop teasing you.' She sighed. 'Your no fun.'

Jessie laughed, slipping Warrior's bridle off and she turned him into his stall. 'I am fun.'

'Prove it.'

'Race you to the house?'

'Hey!' Mallory protested as she ran ahead, racing after her. 'Not fair!'

The girl laughed again, leaping onto the porch and placing her hand on the door. 'I won.'

'Only because you had a head start.'

'I still won.' She replied, heading inside. 'You want to help me feed the kittens?'

'Sure.'

'They think their throats have been cut.' Lou remarked as she walked through with a basket of laundry on her way outside to the clothesline. She looked Jessie up and down, the girl had quite a reasonable amount of mud on her clothes. 'You might want to go change. Did you go for a dip in the river of something?'

'Not quite.' She giggled. 'Mallory can fill you in. I'll go change.' She could hear Mallory chattering excitedly as she walked up the stairs, closing her bedroom door behind her. Hero. She shook her head, heading over to her wardrobe to get some clothes to change into. She wasn't a hero, she was just an ordinary girl who saw a person needing help and helped them.

She changed into clean clothes, placing her muddy jeans and shirt into the clothes hamper then headed back downstairs. Mallory and Lou had disappeared, the only disturbance in the house that of the kittens. She chuckled as she walked over to them. Miracle and Hope were growing quickly now, they were moving around a lot and she knew it wouldn't be long before they had outgrown their box. 'Yes, yes, you'll get your feed.' She teased, picking them up. 'How do you put up with them Cougar?' She asked as her cat followed her into the kitchen. 'Your both such demanding little things aren't you?'

'Quite the adventure you had with Amy earlier I hear.' Jack remarked as he walked in with the mail. 'Mallory told me all about it.'

Jessie rolled her eyes, preparing the kittens meal. 'That girl. We don't need the news around here, just ask her. She knows everything.' She glanced over as he placed the mail on the desk. 'Anything interesting?'

'There's something for you.'

'Is it-' He nodded and she gulped. 'Thanks for bringing it in.'

'It's there for whenever you're ready.' He replied, walking over to her and he placed his hand on her shoulder. 'Regardless of what it says, it doesn't change anything. You'll still stay here. Nothing will change.'

'I know.' I hope nothing changes. She turned back to the pot, stirring the kittens milk. 'I'll look at it later. Maybe Scott and I should open them together.'

'I think that's a good idea.'

'I'll ring him after I feed the kittens.'

'Alright.' Jack looked down at her, his hand still on her shoulder. 'You okay?'

'Yeah, I'm fine.' She faked a smile as she looked up at him then cast a glance at the A4 yellow envelope that she guessed to be hers. 'Just a bit nervous. Silly hey?'

'It's not.' He kissed her head gently. 'I've got to go take care of some things but I'll be around if you want to talk.'

'Thanks.' Jessie nodded, stirring the milk again as he walked out. She was nervous. Scared. The waiting had been almost unbearable but now that she had the chance to look at the results she was overcome with a mountain of different emotions. She poured the milk into the kittens bottles, taking a place at the table as Mallory came back in. 'Which one you want to feed?'

'Hope.' She sat down, taking the kitten and bottle from the older girl then frowned. 'You been crying Jess?'

'No.'

'You look like you have been. Your eyes are all red.'

She ran her hand across her cheek, frowning as she saw that her bandage was wet. 'Guess I must have been. I didn't even notice.'

'Are you okay?'

'Yeah, fine. Just a little overwhelmed-' Her voice trailed off as Miracle latched onto the bottle. 'Nothing for you to be worried about though.'

'You sure?'

'I'm sure.'

'Good, cause I was hoping you might make some banana bread up today.'

Jessie laughed. 'Is that all your worried about?'

'It's really nice.'

'Ugh, fine. If I have time I'll see what I can do.'

'Great.' She handed her the other kitten, getting up to head back outside. 'Thanks Jessie.'

'No problem.' Miracle meowed as she put her back in the box, her sister complaining as she too was put away. 'Boy, Mallory can be something sometimes.' She chuckled, patting her kittens then her expression sobered, her eyes landing on the envelope. Taking her phone out of her pocket she sighed. There was no time like the present.

'You ready?'

Jessie nodded, biting her lip as her and Scott sat down on the bench at the pond later that afternoon, the envelope in her hands. She went to open it, her hands shaking then she shook her head. 'I can't.' She handed it to him. 'Can you open it? I just can't do it.'

'Sure.'

She bit her lip harder as Scott opened the envelope, turning away as he pulled out the papers inside. I think I'm going to throw up. Her stomach was in absolute knots with anxiety and even though her hands were still bandaged she could tell they were sweating. She could hear him reading through the papers, wondering with nervousness what they said.

'Well-' Scott paused, looking back at the girl. 'Would you like to read them, sis?'

Jessie spun her head around, her eyes wavering between excitement and anxiousness. 'Really?'

'See for yourself.' He handed her the papers, letting the girl have a few moments to let it sink in. 'You okay?'

She nodded, blinking back happy tears. 'You sure you want me as a sister?'

'Of course I do.'

'Then-' Her voice wavered slightly. 'Can I give you a hug? Brother?'

He smiled with a nod, placing his arms around her. 'You happy about it?'

'Very. I always wanted a brother-' She smiled, her eyes watery as she pulled back and she pulled his hat down over his eyes. 'to annoy.'

He chuckled, putting his hat back on properly. 'I have a feeling that you're going to make up for lost time with your teasing.'

'Yeah.' She looked down as she fell quiet then sighed.

'What's wrong?'

'What happens now? I mean, I-' Jessie stuttered, trying to put her thoughts into words. 'I barely know you but you're the only blood family I have.'

He could understand how difficult going through this way for her, finding out she had a brother after all these years. He was still trying to wrap his head around the fact he had a sister. 'What would you like to do?'

'I'd like to get to know you better.' She turned back to him. 'Maybe we could spend some time together, but only if you want that too.'

'Of course I do and I'm more than happy to spend time with you.' Scott agreed. 'Maybe we could do something weekly, like get lunch at Maggie's or go out for a trail ride.'

'I'd like that.' She smiled then chuckled softly. It was still rather awkward, this guy might be her brother but other then that she didn't really know much about him. She guessed it was just as awkward for him too, he didn't know much about her either. 'Maybe I could tag along on a few calls with you one day, or help out at the clinic. I'm good at cleaning up after animals.'

He shook his head in amusement. 'Not many people willingly offer to clean up after animals.'

'I've put up with worse.' After living with a drunkard for two years, cleaning up after animals was a walk in a park compared to that. 'But that's not something for now.'

'You've had it pretty rough, haven't you?'

Jessie nodded soberly. 'It's in the past now though Scott, I have a good home and family now. Jack and Lisa, they took me in when no one else wanted me except for the money. The rest of them too have made me feel welcome and accepted, I couldn't ask for anything else. This life I have now was nothing but a dream till it came true.' She glanced down at her watch, surprised at the time. 'Oh man, it's almost time for dinner.' She turned back to him. 'I'm sure they wouldn't mind you joining us for dinner.'

He shook his head. 'I'd love to but I can't.'

'Why?'

He sighed. 'Things have been rather- awkward with Lou lately.'

'Oh.' Jessie looked down at the ground, not realising there was a problem. 'Sorry, I didn't know.'

'That's okay, no harm done.'

She glanced at her watch again with another sigh. 'It's probably time I head in.'

'And I should really be getting moving too.'

'What do you want to do?' She turned back to him. 'About telling them that we're related? Only Jack and Lisa knew of the possibility but now that we know for certain I think we should tell them.'

'You can tell them.'

'You're okay with that?'

'Sure. I don't mind.'

'Okay, I'll talk to Jack and Lisa first though.' She stood up, clutching the envelope tightly. 'Thank you for this Scott-' She meant the fact that he had taken time out of his afternoon to come join her in opening the envelope. 'it means a lot to me.'

'Your welcome Jessie.' He smiled as they started the walk back to the ranch. 'I look forward to your teasing.'

'Hey.' She protested with a laugh. 'I'm not that bad.'

Scott chuckled, smiling. 'No, you're not. I won't mind it though.'

'Just wait till there's sibling rivalry.' She grinned cheekily. 'I'm sure that's going to happen sometime.'

'I'm feeling that too.'

They stopped beside his truck parked in the ranch yard and she turned to him. 'Is it okay if I give you a hug goodbye?'

He nodded, hugging the girl back. 'See you later sis.'

'Mmmm, I could get used to being called that.' Her eyes sparked as she looked up at him. 'Talk to you later, brother.'

He chuckled, looking towards the house. 'Off you go then, I'll see you later.'

Jessie headed to the house as he left, a huge smile on her face. He is my brother. Somehow she was happy but yet scared at the same time. It was scary. They hadn't known the other existed for a long time, they had a lot of lost time and history to catch up on. If I hadn't seen that photo that day I might have never figured out that we were related.

'So-'

Jessie nodded, a huge grin on her face as she sat with Jack and Lisa after dinner that night. 'We are related. He is my half-brother.'

'Oh that's great news honey.' Lisa smiled. 'That's great Jessie.'

Jack smiled too, placing his arm around her. 'How do you feel about it?'

'Excited and scared at the same time.' She chuckled. 'And still kinda in a daze. It feels unreal, but it is real. I guess it's kinda hard to explain.'

'Well I think it's great sweetheart.'

'Thanks Lisa. Scott and I are going to try and do something weekly so we can get to know each other, it still hasn't quite sunk in yet that I have a brother.'

'That's a good idea.' Jack agreed. 'I've known Scott for a long time, he might have his faults but he's a good person and I know he'll be a good brother to you.'

'And Warrior likes him, now, so that's an added bonus.' She covered her mouth as she felt a yawn coming on, realising how tired she felt. 'I think I really need to hit the hay, I'm exhausted.'

Lisa nodded in agreement. 'I should think so, you've had quite the day.'

'Can we go for a picnic tomorrow, just the three of us?'

She looked at Jack and he nodded. 'I think that can be arranged.'

'Good. I'll pack some of that banana bread I made this afternoon, if Mallory has left any.' She yawned again as she got up, giving both Jack and Lisa a hug and a kiss. 'Night.'

'Night honey.'

'Night sweetheart.' Lisa schooched over closer to Jack as the girl headed upstairs, taking her place. 'That is such good news.'

'I know.' Jack smiled, looking down at her. 'Jessie deserves something good to happen to her and Scott is a nice guy. I think they'll be able to build a relationship, given time.'

'They have a lot to catch up on.'

'Yeah.' He fell silent, thinking for a moment. 'Did you remember to tell Eleanor that we agreed to being Cindy's guardians?'

Lisa nodded. 'I remembered. She was very thankful for us agreeing to it. I really hope that nothing happens to her though, she's all the family Cindy has.'

'Hopefully she'll be alright.'

She glanced up at him, chuckling at a thought that came to mind. 'Can you imagine having Jessie and Cindy both here? Man, we wouldn't get a second alone. It's hard enough as it is.'

Jack smiled in amusement. Yes, it was hard to get time alone with her. There was always something happening or someone around to interrupt. For the moment though, there was no one around. 'We can't do this when they're around either.' He kissed her gently, looking into her blue eyes as they pulled back. 'Have I told you you're beautiful?'

'Are you flirting with me, Jack Bartlett?' Her eyes sparked mischievously and she kissed him back. 'I don't think you have.'

'Lisa Stillman, your beautiful.'

She chuckled, resting her head back against his shoulder. 'I'll never get tired of hearing that.' She paused for a moment, thinking. Jessie asking to have a picnic reminded her of Jack asking her to go on one with him. 'You know, we never did get that picnic date in.'

'We didn't, did we?' He replied, not notching that Jessie was back at the bottom of the stairs, overhearing their conversation on her way to the kitchen to grab a drink. 'Jessie kinda put a spanner in the works that time.'

'And I wouldn't have wanted it any other way. Well, maybe.' Lisa looked up at him. 'I'd definitely trade almost getting shot for a picnic with you, handsome cowboy.'

A mischievous smile spread across Jessie's face, listening to their conversation. A plan started to formulate in her mind as she quietly snuck back upstairs so they didn't realise she had been eavesdropping on them. Well, if she was the reason why they hadn't gone on a picnic date, she was going to remedy that. Tomorrow, they were going on that date. Rain, hail, or shine.