Triple update! I know! I've spoiled you guys lol.

Anyway, the training that Jessie does is based off the horsemanship that Klaus Hempfling teaches. He's on YT, if you're into horse training I highly recommend watching his videos.

Anyway, enjoy

Chapter 68

Jack sighed as he walked back into the house later that afternoon, hanging his hat up on the rack as he walked through the mud room. Amy, Ty, Caleb and Lou were sitting around the kitchen table, the air so tense you were almost able to cut it with a knife. He frowned as he walked in. 'Who died?'

Amy sighed. 'We had a water fight while you were gone-'

'And?'

'They know about Jessie's scars Jack.' Ty explained. 'Jessie ran off, we haven't seen her since and Cindy's taken off upstairs and won't come down.'

Jack ran his hand over his head, thinking. 'Alright, I'll go talk to Cindy then I'll go look for Jessie.' He turned back to them. 'I think it's best for Jessie's sake if you don't tell anyone about this, Lisa knows about Jessie of course but it doesn't need to be spread around the countryside.'

'Of course Grandpa.' Lou nodded.

'Was it her father?' Amy asked after a moment.

Jack nodded then glanced towards the stairs. 'I think it's best if you guys forget this happened. There's horses out there that need to be taken care of.'

'Right Grandpa, come on Ty.'

He started up the stairs as Ty and Amy headed back outside with Caleb, stopping at the closed door. Gently he knocked, hearing the girl sniffling inside. 'Cindy? Are you alright?' He waited for a moment but there was no reply. 'Can I come in?'

'Yeah.'

He opened the door, the girl sitting on the bed with Cougar in her arms. Taking a seat beside her he placed his hand on her shoulder. 'I heard what happened Cindy. It's quite a shock, isn't it?'

Cindy nodded then looked at him, wiping her tears off her cheeks. 'Why didn't Jessie tell me?'

'Jessie's ashamed of herself-' He replied after a moment. 'She doesn't like people knowing about her scars because of the way they react. This was my reaction too you know, the first time I saw them.'

'But what happened to her Jack? How did she get them?'

Jack sighed, trying to think of the easiest way to explain to her a hard and sober answer. 'She hasn't had the easiest life Cindy, you already know that. Someone who was supposed to love and look after her didn't.'

'Her parents.' She guessed after a moment. 'That's why she won't speak of them.'

He nodded. 'Yes.'

'But why wouldn't she tell me Jack?'

'Probably because she wanted to protect you. Jessie's had a hard life, a really hard life.'

'I can handle it Jack.'

'You shouldn't have to-' He replied, brushing the girls cheek. 'Jessie knows you could but you know what she's like, she's always protecting others. She didn't want you to be hurt.'

'I guess so.' Cindy looked back down at Cougar, rubbing the cats fur. 'I'm worried about her Jack. What do I do? What do I say?'

'Just be yourself-' He smiled. 'Jessie is a strong girl, she'll be alright.'

The girl nodded after a moment. 'She hasn't come back yet though.'

'She probably needs time to herself, I'll go check on her, okay? I don't want you worrying or being upset about it though, I know it's a hard thing to see but you can't worry about it.'

'Alright. I'll try not to.'

'That's the spirit. Now, Amy needs help with those other horses. Why don't you go get yourself cleaned up and give her a hand.'

'Okay, I will. Have you heard anything about Grandma?'

'Not yet, Lisa will ring as soon as she hears anything. You okay now?'

Cindy nodded. 'I'll be alright. You go find Jessie.'

'Okay.' He smiled, squeezing the girls shoulder gently then got up and headed back downstairs and outside. His smile faded, looking around as he wondered where the girl was. His guess was probably out somewhere with Warrior and as he glanced at the paddock he saw he was missing. Paint trotted over to him as he opened the gate and walked in, grabbing a halter and leadrope left on the other side. 'Sorry mate but we've got to go look for Jessie.'

Leading the horse into the barn he glanced at Crystal as he walked past. The mare was standing with her head in the corner, her feed and water untouched again. He sighed, tying Paint up outside the opposite stall. If only Brad hadn't brought the horses to Heartland none of this would be happening right now. The damage the mare had done to the stall with her kicking would have to be fixed, they'd have to replace some of the boards and such that she'd cracked or broken. He wished he had said no to the mare but on the other hand he knew the girl needed to do this. He only hoped the mare didn't hurt Jessie in the process out of fear.

Taking Paint up he led him outside again, mounting the gelding then started him towards the trail to the Overlook. It was the one place he guessed the girl would be, Jessie went there everyday so it would only be natural for her to head there when she was upset. Urging Paint into a canter they went up the trail, slowing the gelding as they came out of the trees and started up the rise. He was right, the girl was sitting on the ground beside her horse, looking out over the Valley. He slowed Paint to a stop behind her, ground tying the gelding as he dismounted. Slowly he walked up to her, the stallion looking back at him as he approached. Taking a seat on the ground beside the girl he looked out over the valley with her, in silence for a few minutes. Only the sound of the grass being rustled by the wind, the birds singing and Paint grazing could be heard. He could understand why the girl came here, it was one of his favorite places to come to. Finally he broke the silence. 'You okay Jessie?'

'Yeah, I'm okay.' She replied, her tone sober. 'I'll be alright.'

'You want to talk about it?' The girl shook her head and he nodded, turning back to the view. 'Alright, we don't have to talk about it. Cindy's a bit upset though.'

Jessie sighed, replying after a moment. 'I knew she would be, that's why I've never told her of my past. I thought I was protecting her-' She shrugged. 'Cindy's too young to understand.'

'She might understand more than you think.'

'I know. You know how much I hate my scars jack, how much I hate my past. How do you think I could say to Cindy 'hey, by the way my father abused me and I'll have the evidence of that for the rest of my life' it's kinda a conversation killer, isn't it?'

'It might have been better than her finding out the way she did.' He exclaimed gently. 'Jessie, I know you've been through a lot and I can't tell you what to do but there's a time when you have to let go and accept who you are. You can't hold the hurt and hate forever, slowly but surely it's going to eat away at you until you're no longer the person you used to be.'

Jessie raised her eyebrows with a hollow chuckle. 'Don't I know it. Why do you think I go out of my way to help others. It's so I can forget how broken and dead inside I am.' She shook her head. 'Isn't this just grand Jack, how things turn out. Just when you think you're getting somewhere another wave comes and ruins the sandcastle you've been building. I'm tired of this Jack, tired of this emotional rollercoaster I'm on.'

'Have you spoken to your counselor about this?'

'Yeah, like you've already said though, it's going to take time.' She smiled as Cruze in the paddock beneath them playfully nipped Spartan and the two of them took off across the pasture. 'How'd it go at Stumpies?'

'Well it was probably a wolf that attacked his herd, probably whatever it was that was following you around.' He looked down at her. 'You don't know anything about this, do you?'

She squirmed. She couldn't tell him about Adashi. What would happen to her if she did? 'N-no. I don't. What's he going to do about it?'

'Watch the herd closely, put out traps. I'm going out tomorrow to bring the cattle in closer too so we can keep an eye on them, would you like to come along?'

'Yeah, sure. Cindy might like to as well.'

'Sounds like a good idea.'

'You heard anything from Lisa yet?'

'Not yet.'

'Hopefully she hears something soon.' She patted Warrior, the stallion nudging her as he laid beside her. 'I'm going to watch the sunset, if that's okay. I just need some time to myself Jack.'

'I understand. Would you like me to put your dinner aside?'

'No thanks, I'm not hungry. I think I'll go spend some time with Crystal when I get back.'

'Alright.' He patted her shoulder as he got up. 'If you change your mind I'll have something set aside.'

Jessie chuckled in amusement as Jack mounted and rode away. He really couldn't take no for an answer, could he. She sighed, watching the sun cast its golden rays on the ranch as it began to set. In a way it was kind of a relief that people knew about her scars, as weird as that sounded. It was almost like a weight was lifted, that she didn't need to be worried every moment that someone would find out about her secret. She sighed again, Warrior nuzzling her close. Jack was right. She had to let go, not just of Cherry but let go of everything. Her anger, her hurt, her hate. He was right. It was only breaking her apart. It wasn't doing anything other than making her miserable.

'What do you think boy, time to let it all go?' She asked, fiddling with the stallions mane. Maybe in letting go she could genuinely start to heal, start to find peace. She closed her eyes, taking a deep breath as she finally started to let go after so long….

'Lisa, how are you?' Jack asked, sitting on the back porch later that night. 'How's it going?'

'Ugh, next question.' She sighed as she opened the door to her motel room, then closed it and flopped down onto the bed. 'Another day of getting nowhere fast. Anyway, you don't want to listen to my problems, they'll send you to sleep. I heard from the hospital, is Cindy there?'

'She's in bed. It's almost ten Lisa.'

'Oh yeah-' She glanced at her watch and sighed. 'Sorry, I completely lost track of time.'

'Sounds like you've had one hell of a day.'

'Like you wouldn't believe. I can't wait to get home. Anyway, the hospital ran about an hour ago. Eleanor's condition has stabilised but they're running more tests and such.'

'How long will she be in there for?'

'They don't know. She appears to be partially paralysed down one side so they have to do more tests and such, they still aren't sure if she's going to make a full recovery and be able to take care of Cindy like she has.'

Jack sighed. That was the last thing Cindy needed. 'What are they going to do?'

'Well they're not saying anything is set in stone yet, they're going to run these tests and such and see how Eleanor goes but they do want to know what will happen to Cindy. They have to know these kinds of things and such.'

'I know. Well for the moment she's more than welcome to stay here.'

'We'll have to talk when we get back about us maybe taking her on full time too-' She sighed. 'I was happy to agree to that, I just wasn't expecting it to be so soon.'

Neither was I but these things happen.'

'How's it been around there?' Lisa asked after a moment. 'How's Jessie and Cindy?'

'They've been alright, as well as they can be expected to be considering the circumstances.'

'I wish I was there Jack, I'm so sorry to be away and leave you to look after them-'

'Lisa, it's alright.' Jack interrupted. 'I don't mind at all and they aren't a problem whatsoever. You know how much I love those two.'

'I know, I just feel bad-'

'Well don't. I understand you have to work and I respect that. When do you think you'll be back?'

'Hopefully in a couple days or so, depending on this deal. I'm trying to get a new broodmare and well the deal fell through so yeah-' She sighed. 'It's all been fun and games.'

Jack chuckled. 'You sound tuckered Lis.'

'I am.' She stifled a yawn. 'I'm going to have to go, I'm exhausted.'

'Alright Lis, I understand. Sleep well.' He smiled and added after a moment. 'I love you.'

That put a smile on her tired face. One thing she was certain of was that she would never tire of hearing him say that. 'I love you too. I can't want to see you and the girls when I get back.'

'How does a picnic sound? Just the two of us?'

'Sounds like a dream. I can't wait. Speaking of dreaming-'

'I know, you need to go.' He laughed. 'Night Lis.'

'Good night Jack.'

Jack still had a smile on his face as he hung the call up, chuckling. If anyone had told him ten years ago he'd fall in love again he'd have called them crazy and yet here he was, head over heels for Lisa Stillman. He shook his head in amusement. Add to that a particular young lady called Jessie and potentially Cindy too and the possibilities of the future were endless. He'd never dreamed of raising another child yet here he was faced with the potential of raising two and he never felt better.

Jessie sat inside the mare's stall, the moonlight filtering in through the window illuminating the stall with a soft glow. Something had changed inside her that afternoon, a peace coming over her unlike she'd ever experienced before. A genuine and pure peace. Finally, after all these years she'd laid to rest the anger, hurt and resentment she'd carried with her for so long. That didn't erase the memories of course, oh no, they were still there and still with her but they didn't fill her with a rage she'd had to learn to contain like they used to. Instead, even with the memories she felt like she had let go, started on the journey to heal and properly this time.

She'd thought a lot about things over the last few days, her counselor had been working with her closely over the months but ultimately her healing came with her taking that first step. Learning to let go and accept her past, what she could not change. Only in doing that could she move forward. It was time to move forward. She didn't need the anger, the hate she'd nursed for so long anymore. She had a family that loved her, a life she could only have dreamed about. There was no place for bitterness and resentment in her heart anymore. It was time for her to have a new beginning and she'd taken that step.

'Hey Crystal.' She said softly, the mare finally coming over to her after she'd been sitting there for hours. She wanted the mare to come to her of her own accord, she wanted to show her she wasn't a threat, that she wasn't going to hurt her. Sitting outside the stall might be safer but in here it was just her and the horse. She knew Crystal could hurt her if she had the mind to but she was willing to take that risk in order to help the mare heal. She smiled, the mare sniffing her softly and slowly she extended her hand out to her for her to smell. 'See? I'm not going to hurt you. It's just me.'

It was like a spell was cast over them, the girl and the horse together in the moonlight stall. A girl and a horse so broken and crushed by their pasts that by society's standards they were considered a lost cause. A girl and a horse who'd found their place, who'd found people who overlooked their past and their faults and loved them all the same. A girl and a horse brought together by a tragic accident that would ultimately bring healing to them both.

Suddenly the girl heard something, the mare snorting with a fearful start but didn't freak. 'Easy girl.' She softly whispered, listening closely as the mare quivered but kept her gaze on the girl. The object of her new found security. She heard it again, footsteps in the office and frowned. A flickering light was moving around the office, a tell-tale sound of a draw opening and closing sending shivers up her spine. She looked at her watch, it was just after one in the morning. She knew it wasn't Ty in there, he'd have come to see her if it was. It wasn't anyone else of the family either, she knew the sound of their footsteps. No, it was someone else and her gut told her whoever it was was up to no good.

Slowly she stood up, the mare flicking her ears as she cautiously opened the stall door. 'Stay here girl.' Crystal snorted, stepping after her and the girl shut the door behind her. The mare knickered softly, pleading her to stay. 'I'll be right back. Promise.'

Crystal called softly again as the girl heard the footsteps coming back out of the office, a shiver running up her spine as the man began to walk out. She knew who he was and she knew what was in the envelope he was holding. 'Brad.'

The man stopped, hearing the girl call his name. The game was up. He'd been caught. He turned around, the girl stepping closer to him.

'What are you doing?' She asked softly, her eyes reflecting in the moonlight. She was scared but she was courageous. 'What you are doing is wrong.'

'You don't understand-'

'Oh I've heard that one before, believe me.' She chuckled hollowly. 'I've been around people like you before, I've lived with people just like you. I was happy to give you a chance at least, it mightn't mean much to you but I was happy to give you a chance for what you did for the horses. I heard about what you did to Ty-' She saw something flash in his eyes but continued. 'Brad, you mightn't have seen it but here at Heartland, we care about people. I care about Ty, he's been a good friend to me and I've tried to convince him to give you another chance because I believe people can have second chances but-' Her tone changed, lowering and becoming more authoritative. 'You do this and you ruin any chance you have with Ty.'

'You don't know nothing-' Brad went to leave but the girl caught his arm, holding onto him strongly and holding him back despite her small size.

'I know this-' Her eyes narrowed as he turned back to her, her hand still on his arm. 'You have a chance to make things right with Ty. A child really needs a parent in their life and he's willing to at least give you one last chance but if you walk out that door don't expect him to be standing here waiting to take you back with open arms.' She paused then motioned to the envelope. 'Give me the money.'

He looked at the girl, weighing up his option. Her eyes felt like they were boring holes in him, like she could see into his very soul. He knew she was right but there was no way out. He had to take the cash and no matter what the girl might say could she stop him. Suddenly he moved, a slight kerfuffle evolving between him and the girl. She fought against him, man the girl was strong but desperation got the upper hand. Pushing against her he then flung her around into the corner of the horse's stall, knocking the girl to the ground. The girl didn't move, lying on the cold concrete outside the horse's stall. 'Sorry girly.' He looked at the horse in the stall, the mare pawing the ground and he opened the stall door to make it look like the horse had hurt the kid. He headed to the door, glancing back at the girl one last time. The girl didn't move.

The sound of a truck engine starting woke Ty up, frowning as he laid on his bed, then he quickly got up and went to the window. The truck was pulling out of the yard, his father was leaving. Running, like he usually did. He sighed then closed the window and sat down again on his bed, flopping onto his pillow.

The sound of a horse stirring in the barn reached his ears, the frantic scraping of hooves on concrete as it whinnied. It sounded like the horse was loose. Quickly he got up, putting on his boots and hurried downstairs.

A horse was loose, pawing the ground in the moonlight as he walked into the barn. It was too dark to see what was on the ground level but somehow the horse had gotten loose. It neighed again, nuding something he couldn't see and he slowly made his way over to the switch and turned the light on. Jessie.

He hurried over to the girl, pushing the horse away from her and back into the stall, closing the door behind the mare. The mare squealed as he shut her in, kicking the door and trying to bite him as she tried to get loose. 'Blasted horse.' The mare reared, calling out then pounded on the door again. He left the horse, the mare wasn't important and knelt down beside the girl. She was lying half on her side, half on her stomach as the horse screamed and kicked against the walls of the stall. He tried to put the mares antics out of his mind, touching the girl. 'Jessie? Jessie? Wake up Jessie. Come on.' The girl didn't move, a trickle of blood dripping onto the floor from a gash on the side of her head. 'Jessie?'

He tried to wake her again then gave up, running over to the house. Jumping up the stairs he opened the door, running towards Jack's room. 'Jack? Jack?'

Jack woke up, quickly getting out of bed and going to the door. 'What's wrong Ty?'

'It's Jessie-' He replied breathlessly, the others now woken up as lights turned on inside. 'She's knocked out cold.'

He didn't reply, going to the door and put his boots on as Amy, Lou and Cindy followed. He hurried out to the barn after Ty, the girl still lying on the concrete as the mare spun around in the box, calling frantically. He knelt down beside the girl, the others holding back as Amy questioned Ty as to what was going on. 'Jessie? Jessie? Can you hear me?' He asked, placing his hand on the girl's shoulder. 'Jessie?'

'What's going on? Why won't she wake up?' Cindy asked, trying to get to the girl but Lou stopped her. 'Let me go-'

'Jessie, come on Jessie. Wake up.' He urged, relief flooding over him as the girl's eyelids fluttered. 'Come on, that's it. Good girl. Come on.' Jessie finally opened her eyes, blinking as she moaned softly. 'Good girl, don't move.' He cautioned as Ty came over, kneeling down beside them. 'Do you hurt anywhere?'

'No.' She mumbled weakily after a moment, her head throbbing as she laid on the cold concrete. 'Jack-'

'I'm here.' He motioned to Ty to give him a hand and gently they picked the girl up, the girl resting against his shoulder. 'What happened?'

The girl blinked, her head pounding as her vision started to clear. She tried to think, tried to remember what had happened but she couldn't. What was she doing here? Why was she on the floor? How did she get out to the barn? 'I-I don't remember. I don't know-'

'It's okay, it doesn't matter.' The wound on the side of the girl's head was still bleeding, blood trickling down the girl's cheek. 'What happened Ty?'

'I don't know, I heard my dad leave then a ruckus downstairs and found her lying on the floor, that chestnut mare over the top of her. I managed to get her back in the stall then I came to get you.'

Jack looked at the mare angrily, the mare thrashing in the stall like a wild animal. He hadn't wanted her left here in the first place when she'd started to go wild and he'd let the girl try and help her against his better judgement. Now the girl was hurt and it was his fault. 'Right. That's it. I won't have that animal on the place a moment longer-'

'Jack, no-' Jessie protested weakly, looking at the mare. Somehow she knew it wasn't her fault. She couldn't let Jack shoot her. 'It's not her fault, it wasn't her. I know it wasn't her.'

'Then what happened?'

'I don't remember but Jack, it wasn't her fault.' She reaffirmed then struggled to her feet, almost collapsing into the wall of the stall as Jack grabbed hold of her to stop her falling. 'Crystal-'

'Come on-'

'No Jack.' Jessie grabbed hold of the stall door, not letting it go. 'It's not her fault. Trust me.'

'Jessie, you're hurt, your not thinking straight-'

'Jack!' She almost surprised herself as she yelled at him. 'Give me five minutes.' Her legs were shaking but she held onto the door to keep herself upright. The mare was thrashing around in the box, the girl fumbling for the lock to get the door open. Jack pushed the door shut, not letting her go into the stall. The girl gave in easily, she knew she was too weak to argue. She'd just have to prove it wasn't the mare another way. Leaning against the door, Jack's arm around her waist she held her hand out to the mare. 'Crystal, Crystal, it's okay.'

The mare snorted, tossing her head as she looked at the girl. She trusted the girl but not everyone else. She quivered, pawing the ground then reared, calling out again.

'Crystal!' Jessie called again, trying to connect with the mare. The mare came back down, her ears towards the girl as the faintest little bit of connection came back between them. 'Crystal, it's me. You don't need to be scared.' Her voice was lower, softer but wavering as her head pounded. Everything was still hazy, her legs felt like they were made of spaghetti and she knew if it wasn't for Jack holding her she'd be back on the ground in an instant. 'Come here girl, don't be scared.'

Crystal tossed her head, her eyes rolling as she snorted then slowly took a step towards the mare.

'That's it, good girl.' She willed herself to stand a little longer, concentrating all her energy into the mare as she tried to speak through her body language to her. 'Come.' Crystal snorted, stepping closer to her and she smiled. 'Good girl. Come. I won't hurt you.'

Jack watched in awe as the girl drew the horse to herself, the mare solely interested in the girl now as she quietly yet cautiously walked towards the girl. He could see Amy, Ty, Cindy and Mallory watching the girl and the horse out of the corner of his eye, spellbound. It unnerved him a little if he was honest, it was like he could feel something radiating from the girl that was drawing the horse to her.

Jessie sighed in relief as the horse reached her, placing its muzzle underneath her outstretched hand. 'Good girl. Good girl.' The mare whined softly then stepped closer, sniffing the girls face. She smiled, kissing the mare on the nose. 'Good girl. That's it. Good girl.'

Suddenly the girl's legs gave out, Jack grabbing hold of her before she could fall. 'I've got you.' He assured her then picked her up, carrying her over to the cot. It was almost unexplainable what he'd just witnessed, the mare's drastic transition from a raging maniac to a quiet horse. 'Rest for a minute.'

The girl nodded as he sat her down, the mare watching her carefully from the stall. 'It wasn't her Jack, it wasn't.'

'Sssh, I know-' Ty passed him a handkerchief and he gently pressed it to the girls head to stop the bleeding as she leaned against him. 'Just relax for a moment.'

'Promise me you won't destroy her? It's not her fault.'

'We'll talk about that later.' He replied as Lou came over, Cindy with Amy and Mallory. 'I think we should take her to the hospital, get her checked over-'

'I don't need to go to the hospital.'

'You were knocked out. No arguments Jessie, you're going.'

'I'll come with you.' Lou offered.

'No, no you stay and look after Cindy and Mallory please. Ty can come with me. That alright Ty?'

'Yeah, sure.'

'Alright. Amy, can you run and get my cell phone?'

'Sure Grandpa.'

'Thanks. Come on honey.' Jack stood up, picked the girl up and carried her out to his truck, Ty opening the passenger door for him and he placed the girl inside. Amy ran back over as he and Ty got in, handing him the cell phone. 'Thanks Amy.'

'No problem.'

'I don't want any of you going near that horse either while we're gone, alright?'

'Okay.'

Jessie sighed as Jack reversed and they headed down the driveway, her head throbbing something dreadful. She just wished she could remember what had happened, the last thingshe remembered was sitting in the mare's stall. It wasn't Crystal's fault, was it?