Author: mlcsped
Summary: I want to explore what would have happened if Caleb had never answered the call (from Ashley) in 509, "Cover Me" while meeting up with Kelly James. He is clearly smitten by this wonderful beauty. Could there be a relationship in the making, will he train her to bull ride or saddle bronc. We shall see.
Rated: K+
Authors Note: I thought I would treat y'all to an extra long Ch. I looked and relized it was (nearly) 1 yr between Ch. 8 & 9. My deep apologies for that. I wrote myself right, *smack* dab, into a wall, but I broke that wall down with a sledge hammer and it's truly coming together. So, thank you so much for your patience.
Sincereley,
mlcsped
Ch.10
For the Tanners this was a very excruciating day. Their legal misery had finally caught up to them, which is what Margaret wanted to avoid at all costs, no matter what that meant.
They woke up at 7:00 a.m. Margaret began collecting all their essential belongings, while Butch cleard out the bed of the truck and hitched up the trailer. Jared had the disgusting, heart wrenching task of selcting the dogs for execution or discarding.
As Jared pulled into the clearing he looked around, his mind filling with excited pleasure as he scanned the scene before him. Walking the grounds just to be sure, his first impression was confirmed: the dogs - almost all of them - were dead. Some still showed signs of labored breathing, but they were too far gone to save. He heaved a sigh of relief thinking how his job was so much easier. If the dogs were still alive, he would have to execute and then discard them. Jumping on his ATV he drove out the back side of the clearing looking for a suitable location to dump the dogs. After riding for about 15 minutes, Jared found the spot. There was a big ditch just on the otherside of the creek. He would need Butches help in getting the dogs over there.
* * *
When Kelly arrived at work Andy was glad to see her. He asked her to come into his office and explained the situation reguarding the Tanners.
"The RCMP are on their way right now", he began. "With the pictures you were able to take we have a solid case against the Tanners. We need to go back and get photos of the actual dog fighting ring itself. They are coming with us Kelly! You did a great job with your paper work and the pictures."
Kelly looked shocked that this was happening so fast, "Are you serious Andy?" she asked. They could all go to jail today?"
Andy smiled. "All you have to do is get us there since you know the directions. What do ya say, are you in?" Reaching out he patted her back and gave her a hug.
Kelly was near tears when she gladly accepted this task. She wanted nothing more than to see all three in jail for Animal cruelty under the Animal Protection Act. She recalled a recent case where the defendant was charged a $10,000 fine for fourty-nine dogs being in disstress and for neglect along with nineteen deceased cats.
The Tanners had fifty dogs plus the dog fighting training equipment and the ring, meaning they could face fines and prison time.
* * *
Caleb awoke bright and early as promised. After a quick shower he headed for Heartland and arrived at 7:00 a.m. Lou was pleasently surprised as she saw him walk in. She greeted him with a smile saying, "Caleb, you're here. Do you want a quick bite or some coffee?"
Caleb winked and grined "Thank you, Lou. I said I would be here, so here I am!"
Lou presented Caleb with a bucket of cleaning supplies, a basket of fresh towels and linens then said with a smile, "Oh, don't forget your coffee."
"Thanks Lou", said Caleb. "You know where I'll be." He walked out with his arms full of stuff while barely hanging onto his coffe mug. He placed everything in his truck and was off to the Dude Ranch. Forgetting about the coffee, Caleb carried the supplies into the cabin. Letting the stuff drop to the floor he plopped down onto the bed wondering what he'd gotten himself into. But it didn't take long at all for Caleb to remember why and who he was doing this for. Caleb recalled that day, watching as Big Ugly Critter's head collided with Luke's:
He was knocked unconscious, bleeding, and tossed like a rag doll, but still attached. Loud gasps and a long hush fell over the crowd. Luke was dragged throughout the arena while the other cowboys and rodeo clowns swiftly scattered in all directions to somehow corral the beast and set Luke's limp body free. It worked and Luke dropped like a sack of potatoes on the dirt, motionless. Big Ugly Critter came back with lightning speed reaction at Luke, trampling him before being corralled out of the arena. "LUKE…!" Caleb shouted from the stands.
Taking a deep breath, Caleb looked around an organized a plan of attack for in the cabin. He wasn't just doing this for anybody, he was doing this for Luke who was like a brother. Caleb wasn't the kind of guy to tend to his own personal needs first- he left that special treatment for the ones he loved and cared about. So the fact that Caleb was here cleaning the cabin meant more to him than cleaning his own trailer. He was going do this right and not let Jack, Lou or Amy down. He put his whole heart into this as he began dusting the furniture, window sills and lamp shades. He then took off the bed coverings and replaced them with fresh sheets and blankets, not forgetting to fluff those pillows. Finally he cleaned the washroom and sink, leaving the sweeping and mopping of the floors for last.
As he finishe up his chores, Caleb remembered the promise he'd made to Linda:
"Caleb, listen to me," she'd said as she placed her hands on his shoulders. "There is nothing you could've done. Heck I couldn't stop him from joining the damn circuit, but you being there … thank you. He looked up to you, and spoke of you fondly. This is what he chose to do. All I ask is that you continue to support him and be there when I can't … eh?"
"Yes Ma'am" Caleb said, and it was like a solemn oath.
Caleb wasn't about to disappoint Linda either. Looking around for this last seal of approval, he grinned big and wide. The cabin was ready and waiting, like a swanky hotel room for it's next tenant. With a hushed whisper a nearly teary eyed Caleb said, "Welcome home Luke."
Then he packed up the supplies and headed back to the ranch.
* * *
After looking around one last time, Jared hopped on ATV and went back to the clearing. Once there, he knew that the training shed and the dog fighting ring would need to be torn down, so he headed back to the house to get Butches help.
The older Tanner brother just completed his task when he saw Jared pulling into the far side of the yard. Margaret had put all of their modest possessions into the motor home and looked up just in time.
Andy and Kelly pull into the Tanners delapadated ranch ahead of the RCMP. With their lights flashing, they stopped their truck just infront of Butch's, blocking him from leaving. The RCMP followed suit, boxing in the motor home. Jared gasped with fear as he saw the life drain out of his mother and brother.
Margaret, no longer shouting epithets, simply let the cigarett drop from her mouth in defeat. Three RCMP officers approached Margaret, Butch and Jared, placing them in handcuffs as the Sergent officially asked them to confirm their identities one at a time.
All three grudgingly acknowledged their names to the officers.
"Mrs. Margaret Tanner, Jared Tanner, Butch Tanner you have benn placed under arrest pursuant to the Animal Protection Act for dog fighting, animal cruelty and animal neglect. Your property and all of your belongings are being ceased for further investigation. Do you understand? - Do you have any questions?"
The RCMP officers placed each of them in a seperate car, while Andy and Kelly began taking more pictures of the clearing. Andy and Kelly stood there in shock, slowly taking in the scene before them. For a moment Kelly couldn't move or say a word, so Andy asked her for the camera. Stoically she handed it to Andy. He then began snapping pictures while Kelly slowly and methodically walked the grounds. There was no food or water in the makeshift troughs and more than half of the deceased dogs were nearly skin and bones. Some appeared to have choked to death due to the tight chains around their necks.
Kelly picked up a crowbar and gave the padlocks on both sheds a solid whack, which exposed the equipment used for training and a very well-kept ring, which again shocked her. For how run-down everything else on the property was, the ring itself was quite elaberate with bench seating all the way around like a small arena.
Walking out of the shed, Kelly was looking at the ground in disbelief when she happened to notice a fresh set of tire tracks leading away from the clearing.
"Should we take a look?"
"Yes, lets see where it leads." Andy replied, with a long, hard sigh. That's when Kelly saw the Tanners plan coming together. They were not going to bury the dogs or call the Humane Society, or even the Alberta SPCA. They were going to dump the dogs to let them rot, like trash. The anger rising up in Kelly was something she'd not experienced before. The last time she was here, her anger was an emotional anger, one that letting the tears flow solved. But this... No, she was angry enough to hit and scream. As she turned to Andy, she let it all come out.
Andy swivled behind her with his arms completely wrapped around hers and her upper body. The only thing she could do was kick for what seemed like forever. Trashing her legs this way and that, stiring up dust, dirt and rocks.
Finally, the anger stopped. and hollering at Andy she yelled:
"Let me go! I'm fine!" she hoolered.
"Are you sure? Because we got all day." Andy replied easily.
Kelly yelled again "Damn it, let go of me!"
Andy released her. He was out of breathe as he said, "Okay, okay! I'm okay are you okay?! Listen up Kelly, you have got to see the good in this. Because of you and your hard work, the Tanners are going down! They're being locked up for a long time, alright?!"
"I know... I know," Kelly replied breathlessly. "That was just so hard to see. Why, Andy? Why?! What makes people do this to living creatures?! How much more of this is actually going on that we miss?"
"Stop it, Kelly. You can't think like that," Andy answered. "Because of you, three dreadful individuals are being locked away. You helped put them away."
Kelly looked at him "But, 50 dogs are dead!"
He reached out and gave Kelly a hug, letting her know that all was fine. It all worked out in their favor in hte end. They had done their job and if it wasn't for them - namely Kelly- those three would have continued on, killing how many more no one knew. Right now their job was done, it was finished.
Andy looked at Kelly straight in the eye: "Are you ready to get out of here? Because I am. What do ya say, Partner?"
Scoffing at his last remark, Kelly was suspicious about the 'Partner' comment. What was Andy up to, anyway? He never used that term with her before.
Uncertain of his meaning, she decided to just let it go as she quietly ponderd if he was hinting at something.
Kelly answered "Ya, Partner. Lets go."
It was now about noon time as Caleb arrived back at the ranch. He was hungry and exhausted, but he knew that the horses still needed to be tended to. He made himself a quick sandwhich and grabed some juice. Lou heard all the rustling going on in the kitchen so she came out to see what was going on.
"How's it going Caleb?" she greeted him when she walked into the room. Lou noticed the time, realizing that he was at the cabin for near five hours.
She had never seen Caleb look so worn out before. Something about caused a bit of amusement to stir in her. She was careful to not let it out, except for that upturned grin when she cleard her throat "Are you done with the cabin?" she asked.
After taking a big bite of this sandwhich Caleb answered with a simple "Yup." He took a drink and added, "But I still need to take care of the horses. I'm headed out there when I'm done here."
"Well, Amy will appreciate that. Do you mind if I check out the cabin. I just want to make sure nothing was missed."
Caleb finished off the sandwhich. "Sure, go ahead," he said. "But you won't find anything wrong." With that, he said "See ya later, I'm headed to the barn."
Lou wasn't trying to be intrusive, but she was curious about the job Caleb did. Grabing her keys, she headed straight for the Dude Ranch. Upon arriving, Lou strode for the cabin reserved for Luke and Linda. Right away, she noticed that Caleb swept the front porch. "Wow Caleb, nice job. So far - so good", thought Lou. She stepped inside and gasped when she took in the whole interior. Scanning the scene before her, she walked around slowly, giving every nook and cranny the white glove treatment. With a "Hmm" she continued her inspection. The bed had fresh, clean linens and everything was dusted, swept and mopped. Stepping into the washroom, the sink and floors were even clean.
Amazed that Caleb could do this fine a job, "Good for you Caleb!" she exclaimed out loud, realizing she needn't worry about the condition of the cabin any longer.
Andy and Kelly were now at the Tanner's house with the RCMP officers. It was determined that all fifty dog carcasses would be turned over to the Alberta Veterinary Medical Association, because someone had to do the dirty job with this rotten mess. Andy and Kelly were just glad it wasn't them. Their work was done as soon as Andy turned over the camera card to the sergent. Neither one of them even took the time to watch the Tanners being legally escorted off of the property. They wanted to get back to the office; both felt this was their longest day in a very long time.
They both sat in silence during the trip back to the office. Nothing more needed to be said; Kelly even dosed off for a bit. It was 2:00 p.m. when they arrived, and Andy had one last surprise waiting for Kelly. He officially was giving her two weeks' vacation with pay.
"Congratulations Kelly!" he declared. "I couldn't have done this without you. You really made an impact and you should be proud of yourself. Now go home and don't come back for two weeks, okay?"
Kelly sighed a huge sigh of relief and extended a hug to Andy, "Thank you, partner! Thank you."
Turning to leave Andy's office, Kelly was shocked to recieve several "woots" and "Well Done Kelly" from her co-workers. She walked out slowly as they cheered her on, clapping and whistling.
She was so thankful for the job she had. It gave her great satisfaction knowing that she was making a dent, however small, in the criminal abuse of animals.
* * *
Lou heard a truck pulling up to the ranch and glanced out the window. She knew this must be Caleb's friend Luke and his mother Linda. Lou walked over and introduced herself. Right away she noticed how handsome and respectful Luke was. Linda was a genuinely nice woman. She couldn't wait to get to know her.
Caleb & Amy came from the barn when Caleb recognized Linda's truck.
"LINDA, LUKE you made it!" Shouted Caleb. He dashed off to the pair, giving Linda a hug. Then he hugged Luke, and introduced introduced them to Amy just as Jack stepped out of the house.
Stepping off of the porch Jack shook Luke's hand saying "You must be Luke." He shook Linda's hand "And you must be Lind. Welcome. We are so pleased you're here. Come inside and rest for a bit, Caleb will take you to the cabin later."
Linda was so grateful for their hospitality. After shaking Jacks hand she reached up for a hug to express her thanks. With that they all headed inside to relax and chat for a few hours before supper was ready.