Chapter 7 – A New Twist

"Remember when the officers first came on Sunday and talked to us," Lisa started looking around the table.

Seeing nods all around, Lisa continued. "Well they had said that the horse Alberta Prince didn't belong to Forrest Farms and that that wasn't really his name, but couldn't tell us any more. Well, I figured out who owned the horse and what his true name was. I then reached out to that owner and he called me back this afternoon and would like to meet Georgie, Amy, Ty and Scott. He will be here tomorrow about 11am."

"Wait who are we talking about," Ty asked a little confused. "Scott and I haven't even be told the true identity of either the horse or owner."

"That is because the owner was hoping the media interest would die down," Jack offered.

"The point of changing the name and registering him under Forrest Farms, was the hope of keeping the horses rehab runs out of the media," Lisa continued.

"Well the media has speculated about the horse and owner, so now he thinks it is time to meet the people in question," Lisa continued. "I don't know what he wants or what his intention is, all he said is that he wanted to meet you guys."

"Well, are you going to keep us all waiting," Amy finally asked.

"Before I do," Lisa cautioned "Please remember this man values his privacy and we should respect that and not spread his visit around."

"We understand," everyone voiced almost at once.

"As long as we are agreed, I am please to inform you all, that John Russell will be here at Heartland at 11am tomorrow," Lisa finally spit out.

It was quite for a few minutes around the table as everyone absorbed the information and importance of what was said.

"You mean the John Russell, who had breed and trained two triple crown winners," Georgie said, not really believing what she heard.

"Yes, Georgie," Lisa calmly replied.

After some more discussion, Ty excused himself, to go call Scott. He was tasked with making the arrangements with Scott to be there. Lisa and Lou went to the kitchen to get supper ready. Jack went outside with Georgie and Amy. Peter went to play with his daughter. Everyone was engrossed with what they were doing when they heard the chirp of a siren. Not sure what was going, Jack sent Georgie and Amy to the house. Just as Georgie and Amy were heading in the house, Peter was coming out and Ty came out of the barn. All anyone could see was there was some sort of commotion happening at the main gate.

Without a word to each other, Jack and Peter jumped in Jack's truck and Ty into his and the three headed to the main gate. When they arrived at the gate, there stood Tim's son, Shane. No one seen or heard from him in over six months and he hadn't been to Heartland in almost eighteen. Jack was stunned and couldn't find his voice. Finally it was Peter who stepped forward.

"Officer it is fine, that is my brother-in-law," Peter managed to get out.

"Ask long as you know him and it is okay. He was found hitchhiking from town," the officer informed the group. "We weren't sure what to make of it when he said that he was headed to Heartland."

"What the hell where you thinking," Jack said sternly as Shane slid in the truck followed by Peter.

Jack was fuming as the group headed back to the house. While heading back, Peter pulled out his cell phone and dialed Tim's number and handed the phone to Shane.

"Hey Dad, I am at Heartland," Shane chirped.

Jack and Peter could heard a very confused and angry Tim through the phone.

"Dad is one his way over," Shane said hanging up the phone and handing it back to Peter.

"What is with the muscle around here," Shane asked acting like nothing was wrong.

Jack and Peter didn't answer him. As the group pulled up the house, everyone else came out to see what was going on. Upon exiting the truck, the group was shocked to see Shane. By the time that Tim pulled up in the yard, he was fuming.

"What the hell where you thinking," Tim yelled before he was completely in the house.

"Chill Dad," was all Shane said, sitting in the kitchen like there wasn't a problem.

"What the hell, am I suppose to do," Tim fumed. "You and your mother disappeared in the middle of the night over six months ago, not a word from either of you and all of a sudden you show up here again. Not mention that you were hitchhiking again. What have we said about that? Where the hell is your mother anyway."

"Mom is in Winnipeg and is either working all the time or with the new guy she is seeing," Shane said. "She probably hasn't even noticed I am gone. Sometimes I don't see her for a few days. She doesn't have time for me, so I came to stay with you for awhile."

As Shane continued talking, it dawned on Jack exactly what he had said. He came from Manitoba across Saskatchewan, all by himself. Before Tim could get up, Jack was already reaching for the phone.

"You are going to call you mother right now," Jack ordered, handing the phone to Shane. "She better answer, because your father and I both want to talk to her."

"Hey Mom, chill out, I am at Heartland," Shane said when his mother answered the phone.

"Hey Miranda, it is Jack Bartlett," taking the phone from Shane. "Yes, Tim is here. I think he needs to calm down before you talk to him."

While Tim, Jack and Shane worked things out with Miranda, Lisa cleared the rest of the family out of the immediate area. She realized that everyone didn't need to be standing there listening. She encouraged Amy and Georgie to go with her up to Georgie's room, so they could pick out something nice to wear for the next day. Not that Lisa wanted her to dress up, but wanted to get them out of the kitchen.

By the time that Lisa came back downstairs, Jack and Tim were sitting at the kitchen table alone. Shane was no where in sight. Lisa was hoping that Shane would go back to Big River with Tim, since she really didn't want Tim there when John Russell showed up. She knew Tim could be a real ass when he wanted to be.

"So, what's the plan," Lisa said.

"Shane will go back to Big River with me for at least the night," Tim replied. "By the way, he is just out checking on Pal."

"I really don't want to pry or get in the middle of things, but this isn't the best time for him to be here, with everything going on," Lisa said, looking at Jack knowingly.

"Well, what do you want me to do," Tim huffed, annoyed with Lisa.

"Besides, with Peter here, there are already enough people in the house, and besides he is you kid so, taking him back to Big River is probably the best," Jack offered trying smooth things over.

"What the hell is going on," Tim said, sensing there was something Jack and Lisa weren't saying.

"It doesn't concern you," Jack quickly said trying to divert Tim's attention.

"Fine don't tell me," Tim huffed. "As soon as Shane sees Pal, we will leave. I will drop him off in the morning, so he can hang out around here, since I have things to do."

"No!" Jack and Lisa both said just a little to quickly.

"Well, what the hell am I suppose to do," Tim said. "I have rodeo school stuff tomorrow."

"Take him with you, he might enjoy it," Jack said.

Tim with annoyed with both Jack and Lisa, he knew that there was something that they weren't telling him. Instead of staying and causing a huge fight, he went to get Shane, so they could have supper at Maggie's and then head back to Big River.

"Why didn't you tell Dad, what is going on tomorrow," Lou asked walking into the kitchen.

"Lou, please, you know how you Dad can be," Jack sighed.

He didn't want to get into it right them with Lou. There was to much that needed to be done. Supper needed to be done, there were horses that needed attention. Besides that, Jack wanted to better clear the area for the chopper. The grass was a little higher over past the jumping ring. Lou wasn't letting it go with that.

"He is a part of this family too," Lou said, turning to Lisa.

"He asked to see Georgie, Amy, Ty and Scott," Lisa offered. "It goes without saying that you and Peter would be here, since Georgie is a minor. But beyond that, we don't need anymore people here. Besides, Jack is right. You know how your father can be. Do you really want him to embarrass you in front of someone like John Russell? Think about."

While Lou and Lisa were talking in the kitchen, Tim had come back in to grab Shane's bag, when he over heard them mention John Russell. He stopped dead in his tracks.

"Why the hell does John Russell have to do with anything," Tim demanded, walking back into the kitchen.

Realizing there was no hiding it anymore, Lou took it upon herself to fill him in despite Lisa trying to shut her up. Lisa upset, went to get Jack.

"Well, that settles it, I am going to be here tomorrow," Tim told Lou just as Jack and Lisa walked back into the house.

"No you won't! I will not allow you to ruin this for Georgie," Jack said sternly. "To make sure of that, I will have RCMP by the back gate so you can't get in."

"You can't do that to me," Tim retorted.

"Oh yes, I can and don't push me," Jack said trying to calm himself. "I will not let you ruin this for Georgie and them. Besides, it is my property. I can always change the locks on the back gate if you keep pushing this."

"Grandpa," Lou pleaded.

"End of discussion," Jack said, walking back out side.

Despite how she felt, Lou knew it was not wise to push Jack when he was like that. It made for a tense supper and evening before everyone started turning in for the night.