Hi all!

Yes, I'm back! Hope you've all been well and are excited for a new chapter!

I have some good news to share, I just completed my first practical workshop at the Equine College for the course I'm enrolled in! So so so happy I was finally able to get there and meet my teacher and fellow students, I had a blast and learned a ton while being there. One prac down, one to go till my course is completed! Only three and a half written assessments left to go aswell and I'll be finished.

I'm thinking of enrolling in the Deploma which will cover the management side of the performace horse world and I think it'll come in helpful for my story lol. Right now I can see that Heartland needs to ramp up their bio security protocols (again, a joke as I know it's a show) especially when there's horses constantly coming and going.

Anyway, enjoy!

Chapter 51

'Jessica! Your kitten is climbing my leg again.'

'Coming, coming.' Jessie replied from the living room where she'd been tidying up her cougar's bed. Quickly she hurried into the kitchen, glancing under the table where Jack was sitting to see Hope scaling up her makeshift scratching post. 'Hope.' She quickly knelt down, carefully taking the kitten's claws out of Jacks' jeans and took a seat beside him. 'Sorry Jack.'

'Those kittens are getting too mischievous for their own good Jessie.' He glanced at her over his newspaper. 'Outside for them now.'

'Oh Jack.' Hope purred as she held her on her lap, not a trying to make a purr but an actual purr. The kittens were growing up quickly, it was almost like if you blinked you'd miss it. She held the kitten up, resting her cheek against Hope's face. 'Look at her, isn't she cute?'

'Yeah, cute. Cute climbing up my leg.' He replied, trying to resist the look the girl and the kitten were giving him. 'Jessie, don't give me that look.'

'What look?' She asked innocently, putting on even a more pouting face. 'This look?'

'Jessie, you know what rules we agreed upon when I let you keep them.'

She sighed. 'I know. They have to go outside.' She looked down at Hope. 'But they're still too little Jack. They're too little to go out yet.'

'Our barn cats that have had kittens always survived.'

'But they're not barn cats, they're my cats.' Miracle meowed around her ankles and she picked her up too, the two sisters trying to play together on her lap. 'Just another week before they go out, please?'

'One week?'

'One week.'

'Promise?'

'Promise.' She agreed. 'They'll be about seven weeks old then, probably should wait till they're around eight-'

'One more week, don't push your luck.' He sighed, placing his newspaper down and gave Hope a chin rub. 'You can start taking them out for a little bit at a time till they get used to the place then extend on the time they're outside.'

'But they can still come in, right?'

'Yes. We can put a pet door in the back door for them, one of those fancy ones that read the collar the animal wears so we don't get stray animals or snakes inside.'

'That sounds like a good idea, we don't want a repeat of what happened on the camping trip.'

'No, we most certainly do not.' He gave Miracle a chin rub too, thinking for a moment. 'You spoken to Lisa lately Jess?'

'Yeah, she rang me last night. Why?'

'Did there seem to be anything- strange, with her?'

'No.' She raised her eyebrow, trying to play along. 'What do you mean strange?'

'I don't know.' He sighed. 'She hasn't bothered ringing me for a couple days and the way she ran off last time she was here I'm kind of under the impression she's avoiding me.'

'I'm sure it's nothing Jack.' You'd better do something Lisa. She thought, covering for her. She knew why Lisa hadn't contacted him for the last couple of days but she wasn't about to let him know what was going on. 'She's just busy, with foaling season and such.'

'Yeah, sounds great Lisa.'

Jessie glanced up as Lou walked into the room, noticing that Jack had his attention on her now too.

Lou realised that Jack was in the room and quickly finished her phone call. 'I have to run. Okay. Bye.'

'You were talking to Lisa?' He asked as she hung up the phone and placed it back on the charging dock.

'Mm-hm.' She replied, grabbing her coat and bag off the back of the chair.

'She didn't want to talk to me?'

'I guess not.' Lou gave him a kiss on the cheek then headed out of the room.

Jack looked back at Jessie, the girl making a face that said she wasn't interested in getting involved as she got up to get herself a drink. He sighed, getting up to grab the phone and he dialed Lisa's number. 'High school all over again.'

Jessie chuckled, hearing Jack as she grabbed herself a drink of water. 'What'd you say Jack?'

'Nevermind Jess.' He replied, listening to the phone ring then the mobile on the table in front of him started to ring with an incoming call. He picked it up as Mallory walked in, the girl taking the phone from his hand as she walked past and he hung up the call he was trying to make.

'I'd like to thank you Jack.' Mallory exclaimed as her phone continued to ring. 'I've done everything you told me to. No eye contact, lame excuses, ignoring his phone calls.'

'Mallory-' He turned to her, placing the phone on the table. 'I am sorry that I ever told you that story and I sure as heck do not condone what you're doing.

'Well, I'd love to stay and chat but I got to go finish my chores at the Heartland Child Labour Camp.'

Jack stared at Mallory as the girl huffly left the house, turning back to Jessie as the front door slammed. The girl was laughing, almost choking as she tried to have a drink. 'What's so funny?'

'Mallory is trying so hard to get rid of Jake, you're worrying about Lisa-' She emptied her cup into the sink and turned back to him. 'It's just funny.'

'Yeah, very funny.' He couldn't quite see what was just so funny about it. 'Don't you have somewhere to be too?'

'I'm heading out to do my chores now.' She glanced down at Hope and Miracle as they played with a plastic straw that someone had dropped under the table. 'Will you survive with these two?'

'I'm sure I'll manage.' He picked up his newspaper again, going back to the article that he'd been reading before the kitten had interrupted him. 'We'll head into town sometime to get that pet door organized, I may need to grab a couple things for the tractor anyway.'

'Alright. Sounds good.' She started past, heading out the door but stopped when Jack placed a hand on her arm. 'What?'

'Your not wearing gloves.'

'Oh, yeah.' Jessie showed him her hands. They were still a bit red as the burns finished healing but there weren't any open wounds anymore. 'They're all better. See.'

Jack nodded. 'Just make sure you still wear gloves when you're working though, just for a few more days.'

'Don't worry, I will.' She agreed, smiling. It was kinda cute the way he looked out for her and fussed over her. As annoying as it could be sometimes, she didn't really mind it to be honest. It felt good that someone was watching out for her. She glanced back at the kittens and Cougar who had joined them in the kitchen. 'Be good girls.'

Jessie breathed in deep of the morning air as she walked outside, looking around in contentment as she headed to the barn. She'd already taken Warrior for his morning exercise and had done some barrels with him but she was yet to turn him out to pasture after his feed. She waved at Ty and Amy as they worked with Venture in the round yard, smiling as she walked up to her stallion in his stall. 'Hey boy. Ready to go out?' Warrior knickered softly, sticking his head over the door for a pat. 'Oh hello. Who's a good boy?'

'Glad someone's in a good mood.'

She chuckled, turning around to glance back at Mallory. 'What's wrong Mallory?'

'I could have used your help earlier cleaning out these stalls but you were too busy fooling around with those kittens of yours.' She walked past, carrying a pitchfork as she entered the stall beside Warrior's. 'This ain't a vacation camp here.'

'Sorry Mallory, I didn't realise you were so keen to get these stalls done.' She replied back with a hint of sarcasm. 'Got something on your schedule?'

'Nevermind.'

Jessie turned back to Warrior, rubbing his head then grabbed his leadrope off the hook and clipped it onto his halter. 'Come on boy, pasture time.' Warrior followed her eagerly as she led him out, lifting his head to look at Amy working with Venture as they walked past. She'd heard that things hadn't gone so well yesterday when the Constable had come by to see how the gelding was progressing. Inwardly she knew that it was too soon for him to come see him but she hadn't said anything to Amy when Caleb had insisted that he was ready to be saddled and ridden to the stream. It wasn't her place really to say anything, she didn't feel like it was her place. Amy was the expert, it was her client. She didn't want to get into trouble by saying what she thought. It was just better to keep silent.

'There you go.' She rubbed his neck, turning him loose into the field. The stallion nudged her, blowing softly on her hands then turned and galloped away towards the other horses with his tail up. She chuckled as she left the pasture and headed back to the barn. He did that everyday. She walked past the round yard, glancing at Amy and Venture for a moment then climbed onto the fence to join Ty as he watched them work. 'How's he going?'

'Hard to say.' He replied, looking at her then back at Amy and the horse. 'Amy found out a couple things though that help explain a bit.'

'Oh?'

'His younger brother drowned in the same part of the river a few years ago, just after he joined the force. He was there when his brother died and so was Venture.'

'That's so sad.' She watched as Amy kept urging on Venture around the round yard. 'When I was watching Mark trying to saddle Venture yesterday he was being so aggressive in his movements, like he was angry at Venture even before he started to play up. That makes sense now.'

'He's taking it out on his horse.'

'Exactly.' She sighed. 'I've been there, I've done that before and it's not pretty. When someone holds such anger and hurt inside them, they lash out at everyone and everything around. I did that to Warrior, after Robert was murdered. I felt like it was my fault I just had to get it out at something and I directed my aggression at Warrior. It wasn't his fault, just like it's not Venture's. I was glad that I came to my senses and Warrior was still around after it. He's probably never dealt with it properly and what happened with that kid brought the memories back. For both him and Venture.'

Ty looked down at Jessie thoughtfully. 'Jessie, you know more than most adults.'

She smiled sadly, shaking her head. 'Knowledge gained through experience is hard Ty. I'd do anything to rewrite the past I had but I can't. The only thing I can do is try and help others who are going through the same thing. I never had that, I didn't have anyone to help me. Maybe I can't help the constable directly and Venture is Amy's client but I understand better than most of what they're both going through. Things in life happen for a reason.'

'They do.' He agreed softly, looking at Jessie through a new pair of eyes as she watched Amy continue working with Venture. Maybe she was right. Maybe people did go through things in their life to help others. 'Amy asked the Constable to come back, we're going to ride down to the river today.'

'One of the biggest parts of being able to heal is recognizing the need for that healing.' She replied with that soft gentle tone she used when she was thoughtful and reflective of her past. 'It's often the hardest too, especially when you've tried to convince yourself for a long time that you're dealing with it just fine. I hope what Amy is planning works. For both his sake and Venture's.' The girl glanced back at the barn. 'I better get back to my chores.'

Ty nodded thoughtfully. The girl had given him a few things to think about for himself. 'I'll see you around.'

'Mmhmm.' She climbed down, heading to the barn. 'Mallory?'

'Here.' Mallory called out, walking back into the barn to get back to work. 'About time.'

'Hi.' Jake saw Mallory jump, walking up to her from where he'd come into the barn by the side door. He nodded at Jessie then looked back at her. 'I think the ringer on your phone's off.'

'Jake, it's not off.' She replied with exasperation. 'I'm ignoring you.'

'Why?'

'You drive me crazy! I'm sorry. I just don't like you the way you like me. Just leave me alone, okay?' She placed the pitchfork back against the wall as she headed back out of the barn to get away from him.

'Not a problem.'

Jessie looked over at Jake after a moment, Mallory heading off goodness only knew where, leaving her to do the stalls by herself. She sighed. This was beyond ridiculous. 'Give her some time Jake. I'd wait a couple days and see what happens.'

He nodded, walking over to her as the girl started to muck out the stall. 'Need a hand?'

'Sure, I'd be grateful.' She smiled, pitchforking some soiled hay into the wheelbarrow. 'How have you been Jake? I haven't really seen you that much lately.'

'I've been good. I noticed you were running Warrior around those barrels earlier. Pretty impressive.'

'Thanks.' Jessie blushed slightly as he joined her in mucking out the stall. 'We're getting ready for the rodeo. Are you entering anything?'

'Maybe, I'm not sure.' His phone started to ring and he pulled it out of his pocket. 'It's my mom. I'm going to have to go.'

'Alright, I'll see you later.' She nodded as he headed out. 'Thanks for the hand.' She turned back to her work, sighing as she continued to muck out the stall. She looked down at her hands, kicking herself as she realized she wasn't wearing gloves. Ugh, Jessie. The pitchfork was left leaning against the wheelbarrow, the girl heading out of the stall to find herself some gloves. She grabbed them off her saddle, glancing over her shoulder at Ty as he walked into the barn. 'Come to give me a hand?'

'Hardly. The constable's arrived so Amy and I are heading down to the river.' He picked up the tack for the horse Mark was going to ride. 'Sorry. I'll try and give you a hand later.'

'It's okay, I was joking.' She replied as he left, glancing out the door at the constable before she went back to the stall. She sighed, forking another lot of soiled hay into the wheelbarrow. She hoped that Amy could help him, and Venture.

'Chores are done.' Jessie declared as she walked up to Jack working on the tractor a little while later. 'You seen Mallory around?'

'No.' He wiped his hands on a rag, glancing up at her. 'Why?'

'She took off and left me to do the chores after Jake turned up.' She took a seat on the milkcrate, resting her elbows on her knees and her chin on her hands. 'I don't get why she doesn't like Jake. He's a nice boy.'

'I don't get women or girls most of the time but I don't get her at all.'

The girl chuckled. 'We're not that hard to understand.' She tilted her head as she looked at him. 'I take it Lisa didn't answer your call.'

'Yeah. Now I'm starting to wonder if she's doing a Mallory on me.'

'Jack-' Jessie laughed. 'You've been thinking way too much about this. Lisa's just busy.'

'Apparently not too busy to talk to you it seems but too busy to talk to me.'

She rolled her eyes. Oh Lisa, I think you've done it this time. 'What's going on?'

'I did it! I ditched Jake!'

'Your mental cruelty paid off?' Jack turned to Mallory as she walked over to them, his conversation with Jessie interrupted.

'No, that went right over his head.' She declared. 'I just told him I didn't want him hanging around all the time.'

'So you took the direct approach.'

'Frankly, it would have saved a lot of time and energy if you were to just recommend that to me in the first place.'

'Just you wait a minute.' He exclaimed, placing the screwdriver he'd been using aside as the girl took off to the barn again. 'I did.'

'Whatever.'

'Oh boy.' Jessie facepalmed. Sometimes Mallory really was impossible. 'I think I need a good long vacation.'

'If you've got a problem, maybe you should go for a ride.'

'You know.' She stood up, looking at Jack. He might be annoyed with Mallory but she didn't want to stick around when he was acting the way he was. And you Lisa, are partially to blame. 'Maybe you should go for a drive. Over to Lisa's and get whatever it is that's going around in your head out of your mouth. I don't have the patience for you or Mallory right now. You both are acting so immature and stupid. Why can't people just talk things out properly these days?' If she'd glanced back at Jack as she walked away she would have seen him staring at her but she didn't. She didn't stop till she got to the pasture gate then she began to laugh. Seriously it was getting beyond a joke. She sighed as she finished her laugh then walked in and whistled for Warrior. He was right. She did need to go for a ride. A long, fast ride at that.

Lisa took another sip of her coffee as she walked down the mainstreet, deep in thought as she headed back to her car. Is it really that much to ask Jack to come to this polo match? She wondered, looking at her coffee cup then back up as she reached her car. She chuckled, seeing Jack's truck pull up beside her car. Well well well. Speak of the old devil hey. 'Hi.'

'Okay, what's going on?' Jack asked as he stepped out of his truck, closing the door behind him as he walked over to her. 'This isn't high school Lisa.'

'Excuse me?' She asked in surprise, completely bewildered by the tone of voice he was using. What on earth Jack?

'If you don't want to see me anymore-' He toned down a little, catching onto the surprise written on Lisa's face. 'just say so.'

Oh Jack. She smiled, touching his arm. 'Your right. I have been avoiding you.' She sighed heavily. 'I think I did something you won't like. But in my defence oh, it was a good idea at the time.' She headed to her car, placing her mug on the roof so she could get out the bag in the backseat. 'I had this made for you. That's why your shirt was missing because Jessie and Lou helped me borrow it to get your measurements.'

'But I already own a good suit.'

'It's a forty year old relic.' She paused, looking down at the suit then back at Jack. 'I just thought if you had a good new suit, then you wouldn't feel like a sheep among the goats.

'A goat amongst the sheep.' Jack corrected.

'And then I picked it up and I started to worry that you would think that I'm trying to change you, and I'm not.' She sighed. 'And you don't have to go to a polo match if you don't want to. It's your choice and I'm okay with it.' Well, that wasn't the entire truth. She really had wanted to go to the polo match with him. Something the two of them could do together that she'd chosen. Was it selfish of her to want that?

'I appreciate the thought Lis, and it's a beautiful suit.'

'It is.'

'But I use my suit for two things. Weddings and funerals.' He could see the way her face fell as she quickly tried to hide her disappointment. 'It's a lovely gesture but I'm still not gonna go.'

'Okay.' She smiled, trying to appear to be okay with it on the outside but on the inside she was really hurt. She quickly brushed it aside for later, knowing Jack could read her like an open book. Well, her book of emotions quickly slammed shut. 'Well, you should have it.' She handed it to him, zipping the bag. 'It was made for ya.' She kissed him on the cheek then turned back to her car, grabbed her mug off the roof and hopped in. She saw Jack watching her leave, standing there on the sidewalk as she reversed and drove away. She sighed as she headed back to Fairfield. She wasn't one to give up so easily, at least this time he'd actually taken what she'd brought for him, unlike that saddle she still had sitting at home gathering dust. Somehow couldn't bring herself to get rid of it so she'd placed it in storage. She wiped a tear off her cheek, startling herself that she was actually crying over the fact that Jack didn't want to go to the match with her. Was it just that he didn't want to go or was it that he didn't want to spend time with her? Did he think she was trying to change him? She wasn't, all she wanted to do was spend time with him. It wasn't that much of an ask, was it?

'Up boy up!' Jessie slid Warrior to a stop atop the Overlock, grabbing a handful of his long mane as he reared up high, pawing the air. Her cheeks were red as he came back down to the ground, her eyes watery as she caught her breath from the ride. 'Good boy.' She patted his shoulder, exhilarated by the wild ride they'd just rode. Nothing compared to racing across the paddocks bareback, feeling his strong muscles beneath her as the wind and his mane whipped her face. The stallion shook his head, chewing at the bit and she smiled. 'You want to go again boy?' She ran her hand down his shoulder, a huge smile on her face. Everything felt different from the back of her beautiful stead, almost like the ride had re-set her mind. Everything felt clear, peaceful.

The stallion pawed the ground, tossing his head again as he danced in place and the girl was brought back to reality. Clasping his back firmly between her legs, she leant forward. 'Up boy, up!' He reared again, this time she extended both her arms forward, feeling like she was flying. She laughed with glee, patting him as he came back to the earth. 'Your such a good boy. Good boy.'

Her phone dinged, breaking up the moment and she quickly pulled it from her pocket. She smiled as she saw it was Lisa then her smile changed to a frown as she read the message. You still want to come to the polo tomorrow? She sighed, guessing that whatever had happened with her and Jack hadn't been the result she had been hoping for. Quickly she typed a message back. Sure. I take it Jack hasn't changed his mind?

She'd barely sent it before she received a message back. No. You want me to come pick you up tonight and you can sleepover?

I'll ride over tomorrow morning, if that's okay. I've got some things I have to do here tonight. She replied after a few moments to think of a message to compose.

Alright, that's fine. You got something to wear?

I still have the blue dress from Amy's birthday party. I'll just wear that.

Okay, see you tomorrow then.

See you tomorrow. Jessie sighed again, slipping the phone back into her pocket and she urged Warrior forward with her picking up the reins. The stallion shook his head, asking to canter and she let him have his head as she returned to her thoughts. Couldn't Jack see how badly Lisa wanted him to go to the polo match with her? She could understand that watching a polo match mightn't be his thing but it was only one evening and she knew it would mean a lot to Lisa. She kind of felt bad for going with Lisa when she really wanted it to be Jack. She'd even deliberately left choosing something to wear till the last minute in the hope that Jack would have come to his senses and agreed to go with her. Jack, you are one stubborn guy sometimes. She dropped the reins across Warrior's neck, extending her arms out as her heels urged him on faster, trying to forget her thoughts in the thrill of the speed they were traveling at.

Her eyes stung from the wind as the stallion galloped along the track to the stream running at the back of the property. As the stream came into view she slowed him down, the stallion shaking his head as he settled down to a bouncing canter. 'Woah boy.' She asked, reining him in as they reached the water and he halted at the edge. 'Good boy.' She rubbed his shoulder, letting him have a moment to drink and glanced at his watch. She was surprised to see what the time was, there was only about an hour left of daylight and she looked up at the sky. Yes, her watch was right. She chuckled. She'd been so absorbed in the ride she'd completely been unaware of her surroundings and the coming night fall.

Gently she nudged him with her heels, turning him away from the water and asking him to canter. It was time to head back. She dropped the reins across his withers again, letting him find his own way back as her attention turned back to her thoughts. Part of her wanted to say something to Jack, the other part said for her not to interfere. She sighed, leaning forward as the stallion jumped over a fallen tree on the path. She didn't like feeling like this, torn two ways. Ugh, why do men have to be so stubborn sometimes. It wasn't that much of a deal, really, when you thought about it. It was one evening. It wasn't that much at all.

Warrior slowed to a trot as they entered the forest, his hooves ringing out loudly on the hard track in the still evening air. Suddenly, he slid to a stop, snorting. Jessie almost fell off, completely caught by surprise and she had to grab his mane to stop herself from sliding off. 'What is it boy?' She ran her hand down his shoulder, the stallion tense under her touch. His ears were pricked as he smelled the air cautiously, his attention directed at a thick section of brush. The girl looked at what was holding his attention but she couldn't see anything out of the ordinary. 'What can you see boy?'

Jessie looked around again as the stallion snorted and she frowned. This was the third time something like this had happened, Warrior stopping as if there were something around but there hadn't been anything she'd been able to see. A shiver ran up her spine, was it just her imagination or was there something watching her? She could feel something watching her. Something that was hidden in the thick undergrowth. For a moment she started to panic, the year she'd had on her run from her father clouding her reasoning. Then she remembered. He's gone. He can't hurt me. It's not him. It only eased the knots in her stomach slightly. It was rather cold comfort. What if it were one of his 'friends' that had come after her? Her hand went to her hip out of automatic reaction but she was quickly reminded she was unarmed. Her pistols were back at the house.

The stallion snorted again, shifting his weight as he moved in place. He shook his head, his attention still on the bush then he dropped his head to the ground. The girl followed his gaze as he sniffed at some soft dirt on the side of the path. There were tracks. 'Easy boy.' She carefully slid off his back, her hand holding onto her reins as she knelt to look at them. Paw prints. 'Looks like a dog.' She remarked, measuring the print with her free hand. 'A big dog.'

Warrior quickly raised his head as a twig snapped, the girl back standing in an instant. Her hand on his shoulder she looked at the underbrush all around her carefully, her eyes looking for even the smallest thing that was out of place. A twig broken off, a rock overturned. There was something around here and it was watching her. She vaulted onto the stallion, the horse moving a couple of steps as she picked up his reins and got her seat. 'Let's go boy.' She urged him on but held him in at a walk. If there were a stray dog around the last thing she wanted was for it to chase them. Warrior might be fast enough to outrun a dog but it was getting late and the path was rather narrow. It was best to just slowly leave the area and hope the dog didn't decide to attack them.

The girl let Warrior go as they came out of the trees, cantering across the pasture back to the ranch. She glanced back over her shoulder, letting go of the breath she'd been holding in. They weren't being followed. She turned her attention to her destination again, unable however to shake the feeling that something was out there. Almost stalking her even. Was it paranoia, because of her past or did she have real reason for concern?

'How was your ride?'

'It was okay.' Jessie replied, halting the stallion as Caleb walked out of the barn to meet her. 'I was out a little bit too long though.'

He frowned as the girl dismounted and started to lead the girl to the barn. She was a bit shaken, he could see that. Her face was slightly pale and her body language spoke of her being anxious and on edge. 'What's wrong Jessie?'

'There's something out there Caleb.' She slipped the bridle off the horse, turning him loose into his stall as she replied. 'Something spooked Warrior on our way back through the Grove, there were dog tracks. Big dog tracks. Something is out there. It's not the first time he's been spooked either, it's almost like it's stalking me.'

'Stalking?' He raised his eyebrows. 'Come on.'

She shot him a look and he instantly backed off, his hands raised. 'Caleb, I was running from something following me for over a year. That was something I'd rather forget happened but I can't.' She walked over to where her saddle was, attaching her rifle scabbard back on it from where it'd been sitting at the back of the tack rack. 'I'd rather be prepared then not.'

'Isn't carrying a gun a bit overkill? It's probably long gone by now.'

'If it went to attack me and Warrior today, we could have gotten hurt.' The girl finished fixing her saddle then grabbed Warrior's feedbucket and went to the grain bin to get his dinner. 'I'm going to talk to Jack but I'm not taking chances.'

'You okay honey? You were awfully quiet at dinner.'

Jessie looked up from a book she'd been reading in bed as Jack walked into her room and she shook her head, closing the book up. 'I'm scared Jack.'

'What's wrong honey?' He took a seat on the bed beside her, Cougar moving over to rest her head against him. 'Something happen?'

'I think there's something after me Jack.'

He chuckled but quickly stopped after he saw the look in her eye. The girl wasn't joking. She looked like she'd seen a ghost. 'What happened?'

'Something spooked Warrior while we were out riding this afternoon. It's the third time it's happened. I could feel something watching me but I couldn't see it.' She bit her lip, slightly ashamed of how much the incident had shaken her. Nothing bad had even happened yet she was almost a sobbing mess. 'I think it was a dog, there were tracks near the path. Big tracks.'

'It could be a dog, a few ranches around here have a couple that like to roam.' Jack replied softly, trying to reassure her. 'I'm sure that's all it was.'

'I know but I just can't help feeling this way.' Her voice wavered slightly before she managed to get it back under control. 'I was running from something for an awful long time Jack-'

'Hey, it's okay honey.' He assured her, wrapping his arms around her as the girl started to sob quietly. He knew it wasn't so much the fact that there might be a dog around that had her upset, rather it was her past. 'It's okay. You're safe here and he can't hurt you.'

Jessie nodded as she closed her eyes, breathing in the feeling of him holding her. 'I'm j-just scared.'

'I know you are.' He ran his hand down her back, kissing her head gently. 'But there's nothing to be scared of. It's probably just a dog that wanted to have a run.'

'That's why I feel so stupid. I know that's probably all it is.'

'Your not stupid honey, with what you went through it's only natural to be scared but I promise you your safe. You're okay sweetheart. There's nothing to be scared of.'

She nodded again, pulling away from him to wipe her eyes. 'Sorry.'

'It's okay honey, you don't have to apologise.' He touched her cheek gently. 'It's alright. I know it's stressed you.'

'I shouldn't be like this-'

'Jessie-' He interrupted her gently. 'Your going to be triggered by things like this, you don't have to apologise or be ashamed of it. It just happens honey, I know there isn't anything you can do about it.'

'I don't want you seeing me like this.'

'Sweetheart, that's what I signed up for.' Jack assured her. Jessie hadn't hidden the fact that she didn't like showing emotion around him. He knew if she did she really was having a hard time because she was always so guarded and closed. He knew too it was because she thought that if she appeared to be weak it would make him think less of her. Thank you, past. He thought, looking at her. She might have scars on her arms but the scars he couldn't see he knew ran much deeper. 'Your good days and your not so good days. I love you just the way you are.'

'Even when I'm a sobbing mess?'

'Yes, even when you are.' He replied, lifting her chin. 'Can I see a smile on that pretty face of yours?' The girl blushed slightly, a small smile coming to her lips. 'That's better. You look so beautiful when you smile.'

'Thanks Jack.' She replied, looking at him. 'You always know just what to say to make me feel better.'

'I do try.' He chuckled. 'We can go back tomorrow to check that spot out and see if there's anything around if you want.'

'That's thoughtful Jack but I can't. I'm heading to Lisa's in the morning.'

'Oh.' Jack nodded. 'I forgot you were going with her to the polo match.'

'Yeah, I am.' Jessie fell silent for a moment, biting at the skin beside one of her fingernails. 'Jack, I'm going to say something and I hope you don't take it the wrong way. I shouldn't be the one going to the polo match. You should be.'

'It's not-'

'Your thing.' She interrupted. 'I know. You've said that a thousand times. But Jack, really? Lisa really wanted you to go with her, to enjoy something with her that she likes. Something that's part of her world. She even had you that suit made so you wouldn't feel out of place. If that's not love then I don't know what is. She's not trying to change you Jack, she just wants to show you her world. It's part of who she is, just like Heartland is a part of what makes you you. She wants to spend time with you, she loves spending time with you.'

'I know.'

'Then what's stopping you from going?'

'I don't know.'

'Well, can I take a guess?' She continued without waiting for an answer. 'Your scared.'

Jack chuckled. 'Scared?'

'Yes. Scared. Of Lisa's way of life. I know she hangs around those rich fancy horse folk, the kind that turn their nose up at people like us. You're scared of what people might think if you went to the polo match with her and that's a pretty lame reason not to go in my opinion. Who cares what other people think? All that should matter is you spending time Lisa. Nothing else.'

'You've got a way of putting things Jess.'

'I hope it wasn't rude and I didn't overstep my boundaries but it needed to be said Jack. Lisa's very disappointed.'

'I know.' He sighed. 'Your right.' The girl looked at him in amazement, almost like she was in disbelief that he'd agreed with her. 'I might have my faults but I do recognize when I'm in the wrong. When did you get so wise?'

'I observe and think a lot more than people notice Jack, I pick up on things. It's just the way I am, I guess.' She covered her mouth as she yawned, feeling surprisingly exhausted from her short outburst of emotions. Miracle and Hope crawled closer to her, lying down across her thighs as they drifted back to sleep. 'I think it's bedtime.'

Jack chuckled, picking up her book and placing it on her bedside table. 'Sounds like it.' He kissed her forehead gently, tucking a stray lock of hair behind her ear. 'You've given me a few things to think about honey.'

'I hope I didn't cross the line.'

'No, you didn't. I'm glad you said what you did.' He assured her as he turned off the lamp. 'Night honey.'

'Night Jack.'

He smiled, looking down at the girl as she lay down to go to sleep and he quietly left the room, closing the door softly behind him. Walking down the stairs to the living room, his face sobered. How the girl had explained it made him realize just how selfish he was being towards Lisa. He glanced at the clock as he started turning the rest of the lights off for the night, it was too late to call her to apologise. He'd just have to make it up to her for his behaviour, and he knew just how to do it.