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It was the vibration of Maddie's phone that woke her the next morning, the teen moaning gently in pain as she rolled over to pick it up. Rubbing her eyes she looked at the message and sighed softly. It was from Stella.
Hey Maddie, Stella here. Mawline gave me your number. Auggie and I are going out to a bonfire tonight with some friends, it'd be great if you could come join us. We could pick you up at five if you want to come.
After last night, there was no way that she was going to step foot off the property.
Hey Stella- She typed back with a sigh. Thank you for the invite, I appreciate you thinking of me. I'm not going to be able to attend but I hope that you have a good time.
Hitting send, she turned the phone back off and slowly sat up, winching. Her back and legs were aching and stinging dreadfully but she only had herself to blame. She shouldn't have left the house, it was the rule. It was her fault. She only had herself to blame. She had been wrong and she deserved to be punished. Her Dad had every right to punish her as he saw fit, he was her father after all… It was her fault, her fault that she had to be punished.
Staggering out of bed she slipped out of her pajamas and took a deep breath in as she looked at her legs. It was no wonder she was sore, if her back looked anything like how they were.
You deserved it. You did wrong and had to be punished.
The words played over and over in her mind as she showered and dressed for the day before venturing cautiously into the living room. It was vacant and when she peered out the curtain, her father's truck was gone. Letting the curtain fall back in place she heaved a huge sigh of relief. She hadn't wished to see the disappointment in his eyes again. You're nothing but a disappointment, you have to try harder! I can't love you when you disobey me.
Stepping into the kitchen she resolved to try even harder to become what he wanted her to be. If there was a way she could earn his love, she was going to do it. She wanted love, wanted his love. How could she become deserving of his love? What did she need to do?
A surprise awaited her as she opened the fridge, her jaw dropping open as her eyes looked over the food inside. Her father had gone shopping for her and she repaid him by disobeying and leaving the house? Remorse flooded through her, she was a terrible daughter. He'd bought her all this and she had done what she did… Quickly she pulled her phone from her pocket, typing furiously.
Morning Daddy, I just saw that you did the shopping. Thank you, thank you so much! I am so so sorry for not being home yesterday, I promise it won't happen again. I will have a nice meal cooked for you when you get home, thank you Dad. I love you.
Abeline was tidying up the house later that night when her phone rang. Setting down her duster, she pulled it out of her pocket to answer. 'Hello?'
'Hey, Abby Bear.'
'Hoyt. Everything okay?'
'Yeah, yeah, all good. I just… Look, I'm sorry to call late. I uh, want you to know I can't make the mushroom hunt tomorrow.'
'Well that's okay.' Abeline took a seat in the living room. 'Maybe another time.'
'I got to head back out of town for a little while. I'm really sorry to let you down again.'
'You are not letting me down, you understand me? Hoyt, just because your family's bad does not mean that you are. You saved my boy, and I'll never forget that.'
'You're a port in my storm, Abby Bear.'
'Well I hope you find still waters one of these days.'
Hoyt paused for a moment, glancing in the direction of where Maddie's father was helping to load up the weapons. 'Abby, can I ask a favour?'
'Anything Hoyt.'
'Maddie. I was thinking about her last night, I do know of her, from a few years back. I knew her father too. She needs someone to look out for her like you did for me… You get what I'm saying?'
Abeline nodded. 'I understand. Why though Hoyt, what do you know?'
'Look, I can't say anything now, I don't even know anything for sure but if I'm right, she could really use someone in her corner watching out for her.' He took a glance over at Bruce, the man loading another crate into the truck. 'Maddie's a good kid, looking out for her might keep you busy while I'm out of town.'
'I'll keep an eye on her.'
'You have a heart of gold Abby.'
She smiled sadly. 'You take care of yourself now, you hear?'
'Yes ma'am.' He paused for another moment, about to add something then thought against it. 'Bye, Abby.'
'Bye Hoyt.'
The line went dead, Hoyt returning his phone to his pocket and looked over at Bruce. He sure as hell didn't deserve a daughter like Maddie….
'Hoyt, get your ass over here and help us get loaded up!'
Maddie looked out the window again for the hundredth time that evening, sighing softly as there was still no sign of her father. It was late, really late and still he hadn't come home. He hadn't returned a single one of her phone calls or texts, frankly she was starting to get worried. What if something had happened to him?
Walking back into the kitchen she looked sadly at the dinner she had cooked. She'd gone all out, cooking up roast chicken and oven baked vegetables; not only that, she'd made up a carrot cake too, his favorite dessert. She'd kept it warm as long as she could-
Her phone started to ring and she quickly pulled it from her pocket. Private number. Looking at the time, it was close to midnight. A shiver ran up her spine, what if something had happened to her dad? With shaking fingers, she answered the phone. 'Hello?'
'Maddie-'
'Dad, are you alright? Why didn't you message me? Where are you-'
'One question at a time, Matilda.' Robert replied, taking a glance over his shoulder at the Ranger woman watching him make the call. 'My phone got smashed, I'm borrowing a company phone for now. Look, I'm sorry, but I'm going to have to go out of town for awhile.'
Maddie swallowed, her voice wavering when she replied. 'How long will you be gone?'
'Few weeks to a couple months. I uh, I got a really good job driving some trucks for this big shipping company. Pay is really good, it was too good an offer for me to refuse. I'm heading out tonight, I'll be busy so you won't hear from me for awhile.'
'You aren't even going to come say goodbye?'
'Look, I won't be gone long. The time will fly.'
Maddie nodded, tears in her eyes. 'What do you want me to do in the meantime? What can I do?'
'I guess you can muck around with the Walkers if you want, just don't go making a nuisance of yourself. Don't annoy them too much.'
'Are you sure? It's alright for me to go see them?'
'I just told you that you could, didn't I?' He replied, noting with irritation that the woman seemed to be quite interested in his conversation. 'When I get back, I'll bring you a present. What would you like?'
I want you, Daddy…
'A kitten would be nice. I had a cat when I was living with Mama but she got hit by a car. I really miss having a pet.'
'Alright, a kitten it is.'
'You mean it?'
'Of course I do. Have I ever lied to you?'
'No.'
'You better start thinking of what you'll name her, cause as soon as I get back we'll go to a pet store and pick one out.'
'I'm looking forward to it.'
'Alright, well you behave yourself, you hear-'
'Wait Daddy.' She interrupted. 'If your going to be gone for awhile, what about food for me?'
'The fridge and cupboards are stocked, aren't they?'
'Well yes, but what if I run out and you haven't gotten back?'
'There's two hundred in the gray cup in the top right cupboard in the kitchen. That should be enough to do you over, if you don't go spending it all at once.'
'I won't, promise. How will I get to town though to shop?'
'There's a bus you can take, you're a big girl, you'll figure it out. Look, I've got to go. I'll talk to you when I get a chance.'
She sighed softly. 'Okay Daddy. We'll talk soon. I love you.'
'Bye.'
The phone line went dead and she wiped her cheeks dry as she looked at the food on the table. He wasn't coming home. Why wouldn't he come home? He had a job here, why did he have to choose one where he had to go away?
It's your fault, you aren't good enough for him. You drove him away.
Soft sobs started to escape her lips as she sank to a seat at the table, burying her face on her arms. Why couldn't he have chosen to stay?
'Walker-' Micki motioned for him to come with her as another Ranger returned Bruce to his holding cell. 'Can we talk for a moment?'
'Uh, yeah, what's up?' He questioned, the two of them heading to an empty room to talk.
'One of the guys we just bought in, Bruce Steinfeld. I think he's Maddie's father-'
Cordell frowned. 'What makes you say that?'
'Conversation he just had over the phone, requested to speak to his daughter and when he was talking he mentioned the name Maddie then Walkers.' She shrugged. 'Could be coincidence-'
'Where is this Bruce now?'
'Being processed.'
'Well, let's take a look then shall we?' He questioned, his partner nodding and they headed out to the holding cells. It didn't take long for Cordell to spot him, pulling Micki back out of the way so they weren't spotted.
'Maddie's father?'
He nodded.
'Seems like you've got yourself a great new neighbor then.'
'Yeah…' Cordell appeared less then impressed, glancing back to where the man was being taken for photographs. 'I think he and I need to have a little chat-'
Micki caught his arm as he walked away. 'Walker-'
'It's alright Micki, we're just going to have a little friendly word.'
She raised an eyebrow then shook her head as he headed over to speak with the man.
'Robert Adams-' Cordell said, the man looking up at his approach. 'Or should I say, Bruce Steinfield.'
'Cordell Walker, well lookie here.' Bruce replied, leaning back in his chair. 'I didn't know you were a Ranger.'
'And I didn't know you were into the illegal weapons business, but here we are.' He exclaimed as he took a seat at the table across from him. 'What are you doing in this mess?'
He shrugged. 'Easy money, that's all.'
Cordell raised an eyebrow. 'Must have been quite a sum of cash then.'
'It was worth the risk, guess it just wasn't meant to be. So-' He looked the Ranger in the eyes. 'How long will I be here for? If you look up my record, I'm clean. Not a single item against my name.'
'Well that isn't for me to decide, Robert. Or is it Bruce? Which one does Maddie know you by?'
Put on the spot, Bruce chuckled. 'We all have our secrets, I'm sure that you as a father wouldn't tell your children everything from your work.'
Cordell frowned.
'Look, a few years back, before Maddie was born, I had a run in with a few guys over some cash. I paid them back, but they weren't the kind of company I wished to be in contact with again, hence why I changed my name. I haven't got anything to hide, you can look into both those names and they'll come up squeaky clean.'
'I'll be doing just that, you can be sure of it.'
'I know you will.'
The two of them sat looking at each other, a stalemate until Bruce glanced away. 'Well, if I'm going to be stuck here for awhile, would you mind keeping an eye on my daughter?'
'You want me-' He raised an eyebrow. 'To look after your daughter?'
Bruce shrugged again. 'Maddie spoke highly of you and your family, I'd much appreciate it if you would drop in on her from time to time. Being in a new town I don't have any connections so it would be great if you could, not for me but for Maddie. I've told her that I'm going to be out of town, I don't want her to know about all this-' He motioned to the handcuffs currently around his wrists. 'It would only stress her and cause more harm in the end. Wouldn't you agree?'
There was something that just didn't sit right about this man but Cordell nodded. 'It isn't my place to mention this to her, if that's what you want.'
'Good.' He relaxed in his chair. 'Besides, I don't expect I'll be sitting around here for long.'
'You seem surprisingly calm for a man who has a very serious charge against him.'
'What's the sense in borrowing trouble? It's my first offense, I would bet that you've got bigger fish to fry with Torreto then little old me.'
First offense you've been caught for, you mean…. Cordell stood. 'It's been nice having this little chat, but some of us have work to do. I'll be seeing you, Steinfield.'
He waved him off. 'I expect you will Walker.'
Micki walked over to meet him as Cordell emerged from the room. 'Well?' She questioned.
'He's hiding something. I aim to find out what.'
Author's Note
As I am not sure about Texan law (being a resident of Australia) I have taken the liberty of using the show as an example, IE Maddie's care situation. Trevor is shown as being independent and not needing a 'carer' as such, has a job etc at the age of 15-16 (according to WalkerWiki) though he knows his father is in jail.
Maddie has no knowledge of her fathers imprisonment at the time of this chapter, more of her story and past will be revealed in future updates.
