The morning came early, especially after a restless night of sleep. Lisa stood at the counter waiting patiently for the coffee to perk, even though she was ready to throw the coffee pot across the room for taking so long.
She could hear John crying again, noting Jack must have finished feeding him. By the sounds of it, he was changing him again. John had slept pretty well, but she seemed to wake up at every twist and turn he made. It was good to be by Jack's side again, even if he did snore most of the night; she was getting used to that. Lisa looked back to the machine, silently cursing its age, and she continued to wait for the coffee. She brushed a stray hair out of her face, knowing her hair was probably an unruly mess this morning, but she'd take care of that soon. She braced her hands on the counter and stretched, taking a deep breath. She did like it here at Heartland, well, when she wasn't facing the firing squad. It was quiet in these very early hours of the morning, and the sunrise here was something she couldn't put into words. She glanced to the window, but there was no sign of light yet to see. Jack would be heading out soon, and almost the second she thought about that, he stretched his arm across her back and pulled her into his side.
"I deliver to you a freshly changed and well-fed baby," he said quietly. Lisa looked up at him and smiled, reaching over on Jack's shoulder to pat John's back. Jack continued to hold her shoulder pulling her into his side. She gave him another warm smile and leaned up when she could see the spark in his eyes.
"Morning," she said.
"A lovely morning, indeed, at least I intend it to be," he said in a hushed, low tone, leaning down to kiss her quickly. "Despite last evening's mess coming back to me the second I woke up, I really liked going to sleep and waking up with you next to me."
"Hmm," she nodded, "me too. Although, it's about to be cramped in there very quickly. The older he gets and starts moving in his sleep, I'm not going to get any sleep. I heard every move he made in his cradle."
He made a face, "Sorry, really? I didn't hear a thing."
She let a laugh escape as she shook her head at him, "I know.; you snored." She patted at his chest, "You look nice for morning chores," noting his dark green shirt, one she liked with his gray hair and dark jeans. Normally, he was in more of his washed out, older clothing for chores. She, however, was not at all dressed for the day. Besides her unruly hair, she was in her favorite, comfortable dark gray button up cotton pajama set. It was a really nice set and she had it in multiple colors, but it was far from being anything presentable for the day.
He shrugged, "I've got this date this morning, you see, morning ride," he winked. "Gotta impress."
She chuckled quietly and nodded to him, "Okay, Cowboy, although, I promise we are beyond any needing to impress," and gestured to herself. He shook his head and chuckled at her there with her wild hair and in her pajamas.
"I'll take this look, you in your pajamas in the kitchen every day."
She gave him an almost horrified look, "Maybe you need more than reading glasses because this is bad," she gestured to herself. He let out a laugh and pulled his arm tighter around her shoulder. Both enjoyed the little laughter they could have this morning.
"I mean," he turned his head, "this morning, if we're still on? You're not backing out on our ride?"
"No, I'm not backing out," she shook her head. "A morning ride sounds lovely, especially before the weather really turns for the winter. You're sure John will be set?"
"Oh," he nodded to her in total affirmation, "he'll be taken care of. You can believe me."
The coffee finally finished, and Jack, still there, with his arm draped across Lisa's back, dropped his arm so she could deal with the coffee. She put some in a steel tumbler for him to take to the barn, and then, she went ahead and filled up a Thermos, turning to him and gesturing for a trade. He smirked and handed over John, and she gestured to the two coffee containers on the counter.
"I could wait on the Thermos for the next pot of coffee," he offered. "Now, you have to wait again," noting she'd emptied the magical morning coffee with his tumbler and Thermos. She shook her head.
"It's fine. I'll start another pot. He and I can wait it out," she smiled, patting John's back. John was alert and looking around, raising his head and making his little noises. "This way, you can get things set for our ride."
"Sounds good," he said quietly, patting John's back and leaning in to kiss her again. "I'll be in the barn, and I should be ready for that ride around 7:30 or 8:00. Sound okay?" She nodded, a yawn escaping. Both chuckled, and he kissed her again before he left, "Sorry I kept you up."
She waved him off and with John on her shoulder, started to work on the second pot of coffee. She was getting much better at multitasking with him on her shoulder. Soon, the coffee was sputtering and making sounds, music to her ears, meaning a hot cup of coffee wasn't far off. That, coupled with a hot shower and some taming of her hair-she'd feel like a new person ready for a new day, but also ready to get out of the house before she had to face the lot of them.
John started shifting and grunting, and with Lisa, expecting what was to come, she started to pat his back. She knew he was gassy; he was soon after almost every bottle. He started to fuss a little, and she continued to pat his back, waiting for the coffee. He'd be better when she could put him down on the bed for a minute and let him stretch out.
"Ahh, morning, Lisa," she heard and grimaced, at least facing the coffee pot and not Lou. She really didn't want to get into this right now. Last night, Jack had handled things, or what was left of the evening, while she unpacked some of her things. She'd heard Jack, though, at least mostly talking to Tim, as he'd left the bedroom door open while she worked and he spoke to Tim and retrieved John.
"Jack, I just want to apologize for that mess at dinner," Tim had told him when he'd finally stepped out of the bedroom. "I sent everyone to bed, like the girls were little kids again. They didn't need to sit out here and ambush you and Lisa again. I'm sorry."
"Tim, for once," Jack had said, "you didn't do anything wrong, but I appreciate your support and help. I know Lisa does too. You've been very helpful with John-not that I will ever repeat that."
Tim chuckled at that, but then he continued, "Jack, I don't know what got into the girls. I gave them a piece of my mind when you and Lisa left. I mean, that was completely uncalled for. Lisa's great. She's always been great, and I've never understood what she saw in you, old man, but whatever, you two work and work well. I'm happy for you, Jack, really am. I see a spark in your eye that truthfully, I never even saw when Lyndy was alive, and I know you loved her. I just see more, and that's no disrespect to Lyndy, but there's something I can't put my finger on. I told the girls Lisa is the best thing that ever happened to you, and that she's amazing herself. I know she adores you. All you have to do is watch her eyes when you are anywhere around, and she can't take them off you. That's why I couldn't stand by and let you let her go. I'm happy you two worked things out and forget what the girls think. You and Lisa have a good thing, heck, have a baby boy," he slapped Jack on the back with a huge grin, "and if the girls don't get on board like tonight, well," he nodded to Jack, "let's not forget that I'm their father, and I'll have more to say to them. They aren't going to act like that, and I don't care if they are grown adults now. Plus," he added, "really good thing that she's the one now who has to deal with you all the time and not me. I mean, the idea of me taking care of you when you are old and all that, yeah, you'd better be thanking your stars it's Lisa and not me."
Jack groaned, "Don't say that especially around her. That was the main reason in pushing her away."
"What?" Tim asked. "She had a problem with it? Nah, I can't see that-wait," Tim told him. "Ahh, now that makes sense. You, you idiot, you wrecked the greatest thing you had going and pushed her away because you didn't want to be some invalid for her. Now, I got it. Why didn't you tell me? I would have smacked you upside the head and said Lisa just wanted you, whatever state Jack Bartlett is in. You're such an idiot, but I'm glad you actually figured that out and got the girl. See, Jack," he smacked at Jack, "we're bonding, the best of friends. Man, Marion and Lyndy would be shocked to see how far we've come, and I'm telling you, they would both love Lisa. They both would want you to enjoy whatever time you have left and not walk around here sulking, so you leave the girls to me. I'll stay on them and make sure they treat you and Lisa with the upmost respect because the two of you have been their constant. I mean, even Lisa was around before I was welcomed back into the picture with either Lou or Amy, so yeah," he sighed, "it's been you and Lisa being the girls cheerleaders and all for over the last eight years now."
"Appreciate that, Tim," Jack said quietly. "I do, and I know Lisa does too. Thanks for helping with John tonight too."
"I love that little guy," Tim flashed a huge grin at Jack. "You know I've been working hard over the years to change, Jack, to be a contributing part of this family."
"Contributing is a strong word," Jack pointed out, and Tim laughed, always ready for a comeback with Jack.
"All I'm saying is that I've got your back with JT too. I know as much as I joke about it, we both know there will come a day when you can't do everything you want for him and all. I'm here Jack. I let you down with my own girls, and you did an amazing job raising them with Marion. I hate myself for never fixing that with her, and it will be my life's greatest regret. I'm just glad I am back in their lives now. I do promise you, though, that no matter what," he said, with a firm nod at Jack, "I'm here for you, for Lisa, and especially for JT. Heck," he smacked at Jack, "that's what brother-in-laws are for," he grinned. "If anything ever happens, Jack, know that I'll make sure he is raised to be a man, a true cowboy, no matter what, oh," he smacked Jack's arm, "and I would never go after Lisa. I mean, you know., she'd never get over you anyways."
"Tim," Jack sighed, shaking his head.
"I'm just messing with you, Jack," he told him. "Listen, I'm going to get going, but I'll be over in the morning to move some cattle to the back field."
"Lisa and I are going to go riding in the morning," he told Tim. "She's not been in almost a year, and we wanted to get her back on her horse before winter sets in."
"Fine, I'll take care of the cattle while you hang out with a beautiful woman, geez, Jack," Tim said in a joking manner.
Jack smirked at him, "Not like you haven't or wouldn't do the same."
"Fair point," he said. "Well, night, and please tell Lisa what I said, I mean, everything but trying to hit on her after you're gone. I mean, that's just not my style."
"Goodnight, Tim," Jack sighed, shaking his head, as he walked over to take care of John.
"Happy Birthday, old man, and you'd better stick around to the next one because this one was terrible," Tim yelled to him before heading out the door.
Jack turned off the swing, picked up John, and he turned and looked to the now quiet and dark house. He sighed and walked to lock up the front door. When he walked back into the living room, Lisa was leaning against the bedroom door.
"Hi," he said quietly, John ready to fuss again. "He's going to need that bottle before bed."
"I'll get it," she said with a small smile. "So, I heard Tim," she nodded to him.
"I figured," he nodded back.
"That was nice of him to say, well," she frowned at Jack, "everything except him chasing after me decades down the road."
Jack, walking up to Lisa, who stood there against the door frame with her arms crossed, smiled at her, "Decades down the road, huh?"
"Oh, it will be decades. You're not going anywhere anytime soon. He and I," she gestured at Jack holding John, "are going to make sure of it. We've got a baby to raise, and I'm not doing it on my own, and I'm certainly not letting you roll over in your grave with Tim teaching John how to chase women." Jack stopped in front of her, the house now theirs for at least the moment, and he enjoyed standing close to her, just looking into her eyes. This was one of the first times she'd ever had a somewhat light conversation about some inevitable future both knew would one day come, but neither knew when. He reached for her hand with his free one, and the two just stood there, with John on his shoulder, enjoying the quiet moment. Finally, when John had enough and started to fuss, the moment ended, and Lisa patted John's back.
"I'll get his bottle, and maybe he'll get a decent sleep."
"We all need to close the door on this day. Time for bed."
Lisa snapped back to the present, with John starting to cry out in single spurts on her shoulder. She continued to pat him and really didn't want to deal with Lou.
"Yes, it is morning," she said flatly. Lou was at the sink, looking out over the horizon. Lisa knew the sun was probably about ready to come up, and she just wanted to grab the coffee and get back to the bedroom, a small piece of serenity for the moment.
The coffee finally finished, and Lisa made a quick swoop of pouring a cup. She normally wanted milk in it, but she was willing to let that go to make a quick exit.
"Lisa, I cannot begin to apologize," Lou started to speak. Lisa put the cup down, as she'd just picked it up, and she let out a long sigh. She wasn't going to do this now, but she needed to be firm at the same time.
"Lou," she finally turned after taking a deep breath and looked her in the eye. Lou was there, looking bashful, if not ashamed, a look Lisa never saw on Lou, but it didn't change the damage that had been done. "I am absolutely disgusted with what last night became, but I am not about to dive into that again. It was bad enough said the first time, and another time would be a complete insult. Truthfully, I'm not sure how you begin to repair this or think it will be repaired. You did some major damage, and for some reason, you can't seem to understand I'm family just as much as you." John yelled out again, and Lisa tried shifting him. He was very uncomfortable; she could tell that.
Lou looked down at the scolding, but nodded in agreement. As John fussed, she looked up, trying to redeem something.
"Does he need a bottle? I can make that," she offered.
"Jack already fed him. He's just gassy, and I'm going to take him back to the bedroom and let him stretch out. Besides," she sighed, "I think some distance right now would be a good idea." She patted at John's back again, and he did cough up some formula, Lisa grimacing as she didn't have a burp cloth on her shoulder.
"Look, he's fussy. The least I can do is watch him so you can get cleaned up and showered or whatever. I'll take him. We both know you've been such a blessing with Katie."
"Yes, I have," Lisa stated firmly, nodding. "All the more reason the attacks on me were absolutely ridiculous and out of left field. I mean, to think-" she stopped talking and shook her head, turning her attention back to John. She sighed, and Lou with her pathetic look, did reach for John.
"Please, just let me deal with him. I know it doesn't start to address anything, but yeah, we all do need to help you, help Grandpa more. Listen, I got up earlier, and I saw you and Grandpa waiting for coffee. I wasn't about to interrupt that, but I know you make him happy. I just saw it with you two enjoying a moment there, and I don't know what I can even begin to say about last night other than it was uncalled for. Please, though, let me get John right now."
Lisa considered not letting Lou help, but John was getting pretty fussy, and she knew it meant either a shower or John, and no shower meant not getting ready for her ride, and she wanted to do that too. John would be okay with Lou; that wasn't a question, but handing him over almost felt like conceding how mad she was, but finally, she sighed.
"Thank you, Lisa," Lou said quietly when she handed John to her. Lou smiled at him and put him on her shoulder, but not before delicately reaching for Lisa's hand that had just handed off John.
"Those are beautiful rings, and I had no right to go off on you about that, to imply that Grandpa didn't plan to marry you."
"You're right," she stated. "You didn't, and you ruined something we wanted to share, we were happy to share."
"I did, and I'll regret that always, and I know it doesn't start to change things or anything at all."
"No, it doesn't," she told her firmly again. "Not only did Jack come with these," she gestured to her rings, "he actually put quite a bit of thought into them, something we all know he doesn't do often. This was his grandmother's engagement ring, and he had a new diamond put in it and had it all fixed up. He," she looked her dead in the eyes, "bought this diamond band, and truthfully, he could have given me a plastic ring, and I would have been just as happy. That's how much I love him, but he put forth a great effort to do something special, so," she stopped and shook her head. "I really don't want to get into this. I am going to get cleaned up and not discuss this." She patted John's back.
Lou called after her, "Grandpa did a really good job, then, Lisa. I had no idea he had an heirloom like that, from his grandmother, saving it for something so special, and yes, you're right. He did put forth a big effort, and I'm sorry. I'll always be sorry, and I know that's not enough."
Lisa closed the bedroom door again, letting out a long breath. This was going to be hard, but there was no way around it; this was family. Family wasn't always fun or easy, but right now, she needed a shower and a morning outside. That would help. She knew it.
Finally, just after 7AM, when it felt like she'd been awake for an entire day already, Lisa was ready to go and actually excited about going out on a ride. It had been too long, not that she'd had much of an opportunity to get back to riding yet. John was just two and a half months old, and she thought she was doing pretty well for herself, especially at her age. The weight wasn't budging, but she was dealing with that. Her blood pressure meds were working, and she had an appointment coming up for that. She finally exited the bedroom, refreshed and ready to go-jeans, a long sleeve shirt, her vest over it, and ready for her heavier coat-hoping she could get out of the house without another exchange with Lou. The house was quiet, and she'd hoped that maybe Lou had John back in her room.
Lisa held back a sigh as she walked into the kitchen and found Lou there, with John on the table, facing her in his bouncy seat. The table wasn't really big enough for it, but without anyone else there, it was. Lou had a cup of coffee and the paper in hand. Both she and John were quiet. Lisa walked to the sink with her coffee cup and rinsed it before putting it in the dishwasher.
"I changed him, and he's been an angel since," Lou offered. Lisa nodded and turned to John.
"He's a very good baby. I'm aware that's uncommon," she told Lou, choosing to address a lighter topic. Lou stood to get more coffee, and Lisa took that opportunity to move into Lou's chair area to unbuckle John. She started to smile at him and make faces. Lou got her coffee and then gestured out the window.
"I didn't think Amy had any client horses coming in," she said, to no one in particular. She walked to the window and then gestured to Lisa, "Lisa, it's a Fairfield trailer."
"What?" Lisa asked, and she stepped to the window too. Both women watched as the trailer stopped by the barn, and they also watched as Jack walked out and greeted the driver.
"Harry? What is he doing here with one of our trailers?" Lisa asked herself.
"Is he your stable manager?" Lou asked. "I've not met him."
She nodded, "Has been for years. He and Jack have become good friends," and as she was saying that, she saw Harry open the back of the trailer. "I don't have any horses slated to come here right now. Oh," she smiled, a large smile as she looked out the window. She shifted John and spoke to him.
"John, your dad just did something very, very nice for me," she told him.
"Gosh, that's a beautiful horse. What's wrong with it?" Lou asked.
"Nothing," Lisa shook her head, smiling at John and then to the window. "Nothing at all. That's my riding horse, Cinders, and there's absolutely nothing wrong. That is an extremely expensive horse who latched onto me instead of any potential buyers. Jack did something nice again," she smiled brightly at John, not looking at Lou. "He must have contacted Harry to bring Cinders over for our ride."
She grabbed John's blanket that she had over by his car seat at the door and put it over him and rushed outside to greet Jack and Harry, moving quickly through the yard with John on her shoulder.
"Harry, good morning," she yelled, and the two men turned to see Lisa moving quickly toward them with John on her shoulder and a blanket to keep him warm.
"Hey Boss," he threw a wave. Jack smiled brightly at her and gestured to Cinders, "Well, Lise, I hope it's okay I had Harry bring Cinders for our ride, but I thought that you needed your horse for your first ride in a year."
"That was very thoughtful," she smiled at him and looked to Harry. "You as well, to bring Cinders over here."
"Yeah," he shook his head, "had this very persistent husband on the phone begging me to help him do something nice. Good thing his wife is a great lady, and I was happy to help. Now, if that same great lady would have mentioned she hadn't been riding, we would have made sure that could have happened."
She chuckled and squeezed his arm, "I really appreciate it." Lisa walked up to Cinders and started to run her hand along Cinder's face. Harry held the reigns there, and Jack called over the horse to her.
"Lisa, if you are about ready, I have Paint ready to go too. We can get John back inside and head out."
"I'm ready," she told him and turned her attention back to Harry. "Well, thank you for coming by so early with Cinders."
"Glad to help, really," he nodded as he secured Cinders there at the barn area. "I take it if you are here, you finally told everyone."
"Don't ask," Jack shook his head, coming around Cinders. "Yes, they know, but no, it didn't go well."
"Sorry to hear that," Harry told them both with a sympathetic smile. "I'll get back to work."
"Thanks again, and I'll be by this afternoon," Lisa told him.
"Sounds good, Boss," and with that, he waved and was off. Lisa gave Jack a 'what am I going to do with you' type of look, and he put his arm around her back as they walked to the house.
"Thanks for bringing Cinders over," she told him with a small smile.
He squeezed her shoulder, "Anything for you. That was easy. I figured you needed someone else here who loves you," he smiled sweetly, giving her a nod. She hummed at that answer.
"Ahh, we still have John here, and no, he's not old enough to ride," she told him. He nodded and reached over to take John from her.
"Oh, he's staying with Lou. She doesn't know it yet, but he is. We've watched Katie plenty, and she has a lot of redeeming to do in our eyes."
Lisa glanced to him, and gestured to the house, "She's in the kitchen, and I've had to work around her this morning."
"Well, even if she had plans this morning, I don't care. She can watch John. It's the absolute least she can do."