Jack always enjoyed working with Stumpy, and today had been no different. The two had fixed Stumpy's trailer, a trailer that Jack used almost as often as Stumpy, so he was happy to help him fix it. The two ranchers had been friends for decades, Stumpy just a little younger than Jack, trying to fight his aging body, but definitely not as fit as Jack. After fixing the trailer, one that had broken down on the side of the road west of Hudson, Jack offered to buy Stumpy lunch at the diner. After all, they were close to town, and he'd dropped everything earlier that morning to go and help his dear friend. Stumpy, though, exhausted and feeling every bit his age (and probably feeling even older), took a rain check on lunch and started for home. Jack, who was extremely hungry, decided to swing by Maggie's. Tim was working, or he might have asked for his help with Stumpy's trailer, and as much as Tim could be an irritant, Jack had a few things to discuss with him regarding the herd and decided he could take care of all of that by just sitting down to a quick lunch at Maggie's.
Thankfully, the counter wasn't busy when Jack arrived, and a quick glance at his watch told him it was much later than he realized. Fixing that trailer and tire had taken a lot longer than thought, and the lunch rush was over. Fine with Jack. He just wanted something to eat.
"Hey, did you get Stumpy's trailer fixed?" Tim asked, carrying the pot of coffee back from a table he'd been serving. He stopped in front of Jack's spot at the counter, pulled a coffee cup out, and he filled it, no words about coffee exchanged between the two. Jack gave him a silent nod of thanks, both men keenly aware of the other's needs.
"Yeah, we did. Took much longer than I thought, and we both realized we're getting old."
"A look in the mirror could tell you that too," Tim smirked.
Ignoring that comment, Jack started with his requests, "We need to move the herd this week to the back field. I decided I could endure your comments over lunch to discuss that."
"I can move them Friday," Tim told him. "I have to cover the diner until then."
"Sounds fine," Jack nodded. "I've got plenty to do in the barn between now and then. I'll pick up some feed as soon as I finish eating, and I can work on fixing that broken stall gate. I told Lise we'd exercise Cinders, and I know Amy has been doing that, but I might take him out on a ride myself, that is if he can tolerate my saddle. I'm not about to ride him with an English saddle. She's been asking about him, and I know she was a little hesitant to leave him at Heartland for this trip, but Amy has worked with him more since the mess Lise and I had in the mountains, and Cinders if finally settled again. That should keep me busy the next few days."
Nodding at his chore list, Tim added, "Plus, you need to shop for a birthday gift for Val.: He grinned, winking at him. At that, Jack scowled, rolled his head, and dropped it, sitting there at the counter.
"While you wallow in that, what are you ordering?"
"BLT today, onion rings," Jack nodded at Tim, even adding, "please."
"Wow," he raised his eyes, "a pleasant request."
"Just don't expect a tip," Jack smirked.
"Then, just don't expect a wingman to Val's party."
Jack again dropped his head, sighing. He finally looked up, and Tim was wiping the counter. As he finished, he flung the towel over his shoulder, leaned back against the back counter, and he glanced at Jack. The place was mostly empty, even the table Tim had been serving coffee, had left cash as they exited. Tim and Jack's gazes met.
"I need you to go to this party. I've told you that. Lisa isn't going to be home, and Val would come drag me out of the house in the middle of her own party to go. I need someone with me to face both Val and Dan."
"Fine, I'll go, but I'm not taking a gift," Tim pointed at him. Jack raised his hand, understanding.
"Didn't ask you to do anything of the sort."
"Well, she will expect something from you, and you'd better make sure it's not something she will read into. What do you have in mind?"
Jack frowned and nodded, "I asked Lisa what I should do, and she suggested a simple, but nice," he met Tim's gaze, "bottle of bourbon. Wine is too personal, at least as far as talking about Val. I told Lisa I felt wine would give her the wrong impression, and knowing Val, she agreed. Val does like bourbon at times, and I'll just get that. The only person I get wine for is Lisa."
"Probably a wise move, both the gift idea and telling Lisa all about this."
"Lisa is not worried about Val at all. That I can promise. She's more concerned what Val's intentions are, not what my interest is. She and I are clear where we stand. There is no question she is the only woman in my life. Geez, I just got her back. I'm not about to mess it up again."
"Yeah, you'd better not. No one likes bitter Jack, trust me. She's the best thing that's happened to you. When is she coming back because sulking Jack like we have now isn't exactly fun either."
Jack frowned at him and rolled his eyes as he held up his coffee cup, wanting a refill. Tim got on that as Jack answered, "She's still not sure. She is waiting on this horse from Portugal. The language barrier is making it difficult to get accurate information, which I guess I don't get at times. It seems like everyone in her horse world speaks at least a little English, but she doesn't deal much with Portugal usually, so what do I know?"
"I know she needs to get back here. What's the plan for you two? Same as always-Lisa just gracing us with her presence when around? You two being discreet and not putting your romance on display in front of the girls? I gotta say Jack, you must just have some hidden talent or must be some Romeo in disguise. I don't know why she bothers to stick around."
Jack scowled at him and gestured, "I'm not going to let things fall apart ever again. I can promise you that."
"Well, that's not much of an answer."
"I'm not going to discuss our future with you."
"I'm here to tell you that you should, at least, I mean, discuss it with her, plan something. This going back and forth to France, Lisa dropping by when she's here, I mean, how is that a life? You've made it clear you won't travel with her. It won't be long for her to just get tired of it again. She already did before."
"It wasn't just that, I mean, she didn't get tired of me. I pushed her away after my heart attack. I really don't want to get into this with you, but that was my doing, and anything I do plan for our future, I'll first discuss with her. I'm not about to have you ruin something."
"Ah ha!" Tim pointed to Jack. "You do have a plan or you wouldn't be worried I'd ruin anything."
He eyed Tim and sipped at his coffee before answering, "As I said, any plans about our future, I will discuss first with Lisa."
Tim walked to the end of the counter to pick up Jack's order and as he served him, he locked eyes with Jack, "Just don't wait too long. I mean, you don't know how many days you have left. I already know what a worked-up, almost unconsolable Lisa looks like after your heart attack. Be glad you didn't see her falling apart when I picked her up at the airport. No, you got the put together version at the hospital, which was still a blubbering mess. Seriously," he paused and studied Jack who had already taken a bite of his sandwich, and continued, "what do these women see in you? Why do you of all people have them falling at your feet, almost fighting over you?"
"I don't have women falling at my feet! Lisa and I are in a relationship, have been for almost eight years. Val is delusional, and I've never led her on or shown the slightest interest in her."
"You can say that again about Val," Tim scoffed.
"And what do you know about a real relationship? At least I'm not jumping from one to another. I've only dated Lisa since Lyndy died. You know that and know how long it took me to be ready for that. Your version of a relationship is sneaking off to the dude ranch for a good time and feeding them, the revolving door of women, at my house. That's about what you know. If I start forgetting things in my old age, you'll have to start putting name tags on the women, as many of them as there are. Lisa is it for me, and I can't believe a woman so wonderful can find anything to love about me."
Tim looked up at the door opening, and he raised his eyebrows at Jack as he greeted the customer, "Val, heard you were back in town." Jack dropped his head and shook it. When he looked up, Tim was smirking at him. Jack took a huge bite of his sandwich, a bite he regretted and immediately felt himself almost choking. He was so focused on his sandwich he didn't see Val sit down right next to him.
"Imagine my luck finding you here alone at lunch," Val said leaning toward Jack. She turned to study him, and Jack threw a wave at her as his face reddened from his sandwich. "Jack, are you okay?"
"Fine," he finally croaked out, turning slightly toward Val. He caught Tim's eye as he did and smirked at him again. Tim dropped his head, trying to hide his laughter. "Sandwich got caught in my throat."
"Might be time in your life for soft foods only, Jack," Tim offered, and both Jack and Val turned to him. He shrugged, "What? You are choking on a sandwich. That can't be good."
"I'm fine," Jack stated again, looking to Val. "Val, nice to see you."
"What in the world have you gotten into today? You're covered in what, black tar?"
"Not exactly, just helping Stumpy with his broken-down trailer. Changed a tired, fixed the door, just a dirty job."
"Well, I just stopped in for a coffee to go," she looked at Tim, and he sprang into action. Val held out her hand, "but with Jack, here, I'll just enjoy a cup at the counter."
"Oh, don't stay on my account," Jack waved his hand, chewing up another large bite. He couldn't finish the sandwich fast enough, even if that meant choking on it. This was definitely a story for Lisa, and he could already hear her laughing about his shoving the sandwich down as quickly as he could. "I have to get going. That trailer took up my morning, and I have a long list of chores to complete at home, especially with Tim here."
"What can you do?" Tim shook his head and shrugged at Val, finally offering a comment that helped Jack. "I'm a wanted man-everyone wants me, wants to work me to death."
"If work is getting to be too much, why don't you let me help, Jack?" Val's hand nudged Jack, and at that, he turned slightly toward her. He didn't want to be rude. "I can send a few of my stable hands over to help for a day or so. I can even help you get someone hired. Surely, you could use a full-time hand. I'm worried about you after that heart attack, and had I known sooner, I would have been here. That reminds me, that I need to bring you some food too." Jack shook his head and tried to waved that off, but he had a large bite in his mouth again and couldn't answer Val. "You and I have been through a lot over the years. We've both buried a spouse, had our share of other heartbreaks, and I'm not about to lose you now too. Let me help."
"Really, Val, it's fine. I'm fine. Doc said I'm doing very well. Caleb is around to help at the ranch quite a bit. Amy and Georgie are taking care of things in the barn."
"So tell me about Georgie," she nudged him. "I understand she is your newest great-granddaughter."
"My granddaughter," Tim offered, smiling at Val.
"Gee, Tim, thanks for the family tree lesson," Val scowled at him, and Jack couldn't help but laugh at that, dropping his head toward his coffee cup he was nursing. He gestured as he answered Val.
"Georgie is a great kid. Lou and Peter have done a wonderful thing, giving her a home."
"I heard you had originally taken her in and were trying to be her foster parent. You have to know at your age, Jack, that wasn't the best of ideas."
"It was about what was best for Georgie, not necessarily me. She needed somewhere to live, and she was doing really well at the ranch. It has worked out nicely, though, for everyone. Lou and Peter are doing a great job with her, and she loves being a big sister to Katie."
"I look forward to meeting her. Tell me, does she like horses at all?"
"Are you kidding?" Tim jumped in, filling up Val's coffee again and topping off Jack's. "Georgie is a natural around horses. You would have thought she was born into the family. She loves working around the barn, helping with chores, feeding the horses. Amy has been giving her riding lessons, and thankfully, she is the same size and can use Lisa's saddle right now," he said, and instantly, the color drained from his face as he glanced to Jack. Jack, looking up just enough to meet Tim's gaze, narrowed his eyes at him, definitely not wanting to bring up Lisa.
"Lisa Stillman," Val sighed, shaking her head. "Heard she came home and went right back to France. Dan Hartfield was just telling me he had meetings with her this week, but she always did plan to cut bait and run to her beloved France. She was testing the waters putting Fairfield on the market, and I assume she discovered with the economy the way it is, it's just not the time to sell a huge empire like that. Oh well. I guess she is thinking of staying there, in France, on a permanent basis, but that was always her plan. I mean, it's not like this little Hudson was going to do it for her ever. We were all just something to tide her over," she chuckled, shaking her head and almost expecting Jack to join in her assessment.
"Tim, I need to get going, so the check?"
"Oh, we certainly don't have to discuss her," Val put her hand on Jack's there on the counter. Jack looked at it but did not want to look over at Val. "I'll happily discuss anything else. You have been through so much, Jack. I'v heard all about it over town."
"Val, I really do need to get going-" Instead of waiting on a check, Jack eyed Tim and threw down some cash. "That should cover it."
"Jack, we will talk more at my party. I haven't heard an RSVP from you, but I expect you are coming? Tim, you're invited too, the entire family. Oh, please even bring Georgie so I can meet her. I need to meet the newest member of your family. Your family is so important to me, Jack."
Jack finally turned toward Val and nodded, "I'll be at your party. Tim," he nodded at him and smirked, "will be coming with me as well, for sure. As for the rest of the family, right now, I can't guarantee a head count. Everyone has their busy lives and all. I'm not sure who will be around."
"No specific numbers necessary," she smiled. "As I said, anyone from your family is welcome, always will be."
"Nice to see you, Val," he said politely, and Jack looked over to Tim. "Tim, you're on dinner duty."
"We didn't talk about that," Tim pointed out to him.
Jack smirked, "We just did. We can discuss all the ways you've irritated me today over that dinner, so don't show up without a food plan. Val," Jack nodded, and with that, he stepped toward the door. He could hear Val talking to Tim as he opened the door.
"Wow, you know how to put your foot in your mouth. We both just saw Jack shut down, so while we have this chance to chat, tell me what has been going on over there at Heartland. I can't help my dear friend through this mess if I don't know how to take care of his needs."