Bonds of Blood |A Heartland Fanfic

Chapter Two

Feeling more than a little jealous Georgie eyed the row of vehicles along the fence. Jack and Lisa had been away most of the day, she was willing to bet that they had stopped to see Katie on the way back from Lisa's business thing.

She hated waiting at home for someone to take her up, usually on the weekend. Wyatt had taken her once after school, but only family was in allowed to Katie and the weather had gotten bad on their way home; no one had been impressed with them for that. Pulling her jacket tighter against the cold wind she hurried towards the house.

"No, I am afraid I can't travel just now. However, I have my barn manager, Kelly Durian down there now. I would be happy to have her contact you." Lisa's voice made her pause, it was cold to be having that conversation out here.

When Lisa saw her, she smiled before turning away, moving down further. As Georgie stepped in Jack passed her, Lisa's coat in his hands. As she put away her barn things she watched Jack wrap the coat around his wife and lean in to kiss the top of her head. Usually Jack and Lisa left for a few weeks each winter, Lisa would be gone longer as after their trip she went to France for the sales; this year they hadn't budged.

The house was warm and busy, Tim bounced Lyndy on his lap while Ty and Amy set the table; discussing a horse that had just arrived. When Jack and Lisa came back in she helped set the meal on the table. The two empty places a reminder that Georgie hated looking at. Lou's wouldn't bother her if Katie's spot was full, or if her little sister was anywhere else; visiting Peter or at a friend's house. Now it served to reinforce that Georgie was here and her sister, her parents weren't.

"Have you exercised Phoenix today?" Amy asked, pulling her from her thoughts.

"Sort of, we went for a trail ride, but we can't jump; and I'm not going back to Westfield." They missed it, Phoenix wanted to turn towards the jumping ring every time they left the barn; he loved jumping just as much as she did.

"You'll be waiting a few months for that ring to thaw." Jack warned.

"But trail rides and spending time with him keeps your connection strong." Amy countered, frowning as Georgie looked down at her phone.

"I know, may I be excused?" Taking her plate and ringing phone. "Lou's calling early."

Jack nodded, and Lisa rose, taking the plate from her and nodding to the stairs. Georgie escaped, Lou video called her every evening, updating her on what was going on and handing the phone to Katie for a few moments. It was the best connection she could have to her family right now, and she leaned close to the screen as Katie showed her a picture she had drawn today.

The spark was there, it might be dimmed but she laughed as Katie tried to keep the phone from Lou. When Lou finally managed to retrieve her phone, she had little news, but Georgie sighed as her mom locked onto something she hadn't done.

"Georgie, you need to start on your applications, there are open houses coming up; some are even coming to your school." Lou cautioned, Georgie knew she was pacing with phone, the blurring background was distracting as she tried to think a way out of this one. Suddenly she turned back. "I've got to go sweetie; Katie's doctor is here."

Georgie nodded as her screen went black. Lou had started getting her brochures before Katie got sick, and the topic had dropped of the radar after; she was getting off easy on something Lou would usually be on her about. Right now, she couldn't think about college, or university; with Lou hoping she would choose the latter.