Crazy little one shot about what it would have been like if Lisa was still married to Dan when she met Jack.
Chapter 1
A crowd of people stood watching Amy Fleming work with Lisa Stillman's prize horse.
"The horse was drugged," Val Stanton insisted.
Lisa herself, stood up for Amy. "There were no drugs used, I assure you. Amy is just a very talented young woman."
Lisa thinks to herself, of course Val would say that the horse was drugged. Now she wants Amy to fix her horse on a moment's notice in front of all these people. This woman is unreal.
"Who is that that Amy is nodding to? Oh wait, that must be her grandfather, Jack Bartlett. Hmmm, doesn't look like a grandfather, at least that is not what my grandfather looked like."
"Jack, these are the best burgers I've ever had."
"Well thanks, Lisa. And I wanted to thank you for sticking up for Amy."
"Oh, she does just fine on her own. You're doing a really good job Jack. I'm kinda in the same situation with my nephew, but I'm not having as much luck."
"Well if there's anything I can…we can do."
"Really, I might just take you up on that. Every boy needs a good man in his life, heck who doesn't?"
Lisa sat on her porch looking out over the fields with a glass of wine. Jack Bartlett in the forefront of her mind. Maybe this was the answer for Ben. Maybe he was the answer for her. She couldn't get the cowboy off her mind and she really didn't want to.
The door slammed, "Lisa where are you?"
Lisa wanted to hide, but it was too late he saw her sitting on the porch.
"Just what do you think you're doing? You didn't confirm the price for that sale with me. I need to oversee all transactions. Do I make myself clear?"
"Crystal." Lisa walked by Dan, refilled her wine and went to her room. She didn't want him to ruin her wonderful day. She went and sat on the balcony that was off her suite, "I should have just come up here in the first place. Now where was I? Hmmm, Jack Bartlett, the rugged cowboy. I need to see him again."
"I can't believe it, I think that beautiful woman was flirting with me. Nah, no way, she's beautiful, intelligent and wealthy. She'd never be interested in an old cowboy like me, or would she?"
Lisa made arrangements for Ben to stay at Heartland. He would help out in the barn and train and do shows with his horse Red. Lisa stopped over often to keep an eye on him, as well as Jack.
Jack and Lisa run into each other at Maggie's, Jack is reading an article about a horse that Lisa owns with her partner Dan Hartflied. Maggie suggests that maybe Amy should work with the troubled horse, Lisa says she will have her partner call. Excited to possibly have more reasons to see Jack, she says her goodbyes.
Lisa went to Heartland to check on Prince, to see how Amy was doing with him. She luckily ran into Jack. Prince was being a bit of a pill. Lisa apologized for suggesting Amy work with him. She had been trying to come up with a way to see Jack again, just the two of them.
"Say Jack, are you free tomorrow?"
"Depends."
"I was thinking of looking at a horse up in High River and I would love your opinion."
"My opinion, well for whatever it's worth. Sure."
"Great, I'll pick you up around ten."
"Alright."
"Thanks Jack."
Lisa walks away hiding her huge grin. She would be alone with Jack. They will have a chance to get to know each other. She could barely contain her excitement.
"What's this for?"
"I'm meeting Ben after the sale. We are having lunch."
"Since when does Ben drink coffee, oh Dan, that's for me."
"Well just make sure you're at the sale on time, don't leave me waiting around for you. Dan tries to kiss her, but she pulls away.
Lisa pulls up out front of Heartland. Jack and the others are on the porch. Lisa notices how handsome he looks. She gets out of her car and tells him to hop in. He suggests taking his truck, the price of the horse will undoubtedly go up if they show up in her Porsche. She agrees and grabs her bag from the backseat. She slides in next to Jack. Lisa gets a whiff of Jack's cologne, between that and how handsome he looks and how close she is to him, the butterflies start. Jack's truck stops, he tries to restart it. He and Lisa get out to look under the hood. Lisa decides he flooded it. Either way, she has something that will pass the time.
"Oh well, I've got more horses than I can deal with. Hungry? I was planning a treat for after the sale but we can have it now."
Lisa spreads out a blanket and offers Jack a sandwich.
"I even made you coffee."
"Well aren't you something?"
"Aren't I?"
They eat their sandwiches and drink their coffee and enjoy each other's company. Jack feels completely comfortable with Lisa. Usually he has a hard time talking with women, especially ones as beautiful as Lisa. She reaches to get a napkin and comes awfully close to Jack.
"Excuse me."
Jack just looks at her, she is so beautiful and she smells so good, his head starts to spin. He likes the effect she has on him.
Eventually they pack up and try the car again. This time it starts.
"Well let's get you to that sale."
"Good thing it was just flooded, eh." She laughs
Lisa and Jack show up at the sale, Dan is standing out front waiting for Lisa. She says hello, he kisses her on the head. She walks past him to see what number they are up to. Dan questions Jack.
"I didn't realize you knew my wife."
Jack tries to keep it together after hearing the word wife.
"Yes, I do."
Regret starts to creep in. "What is Lisa doing, she's married, she's not interested in me. How could I have been such a fool?" These thoughts keep going through his head. He says goodbye to Dan and leaves the sale and Lisa.
"What were you doing with him, I thought you were going to see Ben after the sale?"
Since Jack left Lisa she had to go back to Heartland with Dan to get her car. Of course he gave her an earful.
"We're just friends Dan." Lisa thought to herself how she wanted to be more than friends, but Dan probably ruined that for her. Like everything else. She got in her car and drove home. By the time she got there, Dan was already having a drink, or two. Lisa grabbed a bottle of wine and went to her room.
"I'm sorry Jack, I can explain, if you'll give me the chance." She really hoped he'd see her again and give her a chance. "You have no idea what it's like." She laid back on her bed.
The next morning Lisa goes down for coffee, Dan is being his usual demeaning self.
"Amy Fleming says she's made progress with Prince, we need to go see. Be ready in an hour."
Lisa does as she is told.
They arrive at Heartland to see Prince acting like his old self. Dan for a change is happy, until he sees who is working with the horse and blows up. Jack comes out of the barn telling him to shut his mouth and stop trying to throw his weight around. Dan says he is leaving, Lisa says she will walk home. She's hoping to have a minute with Jack. Maybe she can get him to drive her home and she can explain.
"I'm sorry Lisa, I didn't mean to yell at your husband like that."
She looks up at him, he sees sorrow in her eyes.
"Yes, Jack, Dan is my husband, but it's more complicated than that."
She looks at him with tears in her eyes. The look on her face honestly breaks Jack's heart. He feels compelled to let her explain.
"Why don't I drive you home and you can explain it to me."
They drove in silence for a while, Lisa trying to find the right words. They pull up at Fairfield.
"I didn't lead you on Jack, I swear. I really am interested in getting to know you better."
"But you're married, how do you want to get to know someone else when you're already married?"
"I don't love him Jack."
"But you're married to him, if you don't love him why are you still with him?"
"I don't know," he watched a tear roll down her cheek.
What happened next completely surprised them both. Jack had an overwhelming urge to kiss her and she kissed him back. Like two long lost lovers, they couldn't get enough until Jack stopped.
"This isn't right, we can't do this."
He rested his forehead against hers. "I can't be with a married woman, I'm sorry Lisa, I really am."
"I understand." She did understand. Jack was a decent honest man.
Lisa quickly got out of the car and went inside. Jack waited to make sure she got in ok. He heard the yelling before he pulled away. Dan was yelling at Lisa for embarrassing him. He wanted to know how she could just come home with some other man. How could she think it was ok to disrespect him in front of Ryan Bailey and Amy Fleming. Jack for a moment caught a glimpse of Lisa's world.
Jack sees Lisa in town a few times over the week. Every time he says hello, she is cordial but basically blows him off. Finally he sees her at a back table in Maggie's by herself. He takes a seat, she just looks at him. He tries to read her expression.
"Hi Lisa."
"Hi Jack, she puts her head down, I'm sorry, I'm swamped, I can't talk right now."
"You've blown me off all week Lisa."
"I can't do this Jack."
"Can't we at least be friends? I enjoyed your company."
"I really don't think it's a good idea."
"I see, so it's all or nothing."
She looks up at him, her eyes pleading with him to understand. "I'm sorry, but I think it's for the best Jack."
"Well I guess that's it then, see you around."
She puts her hand over his and they both feel the electricity surging through them.
"It's not you Jack."
"I know, I know, the whole it's not you, it's me thing."
Lisa lowers her voice. "I can't do it Jack. I want more from you than I can have. I'm trying to keep my distance to prevent getting hurt further."
For a minute they just look into each other's eyes. Jack seeing the pain and sorrow he saw the other day. Lisa seeing the kindness in Jack's eyes. She wants so badly to have him hold her, but it can never be, at least while she is married. She goes back to working on her laptop, Jack leaves without so much as a goodbye.
Dan returns to Heartland to pick up his horse. Jack stays away, he really doesn't like this Dan guy. He can hear Dan yelling about getting the horse loaded. All this guy does is yell. Now he thinks he knows the reason for the sadness behind Lisa's blue eyes. She deserves better. Jack wants to be that better person for her, she haunts his dreams and daily thoughts. He is totally captivated by this woman. But he can't have her as long as she's married. He sighs, there's definitely something between them, they both felt it.
Amy's working at the track with a horse. Jack goes to pick her up, wishing the day she gets her license would come already. He sees Lisa's car on the far side of the lot, away from the other cars. She seems to have her head in her hands like she's crying. Jack walks over and knocks on the window. Startled Lisa looks up, she quickly wipes away the tears.
"What's wrong Lisa?"
She gets out of her car and pretends like it's nothing.
He can't help but reach up and wipe away a stray tear. The feel of his hand on her face, she draws in a deep breath. How she wants to just fall into his arms, she knows she would be happy in his arms. She reaches for his hand. Her fingers intertwined with his. She keeps her eyes down, she can't bear to look at him, knowing their relationship will never be more than friends.
Jack tilts her chin so she looks at him. "Lisa, you deserve so much better." He wraps his arms around her pulling her in close. Being this close to him, the butterflies go crazy, she starts to lean up to kiss him but stops. She pulls away, "I'm sorry Jack. I'll be fine. Thanks for stopping." She gets back into her car, starts it and drives off. Jack is thankful she stopped when she did because he knew he wouldn't have had the strength to. The desire he feels for her is so strong and it's getting stronger.
Jack goes back to look for Amy. As he's walking around he overhears Dan talking about Lisa and how if it wasn't for him she'd have nothing. He mentions how she's all beauty and no brains, and she's not really good in bed either, he says he keeps her around as arm candy and because technically she owns Fairfield, but is thankful for his side piece.
Just as Jack is about to approach Dan, Amy comes over and says she's ready to go. It takes Jack a minute to walk away. No one should talk about their wife like that, especially when it's Lisa.
He was beginning to understand Lisa more and more. She wasn't looking for someone. She found someone, someone who was nice to her, someone who made her feel special. He was that someone. What he didn't understand was why she didn't leave Dan. She owned Fairfield, clearly she could make it on her own. Jack needed to talk to Lisa, he needed the full story. He decided since Dan was at the track with his buddies, he would ride over to Fairfield after he dropped off Amy.
Jack wasn't too sure of the layout of Fairfield, he found a red haired gentleman and asked where he could find Lisa Stillman. He directed Jack to the office.
The office door was open, Lisa was sitting at her desk. Her head was down as she looked at some files, this gave Jack a minute to watch her, before she noticed he was there. Surely this woman didn't need Dan to run her business. He knocked and she looked up. Her face lit up when she saw him.
"Jack, what are you doing here?"
"We need to talk."
Lisa got up and walked over to close the door, she motioned for Jack to sit on the sofa next to her desk. She hesitated, not really sure where she should sit. She knew where she wanted to sit, but pushed those thoughts aside. She ended up at the opposite end of the sofa. Far enough away, she hoped.
"I asked you before why you were with Dan if you didn't love him. You never gave me an answer."
"Honestly, I don't know. I know I should have divorced him years ago, I guess I'm just…"
"He isn't abusive, is he?"
"No, nothing like that, well not physically anyway."
"I overheard him with some of his buddies at the track. Lisa the stuff he said."
"Oh, I can imagine. Dan will say whatever he has to to make himself look big. And he loves to put me down, so often that sometimes I believe him."
Jack once again sees the sorrow in her eyes. He moves closer and takes her hand in his.
"Lisa, I've said this before, you deserve so much better than Dan. You deserve to be happy. You should have divorced him years ago, I'll never understand why you didn't."
"I never had a reason to, I suppose. But I've started the process. I'm actually looking over divorce papers now that my lawyer sent over."
"Do you have a reason now?"
"I do Jack! You… you are my reason. I can't keep denying these feelings I have for you. There's something there Jack, I know you feel it too." She puts her hand on his thigh.
Her hand on his leg is the breaking point for him, the desire is too strong, pushing them both together. He leans forward resting his forehead on hers.
"I feel it too."
She put her hands on either side of his face, their lips meeting in a passionate kiss. The arousal more than either one can bear, Lisa moans softly. Her head back and eyes closed as Jack slowly kisses his way down her neck. They are completely lost in one another, giving in to the feelings they've been fighting.
Lisa's cell phone rings, bringing both back to reality. Lisa sweetly rubs her hand along his unshaven cheek. Looking directly into his eyes, "I look forward to a time when we can finish what we started." She kisses him one last time before getting up and adjusting her blouse and skirt. Jack takes another minute, watching her, before standing and leaving her office.
The whole drive back to Heartland Jack fights with his guilt. On one hand Dan is emotionally abusive to Lisa and she doesn't deserve that. On the other hand they are still married. But that is just a technicality, Jack heard Dan say he's been cheating on Lisa, but does that mean Lisa is free to do the same. He can't explain it, there's just something about her that he is drawn to, and that something is getting stronger the more time he spends with her.
A week goes by, Jack and Lisa don't get to see each other, but do talk over the phone a few times. Lisa told Jack that the divorce papers have been prepared and that Dan will be served the next day. Jack detects something in her voice that he hasn't noticed before.
"What's going on Lisa, I can tell something is wrong."
"I'm just worried about how Dan will react. As you have seen, he has quite the temper."
"Do you have somewhere you can go, so you won't be there when he gets the papers?"
"I'll just stay in my office. It will be fine."
"I have a better idea. Can you pick me up tomorrow morning, I have somewhere we can go."
"Are you sure Jack, you don't have to do this?"
"Yes, I'm sure. And pack a bag. Do you have someone you trust there who can tell you what is going on?"
"Yes, Harry will be here, and what do you mean pack a bag. How far are you taking me?"
"I have a fishing cabin, in the middle of nowhere. You'll be stress free there. Have you ever been fly fishing?"
Lisa runs to Maggie's, she is totally unprepared to go fly fishing.
"So fly fishing, well you both deserve some fun. I never did understand how you ended up with a man like Dan."
"What can I say, young and dumb."
"Well, stick with Jack, he will show you how a man should treat a lady. You couldn't pick a nicer guy."
Lisa blushes when Maggie mentions Jack.
"Oh, girl, I've seen that look before." Maggie leans in close, "are you two a thing?"
"We are… getting to know each other."
Maggie sees right through Lisa. "Alright, here's your hip waders."
"Oh Maggie, do these make me look fat?"
"Girl, that man you're going with, he won't be looking at your waders."
Lisa arrived at the ranch bright and early. Jack was ready with his fishing gear, bag and a cooler packed. Lisa asked Jack to drive since he knew where he was going. The drive was beautiful and the conversation flowed freely. They never had an issue with things to talk about. They talked about anything and everything and enjoyed talking with one another.
They ventured down to the water to do some fly fishing. Lisa had her gear ready to go, however she actually lacked the skills needed to fly fish and ended up with her line caught in a tree. After leaving her rod on the edge of the water, Jack offered to help her using his rod. After a few attempts and not having luck, Jack came in close behind Lisa to show her how to correctly hold the rod. This was the first time they had close contact all day. Both enjoyed the feel, the scent and the closeness of the other. Lisa leaned back into Jack as he put his arms around her to place her hands properly. He felt so good, so safe. Lisa thought she hooked a tree again, but she actually caught a fish, Jack shared in her excitement and new love of this team sport.
They sat on the porch of the cabin, enjoying some wine and fresh caught fish. Lisa inquired about the mysterious Jack Bartlett. Jack explained some of the mysteries away. He talked about his first wife. Lisa showed interest in how they met, so Jack went on about following Lyndy around so he could see her shows, even with a broken leg. Jack didn't want to be presumptuous that a relationship with Lisa would continue, though he hoped it would. Soon it was time to pack up and head back to reality.
Lisa and Jack returned to Heartland just before sunset. They sat in the car discussing what a lovely day they had. Lisa told Jack the day was completely stress free, just like he promised. Just as Jack was about to kiss Lisa goodbye, the screen door slammed, Lisa looked up and found they had an audience.
"Some other time."
"I guess so," Lisa said disappointed.
Lisa went home and couldn't wait to sit back and relax with a glass of wine and think about her wonderful day with Jack. It had been amazing, better than amazing. He was a patient, caring, honest man. Lisa was falling in love, soon she would be divorced and Jack would hopefully still be interested in pursuing a relationship. Her happy thoughts ended the minute she walked in her door. Dan had not left like he was supposed to. He stood in the kitchen, anger written all over his face.
"Where have you been, what is this, now you want a divorce, for what reason, because you met some, rancher?"
"I don't love you Dan, I want a life I can be happy with and this isn't it."
"He's only after you for your money, god, you can be so…"
"He's not interested in my money, and we are just friends." "Barely," she thought to herself.
"Lisa, you need me, you know that, you wouldn't have half of this without me."
"You don't love me Dan, I'm just an acquisition to you. A business deal."
"Well I don't care what you think, I'm not letting you make this mistake. I'm not signing any divorce papers, and I'm not leaving."
Lisa hurries past him to her room. She is angry and devastated. He can't ruin her plans. She grabs some clothes and throws them in her bag. If he's not leaving, she's not staying. She takes her bag and leaves, without a clue as to where to go. After driving around for a while her phone rings. It's Jack, she pulls over to take his call. He can hear that she is upset, he persuades her to meet him at Maggie's for coffee.
Jack was waiting out front when Lisa arrived. He sees her check her appearance in the mirror, but then she sees him and the tears start to fall all over again. He walks to her door and opens it, she gets out and reaches her arms around his neck. He wraps his arms around her. He wished he knew how to help her, seeing her sad and upset bothered him. He was becoming emotionally involved. He knew it was only a matter of time, and after the day they spent on the water at the cabin and her genuine interest in Lyndy and his first marriage. He was falling in love with Lisa.
They got a table in the back, out of the way. They weren't necessarily hiding, but weren't looking to be on display either. Lisa filled Jack in on everything Dan said about not leaving, not signing the papers, how Jack is only interested in her money. She will talk to her lawyer to see what she could do, but she had to get out of there.
"Where are you going to go?"
"I called and got a room at the Harmony House. Hopefully I can go home tomorrow. It's my house, it's been in my family, and I'm the one who left. I'm just so done. You're right, I should have done this a long time ago. Then we could be together." She looked at him, hoping he'd stay the night with her, but she knew he wouldn't and she understood.
Jack paid for the coffees and walked Lisa to her car. "If I asked you, would you stay with me tonight.?"
"I would like nothing more Lisa, but it wouldn't be right."
"I figured you'd say that, I just had to ask. I would love to fall asleep in the comfort of your arms." She leans up to kiss him goodnight.
"Be safe, I'll talk to you tomorrow." He watched her till she drove away.
Jack's phone rang, he ran to grab it before it woke anyone up. Lisa was calling to say goodnight.
"Thank you for the coffee Jack. Seeing you and talking with you helped. Listen, Jack, I know you don't need all this drama. I completely understand if you want to run the other way. I'm sure you could find a woman who would make your life easier, not complicate things."
"Call me crazy, but I have a feeling whatever this is, is worth waiting for. Goodnight Lisa, I'll talk to you tomorrow."
"Goodnight Jack." They separately fell asleep, both thinking about what the future could hold.
The next week or so was a bit crazy for both Jack and Lisa. Jack was busy with ranch chores and preparing for winter. Lisa was dealing with the divorce and Dan fighting it. Finally she had an idea, her lawyer liked it and thought it might help seal the deal. Jack and Lisa tried to see each other. They got together at Jack's place to watch the hockey game, there was a party after Amy won the fall finale. That was where she met Jack's son in law, Tim. He asked who she was, she replied Jack's friend, as she glanced over at Jack. They went on this way for a couple months, seeing each other when they could, but keeping a low profile. Lisa was technically still married and they lived in a small town. He didn't want the gossip.
One early spring morning Lisa called Jack and asked him to meet her at Maggie's for lunch. They discussed the dude ranch Lou wanted to build, Lisa told Jack to go along it would be fun. They were about to leave when Lisa put a packet of papers on the table.
"What's this?"
"Go on, open it." Lisa was full of smiles.
Jack looked at her, "I don't understand."
"They're my divorce papers, they are signed by both of us. It's over Jack, I'm not married anymore."
Jack pulled her into an embrace. They had been waiting for this day, when they could fully explore whatever it was that was going on between them.
"Are you still interested?"
"I told you before, I had a feeling we would be worth waiting for."
Everyone was getting ready for the Ray Phillips first annual memorial cattle drive. All the locals were joining in to honor the local rancher. Lisa arrived bright and early with a present for Jack. He had complained about his arthritis at the fall round up, so Lisa, being the generous person she was, bought him a high tech saddle made of memory foam. Supposedly good for arthritis. Jack wasn't thrilled but used her gift. Later Lisa asked Jack if he wanted to turn in early.
"What, you don't think I can stay up past nine o'clock, you've been treating me like a relic of the old west."
"Jack, that's just what I do, I worry, I fuss and I buy inappropriate gifts. That's just what I do with someone I love." She looked up at him.
"Someone you, " he never finished, he leaned down and kissed her, then led her to dance. As Lisa and Jack were dancing Ty and Caleb got into a scuffle and let the cattle loose. They all pitched in and rounded up the cattle and Jack took a count. He told the boys to stay up all night and keep an eye out for stragglers. As Jack was walking back to the trailer, he remembered Lisa told him she loved him. He loved her too, but he never said it back. Jack found Lisa talking with Amy and Mallory. He asked her to walk with him.
When they were just a little distance away, Jack turned to her. He took both of her hands in his.
"Lisa, about what you said earlier…"
"Jack, I know we are still getting to know each other and I don't expect you to say it. But I'm going to tell you how I feel."
"I love you too. I should have said it earlier, but it's true. I love you Lisa Stillman."
She wrapped her arms around his neck, leaned up and kissed him. This kiss felt different somehow. Expressing their love for one another changed something, their relationship was stronger. Lisa led Jack back to the trailer. They turned off all the lights inside so it was lit by only the moonlight. Finally after months of holding back, Lisa was now free and they were alone. This is what they had both been waiting for. Lisa started to undress as Jack watched, still amazed that this beautiful woman wanted him, loved him. Nervous anticipation coursing through them. Lisa stepped closer to him and kissed his lips. Jack pushed a loose piece of hair behind her ear.
"You sure you're ok with this?"
"I'm more than ok with this. I want this as much as you, Jack."
Jack pulled her to him, the feel of her bare skin, he almost couldn't believe what was about to happen. Lisa kissed his lips, softly at first, then more hungrily. Finally they gave in to their desires.
It was just before sun up. Jack laid next to Lisa watching her sleep. She laid on her stomach with her head facing him. He planted kisses along her shoulders and watched her lips curl upward.
"Mmm, don't stop." She stretched and rolled over to kiss him. "Morning."
"Morning beautiful. He took her in his arms.
"This feels so nice, Jack. I love the feel of your arms around me."
They did not have the luxury of laying in each other's arms for very long. They had to pack up, get breakfast and get the herd moving. Visions of the night before flashing through both of their minds. Wide smiles on their faces. They occasionally glanced at one another, only they knew what those smiles were for. They both had agreed to the next step in their relationship.
Once they arrived back at Heartland they were unloading. Lisa went to put the saddle back in her car so she could return it.
"Are you sure about that, it's got all the bells and whistles."
"One thing you don't need Jack Bartlett is more bells and whistles." Lisa looked up at him. He caught her drift and smirked. It was the start of a beautiful relationship. Jack found someone to love again, who loved him back and Lisa found someone who respected her, someone she could love that would love her back.