Cordell was right when he predicted that they were going to have a big week, for a crazy few days was exactly what they were going to get. In the aftermath of the fire and everything that came along with it the truth had finally come out and the Davidson's would be leaving Walker ranch.

They could finally go home.

The next couple of days passed by in a blur of packing and readying to move back to the ranch house. Maddie could hardly wait to be in her own room again. In her own bed. Without having to share a room with her sister anymore.

She couldn't wait to get a good night's sleep.

By Tuesday the Davidson's had removed all their belongings from the Walker ranch house and Wednesday went by in another blur of packing, moving and unpacking. Even with the help of the removalists and working late into the night they still weren't ready to move back in, deciding that they would spend one last night at the rental and finish getting the house ready Thursday morning. Thankfully, in light of what had happened, James had given Cordell the week off work so he could help with the move and each evening James, Trey and Cassie had come by to lend a hand where they could.

Wednesday afternoon while they had been busy moving things into the ranch house, Colton had dropped by to see Maddie. With everything that had happened he just wanted to get away for a bit and so he and Geri had decided to go on a trip together for a few days. While Maddie was disappointed that he wouldn't be coming to Prom with her she understood him needing time away. After the bombshell that had just been dropped on him, who could blame him? His grandmother was in jail and awaiting trial, his mother had just been disposed of being D.A. for her involvement in sabotaging the horse race and he had to attempt picking up the pieces and moving on.

With them being able to return home to the ranch, maybe now things could return to normal.

Maddie woke Thursday morning to the sound of things being moved downstairs and loud conversation, the teen groaning softly as she wearily rubbed her eyes. The busy week she'd had was definitely taking its toll on her. She couldn't remember ever feeling so exhausted. As she opened her eyes, Bubbles padding over to nudge her cheek with her cold nose, she reminded herself that it would be worth it.

They were going home.

She looked over at the bed that Stella had been sleeping in and found it empty. Stella had already left the room. 'What's the time...' She wondered out loud and reached for her phone, her jaw dropping a little as she realized it was after eight. 'Crap... I thought I had set an alarm.'

She sat up and threw the covers back as she clicked on the message Colton had sent her.

Aunt Geri and I will be out of service most of the trip. He had said. Not sure when you'll get this but I hope you enjoy your night tonight. I'm sorry, I really wish I could have been there with you. Good luck for Friday too. XO.

She smiled sadly as she began typing a message back. Hope you guys have a safe trip. I'll see you when you get back. XO.

Hitting send she placed the phone aside, swinging her legs down over the edge of the bed and began changing from her pajamas into the clothes Abeline had laid out for her the night before.

The door opened with a soft creak, Maddie looking over to see who it was. 'Mawline. Morning.'

'Morning Maddie. I thought you would have still been sleeping.'

'With the racket down below?' She chuckled, hearing her father and Liam's raised voices. 'Not a chance. Besides, it's late already.'

'Well, you needed the rest.' Abeline replied while picking up one of the smaller boxes to carry downstairs. 'I'll send Liam up to grab you in a moment, Bon and I are heading to the ranch now to begin unpacking. We'll grab some breakfast on the way through. Blueberry muffin sounds good for you?'

Maddie nodded with a smile. 'You know me well.'

'I should think so.' She said with a chuckle. 'You'll be okay getting dressed? If not I can send Stella up to give you a hand.'

'I'll manage, thank you Mawline.'

'Alright. I'll see you at home then.'

Abeline left again, Maddie finishing up changing before reaching for her phone again. Colton hadn't messaged yet but there was a notification for her group chat with Mika and Elizabeth. The girls will be ready for you to take home this morning. Mika had written along with a photo of Bel and Hope, the foal in the middle of having her breakfast from the mare. Just let me know when you'll be coming to pick them up.

Thanks Mika. We still have stuff to move to the ranch but I'll let you know how things go.

No worries. Enjoy your night out, sorry I can't make it to the after party.

Hey, don't worry. I understand. Maddie typed back. Gotta go help finish this packing. TTYL.

A knock sounded on the door just as she hit send, the teen looking up from her phone. 'Come in.'

Liam walked into the room. 'Ready to go?'

'Almost.' She reached for her hairbrush on the bedside table, holding it out to him. 'Could you give me a hand please?'

With a sigh he took the brush, taking a seat on the bed beside her to fix her hair. 'Braid?'

'Yeah, just a single one. Thanks.'

'The things I do for you...'

Maddie chuckled softly as her uncle began brushing her hair. 'There's one other thing you might need to do for me later.'

'And that would be...'

'Could you take the float and pick up my girls? I was gonna ask Dad but I know since it's Stella's graduation today he might want to spend some time with her.'

'We'll see how we go, I'm not making any promises. We might need to pick them up tomorrow.'

At that suggestion, her face fell a little.

'Maddie?' Liam questioned after a moment of silence.

'I was hoping to go for a ride on Dakota...' She replied softly. 'Seeing that once treatment starts I don't know when I'm gonna be able to again.'

'Oh...' He understood now why she had been pushing so hard to have the horses home straight away. 'Leave it with me, I'll see what I can do.' He told her, tying off her braid with her hair band.

Maddie smiled gratefully. 'You're the best Uncle Liam.'

He laughed at that and gave the girl a hug. 'Come on then, we've still got a bit to do before we go get your girls...'

Bonham and Abeline were the first ones to arrive back home Thursday morning, Cordell, Liam and the kids occupied with packing up the rental and loading the trailers to move the remainder of their belongings and furniture back to the ranch. Stepping out of the truck when Bonham pulled up out the front of their house, Abeline stopped at the stairs leading up to the path going to the front door.

'I can't believe I'm saying this, but...' She paused as Bonham joined her on the stairs, letting out a long sigh as he placed his hands on her shoulders. 'Somehow, this just doesn't feel quite right.' She said, playing with the key to the door in her hands.

'You know, we'll make it home again.' He told her as he slipped his arm around her and drew her in for a hug. 'Maybe even better. And after all, we still got a whole lot to celebrate, don't we?'

'With you?' She smiled as she looked up at him. 'Always.'

'Dad...' Stella approached her father as Cordell began unpacking one of the many boxes in the kitchen later that morning. 'Can we take a break for a minute?' She questioned hopefully. 'I thought maybe we could play a game or two.'

'Stella, we-we still have so much to unpack-'

'Dad, I know.' She replied softly. 'But we've all been working hard this week, a short break can't hurt either of us.'

Looking at how earnest she was, Cordell let out a long sigh and closed the box he'd been unpacking back up. 'Alright, alright. I'll come join you.'

Stella smiled, leading the way into the living room. The board game had already been set up on the coffee table and spaces cleared on the couches for them to sit on. Amongst the boxes and the chaos of moving they sat down to play, the two of them beginning the game a short time later.

'All right. I am all set.' Cordell exclaimed. 'Go.'

'It's your turn.' Stella replied with a chuckle.

'It's my turn?'

'Yeah.'

'Okay. I... I don't understand this game. I have never understood this game.' He replied with a laugh. 'You know that. I mean, the... I haven't even played it since, uh...' He paused as his countenance sobered. 'since, uh, since you know, that... that night- the night- the night your mom called. Uh... You?'

'No. It seems like a good time for us all to start things over.' Stella looked back down at the board game. 'Or carry on where we left off.'

'You know, uh, time was, I-I never would have taken this game out of the box again. I'd have never looked at it, uh... And it is so like you... Like your mom, to make me face it again.'

She smiled sadly as she looked up at him. 'I didn't mean to make you feel bad.'

'No. No, no, no. And I don't mean that at all. I mean-I mean that in the best possible way. Stella, you make me... feel.' He paused again for a moment before continuing. 'You make all of us feel. It's you. You are the one that keeps this family together. I ran. You stayed.'

'I didn't make it easy, though.' Stella pointed out. 'I ran a few times, too.'

'Okay. Right, sure. But that was to bring me back when you knew I needed it. I want you to know that I see that. It's okay now. It's okay to go.'

'After mom, I wasn't sure that we would ever feel whole again. Not without her. And I still feel what's missing. But I feel hopeful, too.'

Cordell smiled as he nodded. 'Good.'

'Todd and I... We're finally feeling good about what the future brings, you know?'

'Good, baby girl. Um... I can tell you a little bit about what the future brings.' He replied. 'Um, the future brings an epic speech from yours truly, tonight.'

'No, dad...' Stella protested with a chuckle as Cordell lent over to give her a hug. 'Please no.'

'Yes, yes. Yes.'

'No.'

'Yes.' He laughed, holding her tight for a moment then as he let her go, they turned their attention back to the board game. 'If-if we're gonna play this, you're gonna have to give me a refresher on the rules...'

Taking a break from unpacking, Bonham stepped outside to drink his morning coffee, looking out across the ranch. Being back here, being home after losing it and being away so long... He realized just how much more this land meant to him. To his family. This was home.

'Daddy-' Liam started as he joined him, his father turning to him as he stopped alongside him. 'You remember what you said to me, standing right here, on the day of my high-school graduation?'

'Well, I'd like to think that it was something about being proud.' Bonham replied.

He chuckled. 'Yeah, you were. You did say that. But you also said, 'I forgive you''

'What the hell for?'

'For leaving. I know that it bothered you, me going east. But you, you supported it. You let me do that whole exercise.'

'Wasn't an exercise.' Bonham pointed out gently. 'It did a lot for you, it made you who you are.'

'You made me who I am.' His father scoffed a little at that and he placed his hand on his shoulder. 'You. Mama. This family.' He paused, looking back at the house behind them where the rest of their family were busy unpacking and trying to bring some order to the chaos moving brought with it. 'And this ranch.' He continued, looking out across the landscape. 'And I thought I needed something different.'

'Well, it's not for everyone.'

'You're right.' Liam agreed. 'It is not for everyone. But I think it's for me.'

Bonham turned to him. 'Are you saying what I think you're saying?'

He nodded. 'I want to work the ranch with you, if you think you can put up with me.'

'The real thing you should be worried about is if you can put up with being around your old man full time.'

Liam chuckled at that. 'I think we can make it work.'

'I think we can too.' Bonham replied with a smile, patting his son on the shoulder.

'And I think our first job is to go pick up Maddie's horses from the stables, if that's okay.' He continued after a moment. 'Maddie wants to have a ride before tomorrow, I promised I'd try to get the girls home so she can.'

'Well, what are we standing here for then? Let's go hook the trailer up.' The two of them started back to where Bonham's truck was parked. 'Picking up Maddie's horses sure beats unpacking.'

'Come in.' Maddie replied to the soft knock on her door, the teen glancing up from her unpacking and organizing as her father walked into the room. 'Hey Dad.'

'Hey Maddie.' He came over, giving her a hug from behind over her chair. 'How's the unpacking going?'

'Slowly.' She replied with a sigh. 'But I want to get it done before tomorrow so...' She let her voice trail off as she picked up another shirt to put into her dresser drawers. 'You come to give me a hand?'

'What, don't you think I've had my fill of unpacking yet?' He chuckled.

'Well, if you're gonna want to stay in here you might need to give me a hand. I'm trying to get this done before I crash.'

Cordell looked at his daughter closely. Maddie clearly was exhausted, the teen not even attempting to hide it anymore. 'Why don't you go have a lie down? We can finish this later.'

She shook her head at his suggestion. 'I've got to get this done. I don't want to come home from the hospital to this-' She motioned to the numerous boxes scattered around her room. 'I need this to be tidy. The last thing I want is to feel like crap and be stuck in a messy bedroom.'

'Fair enough.' He clapped and rubbed his hands together. 'Where... Where would you like me to start?'

'You could begin hanging those dresses in that box over there in the closet.'

'Right then. I'm on it.'

Maddie smiled as he set to work and she returned to organizing her drawers, silence falling. She was disappointed that she wouldn't be going with Colton to Prom that night, she had been so looking forward to it, especially since her first round of chemo would be starting tomorrow... She sighed softly as she closed up one of the drawers and pulled out another, dragging a box over closer to her wheelchair so she could reach the clothes inside.

'Oh Maddie...' Cordell exclaimed as he pulled a dark blue dress from the box, holding it up. 'This is gorgeous.'

'You weren't supposed to see that till tonight.' She replied with a tired chuckle. 'It was supposed to be a surprise. Guess it doesn't really matter though now that Colton can't come.'

Gently Cordell hung the dress up in the closet then turned back to grab another from the box. 'I'm sorry, I know you were looking forward to it.'

Maddie shrugged. 'Win some, you lose some.'

Silence fell again.

'Maddie,' Cordell looked over at his daughter, the teen quietly unpacking another box. 'got something on your mind?'

She sighed softly and placed aside her jeans, turning her chair towards him. 'Just... Tomorrow.'

That was all she needed to say for him to understand. Hanging up the dress he had been holding he went back over to her, kneeling down in front of her. 'You'll make it through tomorrow just fine.' He told her gently as he took her hand in his. 'I'm gonna be there with you. Everything will be okay.'

Maddie made an attempt at smiling but couldn't, swallowing the lump in her throat. 'I'm just... I'm scared.'

'I know. I know, baby girl.'

Cordell took her in his arms, the teen snuggling up close to him and rested her head against his shoulder. 'I-I'm glad I don't have to go through this alone.' She said softly after a time, her voice wavering with emotion. 'I... I'm blessed to have you as my Dad.'

He smiled at that, pressing a kiss to her head. 'And I... I am blessed to have you. My beautiful, courageous, brave little girl.'

'I'm not feeling very brave right now.'

'Then let me be brave enough for the both of us, hey?'

Maddie managed a little smile, wiping a couple stray tears from her cheeks.

'You're gonna get through this.' Cordell repeated, stroking back her hair as he held her tight. 'And I'm gonna be right there with you to help you make it through, promise.'

The sound of a vehicle coming up the drive caught Maddie's attention as she worked with Abeline in the kitchen just after lunch time, the teen wheeling herself over to the window to see who it was. A smile spread across her lips as she saw that her grandfather and uncle had returned, the ranch's horse trailer towed behind his truck. 'Grampa's back with my horses.' She said as she let the curtain fall again. 'Can I-'

'Go honey.' Abeline interrupted with a chuckle. 'I can manage here for a while.'

Placing aside what she had been doing she made a beeline for the back door, grabbing her helmet off the chair on her way out. 'Thanks Mawline.'

'Have fun sweetheart.'

Bonham and Liam had the trailer reversed up to the mare's paddock and had the door open as Maddie wheeled herself up the drive to meet them. Liam walked onto the trailer, Maddie stopping at the fence as one of the horses began pawing inside the trailer, wanting to get out. 'Someone's in a hurry to get off.' She said with a chuckle as Liam wrangled a very excited, very much a bundle of nerves foal out of the trailer and down the ramp. 'Hope give you much trouble?'

'Nothin we couldn't handle.' Bonham replied, Hope whinnying loudly for her mom as she was turned loose. 'Mika's started her well, had her practicing loading up when we got there. Didn't have much trouble with her at all.

'That's a relief.'

'You're gonna have to start training that filly soon though Maddie.' Liam pointed out as he placed the foal's halter and lead-rope over the gate. 'She's got to learn some manners.'

Maddie sighed softly, looking at Hope as the foal pranced around, still calling for her mother. From inside the float, Bel let out a long and gentle knicker in reply. 'I know. I just... I can't do much stuck in this chair. I would have started her already otherwise.' Silence fell as Liam walked back into the trailer, Bel calmly walking down the ramp beside him a moment later. 'Bel was okay with loading?'

'The three of them were fine Maddie, no stress.' He said as he turned the mare loose too, Bel trotting off after her foal who was bolting away down the pasture. 'Want me to get Dakota ready for you to ride?'

'Please. That'd be great.'

Liam turned back to the trailer to unload the last horse. 'Not a problem.'

Once Dakota was unloaded Bonham moved the trailer away and Maddie closed the gate after him, Liam taking the mare to the shelter to tie her up. After a short groom he began tacking her up, Maddie joining him at the mare.

'Thank you for bringing them home today.' Maddie started as she ran her hand down Dakota's forehead. 'I know you and Grampa are busy with unpacking but this means a lot.'

Liam smiled at her as he finished tightening the cinch. 'Well, you're all set to go now.' He declared, patting Dakota's rump. 'Want a hand up?'

Maddie contemplated it for a moment then nodded. 'Just easier than me doing it myself.' She replied as he picked her up and settled her across the mare's back, helping to give her a hand securing herself into the saddle. 'Thank you.'

'Enjoy your ride.'

'I will.' She called back over her shoulder as they started across the paddock. 'I'll be back soon.'

'Just don't forget we've got Stella's graduation to go to this afternoon.' He shouted as Dakota began to canter. 'Don't forget.'

'I won't!'

Maddie rode Dakota on through the forest, only bringing the mare to a halt once they reached the far end. Patting her neck she took a deep breath, closing her eyes for a moment to both savor the moment and also to calm the butterflies in her stomach. Though she felt better after her talk with her father and had the reassurance that he was going to be with her during her treatments, she was still nervous about the whole thing.

Now is not the time to be thinking about this... She reminded herself as she wrestled those thoughts back out of her mind. This is about the here and now. Tomorrow's problems are for tomorrow's solutions.

Opening her eyes again she cued Dakota to move closer to the gate so she could open it. Neatly Dakota maneuvered through once she had opened it and after closing it again, they started off across the paddock. 'Where do we ride to first?' She wondered out loud, one hand on the mare's neck then off in the distance, the sound of a vehicle coming up the road caught her attention. 'I wonder who that is...'

Dakota was off in a canter once more and Maddie rode towards the driveway, realizing as the vehicle came into view that it was Trey's SUV. The vehicle slowed as she approached and the driver rolled the window down as she began to stop the mare.

'Hey Uncle Trey.'

'Hey Little Walker.' He smiled as she halted the mare a little ways back from his vehicle. 'You're lookin good up there.'

She chuckled, patting the mare's neck. 'It is good to be up here.' She replied. 'But aren't you getting here kinda early? Stella's party isn't till tonight.'

'You Dad invited me to come running with him this afternoon.' Trey explained. 'And I wanted to talk to him about a couple things.'

'Alright, I won't be keeping you then. Have fun.' She said, cuing the mare to back up a couple paces. 'Good luck.'

'I'll pass that message on to your father.'

Maddie laughed as Trey started driving away. 'It's you who's gonna need it Uncle Trey!'

'We'll see, we'll see.'

The teen chuckled again at that, smiling as she turned Dakota back across the pasture. With a gentle kissing sound she cued Dakota to canter, the mare's gentle strides eating up the landscape steadily.

They kept on, Maddie only slowing the mare when she finally reached the Overlook and brought her atop the hill overlooking the ranch. A smile spread across her face as she looked down at the ranch below. This felt as good as she had imagined, returning to the ranch.

She was finally home again.

'So, you're telling me no regrets?' Trey asked as he and Cordell waited for Liam to join them on their run, the two of them speaking over his offer of being made a Ranger and some other questions he had.

'What?'

'But, uh, I mean, you must have some regrets. I know racing me today,' He placed his hand atop the fence post and lent against it. 'that must be at the top of your list.'

Cordell laughed at that. 'Okay. yeah. sure. Uh, in that I regret having to humiliate a friend?' He teased as he went through his leg stretchers. 'Yeah. Yeah.'

'We're gonna see about that.'

'Yeah, we're gonna see about that for sure.'

'But seriously though.' Trey returned the conversation back to what they'd been speaking about before being diverted. 'How is it shaping your choices, your family?'

'You know, Trey... regrets are different then loss, acceptance. I mean, I think about roads not taken every day. But I wouldn't change a damn thing about where I'm coming from.'

He nodded, taking on what Cordell had said. 'Yeah.'

'You're cut out for this.' Cordell encouraged. 'And uh, frankly, the idea of you and me fighting the good fight together?' He held out a clenched hand for a fist bump with Trey. 'That's badass.'

'Well, I mean, fighting the good fight with me a couple paces ahead of you, yeah.' He agreed.

'Okay, okay, all right.' He laughed, hearing the sound of hoof-beats approaching. 'Maddie girl.' He called out as she rode up to them. 'You two are looking good.'

'Thanks Dad.' Dakota stopped on her cue, Maddie giving the mare a pat. 'She's feeling good too.'

'That's great to hear.' Cordell gave the mare a pat. 'Lookin after my baby girl for me I hope Miss Dakota.'

Maddie chuckled. 'She's been a perfect angel.'

'Good, good.'

'So, ah,' She looked over at Trey. 'Who won?'

Trey laughed. 'We haven't even raced yet. We're still waiting for Liam.'

'Well, you won't have to wait much longer.' Maddie nodded in Liam's direction, her uncle emerging from the trees.

'Stinker!' Cordell exclaimed as he saw him. 'About time.'

'You wait till peak temperature to do this?' Liam questioned, already perspiring from the jog over.

'Peak temperature? These are peak training conditions. You want an honest race or not?'

Liam rolled his eyes.

Maddie chuckled, urging Dakota back on into a walk. 'See you guys back at the house.'

'Yeah, yeah.'

'Winner takes hat right?' She shouted back over her shoulder as the mare began to trot.

'Doesn't count when you're on horseback. Cheater!'

Maddie could be heard laughing as she rode away, Cordell turning back to Trey and Liam. 'Alright stinker-' He commented as his brother rolled his sleeves up. 'Don't do that race. You might lose that one.'

'Most definitely.' Trey agreed as they both sized up each other's biceps.

'No.

'You remember the rules?' Cordell questioned. 'First one to the hitching post wins? As Maddie said, winner takes hat.'

Trey pointed to himself. 'That'll be me.'

'Let's do it.' Liam agreed.

'Okay. Great. Three, two, one, go.'

'Cordi...' He exclaimed as Cordell took off running across the paddock.

'Did you hear that laugh?' Trey questioned with a chuckle.

Liam shook his head. 'He's full-on cheating.'

'Is he? Wait, is he really taking off right now?'

'Hustle up, youngsters!' Cordell shouted back over his shoulder as he hurried down the track.

'Hey!' Liam protested as Trey slapped his shoulder before he took off running too.

'I ain't got all day!'

'Guys, come on... That's not fair.' He shouted as he started after them, left far behind already. 'Cordi!'

As the ranch house came into view, Maddie began slowing Dakota to a halt once more, bringing her to a stop at the hitching post.

'Hey. You're back.' Stella remarked as she came out to see them. 'Have a nice ride?'

'Yeah, yeah, it was great.' She smiled. 'You're looking nice there Stells.' She remarked, seeing that her sister was dressed for graduation.

'Thanks. So ah, where's Dad and Uncle Liam?'

'Having a run with Uncle Trey.' Maddie turned back to the driveway she'd just ridden up. 'They shouldn't be much longer.' Through the tree she thought she saw the flashes of someone running and a moment later, Liam and Trey came into view.

With a flourish, Stella took the hat from the hitching post and held it up. 'Too slow suckers.'

They all laughed at that, Liam and Trey exchanging a fist bump. 'That was good.'

Maddie frowned, looking back down the path.

Cordell wasn't anywhere to be seen.

Stella too had the same thought and while Liam and Trey celebrated, she voiced the same question Maddie was about to ask. 'Where's Dad?'