Author's Note: I didn't think I'd weigh into the Heartland fandom again, but after seeing Season 7 (especially episodes 713 & 714), I had this microscopic plot bunny rolling around the corners of my mind. I got inspired by the song "Wide River to Cross", but I wouldn't call this a songfic.

There are definitely spoilers for Season 7, and specifically episodes 713 & 714. You have my permission to skip reading this until you've seen those episodes. Stop reading right here if you don't want to be spoiled in any way, shape, or form... You've been warned!

This little fic explores what Lisa might have been thinking and feeling after she flew back from France when Jack had his heart attack, and they had their big fight that sent her packing.

Chapter 1: Wide River to Cross

She drove off in silence after their final fight.

You take care of yourself, she'd said in parting, her words coming out more like an emotional plea than casual, friendly advice.

It wasn't until Lisa reached Fairfield that she found herself unable to contain the tears any longer. She'd pulled into the garage, shut off the engine, and just sat in the driver's seat of the Porsche, her mind still spinning from Jack's harsh words earlier in the evening.

"You know what?! Maybe we shouldn't go to Arizona together!"

She'd been so stunned by his outburst that she hadn't a clue how to respond at first. So she'd simply stood there in the living room next to the hospital bed she'd rented for him, reeling in silence. His words were like a rejection, breaking an already fragile relationship; widening the chasm between them. His words, quite honestly, had hurt almost as badly as if he'd physically struck her.

If she had imagined that stories about Jack's wicked temper had been overblown, or that he had left it all in the past, Lisa realised she had only herself to blame for that. She just hadn't ever expected to be on the receiving end of that legendary temper; not like this. Not when she had flown across an ocean and a continent to be with him again. Not when she had almost lost him to a heart attack.

You could have died, Jack, Lisa thought in horror, as the tears welled beneath her lids; tears that were hot and stinging. She initially refused to blink, hoping, perhaps, that the tears might recede without manifesting themselves. But it was useless. The dam burst, and the moisture spilled down her cheeks in a torrent. Her sobs filled the interior of the Porsche until she was exhausted and emotionally spent.

When she had expelled the last of the tears, she climbed unsteadily out of the vehicle and trudged inside the house, weary to the bone. She didn't even bother to change into sleepwear as she tumbled into bed, misery her only companion. The reunion she had so desperately desired had not come to pass as she'd hoped it would, and her last thought before falling asleep was that now their reconciliation would never happen. Everything was ruined.

The next morning, Lisa made a call to the home care company from which she'd rented the bed to have it moved from Heartland. It would be gone before noon, she was assured, which meant Jack wouldn't have to look at it for another day and be reminded of their fight. Lisa also made arrangements to fly back to France as soon as a seat on a flight became available.

Then she cancelled her Arizona flight reservation. It made little sense to stay in Hudson now that Jack wasn't going to be there once he left for the 'States, and especially now that he clearly didn't want her to be a part of his world.

Okay, so the bed was a mistake, Lisa berated herself, replaying the uncomfortable exchange from the night before. Maybe it reminds him of the hospital. But did he have to react like that? Didn't he realise I just wanted him to be comfortable? That I care about what he's been through? That I don't want anything to happen to him again?

She felt the tell-tale signs of tears threatening to burst forth again, but this time kept them in check. Her heart and mind were so full of words and feelings that she wanted to express to him, but knew it could never happen face to face. She couldn't trust herself to stay composed if she called him; perhaps an email might work…

In her office, Lisa sat at her computer, staring blankly at her personal email account. In fits and starts, she began to write a new message to Jack, hoping that she could keep steady hands while she typed.

Dear Jack,

I'm probably the last person you want to hear from now, especially after what happened last night.

Things didn't go exactly as I hoped they would, I'm afraid. But you have to know that I never wanted to upset you. I only wanted to see you and be there for you. I just can't imagine what it must have been like for you when you had your heart attack, all alone in the middle of the field with no one around to help. If it hadn't been for Tim… I just can't even bring myself to consider it.

Jack, what would I have done if you'd died? Getting that call from Lou was just awful. When I saw the call display, I initially thought it was you. I thought you were calling me because I knew you should have received my letter by then. But it wasn't you. You weren't calling me to make up; you were in a hospital bed at death's door. And Lou was frantic and so afraid we were going to lose you. I've never prayed harder in my life that you'd make it. Nothing else seemed to matter at that point. Not our vacation home, not trips to France. The only thing that mattered was that you would be okay.

I was so grateful when I learned you were out of the woods, Jack. I was so relieved that we didn't lose you. But now it looks like I have lost you—this time for good—because we just can't seem to bridge this gap. The river is just too wide to cross this time, isn't it?

Lisa stopped typing and frowned. She had no idea how to wrap it up. Should she put something in there that said she hoped for another chance? Beg to be given the opportunity to make things right? Or would that come off as desperate and clingy?

Her left hand was on the mouse, and the arrow hovered over the "Send" option on the screen.

Jack's angry words echoed in her mind again: Maybe we shouldn't go to Arizona together!

Lisa closed her eyes and sighed, trying to ignore the pain those words caused as they stabbed at her heart. Her mouth twisted into a frown.

Arizona was your idea, Jack, Lisa thought ruefully. It was supposed to be a compromise since you don't want to come to France. I was willing to give it a chance… I was really looking forward to spending that time with you. But you don't want me in your life any more, do you? There is no more "us".

In a sudden fit of pique, Lisa moved the arrow over to the "Cancel" button, and confirmed that she wanted to delete the message without sending it. The words she'd spent nearly half an hour typing vanished from sight, and she signed out from her account. She heaved another sigh, heavy and mournful, and then shut down the computer.

What, really, was keeping her in Hudson now?

Fairfield had been her home since she was born, but living there wasn't imperative—she could run her business from France just as easily as she could from Canada.

So maybe I'll just sell Fairfield, then, Lisa thought with a growing sense of resentment and bitterness. Move to France permanently. Give Jack the space he needs to live his life the way he wants, which obviously doesn't include me.

A new thought popped into her head as her mind refused to let her make such a rash decision without first weighing all the pros and cons:

Okay, but what about the Dude Ranch business with Lou? What about your goddaughter, Katie? What about the horses and all the friends here in Hudson you'll be leaving behind? What about your joint business interests with Dan?

Lisa considered.

Lou is a perfectly capable young woman. She doesn't need my interference any more. And it's not like I won't find time to visit once or twice a year to see Katie and folks in town. The horses I can sell just as easily as I can buy them, so that won't be a problem. And Dan… I'll ask him to buy me out. Split the proceeds of the sale of Fairfield in a way that's fair and equitable to both of us.

It seemed logical enough a solution to the more pragmatic side of Lisa's mind.

The emotional side tried one final effort to dissuade her:

So, that's it, then? You're giving up? Cutting ties completely?

I'm not "giving up", Lisa thought in rebuttal. I'm accepting facts. Jack and I are over, and there's no reconciliation. To believe otherwise would be to delude myself.

With that, her mind was made up. It wouldn't be easy, but she decided that putting Jack and Hudson behind her was the only way she could move forward with her life.

Two days later as she flew out of Calgary International Airport on her way back to France, Lisa happened to glance out of her window to the earth below. Much of the land was covered in snow, but she could still easily make out the roads of urban areas, and the vast, empty fields of uninhabited areas.

Empty and desolate, she thought glumly, just like my heart.

Quickly and effortlessly, the plane crossed more fields, several frozen lakes and long, winding creeks and rivers. It was a sight that Lisa had seen more times than she could count as a seasoned air traveller, but this time, her gaze lingered.

If only crossing the wide river that separates us were as easy as this, Jack, Lisa mused sadly, and finally pulled down the window shade, shutting away the view of a world she was leaving behind forever.