"Morning," he heard and smiled into her hair.
"How'd you know I was awake? Better question, how are you awake before me?"
She chuckled quietly, reaching to pat his arm that he had resting on her shoulder, "Would you look at that, Jack Bartlett can sleep in at times. This has to be a record, I'm guessing."
"Oh, great," he groaned, squeezing at her shoulder as he leaned over to kiss her cheek. "You're wide awake and in your spunky personality already. You've just been lying there awake waiting to take jabs at me." She giggled, nodding in agreement.
"What time is it?" Jack yawned as he asked.
"7:30, see you really slept in," she told him again. He grunted wrapping his arm around her waist. Lisa had been sleeping on her side, and so had he apparently.
"Your hair smells good," he grumbled, closing his eyes and putting his head back on the pillow.
She chuckled quietly, "What does it smell like? I don't have some scented shampoo."
"Smells like you," he grumbled, and she laughed again.
"So, tell me, is this the longest you've slept in aside from having your heart attack?"
"Hmm, probably," he yawned again. "Seems like I'm more tired sleeping in. I keep yawning."
"Creature of habit. We'll work on you trying to sleep in every now and then. I get the rancher hours, but you deserve a break every now and then. We both know Tim shows up when he wants in the mornings, sleeping in whenever he pleases."
"Hmm," he grumbled, still trying to wake up. "I've been getting up early for what, over 50 years. It's what I'm used to, and besides that, I really don't want to talk about Tim lying here with you."
Lisa really laughed at that, putting her hand over his arm and shifting to get more comfortable. "All the more reason to sleep in every once and a while now. Okay, what did Lyndy think about that? Did she get up early?" Jack shifted his head on his pillow and adjusted the arm he had draped around Lisa.
"She was on tour a lot, not home most of the time. I was up early for the horses and also had to get Marion off to school. Most mornings, it was just me."
"Huh," Lisa nodded. "I guess I didn't think about that, that you were home alone a lot then too."
"But," he mumbled into her hair, "we only had one house, not two."
Lisa let a low laugh escape, "Ehh, well, you and I have to keep things interesting. When she was home, was she up early like you?"
"No," he yawned again, "she would crash after her tour and would sleep until noon sometimes."
"Oh, well, I don't think I've slept until noon in my life. Maybe we'll find a compromise."
"On the wake up times or the housing situation?"
Lisa laughed again, "We can try both, but knowing your poor negotiation skills, I can't see it going in your favor." Jack laughed at that, and the two dropped into silence for several minutes, both enjoying the quiet.
"Suppose we have to head home today," Jack said quietly several minutes later. "I think I just dozed off again."
Lisa nodded, "You did. I said something, and your response was snoring." Jack quietly chuckled, squeezing at Lisa.
"Sorry, it's not the company." Lisa shifted and turned her head to kiss him. Before she even did, Jack's phone rang. He groaned, kissing Lisa before he rolled over to find it.
"Apparently someone else is up at the crack of dawn," Lisa sighed.
"Amy," he said as he answered it. "Morning, Amy." Jack started his phone call, and Lisa sat up, turning on the side light. With his free hand, Jack reached to clasp Lisa's hand in his. She moved over and settled in his side as he spoke to Amy. "Yes, we'll be back today," he said glancing at Lisa. "Things are so busy all the time, it was nice to tag along with Lisa, yes. She did get her business done," Jack nodded, winking at Lisa, and she patted his chest. "Tim told me you're headed to Europe on Thursday. I trust you, so if that is what you want to do, we'll make things work at the ranch. You have to live your life."
A knock came at the door, and Lisa mouthed, "Breakfast" to Jack. He nodded too, and she moved quietly to get up and take care of their food. While she was doing that, Jack continued with his call, "Oh, yes, we were going to be home by dinner, oh, you won't be home," he nodded, glancing to Lisa who had received the tray of food and was busy closing the door and balancing the tray. "And you are having a quiet dinner with Ty tomorrow night," he nodded. Lisa looked over and made a face. They'd talked about telling everyone at dinner before Amy left. "No, that's fine. Thanks for checking in. We will get on the road and be home before dark. Okay, yes, we'll be careful." Jack hung up, and he sighed, looking over to Lisa.
"Well, that doesn't sound promising," Lisa glanced at him as she was getting the food ready for breakfast.
"No," he nodded, standing up and trying to stretch, groaning as he did. "She wanted to make sure I would be home before she left Thursday, and then, she told me about all of her plans the next couple of days."
Lisa crossed her arms as she listened, nodding, "Well, I can't say I blame her. She has a lot to do and probably wants to spend as much time with Ty before she leaves. I might know something about that."
"Is that so?" Jack asked, walking across the room to her and pulling her into an embrace. She gripped his forearms and smiled up at him. He smiled back at her, "You want to spend some time with Ty?" Lisa swatted at him, and Jack tried to jump out of the way. "No, I can't blame her either. I'm already dreading this, going home and now not saying anything. I really like having this secret, but I know it's not practical. Of course, we need to tell everyone."
She patted his arm and leaned up to kiss him, "Well, let's talk about it as we eat. If you can finish getting breakfast setup here, I'm going to run into the bathroom, and we can hash out our plan while we eat." Jack pecked her lips and swatted at her playfully as she tried to get by him to the bathroom. He could hear Lisa laughing down the hall.
By mid-morning, they were finished loading up to head home. After enjoying their breakfast-cinnamon rolls for both because they were delicious as the front desk had told Jack, and a nice walk out on the walking trail with the packed snow, the two were putting the last of their things into Lisa's car.
"Oh, here's this," Lisa called to Jack as he was about to close the back of the SUV. He turned and saw her carrying the caddy with the wines they'd purchased the evening before.
His eyes widened, and he nodded, "Oh, don't want to forget that."
"No," she smiled, handing it to him. "I'm just glad we remembered to get it out of the car last night or we would have had wine slushies." Jack chuckled at that and closed up the car, turning back toward her with a gesture.
"Anything else?"
She shook her head, "No, that was the last of it. Thank you for this wonderful trip." Lisa braced her arms on Jack's arms and leaned up to give him a kiss. He quickly returned it, and she grinned at their close contact, "Best trip I can remember in a very long time."
"Really?" Jack asked, raising his eyebrows. "You travel a lot."
"Hmm, I do," she nodded, "but not with you, and that's what makes this the best. In fact," she said playfully with a grin, "best honeymoon I've ever had."
Jack groaned and closed his eyes at the mention of that, and when he opened them, he frowned at her, "You said that you and Dan," he spit out his name, "went on a cruise in the Mediterranean."
"We did," she patted Jack's arms and smiled. "So, my saying that should tell you just how much I loved this trip. Thank you for not taking off to a cruise ship casino."
Jack groaned and narrowed his gaze, "He did that."
She nodded, "Every evening, yes, oh, and a few times during the day. Pretty much, we were both on the trip, but not on the trip together. So, yes, Jack," she flashed a huge smile, "this was absolutely perfect."
"Well, I'm glad," he said leaning in to kiss her again. She grinned into their kiss, and when he pulled back to look at her, he gestured, "So, ice fishing-"
"Oh," she waved her hand, "so much better than any cruise ship and I mean that. I love spending time with you just doing simple things like this. That wine bar was so enjoyable last night too."
"Yes, it was," he nodded in agreement. "We can enjoy those wines we bought over the next few weeks."
"And," she patted his side, "if we don't get the car started and get going, they are going to freeze."
Jack winked, and the two got situated in the car. Shortly after, they were on the road, headed back home.
Jack was enjoying his mind wandering, when Lisa broke the silence, "Are you sure you don't want to tell the girls before Amy goes? I know dinner isn't going to happen, but we could find a time if you want."
He looked over at her and shook his head, "No, I like that we have this secret for the moment. Feels kinda nice. I also know that with all Amy has on her plate, this is a lot to just drop. And, if I have to say," he paused and started to chuckle, "it's going to be quite comical to see if Tim can keep this under wraps."
Lisa laughed at that, nodding in agreement, but she turned toward Jack, "Well, that is another issue. Do you actually think he'll keep his mouth shut?"
"Oh, he will," Jack nodded quickly. "I'll make sure of it."
"Hmm, this is going to be fun messing with him while he can't say anything. Yeah," she nodded and turned to meet Jack's gaze, "I like it. I'm in. We won't tell anyone until Amy gets back, but we'll find every opportunity to dangle it in front of Tim to mess with him. Yes, this will be fun."
Jack chuckled and reached over the console to hold her hand. Lisa gestured at the car.
"Thank you for being willing to bring my car. This was a good idea, Jack. Not only are we okay with the snow, it's been nice to have, I don't know," she gestured down, "a basic cupholder, oh, a phone charging port," she gestured again, "and, oh," she flashed a fake smile, "it's been nice not to feel every rock in the road we drive over."
Jack shook his head and laughed, glancing her way and making a face, "Make fun all you want, you and your fancy amenities. I've never said your car is bad. I mean," he used his hands to gesture, "it's a Porsche. It's just not what I'm comfortable driving."
"Jack," she shook her head as she continued to laugh, "there is a very wide spectrum of vehicles between a Porsche and your truck, a very wide spectrum, not to mention, no one would consider a cupholder a fancy amenity. Now, I understand your old truck and its memories. You told me all about that finally a long time ago when I had to come after you at the fishing cabin. I know it had all of those memories from Lyndy, but you have to admit that your upgrade after that, your current truck, it's not some modern luxury, quite hardly."
"That's why it's a beaut," he winked at her as their glances met. Lisa laughed at that, putting her hands over her face. She then groaned, "You'll never get another truck, will you? That's there to stay."
"The way I look at it," Jack started to talk and then glanced at Lisa. She'd pulled her hands out of her face and was now looking over at him, "That truck is part of me. I did have to let the old one go when it finally died. I admitted that then and did it, yes, even with all of those memories of Lyndy. Now, though," he nodded, Lisa still looking at him, "seems to me that a very, very special lady helped me pick out my current truck, even if she thought it was the worst purchase ever. This lovely lady, loved me enough to indulge my love for old trucks and is willing to be seen riding in that wonderful truck even if the rest of the world can't see that truck for the gem it is. Seems to me that I had a lot of good memories with Lyndy in the old truck, but I have had and will have more good memories with this very special lady, this wife of mine, in my new truck."
She gave him a warm smile at his sweet attempt at a romantic gesture, but she pointed at him, "Calling your truck a 'new truck' is very much of a stretch. That would be like calling you modern." Jack let out a smirk at Lisa's comment, glancing at her with a grin.
"The truck is staying."
"Oh," she waved. "I know. I learned a long time ago to not come between you and your truck. I ride in it with you, yes, but I do appreciate this, you understanding your precious truck wasn't the right vehicle for the drive."
"Here's our compromise," Jack looked to her and winked. That had Lisa giggle, but she nodded for him to continue, "If we make any winter trips like this, we'll take your four wheel drive. If we do any summer trips, like the fishing cabin, we use the truck."
"A man after my own heart," she said sarcastically with a grin and quiet chuckle as Jack grinned over at her. "Let's get some coffee going," she patted his hand and reached for the Thermos they'd filled. "We can use my nice cupholders while we have the chance." Jack smirked loudly enough for her to hear, and the two broke out laughing, enjoying the rest of their drive home.
They finally pulled into Heartland late afternoon, and immediately, Jack groaned seeing Tim riding in the field next to the driveway.
"Welcome home," Lisa held back a snicker, patting at Jack's arm. Jack gave her a sideways glance and then looked out his window and gave a nod to Tim, who was close enough to the car to see them.
"Just great," Jack sighed. "Tim."
"At least he's working. Looks like he was mending the fence there up by the road. You know you would be equally frustrated if we'd pulled in, and Tim wasn't anywhere to be seen." Jack eyed her, not wanting to admit she was right, but he finally rolled his eyes, earning another snicker from Lisa. They continued up the driveway, and before they reached the house, Jack reached for Lisa's hand.
"What I don't like about this is you going home. Are you sure you want to do that?"
"I've been away for a few days, and I do have meetings that were on the books for tomorrow. Believe me," she met his gaze, "the last few days have been really wonderful, Jack, but we are married now and did both say we were going to try and adapt to this crazy lifestyle of ours. Some of that is going to be me going home at times. We also have to remember our fun encounter with Lou the other morning when I was on the way out, and we have to remember that while we know we are married, the others don't, so my just showing up most mornings now would be a bit of a shock."
"I know," sighed, tightening his grip on her hand. "Didn't say I liked it."
She laughed, "I don't either, but you have plenty of things to do here after being gone. I'm the same, and I'll come by tomorrow. Now," she unbuckled and leaned over whispering to him, "The offer always stands for you to make your way to Fairfield, that ugly truck and all. You have a key, and I won't turn you away." She moved back to her seat just as quickly as she'd leaned over toward him. He looked over at her with a tip of his hat.
"I'm sure I can find my way there. No GPS needed."
At that, Jack parked the car, and Lisa burst out laughing. Jack started laughing too, and they both opened their doors, still laughing as they got out, not realizing that Tim had ridden up right behind them.
"Oh, look the happy couple returns. How are the newlyweds?" Tim chimed from his horse. The two, who were still laughing, hadn't noticed he was right there.
"Keep your voice down!" Jack's eyes widened, and he gestured at Tim, shaking his head. "I'm warning you."
Ignoring that, Tim continued with his comments, "Well," he gestured at them there laughing, as Lisa was trying to calm herself, "you two didn't kill each other on your little honeymoon. You also survived it old man, and the two of you laughing, I suppose that's a good sign. No one was too disappointed."
"Tim," Lisa called to him and shook her head. "We are barely out of the car. Just stop."
"Ahh, a welcome home to the missus," he tipped his hat. "Don't worry, you two. Amy's in the barn. Lou and the kids are in town. She was picking up Georgie and has Katie at ballet. Your secret is safe," and he zipped his lip. "Note to the missus," he smirked and pointed, "your rings are a dead giveaway especially to this crowd."
"Oh, shoot," Lisa said, making a face. Jack looked over the roof of the car at her and with his arms spread wide, gestured. She sighed and rolled her eyes, ducking back into the car. She stood up and flashed a smile at both men, "Safely stored in the car for now."
"Are you telling them tonight?"
"No," Jack pointed at Tim. "We are going to wait until Amy gets back from Europe."
"Until Amy gets back? That's months from now!" Tim exclaimed, and he shook his head and pointed at the two. "You two are insane."
"It's our news, our decision, Tim. You have to keep this to yourself," Jack told him.
"We might be insane," Lisa nodded, glancing to Jack, "happily married and insane."
"You are killing me," Tim put his hand over his heart, shaking his head. "I can't believe you two are going to try and keep this under wraps for a few months. You realize how long that is? Jack, that could be a lifetime to you. What if something happens?"
Jack groaned, glancing at Lisa and then scowling up at Tim as he gestured, "I'm sure we can handle it. Lisa and I decided that, end of discussion. As for your ridiculous suggestion, well," he smirked, "if something happens, I die a very happy, married man, and I suppose everyone can be mad at me then when Lisa tells everyone. Any more questions-no," he shook his head. "Forget I said that because you always have something to say. Here's a thought-why don't you get back to actually working, and we will unload the car."
Tim looked between the two, who were now standing at the back of the car, looking up at Tim. He grinned at them, "I'm so happy you crazy lovebirds got married, but I think you are nuts to believe you'll keep this under wraps. I mean," he started to laugh, "it's not like Lou is going to just think it's normal for Lisa to be here in the mornings."
"Hmm," Lisa smiled up at Tim, "I'm headed home as soon as we get things unloaded."
Tim doubled over, laughing, "Oh, wow, honeymoon was that good, was it? Jack," he looked at him laughing, "come on. Talk about a disappointment. Some honeymoon. You know, there's the term 'honeymoon phase,' but I suppose at your age, it doesn't apply anymore. Man, don't get me started on mine. It was a wild ride, wild."
Jack groaned and pointed to Tim, "I suggest you stop talking now, both about my wife here and about anything you are trying to suggest about my daughter. My only mistake when she married you was not insisting on a chastity belt."
Lisa burst out laughing. Both men looked over at her, and she collected herself. She pointed at the two and cut into their discussion, "Okay, boys, we're done here. Tim, we're going to get the car unloaded, and you can get back to work. Nothing more needs to be said until Amy gets back. Jack and I will navigate this as we see fit, and," she shrugged, "people here are going to have to adapt and get used to seeing me more and more. I'll be back over for dinner tomorrow, and I highly suggest if and when you see me here in the morning, you keep your mouth shut. Right now, we are going a day at a time. Tomorrow, I'll join everyone for dinner as I said."
"Great," Tim grinned. "You can tell everyone then."
"No," Jack shook his head, "Amy and Ty have plans. This will be done with everyone here. We're waiting. Now," he nodded and looked to Lisa, "let's unload and how about you stay for coffee?"
"Of course," she nodded with a warm smile, and with a slight nod to Jack and a small grin, added, "It will be hard going to sleep alone tonight."
"That I don't want to hear, ever," Tim shuddered, waved his hand, made a face, and after all that, turned his horse and rode off.
Jack laughed as he gestured at Lisa, "We could have avoided that ridiculous conversation if you'd started with that."
"Ehh," she shrugged, "I'll have to remember to pull out that comment anytime he annoys me."