Lisa wasn't sure what Jack was up to; she'd called him a couple of times and sent him two text messages, but she hadn't heard back from him. With service spotty all around the ranch and the surrounding area, that wasn't really a surprise, but she hoped he would turn up soon. As she pulled up to the house, she saw Lou was unloading some bags from the back of her car. She gave Lou a small wave as she parked next to her.
Things seemed to be a little better with Lou. Lisa was at least now understanding why Lou had been rather hostile with her since she and Jack had gotten back together. While it was ridiculous Lou was being that overprotective of Jack, Lisa did get it and just hoped that Lou now understood a bit better why things had imploded as they had after Jack's heart attack and that Lisa wasn't the monster Lou had thought she'd become.
"Hi, Lou, can I help with your bags?" Lisa asked, stepping out of the car.
"Oh, this is the last of it," she waved to the trunk, "just some spring shopping for Georgie and Katie. It's crazy how fast they grow. Grandpa said this morning you had offered to make dinner?"
She nodded, "Yes, I have things to unload too, groceries for dinner. I was planning to make a pork tenderloin tonight."
"Ohh," Lou's face lit up, "that sounds good. We haven't had that in a really long time. You know around here it's usually beef."
Lisa gave a shake of her head, "And, that is why when I was at the store, this just looked very appetizing. I picked up the pork loin the other day and stopped to get the rest of the things for dinner-potato casserole, green beans, salad."
"Sounds delicious," Lou nodded. "Thanks for cooking." The two walked toward the house weighted down with their bags, dodging Georgie who came flying out of the house, headed for the barn.
"Georgie, no trail ride this late. Lisa's making dinner, and you won't be back in time."
"K," Georgie yelled as she continued to run.
"Wish I had that much energy," Lisa chuckled. "Speaking of trail rides and all, have you seen Jack? I've tried calling and texting him, but nothing."
"Oh," she pointed toward the house as they stepped inside, "he's asleep on the couch. We just discovered him when we came in, and with as loud as Katie, was, he must be exhausted. He said he didn't sleep well last night, and I asked Katie to play in her room and not bother him."
"Alright then," Lisa said, letting out a sigh of relief. It was unlike Jack to be out of range that long, so a nap made much better sense. Considering she'd started texting him over two hours ago, he must have been exhausted and needed the sleep. She also knew if he slept much longer, he wouldn't sleep at all overnight. He'd complained about that with her before, that there was a perfect nap length, and she was pretty sure after two hours or longer, he was beyond his perfect length.
"I must say I'm very impressed you have gotten Grandpa to start texting. He doesn't do it much and prefers to call as you know, but he's starting to use it more, even if just mostly with you. Anything is a start."
Lisa, who was now unpacking the groceries, gave a glance at Lou and nodded with a smile, "Yes, well, baby steps. That flip phone of his definitely makes texting more of a challenge, but as I said, baby steps."
Lou gestured down the hall, "I'm going to get Katie to pick some flowers from the containers since the winter ones are going to die off soon. She wanted to do that for dinner, and that way she's not in Grandpa's hair."
"I'll get dinner going and check on Jack," she gestured to the living room where she saw him there on the couch, his head leaned back and sound asleep. Lisa followed Lou toward the living room. Lou continued to the bedrooms, and Lisa walked around and gingerly put her knee down on the couch next to Jack, trying to lean over him. She frowned at the angle of his head, knowing he would complain about his neck after sleeping as he was. He was lightly snoring, and she covered her mouth in a chuckle listening to him. Lisa glanced up as Lou and Katie walked back through. She threw a small wave at Katie, and Lou made sure so shush Katie to not wake up Jack.
"Jack," Lisa called quietly, waiting to see if that stirred him. She tried again, "Come on, Cowboy." It didn't, so she leaned over and kissed him, one of her 'mean something kisses' she'd joked with him about years ago, which did have his eyes flying open. "Hi," she laughed quietly. "Glad that got a response."
"Hey," he said sitting up and groaning, his hand instantly going to his neck. Lisa made a face too, already knowing that would be a problem. She was still on her knees kneeling on the couch cushion next to Jack. He squeezed her knee with his free hand and then rested it there. Lisa propped up her head with her elbow resting on the back of the couch there to talk to Jack. "I guess I fell asleep."
Lisa laughed and nodded, "I guess you did, probably for some time. I started texting you a couple hours ago."
He groaned again, "What time is it?"
"4:30 now."
He nodded, "I sat down after lunch, just wiped out. I couldn't sleep last night. The wind kept me up, and," he winked at her, "I was also missing someone very much."
"Is that so?" Lisa threw him a flirtatious grin. "I suppose you might make a case that you would sleep better if I stay tonight?"
"Oh, that is a fact," he lightly chuckled. "I've missed you the last couple days."
"I know," she sighed, dropping her head and giving him a bashful look. "It's been crazy at Fairfield, always is this time of year. Spring, all the colts and everything else. That's why I wanted to make dinner and spend some time with you. Maybe you come over to Fairfield this weekend too?"
He gave her a small smile and nod. "I'm not complaining, and maybe I will come over there this weekend," as he rolled his head with a wink. He leaned in and gave her a proper greeting, their kiss deepening quickly He put his hand on her cheek and pulled her in tighter. She pulled back and nodded her head toward the door.
"Lou and Katie just stepped outside, so reign it in, Cowboy."
"Okay," he chuckled, patting her knee again. "How was your day?"
"Good," she nodded as she told Jack. "Hopefully, the next couple of days aren't quite as busy. Did you get the vaccinations done for your herd?"
He nodded too, "Yeah, Caleb and I worked on the last of that this morning, came in for a late lunch, and," he gestured to where he was sitting, "you can see how I spent the afternoon."
She nodded and then gestured with her free hand landing on his chest to pat at it, "I did want to talk to you about something."
"Oh?" Jack asked, putting his free hand on Lisa's arm on the back of the couch.
"I am hoping you will go with me to this silently charity auction," she started, and right away, Jack made a face and started to shake his head. Lisa pressed her hand at his chest to get his attention, "Before you start telling me why this is such a horrible idea, that you don't do events like this, that you don't want to bid on something-I know all of that," she rolled her eyes and let a small laugh escape. Jack paused in his start of a rant, and he met her gaze with a single laugh.
"I'll hear you out," he said, acting like he was being chivalrous. Lisa grinned at that.
"Good, this is in a week and a half, down in Calgary. To be honest, I'd forgotten I was invited. The invite came right before we got married," she said, glancing around to make sure they were still alone in the house. She continued, "Anyway, I've been a little busy since," she grinned. "This is for a horse breeding association I'm part of, and they use the money to provide scholarships to youth in need to get them riding lessons and things like that, so it is a good cause. One of the committee members, a friend, she called me to ask about my RSVP."
Jack raised an eye at Lisa, "You already told her we were coming, didn't you?" At that, he shook his head and shifted, pulling Lisa to his side."
She rolled her eyes and gave him a pleading look, "I thought it could be fun for us," she shrugged. "A night in Calgary-this charity event always has a nice dinner, there's dancing, come on," she said, now nestled in his side and reaching up to smack at him, "do this for me, please? It's not over the top; Jack, this is for kids in need. They do this every year. I've just been in France the last few years during this time, but I've made sure to send a big donation. The last time I went, several years ago now, it was lovely, and I'd really like to go this year again. You and I both know what horses can do for kids. This covers everything-lessons, gear, stabling the horses where they are-I know you have a soft spot for that. Indulge me, please? I'd really like to go."
Lisa shifted slightly to look up at Jack, and right away, she started to smile. She could tell by his expression that he'd agreed to go even if he hadn't voiced that yet. Her smile widened, and he rolled his eyes.
"Thank you, Jack," she said, leaning up to kiss him. He waved his hand.
"As long as it's not too fancy," he told her. "I'm just a cowboy, not some horse breeder."
"No, not too fancy," she shook her head. "Your blue suit will be fine, but," she looked up at him with a teasing tone, "you did marry a horse breeder, so what's mine is yours. I'd love for you to come and have you meet some of these people I know. You are one handsome cowboy, and everyone is going to want to know where I found you. You don't even realize the best part."
"Sure," he let a laugh escape, "wonder where you found me in some cowboy bar or rodeo," he shook his head. "Tell me, though, what's the best part I'm missing?" Jack eyed her, noting she had a big grin.
"I'll be all dressed up," she said with a single nod. "I have this dress I bought in Paris I've been dying to wear. Plus," she patted his chest with a wink, "I thought we could stay in Calgary. No sense in driving home that late at night, and by staying, we can enjoy some nice wine at the event too."
Jack shifted his head from side to side like he was considering all of this. Lisa just grinned, knowing he was almost trying to play hard to get, but he was already fine with going. He tried to look stern, which had her giggle and nodded to her, "So, what's this fancy charity night going to put me back?"
"Oh, nothing," she grinned again. "Tickets bought, you know because if my husband won't go, I can try and find some young gentleman to go with me." Jack rolled his eyes, and Lisa continued, "Oh, and yes," she looked at him with a flirtatious grin, "I told them we both wanted the filet for dinner, so we'll have a nice meal. The food is usually excellent. I've taken care of booking the room at the hotel, and since it's March and still snowing all the time, we can take my car. All you have to do is pack your suit, pack an overnight bag, and spend the evening with you wife."
He made a gesture and nodded, "Ahh, well, that is not a bad deal. You are a pretty good negotiator. One question," he raised a finger pointing. She laughed and nodded.
"Can I tell people you are my wife?" Jack leaned in quietly to say that, and Lisa grinned with a nod.
"Oh, most definitely, we will be out of Heartland territory, so yes, and my rings go too. I miss wearing them."
"Alright," he tapped her knee, "sign me up. I suppose I can endure an evening like that. Just don't leave me to talking to someone about horse breeding." He leaned over to kiss her again, the two laughing into their kiss. They broke apart when they heard the door slam and saw Katie flying into the room.
"GG, Lisa!" Katie yelled, running up to them with the flowers she'd picked. "GG, these are for dinner."
Jack, still there with his arm around Lisa nestled in his side, looked over to Katie and made a gesture at her, "Katie, those flowers are beautiful, but I don't want to eat them for dinner." That had Katie and Lisa laughing.
"No, GG, for the table! Can we have toast for dinner?"
"Katie, I'm making dinner, no toast tonight, which reminds me," Lisa patted Jack's leg as she shifted to stand. "I need to get started on it." She stood and then helped Jack stand up too. He pulled Lisa to his side and kissed her head, speaking quietly to her with Katie now running to the table with the flowers.
"I will enjoy a night out with you," he kissed her head again. She gave him a warm smile and nod.
"I'm glad to hear that. I'm looking forward to it too, next Saturday night. Oh," she quickly frowned, eyeing him. He shook his head, wondering the change, and she sighed, "You'd better enjoy your time with me, Cowboy, because in another month, I have to head to Florida for three weeks."
"Three weeks?" Jack made a face at her. She gestured with her hand.
"You are more than welcome to come with me, but I know you probably won't. As you know, it's really busy this time of year with my breeding business, and yes," she shook her head, "Florida for three weeks, so enjoy me while you can," she winked and grinned at him. He let out a grunt and nodded.
"Well, we both knew you would have travel and all. That didn't change just because," he leaned in and whispered in her ear, "we made the best decision ever and got married all alone, but know that I will miss you like crazy, might even text you while you're gone," he said, with a wink. That had Lisa laughing. She kissed his cheek and stepped away toward the kitchen, turning back to smile at him as she walked.
"I'll come help with dinner, just give me a minute to freshen up," he told her, and Lisa turned back, nodding with a smile at him.
"Looking forward to a lovely evening," Lisa told him and added, "here at home with you."