Chapter 2
Tim walked into the kitchen, "how much longer till Lisa's back?" He asked Lou.
Everyone noticed the difference in Jack when Lisa was away. He was grouchy, he was less patient, more easily agitated, and definitely not a pleasure to be around. To say that Lisa brought out the best in him was an understatement.
"Two more days, dad, I think you can handle it."
"I think we need to make Lisa promise to never go away again."
"Dad, she barely goes away anymore, this was a…, her aunt died, she went to visit her sister, give her a break will you."
Jack came in to get washed up for dinner, "man are you still here, don't you have a wife to go home to?"
Just then Jessica walked in for dinner. "I'm right here Jack, how's Lisa's visit with her sister?" She grabbed the plates and carried them into the other room.
Everyone pitched in to bring dinner to the table. It was a lively meal, it always was when everyone was home and there was a full table. Usually that was the way Jack liked it, but tonight it was too loud. He just wanted to get done and wait for Lisa to call. It had been a long week and he missed his wife. All the years they have been together, he never handled it well when she was gone. Part of him was missing, and he didn't like that feeling. Not to mention that he didn't sleep as well when she wasn't by his side. He got used to having her next to him every night after she moved in. He excused himself, got up from the table and took his plate to the kitchen. He would wait for Lisa's call in his bedroom.
"Two more days, lucky us," Tim laughed.
The next day, Lou and Katie were getting the Christmas decorations together to put up. Katie was looking at all the ornaments for the tree which they would all be getting later in the week. It was a tradition to go out, select and cut down a tree, then bring it home to be decorated.
A little while later Lou found Jack reading in his chair. "So, what time does Lisa's flight get in tomorrow?"
"I'll pick her up around 2."
"Grandpa, I noticed something yesterday when I was going through the Christmas stuff."
"What's that, Lou?"
"Well, we have a lot of ornaments first off, there's special ones for me, Amy and Katie and Lyndy. There's one's from you and grandma, one's for mom, one's from when me and Peter got married and when Ty and Amy got married. There's nothing special for Lisa. I already talked to Katie, and we are going to get her a Godmother ornament. I just thought she should be represented on the tree."
Jack never paid much attention to that sort of thing. The girls and Lisa always took care of that stuff. Lou was right though, Lisa should have a special ornament, or they should have one for the tree. Jack decided to go into town and see what he could find. He really hated going to the mall, but he knew that it was the only place to find a nice ornament. There were tons to choose from, there were dogs, cats, horses, there were Disney characters and Star Wars characters. Then he found it, or them. Turtle doves. They were the perfect ornament for him to give Lisa. The symbolism of faithful and bonded love represented their love perfectly. Jack was proud of his selection. He had the lady at the register wrap it and put a pretty ribbon around the box. He decided he would give it to her when they decorated the tree. It was always a fun day and now this would make it more special.
Lisa was back at Heartland and things returned to normal. Jack was back to his usual self. Lisa was happy to spend time with her sister and nephew, but even happier to be home with her cowboy and the family.
Finally the day arrived. The family day of picking out the tree and bringing it home to be decorated. Lisa and Lou made a big breakfast. Everyone sat around the table talking about how big the tree should be, or who should get to pick it out. They all cleaned up and got ready to head out. Jack and Lisa led with Amy and Lyndy. Then Lou, Peter and Katie with Tim and Jessica. Fresh snow had fallen during the night and the fields and trees looked beautiful. It was a perfect day.
There were snow forts built and snow ball fights. Then it was time to get down to business. Lyndy won the snowball fight, so she got to pick the tree, and she really picked a beauty, everyone agreed. Tim, Peter and Jack cut down the tree and tied it up to bring home. Lisa, Jessica, Amy, Lou, Katie and Lyndy were all on their horses slowly heading back. The men were just finishing securing the tree for the trip. They were just about to get back on their horses when they heard three quick bangs. The horses spooked, but Tim and Peter were able to calm them.
"What on earth?"
"That sounded like gunshots Lisa."
"Your right Lou, you guys go on ahead, I'm gonna go check on the men."
"Lisa, wait, I'll go with you." Jessica offered.
It was no more than a minute before Lisa and Jessica reached Tim, Peter and Jack, it was enough time for Jack to collapse face down into the snow. Tim and Peter rushed to his side and turned him over. The snow underneath him was red. Lisa saw her husband laying on the ground in a pool of red, she immediately thought the worst. As fast as her feet would carry her through the snow, she went to Jack. His jacket was blood soaked, he had been shot, in the chest. Jessica called Lou, praying the signal would work. She told Lou, Jack had been shot to come back, but to send Amy and the girls ahead. Amy wanted to go to her grandfather, she was torn, she knew it would be best to take the girls home though. They would also need her to lead an ambulance to where Jack was. Once the ambulance was called and Jack was being taken care of by Lisa, Peter and Tim rode off in the direction the shots were fired from.
Lisa took her scarf and pressed it onto the wound. "Jack, you need to stay with me, honey can you hear me, Jack?"
Jack softly responded. He was struggling to breathe, but he was conscious.
Lisa took off her coat and placed it over him, but noticed the area of red underneath Jack was increasing. "The bullet must have gone through." She looked up at Lou who was trying to pack the wound with clean snow.
"Well, that would be good if it did. A clean entrance and exit."
They didn't want to move Jack, he was quite uncomfortable and his breathing was becoming more labored.
"Lise!"
"I'm here honey, I'm right here."
"I love…."he never finished.
"I love you too, honey, hold on Jack, help will be here soon. Please honey, hold on." Lisa cried.
Peter and Tim got back just as Amy arrived with the ambulance. The medics worked fast to get Jack in the warm ambulance. Lou and Amy stood with Lisa while they worked on Jack. Tim, Jessica and Peter huddled together silently watching. The medics called out to Lisa to ride in the ambulance to the hospital. The others would get the horses back and meet her there.
Lisa sat in the ambulance watching the medic work on her husband, willing him to live. They always assumed he would die first due to the age difference, but she wanted more time. She was being selfish. They didn't have enough time to love each other. The oxygen was helping him breathe, his breathing didn't seem as labored. They also hooked an IV up to him. He seemed comfortable for the moment. She had to keep checking the monitor. She needed to see that he was still with her. She held his hand in hers, his big strong hand. He was strong, she thought, hopefully strong enough to survive this.
Once at the hospital, Jack was rushed to the trauma area and Lisa was led to the waiting room. She paced back and forth. Every thought possible went through her head. She prayed, she prayed that she and Jack would have more time. She wasn't ready, "but is anyone ever ready," she said aloud. It felt like hours, the time passed so slowly. Peter, Lou and Amy came rushing into the waiting room. Lou and Amy immediately hugging Lisa. Peter trying to console the three crying women.
"Jack's strong guys, he'll pull through."
Lou broke away to ask if Lisa had gotten an update. Lisa wiped away her tears and said that she hadn't heard anything since they arrived. Peter reminded them that no news was good news. Tim and Jessica arrived.
"The girls are fine, Katie called Parker to come over and help her babysit Lyndy." Jessica informed everyone. "They know Jack was injured, but have no idea about the severity of anything."
"That's great Jessica, thank you." Peter gave Lou a reassuring hug.
"Family of Jack Bartlett." The nurse called. They all stood. "I'm going to lead you to a private room, the doctor will be in to talk with you shortly."
Fearing the worst had happened, Lisa cried out. If everything was ok, if he was still alive the doctor would just tell them, wouldn't he, he wouldn't call them into a private room. They all followed the nurse down the hallway. Lou and Amy on either side of Lisa holding her hands, supporting one another. Lisa took a seat, crying quietly, Lou sat beside her with her arm around the distraught woman. The doctor entered the small room.
"You all are here for Jack Bartlett, I assume?"
Lou answered, "yes, this is his wife, pointing to Lisa, and we, pointing to Amy, are his granddaughters."
"Well let me start off by saying, Jack is one very lucky man. The bullet went in and came out with very little damage. He does have a collapsed lung, a pneumothorax, so he has a chest tube right now, but we hope to remove that later today. If all goes well, I don't see why he can't go home tomorrow.
They all breathed a sigh of relief, Lisa collapsing into a nearby chair, panic and despair being replaced by complete relief.
"Doctor, can I…we, looking at Amy and Lou see him, " Lisa asked.
"Of course, he's in room 224, in the CCU. He's in the cardiac care unit due to his history. Though, they won't let more than two people at a time in."
"Thank you doctor, for everything." Lisa replied.
Lisa turned to the girls and told them to go up and see their grandfather.
"No, Lisa, you go first. He will undoubtedly want to see you, then we will go." Amy hugged Lisa.
Lisa stood outside his door, steadying herself. He had made it, they would get to love each other another day. Getting her emotions in check, she opened the door.
"Anything to get out of decorating the tree, eh?" She laughed
"Lise"
"Hey cowboy." She leaned down to kiss him, running the back of her hand along his rough cheek. He reached up to grab her hand and give it a squeeze. "You scared me Jack, I thought I was going to lose you, lose my best friend.
"You aren't getting rid of me that easily, I'm not going anywhere." He coughed, he was still having a hard time from the collapsed lung.
She bent down and kissed him again, "good."
They all took their turn visiting Jack. Since no overnight visitors were allowed, Lisa went home with Lou and Peter. Amy with her dad and Jessica. Katie was anxious for news when they arrived home, happy to hear that Jack was fine and would be home the next day. Slowly they returned to their chores. Tim and Jessica returned to the loft. Amy and Lyndy went to check on and feed the horses. Lisa started getting things together to prepare for dinner.
"Lisa, I got this, why don't you go relax for a while." Lou could only imagine the emotional exhaustion Lisa felt. They were all on the roller coaster, but she was sure it was worse for Lisa. Lou knew how deeply Jack and Lisa loved each other. She was so happy her grandfather found someone like Lisa to love him. She had the biggest heart. She and Lisa were so much alike, both so strong willed, Lou had to admit, Lisa was fit into the family and their lives like a hand in a glove.
"Thanks Lou, I do think I could use a moment." Lisa went into her and Jack's bedroom and shut the door. She picked up the picture of her and Jack from their wedding celebration. That was such a happy day. Tears silently rolled down her cheeks dripping onto the glass. The enormity of the day hit her. She could have lost him. Lisa realized she was in no way prepared for this event to happen. He was her other half, he completed her. She needed him and she always would.
As happy as Jack was to be home, in the comfort of his own house, he hated everyone waiting on him. Can I get you some tea grandpa, or do you want the paper Jack. He was a grown man, he could do these things himself. He sat on the sofa watching Lisa and Lou put garland and lights up around the room. He loved watching Lisa, she was almost giddy with excitement this time of year. She noticed him staring at her.
"What?"
"I just love your, childlike excitement, I swear Lise, you're more excited for Christmas than the girls are."
She goes over and playfully swats him on the shoulder. "Well you better make sure you're on your best behavior sir, or there won't be any presents under the tree for you."
He pulls her down onto his lap and kisses her. "I've got everything I need right here in my arms."
"Um, do you two want a minute, I am still here." Lou reminds them.
They hear the kitchen door slam and Tim's voice.
"Well I talked with Sam, he's away. He has someone staying out at his place. He said the guy mentioned there had been a coyote in the area bothering the horses. The way he figures, the guy must have been firing off shots to scare the coyote away, and never realized there were people in the area. So no one is trying to kill you old man, at least not yet."
