Hi all,

Yeah, I know I've been MIA for sometime. Sorry about that but I'm here now!

Chapter 62

A week passed, a week filled with fun and adventures with Cindy until the heat wave started three days ago, turning everyone into hot and exhausted vegetables. It was so hot, too hot. There was no air conditioning at Heartland, much to Cindy's annoyance but Jessie had managed through heat waves before when she'd been in the mountains though she still didn't enjoy it very much.

'Ugh, it's so hot.' Cindy complained, lying on an airbed she and Jessie had dragged out of her room onto the porch. 'It's too darn hot.'

Jessie chuckled, looking at her from where she laid on the other side of the mattress. 'I've been through worse before.'

'Worse heat waves then this?'

'Yep.'

'How?' Mallory asked from where she'd taken up residence on the porch chair. 'This is hell now.'

'Ah, lying on the cold, rock floor of caves. That was the life.'

She raised her eyebrows. 'I'm just dying to try that out.'

'Yeah, no, to be honest it wasn't a lot of fun. 'Jessie sighed then looked over at her pets. Cougar, Miracle and Hope were all sprawled out on the porch in various positions, her big girl panting from the heat. She got up, giving her girl a scratch on the head. 'Your really not coping really well, are you?' She gave her another pat then looked at the door. 'I'll go get you some water.'

'It's like a million degrees in here.' Amy exclaimed as she walked in, talking a seat across the table from Lou as the girl opened the front door. 'Did you open up all the windows?'

'Every single one.'

'Lou, can I have some cold water for Cougar? She's really not doing too good.'

'Sure, there's some in the fridge.'

'Thanks. Can I take some Ice too?' Lou nodded and she grabbed the cats bowl and emptied the warm water into the sink then started filling it up. 'I hate the heat.'

'It's too hot to sleep.' Amy agreed, turning the fan away from Lou and onto her. 'It's too hot to move. It's too hot to breathe.'

'Lemonade?' Lou offered, picking up a jug on the table to fill her own glass.

'Yeah, yeah, that's what I need.' She chuckled. 'A sugar rush at two in the morning.'

'Well, apparently it's not too hot to be sarcastic.'

'I'll take some of that too.' Jessie added, handing the cats bowl to Mallory through the window. Would you guys like me to bring out some drinks for you guys?'

'Yes please.'

'Definitely.'

'Make that three orders of lemonade then.' She chuckled, grabbing three glasses from the cupboard. 'Ugh, I wish I had gone with Scott on his vet run instead, it's cooler over there by two degrees.'

'Two degrees makes a lot of difference now.' Lou agreed, filling up the glasses. 'Did Scott go away?'

'Yeah, he got called away for something. He did ask if I wanted to join him but I declined since Cindy was here.'

'Glad your talking to him.'

She rolled her eyes, not having the energy to get into it with her. 'Thanks for the lemonade.' She picked the glasses up, carrying them outside and took a seat on the chair. 'Here you go guys.'

'Thanks Jessie.'

'Your an angel.' Cindy replied, taking a sip from the glass. 'Ah, that hits the spot.'

'Argh!' Ty yelled as he jumped out from behind a corner, grabbing Mallory who laid a swift punch to his arm. 'Ow, ow.'

'Oh you're such a boy!' She teased, thankful that she hadn't spilt her drink.

'That's a pretty nice right hook. Who knew you were such a scrapper?'

Jessie chuckled. 'Word of advice Ty, don't surprise a girl who's happy to throw a punch.'

'I've seen 'Million Dollar Baby' twice.'

'Ah what's that?'

'Boxing movie.'

'Oh, okay.'

'What are you all doing out here anyway? It's the middle of the night.'

'I refuse to go back into the house until Jack gets an air conditioner.' Mallory replied, finishing off the rest of her drink. 'And these two tagged along.'

'It was just half a degree cooler out here.' Cindy added, letting Cougar finish off her drink. 'And we wanted to keep Mallory company.'

Ty chuckled, about to reply when he heard something up the driveway. 'Do you hear that?'

'Sounds like a semi-' Jessie glanced up at the drive. 'Looks like a cattle crate or something-' They stood up, Amy and Lou coming out onto the porch as the truck pulled up in the yard. 'You guys expecting company?' Lou shook her head, grabbing a torch and walked up to the truck with the rest of them following, the driver stepping down out of the cab. 'Dad?' He asked in surprise, looking at the man standing in front of him. 'What the hell are you doing here?'

'I need your help Ty.'

Jessie frowned, listening to their conversation. This guy was Ty's father?

'I think you took a wrong turn. The highway's back the way you came.'

'I didn't know where else to go.' He continued, almost pleading with him.

'You can go to hell for all I care.'

'I got animals in the back. They're not doing very well in this heat.'

'What kind of animals?' Amy asked, looking back at the trailer.

'Horses.'

Oh no. 'No, you can't have horses in a cattle truck.' She exclaimed, starting to the back of the trailer with the rest of them following.

'My boss didn't give me any choice. Look, I didn't realise they were sick until I got to a gas station. And I knew you were working here, so I thought maybe-'

'Give me a hand.' Amy asked, Jessie quickly going to her aid to get the door up, climbing up into the trailer. 'Give me the flashlight.'

Ty handed it to her 'Here.'

Lou looked at Mallory, coughing from the smell of manure then back at the trailer. 'Mallory, go inside. Wake up Grandpa.'

'Amy 'Oh my god.'

Jessie peered into the trailer, her eyes adjusting to the dim light of the torch Amy was holding. In the light at the front of the trailer she could see there was a horse down, lying on the ground. Poor thing. That was why you didn't shift horses in a cattle crate. It reminded her of when she'd found the people stealing the mustangs up at Pike River, they'd used cattle crates to transport the horses they'd captured, Warrior was actually in one of these horrible monstrosities when he was a colt. When she'd figured out what the people had been doing she'd waited till they went out on the ranges to get more than she'd let out the horses that were captured in the truck. Warrior had been one of them, a scared, little foal who was desperately looking for his mother. She'd set them free then had a little fun with the truck, letting the air out of all the tyres and disconnected the battery and cut every wire she could find. Then here and Cherryblossom got the hell out of there to get help. She'd gotten a little scolding but both Robert and Lillian but it had been worth it and he'd been able to put an end to them stealing the horses.

'Lou, go grab some halters. We've got to get these horses off.'

Amy's talking interrupted her thoughts, bringing her back to reality and she glanced around at Cindy as she watched on in horror. The girl didn't need to see this. 'Cindy, go help Lou.'

'Cindy, turn the horses in the stable into the pens too please.' Amy caught onto Jessie wanting the girl gone, then looked at her. 'Maybe you should go help her.'

The girl shook her head. 'I'll help here. I know what I'm doing.'

'Give us a hand with this ramp.' Ty interrupted, begrudgingly working with his father to get the portable ramp out from under the trailer. Quickly both Amy and Jessie went to help, getting the ramp set up just in time as Lou came back with the halters. 'Thanks Lou.'

Jessie took the halters off Lou as she handed them to her, heading inside the trailer as Ty and his father double checked the ramp was properly installed. The stench of the trailer was making her stomach turn and the flies were unbearable, turning her stomach in knots. It took everything she had to not gag as she walked up to the closest horse, a chestnut mare. 'Easy girl. We're here to help you.' Gently she placed the halter on the horse, the horse's coat drenched with sweat. 'Come on, you'll feel better soon.' She gently led the horse forward to the ramp, handing the lead to Amy who helped the horse down the ramp. She went back to the next one, repeating the process another three times then went back to the horse lying down. The horse whinnied nervously as she knelt down beside it, trying to assess its injuries. The horse quivered in fear as she placed her hand on it, quietening down almost instantly as soon as it realised she wasn't going to hurt it. 'It's okay.' She glanced over the horse, assessing it to be a mare. 'You'll be okay.'

She could hear people moving around and talking outside but didn't focus on it as she pulled her phone from her pocket, turning her flashlight on it so she could get a better look at the mare. She looked to be okay from first glance but then she saw the pool of blood under the horses head. Oh no. She went closer to the horses head, having been at her shoulder and gently brushed the horse's forelock aside to get a better look at the injury. A blood stained white marking decorated the horse's face, the perfect shape of a flower. No, no, no! She begged as panic started to well inside her and she ran her hand down the mare's neck, flipping the mane over so she could look for a scar. The scar she was looking for was there. There was no denying it. 'Oh God no. Not you.'

Her eyes started to well with tears. 'I'm so sorry girl. I'm so sorry.' The horse knickered, trying to lift her head but she gently placed her hand on the mare's muzzle to stop her moving. 'It's okay, it's okay. Don't try to move. I'm here. I'm here.' The mare began to relax again, still huffing but no longer trying to get up. Tears began running down her cheeks as she gently stroked the mares neck and face, trying to get her to relax. 'You're okay, you're okay.' Oh God, Cherry Blossom. Not you. Not you. She began to cry, her shoulders heaving but no sound came out of her mouth as she lent down, hugging the mare. She didn't care about the manure or the dirt the mare was coated in, she just hugged her with everything she had. I'm so sorry girl. I'm so sorry. I'm sorry.

Tears poured down her cheeks, running into the mares mane. Why? How? What happened girl. 'I'm sorry. I'm sorry girl. I'm so sorry.' Lillian. I let her down. I promised to take care of you. More tears flowed down her cheeks as she held onto the mare. 'I'm sorry.'

The mare tried lifting her head, this time just able to reach the girl's arm with her muzzle. Gently she lipped at her, the girl lifting her head to look at her. The mare's eyes were calm, looking at her with that gentle gaze she remembered so well. The gaze she gave her when she fell off, the mare not moving until she'd get up and tell her she was alright. The gaze she gave her when she was looking after her after the fire. The gentle gaze that reminded her so much of Lillian. 'I'm so sorry girl, I let you down. I let you down. I didn't mean to. I thought I was doing the right thing.' The mare gently touched her with her lips again, blowing softly on the girls face as she lent down closer to her head. 'I'm sorry.

'Go back inside Mallory.'

Jessie heard Jack's voice, clinging onto the mare. The mare blew on her face again, those eyes kind and mellow as she looked up at her. 'I'm sorry girl.'

'But Jack!'

'Go back inside!' He repeated, seeing Cindy coming back over from the barn. 'And take Cindy with you.' Mallory walked over to Cindy and the two girls headed for the house and he turned back to Amy as he walked around to the back of the trailer. 'How many more are in there?'

'There's just one.' She replied, looking back into the trailer. Jessie was kneeling beside the mare and she wondered what she was doing then turned back to her grandfather. 'But she's lying down.' Jack nodded, walking towards the ramp and she looked at Lou. 'Lou, take those horses to the barn and make sure they get some water.'

'I called Scott. He's driving back from Red Deer but he probably won't be here till morning.'

Jessie heard footsteps behind her, quickly sitting up and wiping the tears from her eyes. They wouldn't see her cry. The mare snorted in fear in the blinding light from the torches, trying to move her head but she stroked her shoulder and calmed her down. 'It's okay. It's okay.'

Amy lent down beside the mare, gently touching her head then pulled her fingers away as she felt something warm and sticking on her fingers. Blood.

'She hit her head pretty bad.' He shook his head, seeing the blood on Amy's hand. 'These pot trucks are too low for horses. They lose their balance then they get trampled.'

'I'm sorry girl.'

'Amy-' Ty interrupted, placing his hand on her shoulder. 'We should concentrate on the other horses. Come on.'

'He's right. I know it's the last thing you want to hear. But we got to move on.'

'Come on Amy, Jessie. Come on.'

The mare struggled to lift her head again as the two men left, the girl running her hand down the mare's shoulder again. 'Sssh, ssssh.' She heard Amy leave too, running after Jack and lent down over the mare again, tears flowing freely down her cheeks now that she was alone again. She knew the mare was badly injured, her skull was broken, she was suffering immensely. She could see it, she could feel it. It wasn't right to let her suffer, still it didn't make it any easier.

'Grandpa! Grandpa, no!'

'Amy, there's nothing anyone can do for that horse and you know it.'

She could hear Amy yelling at Jack, heard him open the door to his truck where he kept a rifle behind the seat and held the mare tighter, burying her face in her mane. The mare tried to move again and she gently quietened her, her heart breaking. Cherry Blossom was all she had left of Lillian, she remembered the many hours they had spent together with the mare, Lillian teaching her natural remedies for horses, teaching her horsemanship, teaching her how to ride.

'Yeah, but Scott's gonna be here in the morning.'

'You are my sunshine, my only sunshine.' She gently sang, the mare's ears flicking back to listen to her. 'You make me happy, when skies are grey.' Her voice broke, cracking with emotion. She'd sung this song to her when she'd nursed her back to health after the fire, it had been the only thing that had kept the mare calm when she went to tend to her wounds. 'You'll never know dear-

'She's in a lot of pain now and she won't make it till morning.' Jack asked as he loaded a round into the chamber, walking back to the trailer. 'Do you really want her to suffer until then?'

'How much I love you-'

'Grandpa, please? Please.'

'Please don't take my sunshine away.' Her voice was barely above a whisper, trying hard to control her sobs as she heard Jack walking up the ramp. The mare quivered in fear and she gently ran her hand down her neck again. 'I know girl. I know.'

Jack frowned as he watched the girl with the horse. Her behaviour was more then just concern for an animal, he could see it was more then that. He placed his hand on the girls shoulder, kneeing down next to her. 'Jessie?'

'It's- it's C-Cherry Blossom. Jack.'

Oh God no. He pleaded, looking at the mare then at the girl clinging to her neck. No. She's been through too much already. He struggled to keep his voice steady. 'Are you sure?'

She nodded but still didn't look at him. 'It-its her.'

He looked at the mare again, then began rubbing the girls back as her shoulders heaved in silent sobs. 'She's hurt bad Jess-'

'I know.' She held the mare tighter, not wanting to let her go. 'I k-know.'

'You know if I thought there was any chance, any chance at all of helping her I'd take it.'

'I know.'

'It's not right to let her suffer Jessie, she's in pain.'

The girl nodded, unable to speak as more tears ran down onto the mares neck.

'Would you like a moment alone with her?'

Jessie nodded again and Jack stood up, taking a couple steps back to give her room. She wiped her eyes, not wanting the mare to see her upset and she went to her head, gently pulling it onto her lap. 'I'm sorry girl.' She stroked down the mare's face, a tear escaping from her eyes. 'I failed you, I failed Lillian. I'm so sorry.' The mare snorted softly, her eyes calm and mellow as she looked up at her. It was almost too much for her to bear, the mare looking up at her so trustingly. 'I know you're in pain, I know you're hurt.' Her voice broke and she paused for a moment. 'It'll be over soon girl, there won't be anymore pain. You'll see L-lillian soon. You'll be able to run over green meadows with her, play with her-' Cherry blinked, her ears forward listening to the girls every word. That was it, she couldn't hold it back anymore. Tears ran down her face, falling on the mare's muzzle. The girl sobbed, holding onto her tight then composed herself and wiped her muzzle clean with her tears. She lent down, kissing the mare's velvet nose. 'Goodbye my girl. I'll always love you.'

Gently she placed the mare's head down, the mare looking up at her with those gorgeous brown eyes. Cherry tried again to lift her head but she couldn't and she softly quietened her again. The mare's breathing was ragged, her sides heaving as she struggled. She stroked her face one last time, placing one last kiss on the mare's nose then stood up and faced Jack. Tears streamed down her face, her voice breaking. 'Do what you have to do.'

She didn't look back, walking down the ramp with her head down so the other didn't see her crying then she ran. She ran like she had never run before. Running, running- The loud sound of Jack's rifle echoed in the air then everything was still again. It was over. Cherry was gone.

She didn't even know where she was running too, she just ran blindly into the night, climbing fences, running around anything in her path. Suddenly her foot landed wrong, twisting her ankle and she fell to the ground. She didn't move, just sobbing on the ground. She'd turned Cherry loose to live her life amongst the wild horses, she had thought that was the right thing to do. What had happened? She'd always told Lillian she'd look after the mare, Cherry was Lillian's pride and joy. More sobs came and not from the throbbing pain in her ankle. That mare, that mare was the last connection she had with Lillian. She turned her loose but she had always checked on her from time to time. What had happened?

Vaguely she became aware of something blowing on her neck, nibbling at her sweat-drenched singlet and she looked up, two brown eyes looking at her, reflecting in the moonlight. Warrior. 'Oh boy.' She sobbed, reaching out a hand to him. 'Oh Warrior.'

The stallion nudged her and somehow she managed to get to her feet, wrapping her arms around his neck. 'She's gone Warri, I let her down. I should have taken her with us. She might have still been alive.' She tried to stand on her own but cried out in pain as she put her foot down again. 'Oh ouch.' She whimpered, realising she'd twisted her ankle. The stallion knickered gently, rubbing his muzzle against her then nudged her and looked at his back. The realisation came to her that he was trying to tell her to get on and she nodded, asking him to bow. She winced as she climbed onto his back, leaning down over his neck to hold him tight.

Warrior looked back at her, nibbling her shirt then slowly started walking off away from the lights off the ranch below. The girl's eyelids started to feel droopy as he walked on, letting the stallion go his own way and soon she was rocked to sleep by the gentle motion of the horse underneath her. The stallion glanced back at her, touching her cheek gently with his muzzle, walking on into the darkness of the night...