Chapter 13

'Maddie, what in god's name are you doing up at this ridiculous hour?"'

Maddie stopped, cringhing as she turned back and saw her Dad standing in the doorway of his bedroom. 'I am so sorry Dad… I didn't mean to wake you.'

'Well. You did.' He looked her up and down, noticing that she was already dressed. Slung over her back was her cat carrying backpack. He frowned. 'You going somewhere?'

She swallowed as she nodded. 'The Walker ranch, I start work at seven each day.'

'It's only a quarter to six-'

'Dad, I know. I was going to make you breakfast and lunch before I head out. It takes me half an hour to ride to the ranch, and a good twenty minutes to get my mare ready for the ride.' She looked up at him, trying to read if he was going to get mad with her or not. 'I get up at five thirty every day, I'm sorry. I will try to be quieter so I don't disturb you.'

'Well, it's a little late for that.' He grumbled. 'I'm up now.'

'Sorry-'

'Just shut up and make me my coffee.'

She nodded, not wishing to make him more annoyed with her then he already was. Her father was notorious for being cranky if he hadn't had his morning coffee. 'I'll get the kettle on right away.'

His bedroom door was slammed shut as she walked away, the girl jumping at the noise. After a moment her heart had returned to its usual pace and she continued on her way into the kitchen. Bubbles was curled up, fast asleep, on the bed in her carrier as Maddie set the backpack down and set to work.

Ten minutes later her father stumbled into the kitchen, having dressed and readied himself for the day. 'Coffee done yet?'

'Mmhmm.' She replied, motioning to the mug on the table. 'And these eggs are almost finished too. Scrambled eggs on toast okay?'

'As long as they don't taste like rubber.' He took a sip of his coffee. 'Your coffee making is better than your cooking abilities. You can't really stuff up with pre-made coffee mix.'

'Your eggs won't be rubber, promise. Mrs. Walker has been teaching me how to do some cooking, I've become a lot better cook.'

'Yeah, we'll see.' He lent back in his chair, watching her at the stove. 'So, these Walkers. What's the deal with them?'

'What do you mean?'

'Well, since I got home, they're all you can talk about.'

'I've been working for them, that's all.' With the toast buttered and on the plate it was only the eggs left to go to finish off breakfast. 'They offered me a job in exchange for riding lessons, but Mr. Walker has been paying me as well. It's a good thing he has too-' She glanced back at him. 'The food you bought me ran out months ago.'

'Don't tell me you spent all that two hundred I gave you.'

'Uh, I had to when the owners came for the rent, not to mention the gas bill when they came to fill the tank up. Next time you have to go away Dad, can you please make sure that you have the rent and the utilities paid up?'

'Like I said, the job came up unexpected like.'

'I know that-' She brought the plate over, placing it in front of him and returned to the cupboard for the ketchup. 'But no phone calls? No messages-'

'Maddie.' He glared at her, the girl shutting up abruptly. 'I don't want to hear another word about it. I already told you what happened. You understand?'

'Yes sir.'

'Good-' He took a bite of the eggs then glanced back up at her. 'Still rubber.'

She sighed. 'I'm sorry Dad, I don't know what I did wrong-'

'Stop jabbering and get moving, you have a job to get to, don't you?'

'Yes sir.'

'And you better make sure you don't slack your duties around here because you've got a job.'

Maddie nodded. 'Understood sir. What will you be doing today?'

'I've got some job interviews and such. I expect you to be back here by four, you hear?'

She nodded again. 'I will be. Your lunch is in the fridge, it's not much. I haven't had a chance to-'

'Maddie, git.'

Quickly picking up the backpack with her kitten she hurried out the back door, her cheeks burning with humiliation. She had done exactly like Abeline had taught her and her father still had a problem with his breakfast… She sighed heavily as she walked into the barn, Skylar coming to the door to meet her. Spending a moment to speak with her she then set about preparing for her ride to the ranch.

The sun was just rising on the horizon as she rode into the ranch yard, tending to Skylar before heading into the ranch house. The family was preparing for breakfast as she walked in, Maddie placing her backpack with the kitten beside the door.

'Maddie, did you bring the kitten?' August questioned as he hurried over to her. 'Stella showed me the photo, so cute.'

Maddie chuckled, motioning down to the backpack near her feet.

'And she even has her own backpack!'

'Yeah, I needed some way of bringing her with me when I come over here for work. I don't think she would like being stuffed into a saddlebag.'

He crouched down in front of the backpack, tapping the plastic window. After a moment the kitten woke with a yawn, stretching before rubbing herself against the window. 'She is adorable.'

'Oh, you brought Bubbles-'

With the two Walker kids fawning over her kitten, Maddie soon forgot the events of the morning. While they waited for breakfast to be served she let the kitten out into the living room, on her harness and leash of course so she didn't get into any trouble.

'Alright you three.' Cordell spoke up as he came into the living room. 'Breakfast. Morning Maddie.'

'Morning sir.'

'Ah-' He spotted the kitten playing on the carpet and joined the kids, crouching down beside his daughter. 'And who is this?'

Maddie smiled as the Ranger gave the kitten a gentle rub beneath her chin. 'This is Bubbles, Dad came home yesterday and we adopted her from the vet clinic.'

Cordell hid a frown. 'Your Dad's home?'

She nodded. 'Yeah, only gave me a fifteen minute heads up too, I had to get your mom to finish off the jam I had been making.'

'Well, it's good that he's home. Sorry I couldn't find anything on him, I did look.'

Maddie shrugged. 'No big deal.'

'But uh, it is breakfast time, so why don't you put Bubbles back in her carrier. Stella, August, you can't be late for school.'

'Yes Dad, we know.' August replied as he got up. 'So Dad, when can Stella and I get a kitten?'

Cordell chuckled, the three of them walking into the dining room. 'Don't push your luck, you've already had a raise this week.'

'Yeah yeah.'

Bonham looked over as the rest of the family entered the room, Maddie with her kitten in her carrier. 'Good morning Maddie.'

'Morning sir.' She smiled, taking a seat. 'Anything out of the ordinary that needs to be done today?'

'There's a break in the south boundary fence, few of our cattle got onto the neighbors land last night. We'll head after breakfast, round up the strays and fix the fence. Bout time you learnt how to drive cattle.'

'Oh that sounds like fun.' Liam remarked, helping himself to some toast as his mother joined them at the table. The kitten's meowing made him glance down at the floor beside him. 'I see you have a little addition.'

'Mmmhmm. Had I known we were going to go round up cattle today, I would have left her home-'

'She's welcome to stay here with me.' Abeline offered as she handed Maddie a plate. 'I can keep an eye on her until you get back.'

She smiled. 'Thank you.'

'So-' Stella spoke up between bites of her breakfast. 'How long will your Dad be home for?'

'I ah, I don't know.' She helped herself to some jam for her toast. 'Depends on how he goes work wise but hopefully he won't have to go for a few months. Bubbles was kind of a peace offering since he had to be gone so long.'

'Now that he's back-' Bonham said as he finished off his coffee. 'Why don't you both come over for dinner tonight? I think we'd all like to meet our new neighbor.'

'Um… I can ask him.'

'Well, let us know what he says.' Abilene added. 'I've got a new pot roast recipe that is just asking to be made for a special occasion.'

'I'll text him after breakfast.' She replied, turning her attention to her meal as the family struck up conversation about the plans for the day. Oh boy… Already her stomach was turning at the thought of her father meeting the rest of the family but it had to happen sooner or later. I guess I can only ask, he'll probably say no anyway.


Bonham looked over at Maddie as the two of them rode to the southern boundary, the teen having been unusually quiet the whole morning. 'Something on your mind Maddie?'

'Hmm?'

'You don't seem too happy that your Dad is home.'

'Oh, no, no I am.' She replied quickly. 'It's just… he was gone for so long without contacting me then he just turns up again out of the blue.' She sighed, giving Skylar a pat as they rode up another hill. 'I'm just worried he's going to disappear again.'

'Have you spoken to him about how you're feelin?'

'No, I can't. I understand he has to go away for work, there's nothing I can do about that.'

'I think perhaps you need to talk with him, let him know how you feel.'

'I'll think about it.'

With the tone that she used, he could tell she considered the matter closed and didn't wish to discuss it anymore. So, it was time to change the subject. 'You looking forward to the rodeo next weekend?'

'Yeah, I'll have to try and get some more practice in between now and then if I want to get any better.'

'Third isn't bad considering you've only been to three-'

'Third isn't good enough. I need to be first.'

He frowned, wondering where that was coming from. 'Why the sudden urge to be the best?'

She shrugged. 'I don't know, guess I've just decided there's no point entering the arena if I'm not there to take first place.'

'Remember what I told you Maddie. It's not the place that counts but the experience gained by the participation.'

'Experience doesn't matter to my Dad, I want to prove to him that I can actually do something for a change.'

There was something in her voice that was different, something in her whole attitude that had changed. 'Maddie, are you sure things are alright with you and your Dad?'

Maddie straightened up. 'Yeah, of course they are.' Her phone vibrated with a message and as she pulled it from her pocket she saw her dad had messaged back. Let them know we'll attend dinner. It's about time I meet these new neighbors of ours. 'Dad says he's free tonight so we can attend dinner.'

'Oh good, Abeline will be pleased to hear that. She's been wanting to try that recipe out since she heard about it.'

Quickly she sent Abeline a message to let her know they accepted the invitation then put her phone away again. Her Dad's request came to mind, reminding her she needed to ask if she could get off work early. 'Um, Mr. Walker?'

'Yes?'

'Now that my Dad is home, I'm going to need to leave earlier some days. He wants me home to cook supper and such, I hope that won't be a problem.'

'What time does he want you back by?'

'Four, I'll have to leave at three-thirty to be back in time.'

'That'd be fine Maddie, you've been working pretty hard anyway. Getting off earlier will do you good.'

'Thank you sir, I appreciate it.'

'Don't mention it. Good hands are hard to come by. You've been doing a better job here than most men twice your age that I've had work over the years.' They came to the break in the fence and he took a look around but didn't see the cattle in sight. He sighed. 'Looks like those critters have traveled into the Grants's place further than I thought.'

'Is that a problem?' She questioned.

'Just means it'll take longer to round them up is all.'

'Well, let's not stand here talking about it, let's get to it then.'

Bonham smiled, urging his horse forward once more. 'I like your enthusiasm, Maddie girl.'