Bonds of Blood |A Heartland Fanfic

Chapter Fourteen

She rose from the table, stacking Jack's plate with her own, like a reflex Lou was up; a long look had her backing up to gather a few other breakfast dishes. They had discussed it last night, she knew that had been a hard conversation for Lou, the woman was tired and still trying to sort out her own thoughts on all of it.

Lisa knew just how much it was to process, she had already been there, and had struggled to balance the shift within her own marriage as Jack came to terms. But she felt it keenly just the same, there was a sense of responsibility added her choices right now as breaking the rules did not just affect her. However, following the rules did not mean she stopped living, or being capable of doing daily tasks.

She walked out to the barn with Jack, he was saddling Buddy to ride up to the winter pastures with Mitch and she was going to pick up Lyndy. Climbing the stairs to the loft she stepped from the peace of the barn into the chaos a mobile baby could make.

Lisa closed the baby gate quickly as Lyndy toddled towards her, crashing into her legs rather than stopping. Reaching down to lift her up she laughed. "Busy little girl."

"Oh, she is this morning." Amy was putting together a diaper bag and trying to eat her breakfast. "Thank you for watching her."

"No problem, if you aren't back in time this afternoon I will just take her with me." Amy and Ty had been working off site lately, and Lisa had a little more freedom with where she worked.

Her bookwork could be done in the kitchen of Heartland just as easily as her office and her team knew what they were doing over at Fairfield. Watching those two building their careers reminded her to be thankful for that.

Bundling Lyndy up for the walk between the barn and the house they stopped to visit with GG and Buddy before they headed out. She loved watching Jack with the kids, caring for them was so natural to him as he held Buddy's rein so that the baby could pat the horse.

As her joints ached, a sure sign this morning's meds were kicking in, Jack's hand traced across her back; she knew he could read it in her face. It had been a rough night, but she hadn't wanted to get up too much, she didn't want Lou any more worried than she already was; though she had kept her husband awake for at least part of it.

"I better head in and get her in her play pen." The first few hours were the worst, but her day worked around it.

Lyndy had been fed, changed, and could play happily while Lisa dealt with this and she had come to accept that what paperwork got done on mornings like this got done; the rest would wait. She had nowhere to be until she picked Georgie up this afternoon, by then the worst would be over; until the next dose before supper.

"You call me if you need me." Jack pulled her into his side for a moment and she smiled a little; that he knew she could handle it was the only reason he was going this morning.

"I will." She promised before crossing quickly to the warmth of the house.

Georgie was in the kitchen making a lunch for school and as soon as Lyndy was out of her coat the baby pushed off; toddling towards her cousin. The little girl used the same method of wrapping her arms around the teen's legs for a crash landing; stopping must still be a work in progress.

"Did mom talk to you about work last night?" Georgie picked up Lyndy, holding her steady so that Lisa could remove her boots.