This is my take on how the rescue should have taken placeTrey didn't even let Stella give him a report on Colton's condition. That was information that he needed.

Oh well... Television drama

Enjoy 😊

Night fell, bringing with it a sheer drop in temperature. Maddie shivered as she sat next to Colton, the little light her phone's flashlight shone barely able to compete with the darkness surrounding them. It was cold, so cold, and it was dark.

'M-Maddie?'

She turned back to Colton, attempting to smile as she stroked back his locks off his bloodied forehead. 'I'm here.'

'You're shivering.'

'I'm okay. A little cold doesn't bother me.'

'Don't be stubborn.' He lifted one side of the blanket wearily, inviting her to join him. 'Come on.'

After a moment, Maddie relented and laid down beside him, tucking the thermal blanket around her back. 'Thanks...' She said softly.

'What are you thinking about?' Colton questioned after a time.

'I'm thinking that after this, me and heights are still not going to get along.'

He chuckled a little at that. 'What? You scared?'

'A little.' Maddie finally admitted. 'Been scared of the dark too for as long as I can remember.' The sound of an owl hooting in the distance sent shivers running up her spine and she reached for her phone, bringing the light over closer. 'I'm sorry. You're the one who's hurt and here I am complaining about being scared of the dark.'

'No, no, it's okay. I'm a little scared too but we're gonna be okay.'

She smiled a little at Colton's attempt to reassure her. 'How are you feeling?'

'Hanging in here. Little better now that the sun's down, light's not hurting my eyes.'

Silence fell again, Maddie looking up at the stars through the canopy of trees above them. 'There's the North star.' She pointed out after a time. 'Dad taught me how to use the stars to find my way if I ever got lost. He told me that if I get lost, look up to the stars. They'll guide the way back home.'

'Maybe you could teach me that sometime.'

'Maybe when we're not stranded on a mountain ledge.'

'Definitely.'

More silence.

After a short while, Maddie crawled out from beneath the blanket once more, tucking it back around Colton.

'Where are you going?' He questioned.

'Nowhere. The ground just isn't very comfortable.'

'Tell me about it.'

'I know.' She replied softly. 'They're on their way. Just a little while longer, okay?'

Colton looked up at her as she looked around them again, a coyote calling out somewhere in the darkness. 'Most memorable first date ever.'

Maddie chuckled a little at that, turning back to her boy friend. 'I think your memory is going to be a little spotty on this one.'

In the distance, the sound of a helicopter could be heard.

'You hear that?' She asked, looking around to see if she could spot the helicopter's lights.

'Yeah, I hear it. They sure took their time in coming.'

Maddie laughed softly as she picked up her phone again, using the flash light to signal an SOS sequence to help the pilot find them. After a moment the helicopter came into view, both of them blinking in the bright searchlight as they were found. As the helicopter hovered overhead, someone came abseiling down to them and after a moment, she recognized who it was. 'Uncle Trey!'

'Maddie!' Un-clipping his harness from the rope he ran over to them, Maddie throwing her arms around him when he reached her. 'Oh, Maddie... Are you okay?'

'I'm okay. Colton took a bad fall.' Trey let her go, turning to assess Colton's condition. 'He's been in and out of consciousness, I think he might have hurt his neck so I've tried to keep him as still as possible. He's thrown up a couple times too.' Trey nodded and Maddie lingered back, watching as Trey continued to look Colton over.

'We're gonna need a stretcher and neck brace down here.' Trey reported through his headset radio once he had finished, turning to Maddie as the others in the helicopter got it ready. 'Maddie, I'm gonna need you to help me get him onto the stretcher, okay?'

Maddie nodded, glancing up as the rescue stretcher was sent down. When it was set down beside them Trey stood and brought it over, setting it down beside Colton. Taking the neck brace off the stretcher first he replaced the makeshift one Maddie had made with the proper one then looked back at the girl. 'We're gonna put you on the stretcher now, Colton. Maddie, on the count of three, I'm going to roll him over and I need you to place the stretcher beneath him. Okay?'

Maddie nodded, getting herself and the stretcher into position.

'Ready?'

'Ready.'

'Three, two, one.'

Trey counted down, Maddie slipping the stretcher in beneath Colton as Trey turned him onto his side then once it was in position, Trey gently laid Colton down again. 'You okay son?'

'I'm good.' Colton replied, looking up at Maddie. 'Guess your first aid training did come in handy.'

She chuckled a little at that as Trey placed the thermal blanket on him once more then fasted the straps to hold him to the stretcher. Once that had been done they were ready for him to be moved. 'Patient's secured!' Trey reported over the radio. 'Pull him up!'

Maddie and Trey watched as Colton was taken up into the helicopter then Trey turned back to the girl. 'Your turn Maddie.'

'Guess I'm really going to be getting over my fear of heights today.' She remarked as Trey took a harness off his belt and began fastening it around her. 'Never ridden in a helicopter before.'

'You'll be just fine Maddie. The pilot is one of the best.' With her ready he waited for the rope to be thrown down again then clipped it to her harness. 'Hold on okay?'

'Okay.'

'Patient two secured.' Trey reported again. 'Pull her up.'

Maddie closed her eyes as she felt herself being lifted up, holding on tight to the rope even though her hands were screaming in pain. It felt like an eternity before she felt the welcome hands of the rescue team pulling her into the helicopter and upon opening her eyes she saw it was Cassie helping her. 'Cassie.'

'Hey Little Walker.' She replied, holding her tight as Steve unfastened the rope from her harness to send back down for Trey. 'Heard you got yourself in a spot of bother.'

'You can say that again.' Maddie shouted back over the sound of the helicopter, Cassie pulling her onto her lap for the flight. 'Am I glad to see you guys.' She looked down at Colton lying on the stretcher secured to the floor. He looked up at her, attempting a smile as Trey was brought into the helicopter.

'Ready to return to base.' Steve reported to the pilots once they were ready in the back. 'Let's get out of here before this storm hits.'

'You got it, Chief.' Angela replied.

Oh boy... Maddie shuddered as she felt the helicopter begin to move and buried her face into Cassie's shoulder, thankful that she was holding her tight. She was scared, more of being in the helicopter then she had been on the mountain. On the mountain she had been able to control her fear being occupied with caring for Colton. Here though, it was all too much and too overwhelming. She couldn't hold back anymore, tears running down her cheeks as she began to shake.

Vaguely she was aware of someone tucking a blanket in tight around her then after a short time, Trey began checking her vitals. She didn't pay much attention to what was happening, her eyes scrunched tightly shut as she tried not to enter a full blown panic attack. Cassie was saying something but over the noise of the helicopter, she couldn't hear her.

The flight seemed to last forever but finally, Maddie felt the helicopter beginning to go down. As the engine was shut off and the whirling of the blades began to slow she cautiously opened an eye. They had arrived at the base, the crew and Trey helping prepare Colton to be moved by ambulance to the hospital. Removing her helmet, Cassie placed it aside, smiling at Maddie. 'How was it?'

'I-I'm n-never-never ever flying in-in a helicopter again.'

'Oh honey, it's not that bad. You know, this is my first time flying too.' Cassie reassured her gently. 'It's okay.' She wiped the tears off her cheeks. 'You're safe now.'

'Dad... I want my Dad.'

'We'll see if he's out there waiting for you in a moment, okay?'

Maddie nodded, looking over as Colton was unloaded from the helicopter and transferred onto the waiting ambulance stretcher. He managed a lazy wave to her, Maddie smiling at him before he was taken across to the waiting ambulance. His mom was there too as he was loaded up and the paramedics invited her to go along with them. After she had climbed in as well the ambulance headed off, Trey climbing back into the helicopter to get her as she watched them leave.

'You okay Maddie?' Trey questioned as he knelt down in front of her. 'What happened to your hands?'

'I-I burnt them on the rope climbing down to Colton.' She replied, looking in the direction the ambulance had taken. 'Colton... He's gonna be okay, right?'

'Yeah, I... I think so. Because of what you did. You took good care of him.' He gently turned her arm over to look at the bloodied gash in her arm then shook his head. 'You should have told me you were hurt too.'

'I-I was more worried about Colton.' Maddie said, winching as she drew her arm back, holding it against her chest. 'I didn't take much notice of myself.'

Trey sighed, then smiled. 'I wouldn't expect any less, Little Walker. You've always had a habit of putting others ahead of yourself.'

Cassie, seeing Maddie's wounds, looked up at Trey. 'She gonna need checking out at the hospital too?'

He nodded. 'Think it's best if you do.'

'No, no, I'm fine. It's just a scratch-'

'You are as stubborn as your father.' Cassie interrupted with a chuckle. 'No argument.'

Maddie looked at Trey then back at Cassie and sighed. 'No ambulance, alright? Gramps and Mawline can take me into the ER.'

'Deal.' Trey agreed, gently picking her up from Cassie's lap. The rest of the crew were packing up from the call out as he climbed out of the helicopter with her, Cassie joining them.

Seeing Maddie, the Walker family ran over to her.

'I'm fine.' Maddie assured Abeline, her grandmother being the first one to reach her. 'I'm just... I'm really sorry about all this.'

'Oh, it's fine sweetie.' Abeline replied, tucking her hair back behind her ear. 'We just... We're just glad and happy that you're okay.'

'Trey, Cassie-' Bonham spoke up. 'Thank you. We'll take it from here.'

'Alright.' Trey handed Maddie over to her grandfather, the girl still wrapped up in one of the blankets from the helicopter. 'I've looked her over but she needs to be seen to at the ER. She's got a few wounds that need attention and they can give her a thorough examination.'

Bonham nodded, Maddie resting her head against his shoulder. 'We'll take her there now. Please thank the rest of the rescue crew for us.'

Trey nodded. 'Will do.'

'Grampa...' Maddie started softly as he carried her over to their waiting vehicle, her grandmother, uncle and siblings hurrying alongside them. 'Where's Dad?'

Maddie lay waiting on a hospital bed in the ER, watching the second hand on the clock across the walk ticking slowly by while the impending storm raged outside. Liam had just stepped out of the room to grab himself a coffee, having offered to stay with her so his parents could get her siblings home and the horses back to the stables. 9:48 the clock read, her eyes still following the ticking of the second hand as it went around the face once more.

So far yet, she hadn't heard anything about how Colton was doing. Looking down at her phone on the bed beside her she checked again to see if there had been any messages come through yet from either Denise or Dan. Nothing. She sighed, placing her phone down once more and resigned herself to watching the ticking clock. She'd already been here for an hour, a couple nurses having taken her vitals and dressed her hands and her arm when she arrived and confirmed that a doctor would need to see to her. The cut on her arm would require stitches and now that the situation was over, the guilt that she had cut herself again began to sink in.

What was done though was done. She couldn't change the outcome of the situation now. With a sigh she rested her head back on her pillow, still watching the ticking clock.

It was proving to be a very long night.

Hearing footsteps approaching the door she looked over, relief flooding through her as Cordell opened the door. 'Dad!'

'Baby girl.' Cordell hurried over to her, taking her in his arms. 'Oh honey... I came as soon as I heard. Are-are you okay?'

'I'm okay.' She held him tight as she closed her eyes, breathing in his presence. 'Dad... Dad, I-I was so scared...'

'Ssssh... I know you were...' He began rubbing her back gently, pressing a kiss to her head. 'It's okay. It's okay sweetheart.' Maddie started sobbing softly as he held her. 'I'm here now. You're safe. It's okay.' He held her, resting his cheek against her head. When he had finally been able to check his phone it had been inundated with messages from his family as they tried to get in contact with him to tell him what had happened. His day hadn't gone any better, what should have been an easy and routine thing had turned into a shooting match leaving him and Captain James hiding in the brush for hours from their attackers. Here, now, he forgot all that, choosing instead to focus on his daughter as he held her close. 'It's okay pumpkin... Let it all out.'

Liam returned with his coffee in hand, Cordell looking over for a moment as he slipped into the room. Looking down at his niece his heart went out to her. She'd had one Hell of a day.

Finally, Maddie managed to gain control of herself as her sobs and sniffles finally faded away. 'S-sorry.' She apologized softly, her father still holding her close. 'I-I'm sorry-'

'Hey, hey, baby girl, baby girl-' Cordell interrupted as he let her go and lent down to look her in the eyes. 'It's okay. No need for apologizing. It's okay.' He gently brushed a couple tears from her cheeks with his thumb. 'You don't have to apologize.'

After a moment, she nodded while swallowing back the persistent lump in her throat.

He turned to Liam, his brother standing back a little distance, cup of coffee in his hand. 'Stella, August, they okay? Where-where are they?'

'Mom and Dad took them home.' Liam replied, holding out the mug to his brother. 'Here.'

'Isn't it for you?'

'You look like you need it more.' He told him. 'I can go get another.' Cordell nodded and took the coffee, taking a sip as he continued. 'You'll be real proud of Stella, she handled herself well out there today.' Liam looked over at Maddie. 'You both did.'

'Dakota...' Maddie said after a moment, having completely forgotten about her mare until now. 'She okay?'

He nodded. 'Dad's taken both the horses back to the stables. Elizabeth is looking after them.'

Hearing that, she sighed with relief. 'Thank goodness they're okay.'

After another sip, Cordell took a seat in the chair beside Maddie's bed, his brother bringing over another one for himself. 'Maddie, what happened?' He questioned, motioning to the bandages her hands were wrapped in.

'Rope burn.' She replied softly. 'Colton went over the edge of a cliff... I had to get down to him.'

Cordell looked at Liam, his brother nodding slightly to confirm what Maddie said to be true. 'He okay?'

'We don't know yet, haven't heard how he is.' Liam answered. 'The doctors have looked Maddie over, apart from the rope burn and some bruising, she's okay. She's got a nasty cut on her arm though-' He motioned to her left arm that was sporting a nice bandage and his brother looked over at it. 'It's gonna need stitches. We're just waiting on that then they'll discharge her.'

Looking at his daughter, Maddie dropped her head. 'Maddie?'

'I-I'm sorry...' She apologized again softly. 'I know I shouldn't cut but I couldn't call for help and I had to let someone know somehow we weren't okay-' She was on the verge of crying again as she tried to explain her actions, terrified that her father was going to be cross with her for cutting herself. 'I-I didn't mean to-I-I-'

'Maddie...' Cordell quickly placed the coffee aside on the bedside table, taking her in his arms again. 'Ssssh... Honey, it's okay.'

'I-I'm sorry-'

'It's okay.' He reassured her again gently. 'It was a tough situation, I know. I know.' She nodded at that and he kissed her head before continuing. 'I'm proud of you.'

A knock sounded on the door, the three of them looking up at the interruption. 'Sorry...' Dan started as he walked into the room. 'I asked the nurse at the front desk if it was okay to come see you-' Maddie wiped her cheeks quickly as he came over to her bed, Cordell taking his seat once more. 'Colton ah, he-he has a concussion. Couple bruised ribs, whiplash. They're gonna keep him overnight for observation but they say he'll be just fine. Just ah... Just thought you might like to know how he's doing.'

Swallowing the lump in her throat she nodded, struggling to keep her voice even as she replied. 'Thank you for letting me know.'

Dan nodded, awkward silence falling. 'Maddie... What you did for Colton... Thank you. Think we avoided the worst case scenario there.'

She nodded again, not trusting herself to speak.

'Well... I should-I should go-'

'Dan, wait.' Liam stopped him as he started to the door, Dan turning back to him. 'Whatever's gone on between us, you came through for us today. Thank you for what you did for Augie.'

Dan shrugged. 'You'd have done the same for Colt.'

Liam nodded as Dan left, taking a deep breath after he had gone before turning back to his niece and his brother.

'What did Dan mean about Augie?' Cordell wondered out loud. 'What happened?'

'August went looking for Stella and Maddie when they didn't show up at the meeting place. Dan fished him out of the river when he slipped trying to cross it.'

He raised his eyebrows at that, looking back at his daughter. Maddie and Colton, August, him and James both almost being killed in the shootout... 'Seems like we all have one hell of a day.'

'Yeah...' She replied softly. 'I'm just glad we're all still alive.'

'Sounds like your niece and nephew had one hell of a time yesterday.' Ben remarked to Liam as they shared a drink at the Side Step late Sunday night. 'Glad they're alright.'

'Yeah, yeah, me too.' Liam agreed. 'Who'd have thought Dan Miller would end up a hero...' He chuckled at that. 'And after me having a go at him yesterday morning about the race too.'

'Any luck there?'

He shook his head. 'Dan and Denise, they're both denying it. I know though-I know they interfered. I can feel it...' His voice trailed off. 'Proving it though...' He shrugged and sighed, helping himself to another drink. 'That's another thing.'

'William-' A voice rang out, Bonham's voice as he and Abeline walked into the bar. 'You here?' Seeing him sitting with Cassie's brother he held back a beat. 'Sorry, I didn't mean to interrupt. Ben, how are you? Good to see you again.'

Ben nodded. 'The pleasure's mine.'

'Liam, uh, Dan came by the house, and he, well, he's on his way here. He wanted to talk to you-us.'

Liam nodded, turning to Ben. 'Yeah, uh, I'm-I'm so sorry. Just two seconds. I...' He walked around to where his father was, speaking below his breath. 'You know, Dad, just saying... A knock might have been helpful.'

'Well, when you want privacy, you might want to pick someplace a little more intimate then your brother's bar.' He pointed out, Abeline chuckling at that. 'Is this how you treat your dates?'

Liam didn't get to reply for the door opened once more and they turned as Dan Miller walked in. 'Dan... What's this about?'

Dan was silent for a moment, taking a deep breath before he replied. 'Denise threw the race. She uh... She-she cut the cinch, gave the horses moldy feed. You were right, Liam.'

'Dan,' Abeline stepped forward. 'are you saying-'

'I'm just here to help you guys get your home back. I'm starting to think we're the bad guys here, and I don't want to be on this side anymore.'

Silence fell for a long moment then Bonham went to him, holding out his hand. 'Let's have a drink.'

Dan took the hand offered him and nodded, the four of them heading over to the bar a moment later...