Chapter 49

'Need a hand Jack?' Jessie asked, walking over from the barn to join him at the tractor. 'My chores are done and Warrior's eating at the moment so I'm free.'

He chuckled, looking up from what he was working on. 'Sure. Hand me that spanner.'

'Spanner?'

'That.' He pointed to the tool sitting on the back wheel. The girl grabbed it and passed it to him then took a seat on an overturned milk-crate he had sitting by. 'Thanks.'

'So what's the go with this?'

'I don't know, it hasn't been running properly for some time.' Jack replied, unfastening a bolt. 'How was practice with Warrior?'

'Good, really good.' She nodded. 'I'm feeling great about the rodeo now. I think we're going to have a decent shot at not being idiots.'

'Your not an idiot so stop saying you are honey.' He reprimanded gently. 'Your not an idiot.'

'I know.' She sighed. 'Just another one of those habits I have to deal with that doesn't want to die. It's hard though, when you've been called an idiot and told you're useless for a good part of your life. You start to believe it.'

'Well, that's not the case anymore.'

'I know, I guess trying something new has had me thinking a lot lately, and doubting myself.'

'From your past?' The girl nodded. 'Your past doesn't have to have a hold over you anymore sweetheart, you can't let what Robert might have said about you keep you from trying new things.'

'Yeah, your right.' Jessie sighed again, resting her elbows on her knees and placed her chin on her hands. 'I just want to have a good go of it, I want to do something you can be proud of.'

'I'm already proud of you honey.'

She smiled, looking at the ground. 'I've always felt like I've had to earn that.'

'Well you know if you do good I'd be proud of you but even if you come last that won't make me any less proud of you, you know that?' The girl nodded and he glanced back down at what he was doing. 'Can you hand me that other spanner?'

'I know.' She replied as she handed him the other tool. 'Your going to be there to watch me, aren't you?'

'I wouldn't miss it. Actually, I can't miss it. I'm helping run it this year.'

Jessie chuckled. 'Good. Do you think Scott will come to the rodeo?'

'Probably, more than likely he'll be the vet on duty but I'm sure if you give him some notice he'll watch you compete.'

'I'll ask him then.' She sat down on the milk crate again. 'Jack, can I get you to do something for me?'

'Depends. What's up?'

'Could you tell Lou about Scott for me? Please?'

'Sure, I can do that.'

She sighed in relief. 'Thanks. And maybe tell the others at the same time. I don't really want to deal with it myself at the moment. I'm still in the process of processing the fact I have a brother.'

'Alright, I'll take care of that too.'

'Thanks.' She glanced around at Mallory as the girl walked out of the barn, chuckling as she saw Jake head over to her. 'I've got to give it to him, he doesn't give up.'

'No, he doesn't.' Jack agreed, watching Mallory walking huffly over to them. 'And it starts.'

'My love life is a mess.'

The girl snorted as Mallory stopped beside them. 'Love life?'

'I was unaware you were in possession of such a thing.' He remarked, taking the front wheel off the tractor.

'Jake is driving me crazy!' Mallory exclaimed, glancing between the two of them. 'He follows me around like a little puppy.'

'Puppies can be cute if they're not chewing on your shoes or peeing on the floor.'

'I need to know how to get rid of him.'

'Why would you want to get rid of him?' Jessie questioned, raising her eyebrows. 'He seems really nice.'

'He's annoying!' She turned back to Jack. 'Jack?'

'How about saying 'Jake I'm sorry but I don't want to hang out with you anymore.''

'Maybe that's what they used in the Palaeozic ages Jack, but nobody uses the direct approach anymore. I need something more subtle, more-'

'Underhanded?' He finished the sentence for her.

'Exactly.' Mallory agreed. 'And I'm sure you've got a few break up stories.'

'To tell you the truth, I didn't break up with that many girls.'

'No, no. I meant the girls who broke up with you.'

There weren't that many.' He turned to Jessie. 'Can you hand me that pair of pliers?'

'Come on Jack, I'm desperate.' Mallory insisted. 'Please, just tell me what they did.'

'Well, there was this one girl. Sandy. I thought things were hunky-dory but then she started to avoid me.' The girl passed him the pliers and he continued. 'Wouldn't make eye contact. She wouldn't return my calls. Always had excuses why she couldn't see me. Had to wash her hair, had to clean out her closet and-

A huge smile broke across Mallory's face. 'Brilliant.'

'You've done it now Jack.' Jessie teased as the girl took off. 'That's just given her a whole bunch of ideas.'

He rolled his eyes. 'Probably.'

A horse trailer turning into the drive caught her attention and she looked over at it, watching as it pulled up outside the barn. 'I'm guessing that's the Constable's horse.'

'Looks like it.' Jack agreed. 'Can you hand me that screwdriver?'

'At least I know what that is.' She chuckled, grabbing it from the tool box on the ground. 'Somethings I know a lot about, other things I don't have the faintest clue.'

'There's no harm in that.'

'Except that it makes me look like an idiot.'

'Jessie-'

'Oops.' She sighed. 'I'm not supposed to call myself that. Ugh.' She growled. 'I hate old habits.'

'Old habits die hard.'

'Yes, they do.' Jessie cocked her head, looking at him. 'You know, maybe we can work at breaking some old habits together. I'll stop calling myself an idiot, you try something new.'

'Don't get me started on going to the polo match.'

'What's so wrong about polo?'

'It's almost as senseless as football.'

'Jack, don't be such a spoil-sport.' She teased. 'It doesn't sound that bad. There are horses there.'

'How about we agree to disagree?'

'Ugh, fine. You win. This time.' She glanced down at her watch. Yes, she could see why Lisa said Jack was stubborn. 'Warrior should be finished eating, I'm heading out for a ride if that's okay with you. You don't need me here?''

'You can go for a ride if you want, just make sure you're back in time to clean up after your kittens.'

'Don't worry, I'll be back before they make a huge mess and Cougar's watching them so they'll be okay.' She replied over her shoulder, the truck and trailer leaving as she headed to the barn. Ty was holding a black horse, the gelding she recognized from the river. 'So this is Venture?'

'This is him.' Ty replied, rubbing the gelding's forehead as he looked over at Amy. 'He didn't seem too sad about leaving his horse.'

'Yeah.' She ran her hand over the horse's neck. 'Let's get him into a pen and get him settled in. Maybe you'd like to help me with him later Jessie?'

'I'll see, I'm heading over to Lisa's right now but don't tell Jack. All he knows is that I'm going for a ride.'

'Are you up to something?'

'No, but he's being stubborn and I'm guessing she's probably going to be as well so I think it's best if he doesn't know where I'm headed.' She glanced back at him, Jack was still tinkering away at the tractor. 'Adults can be so childish.'

Ty chuckled. Jessie certainly came out with some interesting things. 'Well Jack is kinda set in his ways.'

'I know but what's so wrong with doing something that Lisa wants to do for once? Ugh, it's too complicated for me.' She threw her hands up, continuing on into the barn. 'I'll catch you guys later.'

Warrior stuck his head over the stall door and she rubbed his forehead, the stallion blowing on her face. 'Hey, want to go out again?' He knickered softly, lipping her hair with his velvety lips. 'I guess that's a yes. Come on then.' She opened the door and let him out, grabbing a leadrope to attach to his halter. It wasn't really that far to Lisa's, there was no point tacking him up just to untack him again. She led him out of the barn and took a handful of his long mane, springing up onto his back. Warrior snorted, pawing the ground and she nudged him gently with her heels. 'Okay, let's go.'

Warrior hadn't even broken into a sweat as she rode into the stable yard, sliding off his back near the pen she normally stabled him in. The stallion nudged her gently as she pulled his leaderope over his neck and led him into the pen.

'Hi Jessica.'

She glanced around, smiling as she saw Linda. 'Morning.'

'Want me to take care of Warrior for you?'

'Thanks but I've got it.' She unclipped his leadrope, patting him on the rump as he walked away from her. 'Is Lisa around?'

'She's in the office.'

'Thanks.' She closed the gate behind her as Linda left and she headed towards Lisa's office in the stable block. A couple of Lisa's workers said hi as she walked past them in the stable aisle and she returned the greeting, admiring the gorgeous horses as she walked past. The office door was open, Lisa was sitting at her desk as she came into the doorway. 'Hey.'

'Jessie!' Lisa exclaimed, jumping as she looked up at the door. 'You scared me.'

The girl chuckled. 'Sorry. Can I come in?'

'Sure honey.' She replied, closing a file she'd been going through. 'What are you up to?'

'Not much, my day is pretty boring at the moment.' Jessie sat down across from her, folding her arms on the table and rested her head on them. 'So I thought I'd come annoy you for awhile, if that's okay.'

'You know I don't mind you coming over.' She grabbed another file from a drawer beside her. 'I'm going to have to go to the track soon to watch a couple horses, you want to come?'

'Yes please.' The girl nodded then glanced at what she was looking through. 'What's that?'

'Paperwork. I'm sorting out registering this year's foals that have been born so far.'

'Sounds like fun.'

Lisa glanced up at the girl, a thought coming to mind. 'You want to give me a hand?'

'Sure, I'd love to. Just show me what I've got to do.'

'How's practice for the rodeo coming along Jessie?'

'It's good.' She nodded as Maggie placed her milkshake down in front of her on the counter and she took a quick sip before continuing. 'Really good.'

'She's doing quite well.' Lisa added, finishing off her lunch. She looked at the girl with a smile then turned back to Maggie. 'I still haven't quite convinced her to enter the Queen Of The Rodeo contest yet though.'

Maggie chuckled, clearing away the empty plates. 'Well, there is still time to enter Jessie you know. It would be good to have more competitors, the numbers have been decreasing over the years.'

'We'll see.' She replied. 'We'll see.' Maggie left after a few moments to serve a couple other customers and she turned to Lisa. 'So, now that you've done that paperwork and we've been to the track, what else is on your schedule?'

'I've got to meet a buyer this afternoon, he's interested in one of the two year old colts. 'We should probably be heading back actually.' She exclaimed, looking down at her watch. The girl nodded, picking up her milkshake as she stood up. 'See you later Maggie.'

'See you around.'

Jessie took another couple of sips, following Lisa out to her car and they headed back to Fairfield. She glanced out the window for a few minutes, pondering a few thoughts as she slowly sipped her milkshake then she turned back to Lisa. 'Your disappointed Jack doesn't want to go to the polo match with you, aren't you?'

'Kinda.' She sighed. 'But that's Jack. He doesn't like to try something new.'

The girl chuckled. 'I can see that but what I don't get is why. I mean, is a polo match really that boring?'

'He seems to think so.'

'Maybe he doesn't want to go because he'll feel out of place.' She voiced out loud, glancing at a couple horse grazing in a paddock they drove past. 'Could that be why he doesn't want to go?'

'Probably.'

'Maybe there is a way to make him feel like he fits in more or something.' She shrugged. 'I don't know. It just doesn't seem to be very fair that he doesn't want to go to something you want to do. Relationships are a two-way street, sometimes one person is going to have to compromise to make things work.'

Lisa laughed, shaking her head. For only a twelve year old, Jessie could make hard things sound so simple. 'And where did you learn that?'

'Warrior taught me it, when I was first trying to break him in but it applies to any relationship I guess.'

'You know, you're very mature for your age.'

Jessie flicked her hair back over her shoulder with a cheeky grin. 'Yeah, I've been told that. But back to Jack. What are you going to do?'

'I don't know.' She sighed as they pulled into Fairflied then an idea came to mind. 'You think you could help me with something Jess?'

'How's it going with Venture?' Jessie asked Amy later that afternoon, tacking up Warrior as she came into the barn. 'Made any progress?'

'He's okay with having the hose on his legs but he still doesn't want to walk through puddles.' She replied while giving Warrior a pat. 'He's pretty nervous and high-strung too so I've got a lady coming over tomorrow to have a look at him and see if she's got some other natural remedies I can use to help him.'

'You've tried the lavender with him?'

She nodded. 'That and Star of Bethlehem.'

'That should work then.' Warrior nudged her gently as she did up his breastplate, fastening it to his cinch. 'You ready to run some barrels boy?'

'Hey.'

She chuckled, glancing over as Lisa walked into the barn. 'I beat you.'

'Of course you did, I gave you a head start.'

'Yeah yeah.' She checked to make sure that the saddle was secure again, taking up the slack on his breastplate by another hole. 'Lou's in the office, I told her what your plan was so she got what you needed.'

'Thanks for your help honey.' Lisa gave her a hug and a kiss on the head. 'I'll see you later then.'

'Yep, you will. We still need to pick what I'm wearing to the polo match. You know a girl's gotta look her best at all times.'

She chuckled. 'Yes, we do.'

Amy raised her eyebrow as Lisa headed into the office and she looked back at Jessie. 'What are you up to this time? I heard about your little hand in sending Jack and Lisa off on a date together.'

'Never you mind.' She looked at her cheekily. 'Unless you want to mention what's going on around here with Ty and Caleb.' Amy blushed and looked at the ground and she chuckled. 'I thought not.' Warrior nudged her again, snorting softly. 'Yes, yes boy.' She untied him, placing his reins over his neck as she prepared to take him out to the arena for practice. 'In a moment.'

'Lou, have you seen my favourite shirt?' Jack asked as he walked into the barn, stopping in the doorway of the office. 'You know, the plaid one.'

'Grandpa-' She replied. All of your shirts are plaid.'

'Hi.' Lisa exclaimed, hoping she didn't have a guilty look on her face that he might have been able to pick up on.

'Lisa, I didn't even know you were here.'

Jessie turned back to Warrior, stifling a chuckle. Hadn't Jack seen Lisa's car out front? She gave the stallion a pat as Amy headed back out to work with Venture again, turning back to Jack and Lisa.

'I was just leaving.' She continued, heading towards the door. She caught the look Jessie gave her, the girl was just having too much amusement in the fact that she'd almost been caught by him.

'What's the hurry?' He questioned, walking with her to the door. 'Why don't you stay for supper?

'Oh that's nice I would, I can't I um,' She stuttered, trying to think of an excuse. 'I have a thing that I have to go to. She glanced over at Jessie, the girl was turned to her horse and she could tell she was trying not to laugh. Thanks Jessie! 'Bye Jess.'

'Bye Lisa.' The girl replied, fixing up her gloves.

She glanced back at Jack as she continued out to her car. 'Bye.'

Jack frowned, watching her leave. He looked over at Jessie, the girl leading her stallion out of the barn. 'Jessie?'

'Don't know nothing.' Warrior shook his head, impatient to get moving as she stopped him again. She'd just noticed that she hadn't done his flank cinch up and the saddle had slipped. 'Just a moment mate, your saddle slipped.'

He headed back to the office, looking at Lou. 'What was that about?'

'What was what about?' She replied then saw Scott behind him. 'Scott. Hi.'

'Lou, Jack.'

'Right Uh, Good to see you Scott.' He headed back out the barn, stopping beside Jessie as the girl fixed up her horse's saddle. 'You going to practice?'

'Yep, Kit's dropping by shortly to give me a lesson.' She could hear Scott and Lou talking faintly as she looped the end of the cinch through its buckle, checking to make sure the saddle wouldn't move this time. He'd said hello to her as he'd walked past but she could tell he wasn't happy about something. 'Have you told Lou that Scott's my brother yet?'

'No, I was going to wait until I could talk to her and Amy at the same time.' Warrior sniffed his coat gentle, looking for treats in his pocket and he gave the stallion a pat on the neck. 'I don't have anything for you.'

The girl glanced back at the barn as she gathered the reins and placed her foot in the stirrup, springing up into the saddle. 'Maybe we should tell them at dinner? I think I just want to get it over and down with.'

'You sure?'

'Yeah. Once it's out there, it's out there and everyone can get over the surprise.' She ran her hand down Warrior's shoulder, the stallion stamping the ground in impatience. 'Or we could just tell Mallory. Everyone would know before five minutes had passed.'

Jack laughed. 'Yeah, she's better then any newspaper.'

Warrior nickered, shaking his head and she nudged him gently with her heels. 'This one wants to practice.'

'Go on, I might come watch you shortly.'

'Okay.' She replied back over her shoulder, Warrior cantering over to the arena gate. A truck pulled up as she opened it and she looked around to see that Kit had arrived. 'Hi Kit.'

'Hey Jessie.' She closed the door behind her, coming over to the fence. 'How's it going?'

'Good. Warrior and I are really getting the hang of it.'

'That's great.' Kit climbed onto the fence, taking a seat to watch her and she pulled a stopwatch from her pocket. 'Well, show me what you've got and I'll time you.'

'Alright, let's show her then.' Warrior jogged over to the 'box', his head up high as the girl held him back. He swished his tail, whipping it back and forth like a snake in his impatience to run. The girl ran a hand over his shoulder, pulling him to a stop. 'Easy boy, in a moment.' The stallion snorted, half-rearing but the girl expertly sat through his antics and held him at a halt. She looked at the barrels as the stallion finally stood still, his muscles tense as he focused on the task in front of him. 'In a moment.'

'Three.'

The stallion snorted, pawing the ground.

'Two.'

'Easy mate, easy.'

'One.'

Warrior was almost exploding with excitement, pulling at the bit and dancing in place.

'Go!'

The stallion leapt forward like a bullet out of a gun, galloping towards the first barrel, turning around it with speed and precision. Jessie's hat was blown off as he tore towards the second barrel, the girl's face sober as she concentrated and collected the black for the next turn. Around the second barrel they went, Warrior's mane whipping the girl in the face as they galloped for the third and last barrel. She slowed him slightly, the stallion digging his hooves into the sand as he sprung forward out of the turn. 'Go boy, go!' She slapped him with the reins, the stallion's ears flat against his neck as he bolted towards the 'box' as fast as he could gallop.

'Eighteen point three seconds.' Kit held the stopwatch up, the girl catching her breath from the run as Jack and Scott clapped. 'Nice going Jess. Well done.'

'Good job boy.' She ran her hand down his neck, the stallion nodding his head and pawing the ground to run again. She glanced up, not only Kit was at the fence but Jack and Scott had joined her. 'Good boy.'

'Good job honey.' Jack smiled. 'That was good.'

'You did great Sis.' Scott added. 'You'll give them a run for their money.'

She chuckled, blushing as she rubbed Warrior's shoulder again. 'Thanks guys.' She glanced back at the barrels, turning Warrior around. 'Good thing he didn't trample on my hat.'

'With a time like that, you're going to be quite the competitor.' Kit exclaimed. 'I might have to up my game.'

The girl laughed. 'We'll just have to wait and see.'

'May the best horse and rider win.'

'That might be us Warrior.' The stallion nickered, shaking his head. She urged him forward into a gallop, leaning down over his shoulder to reach her hat. She grabbed her hat off the ground, pulling the stallion up as she placed it back on her head with a grin and looked cheekily at Kit. 'Too bad we can't do that in the competition, Warrior and I are aces at this kind of thing.'