A/N….I wrote this story over a year ago in response to the Ashley/Caleb breakup. Cindy Busby had left the show and it seemed that they were done. The story went over well and I received a lot of good feedback. The one thing that was pointed out to me was that I rushed the ending. I really didn't say much about how Ashley and Caleb were thinking. That criticism is correct. I did rush the ending. So I have re-written chapter one and wrote a chapter two, with one more chapter to follow. Now for the good news Cindy Busby is going to be on season seven of Heartland, so maybe Ashley and Caleb will get it together.

Ashley O'Dell was driving from Toronto to Hudson. The memories of her past would not leave her thoughts. She was now leading a life far removed from the foothills of Alberta; a life with no horses. No horses and working in a bank in Toronto; six years ago she would have told you that you were crazy if you thought that would be her future, but her mother was right She did thrive with a college education. Ashley was very surprised when a bank in Toronto offered her employment upon her graduation.

Two things happened in Ashley's life that dramatically altered it. One was somehow her mother met a man in British Columbia and married him, and then to Ashley's vast displeasure she moved to Vancouver with him; which put her mother Val a little too close to her. The other was her huge fight with Caleb; her husband. He wanted to go down to the States and rodeo for three months. She wanted him with her. During the course of the fight Ashley said things to him that she regretted instantly. Whenever Ashley thought of the words she said to her husband; a feeling of guilt and loneliness would overwhelm her words were forever burned into her brain. "You stupid ass cowboy; my mother was right, you will never amount to anything. You need to stop being a big kid and settle down."

Ashley's thoughts wandered back to the day she knew she was in love with him. What a crazy day that was. She had just finished getting ready for the school dance when she felt the trailer lurch. Ashley smiled when she thought of what happened next. She ran out to find Caleb had hooked the trailer up to his pickup truck and was attempting to tow it away. The word flew as they argued whose trailer it was. Then the ramshackle roof over the porch collapsed. They looked at each other and burst into laughter. Her date was standing there looking at them as if they were crazy. "Ashley, go to the dance and have a good time. I'll have this fixed by the time you get back." Caleb smiled and nodded his head toward Ashley's waiting and confused date.

Ashley looked back as they were leaving the yard and there was Caleb sitting there petting her dog. It was that instant she knew that she was in love with him.

After their last fight when Caleb stormed out of their house; she was not worried. She would apologize to him in the morning for what she said. They had the reset button on their relationship. No matter how bad the argument; tomorrow was another day.

When she awoke the next morning Ashley knew he would be sleeping on the couch. She was going to wake him with a kiss and they could start the day. He was not sleeping on the couch. Ashley remembered her shock and dismay. She was positive that he would be home when she returned from school.

He wasn't. That night was cold and lonely. Ashley tried calling but his phone went straight to voice mail. She could not sleep. She was so used to him next to her. Several times she reached out to touch him and she felt nothing but a cold sheet. She loved it when she fell asleep in his arms. Ashley felt safe. His touch was so gentle; for a big powerful man it was amazing how gentle he was with her.

The days turned into weeks and the weeks into months. Two weeks after his departure his cell phone was turned off. He was gone. Her mother was wildly ecstatic when she learned that Caleb had left her. Val wanted her to get a divorce as soon as possible and take back the Stanton name. Ashley did not see any reason to do that and much to her mother's displeasure she liked the O'Dell surname and planned on keeping it.

Ashley remembered at her graduation; she had a feeling that he would be there. In vain she scanned the audience. Caleb had been gone for three years, but she hoped he would be there.

She glanced at the highway sign that told her Hudson was twenty miles ahead. This was the first time she had returned since she left for university. The day was clear and she could see the Rockies in the background. This is when Ashley realized how much she missed Alberta.

The sign also reminded her of why she was returning to Hudson. She was going to divorce Caleb. She met a man and he was good to her. Ashley expected him to propose soon and she wanted her marital status to be clear. After talking to her lawyer in Toronto; he informed her that her and Caleb's marriage in Montana was most likely legal and would cause a few problems with the divorce. So she decided to drive to Hudson and gather up all the paperwork on her marriage and then drive down to the town in Montana they were married in and gather up that paper work. She could have sent letters and faxes for the same results, but this way was faster and she would not have to go through endless phone calls; plus she wanted to visit Hudson.

Ashley entered Hudson and parked in front of Maggie's; her heart leapt to her throat. There was her cowboy. He was limping but other than that he looked the same. The first image that flashed in her mind was a memory of them making love. She got weak in the knees.

Hesitantly she got out of the car and walked into the diner. He was sitting at the counter reading the menu. Ashley walked over and quietly slid into the seat next to him.

"Hi cowboy."

Caleb turned toward her and a smile slowly spread across his face. "Hi Ashley."

Ashley's stomach was doing little flip flops. It was if the years apart had disappeared. "What did you do to your leg?"

Caleb's smile faded. I got busted up in a rodeo. It was bad. I banged up my head pretty bad. They actually had me in a medically induced coma for two months. I also banged up my leg. The head healed, the leg didn't.

"When did that happen, Caleb?"

Quietly he said." Three days after I left you. It was at a rodeo in Washington State."

"Why did you leave? You know we had a reset button to start each day fresh."

"It was what you said Ash."

"Caleb I was going to apologize in the morning."

"Ash you never before told me I would not amount to anything. That is why I left. I was going to the states and enter as many rodeos as I could and come back to you with a box full of cash."

When I finally woke up and found out it was two months later; I figured it would be best if I kept going. I had no money and no job."

"Caleb I was your wife. You should have called me."

"Why? All I would have been is a burden on you."

"Caleb, don't you understand I love you? I would have helped." Ashley realized that she said love in the present tense.

Caleb's gaze settled on her left hand. "I see you are still wearing your wedding ring."

All Ashley could do was nod. Her emotions were taking over. Did she did still love him?

"Ashley for what it is worth I have thought about you every day.

Ashley felt long lost but familiar emotions. "I still think about you Caleb." She leaned over and hugged Caleb. Ashley pulled back "I shouldn't have done that, sorry."

"It's okay Ash. You know I now live in Tim Fleming's old place; he took off to California and I run the ranch for him. I am going to buy it from him soon."

"I'm proud of you Caleb." Ashley did not know what to say next. The two of them sat quietly at the restaurant counter lost in their thoughts.

Caleb spoke first. "Ashley I know we haven't been together for years and all that, but let me buy you dinner tonight."

Simultaneously the twin emotions of guilt and pleasure ran through her. Guilt that she was with Jim and pleasure that Caleb still wanted to spend time with her.

Ashley hesitated for a brief moment. "Yes Caleb I'd like that."

Caleb smiled at her and put his big hand over hers. "Do you want me to pick you up?"

His touch was like an electric shock; Ashley was barely able to reply. "No, it's okay I'll meet you. Just tell me where and what time."

"A new place Ashley; it's just west of town toward Heartland, Grimes Steak house. How about seven o'clock?"

Ashley smiled and felt guilty. "It's a date. I'll see you at seven."