even say it.

"Jenna, I didn't do anything last night. I.. I was trying to get you a gift.," he said. "But I wrapped it up in your bandanna and… and it must've fallen out when she stole it."

"So now we're gonna blame all this on her huh?" She said, "fine Balto, fine, if… if you can't tell me the truth, even this… if you can't tell me the truth, if I can't trust you… then maybe it's time you found somewhere else to sleep at night."

As she said this she broke into tears again.

"Jenna," Balto said, "you can't be serious, you know me…"

She cut him off.

"I thought I did," she said, "but Dingo saw you laughing and messing around with her last night. "

"Jenna.":

"And how come you drug poor Kaltag in on it huh? He told me that you'd went to see a friend in Applegate…."

She stopped talking for a minute.

"Balto," she said, "I don't understand. Why? Why would.. would you do this to me and the kids… I thoug… thought I knew you better than that.

She paused again, quit sobbing as much as she could, and said quietly.

"Dingo and I have talked it over, and… and tomorrow we're meeting Drake."

"Jenna," Balto said, "Jenna no, please, you've got to understand… I'm being set up."

"Drake will be here tonight to talk over the arrangements, what he thinks is best.”

"Just meet us at the old mill tomorrow morning alright?"
She turned and started to walk back in the house.

Balto started to follow.

Jenna turned back around.

"I meant what I said Balto," she said, "you… can… can go back to her for all I care, you're," she started to cry again. "you're not so tied down anymore."

Then she walked in to the house.

Balto just stared at the door as it shut.

"Kicked out of my own house." Balto thought.

He turned around, and head hung low he walked away from his home.

Chapter IV

The next morning the entire town of Nome was buzzing with news and rumors about the trial that was to take place today.

Almost every dog in Nome had tried to cram themselves into the small building that was the old mill.

In the front, Balto sat on the left side of the room. Jenna and Dingo hadn't made it yet. Drake was here, and he was staring at Balto. Then he got up and walked down to him.

"Hey," Drake said, feeling a little akward, as he would be judging this case soon.

"Balto, you know I'm your friend right?"

Balto nodded.

"None of what happens today is your fault."

Drake nodded, not quite knowing what to say.

"Balto," he said, "I'm asking you this as a friend alright?" Did you do it?"

"No," Balto said, "she asked, but I.. I couldn't do that to her."

"I have to say that the evidence is pretty stacked up against you," Drake said, "if you'd just come clean, maybe I could talk Jenna into not going through with this today. Your son has become your worst enemy by the way."

Balto looked at the floor.

"It's him that was kind of pushing Jenna into this ."

He paused.

“She said last night that if you'd just admit it, she'd drop the whole thing, at least publicly anyway."

"I didn't do it," Balto said.

"Alright buddy," Drake said, "if that's the way that you want it."

Drake walked back up on the platform, that served as a stage.

All of a sudden it got very quiet.

Balto turned around and looked behind him. Jenna had walked in the room, followed closely

by Dingo.

The dog's all started whispering, to one another, as she walked towards the front. She made it all right until she got about half way up to the platform, then she saw Balto and her eyes swelled up with tears. She was sobbing again by the time that she and Dingo stopped and sat down on the other side of the room from Balto.

Jenna buried her face in her son's shoulder and cried.

Drake stood up.

"As you all probably know," he began, "We are here to hear the case of two of our most beloved citizen's Balto and Jenna.

He paused before continuing, for Balto was his friend.

"Balto has been charged with a most serious crime against his mate, and that crime is adultery."

The dog's all started talking at once and Drake had to quiet them, then he continued.

"Now normally this wouldn’t need my services, it's a personal relationship, and can be ended personally. But this time… there are pups involved.

He turned to Jenna.

Jenna just recently you had pups, correct?"

She nodded.

"Jenna, I need you to speak."

"Yes," she said, she glared at Balto, "they're only a month old."

"We all know we have a civic duty to protect pups," Drake said. "We try to look out for them as much as we can, until they are old enough to do it on their own."

He looked directly at Jenna again.

"That is why the next question I have to ask you is so very important. You must answer truthfully, and wisely, because this is a decision you can only make once, there is no going back after this."

"Jenna if Balto leaves the home… what about the pups?"

"I…"

She paused and looked at Balto. She knew what she had to say, and she knew it would hurt him deeply. She didn't want to hurt him, not really. "But this is important." She thought.

"I… I think it would be best…" she stopped again as tears flooded her eyes. "I think it would be best… since they're still so young if… if the never even knew he existed."

"No, Jenna," Balto said, "you can't do this, Jenna please…"

Drake cut him off sharply.

"Balto if you do not remain quiet this very instant, I will have you thrown out of the mill."

Balto sat down.

"This is unreal," he though, "This can't be happening."

"Jenna," Drake said, "in order for me to separate Balto from the pups, you’ve got to show me, without a shadow of a doubt, that Balto's presence in your home endangers them somehow be that mentally or physically, can you do this?"

He stopped.

"Jenna?"

She was crying so hard now that she couldn't speak.

Dingo put a paw on his mother's shoulder and said.

"We can."

"Very well," Drake said.

He turned to Balto.

"Do you want to say anything?"

"I'd like to speak with Jenna in private," he said.

"I have to have someone out there, you understand?" replied Drake.

"That's fine," Balto said.

Balto stood up and walked over to Jenna.

"Jen, Jenna would you step outside for a moment?"

Jenna took a second to clear up her eyes, then she nodded and moved to follow him. Dingo started to follow.

"Stay here Dingo," Jenna said, "I'll be fine."

Then she followed Balto outside.

"Jenna," Balto started, "I… I don't know quite what to say. He looked into her eyes. She turned her head away.

"Jenna I'm telling you the truth, I swear. I… I don't want to lose you."

Jenna still looked away.

"Look," Balto said, "if you really want me to leave, if that's what will make you happy… I'm gone, okay? But… but don't take the kids," he said. "Please Jenna, I love them too. I'm their father. I want to know them, to see them grow up."

"I.. I don't even know how to describe how much I love you," he said. "The ocean's not deep enough, the sky's not wide enough… I… I love you and the kids so much. I… I just wish you would believe me."

Still looking away Jenna answered him.

"I wish I could Balto," she said. "I wish that more than anything else in the entire world. It's killing me to do this to you, but… I can't just be expected to put up with it can I?"

"And… And the pups… I can't let them be influenced by your stupid decisions."

"Jenna, please, you've got to give me a chance, you've got to trust me."

Jenna turned to face him.

"Are you done?" She asked.

Balto hung his head.

"Yeah," he said quietly, nodding his head, "I'm done."

Jenna turned and walked brusquely back into the mill, Balto followed somewhat slower.

"So," Drake said, "does your decision stand?"

"Yes it does," Jenna said.

"Alright," Drake replied, "Jenna, do you have witnesses, or how do you wish to proceed?"

Dingo stepped up.

"We do," he said.

"Then Dingo," Drake said call your first witness."

"I call Trinea," Drake said.

Balto turned around and saw Trinea enter the room. She was crying, but as she walked by Balto, she smiled at him.

"How am I going to get out of his one?" Balto thought.

Chapter V

Trinea's testimony was predictably false. Everything about that night had changed, since Balto remembered it. How they'd met, what they'd said, more importently what he said. What they'd done, and when he'd left. Everything was a lie, but everyone believed her. Jenna then had Dingo go up and tell everyone that he'd seen Balto with the girl, Trinea that night. How that they were laughing and talking and he'd even held the door open for her. Dingo then attacked his father's character, saying how he thought nothing of it,