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Date Posted: 15:38:51 11/18/02 Mon
Author: CCCook
Subject: Re: Studs, Texas - Book Two - New segments
In reply to: CCCook 's message, "Studs, Texas - Book Two - New segments" on 15:34:32 11/18/02 Mon

From mks:

The week seemed to zip by so fast, one moment it was Monday, the next it was Friday. Caitlin sat at her desk going over her questions for the interview with the Cravens that she was going to have in a little while. She lost concentration as she thought about the past few days. She was able to get into her doctor’s office on Wednesday and had her pregnancy confirmed. She and Jack had started making lists of things they’d need to do for the wedding. The top priorities for them were to find out if the Church was available for the date they wanted and a place for the reception. For both of these, they would need the help of Rose Cooper, Jack’s grandmother. She had great influence on the happenings at the Church, at least she had had with the old Reverend, and hopefully she would have some with the new Reverend, Joshua Waleski. The second thing they need her for (and Jack’s Grandpa, Nathan) was the use of their ranch for the reception. They would be able to ask about it tonight when they went out there for dinner.

Caitlin reached for a saltine and brought her attention to the list of questions that she held in her hand. The Cravens Tex-a-Roo Ranch had opened Monday and the town of Studs was all abuzz over this new park. There were plenty of ranches around of course, but none of them had kangaroo’s, koalas, and other exotic Australian animals. She was going out to the park to interview the visitors and to see how well the park had done during its first days.

“Oh Caitlin, look what you got,” said Liz’s secretary, Teri, in a singsong voice.

“Hmm?” asked Caitlin, looking up. Her eyes widened as Teri held out a bouquet of spring flowers to her.

“Who are those from?” asked Liz as she walked by.

The look of delight that was on Caitlin’s face a moment ago faded quickly to anger. “Get those out of my sight please,” she said handing the bouquet back to Teri.

“What? Why?” asked Teri, thoroughly confused, “Aren’t they from Jack?”

“No. They. Are. Not.” Caitlin replied in a clipped tone and handed the card that came with the flowers to Liz.

“Why that son of a-I’m callin’ the Sheriff. The nerve of him, why won’t he just leave you alone?” asked Liz more to herself than to Caitlin.

A few minutes later, the Sheriff himself arrived at the Stampede office. He sat with Liz and Caitlin, in Liz’s office.

“I’m really not sure that we’re goin’ to be able to find out anythin’ about where he is, the two of you do realize this, don’t you?” he asked, looking at the two women.
They soberly nodded their heads in acknowledgment.

“You’ve just got to try an’ find him Shane, you just have to,” said Liz, her voice full of emotion.

“We’re tryin’ Liz, but it’s like tryin’ to find a needle in a haystack. He knows what he’s doin’, he just isn’t goin’ to jump out an’ say ‘here I am, take me away’.”

“I realize this Shane, but it’s different now,” said Liz, casting a look at Caitlin.

“Why? Why is now any different than it was a week ago?” Shane asked looking from Liz to Caitlin.

“Because I’ve found out this week that I’m pregnant Sheriff,” said Caitlin, speaking up for the first time since Shane got there.

Shane looked at her in surprise, “Congratulations,” he said, unsure if this pregnancy was good news.

The grin that broke out on Caitlin’s face was proof enough for Shane, “Thank you,” she said beaming.

“So you see Shane? You see why it’s different now?”

“Yeah, I see,” said Shane. Any potential harm that could come to Caitlin would also harm the child that she was carrying. Shane did not want that on his conscience, he had enough on it as it was. He came to a sudden decision; he was going to do his damnedest to see that Caitlin was not going to get hurt.

“Okay, this is what I’m goin’ ta do. I’m goin’ to assign one of my deputies to go undercover and trail you wherever ya go. Jay Sloan’s not goin’ to be able to get near ya without our guy noticin’. Are you goin’ on any assignments today?”

“Ah, yeah. I have an interview with Phil and Lily Craven in about twenty minutes,” replied Caitlin, feeling slightly overwhelmed.

“Alright, I’ll have someone over here in a few minutes then,” Shane tipped his Stetson at the ladies and walked out of the office.

Caitlin and Liz sat and stared at each other for a few moments. “Wow,” Caitlin finally said.

“Wow indeed. Well, I’ll tell ya somethin’ Caitlin, I’ll rest a whole lot easier knowin’ that ya have a bodyguard.”

“Bodyguard…” Caitlin shook her head in disbelief, “I can’ believe that I have to have someone follow me around.”

“Y’already have had someone following ya around,” Liz pointed out. “At least this someone won’ try ta hurt ya.”

“Yeah, I guess so. It just feels funny…Well I guess I better see if Janelle is ready, I don’t want to be late. I need to call Jack too, but I can do that on the way to the ranch. See ya later Aunt Liz.”

“Caitlin?” Liz called as Caitlin turned to leave her office.

“Yeah?” asked Caitlin.

“Are ya gonna be alright? I mean do you still feel like goin’ on the interview?”

“Oh Aunt Liz, I’m goin’ to be fine. I’m not lettin’ Jay Sloan stop me from livin’, it’s just not goin’ to happen,” said Caitlin, with finality.

Liz watched her niece walk out of her office with mixed feelings. She was proud that Caitlin wasn’t going to let Jay bother her, but at the same time she was worried, worried like any mother would be if someone threatened to harm her child.

**

“Nell, I hope ya don’ mind havin’ a tag along?” asked Caitlin as she gathered her belongings together.

“A tag along? What sort of tag along?” asked Janelle Stewart, The Stampede’s photographer and one of Caitlin’s good friends.

“Well, a bodyguard I guess,” answered Caitlin as the two walked to the doorway. “The Sheriff is assigning one of his deputies to tag along after me.”

“Oh, well, no I don’t mind at all. The buddy system Caitlin, remember that? That’ll keep you safe from that creep. Oh my…” Nell stopped short as a young man walked into the building wearing a black Stetson, cowboy boots, a faded pair of Levi’s and a white t-shirt that showed off his build.

Caitlin looked up and smiled as she recognized the cowboy as Tyler West.

“Hey there Ty, what brings you here?”

“Hey Caitlin,” Tyler said, tipping his head and removing his hat, “Actually, you’re the reason that brings me here.”

”Me?” asked Caitlin, then, “Oh, so you’re the deputy that gets to follow me around.”

“Yup,” said Tyler, fingering the rim of his hat.

Nell nudge Caitlin’s arm and gave her a pointed look at Tyler. “Oh, oh yeah, ah Ty, this is Janelle Stewart, she’s our photographer. Nell, this is Tyler West a Sheriff’s deputy and now apparently my bodyguard.” Caitlin said with a small smile.

“Nice to meet ya ma’am,” said Tyler, extending his hand towards Nell.

Nell smiled as she took his hand, “Nice to meet you too,” she breathed.

Tyler gave a shy smile as the two released hands. He cleared his throat and looked at Caitlin, “The Sheriff says you’re on your way to the Cravens ranch?” he asked.

“Yeah, and if we don’t leave now, we’re going to be late,” answered Caitlin looking at her watch.

“Okay, well let me tell ya what to expect. I’ll be some distance away from ya so it don’t look like I’m actually following ya an’ if Sloan does decide to do something, he’ll be in-between the two of us. I won’t go with ya to your interviews; I’ll just stay outside and its best that you don’ let too many people know, it’ll ruin our cover,”

“Right, our cover,” Caitlin nodded, feeling a little bewildered.

“I’ll be in a black Explorer and you’ll be in?”

“My car. We’ll be in my car, see it? It’s the red one right there,” said Nell pointing to her car.

“Alright then, we’re ready to go. Lemme just give ya my cell phone number. I already have yours,” Tyler said with a wink.

Caitlin and Nell walked out of the Stampede’s office with Tyler following a short distance after him. As the two reached her car, Nell let out a long sigh.

“Caitlin, where’s that man been all my life?”

Caitlin smiled at her friend and cocked her head to the side, “Don’t you say that about all the guys you meet?”

“Yeah, well sure, but this one’s different. I’m going to get to know this one.”

“Well, it’ll have to be off duty. Tyler is very serious about his job and he doesn’t mix business with pleasure,” said Caitlin, pulling out her cell phone.

“It’ll certainly be a pleasure getting to know the man behind the uniform,” Nell said, with a sly smile.

Caitlin gave her friend a wry smile and shook her head. She looked at her watch and hoping that Jack would be finished with his meeting, dialed his number.

He answered on the first ring. “Hello?”

“Hi Jack, did I call at a bad time? Are you through with your meeting?” asked Caitlin in a rush.

“Yeah, I’m all done. I was just headin’ out to my car. What’s up?”

“Oh good, because I didn’t want to interrupt you,” she said, sounding hesitant.

“Caitlin, I repeat, what’s up?” asked Jack, sensing through Caitlin’s voice that something was wrong.

“Oh, ah, I was just getting to that. Um, Jack, Jay-Sloan-sent-me-flowers-earlier- this-afternoon.” Caitlin said, in a jumble of words.

“Slow down, Caitlin. Did I hear that right? Jay Sloan sent you flowers?” asked Jack, trying to keep his voice level.

Caitlin glanced at Nell, who was looking at her through the corner of her eye. “Yeah, you heard me right.” Caitlin heard a bang and jumped. “What was that Jack?”

“That stupid son-of-a-“

“Jack! What was that noise?”

“I was just slammin’ my car door shut. You okay?”

Caitlin shook her head, thinking he was a typical male and answered, “I’m fine, I really am. Nell and I are on our way to the Tex-a-Roo Ranch for our follow up interview-“

“Wait a minute, with that crazy bastard out there, you’re goin’ on an interview?”

“What would you have me do Jack, stay at home and crawl under the covers?” she asked sarcastically.

“No, I wouldn’t, but do you think this is a wise decision?”

“I’ll be just fine Jack. Sheriff Garnett assigned a deputy to follow me around until Jay is caught,”

“He did?” asked Jack, raising his eyebrows.

“Yes and in fact, you’re pretty good friends with this deputy.”

“I am?”

“Uh-huh. It’s Tyler West.”

“Really? Well, I guess that you’ll be all right then. How long ya goin’ to be?”

“An hour, maybe two. I want to get feedback from the guests on how they like the Ranch and all that.”

“Well, okay,” said Jack with a sigh, “Just be careful, okay?”

Caitlin smiled into the phone, “I will. Oh Jack?”

“Yeah?”

“Are you by any chance stoppin’ by the grocery store?”

“Uh, I wasn’t plannin’ too, but what d’ya need?”

“Ice cream sandwiches.”

“Ice cream sandwiches?” asked Jack in disbelief.

“Yeah, suddenly I’m feelin’ real hungry for one,”

“Okay, I’ll pick you up some ice cream sandwiches then,” he said.

“Thank you, sweetie”

“Yeah sure, no problem. Oh, don’t forget we have dinner with Gran and Grandpa tonight.”

“How could I? We tell your grandma about me tonight,” said Caitlin, with a slight shudder.

“It’ll be fine,” said Jack reassuringly, “I’ll see you in awhile then. I know I already told ya this, but be careful please.”

“I will, I promise. I love you,”

“Love you too,” Jack clicked off and stared out the windshield. He felt better knowing that Tyler was there with her, but he’d rather have the whole thing over with and Sloan out of their lives. He started the car and headed towards the store to pick up Caitlin’s ice cream sandwiches.

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