Chapter 6
'Stop moving-' Stella exclaimed with a laugh, struggling not to get eyeshadow all over Maddie's face. 'It'll go everywhere if you don't sit still.'
Maddie giggled, attempting rather unsuccessfully to stop squirming in her chair. 'It tickles, I can't help it.'
'It like you two are having way too much fun out here.' Liam remarked, walking through the living room on the way to his bedroom. 'Stella Blue-' He stopped, making a face as he looked at Maddie's makeup. 'What have you done to poor Maddie?'
'Oh, what have you done?'
'No, no you don't!' Stella whisked the mirror away out of her reach. 'Not until I've finished, no argument.'
He leant down next to Maddie's ear, whispering in a teasing tone. 'You know the first time Stella ever tried to put makeup on someone was on August?'
'Uncle Liam-'
'Really?' Maddie giggled. 'Oh, I have to hear this one.'
He was about to launch into the story when his phone started to ring. Pulling it from his pocket he started down the hallway. 'Sorry Maddie, another time perhaps.'
She looked up at Stella as he disappeared. 'You have to tell me what happened.'
'Why don't you let me concentrate on finishing this off first? Okay?'
'How's girl's night going?' Cordell questioned, coming in to take a seat on the couch to watch. 'Looking good Stella-'
'It'd be great if someone could stop wriggling around like a worm…' Finally she managed to finish the final touches to Maddie's eyelid, taking a moment for a break before tackling the other side.
'What can I say? I have ticklish eyelids.' Maddie protested with a chuckle. 'It's not my fault.' She spun around on the chair. 'Walker, does it look that bad?'
'No, it looks fine.'
'Uncle Liam was teasing us again.' Stella explained, spinning her back around. 'Alright, just one more eyelid to go…'
Finally finished with cleaning up after supper, Abeline came to join them. 'Looks good Stell.'
'Thanks Mawline, at least someone in the family is capable of giving an honest opinion-' She shot a look to Liam as he headed back to the dining room, laptop tucked under his arm. 'Unlike another someone.'
'I wonder who that someone could be.' He remarked on his way through.
'Yeah, I wonder. Alright-' Carefully she brushed the final strokes on. 'and we are done.' She handed her the mirror. 'Ta da. What do you think?'
Maddie was silent for a moment, unable to believe her eyes. She actually looked pretty. The flaws on her skin had disappeared beneath the makeup, the face in the mirror wasn't her. It couldn't be her… 'Wow… I don't know what to say.'
'You've never had makeup on before?' Abeline questioned with curiosity.
'No, never. Mama used to wear it, of course, but back when she was alive I never wanted to learn how to do it. I was more interested in horses and cowgirls then doing makeup and nails. And my Dad-' She stood up to let Stella have the seat instead, moving aside so Abeline could show her what to do. 'well, he wouldn't know an eyeshadow brush from a paint brush.'
'That's a good one.' Stella laughed. 'Hey, Mawline, if Maddie and I are going to do each other, why don't we both do you too?'
'Oh, I really don't think-'
'Please Abeline?' Maddie interrupted. 'Then I can have twice the practice.'
'It's a shame my friend Bel couldn't join us like we had planned.' Stella looked over at her Dad mischievously. 'Unless Dad wants to lend us his face…'
Cordell's head shot up from the article he was reading on his phone. 'What was that?'
'Your daughter just offered your face for Maddie to practice doing make up on.' Abeline replied with amusement on her face.
'Ah, Stella Blue, I love you but no. Make up, eye shadow, mascara, that's not really my thing. Your Uncle Liam on the other hand-'
'I heard that Cordell.' Liam called out from the living room. 'Not on your life.'
'I think you'd look good with purple eye shadow.' Maddie teased, her eyes sparkling with happiness. She turned back to Abeline. 'Well, if they both say no-'
'Oh, alright.' She gave in. 'When you and I finish with Stella, you both can have a go with me.'
'Great.'
'Now, you want to start with the foundation…'
The next half hour was taken up with Abeline carefully walking Maddie through the basics of how to do makeup. Maddie observed closely, taking in everything so she didn't miss anything. She'd never had fun like this before and it showed, the walls she had built around herself were slowly starting to come down as she relaxed and began to really enjoy her time. It had been over a month now since she and her father had moved to their new home and since starting work at the ranch three weeks ago, she had been there every day since. She had begun to really like the Walkers, especially Abeline and Stella.
'Okay, done.' Maddie declared, looking at her work then up at Abeline. 'How did I go?'
'Very good for your first try, you really pay attention when you're shown something.'
'No sense in having to have someone teach me to do something twice.' She said as she handed the mirror to Stella. 'It's not as good as what you did with me-'
'Hey, don't put yourself down. It took me ages to get as good as I am now doing it-' Stella encouraged. 'You should have seen my first attempt-'
'Yeah, on August.' Abeline interjected as her and Stella exchanged places. 'If I remember correctly, your mom was less than impressed with you.'
'Mainly for getting more eyeshadow and lipstick on the white carpet then I did on Augie's face.' Stella replied as Maddie started her second attempt at doing makeup on Abeline. 'I dropped an entire container of eyeshadow on the carpet, the glitter went everywhere.'
'You must have gotten into a ton of trouble for that.' Maddie chuckled.
'I did, Mom kept her makeup locked and out of our reach too after that.'
'You didn't try anything like that when you were little, Maddie?' Cordell questioned.
'No, not quite. The most mischief I got into when I was little was dropping coins into Mama's guitar. I think I was three at the time? Anyway, my mom bought me a piggy bank after that so I didn't use her guitar as my savings account. She also got my own little guitar and taught me what it was for.'
'So you know how to play guitar then?' Stella asked.
Maddie nodded, finishing up with the foundation layer. 'I started playing when I was three. My Mom used to be a big thing in country music but when she had me she chose staying home with me over her career.'
Abeline spoke up. 'What was her name?'
'Macey.'
It only took a couple moments for Cordell to put the pieces together. 'Your mother is Macey Stanton?'
'Mmhmm.'
'My mom loved her music.' Stella exclaimed with astonishment. 'Your not joking, are you?'
'No, I'm not.' She laughed. 'If you don't believe me, I've got pictures on my phone of Mom and I.'
'Oh I've got to see them.'
'Alright-' She handed the brush she was using to Stella. 'Your granddaughter can tidy up my terrible attempt here.'
Abeline chuckled. 'I'm sure you are doing just fine honey.'
After a moment of flicking through her files, she clicked on her favorite photo she had with her and her mother. 'Here, there's your proof.'
Stella's mouth dropped open. Macey was sitting on a park swing, a younger Maddie sitting on her lap. 'Oh my God. Dad, look.'
'That's a lovely photo, Maddie. '
'It's my favorite one, that was taken when I was nine, a couple months before she started to become ill…' She returned her phone to her pocket, Stella finishing up her grandmother's makeup 'It'll be four years next Wednesday since she passed, cancer took her.'
'Does it…' Stella started after a moment. 'Does it ever get any easier? I mean, my mom will have been gone for a year this Sunday and it feels like it was only yesterday.'
'In time the pain will ease but losing someone, anyone, changes you. You heal, but you're never the same…' Her voice trailed off, emotion coming into her eyes but as quickly as it had come, it vanished. 'Alright, now since I had my makeup done first, one of you should go first to get your hair done.'
Cordell mused over what Maddie had said, noticing that flicker of emotion she had quickly suppressed. Apart from what he already knew of the girl's father, he hadn't been able to find out anything else in his searches. Now that he'd found out her mother's name, perhaps he could find more answers where before he had come to roadblocks…
'So Maddie-' Stella asked as Abeline showed Maddie how to use a hair curler. 'What's your favorite movie?'
'Spirit: Stallion of the Cimarron.'
'From the title, let me guess… Horse movie?'
'You've never seen Spirit?' Maddie pretended to be horrified. 'Oh my God, you have to watch Spirit. When I was little, I literally wore out the old VCR copy we had of it. Best horse movie ever.'
'I'll have to take your word for that.'
'If you haven't noticed-' Abeline interjected, placing another curl in front of Stella's shoulder. 'Stella's not quite the horse crazy teen you are Maddie.'
'Hey, I do like horses. I just prefer Lord Of The Rings or Friends over cringy, low budget horse movies.'
'Well I can guarantee that Spirit isn't either of those. You'll just have to watch it sometime, movie night?'
'On one condition.'
'And that would be?'
'Next movie night, my choice.'
Maddie laughed. 'Deal.'
'Hey, are you taking any notice of this, Maddie girl?'
'Mmhmm. I can give it a go now?'
'Just don't burn my hair Maddie.' Stella cautioned. 'Perhaps we should have done Mawline's hair first, you could experiment on hers.'
'I'm glad you have faith in my teaching capabilities, my girl.' She watched as Maddie attempted to use the curler, the teen getting the idea of it the first try. 'Perfect Maddie, well done.'
'See?' She teased, leaning over Stella's shoulder. 'I ain't that hopeless after all.'
'Well, what have we got here?' Bonham questioned with a smile, seeing Maddie and Stella doing Abeline's hair as he walked into the room. 'What are you two rascals doin to that pretty wife of mine?'
A slight blush came to her cheeks as he sat down in his chair, glass of whiskey in hand with a ranching magazine in the other. 'Maddie's getting extra practice at doing hair styles, since Bel couldn't come they roped me in as a substitute.'
'There we go-' Maddie exclaimed proudly as she finished off the braid. 'All done.'
'You look like a cute little schoolgirl-'
His sentence was quickly cut short by Abeline throwing a comb at him, the room erupting in laughter. 'Next time they want to do a girls night Bon, I'm volunteering you to be Maddie's guinea pig. She mentioned wanting to do nails next.'
'Like hell you are.'
'You would look like a cute little schoolgirl with pink nails, Mr. Walker.' Maddie couldn't help but tease him, giggling at the look he shot at her.
'Isn't it past your bedtime young lady?'
Looking over at the clock, she cringed. 'I didn't realize that was the time.'
'Time flies when you're having fun.' Abeline started putting the things they'd used away. 'Cordell, can you take Maddie home? Cordell?'
'Ah, sorry-' He turned his phone up, giving her his attention. 'Yes?'
'It's past eleven, unless Maddie is walking home-'
'Yep, I'll drop her home. Wow, look at you two. Prettiest young ladies I've laid my eyes on.'
Maddie blushed. Stella's response was a laugh.
'Dad's always think their little girls are the prettiest.'
'Well, it is true…'
Dad has never told me I'm pretty…
'Maddie.'
'Yes sir?' She replied, jolted from her thoughts.
'Let's get you home.'
'Sounds like a good idea. Thank you for doing this with me Abeline and Stella, it was a lot of fun.'
'It was our pleasure.'
'We'll do nails next time, I've got a complete kit of dip-powder nails we can try out.' Stella added. 'See you.'
'Night, Mr. Walker.'
'Good night Maddie.'
'Night Maddie.'
'Night Abeline.'
The cold air caught her by surprise when she stepped outside and she wished she had thought to bring a coat. Well, she hadn't thought she would be out this late either. 'Gosh it's cold.'
'Here-' Cordell took his jacket off as they walked to the truck. 'You can borrow this.'
'No, I can't-'
'I insist.'
Giving in, she slipped the jacket on. 'Thank you. Next time I'll remember to bring a jacket.'
'With the amount of time you're spending over here-' He opened the passenger door for her. 'You might as well just move in.'
'Oh, I hope I'm not making a nuisance of myself. If I am, just tell me and I'll stay away.'
'No-' He closed the door, getting in the driver's side. 'You aren't being a nuisance at all and it was nice seeing Stella so happy tonight.'
'I hope what I said could help her in some small way…' She sighed softly. 'I know how hard it has been for me, losing my mom. At least both her and August have you, your family. When my mom passed, I had no one. I was placed in foster care until my Dad finally claimed me, it took months for him to be tracked down. Sometimes I think it took him so long because he didn't really want to take me-' She stopped abruptly, realizing she had said way too much already. 'But he's been really good and I can't wait for him to get back. Did I mention he promised he was going to buy me a kitten?'
'Yeah, I think you have. More than once.'
She chuckled nervously as the truck headed up the drive to her house. 'My Dad does love me, he works hard to make sure I have what I need-' She frowned. The house was dark. 'That's strange, I always leave the front light on.'
'Maybe it blew?'
'Maybe…' She turned the flashlight on her phone on before stepping out of the truck, Cordell walking with her up the sidewalk. Heading inside, she flipped another switch on but no light turned on. 'Power must be out.'
'I'll have a look, where's the switchboard?'
'Right side of the house.' If the power is out… She hurried into the kitchen as the Ranger went out to look, opening the chest freezer. 'Oh no…' She whimpered out loud. 'Damn.'
'Doesn't seem to be a problem on this end.' Cordell reported upon his return but Maddie had disappeared. 'Maddie?'
'In the kitchen.' After a moment he joined her. 'It must have gone out just after I left this morning, look-' All the frozen meals she had left had completely gone off. Slamming the lid back down she opened the fridge, the things in the small freezer defrosted too. All the food she had left had been ruined. 'Damn it!'
'Maddie, it's alright.' Cordell placed a hand on her shoulder, noting that she froze at the touch and quickly removed it. 'I can ring up the power company in the morning and find out what has happened.'
'I can take a guess, my Dad hasn't had time to pay the bill.' She took a deep breath to calm herself so she didn't break down in front of the Ranger. 'All my food though, Dad wasn't supposed to be gone this long, he stocked the fridge and freezer for me before he left but now it's ruined.' She sighed heavily. 'The money he left me I already spent, the rent and gas were due last week and I had to pay that.'
'Have you been in contact with your Dad?'
She shook her head. 'No, but it's not unusual for him to be gone for a few weeks at a time. He's always made sure that he's got someone to drop food off and take care of things though, this time though he didn't. Guess he just wanted to see how I'd cope on my own… Not very well apparently.'
'Well, come on. We'll take care of it in the morning.'
'Where are we going?'
'You can't stay here without power and no heater, it's freezing in here. Mom can put you up for the night in the guest room.'
'No, I couldn't…' She shook her head. No. She couldn't spend the night at their house. If her Dad found out…
Cordell sighed. 'Maddie, it's late, you can't stay here and there's no point arguing about it. Go grab a change of clothes and anything else you need. Tomorrow we will take care of things.'
Knowing it was a fight that she wouldn't win, she gave in with a solemn nod and made her way through the dark house to her bedroom. Her small suitcase was tossed onto the bed, a pair of pajamas and change of clothes being added. Her night light went in, as well as her pistol. Suitcase tucked beneath one arm, pillow beneath the other, she headed back out.
'That everything?'
She nodded. 'Mmmhmm.'
'Alright then, let's get you back home.'
'Dad…' Stella started as she and Cordell walked to their home later that night. 'I've been thinking…'
'About what, baby girl?'
'Maddie. I mean, she lost her mom almost the same time we lost ours and her Dad isn't here for her… I know that this camping trip we're doing is for Mom's honor, but maybe we should invite her along?'
'Are you sure? I thought it was supposed to be an 'us' thing.'
She nodded. 'Maddie hasn't got anyone to be with, it's not right that her Dad isn't here with her.'
'We'll have to speak with Auggie first, hear his opinion on having her come along.'
'So, you wouldn't have a problem with it?'
Cordell opened the door to the house, letting her walk in first then turned a light on. 'If that is what you want to do, I think it is a nice gesture. Right now though-' He looked at his watch, the time just after midnight. 'It is late and time for you, to be in bed. We'll finish this in the morning?'
'Alright.' She gave him a kiss on the cheek. 'Night Dad.'
'Good night Stell.'
His daughter headed up the hallway to her bedroom as he took a seat at the table, turning on his laptop. Typing in Maddie's mothers name into the department's search engine, he looked up her record. There was no criminal activity, her date of death matched with what the teen had said but there was no mention of either a husband or daughter in the files. He sighed, wondering what channel to try next. Back at Maddie's house, the teen had been quite visibly distressed even though she tried to hide it. If what she said about him leaving her by herself for weeks at a time was true, it was boarding on neglect. The store of alcohol in the fridge and on the bench was something else that had caught his attention. He didn't have a problem with someone having a drink, but when there was more liquor in a house then food, it was a potential for concern.
Again he typed in the name of Maddie's father, the only result of his search being the recent charge he was currently serving time for. Closing his laptop with frustration he rested his chin on his hands. Maddie had been in foster care at the time of her mother's death, where was her father during that time. There was no record of him having previous crimes or jail time and while the adage was Innocent until proven guilty, he just couldn't get past the feeling that there was more to the story.
Things just didn't add up, but where was the missing piece of the puzzle?
