Chapter 54

'Morning Jessie.'

'Morning Jack.' Jessie replied, walking into the kitchen and went to the sink to wash her hands. 'Any breakfast left?'

'Yeah, I think there's some eggs left on the stove and some bacon. There's a loaf of bread near the toaster too.'

'Thanks.'

He glanced up at her over the papers he'd been reading as the girl grabbed herself a plate and began to help herself to some breakfast. 'How'd practice go?'

'Good-' She took a bite of eggs as she placed some bread in the toaster. 'Warrior's doing great.'

'That's brilliant honey. How are you going? Rodeo's only four days away.'

Jessie chuckled as she collected her toast and took a place with him at the table. 'Hey, thanks for reminding me.' He chuckled and she rolled her eyes, starting on her food. 'I'm getting real nervous about it already.'

'You'll do great Jessie.' He placed his hand on her shoulder. 'I just know it.' The girl smiled, looking away as she blushed. 'I mean it Jessie, you and Warrior are a great team. You'll do well.'

'Thanks Jack.' She glanced down as Cougar rubbed against her, purring loudly and she gave her some scraps off her plate. 'There you go girl.' Cougar ate them hungrily then looked up at the table for more. 'No more, that's all for now.' She turned back to Jack, finishing off her meal. 'Well, now that Warrior's had his exercise and barrel racing practice, what's on the agenda for today?'

'I've got some rodeo preparation business to take care of, which will probably take most of the day.' He flicked through another couple of pages, making notes of what he needed to take care of for the event committee. 'The tack and feed room could do with a good tidy, and your barn chores. That'll keep you busy for most of the day. Those kittens of yours could also do with some time outside.'

'But Jack-'

He held his hand up. 'Don't worry, they won't run off. I brought you a couple of harnesses for them while I was in town yesterday. It's time they started learning about the outside world and you'll be in the barn so you might as well take them out with you.'

'Alright.' She sighed, getting up to put her plate in the sink. 'I'll take them out.'

'Good. They're on the desk there.' He nodded in the direction of the harnesses. 'You spoken to Cindy lately?'

'The other day I did.'

'How's she going?'

'Okay, I think.' She rinsed her plate off and left it in the sink then grabbed the harnesses for the kittens to have a look at them. 'She's excited about coming to watch me at the rodeo but on the same hand she's really worried about her grandma too.'

'It's good that she's got you to talk to.'

'Yeah, she doesn't have too many friends at school I think. Ones that she's close to at least that is. We're heading to pick her up Friday, we're going to be staying at Lisa's Friday night and have some girl time.'

'Sounds like fun.'

'Hopefully it will be.'

'How long with you guys be staying at Lisa's?'

'Probably Friday and Saturday night, I'm thinking we'll be back here Sunday. We'll just see what happens.' She finished adjusting the harnesses to what she thought would fit the kittens then looked around for them. 'I'm going to go try these on them, I'll see you around Jack.'

'Mmhmm.' He replied, glancing up at her as she headed upstairs to her room. He saw his phone light up out of the corner of his eye and picked it up to see who had messaged. It was Lisa. Morning Jack. Just wondering if you'd given Jessie that belt you said you had for her yet. I'm just making sure that everything is ready for her for the rodeo so she doesn't have to worry about it. He sighed, reading her message. He'd completely forgotten. Morning Lis. No, I haven't. I'll give it to her when I have a chance. It took him a couple minutes to reply, placing his phone down to check over his papers once he'd sent the message. Almost instantly he received another message, chuckling as he opened it. How did Lisa manage to reply so quick? Okay, thanks for that Jack. I'm going to be busy for the next couple of days so I can have the weekend free for the girls, I'll see you on Saturday. Have a good day. XO. He smiled, texting back a kiss and a hug to her. He thought back to the conversation they'd had at the polo match, she'd been so happy to see him and it hadn't been as bad as he thought it would have been. He was grateful to Jessie for talking him into it, her insite had given him something to think about, Jessie had a way of being able to talk him into anything. He chuckled, placing his papers aside. He could take care of that later.

He glanced towards the stairs, hearing Jessie moving around in her room in the attic and headed towards his room. Closing the door behind him quietly, he turned the light on then went over to his bed and pulled out an old trunk from underneath it. A thick layer of dust covered the lid as he knelt down in front of it, the clasps holding the lid down stiff from years of being unopened. He couldn't remember the last time he'd opened it.

The hinges creaked as he lifted the lid, looking inside the trunk that held so many memories that had been locked away for so long. Lyndy's journal, her music book, a picture of their wedding. He touched the photo gently, looking at it for a moment. They were so young, both of them had been just over twenty when they'd married. It brought back memories, both happy and sad ones. He paused for a moment longer then placed it aside and began to gently remove things that had been stored in the trunk since she'd passed. Clothes, her wedding dress in its sealed box, he laid them out on the bed and kept looking till he found what he wanted. Down at the bottom, in a little wooden box, was the belt he'd chosen to give Jessie.

He pulled it out reverently, opening the lid. The belt was curled up inside, he could still remember the long hours he had worked to earn the money to buy that belt for Lyndy. It had been a rough year, the first year they had been married. His father had died a few months after his sister had been killed, the ranch had gone to him. It had been hard work, building it back up and there hadn't been much money to spare. Lyndy had seen the belt he was holding at a stall at a rodeo they'd gone to during a rare break and had fallen in love with it, yet she knew they couldn't buy it. He'd seen how much she wanted it and so started working extra odd jobs for people till he'd saved enough to buy it for her.

He touched the rhinestones on the belt, fingering the horse concho as his eyes began to mist. It had taken him months but by the time her birthday had come around he'd finally saved up enough to buy her it. He could still see the surprise on her face when he'd presented her with it, she'd been totally unaware of what he'd been doing to raise the money for the belt. He could hear her laugh as she'd put it on, twirling around in the living room like Lisa had done the day Jessie had given her that jacket. After that, she never went anywhere without wearing this belt.

Jack placed the belt back in the box, closing the lid on it as he placed it aside. It was special to him, that belt, just like Lyndy had been. Carefully he began to pack the things back inside the trunk again, memories coming to him in each and every item he gently placed back into its spot. A shirt she'd worn when she'd recorded a new album, a pair of earrings that he'd given her for their fifth anniversary. Marrion's baby booties, booties that she'd hand crocered.

'Jack, I'm heading out now.'

He heard Jessie call out, hearing her footsteps coming downstairs. 'Okay honey.' He hoped that she couldn't sense something in his tone. He heard the girl walking closer, the girl knocking gently on the door. He paused but knew that if she'd already caught on she wouldn't leave it. He sighed, placing the box under a couple of Lyndy's shirts. 'You can come in.'

Jessie walked in, holding her two kittens as she went over to him. She looked around, raising an eyebrow. 'Little spring cleaning?'

'Kind of, just looking for something.'

She looked at him closely then placed the kittens down on the ground and sat down beside him, placing his arm around him. 'Jack, what's wrong?'

'Nothing.'

She nodded, pretending to agree with him but she knew something was up. Sometimes words weren't needed though as she placed her head on his shoulder. He touched her cheek gently, the girl smiling up at him. She could sense something was wrong, that he was upset about something but her instincts told her this time to not say anything and just be there for him. She was thankful for those instincts, instincts learned from her own experiences. Sometimes she didn't want to talk, she just wanted to be close to those she loved.

They sat there together for a little bit then Jack cleared his throat, breaking the silence. 'The chores aren't going to do themselves.'

'I know.' She chuckled, looking up at him as her eyes sparkled. 'You okay now?' He nodded, touching her cheek again gently. 'Good. I'll go take these two out now and get those chores started.'

'Okay.' He smiled, the girl smiling back at him as she got up and collected her two kittens, glancing back at him as she stopped at the door. 'Thanks Jessie.'

'Your welcome Jack.'

He turned back to the trunk as Jessie closed the door softly behind her, placing the box down beside him. His eyes fell on a picture of him and Lyndy, Lyndy holding Marion not long after she had been born. The sound of Jessie's whistling brought him back to reality as the front door closed after her and he smiled, placing the photo back in the trunk. While Jessie couldn't replace Lyndy or Marion, that girl held a special place in his heart and always would.

'How's clean up going Jessie?' Ty remarked as he stopped beside her, pausing to pat Miracle and Hope as they napped on a hay bale. 'Are we having fun yet?'

Jessie rolled her eyes with a chuckle as she continued cleaning a halter she'd found tucked away behind a feed bin. 'Hardly. I swear I've been rubbing this darn halter so much my arms are going to fall off. I'm getting there though, slow and steady.'

'These two been doing much?'

'Apparently supervising is exhausting.' She replied with a smile, looking at her kittens. 'They've been napping the whole time I've been working here.'

'Would you like a hand?'

'Sure. You can finish cleaning this.' Jessie handed him the rag and halter then sighed as she glanced around. 'I haven't even got to my barn chores yet.'

'I can finish up here if you want.'

'That would be great, thanks. Can you keep an eye on these two as well?'

'Sure.'

'Brilliant. Your awesome Ty.'

Ty chuckled. 'Glad you think so Jessie.'

'You are.' She called back over her shoulder as she went over to Warrior's stall to clean it out. Humming while she started her barn chores she made short work of the jobs she had to do and was finished just after Ty had finished with the tack and left. Miracle and Hope were still asleep on the hay bale as she went back over to them and she giggled, picking them up. 'Come on guys, we're finished here now.' She glanced out of the barn as the meowed, rubbing their heads against her chin. She could see Lou and Amy at the round yard, watching Soraya practice riding with a flag. 'Let's go see what's happening in the round yard hey?'

'My arm's getting tired Lou.'

'Hold it up straight Soraya.' Lou replied strongly as Jessie joined them at the fence. 'I want to see the logo.'

'Hey.'

'Hey Jessie.' Amy gave Miracle a pat as the girl stopped beside her. 'How's it going?'

'Good.' She motioned towards Soraya. 'What about this? How's this going?'

'Not great.' Lou interjected then turned back to Soraya. 'Straighter Soraya.'

Amy raised an eyebrow, turning to Lou. She couldn't see anything wrong at all. 'You sure you're not taking this Queen of the rodeo thing a little too seriously?

'My entire marketing strategy depends on her. A year's free publicity if she wins.'

'Oh, no pressure on Soraya.' She scoffed.

'Queen of the rodeo is all about pressure.' She turned back to Soraya, speaking louder so she could hear what she was saying. 'Grace under pressure.'

'Poor Soraya.' Jessie whispered to Amy, low enough so that Soraya couldn't hear her. 'Is Lou always like this?'

'Sometimes, but not normally like this.'

'Come on Lou.' Soraya looked over at her as the horse did another lap of the round yard. 'When can we stop?'

'When you get it right. Sit up straight. Shoulders back.'

'I can't feel my arm anymore.'

'That flag cost a fortune. If you drop it, your arm had better be attached to it.'

Both Amy and Jessie looked at her but it was Amy who asked the question they'd both been thinking first. 'What is your problem?'

'It's dry clean only.' Lou explained, glancing at her then back to Soraya. 'And don't forget to smile.'

Jessie chuckled, seeing the look that Soraya shot her. If looks could kill Lou would be dead instantly. She turned to Amy, whispering in her ear. 'I think you need to save Soraya before your sister mysteriously disappears after the rodeo.'

Amy stifled a giggle. 'Yeah. Hey Soraya, you want to head out on a trail ride?'

'You bet.'

'Hey-'

'I think I'll leave you guys to it then.' Jessie glanced at them then headed towards the house. She could still hear Lou going off at Soraya as she entered the house yard, chuckling as she walked up the stairs onto the porch. If she was Soraya, she would have put Lou in her place long before. Miracle and Hope meowed, asking to get down as she walked inside and she took off their harnesses and let them go. 'Alright, go play.'

She smiled, walking into the kitchen as they raced off, heading to the sink to get herself a glass of water. Jack came into the kitchen as she filled up a glass, on the phone to someone. From the bits and pieces she could gather from her conversation he was trying to organize some horses for the rodeo. Hope and Miracle raced around the kitchen, Hope trying to climb up her leg as she took another sip from her cup. 'Hope!' She spluttered, almost dropping the cup into the sink as she felt the kittens claws in her leg. Quickly she placed the cup down and pulled the kitten off her, placing her back on the ground. 'Naughty girl.'

'I'm on the phone.'

'Sorry.' She cringed as Jack returned to his phone call, the two kittens scampering off into the living room. Quietly she returned to her drink, glancing up out the window as Caleb walked onto the porch.

'And this year let's get some Damn horses that'll buck.' Jack exclaimed, looking towards Jessie as he tried to get off the phone call. He needed to apologise to her, he'd been harsher then he'd intended to come across as. 'Talk to you later.' He hung up, turning to Jessie. 'Sorry honey.'

'No harm done.' She shrugged, placing her glass in the sink. 'My chores are done and the tack and feed are tidied up.'

'Thanks Jessie. Good job.' He picked up his list to mark off the business he'd taken care of, looking up as Caleb walked into the kitchen. 'Can I do something for you?'

'Yeah.' He replied, leaning against the wall. 'I got to scratch from the team-roping event.'

'Entries and turnouts.' He grumbled. 'That's supposed to be Tim's job. You know, the entry fee's non refundable.'

'My roping partner didn't figure a local two bit rodeo was worth the trip.'

'Is that right? You don't have a chance at winning all-around cowboy unless you have at least two events, so you better get another partner.'

'It's kind of short notice to find another header, or let alone anyone who can swing a rope.' He replied, not noticing Amy had walked in behind him.

'What about someone who's a quick learner?' Amy asked with a smile.

'No.'

'No?'

'Oh boy.' Jack rolled his eyes, ignoring their conversation as Caleb headed outside. 'That's not going to end well.'

'Yeah.' She agreed, watching Amy rope Caleb and made him trip. 'Ouch.'

'He had that coming.' He exclaimed with a chuckle then looked down at Jessie. 'Got anything planned for this afternoon?'

'No, not really. I've got a couple of things to get done for school but its not really urgent. Why?'

'I thought maybe we should go out for a ride, I've had enough of rodeo business for one day.'

'Sure. Why not.' She glanced up at the clock then at the fridge. 'I might just grab a bite to eat first.'