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the-real-tc · 1 year

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Fic Update! Bad Business: Ch. 12 A Place Called Heartland

Chapter 12:

A Place Called Heartland

***

To the childless wife he gives a home, and gladdens her heart with children.

- Ps. 113

***

[draft]

Hudson Hawk: Your Eye on Hudson

A BLOG

Bad Business in Hudson

If you've been following the local news lately — and it's hard not to — you'll be very aware of all the sinister events that have unfolded in our fair town over the past few weeks. Thanks to the dogged efforts of the Hudson Police and that of the neighbouring Calgary Metro Police, however, it looks like justice will prevail in the sordid murder and murder-for-hire cases that have come to light.

To recap: Mrs. Valerie Stanton of Briar Ridge Stables was shot to death while horseback riding up at Lookout Point. Also targeted for death was one Lisa Stillman of Fairfield Stables. One detail that came to light was that the horse Stanton was riding at the time of her death belonged to Stillman. This raised a troubling question: was Stillman the intended target with Stanton being the unfortunate victim of mistaken identity, or was it all a terrible hunting accident?

Nothing could have been further from the truth, as the culprits turned out to be much closer to home; their reasons much more disturbing. Facing various and sundry criminal charges are: Tanner Gunn, Theresa Haywood, Stanley Belmont, Jesse Stanton, and William Ulrich.

I know what you're probably wondering: Is Jesse Stanton related to Valerie Stanton? The answer is a resounding "Yes". He's the son of the same late Valerie Stanton, and Briar Ridge heir. He's been charged with soliciting a killer-for-hire to murder his mother. His reasons for so doing will probably come to light in the upcoming trial, or not. Whatever his reasons, what makes things all the more troubling is he decided to try to kill Lisa Stillman when the insurance payout for his mother's policy was held up due to the police investigation into her death.

Adam paused as he tried to summarize the facts of the case as he knew them. He stared at his laptop screen, wondering now if he had the right to be typing this story in his blog at all. After all, he knew the people involved. By now Georgie must have told the family at Heartland Ranch the Hudson Hawk was his chosen sobriquet.

An unconscious frown tugged at Adam's mouth. His conscience was nagging him. It had been easier when he could hide behind the anonymity of a screen name; he could pretend there was some distance between himself and the subject of his blog posts. Now...

So while he had the blessing of his parents to continue this blogging endeavour, Adam closed the file without saving it. Instead, he decided to check with Alberta Fish and Wildlife to see if they had anything new to report about the elusive bear that had been implicated in the attack on Herring and the man whose body he and Georgie discovered at the Dude Ranch. Doubtless when it was eventually found, it would be destroyed. Such would be the fate of any wild animal that targeted humans instead of other wild animals.

***

Monday, May 13, 2019

Somewhere on Highway 2, Due North.

"I'm glad she's finally feeling up to having visitors," Rachel said as Lou navigated the SUV to the hospital.

Lou glanced at her, then chanced a peek back at Ben, who was staring out the window at the passing scenery, seemingly lost in his own thoughts.

"It was driving me crazy having to wait," Rachel continued. "I still can't wrap my mind around everything that's happened. It's like some bizarre dream I'm waking up from. Well, nightmare is more like it. Thank God it's over."

"I can't believe everything that's happened, either," Lou quipped, thinking back to the night Amy shot Jesse, and how Chief Parker had been able to tell the rest of the family Lisa was alive.

Rachel's joy at learning her only sister had indeed survived the attempts on her life was tempered by the fact she had been led to believe the opposite.

"I thought I was coming out here to say 'goodbye' to her," Rachel commented, her voice just above a whisper. "I thought I was never going to see her again. And I know I shouldn't be upset the police couldn't tell us the truth right away—to protect her and all that—but I wish..."

"But it's gonna be okay now," Lou said reassuringly, filling in the silence when Rachel did not verbalize the rest of her train of thought. "She'll be so happy to see you two."

The rest of the family had elected to stay back at Heartland for the time being so as not to overwhelm the recovering patient. It was expected Lisa would be discharged within the week, anyway, and Georgie and Katie were already excitedly making plans for a 'Welcome Home' party of sorts, and the imminent arrival of Aunt Evelyn.

From his position in the backseat, Ben quietly spoke up: "I keep going over in my mind the time I spent at Briar Ridge. I remember being jealous of Jesse Stanton at the time because of all the 'toys' he had. He seemed to have anything and everything he wanted. I remember thinking how much I'd love to have a Ducati like his, and how my parents' splitting up meant I might be able to guilt one or both of them into getting me one. Then I thought, hey, maybe my rich aunt could. What she did buy was jumps for Red so I could practice at Heartland. It took me days to finally thank her. Days. What a shallow, ungrateful idiot I was.

"To think... to think Jesse was riding that same damned bike when he shot my aunt..."

"For what it's worth, Ben," Rachel eventually uttered with a smirk, "There's no way I would have been giving you a Ducati back then, no matter how guilty I felt about the divorce, and neither would your Aunt Lisa."

***

South Calgary Health Campus

Lou tapped her knuckles lightly on the door to Lisa's room.

"Yeah, come on in," Jack called from within.

Upon hearing this response, Lou let Ben and Rachel go ahead of her. Despite expecting this visit from her family, Lisa felt a lump forming in her throat at the sight of her sister and nephew, and instant tears flooded her eyes. Rachel crossed the floor quickly to her sister. Lisa readily received the gentle but fervent hug that lasted several seconds.

"Hey, Rachel," Lisa uttered. "Thanks for coming. I'm so glad to see you."

"I thought I'd lost you," Rachel murmured, voice choked with emotion as her eyes brimmed.

"I know," Lisa responded as Rachel released her. "I'm sorry. You know I never wanted to put you—any of you—through that. But the decision to keep you in the dark wasn't mine. I never wanted to cause you any grief—"

"We're just glad you're going to be okay, Aunt Lisa," Ben put in hurriedly, also approaching Lisa for a hug of his own.

"Ben," Lisa said warmly while accepting his embrace, "it's so good to see you."

"Ben's right," Rachel said. "All that matters is you're going to be okay. The people who did this to you are in custody and you're still with us. That's what's important. Oh, my goodness, let me look at you..."

Rachel spent a few moments taking in the bandage that still graced the left side of Lisa's forehead, and then noticed the sling on her arm. What she could not see beneath the hospital gown were the sutures sealing the incision where the chest tube had been inserted, and the additional bandage covering the patched-up bullet wound.

Shaking her head, Rachel said, "I'm so glad you're alive, sis. You look like you've been through hell and back."

"I feel like it, too," Lisa uttered wryly.

Jack rubbed her forearm in a comforting manner at this comment. He could not abide thinking she was in any discomfort.

"Rachel, I'd like you to meet Jack," Lisa said, motioning towards her husband.

"Jack," Rachel said with a wide smile, moving to hug the man her sister married. "At long last, we meet in person. I'm sorry it took something like this to bring us out here."

"Good to finally see you in person, too, Rachel," Jack said heartily, holding her tightly for a few moments before releasing her.

"Hi, Jack," Ben said, reaching over to shake the older man's hand. "It's been a while."

"Yes it has!" Jack rejoined, grasping his step-nephew's hand. "It's good to see you again, man."

"Jack... I want to thank you for being there for my sister when that monster tried to... you know..." Rachel trailed off. "You saved her life."

"Yes, Jack," Lisa said, sending a broad smile in his direction. "My hero..."

Jack did not wish to think about or speak any more of the night he found hitman Earl McCann trying to suffocate Lisa, so he quickly shifted the conversation to a more mundane topic.

"Well, I guess Aunt Evelyn should be getting in soon?" he asked, doing his best to sound upbeat about it.

"Yes, Grandpa," answered Lou, also sensing his discomfort about the former subject. "Her flight gets in tomorrow night."

"Oh, Aunt Evelyn," Lisa groaned, closing her eyes. "She'll never forgive me for putting her through all this!"

"Of course she will," Rachel rebutted. "I talked to her yesterday. Lisa, all she cares about is that you're alive and safe. You said it yourself: the decision to keep what was going on confidential wasn't in your hands. You were at death's door at the time, for heaven's sake! Nobody's blaming you."

At this, Lisa nodded. "Thanks, Rach. I needed to hear that."

"Anytime," Rachel said. "Someone's got to knock some sense into you."

"Right," Lisa said. "And thank you for not making cracks about my 'hard head'."

"Oh, rats! That was going to be my next joke," said Rachel, feigning disappointment.

"Well, I, for one, am glad for your 'hard head', Lis," Jack said with a small smile. He traced a thumb near the bandage below her hairline, once again so grateful the weapon Jesse had used was not as deadly as he intended it to be.

***

A Couple Days Later

Heartland Ranch

"They're here!" Katie cried excitedly, rushing from the porch into the house upon seeing Jack and Lisa pulling up into the yard.

"We're home, Lis," Jack said, putting the truck in park.

"Hmm," Lisa murmured, slowly peeling open her eyes. She had not intended to fall asleep during the drive home, but too many nights of poor sleep in the hospital meant her body craved rest. Jack's steady driving and the purr of the truck's engine proved to be a fairly good natural sedative.

"Wow, how long was I out?" she asked.

"About half an hour," Jack chuckled. "I didn't realise my company was that boring."

"Oh, you," Lisa said, realising he was jesting. Now that she was coming to full awareness after her brief nap, she finally noticed the yard was not quite as empty as it normally was. "Um, Jack... What's with all the cars and trucks..?"

"You have a lot of people who wanted to welcome you home, Lis," Jack explained. "Come on. Let's get you inside."

Jack opened the door on Lisa's side and carefully eased her down. "Slow and steady, now," he advised, gingerly supporting her on the way to the house.

Though she was feeling miles better than when she first woke in the hospital, Lisa allowed Jack this expression of care for her well-being. After all, she knew first-hand how challenging it could be when the person you loved most was resistant to help of any sort.

Almost as soon as she entered the house, Lisa was met by Evelyn.

"Darling," the older woman uttered, taking her niece's face in her hands before hugging her tenderly. "I'm so relieved you weren't taken from us like that... When Jack called me... oh, I thought my heart wouldn't be able to endure it. But you're here. It's a miracle."

"I'm so sorry I had to put you through that, Auntie," Lisa said sincerely.

"Nonsense," Evelyn stated flatly. "Lou and Rachel explained everything. The police did what they had to do to keep you safe and to flush out the guilty parties."

"Then I'm so glad you understand," said Lisa with relief.

"Jack, don't be a stranger," Evelyn chided, at last noticing him. "Come here. I want to kiss the man who saved my niece's life."

"Hello, Evelyn," Jack said, allowing her to give him a peck on the cheek.

Evelyn leaned in to Lisa. "Doesn't he ever shave, darling?" she asked in a low voice, though Jack managed to hear, anyway.

"Only when the mood strikes him," Lisa answered with a chortle, patting Jack's face playfully. "But I love him, anyway."

"Yes," Evelyn said seriously. "And he loves you. And that's really all that matters, isn't it?"

Tim approached just then. "Everybody's waiting in the living room," he announced, somewhat impatiently, then amended his tone. "Is Lisa okay?"

"I'm fine, Tim," Lisa replied. "I just didn't expect something like this when I got home."

"Let's go," Evelyn said perkily. "Can't keep your well-wishers waiting."

Lisa sank into the middle of the couch, deeply touched by the gathering of dear family and friends that afternoon. She was further impressed by the efforts Katie and Georgie put in to decorating the space to enhance the celebratory mood of her return home.

"Do you like what we did, Lisa?" asked Katie with expectant enthusiasm, grinning widely. Georgie stood by, also waiting to hear what Lisa would say.

"It's beautiful, both of you," Lisa responded, taking in the large 'WELCOME HOME, LISA' banner, streamers, balloons, and cheery tea lights. "This was so very thoughtful of you. So special."

Heartened by this praise, Katie zipped over to where Peter stood with Lou and happily told them that Lisa loved her handiwork.

Everyone took time to express to Lisa their happiness that she was going to be okay after her brushes with death. But there were two people in particular Lisa knew she was more than obliged to see and to publicly commend.

"Ty; Scott," Lisa spoke up, grabbing the attention of everyone. The two veterinarians looked uncomfortable under the sudden scrutiny of the others.

"I wouldn't be here if it weren't for your quick actions that day out on the road," said Lisa. "I don't remember any of it, but I'm eternally grateful you stopped and helped."

"Of course, Lisa," Ty said.

"We would have stopped for anyone in distress, Lisa," Scott added. "It just so happened we knew you."

Neither man was able to say anything further, as memories of that incident were still difficult and disturbing.

"We're just glad you made it, Lisa," Ty said.

"Right," Scott said in agreement.

"Thank you, both of you," Lisa said, once again fighting back tears.

An hour or so slipped by. Lisa could feel her energy starting to wane; friends such as Caleb, Jen, Mitch, and Scott made their departure. At length, only the family remained in the living room.

Before it got to be too late, and before Lou lost her nerve, there was something she had to get off her chest. "I know we don't always see eye-to-eye, Lisa," Lou said tentatively, "but the truth is you're very special to me, and to all of us here. It felt like losing my Grandma Lyndy and my mother all over again when we thought the worst had happened to you..."

Lou suddenly could not continue.

"I felt the same way, Lisa," Amy put in. "After my miscarriage, and after everything you shared with me, I was devastated at the prospect I was facing another personal loss... but you're here, and I'm so glad."

"And I..." Georgie started, but was unsure if she could continue. She looked to her mother, who nodded some encouragement. "I didn't know what to think of you when I first met you, Lisa. I thought you were some rich snob who was going to take Jack's time and attention away from me—"

"Oh, Georgie, honey..." Lisa murmured.

"I never got to say I was sorry for that," Georgie went on in a rush. "And Lisa, I'm sorry for all the mean things I said about you. I'm so sorry. I-I never knew my grandparents or my great-grandparents, for that matter, but you've been everything I could have ever wanted in a great-grandmother, and more."

"Thank you for that," Lisa said, eyes misting, looking at the family that had been grafted onto her heart. "Thank you all. And I want you to know I feel the same way. You know, I had a full life before I met Jack. A life I thought I loved. I thought I was living my dream life. But I look back now and see I didn't realise how sad and empty my heart was. I love you all very much. My life and my heart are full now."

***

Later that Evening

Dinnertime was over. Jack helped settle an exhausted Lisa into bed where she dropped off to sleep in minutes. It was early still, and after all the social activity of the day, Jack decided he needed to clear his head for a bit, so he brewed a cup of tea and escaped to the porch.

He had been there only a few minutes when he heard the sure creak of the door. Someone was coming outside and he turned expectantly to see who it was.

"There you are," Rachel said to Jack, softly closing the screen door while exiting the house.

"Hi, there," Jack said amiably from his position on the porch bench. "Have a seat."

"Thank you," Rachel said, and joined him. A few seconds later, she added: "It's every bit as lovely here as Lisa and Ben described, Jack."

Jack merely nodded.

"We haven't had a chance to really talk yet," said Rachel.

"No, we haven't," Jack said in agreement, though he wondered what Rachel might want to talk about.

"It's years too late, but I want to thank you for offering to put Ben up when I was going through my divorce," Rachel said. "At first, I wasn't thrilled with the idea when Lisa told me that 'plans had changed'; that he wasn't going to be at Fairfield; that he was going to be boarding at some place called 'Heartland'. But after Ben got over his own issues, he admitted he actually didn't mind this place so much, and he was sorry he didn't appreciate it enough at the time."

Jack nodded again, thinking back to how sullen Ben had been in those days. "Divorce is never easy on anyone, especially when there's kids in the mix," he said, remembering some of the ways Lou and Amy struggled to cope in the wake of Tim and Marion's divorce.

"I love my sister to bits, Jack," Rachel said. "She's my big sister, you know? I idolized her growing up. I was relieved she would be the one to take over the family business because I sure didn't want to be responsible for it. She seemed to be happy when she married Dan and moved to the U.S., but we both know how that all turned out. That time in her life changed her, Jack, and not for the better. I wish only happiness and love for her, and I'm so glad you're in her life, because it's clear you're the one who can provide those things for her."

"Well, I'm glad she's in my life, too," Jack admitted, though that hardly covered the length and the breadth and the height of things when it came to expressing how he felt about his wife.

"I don't know what fair wind blew you two together," Rachel said, "but I pray you two stick together."

"That's the plan," Jack said, thinking back to that evening at the Open House when he first laid eyes on Lisa Stillman. Never in a million years would he have guessed what the future would bring him after that chance encounter.

"You wouldn't happen to have a brother who's just like you out there somewhere, eh, Jack?" Rachel said with a laugh.

"No, no. Just me," Jack responded with a smile and a quick laugh of his own. "I think they broke the mold when they made me."

Rachel looked over at him, seeing his features in the light streaming from the kitchen window. "I think you're right about that, Jack. My sister is a very lucky woman."

"I think I am the lucky one," Jack said with sincerity. How many people get a second chance at love in their lives?

"Yeah..." Rachel said. "Well, goodnight, Jack. Thanks for loving my sister the way you do. You've saved her life in more ways than you'll ever know."

The younger Stillman sister leaned over and gave Jack a kiss on the cheek.

"Goodnight, Rachel," Jack replied.

***

Epilogue

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the-real-tc · 1 year

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Fic Update! Bad Business: Ch. 11 Sing Me to Heaven

To the childless wife he gives a home, and gladdens her heart with children.

- Ps. 113

***

Chapter 11: Sing Me to Heaven

Hudson Police Headquarters

6:00 a.m.

Amy yawned widely. Ty observed this action and could not contain a long yawn of his own.

"You're both free to go now," Chief Parker said, satisfied that the debriefing interview with them had gone well. "Thank you for your patience and your cooperation through all this. It's been a long night."

"You're welcome, Chief," Ty said, voice heavy with relief. "I think we're just both glad all this is over."

"Yes, I'm sure you are," Parker said, looking at the pair with sympathy.

"What's going to happen to Jesse?" asked Amy, knowing she would not be facing any charges herself for having shot him.

"Mr. Stanton has been charged with attempted murder for starters," Parker responded. "He's in police custody while he recovers in the hospital, though it's likely he'll post bail. I'm told he came through his surgery just fine. Thanks for not killing him, by the way. That would have created quite the mess."

Amy smiled wryly. "I'll bet it would have. If I'm honest, I'm not sorry I shot him, but I'm glad he's still alive and will face justice for everything he's done."

Parker nodded in understanding. "And Amy—speaking from experience here—I know you're not feeling bad about it now, but if the time comes that it does start feeling bad, you call me, okay? There's also professional help if you need it. Don't underestimate the traumatic nature of what you just went through."

Amy paused before answering. "Thank you for that, Chief. I'll keep that in mind."

Ty looked to her now. "Ready to go?" he asked, grasping her fingers between his.

"Ready," she replied, giving his hand a soft squeeze.

"Hi, Dad?"

"Amy," Tim said, keeping his voice low. "What's the matter?"

"You won't believe what happened last night," Amy said, holding her cell phone to her ear while Ty drove them home.

"What happened?"

"Um, I kinda shot Jesse Stanton."

"You did what?!"

"Dad, he was the one who shot Lisa out on the road the other day," said Amy. "He came out to Heartland because he wanted to make sure Ty wouldn't be able to identify him. I caught him trying to shoot Ty in the barn."

"You didn't kill him, did you?"

"No, he's alive," Amy replied. "Under arrest, but alive."

Oh, so that's why they came and dismissed the cop who was on protection duty, Tim thought to himself.

"Yeah, we thought something big must have gone down, but nobody was authorized to tell us anything specific," Tim said.

"Dad... we know you and Grandpa are at the hospital. Chief Parker told us Lisa's alive," Amy said. "I mean, he said she was still in 'rough shape', but that she's alive."

"Is that how he put it?" Tim asked.

"Yes," Amy said slowly, catching the sour note in her father's voice. "Why, is something wrong?"

Tim snorted. "If by 'rough shape' he means she's probably going to be a freakin' vegetable for the rest of her life and that she'll probably never regain consciousness after that bastard tried to suffocate her..."

Amy's heart dropped to her feet at these words. "Dad... you can't mean..."

"I do mean it, Amy," Tim said. "You're not here. You haven't seen what's been going on. She hasn't opened her eyes once or moved a muscle since that attack."

"But," Amy protested plaintively, "what have the doctors said?"

"Nothing yet," Tim admitted. "Now that she doesn't need that bodyguard anymore, they can take her for another brain scan sometime soon. I guess we'll know more then."

***

Calgary Herald — Online Version

BREAKING NEWS

Herald Newsdesk

May 9, 2019

The Calgary Police Tactical Unit has responded to an incident at the Calgary International Airport. Early reports indicate it is a hostage-taking on a private chartered jet bound for Ft. McMurray.

Authorities have stated the affected area of the tarmac has been contained and that passenger safety at the airport is not at risk. Travellers departing from Calgary International Airport at this time are encouraged to contact their airline for information about potential delays and cancellations.

This is a developing situation. More details to follow as they occur.

***

Lisa stood thigh-deep in the middle of the river's waters. The Rocky Mountains towered in the distance. Other than the flowing water, everything else around her was tranquil. The water should have felt cold running off from the melting winter snowpack on those very mountains, but to Lisa there was no such chilly discomfort.

This is heaven, she thought to herself contentedly, contemplating the rare, happy moments she had been able to spend here with Jack, especially that first special date when she knew she was falling in love with him

On the opposite bank, Lisa's eyes made out the figure of a slim young woman with long, dark hair.

"Hello?" Lisa called, wondering who she might be. She began to approach while asking: "Who are you?"

But instead of answering, the woman raised an arm and extended a finger. Lisa turned around to see what the younger woman was pointing at. Standing on the other riverbank, she recognized a grizzled, mustachioed man wearing a cowboy hat.

Jack. Oh, Jack. You're here. She eagerly started to make her way to where her husband stood.

***

South Calgary Health Campus

Tim cracked his eyes open and sat up from his position in the sleeping recliner. He immediately looked over and saw Jack hunched over at Lisa's bedside.

Nurse Cheryl, too, sat nearby. She saw him stir and said, "Good morning."

"Yeah, good morning," Tim managed to say, giving his face a scrub with his hands. With a start he realised Lisa's armed police guard was nowhere in sight. He relaxed two seconds later upon remembering how mere hours earlier, word had filtered through that Lisa would no longer be in need of that level of protection. How he had managed to fall asleep after speaking with Amy on the phone, he was not sure. Clearly he had been more tired than he realised. "How's Lisa doing?"

"No change," Cheryl responded with a pout. "But given what she went through, that's not surprising..."

"But shouldn't she have woken up by now?" he asked.

"It's difficult to put a timeline on these things, Tim," Cheryl said cagily. "They brought her back from the CT scan about an hour ago. It didn't show any brain damage, so that's a good thing. We just have to be patient."

Tim pressed his lips together, not giving voice to his negative thoughts. Lisa's lying here like a damned vegetable and they're saying we have to be 'patient', giving Jack false hope. It's only a matter of time before they tell us there's no change and no hope and that they're pulling the plug...

"When was the last time you actually slept, old man?" Tim now asked Jack. He looked at his ex-father-in-law with concern, knowing he had maintained his watch by Lisa's side all through the night, and had done so now for several nights in a row.

Jack's reply was curt and low: "I don't know."

"When was the last time you ate?"

"I had one of the sandwiches you brought last night from wherever it was you went."

"Lisa needs you to be healthy when she wakes up, you know," Tim said, trying to bolster Jack's spirits despite his own negativity about the whole situation. "Eat something substantial and get some shut-eye. I'll sit with her."

"He's right, Jack," Cheryl said, glad someone had finally said something, as she was also growing worried about the well-being of her patient's husband. "This isn't the time to be stubborn. Come on, let me buy you breakfast. We'll grab something to go. It's about time for me to take a break, anyway."

"Fine." Reluctantly, Jack pulled himself up from his seat, grunting as his disused knees creaked and sent him a couple jolts of arthritic pain.

"And bring me back something while you're at it!" Tim called out after them.

***

Lisa kept her gaze on Jack as he stood on the dry riverbank. Her progress, however, was hindered by the waters that reached mid-thigh. With much effort and exertion, she could see her destination was finally a few meters away.

Jack suddenly vanished from her sight.

"Jack?" Lisa called in confusion. She turned to look behind her. The young woman with the dark hair was likewise nowhere in sight.

Without warning, the flow of the river's current increased, steadily rising so the level now reached Lisa's hips.

"Jack!" Lisa called again, sensing danger. I need to make it to the other side, she thought to herself.

***

"I haven't thanked you yet for agreeing to look after Lisa through all this," Jack said to Cheryl as they walked towards the cafeteria.

"Just doing my job," the nurse said dismissively.

"Yeah, but all that extra stuff you had to go through with the police screening you, the secrecy, and that armed guard at the door—"

"It's fine, Jack," Cheryl said with emphasis. "A patient's life was at stake."

"Still, I'm grateful. Lisa wouldn't have made it this far without you."

"She's held her own, Jack," Cheryl said. "And she's very lucky to have you at her side. I don't have to tell you things could have been really grim if you hadn't been there the other night..."

Jack merely nodded, absently pulling at his cowboy hat. "Lucky" cowboy hat from now on, he mused.

***

"Hey, Lisa, it's Tim. I'm just here to sit with you for a little bit, 'cause honestly, Jack needs a break," Tim said softly. "I feel like we've just been through this sort of thing with Ty, you know? Some dumb luck this family has...

"I know you probably can't hear a word I'm saying, but I'm going to say it, anyway: You gotta wake up, Lisa. Jack needs you. We need you.

"I wasn't around when Lyndy died, and Jack—he'd already kicked me out of the house by then. But I saw how he loved her. And I see how he loves you now. You're his second shot at lasting happiness, Lisa; a shot he deserves to have for as long as he can.

"I remember the time I first really talked with you, back on that cattle drive we had for Ray's herd. Even then, I could tell he was a different man around you; a better man. If you don't make it, he'll be the most miserable, insufferable S.O.B. on the planet. A man can only take so much loss..."

"Tim, would you please move aside for a moment?"

Tim turned in surprise. He had not even heard when Dr. Kaminska entered the room.

"What's wrong?" Tim asked, picking up on her urgency. He automatically shifted aside so the doctor could get closer to her patient.

"I don't like how her oxygen levels are looking. There might be something going on with how the pleural space is draining. I'll need you to step outside, and please ask Cheryl to come back immediately."

"Yeah, sure. Okay," Tim said, instantly troubled. He quickly exited the room in search of the nurse.

Jack and Cheryl had just begun to return from the cafeteria with their meals when Tim spotted them in the distance.

"Cheryl!" he called. "The doc needs you right now."

"What is it?" she asked.

Jack tensed. "Is Lisa all right?"

"I don't know," Tim said in response to both of their questions. "Something about oxygen levels or whatever."

"On my way," Cheryl said, taking off at a pace, shoving her meal into Tim's hands.

Jack tried to follow as quickly as possible, but Tim stopped him. "Just wait, Jack," he said. "Let them do their jobs. I'm sure everything will be okay."

Annoyed Tim had blocked him, Jack was about to tell him to take a hike, but realised in the small confines of Lisa's room, he would only be uselessly crowding the women. Besides, he was not a doctor. He would be of no help to them.

***

Lisa felt the water all around her. The undertow pulled at her feet, dragging her from the riverbank, submerging her, preventing her from getting to dry land. Her breath was running out. Unless she found the strength to get her head above the surface, she knew she was not going to make it. The inevitable moment would come when she would have to inhale out of desperation.

I'm drowning, she thought, feeling as if her lungs were starting to fill with water.

***

"What's taking them so long?" Jack groused out loud when neither Cheryl nor Dr. Kaminska re-appeared after what seemed to him to be an exceptionally long time, when in reality it was mere minutes.

"I don't know," Tim said honestly.

"Well, I'm going in there," Jack said, making a move for the door.

"Jack, wait," Tim said tersely, grasping him firmly by the arm. "You don't know what they're doing in there."

"Exactly!" Jack said. "Let go of me."

"I'm no doctor," Tim said, still holding onto Jack. "Just stop and think for a moment. You know how badly Lisa was wounded. She's still got a tube in her chest. You going in there right now could put Lisa at more risk. Let them do their jobs."

"I have to do something!" Jack protested.

"Yeah—you have to wait," Tim retorted.

Just then, Jack and Tim noticed a young man with a black guitar case strapped to his back making his way down the corridor towards them. He appeared to be lost, as his uncertain glance shifted around the ward, seemingly looking for a specific room. Instantly alert for the potential threat of danger this newcomer might pose, Jack called out almost menacingly: "Can I help you?"

The young man started slightly. "Uh, I'm Luke," he said, nervously grasping the ID on the lanyard around his neck. "Music therapy. I, uh, it's only my second time here. I think I came down the wrong way..."

"Well, turn around and go back the way you came," snapped Tim, gesturing down the hall. "We didn't ask for any music therapist down here."

"Uh, okay, sorry," Luke said meekly, and began backing up before turning around.

"Wait a minute!" Jack called out, an idea suddenly taking root in his brain. Luke stopped in his tracks and swiveled his head back in surprise at Jack's command.

"Yeah?" came his wary response.

"That guitar any good?" Jack asked.

"Of course it is," Luke replied, almost taking offense. "Why?"

"I'd like to borrow it for a few minutes. Please."

Both Tim and Luke looked at Jack quizzically. Something in Jack's expression and demeanour must have convinced Luke his request was both sincere and desperate.

"Um... okay," he said after a few awkward beats. He slipped the guitar from his back, lowered it softly to the floor and unzipped the case. He withdrew a beautiful sunburst-coloured, six-string Fender acoustic guitar.

"Nice," Jack said approvingly, and deposited his own food items into Tim's already burdened hands. He took the instrument from Luke. Gently, he ran his thumb over the E-A-D-G-E sequence of strings, nodding with pleasure at the tone and resonance. "It's even all tuned up just right."

A small smile flickered on Luke's lips, clearly proud this stranger was impressed with his guitar.

"Be right back," Jack said, sliding the strap over his shoulder. He hustled down to the closed door of Lisa's private room. He still had no idea what was going on behind that door, but he hoped what he was about to do would somehow help matters.

They say patients can hear even if they're not conscious, he thought to himself. Lisa, if you can hear this, I need you to be okay... Jack positioned his fingers in the familiar position across the fretboard and began to strum the familiar chords. After taking a steadying breath, he began to sing:

"There's things I've been meaning to tell you, There's things that I've just got to say. So let's go for a walk, Somewhere quiet to talk, Maybe you'll see it my way..."

Tim and Luke listened, the former wondering what had possessed Jack to do this in the first place. Then he remembered where and when he had first heard this song. This is what Jack and Amy sang at Caleb's dinky little wedding reception, he thought.

Jack continued to sing:

"I felt for a while we've been drifting, With no reason to stay or to go. But I hope that whatever wind blew us together, Is stronger than we even know..."

***

Nurse Cheryl and Dr. Kaminska heard the sound of Jack's music-making through the closed door, but could not yet pause in their procedure to enjoy it.

"Aspirate PPC," Dr. Kaminska said. "Gently."

"Right," said Cheryl, following her colleague's spoken instructions, though she was familiar with the process. "Instilling sodium chloride..."

"Good," Dr. Kaminska said after a few moments. The pair continued to work together, slowly and methodically to unblock Lisa's pleural catheter.

***

Outside, Jack kept strumming and singing, hoping with all his heart Lisa was going to be okay.

"So walk me over this bridge, The river's so deep and so wide. Just walk me over the bridge, my darling, We'll get to the other side."

***

Lisa's vision was fading. The water that would surely become her grave grew dim and murky. When she was on the verge of giving up, she became aware of a faint sound, seemingly muffled by the water that submerged her. That sound now appeared as a distant point, like a tiny spark, and it was growing larger and brighter. She now perceived it as a sphere that was both music and light. Drawn to it, the sphere expanded and completely enveloped her.

***

"There's times I know you inside and outside There's times I don't know you at all But whatever we go through I'll be here loving you Even times when you don't hear me call..."

Please hear me call now, Lisa, Jack silently beseeched as he strummed the borrowed guitar.

"I know what we have is worth having, And I know what's ahead is worth more. So let's go for a walk, Somewhere quiet to talk, We'll see just what life's got in store."

***

The sphere of light and sound that was Jack's voice both surrounded and permeated Lisa's being, warming her and filling her with life. She felt as if she was being drawn up out of the suffocating pull of the river's currents, borne aloft, floating, weightless as a feather. She drifted towards the edge of the riverbank where a man in a cowboy hat stood with a guitar, his heartfelt song calling her to join him.

Jack... you came back, Lisa thought. I'm here. I love you.

***

"Reconnecting bung," Cheryl said.

"And we're done," Dr. Kaminska said a few moments later in relief, noting how Lisa's oxygen saturation level was already improving.

***

"So walk me over this bridge. The river's so deep and so wide, Just walk me over the bridge, my darling, Please be my place to hide."

"Walk me over this bridge, The river's so deep and so wide. Just walk me over the bridge, my darling, We'll get to —"

The door to Lisa's room opened, causing Jack to stop abruptly.

"Is she okay? What happened?" he asked, hurriedly pulling the guitar strap off his shoulder.

Dr. Kaminska smiled faintly. "We had a little scare, but Cheryl and I averted disaster."

"She's going to be okay, Jack," Cheryl said reassuringly while pulling off the PPE gown and tossing it in the laundry basket.

Jack closed his eyes and a silent prayer of thanks passed his lips. "Can I sit with her again?" he asked.

"Of course," replied Cheryl, then spotted Tim still holding their breakfast items. "After you eat something."

***

Calgary Herald — Online Version

BREAKING NEWS

HOSTAGE-TAKING AT AIRPORT RESOLVED

Herald Newsdesk

May 9, 2019

The Calgary Police Tactical Unit has resolved a hostage-taking at the Calgary International Airport without incident.

In custody is one Tanner Gunn, local businessman. Gunn was reportedly trying to flee the country on his private company jet after Calgary Police issued a warrant for his arrest in connection to an alleged murder-for-hire plot. Gunn reportedly took his own pilot hostage and demanded police allow him to take off. He surrendered when the Tac Team stormed the plane. The unnamed hostage was unharmed throughout the ordeal.

News item will be updated as more details become available.

***

Next Day

Hudson General Hospital

"Thank you for all agreeing to this meeting," Chief Parker said to all in attendance in Jesse Stanton's private recovery room. "It's unusual that this type of thing occurs before an arraignment and trial have even taken place—"

"Against my advice," interrupted Percy Clifton, Jesse Stanton's legal counsel. "Mr. Bartlett, I'm sure you're fully aware you are entitled to making your victim impact statement in court during the trial. I've allowed my client to participate in this little meeting as a show of good faith. As I understand, you've all known each other for many long years."

"That's right," Jack stated, looking straight at Jesse, wondering not for the first time how things had gone so wrong with him.

"I want to make it clear this is not a trial, and my client will not be harassed, and he will not be made to answer questions that may further incriminate him in any of the charges brought against him," Percy said. "After all, he is here recovering only because your granddaughter shot him."

"Oh, that's fine," Jack said coldly. "But he's already confessed to shooting my wife, and he was on his way to shoot my grandson-in-law, so cut the crap. We both already know he's guilty."

"That's for the courts to decide," Percy rejoined smugly. "And my client will have a fair trial."

"Yes, I'm sure he will," Jack said with a bob of his head.

"Jack, you may proceed with your statement to the accused," Chief Parker said, acting as mediator.

"Thank you," Jack said, then began his unscripted speech. "Jesse, I won't pretend to know what life was like at Briar Ridge when you were growing up, but I gather it was a privileged one. Must've made you feel pretty high and mighty, having everything handed to you on a silver platter."

Jesse, wearing a sling to support his injured shoulder, did not react to this; Ashley looked away, seemingly embarrassed and ashamed.

"I don't know what kind of values you were raised with," Jack continued. "If you were taught any at all, my guess is you threw them out the window the instant they got in the way of your pursuit of money and possessions."

Jesse remained impassive. Percy seemed to be losing his interest and his patience in this exercise, but Jack was not through. In fact, Jesse's lack of any emotional response was beginning to anger him.

"Was my wife's life so insignificant to you that you thought you could just snuff it out?!" seethed Jack. "What's the matter with you?"

Jesse's sullen expression hardened as he remained silent. He refused to meet Jack's eyes.

"If your mother were still alive—"

Mention of Val set Jesse off like a firecracker. "Don't you bring up my mother, Jack!" he finally snapped. "Her memory—it means nothing to me. Everything about her sickened me, you hear me? Everything! The way she treated us growing up, the way she continued to treat me even after I was supposed to have control of Briar Ridge... The way she kept trying to get into your life and into your bedroom..."

It took every ounce of control Jack possessed not to slam his fist into the young man's face and beat him senseless at that last crass insinuation. Ashley simply stared at her brother, open-mouthed.

"Oh, I can't tell you how thrilled I was that you kept rebuffing her," Jesse continued, not knowing when to be silent, but he was too full of venom and spite to care. "A bitter old woman like her didn't deserve to be happy, not after my father died and left her everything. Briar Ridge was supposed to be my inheritance!"

"You!" Ashley nearly shrieked as the full import of her brother's words dawned on her. "You had Mom killed?! How could you? How could you?!"

Unlike Jack, she lacked any control in that moment and laid into her brother with both fists, pounding at him in a rage-filled flurry of blows.

"Ms. Stanton, stop!" an aghast Chief Parker ordered, moving quickly to intervene.

"You've ruined our family! You've ruined us!" Ashley bawled as Parker did his best to restrain her without resorting to handcuffs.

"Escort her out of here, please, Constable McLeod," the chief said to the female constable who was waiting just beside the door.

The uniformed woman came forward hurriedly at that order. "Let's go," she said calmly, putting a firm, yet comforting arm around Ashley's shoulders. Ashley allowed herself to be led out, her sobs still racking her body.

Jack looked Jesse squarely in the face, having completely ignored Ashley's outburst. "Just tell me: why Lisa?"

"Mr. Stanton, I firmly advise you to ignore that question!" the lawyer squealed. The last thing he needed was his client to admit a clear motive for his actions.

Jesse tried to avoid Jack's gaze, though he seemed to be following his counsel's advice as he remained defiantly mute.

"Answer me, you punk!" Jack bellowed, completely disregarding Percy.

The lawyer narrowed his eyes at Jack. "Mr. Bartlett, I warned you before: my client will not be harassed! Chief, I object strongly to this—"

"It's over, Jesse," Chief Parker's low voice rumbled. "We know about you and Tessa Haywood helping Tanner Gunn to secure all those fraudulent policies on the members of the investors' group. We have them both in custody now. The man Gunn used as a middle man in your little murder-for-hire scheme confessed when Calgary detectives picked him up the other night. You also probably heard about the body we found near the Dude Ranch the other day. It might interest you to learn it was the hitman Tanner Gunn hired through the middle man.

"You should also know Dan Hartfield came to us, fearing for his life because he thought he saw a pattern and that he might be next on the list," Parker concluded.

"Was Lisa on the list, is that it?" Jack asked. "Is that why you tried to murder her?!"

Jesse finally raised his head. His eyes widened slightly in surprise at the intensity of the loathing he read in Jack's glare.

Several beats passed when no one spoke a word.

With a dirty scowl, Jesse finally broke off the staring contest with Jack. "She lived at Heartland," he eventually muttered. "That's why. She—"

"Mr. Stanton, again I beg you to stop talking before you—" interjected Percy in dismay.

"I—I don't understand," Jack stammered in confusion, overriding the lawyer's protests. "What do you mean by 'she lived at Heartland'?"

"Her being at Heartland meant she was closer to Briar Ridge than all the other members of the investors' group," Jesse explained in a tired voice. "Because of that, her movements were easier to keep track of than the others. That's all. That's why Lisa was it. Look, I was desperate, okay? Tanner's gambling buddies—they-they're vicious! They would have killed me if I didn't come up with the money I owed! I was going to lose Briar Ridge!"

"For the love of God, shut up!" Percy groaned and put his head in his hands.

"So when your mother's homicide investigation held up her insurance payouts, you needed another source, fast, didn't you?" Parker supplied the rest of the story.

Jesse did not even bother to deny it. "Yeah," he sniffed.

"That's why Tanner had Stanley Belmont pull Lisa's medical death certificate—so Tessa could start processing the payout for Lisa's life insurance policy."

Jesse nodded.

"And like your sister figured, you're the one who initiated the contract on your mother's life, aren't you?" Parker asked.

"Yeah," Jesse answered, fully defeated.

Percy uttered a few expletives under his breath. Jesse hung his head.

***

Hudson Times—Print Edition

May 10, 2019

Retraction Issued:

The Hudson Times prematurely reported the death of Lisa Stillman of Fairfield Stables. Stillman had been the victim of a shooting on May 2, as well as a physical assault on May 3 at the South Calgary Health Campus. Reports of her death were inaccurate and Stillman remains alive in hospital in stable condition. The Hudson Times apologizes for any confusion on the matter.

— The Hudson Times Editorial Team

***

Parker Residence

When Adam Parker arrived home from school, he was surprised to find both his parents—usually too busy with their respective high-demand jobs to be present together in the house at this hour—waiting to speak to him.

"Hi, Mom; hi, Dad," he began nervously. "What's going on?"

The Parkers looked at each other for a few beats. Without much preamble, Adam's mother asked him to have a seat. The teen slipped his backpack off his shoulders and obediently sat down opposite them in the living room.

"We understand how difficult it must have been for you when you and Georgina discovered that body out at the Dude Ranch the other day," Professor Ann Parker said to her son.

"And we understand you've been raised with a sense of justice, duty, and truth, thanks I'm sure, to my profession in law enforcement," Jim added.

"Right," Adam said slowly, wondering where they were going with this. "So..?"

"So, your father and I want to emphasize we're not totally upset at you for your non-school-related extra-curricular activities," Ann continued.

"What 'non-school-related extra-curricular activities'?" Adam asked with a confused frown.

"Your mother and I named you 'Adam', not 'Hudson Hawk'," Jim said pointedly.

Adam's eyes went wide as saucers. "My blog. How did you—?"

"C'mon, son, did you really think I didn't know about that?" asked Jim.

"I-uh... I hoped it was anonymous enough not to have anyone know it was mine," Adam muttered lamely.

"Give your old man a little credit," Jim said with a chuckle. "I'm a trained investigator."

"I know, I know," Adam said hastily.

"You were poking your nose in some sensitive areas," Jim said, growing serious again. "You could have made the wrong people very uncomfortable with all those theories you were throwing around. It was rash, and it was risky."

"Yes, sir," Adam said, dropping his gaze to his lap, wondering how much trouble he was in.

"Though I have to say you did a remarkable job coming up with your theories with the minimum amount of information available to you," Jim said.

"Oh. Well, thanks, Dad," Adam said shyly.

"We won't tell you to stop blogging, Adam, but..." Ann started to say.

Jim nodded in agreement and added: "Just be careful in the future—not that we expect you to be this close to any more murder investigations any time soon."

"I'll be careful, Mom and Dad. Thank you." Adam declared, relief blossoming now that he realised this was ultimately turning out to be a moment of praise and not punishment.

"That's all we ask, son," Jim said. "Go on, now. Someone needs to keep an eye on Hudson."

"Right. Uh, I'd actually really like to check in on Georgie and see how she's doing," Adam said.

"Go ahead," Ann said.

"Thanks."

***

Heartland

"So, it never was about Herring, was it?" Adam asked Georgie as they sat on the porch after revealing to her the Hudson Hawk blog was his.

"Nope," she replied.

"I guess that's a good thing? Sort of?" Adam asked.

Georgie simply shrugged. "We did find out Jesse was the one who slipped a few poisoned pieces of dog food into the bag of dog chow, though. He did it to get her out of the way so he could sneak up on Ty in the barn office."

Adam heard the note of absolute repugnance in her voice, spoken through clenched teeth.

"She's gonna be okay, though, right?" he asked.

"Ty thinks so. We acted quickly enough that there likely won't be any lasting damage," Georgie said. "But she could have died."

"I'm glad she didn't," Adam said, thinking in that moment of his own deceased dog, Digger.

"Me, too..." Georgie trailed off. Her thoughts had once again drifted to how they found the body near the Dude Ranch. She sincerely wanted to rid herself entirely of the memory of it and the smell of it, the latter of which seemed to have taken up permanent residence inside her nasal cavities. She shivered despite the warmth of the spring afternoon.

"Are you all right?"

"Um, not really," Georgie mumbled. "It's just... everything, you know? It's kind of..."

"Overwhelming," Adam supplied in his usual dry manner when Georgie did not continue. "I thought so. It's perfectly normal to feel that way after all the particularly traumatic experiences you've undergone lately."

"We found a dead body, Adam," Georgie nearly growled, perturbed he was seemingly unaffected by the gruesome incident. "And not just any 'body'. We found the body of the man who killed Val Stanton; the body of the man who nearly suffocated Lisa to death in the hospital... He would have gotten away with everything if the bear hadn't got him first."

"We don't know that," Adam said. "My dad was already turning his investigation to the investors' group and Tanner Gunn. Finding that guy's body only made it easier to connect the dots."

Georgie gave her head a doubtful shake.

"Hey," Adam said, thinking better of his last comment. "I'm sorry. You were grossed out by that body. We don't have to talk about it anymore if it's too much."

"No," Georgie said slowly. "It helps to talk about it. Just not any more right now. Okay?"

"Okay," Adam said. "But for what it's worth, I'm glad we found that guy's body together. I mean, I'm glad you weren't by yourself."

Georgie conceded that would definitely have been much worse. "I'm glad you were there, too, Adam."

"That's what friends are for," he replied, giving a rare, genuine smile.

***

HUDSON TIMES—PRINT EDITION

Briar Ridge Heir Charged With Two Counts of Attempted Murder

Hudson Police also bring charges of insurance fraud and conspiracy to commit murder

Nadir Jutley

May 11, 2019

Jesse Alexander Stanton, heir to Briar Ridge Stables, has been arrested and charged with two counts of attempted murder and one count of soliciting the murder of his mother, Valerie Jane Stanton.

Hudson Police, in cooperation with Calgary authorities, have also brought charges against Theresa Stephanie Haywood, Tanner Vincent Gunn, Stanley Arthur Belmont, and William Edgar Ulrich in connection with the case.

Story continues on pg. 3...

Email: nadir_jutley

***

Calgary Herald—PRINT EDITION

Arrests Made in Cold Case

Suspects in year-old double-homicide charged with insurance fraud along with conspiracy to commit multiple murders

Erika Volmeyer

May 11, 2019

Calgary Police, with the cooperation of the Hudson Police Department, have made several arrests in connection to the year-old murders of Laurence and Paige Barick.

Local businessman Tanner Vincent Gunn, Calgary resident Theresa Stephanie Haywood, and Hudson resident Jesse Alexander Stanton, have been arrested in connection with the murders of the Baricks, one Valerie Stanton of Hudson, and the attempted murders of Lisa Stillman and Tyler Borden, also of Hudson.

The trio face further charges of insurance fraud and conspiracy to commit murder.

Also facing charges is one William Edgar Ulrich of Calgary, and Stanley Arthur Belmont of Hudson.

Story continues on pg. 7...

Email: e_volmeyer

***

Next Evening

South Calgary Health Campus

"Hiya, Cowboy."

An automatic smile flashed across Jack's face at the sound of his wife's soft voice. He peeled open his eyes and drew himself up to a fully seated position.

"Hi, Lis. How're you feeling?" A tender smile creased his face.

"Like I could use more drugs," she said wryly. "And I am a little hungry, to be honest."

"That's a real good sign," Jack said, gently holding her hand in his. "Want me to call a nurse?"

"Yes, please."

Jack pressed the call button to do just that.

"How are you feeling?" she asked.

"Fine," he replied. "Just fine, now that I know you're out of the woods."

"Your bruises are still pretty awful, Jack."

He drew her hand to his lips to kiss it. "They were all worth it, Lis."

"Any news on the man who tried to... Did they catch him yet?"

"Uh, yes and no," Jack hedged.

She regarded him with a quizzical frown. "What's that supposed to mean?"

The nurse appeared then, halting the response Jack was about to utter. "Everything okay?" she asked.

"My wife's in some pain," Jack explained.

"She's due for another dose," the nurse stated, coming in and adjusting the I.V. flow. Her nametag identified her as 'Sandra'.

"Thanks, Sandra," Lisa said.

"You should be feeling better pretty soon," Sandra said. "Anything else you need?"

"Am I too late to get dinner?"

"Not at all," said the nurse. "I'll have them send you a tray."

"Great," Lisa said. "I'm starving."

When Sandra had departed, Lisa turned her attention back to her husband. "What were you saying about the man responsible for all this?"

"Yeah, about him," Jack said, rubbing the back of his neck as a sudden chill crept up on him. "They didn't catch him—because he's dead."

Lisa's eyes went wide. "Dead?" she repeated. "What happened?"

"What happened is that he got too close to the bear that's been wandering around Hudson, that's what."

"You're joking," Lisa said.

"Nope," said Jack with a serious shake of his head. "Adam and Georgie were out for a ride a few days ago. They thought they spotted something that shouldn't be there, so Adam called his father."

"That 'something'—it was a body, wasn't it?"

"Yup," Jack said in confirmation. "Chief Parker's people found the man's mauled body near the Dude Ranch. He'd been staying in Cabin Two the whole time."

"What?!" Lisa exclaimed.

"I know. Crazy, isn't it?"

"I-I don't even know what to say," Lisa stammered.

"There's more," Jack said uneasily, wondering if the time was right to dump everything on her now.

"More?"

"Jesse Stanton has confessed to shooting you."

"Jesse Stanton?" a perplexed Lisa echoed. "Why would he? I don't—that doesn't make any sense at all."

"I know," Jack said. "It doesn't make sense. But Jesse Stanton, for all his wealth and privilege, hasn't got a moral bone in his body."

Lisa watched Jack and waited for him to explain. "What are you not telling me?"

"Jesse also tried to kill Ty in the barn a few nights ago."

"He what?! Is Ty okay?"

"Ty's just fine," Jack assured her. "All because Amy was on the alert. She caught Jesse just in time. Shot him with my rifle."

If Jack had grown two heads in that instance, Lisa could not have been more astonished.

"Did Amy... kill him?" Lisa asked tentatively.

"Oh, no. Jesse's still very much alive," Jack grunted sourly. And he's lucky Chief Parker was in the room when I saw him earlier. "He's probably going to have a bum shoulder for the rest of his life, though."

"This is crazy, Jack," Lisa said with a shake of her head. "Make it make sense to me, because right now I feel like I've stepped into an episode of The Twilight Zone."

Jack could see Lisa was overwhelmed with all these disparate pieces of information coming her way.

"From what the police uncovered, Jesse conspired with Tanner Gunn to have that dead guy in the woods kill Val," he explained. "They think the dead guy is also responsible for Lanny and Paige."

"Jesse and Tanner Gunn?! Lanny and Paige... But-but... Why?!"

"Both Jesse and Tanner have admitted they needed the money to cover their gambling debts," Jack said. "They had insurance policies taken out for all of you on that investors' group Tanner had going. The police are auditing the group's books now, too. They suspect Tanner's been embezzling the funds."

"Wait a minute, what 'insurance policies'?" Lisa asked, head still spinning. "How was he able—? I never, ever signed up for anything like that."

"That was Jesse Stanton's doing," Jack replied grimly. "Apparently, Tanner roped him into his gambling circle some time ago. When Tanner started owing big-time, Jesse convinced his girlfriend, Tessa, who worked at an insurance agency in Calgary, to falsify the documents. Lanny's was the first."

Lisa's mouth went dry as her lips turned down into a deep pout. "Executive assistant" indeed, she thought now of that not-so-long-ago conversation she had with the young woman at Val Stanton's funeral reception. And to think I thought she was merely a gold-digger at worst.

"So Jesse and Tanner were using us as their personal slush fund, is that it?" she finally asked in disgust after digesting this piece of news. "The investors' group was all a sham from the beginning."

"Hey, you couldn't have known," Jack said.

"But I should have," she replied bitterly. "I should have known nothing good was going to come of anything Dan recommended."

"Well, you'll get no argument from me on that one, Lis," Jack said. "But at least Scott's clinic got something out of it for a while, right?"

Lisa closed her eyes, feeling more drained than ever. "I guess."

"So don't go beating yourself up about it," Jack advised. He hated to give Dan any further credit, but nevertheless told Lisa how Dan had gone running to Chief Parker because he started to suspect he might be the next target on Tanner's would-be hit list.

"If Dan hadn't spoken up, the cops might not have turned their attention to Tanner Gunn so quickly. It's how they were able to find out about his gambling problem—and Jesse's, by extension."

"Hmm," Lisa murmured. "Dan was saving his own skin, is more like it. Oh, did I say that out loud?"

Jack regarded her with amusement. "You did."

"Shoot. I meant to keep that to myself."

"You do make a habit of that, you know," Jack commented.

"Of what?" Lisa asked.

"Keeping things to yourself."

Lisa gave an impatient sigh. "It's not that I want to," she said. "Some things just aren't worth mentioning. There are some things you don't need to hear."

"Like the email threats you got from that fringe animal-rights group?" Jack asked. He had not wanted to spring it on her like this, but he did not want the opportunity to pass now that they were on the subject of keeping secrets.

Lisa stared at him. Her jaw slackened slightly. "H-how did you—?"

"Chief Parker," Jack said. "He had to cover every angle, Lis. His team poked through your emails and found the threats. Why didn't you tell the police? Why didn't you tell me?"

Lisa exhaled sharply, then grimaced at the action. Her chest and side were still so tender, thanks to a couple cracked ribs from when Nurse Cheryl was forced to administer CPR the night of the attack by the hitman. "Fairfield has been receiving those kinds of 'threats' since my dad was alive, Jack," she finally said. "Their bark is worse than their bite. I ignore them because it's not worth it. If I'd told you about it, what would you have done?"

"Probably gone off on them and knocked a few heads together," Jack admitted sheepishly.

"Exactly," Lisa said, "which is exactly what I don't need. There will always be people who don't like horseracing, or the rodeo, or the chucks, or anything with the potential for these animals to get hurt. All I can do is make sure my horses get the best treatment when they're at Fairfield. It's how my dad ran things, and it's how I intend to keep running things. I need to be able to look at myself in the mirror every day and see someone who's doing things the right way."

Jack smiled at her. "In case there was ever any doubt, I see someone who's doing things the right way."

"Thank you for that," said Lisa.

"Still, I wish you'd told me," Jack said. "You don't have to face that stuff alone, even if it only amounts to a bunch of baseless accusations of abuse."

"I promise from now on I will tell you," Lisa said, "if you promise not to go beating them up."

"I promise."

Presently, one of the hospital volunteers arrived with Lisa's dinner tray.

"Thanks," Jack said, taking the meal from the young woman's outstretched hands.

"What is it?" Lisa asked expectantly.

Jack looked at the menu printout sheet and cautiously raised the lids. "Salisbury steak, mashed potatoes, diced carrots, some crackers, and apple juice," he announced.

"I am so glad they're letting me eat solid food," Lisa sighed, gingerly shifting herself into more of an upright position. This was not the easiest of maneuvers as her left arm was still immobilized, and even the slightest motion exacerbated the pain of the patched-up wounds in her side.

Jack caught her grimace. "You okay?"

"Fine," she grunted. "Nothing I can't handle."

"Here, let's get that bed adjusted," he said, taking the bed's control and pressing the button to raise the mattress so Lisa had enough back support.

"Thank you," she said, and relaxed as she reclined more comfortably against the now almost vertical upper section of the bed.

"Ready for the first bite?" Jack asked, scooping up a small mound of the potato.

Lisa nodded, and allowed her husband to feed her. Despite feeling quite hungry, exhaustion very quickly took over.

"Had enough?" Jack asked a few minutes later when Lisa put up a hand to stop him from bringing her another bite of the Salisbury steak. She let go a short breath and gave a tired nod after swallowing. "I think that short walk I got to take today tired me out more than I thought."

"Then let's take a pause from eating. Relax," Jack said, putting down the fork.

"I would like some of that apple juice, though," she said, eying the cup. He lifted the drink and angled the straw towards her lips.

Jack waited while she took a couple sips. Once she was finished swallowing, he set the cup back down. He noted with a flicker of concern that more than half the meal still remained on the tray. Unexpectedly, a memory bubbled up from when they were lost in the woods while the status of their relationship was uncertain.

"How do you know ten years from now I won't need somebody to feed me mashed potatoes?" Lisa had asked when he expressed to her his fears about growing old, and her being burdened with taking care of him.

"You're a lot younger than me, Lis."

"You got pretty quiet there, Cowboy. What are you thinking about?" she gently asked, pulling Jack back to the present.

"I was thinking..." he began slowly, "I was thinking that I never thought I'd be playing the role of caregiver in this marriage."

"And you're doing a great job," Lisa said. "I feel very cared-for, Jack. Thank you for being here."

"I couldn't imagine being anywhere else, Lis."

"Can you stay with me again tonight?" she asked.

"Do you want me to?"

"Yes, please," she answered.

"Then I'll stay."

"Good," Lisa said happily.

***

Chapter 12: A Place Called Heartland

#heartland #heartland fanfiction #my fanfiction #bad business #A Heartland Murder Mystery #Lisa Stillman #Jack Bartlett #JISA #Jack and Lisa fic #Amy Fleming #Ty Borden #Tim Fleming #Jim Parker #Adam Parker #Professor Parker #Jesse Stanton #Ashley Stanton

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