Jo tiptoed downstairs into the main bar area. She heard Jack’s minute snores through the
parlour and smiled. At least he wasn’t awake to hinder her thoughts. Her feelings were all
jumbled up at the moment. She had feelings awaken in her that she didn’t even knew
existed. At times they scared her, but most of the time they gave her the most wonderful
feelings. She didn’t know she could love somebody like she loved Jack. There, she said
it. She loved him. Deeply. It had never happened with any of her past boyfriends. And
she knew why she hadn’t told him. Well, she had been going to...and then he got shot.
She heard a sound of clattering and figured Jack must be trying to get up. Jo knocked
softly on the parlour door. ‘Jack? It’s Jo. Can I come in?’
‘Yeah,’ came the reply.
She entered the room. ‘Hey Stretch.’
‘Have a seat,’ Jack told her, patting the bed.
Jo smiled and sat down next to him. ‘Rough night?’
‘Not really. Couldn’t sleep.’
Jo nodded. ‘Me either. Need anything?’
Jack groaned. ‘Why is this happening? I’m not a baby!’
Jo turned away. ‘Because we care about you, Jack. But your attitude doesn’t make things
any easier on us. Sure, it must be hard to get used to this situation, but it’s hard for other
people too. To get used to you not running in after riding Matilda, for you not backing me
up on jobs and you clanking around in that thing,’ she said, gesturing to the wheelchair.
‘Don’t think you’re the only one going through this, because you’re not. And frankly,
everyone is getting fed up of your attitude. You don’t even try! You’re so godamn selfish
sometimes!’
Jo regretted the words as soon as they slipped out of her mouth. She hadn’t meant to say
it. She was just so sick of the whole deal! There was silence on Jack’s behalf for a
moment and Jo died inside, thinking how much she had hurt him.
‘I’m sorry,’ Jo finally said. ‘I shouldn’t have said that.’
‘Yes you should have,’ Jack answered. ‘It was all true.’
‘Jack..’ Jo began.
‘I have been a bit of an idiot. But I’ve been thinking. What am I going to do with myself?
I need an incentive! I mean, before this happened, I had my life all planned out. The way
it was going to be. I’d have a wife and kids, and a house with a garden and plenty of
room for Matilda to be in. I’d work here at the station, she’d have her own job and we’d
see each other every day. We could take holidays with our family and everything would
be perfect. But now..apart from the fact I may never get on Matilda again, or that my
police career is limited to filing, what sort of woman would want a guy stuck in a
wheelchair?’
‘Me,’ Jo said softly to herself.
‘I’m guessing I wasn’t supposed to hear that,’ Jack told her gently.
Jo whirled around and faced him, a faint red blush creeping up her neck. ‘No.’
‘Do you regret saying it?’ Jack asked, moving closer, his breath tingling her senses.
‘No,’ Jo whispered as their lips met for the first time.
The kiss started softly enough, but soon exploded in passion, as Jack wrapped his arms
around her, moving her as close as possible.
After what seemed an eternity, Jo moved away. ‘No, Jack.’
Jack, still recovering from the passionate kiss, glanced at her. ‘No what?’
‘Not now. Not like this,’ Jo told him.
‘Is it because of that?’ Jack asked, pointing to the wheelchair.
Jo smiled and caressed his face. ‘No. In fact, if it weren’t for why I’m not, I wouldn’t
have stopped you.’
‘Then why are we stopping?’
‘You told me before, you wanted an incentive to get better. Well, here’s a few things.
First, I’m going to get some people to get you onto Matilda with me. I can ride and you’re
going to ride with me.’
Jack began to say something and Jo put her hand over his mouth.
‘Shutup till I’m finished. Then we’re going on a scenic hike together. I’ll push and every
so often, I’ll help you walk too. Then you’re going to come out on a job with me. Then,
and only then, you will come upstairs and we can go further then. Comprehende?’
Jack nodded. ‘Why are you doing all this?’
Jo grinned and shook her head. ‘You still don’t get it, do you Stretch? I love you. And as
for the other guys at the station, you’re part of the family.’ She kissed him gently and
hopped of the bed. ‘See you tomorrow Stretch.’
Jack watched her in open bewilderment as she slipped out of the parlour and went
upstairs.

2

‘I still don’t know about this,’ Tom said, as Ben and PJ helped Jack into the chair.
Jo swung herself up onto Matilda. ‘Take it easy boss. I won’t let anything happen to
him.’
‘He isn’t a china doll Boss,’ Tess informed Tom.
‘Thankyou Gallagher, I did know that. And Dr Carter approved this?’
Jo nodded. ‘Mhm. She said it might even do Jack good.’
The Heelers had had a horse fanatic make a special chair for Jack, that Ben and PJ
secured him into. Jo sat in front of the chair, reins in her hands.
‘Forgetting something, aren’t you?’ PJ asked Jack.
‘What?’
Ben grinning and handed up Jack’s Akubra. ‘You’ve got to look the part, mate.’
Jack grinned. ‘Thanks.’
‘Now, just walking please Parrish,’ Tom told her.
Jo rolled her eyes. ‘Will you just trust me?’
‘Get going already!’ Tess told them.
‘Yes Sergeant. Ready Stretch?’
‘Let’s go.’
Jo clucked a little to Matilda and they started on a slow walk. Jack had his arms around
Jo, and they both knew it wasn’t as much for support as it was out of pure emotions.
‘How you doing back there Stretch?’ Jo asked, glancing ahead.
‘Great,’ Jack smiled, checking back on the group that stayed assembled at the stables.
Jo grinned. ‘Can they still see us?’
‘A little bit further....Nope.’
‘Ready to trot?’
‘Go for it.’
Jo started Matilda into a trot, and she could feel Jack bumping along behind her. ‘Yell, if
you want me to stop.’
‘Don’t stop,’ Jack told her, his arms tightening around her small waist.
**********************************
They had been gone half an hour and Tom kept glancing around the corner.
‘Boss, they’re fine. He’s in good hands,’ Ben told him.
‘Mhm, Parrish’s,’ Tom answered. ‘What happens if he falls?’
‘The things secure enough Boss, if he falls, he’d take Jo and Matilda down with him.’
Tom groaned.
‘And with any luck, he’d land on Parrish,’ Pj chuckled.
Tom sent him a dirty look.
**********************************
‘Jo?’ Jack asked.
‘Yeah?’
‘Faster.’
‘You sure?’ Jo inquired, a little nervous.
‘I’m positive.’
‘Alright,’ Jo told him, and started Matilda into a canter.
‘Yes!’ Jack cried.
Jo smiled.
**************************************
Tom peered anxiously and smiled as he saw Jo, Jack and Matilda, walking back to the
group.
‘Awfully sweaty for a walk,’ Tess said, as PJ and Ben helped Jack down.
Jo swung down off Matilda. ‘Well, walking can be pretty strenous excersise.’
‘Parrish,’ Tom warned.
‘Is Jack fine? Yes,’ Jo answered.
Ben and PJ wheeled Jack to the car.
‘Have a good time, mate?’ Ben asked.
Jack grinned as he stared back at Jo, who was heading into the stable with Matilda. ‘The
best.’
*******************************************
Late that night, a few hours after Jo had insisted on tucking Jack into bed...and getting a
kiss in reward, Jack felt an slight twinge of pain in his right leg. He grinned.
*********************************************
NEXT TUESDAY
‘I really don’t think this is a good idea,’ Tom said, as Jo and Jack stood outside the
station.
‘Boss, we’re just going for a walk in the park,’ Jo replied, tying her shoelace.
‘Still, I don’t know about you helping Jack to walk a couple of steps. He can’t even move
his legs yet!’
‘Boss, nothing is going to happen. We’ll have the wheelchair and a parkbench nearby.
Nothing can go wrong!’
‘Mel even said that me getting out more often was a good idea,’ Jack informed him.
Tom sighed. ‘Go,’ he said, waving his hand. ‘Before I change my mind.’
********************************
‘I think I should tell you something before we attempt my step,’ Jack told her.
‘What?’ Jo asked, a worried look etched on her face.
‘I, uh, felt a twinge of pain in my right leg last night.’
Jo grinned. ‘I knew all you needed was an incentive.’ She kissed him gently. ‘Ready?’
‘As I’ll ever be,’ Jack answered. He put the wheelchair’s brakes on. ‘Let’s do it.’
Jo nodded and got him onto the park bench. ‘Right. Now, let’s stand you up.’
Jack nodded and braced himself on the side of the bench. Jo steadied him and he stood
up, leaning heavily on the bench and Jo.
‘Hey Stretch, look at you!’ Jo cried.
‘Yeah, but I’m not doing it on my own though.’
‘It’ll come Stretch. We’ll do this every day, till you do it on your own.’
Jack nodded as they sat him down again.
*************************************************
It had been a week since Jo’s little outings to the park with Jack and each day he had
progressed a little farther. Jack had felt the prick last night, when he had put his foot on a
pin. That was one thing, though, he hadn’t told Jo yet. He was determined to stand up
today, and Jo wouldn’t have to hold him.
‘Alright Stretch,’ Jo said, as he sat on the bench. ‘Let’s do it.’
Jack nodded and leant on the bench. ‘Don’t help me,’ he told her.
‘What?’ Jo asked him.
‘Trust me,’ Jack told her, as he pushed himself to an upright position.
Jo’s eyes widened considerably and a big smile broke out on her face. ‘Jack!’ she
grinned, kissing him firmly.
The shock of her kiss, combined with the tiredness of his legs, forced him to collapse on
the bench, Jo landing right on top of him.
‘Sorry,’ Jo said, moving away.
Jack pulled her back and kissed her deeply. ‘Don’t be.’
*************************************
3
Mel smiled at Jack. ‘You’re doing really well. IN fact, you’re doing better than well. Is
there a reason you’ve only just started trying hard now?’
Jack blushed slightly as he stared out into the waiting room, straining to see Jo.
‘I get it. Well, as far as Jo’s next little project, no murderers, or anyone too dangerous,
okay?’
Jack nodded. ‘Thanks Mel.’
***************************************
Jo wheeled Jack the two blocks to Mrs Hardy’s house, where she had apparantly locked
up, what she thought to be a burglar. They both knew Mrs Hardy’s fear of burglars and
she usually just locked up who cat. Not so this time. When Jo unlocked the barn, the
assailant ran out, pushing Jo over. What he didn’t see, was Jack’s foot, keenly placed
where he was sure to trip. Jack bent down and cuffed the man’s hands, the wheels of his
chair precariously close to the man’s head. Jo smiled as she picked herself up and
grabbed the man.
‘Good work Lawson,’ she told him.
**************************************
Tom was also very pleased. And he told Jack so that evening. While the Heelers, sat
around, celebrating Jack’s progress, Mel Carter walked in and approached the table. She
concealed something behind her back and the Heelers seemed curious.
‘What’s up Mel?’ PJ asked, craning to try and see the product she kept under wraps.
Mel Carter smiled a broad smile. ‘Jack, you’ve improved greatly over the past few
weeks, quicker than we expected. And I brought something for you.’
Jack raised an eyebrow.
‘Stand up out of that chair first,’ she told him.
Jack complied with her request, and with PJ and Ben’s help, stood up in front of her. Mel
instructed Jo to remove the wheelchair and Jack became even more curious.
‘What is it?’ Jack asked.
Mel presented him with a pair of crutches. ‘Say goodbye to the wheelchair. Get used to
these for awhile.’
Jack’s eyes widened and he took the crutches. Leaning himself on them he moved over to
Mel and stuck his hand out. ‘Thanks.’
‘You’re welcome,’ Mel replied, shaking the hand.
Jack crutched his way over to where Jo stood, grinning broadly. He bent down and kissed
her passionately. ‘Didn’t we have a deal?’
Jo nodded. ‘Up those stairs first though.’
‘With ease,’ Jack replied.
The Heelers watched him crutch his way up the stairs and he stood at the top, staring
down at them. He looked at Jo.
‘Well?’
Jo moved up and stood beside him. Snaking her arms around his neck, she murmured,
‘I’m proud of you,’ before bringing his head down for a long kiss. ‘You’ve earned
tonight.’
Wolf-whistles emanated from downstairs as the two headed for Jo’s room.
Chris turned to the assembled group. ‘Who wants to help me move everything out of the
parlour.
The group smiled. Jack was on the road to recovery. All he needed was few incentives.