Chapter 10
'Look at you.' Maddie remarked, a smile on her face as Stella walked out of the farmhouse. 'That color suits you.'
Stella chuckled nervously. 'Thank you. Are you sure you don't want to come to the dance? I've got plenty of dresses you can look through, I'm sure you could find something to wear.'
'Well, I appreciate the invitation but no. Not this time. Thank you for offering though.' She gave Skylar a pat, the mare tied up to the fence as she started to tack her up for the ride home. 'Besides, I've been shoveling manure all day, I wouldn't have time to clean up anyway.'
'Alright.' She sighed. 'I had hoped you would have come, we're going to have a lot of fun.'
'You'll just have to promise you'll tell me all about it when you get back, okay?'
'Promise.'
'And no dandelions, because those are weeds.' Cordell said as he walked over to them, holding up a wildflower boutonnière.
'It's great Dad.'
'And um-' He pulled a necklace with a ring strung on it from his pocket. 'I think your mom would like this for you.'
Maddie observed their exchange from a distance, slowly brushing the mare's back. The more she saw Cordell interact with his kids the more she wondered why he did. Her father never showed any kind of affection to her, he never gave her anything. It was confusing to her what she saw. It didn't make any sense to her...
'So-' Stella questioned as Trevor's car pulled up out the front of the house. 'Can we take the Mustang?'
Cordell chuckled. 'Nope.'
'Can't blame you for trying.' Bonham remarked, joining them outside.
'Wait!' Abeline called out as she hurried from the house. 'I need pictures.'
'Where's August?' Trevor questioned, glancing around as he tied the corsage around Stella's wrist.
'Oh he went to school to set up for AV club. Bel's getting there early so I figured we should too.'
'What about you Maddie?' He asked as he looked over at her. 'You coming?'
'Not this time, it's not really my thing.' She replied, switching which side of Skylar she was grooming. 'You guys have fun though.'
'So sweet.' Abeline chuckled as she snapped the last photo, putting her phone back into her pocket.
'Y'all have fun.' Bonham added, the two kids getting into Trevor's car. 'Be safe.'
'Yes sir.'
'When are we going dancing?' Abeline questioned, watching the kids leave.
'You know I don't dance.' He replied. 'Old dog and all that. Besides, I have to go to the feed store, get some supplies. You want to join?'
She chuckled, following him to the truck. 'You sure know how to plan a date night.'
'Maddie-' He stopped on his way past. 'You best be gettin on home soon, there's a storm brewing.'
Maddie nodded. 'Yes sir, I was planning on it.'
'Good, wouldn't want you to get caught riding in it. See you tomorrow.'
She waved as they left, patting Skylar's neck absentmindedly. Perhaps going to the dance wouldn't have been that bad... She sighed, returning to grooming the mare. She hated making decisions, at least when her Dad was home she could ask advice from him. It was too late now to change her mind anyway.
'How are you and Skylar getting along?'
'We're doing pretty good.' She smiled as Cordell came over, the Ranger leaning against the fence to watch her grooming the mare. 'I didn't know she used to belong to your wife, I promise I will take good care of her though.'
Cordell ran a hand down Skylar's face. 'She was my Dad's wedding present to Emily...' The mare sniffed at him before nibbling gently on his jacket. 'Emily... Was terrified of horses. Took me forever just to convince her to get near one.' He smiled sadly as he patted the mare's cheek. 'She learnt to ride on Skylar, the two of them had a close bond.'
'I'm sorry... I can't imagine what it would have been like for you all when you lost her. She sounded like a really good person.'
'She was.' He paused, looking back at Maddie. 'I haven't had a chance to look for your father yet, work has been crazy this week...'
'It's alright, I understand.' She replied, swapping to a soft brush. 'I haven't heard from him yet but I'm sure he's just fine.'
'I'll let you know if I find anything.'
'I would appreciate it- Damn!' She sighed. 'I forgot to finish off those stalls.'
'I'm sure you can do them tomorrow-'
Maddie shook her head. 'I better go do them now. Excuse me.'
'Make sure you head straight home after then, with this storm coming in.' He called out after her.
'I will.'
Dark gray clouds were billowing on the horizon, the wind starting to pick up as Maddie rode back home later in the afternoon. I don't like this... She thought as she looked around nervously, Skylar tossing her head. The wind had begun to pick up causing the mare to become edgy and nervous. 'Easy girl...' She murmured gently, holding her back at a trot. 'We'll be home soon...'
A short while later they arrived back home and the shelter of the barn was a grateful respite from the storm. 'Easy, woah now.' The mare tossed her head as she untacked her, the storm clearly agitating her. With her gear off she turned her loose into the stall and fed her before looking back out at the storm. Looks like it's getting bad... She thought, wishing that her father was here with her. Ever since she had been little she had been frightened of storms and could remember her Mom singing to her to calm her. If her Dad was here, he'd tell her to grow up instead of being scared... It's just a storm...
Her next thought was for her things in the loft. If by some chance the roof leaked, her little haven would get soaked. Her mom's guitar meant too much to her to leave there to be ruined and so she quickly headed up into the loft. A short time later she had everything packed up and started with them to the house.
The wind was blowing stronger as she hurried to the back door, the door slammed shut behind her. Taking a moment to catch her breath she placed her things into the closet in her room and began to close the open windows in the house. What did mom used to do during a storm? She wondered as she finished with the windows, trying to remember how her mom would prepare their house. Flashlights in case the power goes out, bottled water...
The garden! She remembered with annoyance as she gathered together what she needed. She had forgotten to pick the ripened produce. After a moment she had finished gathering what she needed and headed back out into the storm to bring in the produce.
Her hair whipped across her face as she quickly picked the tomatoes, glancing up at the sky anxiously. This wasn't a normal storm, she could feel it. The clouds were the wrong color... Gathering the produce as fast as she could she hurried back into the house, locking the door behind her. Now she would just have to wait the storm out.
Maddie peered out the window anxiously, the wind picking up more as the storm began to unleash itself fury on the earth. I hope the house holds... She thought nervously, continuing to watch the antics of the howling wind as lighting illuminated the night sky. It was the barn she was more worried about, the old oak tree bending dangerously under the strain of the storm. If it were to fall, it would crush the stall that Skylar was in-
Suddenly the house became dark, the power abruptly cut. Luckily she had already thought ahead and had her flashlight at the ready. Her heart was pounding as she quickly turned it on, the house not so dark anymore. There were two things she hated with a vengeance more than being alone, storms and the dark.
I should have gone to the dance... She thought, another clap of thunder making her shiver uncomfortably. Lighting followed, lighting up the back yard and she could see the damage the storm had already made. The barn looked like it was holding its own, for now, but she couldn't help but worry about Skylar. She frowned as her phone buzzed with a notification and her concern grew as she read the text message. A tornado warning had been issued for the area. Tornados and livestock were two things that didn't mix...
I should turn Skylar out, she'd be better off out on her own if a tornado touches down near here. She decided, her gut instincts urging her to turn Skylar out of the barn becoming stronger by the minute. I'll turn her loose then head for the basement...
Slipping on her raincoat, she took a deep breath then hurried out into the storm. The wind was strong as she left the house, her arm shielding her face as she fought against it to cross the yard. Branches, leaves and twigs were thick through the air, anything loose being blown around by the will of the storm. More lightning flashed through the sky, the girl frantically fighting with the back gate to get it open. Don't panic, just get to the barn and get the mare out. Finally getting the stubborn gate open she made a run for the barn.
Skylar was pacing in her stall as she came through the side door into the barn, the mare clearly in a panic from the storm. 'Woah, easy girl...' She took hold of her halter before opening the stall and clipped a leadrope onto it. The whole barn was shaking, the old timber's creaking and groaning as the roar of the wind became louder. She looked around, thankful she had already taken out her things out of the loft. If this storm got any worse, she doubted that the barn would hold. Skylar danced, half rearing as she entered the stall and she placed a hand on her neck to calm her. 'I know, I know. Easy girl-' The sound of a window shattering further down from her stall sent the mare into more of a frenzy. 'Come on, I'm going to get you out of here.'
The mare fought against her as she tried to lead her from the stall, the teen finally coaxing her out after a short argument. Opening the barn door, Skylar reared up as a branch landed in front of them. 'Easy, easy-' She held tight to the leadrope, giving her slack to rear but not letting her go. 'Easy-'
There was a loud creak and groan, the girl standing frozen in fear as she saw the old tree ripped from the ground and begin to fall towards them. Skylar tore the leadrope through her hands with a scream and bolted from the barn as the tree came crashing down through the roof. The mare got herself out of harm's way just in time, leadrope slapping against her legs as she fled into the storm. Maddie on the other hand, hadn't nearly been as lucky...
It took a couple moments for Maddie to register the fact that she was lying on her back, her flashlight and the continued lightning illuminating the tree branches, broken wood and twisted metal above her.
Oh crap.
Then-
I sure hope Skylar is okay.
It was hard to breathe with the debris pinning her down, the severity of her situation sinking in as she struggled for air. Her hand holding the flashlight was the only part of her she could move, the rest of her body held tight by the broken timbers. Pointing her flashlight up above, she could see she was well and truly buried. The oak had done a number on the barn, Skylar's stall, the aisle, and the stall opposite all brought down from the tree. Thunder rumbled in the distance, lightning lighting up the sky a second later. The storm was by no means over...
In the distance, illuminated by the lighting, was the funnel of a tornado.
She began to panic as she tried again to crawl out from under the rubble then gave up after a slight struggle. It was no use, she was well and truly stuck. Oh God, what do I do...
Tears ran down her cheeks as she fought again and again to get loose, only effectively getting herself more trapped the more she fought. Finally she gave up again, her lungs begging for air as she heard the roar of the wind become louder. Oh God, I'm gonna die!
A moment later, the wind seemed to die down and she cautiously opened an eye that had been clenched shut. Looking in the direction she had seen the tornado, she waited to see if it was still there. She didn't have to wait long, lighting revealing that the tornado had gone. It must have already passed...
Relief flooded through her when she realized it was gone and after a long while, she had started to calm down and think rationally. There was no way she was getting herself out of this mess, she was wedged in tight by the broken roof timbers and the tree... Now that she wasn't in a panic, she realized that every time she tried to move, it would come down on her more. The barn had been crushed like a popsicle house, it was just lucky for her she hadn't had the main trunk of the tree fall on her.
Without a choice but to sit tight and keep still, she mentally took inventory of her injuries. Nothing felt broken so that was good but there was no way she was going to be able to get out of this on her own. She was going to need help. She thought for a moment then remembered she had her phone in her back pocket. If she could just reach it... 'Damn it!' She exclaimed loudly with frustration, no matter how she tried to wiggle her arms out through the timbers and branches, she couldn't reach it. Each time she tried to move, something would poke her or move and put more weight on her. She wasn't going anywhere-
Laying there, the minutes began to tick by. Her phone began to ring but not being able to reach it, she couldn't answer. Tears of frustration slipped down her cheeks as she attempted again to reach it and couldn't. After a short moment it rang out and the only sound was that of the wind. It was moments like these, when she found herself in need of help, that she really wished her Dad was there. He was never there for her when she needed him and right now, she needed him and he wasn't there.
'Siri... ring... emergency services.'
Nothing. No reply. She tried twice more to activate the voice commands on her phone without any luck. With that, any chance of trying to get help was extinguished. There would be no calling for help, her only hope of being rescued was someone coming across the mare and then attempting to find out where she belonged. No one, except for the Walkers even knew of her existence in this town and they were already preoccupied. She couldn't rely on them to rescue her, couldn't expect them to even bother messaging until morning when she didn't show up for work.
With no other option, she watched the lighting flash above as she waited, prayed, hoped that someway, somehow, someone would come to her aid.
'Something bothering you?' Bonham questioned, noticing his wife checking her phone for the fifth time in the last half hour.
'It's Maddie-' She slipped her phone back into her pocket, glancing around the emptying hall as parents started arriving to pick up their children. 'I've called her twice and messaged her but she hasn't messaged back. I'm starting to get worried, it's not like her to not reply.'
'We can drop in on her if you like, check in on the way home.'
She nodded. 'If she doesn't get back to me beforehand, I think we should.'
'I think it's time we should think about heading off-' He looked around, Cordell coming over to them. 'We're about to head out.'
'Alright, yeah, I think we'll be doing the same thing soon-' He looked around the auditorium, trying to locate his kids. August was speaking with Bel but Stella was nowhere to be seen. 'Either of you seen Stella?'
'Last I saw her, she was dancing with Trevor.' Abeline replied, looking at her son with concern. 'Something wrong, Cordell?'
'Liam just told me a few things... I just need... Some time to process what he said...'
'Dad-' August came over, interrupting the conversation. 'Can we take Ruby home on our way home? Her grandfather was going to pick her up but-'
'Yeah, sure. We can do that.' He interrupted as he nodded. 'Go find your sister, tell her we're about to leave.'
'Right.'
'Cordell?' Bonham questioned after August had left, his son turning back to him.
'I'll let Liam explain...'
'As long as you're okay son-'
'Mom, I'm fine. Look, you should be going. Drive careful, I heard over the radio there was a lot of storm damage heading out of town.'
'Thanks for the warning son, you take care too.' Bonham replied. 'See you at home.'
Abeline looked at her phone again as they left the building and headed for their truck, noticing Liam sitting alone over on a bench.
'You coming Abeline?' Bonham questioned, driver's side door open as he waited for her to get in.
She nodded, turning back to the truck. After a moment they were both in the vehicle and headed on their way back to the ranch.
'Looks like the storm hit through here pretty good...' Bonham remarked, glancing around as he slowed the truck further. Trees and branches were everywhere, debris covering the road. 'Looks like there's power lines down over there.'
Abeline stayed quiet, wondering what Liam had told Cordell as she looked out the window. The storm damage was a lot worse here then closer to home and it looked almost like a tornado had swept through.
Another large tree had fallen and landed across the road, and with no room to get around it they had to stop. Turning off the engine he grabbed flashlights from beside the seat. 'Looks like we're walking from here.' He remarked as they got out and he handed a flashlight to her. 'I enjoyed that dance with you Abby.'
'I did too.' She replied after a moment, the two of them continuing along the drive. Silence followed, both of them occupied with their own thoughts.
The house was dark as they approached, the first thing Abeline noticed was the tree that had fallen onto the roof of the porch. The fence had been brought down, branches and broken limbs strewn around on the ground.
'Tornado must have touched down close by.' Bonham remarked with concern, judging that from the debris he could see. 'Maddie?'
They parted ways to search, Bonham calling for the teen as Abeline taking a closer look at the house. The front door had been blown open, both front windows smashed. Carefully stepping around the glass she headed inside and looked around as her husband continued to search the outside. 'Maddie? Maddie you in here?'
It didn't take long for her to finish looking inside and she headed out into the back garden, meeting up with her husband. 'No sign of her inside.'
'None out here-' He looked around again then shouted the girl's name loudly once more. 'Maybe she headed for our place, she sure can't stay here with the way the house is. Storm did a number on the barn too.'
She shook her head. 'She would have messaged us if she did.' Shining her flashlight around, something was reflecting back at her from the direction of the barn. She watched as it moved and caught hold on Bonham's arm. 'Bon, the barn. I saw something.'
'Help!' Came a soft cry as they walked closer. 'I'm under here!'
'Maddie!'
'Careful Abby.' Bonham cautioned, holding her back from trying to climb through the debris. Sweeping the flashlight around, he found her after a moment, well and truly buried. 'Maddie, it's Mr. Walker. Are you alright?'
'I'm fine.' Tears started down her cheeks again hearing his voice. 'I'm not hurt, just stuck.'
'Alright, we're going to get you out sweetheart but I'm going to have to go for a chainsaw and some extra help. Just hang on, don't move. I'll be right back.'
'No, no, don't go... Don't leave me...'
'Maddie, Maddie, it's okay.' Abeline said, crouching down closer to her. 'I'm here, I'll stay with you.'
Bonham lowered his voice so the teen couldn't hear what he said to his wife. 'Don't touch anything. The way that tree is sitting, if it moves it could crush her. I'll be back as soon as I can.'
She nodded as he got his phone out, hearing him make a call as he headed back to the truck.
'Abeline?'
'I'm here sweetheart.' She turned back to the girl, just able to make out her body beneath the debris. 'Your okay, we're going to get you out honey.'
'I thought no one would find me-'
'Sssh, it's alright. Just stay calm Maddie, you need to stay still. Okay?'
After a moment, Maddie got her emotions back under control. 'I was so scared... There was a tornado... I thought I was going to die.' She swallowed the lump in her throat. 'I couldn't get out, I couldn't call for help...'
'Honey, honey is okay.' She soothed softly, the teen choking on her words. 'We're here now, everything will be alright. We'll get you out of here before you know it.'
She wasn't alone anymore, everything would be alright now... Hearing her words brought a little reassurance to her and she began to calm down again. 'My Dad won't be happy if he hears about this... Please, promise you won't say anything when he comes back.'
'Your Dad should know-'
'He wouldn't care anyway, he left me...'
'That's not true, he's coming back. He told you he would, didn't he?'
'I know... I just want him here... with me.'
'I know sweetheart. You miss him, it's only natural.' And the bastard can't even be bothered to ring and have a simple phone call with his daughter. She thought, having a few opinions of the teens father that were best kept to herself. 'I'm sure he will be back soon though.'
'I hope so...'
The teen fell silent and Abeline cast the light from the flashlight around, looking at the rest of the damage. It didn't take long for her to notice what had her husband so worried and she hoped they could get the teen out in time. The tree hadn't come all the way down when it had fallen, the only reason Maddie was still alive. Part of the wall of the barn hadn't given way and was what held the tree from coming down on top of her. It was a giant pile of mess, twisted tin and broken timber's beneath the branches of of mess, twisted tin and broken timbers beneath the branches of the old oak. How on earth were they going to get her out without bringing the rest of it down on top of her?
'Abeline?'
'I'm here sweetheart.' She turned her attention back to the teen, trying not to think of the many unpleasant scenarios running through her head. 'Just hang on, Bon will be here soon.'
'I just want to get out.'
'I know, I know. We'll have you out soon. Just stay calm.'
Maddie was trying to do just that, trying hard not to panic but she couldn't help it. Already being trapped here for hours had taken its toll on her. She couldn't cope with the silence, the deafening silence and the dark that had fallen with the end of the storm. Her legs had long gone numb, and as she tried to move again, the timber's began to groan.
'Maddie, Maddie stay still!'
'I'm trying.' She whimpered at the harsh reprimand. 'I can't feel my legs anymore, they've gone numb.'
Abaline took a deep breath to calm herself, glancing back in the direction Bonham had disappeared. Hurry Bon... 'Just stay still honey, it won't be much longer. Please sweetheart.' If she kept moving...
The sound of a truck coming up the drive was music to her ears, bright lights flooding the area as it was parked with the spotlights positioned towards the barn. 'Won't be long now honey.'
'Oh God...' Liam remarked as his father turned off the engine. 'Maddie is under that?'
'Which is why we need to be bloody careful, we don't want to bring the rest of it down on top of her.' Bonham replied. 'So right now I need you both focused on getting her out. We can't risk waiting for help to arrive, not with another storm coming in.'
Cordell nodded, wrestling his emotions under control and stepped from the truck. His father and Liam went to gather the chainsaw and things as he went over to his mom. 'Where is she?'
Abeline pointed the light into the debris. 'Down there.'
'Bout time you guys showed up.' Maddie complained, the light shining in her eyes. 'Get me outta here!'
'Don't worry Maddie, we are going to get you out.' Cordell replied. 'Are you hurt?'
'No but I'm stuck good and tight. Can't feel my legs either, they went numb ages ago.'
'All right, just stay still. We will get you out.'
With no choice but to do exactly that, Maddie waited. At least she wasn't alone anymore, help had come... She just needed to wait, just a little longer.
Abeline stood back as the men conversed amongst themselves, trying to figure out the best way of getting the girl freed without her being hurt in the process. They started to slowly remove pieces of debris from the pile, then Bonham started up the chainsaw and set to work on the tree. Her heart was in her throat as she watched, the men choosing carefully what to remove next. One wrong move and that tree would come down on top of Maddie.
'Okay Maddie-' Liam spoke, crouching down as close to her as he could. 'Where exactly are you pinned now?'
'My legs, I can't move them.'
He shone the flashlight into where she lay, spotting the problem after a moment. A large beam lay over her legs, just below her knees. There was no way they'd get her out from under it, they'd need to lift or cut it to get her out.
'How's it look Liam?' Bonham questioned. 'Can you get her out?'
Liam slowly and carefully backed himself out of the debris. 'There's no getting her out unless we move the entire lot. Unless...'
Cordell knew that look. 'What are you thinking?'
'Bottle jack. There's just enough space in there to slip one in, if we can lift the beam just enough to get it off her, we can drag her out.'
'I'll get it.' Bonham headed for the truck, looking around anxiously as the wind started the pick up again. After a moment he had gotten it out from behind the back seat, returning to the group. 'You better make it quick son, that storm's coming in and fast.'
Liam nodded as he took the jack. 'Once it's in and she can get herself out, pull us both out.' Carefully he started into the pile, hoping it didn't come down on both of them. 'Hold on Maddie, won't be much longer now.'
'What are you doing?' She questioned as he pushed his way into the small space she was in. 'We're both going to be stuck in here.'
'I know what I'm doing.' He replied, sliding the jack in beneath the beam. 'As soon as this is off your legs, tell me. I don't want to lift it any higher than we have to.'
Maddie nodded.
Carefully he began to put the jack up, the wood creaking and groaning as the pile began to shift. As long as it held long enough for them to both get out...
'I think it's off now.'
'Right-' He shone the light around, checking to make sure the girl wasn't trapped by anything else. 'Do you think you can get out now?'
Carefully she started to move, seeing if she could. 'I think so.'
Liam slowly started to back out again until he was past her then turned back to her. 'Hold onto my hands, I'll pull you out.'
'Okay.'
'Ready Dad.'
Maddie closed her eyes and held on tight as she was pulled out of the debris, Bonham and Cordell pulling them both free. Finally, she was out, Abeline hurrying over to her.
'You okay?'
The teen nodded as she knelt down beside her, tears starting to run down her cheeks. 'I was so scared...'
'It's alright sweetheart.' She took her into her arms, the girl holding on tight to her. 'You're out now, you're safe.'
Cordell joined them, looking her over to assess if she had any injuries. She had a deep gash on her forehead but it didn't look like she had been hurt. She was lucky, very lucky. 'What were you doing out here?'
'Getting Skylar... out...' Maddie replied softly as her crying slowly abated. 'I'm sorry...'
'You are just lucky you weren't hurt.'
'I know... I'm sorry. Thank you for getting me out, I don't know what I would have done if you hadn't turned up. I couldn't call for help, I couldn't get my phone out.' She looked over Abeline's shoulder to where she had just been. 'What a mess...'
'We can worry bout it come morning.' Bonham remarked as he patted her shoulder. 'You look like you could use a hot shower and a good sleep.'
'I don't want to trouble you-'
'It's no trouble at all.' Abeline interrupted gently as she stood. 'Come on, let's get you home.'
