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 want to apologize for the length of time that has past since Ch. 8. Several things in this Ch. were difficult to get just right and it took longer than I had expected. (note to self, 'stay a way from those stupid corners'!) Warning: You will find out more of what the Tanners are up to and how the dog fighting impacted Kelly. Dog fighting is a horrible reality in North America and is illegal in both Canada & America. It is a brutal world and Kelly will need Caleb more than ever. Will he be there for her?
Special Thanks to TC: Who encouraged me through the riggers of being stumped, but has also guided me along in some very special ways. Your input is such a valuable treasure to me. Thank you so much TC 3
Ch. 9
Kelly was pulling into Heartland Ranch when she saw Caleb waiting outside the barn. It was as if time suddenly slowed to a crawl as she watched him while easing her truck to a stop. Her heart nearly burst out of her chest as she took in his cowboy hat, jean jacket, and that delicious grin of his, but at the same time she felt numb. She had seen abused animals before, but never on the scale of what she'd witnessed earlier. It was beyond her understanding, and now her heart seemed empty. All she needed was a moment of - she wasn't sure - closure? Solitude? She parked her truck and quietly sat in her own personal pool of confussion of heaviness which had her gasping for air.
Caleb noticed right away that he should just let her be for a moment, so he retrieved Clover from her trailer and escorted the horse into a waiting stall. He rubbed Clover's snout with a gentle 'T-Touch' just as Amy showed him to do so long ago. He rubbed behind the horse's ears, then massaged a path down the horse's neck saying, "Hey boy, you're looking good. How 'bout some food and water, eh!"
He poured some food in a bucket and placed it in the stall. Giving Clover one last pat he glanced up in Kelly's direction. He saw her watching his every move. No longer in her pool of confussion, she was in love and adored how Caleb took great care of her horse. Kelly wasn't sure how or when it happened, but watching him now filled her broken emptiness with an enchanted delight that took her breath away. Her cheeks flushed with a heat of red as she beheld his presence. Yes, she loved Caleb and he needed to know.
***
The Tanner's were in the perfect storm of legal misery as they realized what just happened.
"Now what are we gonna do?" Jared yelled.
Taking in a long swig of beer, then drawing in long, hard from her cigarette, Margret was angrily contriving a plan to get out of this mess. In her mind the boy's had screwed up again and she was tired of it. Cleaning up after their messes was getting old. Her anger was at the tip of exploding and Butch knew better than to keep pressing his mother, but Jared was not the sharpest tool in that shed. He could not let it go.
"So, you just gonna….. !"
Smacking the table hard Margaret julted forward out of her seat. She glared at Jared, and poked her rickety finger in his face,
"I'll tell you what YOU TWO are gonna do. You'll get those beasts outta here, and soon! The really bad ones you will toss aside, the good ones you will sell or auction off! You Got That!
Jared was too afraid to respond. With paralyzed shock he quivered and stared at his mother without a blink. He had seen his mother's anger before, but this was different. This may have pushed her over the edge. He dared not ask another question; instead he dropped his head in defeat, cowering like a rebuked child as he walked off.
***
Getting out of her truck, Kelly made her stride intentional - directly for Caleb. There was one thing she wanted now and that was the embrace of her cowboy's hug.
Caleb's phone rang at that moment.
"Hello, this is Caleb," he answered. Kelly stopped due to this interruption, and instead walked to Clover's stall. Caleb kept his eyes on Kelly the whole time.
"Hi Caleb, Linda here; I just wanted to tell you that Luke and I will be there tomorrow. It's still ok, right?"
"Oh hey Linda. Yes it's ok. We were expecting you, so don't worry." Caleb assured her "What time should I tell Jack you will be here?"
"We should be there by 2:00 p.m. Luke is ready for some of that rest and relaxation. Caleb, please thank Jack for me ok. We will see you tomorrow. Bye for now."
Caleb replied, "I will Linda, and you two have a safe trip. Bye."
He returned the phone to his pocket, and walked up behind Kelly. Slowly turning, she looked up at him straight in the eye and reached for a hug. He was compliant, and granted her hearts request. Closing his eyes, he let their tangled embrace last for what seemed like an eternity. Kelly pulled back first taking his hat and holding it close. She reached up with her free hand, running her fingers through his blonde curly locks.
"Caleb, I …" she tried to speak.
Caleb shushed her with a kiss; a kiss that said 'I love you' with the deepness that reached the core of her being.
*Cough, Cough*
"Caleb, Kelly, shouldn't you two be headed for the house? Supper's ready!"
Jack greeted them firmly.
"Sorry Mr. Bartlett!" Kelly added, sullenly looking at the floor.
Jack felt something was wrong, but didn't want to pry when he noticed Kelly's uncharacteristic melancholy. He quickly changed from Firm Jack to Gentle Jack.
"I see you brought Clover with you. He's a good look'n horse. What do you plan on doing with him?"
Caleb jumped in, answering for Kelly,
"Kelly wants to train him for Saddle Broncs." Grining, he added, "I figured I could help with that."
"Is that so?" Jack added with a smirk. "With your friend Luke and his mother showing up anytime soon, when do you think you'll have time to train this horse and Kelly for saddle broncs?"
Laughing at Jack's question Caleb answered,
"Jack, it's not like. I figure after I see to Luke's needs I can help Kelly and Clover. Luke has offered to help with tips and pointers, so there's no problem. Trust me," he added with a grin.
A guteral "Hmm. I'll believe it when I see it." and the raising of his eyebrow was all Jack said and did as they walked to the house.
In the dining room, Caleb pulled out a chair for Kelly, then prepared a plate of food and poured her some juice. She looked up and quietly thanked him, while caressing his arm. These actions did not go unnoticed by the others at the table. It was like watching a romantic movie playing before them, something the family was not prepared for when it came to Caleb. Ty and Amy quietly grinned and ate, satisfied because they automatically approved of her the first time they met. Jack and Lou were silently eatting, too stunned to look away, intrigued for wanting more while missing their significant others.
Kelly remained uncharacteristically quiet, not adding much to the conversations.
When Amy asked how her day went all Kelly could say was,
"I'm just glad it's over."
Amy was almost put off by Kelly's quick dismissal of her day, so she tossed the thought aside, sensing that something was wrong and right now Kelly wasn't in the mood for small talk. She figured she would have a lot of time to talk with Kelly later now that Clover was at Heartland.
Caleb thought this was a good time to tell Lou and Jack about Luke and Linda's arrival tomorrow.
Jack asked, "What time do you plan on getting started on Lukes cabin. Because Lou and Amy aren't gonna do it?"
"I was thinking I could start early in the morning, then once I'm done with the cabin I could turn out the horses and help with the feeding. Then I could tend to Clover." Caleb answered.
Lou added, "I'll leave out some towels and fresh linens. I'll expect you to keep the cabin clean, Caleb. If you need anything just ask, ok. You have to stay on top of it."
"I've got it Lou, really," asserted Caleb.
***
Jared wasn't really sure what his mother meant by,
"the really bad ones, you'll toss aside."
He was affraid to ask his mother for more clearification so he asked Butch.
"Listen kid, she wants us to dump them in a ditch somewhere, then get the hell out there so we won't be seen. What do you think she meant...huh?!" Butch said.
Jared said, "Dude, we never did anything like this before. Man, this is bad. We're suppossed to leave em to die, Butch?"
Butch grabbed a beer and tossed one in Jared's direction, "I ain't looking forward to doin' this any more than you are. You wanna argue with her, go ahead, but I'm keeping my mouth shut and getting it done. You better do the same! You hear?"
Jared wasn't prepared to catch the flying beer though he managed to catch it before it burst on the ground, "Hey... watch it man! When'er we doin' this?"
Butch grumbled, "Tomorrow mornin' ... so drink up, boy! It'll be a long day."
