'So you see…' Maddie finished in conclusion as she showed Elizabeth the new feeding regime she'd written up for Diablo. 'With this new feeding schedule he'll be able to eat all day but at the same time what he'll be eating won't make him hot. Adjusting his food is the first step at getting him calmed down.'

Elizabeth nodded in understanding, reading over the chart Maddie had handed to her. 'But won't him being off his supplements make him loose condition?'

She shook her head. 'Everything he needs is included in this new diet. Swapping out the alfalfa for a grass hay mix and increasing that to account for taking him off the hard feed, he'll be just fine. Trust me.'

'Alright…' She let out an unconvinced sigh, handing the chart back to Maddie. 'What's next?'

'Letting him be a horse.' The folders went back onto the shelf in the feed room and she hung the adjusted diet up on the wall then they headed back out into the stables. 'When's the last time that Diablo was allowed to have turn out time and graze?'

Elizabeth thought for a moment then shrugged. 'Um…. For as long as I can remember his routine has been the same. I don't think he's ever had turn out. He can't. If he has turn out time he might get hurt.'

'Every horse needs to have time to just be a horse, no matter what kind of work they do.' Maddie replied, wheeling herself down the aisle back towards Diablo's stall. The stallion heard them coming and once again began to cause a ruckus, the two of them stopping across from his stall. 'Look at him, Elizabeth.' She said softly as the stallion began circling his stall again. 'Does he look happy?'

She shook her head.

'We have to think about this from his point of view.' She continued. 'Think about it. Since he was broken in he's been kept in this kind of environment. While he can see Buster across from him, what other interaction does he have with other horses?'

'None at all.'

Maddie nodded. 'If you were in his place, how do you think you would feel?'

Elizabeth let out a long sigh. 'I would hate it too.'

'Exactly. He's acting out in an attempt to try to communicate with us.' The stallion stopped for a brief moment and stood watching them then kept on walking around his stall. 'There is so much to his behavior, think of it in layers. We have to start at the top and work down to the root cause. Already we have identified one contributing factor, his feed. What do you think another one might be?'

'Being kept isolated.' She replied after thinking about it for a moment. 'I've never really thought about it before… I mean, he's a stallion. Stallion's are always kept by themselves. They're dangerous.'

Maddie shook her head. 'That's a misconception. Stallions can be unpredictable, yes, but they shouldn't be kept isolated. They still need interaction with other horses. Take mustang herds for example. A stallion will be in charge of a band of mares and helps to raise the foals. Stallions without a herd form bachelor herds with other stallion's. It's rare to see a stallion on his own for an extended period of time. It's not natural. They need interaction with other horses.'

'I guess that makes sense.' Elizabeth finally replied after a moment as she began to see what Maddie was trying to tell her. For the first time she was looking at things from her horse's perspective and it was dawning on her just how miserable his existence really was. 'But this has been how Nan has always had her stallions. It's just the way it is.'

'But that way is causing stress on each of these horses. Look around you-' She motioned to the other horses in their stalls. 'Do any of these stallions and colts seem happy?'

After a moment, Elizabeth shook her head again.

'Alright.' Her point made, she turned back to the girl. 'Come, there's something else I want you to see.'

Together the two of them left the stallion barn and Maddie led the way back over to the main building where her horses were stabled. Dakota was still in her stall, nibbling away at her hay net as they walked up and Maddie stopped her chair in front of the door. 'Take a moment to look at Dakota and think about how she looks compared to Diablo.'

Elizabeth took a moment to read the mare's body language then looked at Maddie. 'She seems calm. Content. Relaxed.'

Maddie nodded, taking the mare's halter and lead rope off the hook beside the door. 'Would you mind catching her?'

'Oh, I don't know…'

'It's alright.' She assured her, seeing her hesitation. 'Dakota is the gentlest horse I know. She'll let you catch her without problem.' Elizabeth looked at the halter and lead rope she was holding out to her then after a moment, took it. 'Do you know how to catch a horse?'

'It's been so long since I've had to.' She replied as she entered the stall, Dakota turning from her hay net to face her. 'I've never had to care for Diablo, the grooms do everything. All I have to do is turn up and ride.'

'A relationship with a horse is ten percent riding, ninety percent everything else.' Maddie explained while watching Elizabeth halter her mare. 'If you want a relationship with Diablo, from now on, you need to do absolutely everything for him. No having other people doing it. Mucking, grooming, everything.'

Elizabeth nodded. 'Guess I have a lot to learn…' She said dejectedly. 'You want me to bring her out?'

'Yes. If you can finish off her grooming for me, once we're done with that, we'll go take her down to join Bel and Hope.' She moved back from the doorway to let Elizabeth lead the mare through then after Dakota had been tied up, wheeled back up to the mare's side. 'Grab the grooming kit, let's start with what each thing is used for.'

With a sigh she picked up the grooming kit and unzipped the bag. 'I feel like Rose being taught by Mika.'

Maddie chuckled softly at that. 'You been watching their lessons?'

'I've seen Mika a couple times working with her.' She pulled out the largest brush. 'Dandy brush?'

'Correct.' She said with a smile. 'And don't feel bad Elizabeth, everyone has to start somewhere. Take the dandy brush and the curry comb and begin brushing Dakota.'

Elizabeth did as she was instructed, Maddie giving her a couple more tips before she started to get the hang of it. After a time she looked back down at the girl, Maddie sitting beside Dakota's head and running a hand up the mare's forehead. 'Why are you doing this all for me?' She questioned. 'Why are you taking the time to show me all this?'

'To help Diablo.' Maddie replied, glancing back up at her. 'But to help you too.'

'But I don't get it… I've always been so mean towards you and yet… here you are.'

Letting out a long breath she lent back in her chair. 'Elizabeth, can I be blunt?'

She nodded.

'I'm not doing this because I like you. I'm doing this for Diablo.'

'Well… That's putting it bluntly.'

'I did say I was going to.'

Elizabeth finished brushing down the mare a moment later and returned the brushes to the grooming kit. 'How's this?'

'Fine. Good job.' Maddie complimented. 'Now untie her, we'll take her down to the pasture.'

She did so, the two of them heading out of the barn and down to paddocks. Elizabeth turned Dakota loose into the field, the mare trotting off to join Bel and Hope down the lower end of the pasture. Elizabeth locked the gate after herself, hanging the halter and lead rope on the hook on the rail then turned back to Maddie. 'How is this going to help with Diablo?'

'You need to learn to be able to do these things with a quiet horse before we work with Diablo.' She replied, noticing Mika walking towards them leading a large chestnut mare. 'You need to get confidence back. I saw how you hesitated being with Dakota. Diablo feels your emotions. You need to be in charge of your own emotions before you help him.'

Elizabeth nodded, Mika turning the mare out into the pasture across from Maddie's horses. 'That makes sense…' Mika closed the gate and started over to them. 'I um… I better go… I've been given the week off school but I have assignments to get to. We'll talk later?'

'Of course.' Maddie replied. 'And don't worry Elizabeth-' She called out after her as the girl hurried away. 'We'll figure out how to help Diablo.'

Mika stopped beside Maddie, first looking down at her friend then at Elizabeth. 'So uh…. Want to fill me in on what's going on here?'

Maddie let out a little chuckle as they started back to the stables. 'It's a long story…. How about we grab a bite to eat and I'll fill you in, okay?'

'So Maddie-' Cordell questioned as he drove home with her later that afternoon. 'How was your day?'

Maddie let out an exhausted chuckle, her head resting back against her seat as she looked at her father. 'Tiring but good. I'm going to sleep well tonight.'

'I can see that. You look exhausted.'

'Oh gees, thanks Dad. No beating around the bush there.'

He laughed. 'Any time Maddie. Any time.' Coming to a red traffic light he slowed the truck to a stop then looked over at his daughter. 'How are you feeling? Mika mentioned you were a little upset this morning.'

'I-I'm okay Dad.' She replied after a moment. 'I just… The medication's really messing with me and it's just not helping since I'm already feeling bad enough about-well- everything.' She sighed heavily, looking back out the windscreen at the cars driving past. 'I'm just so frustrated. I hate being stuck in that chair.'

'I know honey. But Maddie… You've only been out of the hospital for a couple weeks. You-you can't expect to be back doing everything for yourself so soon. The doctors are happy with your progress. You're being too hard on yourself.'

'I-I don't really want to talk about it, okay?' She questioned, glancing back at him. 'Can we drop this for now?'

Cordell nodded after a moment.

'Thanks.'

The light turned green and he started the truck forward again. 'We-we talk about something else then? How was your day?'

'Okay, I guess. I'm helping Elizabeth with her horse.'

He frowned, trying to place the name. 'Nina's granddaughter?'

Maddie nodded. 'Yeah… The resident stable bully.'

'Why would you be helping her?'

She shrugged. 'Guess I felt sorry for her. Her grandma was going to have her horse put down because it attacked a couple of the grooms this week. I asked her to give me a chance to work with the horse-'

'Maddie.' Cordell interrupted, glancing at her for a moment. 'You're in no condition-'

'I'm not actually working with the horse Dad.' She cut him off. 'I'm not that dumb, I know I can't right now. What I'm doing is just helping Elizabeth to help him. It's nothing dangerous, promise.'

'Are you sure you're up to it?'

'Dad…' Maddie groaned. 'I'm sick of being treated like a child. I'm trying to get on with my life. I need to do this. At least while I'm trying to help someone else I can forget about my own crap life.' She stopped then sighed. 'Sorry. That was uncalled for.'

Silence fell, Cordell looking over at his daughter as Maddie stared out the window. He wished he could do or say something that would make her feel better but he knew there wasn't anything that could change the fact of what had happened. Not being able to walk or do things for herself had really taken its toll on Maddie. It had on all of them. It was best to just take it one day at a time. Things would get better he told himself. It would just take time.

Maddie turned back to her father as they pulled up outside their home, Cordell turning the truck off after they had parked. 'Dad… You aren't mad at me, are you?'

'Mad at you, sweetheart? No, no. No honey. Why?'

'For you and Geri breaking up.'

'G-geri and I breaking up?' He questioned in surprise. 'Maddie, why-why do you think I'd be mad at you for that? It-it's got nothing to do with you.'

'I thought… I thought maybe I had something to do with it.'

Cordell shook his head. 'No, no baby girl. Not at all.'

Maddie swallowed back the lump in her throat and nodded.

'Maddie…' He placed his hand on her shoulder, the teen looking at him after a moment. 'I promise you, you had nothing to do with it. Okay?'

She managed a small smile. 'Okay.'

'And I know you're struggling,' He continued. 'but baby girl, we're gonna get through this. You-you're gonna make it through this. You have… You have to let us in though… We-we can't help you if you don't tell us how you're feeling. Let us help you.'

Maddie nodded again.

Cordell smiled at her, tucking her hair back behind her ear. 'Let's go see what Mawline has ready for dinner, shall we?'

The next morning Elizabeth was there to meet her when Bonham dropped her off at the stables, the two of them having made plans the night before for what they were going to do for the day. After they had worked together to tend Maddies' horses and had taken them down for their turn-out time, they headed over to begin working with Diablo.

After explaining to Nina what she wanted to do with Diablo and getting the woman's approval, Maddie had the grooms take the stallion out into the stallion pasture. Moving the stallion was no easy feat and it took them a couple hours to set up the temporary fence panels to use as a race to move him out to the paddock but he was finally turned out. As soon as the stallion had gone into the pasture he had spent a good time galloping about before finally settling down to begin grazing.

Elizabeth turned to Maddie, the two girls having been watching the stallion while the grooms put the fence panels away. 'Now what?'

'Now we let him have the chance to settle down and decompress.' Maddie replied. 'He needs time to just be a horse and relax. Think of him being here as hitting the reset button. From here on we're going to treat him as having a clean slate, we're going to take him right back to the start. It won't hurt him to spend a few days here. He's got a shelter if it rains and plenty of food.'

'Are you sure this is going to work?'

'I hope so.' Maddie said with a sigh, looking up at Elizabeth. 'Let's leave him alone for a while. There's something else I want to show you.'

They left the pasture fence and made their way back up to the stallion barn, Maddie bringing her wheelchair to a stop outside Diablo's now empty stall. Now that the stallion was out they would be able to clean out his stall since it hadn't been cleaned the last few days. The mucking out lesson would have to wait until Elizabeth's wrist healed but that wasn't the reason she'd brought her back here for anyway.

'Go stand in his stall.' Maddie instructed her, Elizabeth raising an eyebrow at her. She replied to her expression with one of her own and after a moment Elizabeth walked into the stall.

'Now what?' She questioned as she stood in the center. 'What's the point of this?'

'Trying to make you understand and appreciate what Diablo has been going through the last six years.' Came Maddie's reply as she wheeled herself over closer to the stall and closed the door, locking it shut. 'To be able to really understand your horse you need to be able to see the world through his eyes.'

'Did you lock that door?'

'Yep. Don't worry-' She took a look at her watch. 'Feed time is in oh… about four hours. That's when you'll next have interaction and something to do. Until then, what have you got to do?'

Elizabeth let out a long sigh as she looked around the stall. Being on the inside of his stall really did put it into perspective. Three walls were made of solid concrete and lined with rubber matting, the front wall into the aisle having the door and solid metal bars from Diablo's chest height up. A metal manger and hay net were there, both empty, and a water bucket.

'Starting to understand now the point of this exercise?' Maddie questioned after a moment.

She nodded. 'Am I ever…' She turned around once more, the only light coming into the stall from the window way up high, again covered by metal bars. 'This is a jail.'

'And Diablo spends oh… About eighteen out of twenty-four hours a day staring at these four walls.'

Elizabeth shook her head as she turned back to Maddie, looking at her through the bars. 'How can I fix this?'

'Well, we've already made a start by turning him out for a few days.' She replied, unlocking the door to let Elizabeth out. 'But a lot more has to change.'

She nodded. 'I'm happy to do whatever it takes, I'm willing to give anything a try.'

Maddie sat in the grandstands later that afternoon, watching Mika working Dakota in the indoor arena. There were a few other horses being exercised along with her and a small riding lesson going on with a few of the older students that came to the center. As she watched Mika working with her horse a sadness came over her. How long would it be before she could ride again? Months? Maybe a couple years?

Ever since she'd learnt to ride there hardly had been a day that she hadn't ridden. Riding had become as natural to her as breathing was and she loved every moment she spent in the saddle. Now though, even that had been taken from her. She'd tried not to think about it the past couple weeks but sitting here, watching her friend riding her own horse, she couldn't ignore it any longer.

If she couldn't ride, was she really living?

She could put up with having to rely on people to help her, she could put up with being confined to this confounded chair - barely - but to not be able to ride…. The thought of it was breaking her heart.

Would she even live long enough to ride again?

Oh, yes, while the doctors were optimistic that her chances of surviving longer than they'd first thought had improved the odds were still not in her favor. There was the very real threat of the tumor coming back and if it did… Well… There wasn't much more they'd be able to do.

'Dakota's going well.' Mika exclaimed as she brought the mare to a halt by the fence near her friend, prompting Maddie from her thoughts. 'You even notice? You looked a million miles away.'

'Yeah, I saw you guys.' She replied with a smile, running her hand up her mare's face as Dakota lent over the fence to sniff her. 'And I wasn't quite a million miles away, just nine hundred ninety-nine thousand nine hundred and ninety-nine.'

Mika rolled her eyes. 'Funny Maddie. Very very funny.'

She grinned at her. 'I am, aren't I?'

'You just think you're funny.' She teased her then took a look at her watch. 'You be alright un-tacking Kota and grooming her? I need to get a ride in on Picasso. We've got our first show jumping competition this weekend.'

'You guys are going to compete?' Maddie questioned with surprise. 'When did that happen?'

'I thought I told you-'

'No, you sure didn't!' She replied, wheeling herself to the gate while Mika dismounted. 'Come on, spill the beans. When did you decide to start show jumping?'

'Since Sunday. Nina asked me to take up Elizabeth's place on the team until she can ride again.' Mika led the mare out and handed the reins to Maddie, another groom leading in a tacked up Picasso. 'You should come. It's over at Waco. We could make a day of it.'

Maddie shook her head. 'I don't think I'll be up to it. I'm already doing too much.'

'Alright, fair enough.' Mika placed her foot into the stirrup and mounted up. 'Guess I'll just have to tell you all about it when I get back.'

'Yeah…. I guess you will.'

Mika left to begin working her gelding and Maddie turned back to Dakota, her mare looking at her with those soft brown eyes as she rubbed her forehead. 'Come on darlin.' She said softly after a time with a sigh, looking longingly towards the arena where Mika was jumping her horse over a low oxer. 'Guess we better get you un-tacked and tucked into bed.'

'You've been quiet this evening.' Bonham remarked as he joined Maddie on the back porch later that night, bringing with him a blanket for his granddaughter. 'Thought you might be cold, it's getting chilly out here.'

Maddie smiled a little at him as she took the blanket and placed it around her. 'Yeah, just a little. Thanks for bringing this out.'

'You're welcome.' Bringing over a chair he set it down beside her wheelchair and sat down beside her. 'So, how's it going with Elizabeth and her horse?'

'We made a little progress today. I think she's beginning to understand why he's been misbehaving now. I did that exercise you did with me back when you first started teaching me about horses.'

A smile came to his lips as he chuckled softly. 'You locked her up in his stall?'

She nodded. 'Only for a few minutes. I think she's starting to think like Diablo now though. I told her what you told me. To work with a horse you have to think like a horse. That's what we're going to do.'

'So you're using your Grampa's advice to teach someone else huh?'

'Yep. I just hope that what we're doing is going to work or at least his behavior will improve enough for Nina to reconsider putting him down.' She let out a long sigh. 'We only have two weeks to undo eight years worth of problems.'

'Well-' He placed his hand on her shoulder. 'if anyone is going to be able to help that horse, it's you. You have such a way with them.' She smiled a little at that. 'I was watching you and Dakota this afternoon. What you two have… It's something real special.'

'You had it too, with Ace.'

Bonham nodded. 'Twenty-two years I had that horse. There'll never be another like him.' Silence fell for a time as they watched the setting sun, the stars beginning to appear in the darkening sky above. 'Maddie… Somethin bothering you?'

Maddie looked down at her hands, playing with a loose thread in Abeline's knitted blanket. 'I was watching Mika riding Dakota today…' She finally said after a long moment. 'Grampa, if I can't ride, I'm not really living.' She looked up at him sadly. 'I can handle the treatments, I can handle being stuck here in this chair and stuff but… I need to ride. Seeing Mika riding Dakota today-' She sniffled. 'it should be me riding her. Mika's been great and all looking after her for me while I can't but….' She shook her head.

'You want to be able to ride again.'

'And I know I have to be patient.' Maddie looked back at him. 'But how can I be patient when I don't know how much time I have left? Riding is what I love doing. What if I don't get the chance to ride again?'

Bonham placed his arm around her, Maddie resting her head against his shoulder. 'You'll be able to ride again, little one.'

'I hope so.' She sniffled. 'Mika's got her first show jumping competition this weekend, she invited me to go along but I said no. I feel bad for not going to support her but I don't think I could handle being there seeing everyone doing something I can't.'

'I'm sure Mika would understand-'

'How could she?' Maddie questioned, her voice cracking slightly. 'How could anyone understand what I'm going through? The medications they have me on are making me feel like crap, I feel like crying all the time and I'm just so tired of it all… I just want to be able to do something again. To be able to prove to myself I'm not completely broken.'

Bonham didn't know what to say and so didn't say anything, placing a kiss instead gently atop her head.

Maddie sniffled, wiping a couple tears from her eyes as she rested against her Grampa, the last rays of the sun sinking down beyond the horizon. 'I'm sorry…' She apologized after a moment. 'I just… I can't seem to keep it together anymore.'

'It's okay, you don't have to apologize. I know that stuff's messing with you.'

'Sure doesn't feel great at all. Now I get what you've been going through these past months.' At a soft breeze passing by she began to shiver. 'Think it's time for me to go inside. Getting too cold out here.'

Bonham nodded as she sat back up properly in her chair. 'I think I might stay out here for a little while. You go on though.'

'Okay. You'll come say goodnight, won't you?'

'Of course honey. I'll be in soon.'

Maddie wheeled herself away and the sound of the back door closing told him she'd gone back inside. After she'd left he sighed, rubbing a hand wearily across his face. Seeing what Maddie was dealing with broke his heart. She was trying so hard but she was only human. She wanted so desperately to be able to get on with her life, for things to get back to normal. Her saying she wasn't living if she couldn't ride was how he felt about ranching. He understood. The ranch had been his whole life and now that had been taken from him he didn't know what to do or where to turn next.

As he sat thinking things over, a thought came to mind. While he mightn't be able to fix everything, there was something he could do to make one little girls' wish come true.

A light was still on in the garden shed late into the night, long after everyone else had gone to bed. Bonham sat at his makeshift leather table amongst stacks of boxes still waiting to be unpacked, working away at a little project while a radio was playing some country song softly in the background.

The door opened, Abeline closing it again behind herself. 'It's late, everyone else is already in bed.' She said as walked over to her husband, taking a seat on the end of the table. 'You coming in?'

'In a bit.' He replied. 'Got to get this finished.'

She looked at the saddle he had in front of him, recognizing it to be the one that they had made together for Maddie for her Christmas present last year. 'What are you working on?' She wondered out loud, seeing that he seemed to be making some modifications of some sort.

'Fixing up Maddie's saddle so she can ride again.' He handed her the iPad he'd borrowed to do some research, showing her the diagram he was taking ideas from. 'Maddie was saying earlier how her not being able to ride is like she's not living and it got me thinking.' She took the iPad and looked at the diagram for a moment then back at what he was working on. 'Mightn't be able to fix everything but if this works… Well… At least she'll be able to ride again.'

Abeline smiled at him. 'Maddie is going to be so happy about this.'

'I hope so.' He chuckled, taking a look at the time as she handed him back the iPad. 'So far I've been working on it for almost five hours and still not finished.'

'Why don't you come to bed and finish it off in the morning?'

Bonham shook his head. 'I want it done tonight so I can take Maddie down to the stables in the morning and let her ride. That girl's been through so much already… Least being able to ride again might help her feel better.'

Seeing that her husband wasn't going to be persuaded from his task Abeline brought over a second chair.

'No sense in both of us staying up.' He remarked, glancing over at her as she sat down.

'I want to help.' She stated. 'Besides, I wouldn't be getting much sleep anyway.'

'That whole thing with Geri still bothering you?'

'I'd be lying if I said no.' Abeline replied as she picked up a leather knife, beginning to trim down the leather strap that Bonham handed her. 'I'd hoped that maybe by speaking to her I could make her understand where I was coming from in not telling Gale.' She sighed softly. 'I never meant to hurt her.'

'Geraldine is dealing with a lot right now.' Bonham reminded her. 'She's got to deal with it in her own way and in her own time.'

'I know. It's just… With everything else going on…' She sighed again, shaking her head.

Bonham placed his tools down for a moment, placing his hand on top of hers. 'We're still together. All of us. That's what really matters. Nothing else. We still have each other.'

Abeline nodded then looked up at him. 'I'm just so tired of it all, Bon. I keep asking why Maddie's going through what she's going through without finding any answers. It hurts seeing my family hurting and there being nothing I can do about it.'

Her voice broke as she tried to hold herself together and he hesitated for a moment then took her into his arms. 'Things'll work out in time Abby…' He said softly. 'We just gotta make it through the hard times to enjoy the good.'

She nodded again, swallowing back the rising lump in her throat. 'It's just hard to believe that sometimes.'

'I know.' Bonham gently wiped away a couple tears rolling down her cheeks then rested his chin atop her head. 'I know.'

'Something smells good.' Maddie exclaimed as Liam carried her downstairs the next morning, her uncle gently placing her in her wheelchair waiting at the bottom of the stairs. 'Did you make sticky buns Mawline?'

'Mmhmm.' She replied, placing the bacon from one of the pans onto a plate. 'Hey Stella, Augie-' She called out as Bonham came inside through the back door. 'Breakfast's ready, you two. You're going to be late.'

'Oh, these look good….' Maddie said with a grin as she wheeled herself over to the island bench. 'Can I just-'

'Uh ah.' Abeline tapped her hand lightly as her granddaughter tried to take one from the bowl. 'You can wait just a minute.'

'Pwease?' She begged with a cute puppy-eyed expression. 'Pretty pretty pwease?'

Grabbing himself a cup of coffee Bonham chuckled at her antics. 'Someone's got puppy eyes this morning.' He remarked to Abeline, distracting her for a moment.

Maddie, taking full advantage of his distraction, helped herself to a bun.

'Maddie-'

She grinned at her then giggled as Bonham stole some bacon from the plate.

'Bon!' Abeline exclaimed with an exasperated sigh. 'I do declare you are as bad as your granddaughter. Out of the kitchen, both of you.' They left and she shook her head, a smile on her lips as the two of them settled down at the table. Stella and August joined them a moment later as did Liam and as she was taking the food over to the table, Cordell finally emerged.

'Morning y'all.' Cordell greeted, giving each of his kids a quick hug and kiss. 'Breakfast looks great Mama-' He helped himself to some bacon off Stella's plate. 'But Cassie called, I've ah-I've got to get. Maddie, sorry honey but I won't be able to drop you off.'

'Bon and I can take her to the stables.' Abeline offered, quickly making him a scrambled egg and bacon sandwich for him to take. 'Here.'

'Thanks Mama. See you all tonight.'

Cordell left, a little conversation being exchanged around the table then Stella and August left to head to school. Liam had things to do as well then finally it was just Maddie left sitting at the table with her grandparents. 'Well…' She yawned softly as she picked away at what was left on her plate. 'Guess I better go feed Bubbles before we go.'

'Are you sure you don't want more to eat?' Abeline questioned. 'You haven't eaten much this morning.'

'I've had enough for now. Could you pack me some buns for a snack?'

'Sure sweetheart.'

'Thanks.' Maddie pushed herself back from the table, snapping her fingers to catch her cat's attention. 'Come on Bubbles, breakfast.'

The cat raced up the hallway ahead of her and was waiting beside her food bowl as she came into the laundry. After filling the bowl and placing the food container back on the shelf she sat back to watch her cat eat. Bubbles dug into her meal with gusto, a little smile coming to her lips as she watched her. Her cat was one of the only good things about her life these days. Every morning before she would get up her cat would come snuggle with her for a while. It always made her feel a little better.

Another yawn escaped her and she sighed softly. She hadn't gotten much sleep the night before, being awakened by a dream in the early hours of the morning. It had been a weird dream, it was like she'd had it before. She'd been in a strange place but she wasn't the only one. Her mom had been there. Emily too and a young girl that seemed familiar but she couldn't quite figure out from where or how she knew her.

It had come to her after a time that the dream reminded her of the one she'd had while she'd been in the coma. The young girl had been called Amber but that was all she could remember about her. Her memory of that dream while she'd been in the coma was foggy at best but she could remember clearly how the girl had looked. Who was she though? She couldn't figure out an answer to that question….

'Maddie?'

'In here.' She replied to Bonham, interrupted from her thoughts as he appeared in the doorway a moment later.

'I wanted to show you something. Got a minute?'

'Yeah, sure.' She nodded, following him back out into the living room. Her jaw dropped as she saw her saddle sitting on a stand in the middle of the floor but with extra straps. She looked up at Bonham and Abeline hopefully then back at her saddle. 'Is that… Is that what I think it is?'

'Abby and I fixed it up for you last night.' Bonham explained as Maddie wheeled herself up to the saddle and ran a hand over the leather. 'It might need a few adjustments but you should be able to ride again with how we've fixed it up. Already cleared it with your father too.'

Tears came to her eyes as she looked up at them. 'Thank you.' Wheeling herself back across to where they stood she gave both of them a hug. 'Thank you so much.'

He smiled as Maddie pulled away from him and he placed his hand on her shoulder. 'Why don't we go give it a try?'

Maddie could hardly contain her excitement as she watched Bonham tacking up Dakota a short time later, so unbelievably happy at the thought of being able to ride again. The thought of adding a seat belt and extra straps to her saddle to hold her in place hadn't even crossed her mind but obviously her grandfather had been doing some thinking to come up with this as a solution.

'You guys are here early.' Mika commented as she came up, hay net for one of the other horses tucked under her arm. 'What have we got here?'

'Gramps and Mawline fixed this up for me so I can ride.' Maddie explained. 'They spent most of last night working on it to surprise me this morning.'

'Got the idea from an article in a magazine I read a while back.' Bonham replied, tightening up the cinch. 'We might need to fix it up a little but well…' He gave Dakota a pat on the shoulder before untying her. 'Time to give it a tryout.'

'Well, good luck. I'll catch you guys later. I've got a lot to get through today…' She started down the aisle once more. 'Be careful Maddie.'

'I will be.'

'Well-' Bonham looked down at Maddie. 'Ready to give it a try?'

She nodded. 'You bet.'

The two of them headed out of the barn and down to one of the round yards, Bonham stopping Dakota at the gate. Maddie gave the mare a pat as he double checked the cinch and took a deep breath. This was it. She was going to actually ride again for the first time since her surgery.

'You ready?'

Maddie nodded again and in one smooth motion he picked her up from her chair and placed her gently into the saddle. Her smile stretched from ear to ear as she settled into her saddle, running a hand down the mare's neck.

'How's it feel?'

'Great.' She lent down over Dakota's neck and gave her mare a hug. 'Thank you so much Grampa.'

Bonham smiled at her, his hand on her knee. 'You are more than welcome little one.' He told her, the long night he and Abeline had fixing the saddle up being well worth it for the joy written in her expression.

'So, we do these up like this?' Maddie questioned after a moment, tightening up one of the straps around her thigh.

'Yep, just like that. Make sure it's snug but not too tight.'

She nodded, adjusting the straps to what she thought would suffice.

'There. How's that?' He questioned once they had finished, placing her boot inside the stirrup. 'You feel secure?'

'And if all else fails, I've still got the horn to hold onto.' Maddie replied with a chuckle. 'Can I start now?'

Checking that everything was tight enough, he nodded. 'Just take it easy for now though. It's gonna feel a little weird since you can't control your legs.'

Maddie thought about it for a moment as she picked up the reins then looked back down at him. 'Could you lead me for a little bit?'

'Alright darlin.' He took hold of the reins at the bit. 'Come on Dakota, let's go.' Dakota stepped forward with him and the smile on Maddie's face grew as he led the mare around the round yard. With the mare still keeping pace beside his shoulder he looked back up to Maddie. 'How's it feel?'

'Oh Grampa…' She said as she lent down over Dakota's neck to give the mare a hug. 'Thank you. Thank you so much.'

Bonham brought the mare to a halt, smiling as he looked at his granddaughter. It was so good to see the sparkle of happiness in her eyes even if it were just for a fleeting moment. 'You are more then welcome, little one.'

After a short ride in the round yard and with Maddie begging profusely, Bonham agreed to take her out on the trails for a short ride. Borrowing one of the quiet lesson horses for him to ride, they headed out, Bonham ponying Dakota along beside his mount. Maddie was so happy to be out riding again and she savored every moment of the short ride.

Sitting there atop Dakota's back, Maddie felt alive again.

All too soon Bonham declared that it was time for them to head back, having seen that Maddie was beginning to tire. As they rode back into the yard they had to stop to let a car go by, Maddie turning to take a second look. 'Hey, I think that's Geri.'

Bonham looked around too as the car parked and nodded, recognizing the car to be Geri's. 'Sure looks like it.'

Dakota began to move forward again, impatient to get back to her hay net and Maddie brought her to a halt once more. 'Wonder what she's doing here…' She murmured out loud as Geri stepped out from the driver's side.
Bonham didn't reply and instead dismounted as Geri began walking towards them.

'Morning you two.' Geri started. 'Stopped by the house and Abby said you were here so thought I'd come see you. Didn't expect to see you riding again though Maddie, you're looking good up there.'

'Thanks.' She smiled. 'Grampa and Mawline spent last night fixing up my saddle for me. It's so great being able to ride again.'

'I bet.'

'What brings you by, Geralidine?' Bonham questioned as he started leading both horses back in the direction of the stables.

'Got something for Maddie.' She replied, Bonham giving the dapple gray to a stable hand on his way past then finally bringing Dakota to a halt outside her stall. 'Wanted to give it to her before I leave.'

'You going somewhere?' Maddie asked, undoing the straps from her legs.

'Just away for the week.'

She nodded, Bonham helping her down from her horse and back into her chair.

Geri handed her the gift bag she'd been carrying. 'I hope it fits.'

Maddie smiled as she pulled out a tee-shirt exactly like the one Geri had worn to the Ranger fair. 'Thank you.'

'You're welcome honey. There's something else too-' she continued, Maddie placing the shirt down on her lap before looking in the bag again. 'The photographer got in touch with me this week and sent through everything he had of your mom. I got them printed out for you.'

Opening up the small photo book that had been in the bag, she smiled again. The first picture was of her mom receiving an award of some kind and she ran her fingers over the plastic slip it was inside for a moment then looked back up at Geri. She didn't need words, Geri placing an arm around her shoulders as she hugged her.

After a moment, Geri pulled away and spoke again. 'Well, I best be going. Keep well Maddie.'

Maddie nodded, looking through the photos as Geri turned to speak to her grandfather. Her eyes began to water with tears a little but there was no pain accompanying them. She felt at peace seeing these photos of her mom for the first time.

As Geri left and Bonham began un-tacking her mare for her, Maddie could hear her mother's words in her mind.

'You have to let go and move forward. I will always be here watching over you. You will never be alone. You have a wonderful family. A new life. Let the past stay in the past.'

Let the past stay in the past.

Though the road ahead wasn't going to be easy it was time to move on.