Part 4 of "Breathless". Caleb, Nathan and Tim ride out to find the herd.
This story is intended as a follow-up to season 17 episode 8, wherein Caleb tells Amy he's moving to Kelowna. The plot unfolds in a series of flashbacks intertwined with a present moment crisis on the ranch.
—Alberta Plain
After leaving the confines of the ranch and riding into the hills Nathan becomes aware of gorgeous spring weather. The ground is soft. The flies are still asleep. The sun is high. No Clouds. No wind.
Caleb catches up. Nathan attempts small talk. "We couldn't have picked a better day for this, eh?"
"Don't jinx it Junior. Ha! Jinx-it-Junior? I like that." Typical retort from asshole Tim.
"Any day on a horse is a good day," Caleb laughs. "Hey Tim, how many calves do we have on the roster today?"
"Not sure, Caleb."
"What do you mean? Haven't you been tagging the babies?" Caleb is confused.
Nathan Junior sees the aggravation growing in Tim's jawline. Desperate to head off another verbal barb, he pipes in, "We tagged most of them."
Sensing a sore point Caleb replies with a simple "uh hu" and begins to whistle.
Tim is practiced at dismissing Caleb's heart on the sleeve enthusiasm. Nathan not so much.
–Nathan–
Months ago, before they first started dating, Nathan suspected that Amy and Caleb were an item. Amy denied it. However, Nathan believed he had developed a radar for that sort of thing as a result of his cheating whore of an ex-wife's various infidelities. A sixth sense, if you will. When Caleb suddenly wasn't around any more, Nathan figured Amy smartened up and told the rodeo loser to take a walk. Out of sight. Out of mind. Worked for Nathan.
But this morning, listening to Caleb's carefree off-tune whistle, Nathan is reminded that Caleb is back and so is that nagging feeling. Yet…maybe he is making mountains out of molehills? How could his Amy see anything in this clown? One thing is for sure, Caleb may be slightly dumb, but he is an outstanding rider, an experienced cow hand and will be a tremendous help. Help Nathan desperately needs.
Desperate is a word, a mood, that haunts Nathan. Desperation hangs in the air like a thundercloud. Desperate to make a return at market from the herd. Every expense, hiring hands, cuts into that return. Weather, sickness, and predators keep him awake at night. Desperate groaning nightmares occupy his sleep. He blames Amy for taking up too much real estate on the mattress. Deparsate to impress Jack, he accompanies Amy on her visits to Fairfield, dropping ambitious numbers within earshot of the old man. Desperately cringing under Tim's uncanny ability to find a soft spot of insecurity. Desperate to not appear like a noob on horseback, Nathan relaxes his reins.
Coming up from behind, Caleb slows his horse to directly beside Nathan.
Feeling Caleb's stare, Nathan finally gives in and glances to his right to find Caleb just grinning at him with a big toothy smile. So strange.
"Can I help you?" Nathan begrudgingly asked.
"Nope."
Caleb runs his horse ahead toward the crest of the next knoll.
Nathan calls over to Tim, "What's with that jackass?".
Tim laughs.
Pushing faster, Caleb intentionally spreads distance between himself and the other men.
Barely visible on the far ridge, Caleb raises his left arm to ten o'clock, pulling his horse into a full turn and stops.
All business now, Tim translates Caleb's active posture into words for Nathan. "He's on the herd. Approach slowly."
–Caleb
When Tim called asking for help, Caleb immediately said yes. To make it work Caleb postponed another deal he had on the horizon, But Caleb didn't care. It was like a vacation day for him. Doing what loved, in a place that he loved for people he loved.
Up until two hours ago, Caleb felt Heartland loved him back. Something shifted in his absence. Obviously, right?.
Amy is with Nathan. Caleb can deal with that. But he can't deal with seeing Amy in her current state. All morning his mind ping-pongs between suppressing the urge to beat the living daylights out of Nathan Junior or, trying to erase the one night he spent with Amy from his mind. The one night that changed everything.
Caleb knew that Amy ran to him out of fear. He also knew that no matter what happened, he was leaving with Carson in the morning. He intended to lay in the grass with Amy, watching shooting stars until she was calm enough to drive home. As far as he was aware, Amy had told no one else about the panic attacks. Over the years the episodes became few and far between. Honestly, he was surprised when saw her parked outside his house. And he was even more surprised with what happened next. Oh Amy.
For the past hour, riding up to the herd, Caleb sees the poor condition of the grazing lands. He has no idea how much hay is up in the barn. He assumes not enough. When the herd comes into view he understands why Nathan reeks of despair. It is clear that Tim is not totally transparent. Disappointed, Caleb waits in the stillness of the spring morning for slow-pokes Tim and Junior to catch-up.