Chapter 56

'Hello sis.'

'Hey.' Jessie's face lit up into a smile upon hearing Cindy's voice on the phone. 'Whatcha doing?'

Cindy chuckled, looking around her room. 'I'm in the various stages of packing for my time over at your place. Let's say that picking stuff to wear is harder then it seems.'

'I know what you mean.' She laughed, lying on her bed next to her mountain lion with the kittens asleep on her stomach. 'But it does make it easier knowing what occasion your packing for.'

'That's it, I don't know what I should pack.'

'How about a couple good shirts for going out, maybe a dress and some riding clothes? That's enough of an idea to get you started.'

'Yes but do I pick my blue shirt or my purple shirt or my black-'

'Woah Cindy, it's only a sleepover. You aren't going on the catwalk.'

'I know.' She sighed deeply, placing the shirt she'd been holding back in her closet and flopped down onto her bed. 'I guess I'm trying to use the excuse of not knowing what to pack to keep my mind off Grandma.'

Jessie nodded sympathetically, her tone changing to match the severity of the conversation. 'How is she going?'

'She's okay, I think. She's not saying much, she doesn't want me to worry.'

'She'll be okay-' She tried to encourage her even though she knew her words could offer little comfort. 'She'll be just fine. You'll see.'

'I know but still-' Cindy's voice trailed off as she stared at the ceiling. 'I'm trying not to think of the worst but on the other hand I'm trying to prepare myself.' She sighed then groaned. 'If this is what adult life is like I'm going to stay a kid forever.'

'If only it were that simple.' She wished she could stay a kid forever but she'd been forced to grow up quickly by her circumstances. Silence descended upon both of them for a moment then she decided that it was time to change the conversation and hopefully divert Cindy's attention to something of a brighter topic. 'You know Cinds, I've got something for you.'

'You do?' The girl's voice brightened in surprise and excitement. 'What?'

'Well if I told you, it wouldn't be a surprise now, would it?'

'Oh please, pretty pretty please, what is it?'

Jessie laughed, rubbing Cougar's ears. She could hear the change in Cindy's tone and it brought joy to her heart. Even though Cindy was only a couple years younger then her she felt like it was her duty to mother her, something that she took great pride in. Cindy meant the world to her, she hated it when she was upset. 'No Cindy, I'm not saying.'

'Oh pwease?' She put on her cutest, most sweetest voice. 'Pwease Jessie? Pretty pretty please with a cherry on top?'

'My lips are sealed.'

'Hmph.' Cindy flopped back against her pillow. 'Your no fun.'

'Hey.' She laughed again. 'That's not fair.'

'Then tell me what it is.'

'No Cindy, it's a surprise.'

'How about a hint?'

'No.'

'Just a small, teeny tiny hint?'

'Ugh, fine.' Jessie sighed, finally giving in. She paused for a moment, trying to think of a hint that wouldn't give away what her surprise was. 'Cedar.'

'Wait, what?'

'Cedar.' She repeated. 'That's it.'

'That's not much to go on.'

'It's a small, teeny tiny hint.' She repeated, teasing her. 'You only have to wait a couple days anyway.'

'I guess I'll survive but I won't like it very much.'

'Don't worry, it'll be worth it.'

'I hope so, I'm dying to know what it is.'

Jessie chuckled, glancing over at her alarm clock. 'I'm going to have to go Cinds, I just came in to have a bit of a rest before I did the rest of my chores. I'll see you Friday, okay?'

'You bet sis. Bright and early.'

'Only as bright and early as Lisa can manage. You know she hates early mornings.'

'I know.' She laughed. 'I'll talk to you later.'

'You will. Bye Cinds.'

'Bye Sis.'

Jessie smiled again, ending the call. She really couldn't wait till Friday, they were going to be together for a week. Gently she picked her kittens up and placed them down beside Cougar and got up, giving her mountain lion a pat before she headed for the door. She'd enjoyed her quiet moment that she'd had on the phone to Cindy but it was time to get back to work.

'Soraya, stop fidgeting.' Lou complained, trying to put on Soraya's eye shadow. 'or you're gonna have glitter all over your face.'

'I can't Lou. These pants are too tight.' She complained, oblivious to the chuckle Jessie was having as she stood watching them at the bottom of the stairs. 'They're giving me a wedgie.'

'They're supposed to be tight. It's-its the look.' She finished fixing up her makeup and grabbed the hat off the table, placing it on her head. 'Now. Okay. Stand up.'

Jessie couldn't help a slight chuckle as Lou positioned Soraya in front of the mirror. 'Looking good Soraya.'

Soraya rolled her eyes, glancing over at the girl for a moment then back to her reflection. 'Thanks but I don't know. Lou. Turquoise? It's just not me.'

'It is so you.' Lou reinstated, looking over her shoulder. 'It's the rodeo-queen you. And western style is your ticket to the top.

'I guess.'

'I guess? Nobody wins with 'I guess' they win with 'I can' They win with 'I will.'

'Mm-hm.' She still wasn't convinced.

'Okay. Let's work on your walk.'

'I know how to walk.' Soraya replied, stepping away from the mirror and across the living room.

'No. It's not like that.' Lou corrected, showing her the 'proper' way to walk. It's more of a glide. Like this.'

'Oh boy.' Jessie couldn't help but exclaim watching Lou demonstrate. No one walked like that, it just wasn't the way you walked. Seriously? Lou wasn't over the top anymore, she was way off the other side. 'Lou, seriously?'

'It's how proper ladies walk.'

'Look, Lou.' Soraya butted in with annoyance. 'You went insane about the damn flag, you went and brought this outfit without me. You wouldn't let me do my hair and make-up. Now you're telling me how to walk?'

'All I'm saying is you've got to work at it.'

'And all I'm saying is-' She took the hat off and slammed it down on the table as she headed for the door. 'I quit.'

Lou stared in amazement as Soraya stormed out then turned to Jessie. 'Thank you Jessie.'

'Why?' Her giggling was abruptly cut off. 'What did I do? Lou, you pushed her too far. You really need to tone down.'

'Tone down? Jessie-'

'Lou, please. I'm not getting into it. There's a reason why Soraya just took off. You're taking this thing way too far.' She headed for the door, glancing back at her as she stopped in the entrance to the mud room. 'I can't wait for it to be over.'

'I see Amy's working on her roping again.' Jessie nodded at Amy as she stood grooming Warrior in the aisle of the barn later that morning. 'I think she's doing it wrong.'

Jack glanced over where Jessie was looking, watching his granddaughter for a moment. 'She's trying so hard, she really wants to go in the rodeo with Caleb.'

'Maybe you should go give her a couple pointers? I would but I think it'd be better coming from you.' She smiled at him. 'You are a rodeo legend after all.'

'Yeah yeah.' He rolled his eyes. 'Legend makes me sound old.'

'Your not old Jack.' She laughed, nudging him with her shoulder. 'Come on, give yourself some credit for your rodeo achievements.'

Jack rolled his eyes again but made no further comment, running his hand down Warrior's neck. 'You going to turn this guy out?'

'Yep.' She ran the brush over his back one last time then untied his leadrope and patted his neck. 'We had a good practice, I'm going to go let him have some fun with Spartan and Paint now.'

'You feeling ready for the rodeo?'

'Ready as I'll ever be.' Jessie admitted, leading Warrior towards the pasture. 'I'm really nervous.'

'You'll do just fine.' He chuckled, opening the gate for her. 'You just have to believe in yourself.'

'I know.' She ran her hand down Warrior's neck then untied his halter and turned him loose. She sighed deeply, watching the stallion go join his herd mates. She knew Jack was right but she was having trouble believing that she could do well. 'You all say that I'll be okay but yeah. I don't know.'

'You will.' He placed his hand on her shoulder. 'You will do well.'

'Thanks Jack.'

He glanced over at Amy, closing the gate behind them as they left the pasture. 'Let's go give her a hand.'

Jessie hummed softly as she walked into the house, a smile on her lips as she walked into the kitchen. She'd had a nice quiet trail ride with Jack, a moment to catch her breath and forget about the rodeo. She'd needed a relaxing ride, it felt so good to just ride and have some fun having alone time with Jack. She glanced at the clock, thinking about grabbing herself a snack when she heard Amy and Lou talking in the living room.

'What am I supposed to do with the flag? The ads? The sparkly outfit?'

'Don't go there.' Amy replied sternly. 'I am not doing this.'

'Please. Look, I have spent my entire advertising budget on this. And it is so last minute, I don't have time to find anyone else.'

Jessie stood back for a moment, thinking. She was already entered in the rodeo for barrel racing, what harm would it do entering in Soraya's place? Before her mind could even register what she was thinking she found herself stepping forward. 'I'll do it.'

Lou stared at her in dumb amazement as the girl stepped into the living room. 'Excuse me?'

'I said I'll do it.' She was surprised herself at her resolution, looking Lou in the eye. Something had ticked inside her, something that said she could do this. 'You need someone to take Soraya's place and I'm happy to give it a shot.'

'But you couldn't-'

'Why couldn't she?' Amy asked, looking between Lou and Jessie. 'She's old enough to enter and you've seen the way she rides. She'd be perfect.'

'But she's-'

'I'm what?' She tossed her hair back. 'Go on, say it.'

'Your just not-' Lou stumbled for a moment, trying to think of how to put it. 'Rodeo Queen type. I mean, your figure-'

'Looks aren't everything. I know I'm not 'curvy' is what you're meaning, but twelve is the minimum age to enter, isn't it?'

'Yes-'

Jessie battered her eyelids, her hands on her hips. 'Then what else?'

'You wouldn't be able to do it.'

'Really?'

'I mean, you are terrible with crowds, being the center of attention-' Lou replied, thinking of all the reasons why she couldn't represent Heartland as a rodeo queen contestant. 'You just couldn't handle it.'

'I couldn't, could I?'

'Oh boy.' Amy raised her eyebrow, seeing that look in Jessie's eyes. 'Lou, I think Jessie would be great.'

'No, she wouldn't. You can't do it.'

Jessie stared into her eyes for a moment then flicked her hair back again in defiance as she pretended to fold. 'Alright then, fine.'

'Maybe another year Jessie.'

'Whatever.' She shot back over her shoulder as she turned and headed out of the house. Her cheeks burned red as she strode towards the pond so she could be alone, her stride long and her arms swinging. Not rodeo queen type hey? I'll show you.

'Jessie-'

'Not now Ty.' She replied as she continued on past him. 'Sorry.'

Ty raised his eyebrows, the girl heading towards the pond and he shrugged his shoulders as he headed back to the barn to finish his work. Something had certainly got her into a mood.

I'll prove you wrong Lou Flemming, if it's the last thing I'll do. Jessie resolved as she neared the pond, her jaw set with a new resolution. She hadn't planned on entering but now with Lou saying that she couldn't do it had just given her the nudge to enter. She could prove her wrong, she was going to prove her wrong.

Taking her phone from her pocket she took a seat on the overturned boat, dialing Lisa's number. How dare Lou say she couldn't do it. She knew she could, if she was given the chance. She was smoldering as she listened to the phone ring, waiting for Lisa to answer. Finally Lisa picked up, her cheery greeting doing little to extinguish the fire burning inside her. 'Lisa, you remember your offer of helping me enter the rodeo queen contest?'

Lisa raised her eyebrows, walking down the corridor of the stables as she spoke to Jessie on the phone. 'Yes, I do.'

'Good, because I'm entering.'

'Jessie, are you still awake?'

Jessie looked up from the book she was reading as Jack stuck his head around the door and smiled. 'It would appear so. Sorry, I know I should be asleep but this story is really interesting.'

'It's okay.' He walked over, sitting down on the bed beside the girl. The girl closed her book up, placing it on the bedside table beside her. He looked down at the small wooden box he was holding then back at the girl. 'I have something for you.'

'You do?' She questioned, sitting up higher in her bed. In the light from the lamp she could see he was holding a small box. 'What is it?'

'Open it.'

She took the box gently, undoing the ribbon he'd tied around it and opened the lid. She gasped, placing the box down on the bed beside her as she pulled out the belt. 'Oh Jack. It's too much. I can't have this.'

'I want you to have it Jessie.' He said firmly, refusing to take back the gift as the girl tried to give it to him. 'You deserve something nice.'

'Oh Jack.' Her eyes were watering as she turned the belt over in her hands, her breath taken away by the beauty of it. Galloping horse conchos were surrounded by a pattern of beautiful crystals, even the belt buckle and keeper were decorated in the gorgeous crystal. 'It's beautiful.'

'Hey, don't you get all teary on me.' Jack touched her cheek gently, lifting her chin so she'd look at him. 'Do you like it?'

'I love it Jack.' She replied, sniffling as she looked down at the belt. 'Why did you give it to me though? Why not Amy or Lou?'

'Because I chose you to give it to.' He smiled, wiping a tear from her eye. 'This belt belonged to another girl I loved very dearly, a girl who was just as beautiful, kind, sweet and gentle as you are.' He handed the girl a tissue from the box on her bedside table, waiting till she'd gained her composure before he started the story. Jessie blew her nose softly, wiping her eyes then placed the belt back into the box and snuggled up close to him, resting her head on his shoulder. 'This was Lyndy's belt.'

'Your wife?'

He nodded. 'I brought it for her birthday the first year we were married. It'd been a hard year, we had a lot of things happen and we didn't have much money. Lyndy saw a belt like this in a stall at a rodeo and fell in love with it but we couldn't buy it at the time. She understood we couldn't afford it but I wanted her to have it, I would have given her the moon if I could. I did so many odd jobs, worked extra long hours just to raise the money to buy it for her. I surprised her with it on her birthday, she had no idea what I'd been doing just to get her this belt but she loved it. Whenever she went out, this was the belt she always wore. When she was on tour she said it helped remind her that I was there with her.' He ran a hand down the girls soft hair, Jessie closing her eyes for a moment in contentment. 'I know Lyndy would have wanted you to have this, you are just as special to me as she was. You're beautiful, kind, talented, bighearted. Don't let anyone tell you otherwise. I believe in you, I love you for who you are. I know you are going to do great in the rodeo. I'm proud of you, of the journey I'm watching you take.'

'Thanks Jack.' Her eyes were starting to get watery again hearing what he said about her. She pressed closer to him, feeling safe and protected in his strong embrace. 'That means a lot to me.'

'I know honey.' Jack smiled, kissing her head then gently pulled away from her. He picked the box up, placing it on the girls bedside table as Jessie snuggled back down underneath the covers. 'Now you get some sleep sweetheart, you're going to have a big couple of days ahead of you.'

'I will.' She smiled up at him. 'Thank you so much Jack, for everything.'

'Your welcome honey.' He tucked the covers up under her chin, giving her a kiss on the forehead. 'Good night sweetheart. I love you.'

'I love you too.' Jessie whispered back, smiling as he turned the lamp off and left the room. She looked over at the box on the table, a thin cascade of moonlight landing on the rich red mahogany. Slowly, she drifted off to sleep, happy and content as Jack's words played over in her mind. I believe in you, I love you for who you are.