Lisa looked up from her computer screen over the late afternoon scene at the ranch. It was quiet; Lou, Katie, and Peter had run into town to pick up a few things for their trip. Lisa and Lyndy had made cookies earlier, and now, Amy and Lyndy were out shopping for school supplies; school would be starting very soon. Lisa knew that everyone was trying to give Jack space and stay away at least for now, leaving her to deal with whatever mood graced her presence. Tim was out with the herd, Lisa grateful for his help, and Jess, well, no one ever knew where Jess really disappeared to most days, but she suspected Jess was at the art gallery in town.

She glanced to her computer screen, thankful she'd been able to get some work done for Fairfield. Jack had been exhausted after their walk around the property and after brushing out the horses. He'd told Lisa he had a headache, and the two had come back to the house. He'd been sleeping since, now most of the afternoon, and she was worried he'd be up all night, but she didn't dare wake him. It was almost time to put Lou's roast in the oven; the two women had discussed that before Lou, Peter, and Katie had left. While Lisa knew Jack wanted to make his stew, he didn't have the required ingredients off hand, and well, he was exhausted and recovering. He'd just have to deal with Lou's roast, and both women thought it was the better choice to Lisa cooking considering that Jack wasn't exactly thrilled with Lisa there since he didn't know her. Jack might complain less if he was eating Lou's meal.

"You're my wife?" Lisa's mind wandered back to that fateful moment back in the hospital, Lisa's head spinning as she tried to come to terms with Jack's memory loss. She had her hand on his arm, and as his eyes met her, he looked down at her hand. She shook her head, confused to the problem.

"Jack, yes, it's me, Lisa. We've been married for almost 11 years."

At the sound of movement at the door, Lisa looked up to see Amy reappearing with food and drinks.

"Oh, good, Grandpa, you're awake," Amy smiled at him and looked to Lisa. "I got you soup with your coffee. You need to eat. Grandpa, so good to see you."

"Amy," Jack said, gesturing to her, "you look so grown up."

"Ahh, Amy," Lisa hoped her eyes conveyed the terror she now felt, "umm, Jack seems to have some memory loss. He just woke up. I paged the nurse, and she's getting the doctor." Lisa turned to Jack, "You recognize Amy?"

"Amy," he gestured and added, "my granddaughter. I hope you aren't missing school. Your grades have been suffering."

Amy frowned and looked to Lisa, tilting her head as she met Lisa's gaze. Lisa's eyes widened at Amy, and she nodded, both women speaking without words. Amy turned to Jack.

"Grandpa, what-"

"I don' know who she is," Jack looked back to Lisa. "Did you say we're married? That can't be. What's going on?"

"Grandpa," Amy reached for his arm and put her hand on it, waiting for him to look at her. She pointed to Lisa, "Yes, this is Lisa. You love her very much and did marry her almost 11 years ago. You've known her almost 20 years. You don't remember Lisa?"

"When he woke up, he remembered your mom's accident and worried he'd been in it with her," Lisa explained. Amy's eyes widened, and she looked back at Jack.

"Jack, what year is it?" Lisa asked him.

"2007," he waved his hand. Lisa shook her head and sighed.

"It's 2024."

"Grandpa, it is 2024," Amy confirmed, noting that Jack was about to argue.

"Jack, you're 84 years old now," Lisa told him.

"I'm 67!"

"Grandpa, we aren't lying to you. We both love you. She's right. You're 84. It's 2024. You fell off the ladder at home and have two broken ribs. We were prepared for you to have a concussion, and we are just waiting on the doctor." Lisa nodded, confirming all of that.

Confused, Jack shook his head, groaning as he did. Lisa was sure he had a headache. He looked at Amy, and she made a face and nodded at him. He looked at Lisa, and she could feel him studying her, finally gesturing at her. "You cannot be 84 years old, or even close, and we're married?"

"We are," Lisa nodded, a small smile. "I love you very much, and you love me. As I said, we've been married almost 11 years, will be this coming January. It's August now."

"And, how old are you?"

"59," Lisa nodded. "Yes, we're 25 years apart, which sounds worse than it is," she nervously chuckled, glancing to Amy.

"Grandpa, you love Lisa so much, you really do. We all know that. She's amazing, and you two have a lot in common even with your age difference. None of us really see that anymore."

"You're younger than Marion!" Jack exclaimed, shifting because he was nervous and uncomfortable.

"I am," Lisa pursed her lips, "but, remember she did also pass away a long time ago, almost 18 years ago. I met you just after she passed away."

"Mr. Bartlett," they all heard and turned to the door, Lisa letting out a slow sigh of relief as the doctor appeared. "Let's see what we have here."

Lisa shook her head and looked back at her computer screen. The mental break, well at least from work, had been good for her. She had been staring at that computer way too long, a couple hours now, in fact. She heard the front door and shook her head out of her stupor, almost embarrassed she'd missed seeing some of the family arrive home, but with sitting in the chairs over on the side of the house by their bedroom, it wasn't completely off she'd missed seeing them arrive.

"Ahh, I didn't figure everyone up and left the house, leaving me here alone, even though I'm a grown man," Jack stated, and Lisa's head turned and snapped up to see he was there at the corner of the porch.

"Hi," she said to him with a soft smile, ignoring the last part. "You're looking better, I mean, your coloring is better. It's a beautiful summer day, and I've just been working out here the last couple hours. I love working out here when the weather is like this."

He nodded, leaning up against the corner column, groaning as he did.

"How are you feeling?"

"Head is a dull ache, which is better than what it felt like before. I think I overdid it."

Lisa raised an eyebrow and chuckled, gesturing at him, "Now, that is something I never thought you would say."

He actually chuckled too, dropping his head and sighing. "Maybe I'm older than I remember being and do need to slow down my expectations." The two were quiet for a moment, Lisa just studying Jack there as he looked to the ground. She started to open her mouth to speak, but he continued talking, "Anytime I I fall asleep, I hope and pray I'll wake up and not be in this nightmare. I'm sorry. I know you want to be able to snap your fingers and have me back to normal, whatever that is, and I'm not."

She swallowed hard, fighting back tears at his admission. Lisa gestured, "I'm sorry. I really am. I am not trying to make life difficult for you, and I know you think of me as a complete stranger. I'm trying, but it's really hard to see my best friend, someone I love more than anyone, hurting, angry, out of sorts, and I can' help him. It's lonely too."

He looked up at her, and she heard him sigh, nodding. "I suppose in some way, it feels like losing a spouse. I understand that at least. Not the same," he shook his head from side to side, "but what you mentioned, about being lonely, I get that. I remember that feeling all too well."

Lisa let out a long, ragged breath and smiled softly at him, "I know. It's one of the reasons you and I started talking. We both had a lot going on but found each other easy to talk to. You'd lost Marion, and it was hitting you really hard having her gone and yes, you were very lonely. I think she had been just that constant for you at the ranch, especially after Lyndy died. I was lonelier than I realized, especially when we first started talking. It really felt good to talk to you."

Jack looked up, meeting her gaze and gestured, "I haven't asked you much about you. I mean, I know you're a lot younger than me, and I'm not sure how this version of myself feels about that, not to mention that you and I," he shook his head, "come from completely opposite worlds."

"Well," she nodded, "I'm happy to talk, to answer any questions. The girls are in town. Lou and her family are shopping for their trip tomorrow. Amy and Lyndy are school shopping. We have a quiet house and afternoon. Tell you what," she said, nodding at him and pointing to the other chair, "if you want to sit, I'll make us some tea."

Jack pursed his lips as he considered this, finally nodding in agreement. "You know what, tea actually sounds good. I haven't been a huge tea drinker."

She gave him a warm smile as she moved her laptop and paperwork to stand, "We drink a lot of tea. Just sit, enjoy the summer afternoon, and I'll be right back." Lisa stepped around Jack, squeezing his arm. Jack looked at her hand, and she grimaced, nodding at him.

"I'm sorry. It really is just is habit. I'm not even thinking about it."

"I suppose that makes sense," Jack admitted to her. "Ahh, I'll just sit."

"Need anything else?" Lisa asked before stepping toward the house.

"I'm fine," Jack said, lowering himself into the chair. At that, Lisa gave him a nod, walked to the door and before stepping inside, she took a deep breath. It was so hard. She'd always enjoyed the closeness with Jack. Even when he'd been clueless to her flirting, she'd enjoyed-and he'd not been turned off-by her often touching his arm and all. This was so hard, but she was determined to figure out how they could get through it. They had to.

She finished putting together their late afternoon snack, aware that Jack had completely missed lunch, and she'd only had some cheese and crackers, and with the tray, she made her way back to the porch. Jack was there, sitting in the chair, his eyes closed, as he leaned his head back. As much as he wanted to portray to everyone he was okay, he had been seriously injured and did need his rest. Perhaps his admission of realizing he was older than he thought, would get him to rest a little. She knew that Jack wouldn't slow down completely; no one was asking him to do that, but he did need rest to recover. Maybe with rest, his memory would return. It was a stretch, but the doctors were pretty much clueless to his state anyway.

Lisa tried to gingerly set down the tray on the armrest of the wooden Adirondak chair, glancing to Jack, unsure of just how deep of a sleep he was in. He seemed to note her presence, waking up again, and shifting in his chair.

"Sorry, I really am exhausted. Didn't I sleep like four or five hours?"

"You did," she nodded. "Well, you're injured, and you need your rest. Your mind has been in overdrive trying to collect memories, trying to figure things out, trying to decide if you want to kick me out."

He frowned, "Look, I'm sorry. I know I've been gruff, but I'm just so frustrated. I woke up and found out I've missed almost 18 years of my life. The girls have married and had their own families. I remarried," he gestured at Lisa. "I know I'm taking most of it out on you, and I'm sorry. You don't deserve that, even if I don't know you at all. Amy, Lou, they both tell me you are a wonderful person, but I just can't pretend I know some life we had. I do appreciate your kindness. You have been caring and have been taking care of me, even though I hate that-"

"Oh," Lisa covered her mouth, a laugh escaping, "I know. You do hate people hovering and taking care of you. I'm trying to remember that, funny I know," she smirked at him, "not that there is anything wrong with my memory, but I'm trying to remember that even though you have no memory of us, that you still, deep down, have this independence. That has not changed." Lisa handed him a cup of tea and nodded at it, "This has become our favorite tea. It's a jasmine black tea. Try it. If it doesn't taste good to you, I can make you something else. I made it the way you have been drinking it, just a little sugar and a tiny bit of honey. We both like it that way, and as I've said, we honestly, have a very similar palate when it comes to food, drinks, and wine."

"Wine," he nodded. "Now, that does sound good right now." She rolled her eyes at him.

"You can't claim memory loss at what the doctor said, no alcohol for another week or so as well. He wants you to take it easy, no alcohol, no riding, no driving. We have another appointment next week to re-evaluate."

Jack accepted the cup of tea with a nod of thanks, and Lisa also handed him a plate with two oatmeal muffins on it. She gestured to Jack, "I also know you missed lunch, and part of recovering is keeping your strength up. You do need to eat, and if you really don't like these now, I'll go get you a banana or something."

He eyed Lisa as she moved things to sit down, and when she glanced at him, he rolled his eyes at her, "Okay, I didn't want to admit it this morning because yeah, I was in a really bad mood, but your muffins are really good."

She grinned, nodding at him, finally settling, but picking up her laptop, looking to where she should put it. Before she stood to place it inside their bedroom, Jack gestured to it.

"You seem to be on that a lot," he commented.

"Well, yes," she gestured to it. "I run a lot of my Fairfield business on this, answering emails, taking care of accounting issues. I also use it for personal things. I pay all of the bills here. I took that over a couple years ago after I got back from my Kentucky Derby circuit when I wanted to slow down my travel. You were pretty busy with Heartland Beef ramping up, and it was a good time for us to switch over who paid the bills."

Jack raised an eyebrow, "So, I don't pay the bills?"

"No," she smiled. "I handle that, but it's not because you're old or have some problems," she rolled her eyes. "Lou is your business point person for Heartland Beef. You and Tim run that, as I told you and you are going to have to sit down with him at some point. I'll be glad to be the middle person, Lou said the same. Let's not discuss Tim now, though, when we are having an enjoyable time with our tea."

He nodded, and she was glad to see Jack take a bite of the muffin. Lisa sipped at her tea and took in a deep breath. "It does feel good to sit. I've not exactly gotten much rest either."

"Sorry about that, about you worrying, about displacing you here," he offered. He paused a moment and then gestured at her, "I suppose you should tell me more about yourself, I mean, I don't know a lot, and I'm supposed to have known you for 18 years. Help me understand how I got involved with a fancy horse breeder."

She grimaced at that, making a face at Jack, "You know, you really are stuck on that. It's one comment you bring up a lot. I'm a lot more than a horse breeder, and besides, what is wrong with a horse breeder?" She narrowed her gaze in a teasing tone and pointed to him, "Don't just judge that, Bartlett."

Apparently, that was the right thing to say, at least to break the tension and get Jack laughing. He chuckled as he chewed, finally, frowning at her.

"You're right, and I apologize. Well, tell me, you're 59, and we met when you were 42? Is that correct?"

"It is," she nodded. "I'll be 60 in September," she made a face, grimacing, and that had them both laughing. "I feel like I've aged a lot these last couple of years. All the traveling I do for work has really been getting to me. I've always loved to travel, my entire life, and I saw myself wanting to travel until I was unable to do so. These last several years," she said with a shrug at Jack, "I miss being here, being at home. I've missed you a lot, and I just realized my priorities have changed. Work has been great, but it's not my life, and it was before, I mean," she gestured, "before I met you. I didn't have much family."

He raised an eyebrow, "So, no kids?"

"No," she said, glancing down and nodding. "I was married in my 20's, to another horse breeder, Dan Hartfield, and I did have a miscarriage at one point." She looked back at him, "Anway, my dad got sick, but my marriage was already falling apart. Dan and I had been living in the Midwest, and I came back home to take care of my dad. He passed away a few months later, and in all that time, Dan never came to see me, to help. I realized one morning, sipping coffee, looking out over Fairfield, that I was happier without him than with him. We divorced," she nodded, "after six years of marriage. I was single for gosh," she made a face, "about 12 years before I met you. I wasn't really into dating, not that I was opposed to it at all, but I'd gone on a few dinner dates, nothing more," she offered a small smile. "I suppose I figured I'd find someone who loved traveling with me, and instead," she grinned at him, "I found the complete opposite in you, and as much as it might appear we are opposite, really we aren't all that opposite. Sure, I love to travel, and you hate it. Our ages were a factor, as well as our backgrounds, but at the end of the day, we just really enjoyed talking about anything and everything. We are both family-oriented, conservative in nature, and just well," she shrugged, "fit. I think I convinced myself I was fine on my own and didn't need a family of my own. Some of that was all the travel. I mean, it's not like I'd want to haul an infant across the Atlantic over and over, to the race track and all, but I was living the single lifestyle. By the time I met someone who really showed me what it meant to have a family," she shrugged, "too late, and that was okay." She nodded, almost trying to convince herself of that. She quickly added, "I really love this family and love that I've been taken into it. This family means the world to me, and I think of all the girls as my own flesh and blood. When we first started dating, Lou and I bonded over her dating woes, and she came to me for a lot of advice. Amy, well, she really struggled losing Marion, and I was just here to lend an ear, even on occasion," she laughed lightly, "to help with dresses for dances. Amy pointed out the other day that I've been in her life longer than Lyndy and Marion combined, and while that wasn't something I'd really considered, she's right, and I'm just happy to be part of this wonderful family."

He nodded, "Well, I can agree family is really important to me, always has been. It sounds like you've been through it yourself. I had a rough go of it, at least with my dad."

She nodded, a sad smile on her face, "You and I have talked a lot about your dad over the years, a lot. You've told me things you said you'd never even told Lyndy. Not too long ago, you found some of his stashed alcohol at the fishing cabin, and that was tough, but we got through it. You and Tim won an award from Hudson, Entrepreneurs of the Year, oh a couple years ago, and that was a really big deal. You've always told me that your dad didn't feel like you were capable to run the ranch, and you have more than proven him wrong. That award was the catalyst to that, and I'm so very proud of you, of everything you've done. Your dad did not know the amazing things you were capable of doing."

He raised his eyebrows, "I've told you all that?" She shrugged with a nod at him. Lisa heard Jack hum, apparently surprised he'd told her. He glanced her way, "I didn't tell Lyndy much about my dad, except that he was an alcoholic."

She nodded, "You still have his watch," and Jack gave her a surprised look. "I know he was unkind after June died-"

"I told you about June too? I couldn't' talk about her with Marion, with the girls, and as much as Lyndy tried, I just couldn't talk about her. Maybe it was too fresh then."

Lisa tilted her head, almost tearing up, "I know all about June. You've told me some wonderful stories about her, and yes, you don't talk about her much to the girls. You've only told them just a little. They do know how she died; we all do, but you and I put flowers on her grave, on Marion's grave, each year. We talk a lot then. You also ride up to Lyndy's grave on her birthday and anniversary, and well," she bit her lip, "you do that alone. You've told me that you do that, and I've never had a problem with it, and apparently, you talk to her a lot about me," she smiled at the memory. "You've told me you do. We both had lives before we met, but yes, I know all of the guilt you feel about June. You've worked through so much, and that is a real shame with all of this. You'd come so far in dealing with your dad and with June's death that I hate you don' t remember that."

Jack studied her; Lisa could feel him just looking over at her, the moment almost awkward. She sipped at her tea trying to get her focus off his staring. When she did look up, he had looked away, but his face was red, almost that he realized he'd been caught staring. She watched as he picked up the second muffin and chewed at it, the two settling into a comfortable silence. Finally, he glanced at her and gestured, still as he finished chewing, "Are you sure you aren't a shrink? I'm really surprised that you know all that, considering I hadn't said much of anything to anyone my entire life."

She laughed softly, shaking her head, "No, no shrink. I think," she paused trying to find the right words and nodded again. "I think we just click and were meant to be." She noted that Jack seemed to squirm at that, and she waved her hand, "I'm sorry. I'm not trying to be pushy or anything, but you want to know about me, about us, and well, this wasn't some marriage of convenience, or for money," she grinned. "You weren't after some young thing," she grinned at him. He pursed his lips and nodded. "We really love each other and have for many, many years."

For his credit, Jack didn't argue; he didn't respond. He sipped at his tea, finally nodding toward Lisa again, "Okay, this tea is good. I'll give you that, tea and muffins get a thumbs-up."

"Good," she grinned.

"You mentioned the fishing cabin, and that's the first I've heard about it. So," he shifted, "that must mean it's still there, which is kind of hard to believe. My next question is about that and wondering if you ever really go there? It's a special place to me."

Lisa gave him a warm smile as she shifted in her chair, gesturing with her hands, "Well, yes, it's still standing. We have an architect putting in an outdoor kitchen this summer, who was supposed to start in July but got behind, and hope it is done in September. Yes, as I say that, I've been to the fishing cabin many, many times. I even love fly fishing; it's true," she nodded with a smile when he looked at her like she was crazy. "It's our favorite place, and what will surprise you is when you first took me there."

Jack shook his head at her, completely unaware of the answer to that question. He shrugged, "I really don't know. I hadn't taken anyone there since Lyndy and I went before she passed away. I spread her ashes there. To be honest, I know Lou and Amy didn't go there, not back then. I didn't go there with Marion, so in one way, I'm surprised it's still there, but then surprised you like to go, that I've taken you."

"I'm aware," Lisa nodded, glancing at him. "You, Jack, took me there on our second date, so if that doesn't tell you that you thought I was special, I'm not sure what will."

"Our second date?" Jack raised his eyebrows. "I'd say that doesn't sound like me, which is what I've been saying, but let's hear it-how in the world did that come about? That really sounds hard to believe, but, well," he gave her a nod, "I know there is a story with that too."

Both heads turned to see Peter, Lou, and Katie pulling in, and Lisa tapped the chair with a nod to Jack, "I suppose we'll have to table that story for now. Maybe you can get to know your great-granddaughter a little before dinner, and," she said putting out her hands toward Jack as she stood, "yes, I know you wanted to make your stew, but you were sleeping. Lou made a roast, and you are just going to have to be okay with that tonight."

Jack eyed her as she stood right in front of him, crossing her arms, almost challenging him. She wasn't being rude or anything, and he studied her; she could see it before he put up a hand, relenting, "Okay, I'll sit here and rest, and yes, I'd like to get to know Katie." He gestured to Lisa, "I haven't been too rude to her, have I? She's just a kid, and I know I haven't been pleasant since all this mess started."

"No," she said a soft smile. "You've been good with Katie, and besides, she adores you. No," she said with a single nod as she pursed her lips, "you've mainly reserved the gruff, snappy cowboy attitude for me. Now, I need to work on dinner, but I'll send Katie your way."