Hi all,
Yeah, it's me.

The writer who hasn't been updating regularly...

Anyway, my apologies for the lack of regular updates the past couple months. Things have been crazy, I've been sick and other stuff has happened so writing and updating my stores hasn't been high on my list of priorities.

But... I'm back!

I'm hoping to update weekly, we'll just have to wait and see how we go. Anyway, to make it up to y'all, here's an almost 8k long chapter.

From here on, things start heating up.

No major spoilers but we have a plot twist coming that none of you would have ever expected. *winks*

Anyway, enjoy and please, don't forget to vote and comment!

If y'all want regular updates I need some encouragement to keep writing! I've been having a hard time lately with just not feeling like working on this story, I need to get my inclination back and y'all can help by dropping those comments.

(Even if it's just to say ya missed me 😉)

Enjoy

'You know, guys…' Stella started as she came out of the kitchen, carrying another box filled with supplies out to the bar where her father, Aunt Geri, August and Maddie were helping to make sandwiches. It was Thursday a couple weeks later, the day before homecoming at Sacred Heart and with the clock ticking, they needed to get the food organized for the Side Step van that would be there tomorrow. 'the homecoming sandwich station did not used to feel so involved.'

'It's probably because you're just used to doing the eating part.' Geri pointed out. 'The prep takes a little longer.'

'Well, in her defense, the eating part is the best part.' Cordell added as Stella placed the box down on the bar and he looked over at Maddie. 'How's that cheese coming along?'

'I'm gettin there Dad.' She replied, adding another slice she'd cut from the block to the pile. Patience.'

'Well, chop, chop, we don't have all day. Some of us would like to get home before we're old and gray.'

Maddie chuckled at his teasing. 'For some of us, that day is gonna come sooner rather than later.' She said, elbowing him in the ribs.

'Oh, ouch.' Geri laughed. 'She's got you there Cordi.'

'Yeah, yeah.' He brushed it off. 'So ah… Augie. How's school been going?'

'Well, while we're on the topic of HC…' August started in response to his father's question. 'After two years, it's kinda tiring feeling like you're living in your sister's shadow.'

'They're big shoes to fill,' Stella commented, trying to be both serious and funny at the same time. 'I know.'

Maddie chuckled at that. 'Big, big shoes to fill. What size was it again that you wear? Nine and a half? Ten?'

'Ten.'

August rolled his eyes. 'Okay, yeah, point is, it's my junior year, and I feel like I'm ready to show everybody who August Walker really is.'

'Show everyone or show those boneheads who are always unironically going live on Insta.' Stella pointed out, placing another stack of paper cartons onto the bar. 'Brick and Scout?'

'Brody and Scooter. Yeah.'

'Wait a minute.' Maddie interjected. 'That wouldn't happen to Scooter Rutherford by any chance?'

'Yeah actually. You know him?'

'Not personally. Elizabeth is his sister.'

'Ah. Right.' He nodded, turning back to his elder sister. 'But it's not just about them, Stella. It's about me, which is why-' He looked at his father after placing another slice of silverside onto the sandwich he was currently working on. 'I need your help, Dad.'

'Ah, yep.'

'So... basically, we're-we're playing Holy Word tomorrow and-'

'No way. Tomorrow.' Cordell cut him off, August nodding. 'Wow. That takes me back.'

'Yeah, so it got me thinking…'

'So, we were down with four minutes left in the fourth quarter. And I look over,' He starts, recounting a story of when he was back playing high school football. 'I see Hoyt hauling downfield and I just throw a perfect spiral. Bam, touchdown!' He clapped. 'The rest is history.'

Geri laughed. 'Oh, it's a slightly revisionist history there, buddy. If Hoyt hadn't have gotten that pick-six on the next drive, we'd have never won.'

'Yeah, yeah.' Cordell rolled his eyes, looking back at his son. 'My point was that we won the game and it brought us glory.'

'Yeah, right, right. So, um, you know, like, the afternoon of the big game they have this, like, alum- student flag football thing.' August continued, getting the conversation back on track.

He nodded. 'Yeah, yeah, yeah.'

'Seniors versus juniors with alumni on their teams?'

'Sure, yeah, I remember that.' Cordell replied. 'The winners get a skip day, right?'

'Yeah, so, I mean, you know, since we actually have a shot at beating Holy Word for the first time since, you know, you were playing in the Dark Ages…'

'Whoa, whoa, whoa, hey!'

'Wow!' Geri exclaimed, Stella and Maddie chuckling at the sugar-coated insult August had given to Cordell.

'Okay, I'm sorry. I'm sorry. No offense.' August added. 'Maybe you could play with the juniors, you know, give the guys some good vibes. It'd help me out. What do you say?'

'Love to, buddy.' Cordell replied with a nod. 'Hey, listen, Captain James is giving us an assignment, and I'm not sure what it's going to be, but if I can be there tomorrow, I will be there tomorrow. I just can't promise.'

Thrilled, August smiled. 'This is going to be awesome.'

'Morning Maddie.'

Maddie smiled as her uncle joined her in the living room, the teen curled up on the couch with a good book. 'Morning.'

'You're up early.' He commented as he glanced over at the clock. 'Special occasion I've forgotten?'

Placing the book aside, she shook her head. 'Woke up early and couldn't get back to sleep so I thought I'd make myself some hot chocolate and read for a while. Now that you're here, chore time?'

'Can't I have a cup of coffee first?'

'Alright. Alright. But make it quick.'

Liam mock saluted her. 'Yes ma'am.'

Maddie chuckled, picking up her reading from where she'd left off. So far, she hadn't told the rest of her family yet about the interview, having preferred to wait until later to spring that little surprise upon them. Yesterday they'd been busy at the Side Step preparing the food for today's mobile food van at Sacred Heart and she could have mentioned it then but something was stopping her. What exactly, she wasn't sure. She'd been excited to tell Mika and Elizabeth about the opportunity but so far, hadn't felt the same desire to tell her family.

The more she thought about it though, she arrived at the conclusion that she did know what was stopping her.

August.

He had changed, that was undeniable. After finding out that his new best friend was Elizabeth's estranged brother, Maddie had done a little stalking on social media. Scooter was not that kind of kid she wanted to associate with herself and could totally understand why Elizabeth had chosen to leave home and move in with her grandmother at Briar Ridge. He was one of those rich, bratty kids who got given absolutely everything on a silver platter. Why on earth August wanted to be around those kinds of boys was beyond her. They were the 'in' group, he and Brock which was obviously why August wanted Cordell to go join in on the football game. He was trying to make a good impression to be part of the 'in' group.

'Ready to go then?'

Her uncle's return stirred her from her thoughts and she nodded. 'Yeah. Just give me one sec…' Quickly she moved from the couch to her wheelchair and snapped her fingers, Sasha lying asleep on her bed rising to come with her at her cue. 'Alright. Ready.'

Heading out, the sun was just starting to rise over the horizon as they headed towards the horse pasture, Maddie's heart doing a flip flop when she saw the open gate. 'Crap!' She wheeled herself towards the pasture faster, Sasha trotting alongside her as Liam jogged to keep up with her. 'No no no!' She stopped at the opened gate, the gate swung wide open without any sign of her horses inside. 'This can't be happening…'

Seeing that Maddie was beginning to panic, Sasha quickly set to work calming her down.

'Gate mustn't have been locked properly…' Liam said as he took a look at the latch, the bolt pulled completely open. 'It's okay Maddie, they can't have gone far. We'll find them.'

Swallowing the lump in her throat, Maddie nodded.

'Wait here. I'll go grab Cordell and we'll ride out now. See if we can find them before breakfast.'

Not trusting herself to speak, Maddie just nodded again as she intertwined her fingers in Sasha's coat, the dog half lying across her lap to calm her down. Liam left and she bit her lip as she looked at the empty paddock. I know I locked it last night. She remembered for certain that she had locked it because Hope had come over to say hello and she'd given the filly some carrots that were too old to be used for dinner. I know I locked it…

Looking at the ground, she could just faintly make out hoofprints heading towards the driveway before they disappeared in the hardened dirt. There were no footprints that she could see nearby but that didn't help her imagination at all. With all the horses she'd seen posted as being missing lately, she couldn't help but worry that maybe they'd been stolen. No no, don't jump to that. Her mind spoke. They've probably just wandered off and are someplace on the ranch.

Hearing someone coming up behind her, she turned to see that her father was here, still looking like he was almost half asleep. 'I-I don't know what happened.' She whimpered softly. 'I know I locked the gate.'

'It's alright Maddie, we'll find them.' Cordell promised, crouching down beside her chair. 'Liam's tacking the horses up now and we'll head out. I'll help you look for them until… Oh…' He looked down at his watch, adding up the time he needed to grab a bite to eat, change, and drive into Austin. 'Eight o'clock. That'll give us around an hour and a half to search.'

'Thank you.'

He smiled, patting her knee. 'Go take Sasha back up to the house and let your grandparents know what's goin on. By then, we'll be ready with the horses.'

'Okay. Down Sasha.' The dog jumped off her lap and trotted alongside her as she returned to the house, fighting back tears as her imagination carried her off. What if they got out onto the highway? What if one of them had already been hit by a truck? What if one of them was lying injured somewhere? What if they disappeared forever?

'Maddie. You look like you've seen a ghost.' Abeline remarked as Maddie entered the kitchen through the back door, still in her pajamas as she made herself some coffee to take back to bed.

'Bel, Dakota, Hope. They're gone.' She informed her, her voice shaking a little as she struggled not to lose it. 'The gate's wide open and I know I locked it last night. I know I locked it. I double checked.'

'Do you want me to go wake Bon?'

'No, no, let Grampa sleep. Dad and Uncle Liam are gonna take me out to look for them. Can you put Sasha in her crate in my room please?'

'Sure honey. Come on Sasha.'

At Abeline's invitation, Sasha followed her down the hallway.

After taking her helmet down from the hatrack, Maddie quietly left the house again and made her way over to the main barn arriving to see her father and uncle saddling up two of the ranch horses.

'You're gonna ride with me.' Cordell commented, double checking the cinch was tight. 'Halters and lead ropes are over there.' He pointed to where her horse's gear had been put down, having collected them from her tack room before coming over to the barn. 'Helmet?'

'Right here.' Placing her helmet on she clipped it up then wheeled herself over to the table and grabbed the stuff for her horses.

'I'll take the front pasture and the highway.' Liam exclaimed as he finished with his horse and untied him, leading him towards the door. 'That alright with you Cordi?'

'Yeah, yeah, fine with me. You've got a two-way?'

He nodded then turned back to Maddie. 'Don't worry. We're going to find them. They can't have gone far.'

Maddie managed a small, sad smile of appreciation. 'Thank you.'

Liam left, Cordell checking one last time that they were ready to go then untied the bay gelding and they headed out into the yard.

'Who gets the saddle?' Maddie questioned as they stopped just outside, Cordell gathering up the reins over the horse's neck.

'You'll ride behind me.' He replied, placing his foot into the stirrup. In one easy motion he swung up then offered his hand to his daughter, Maddie grasping it firmly as well as her wheelchair as she stood.

'I don't know if I can do this…' She said, holding onto the saddle with one hand and her father with the other. 'I-I haven't tried mounting from the ground yet.'

'Just give it a try. If you can't do it then we'll think of something else.'

Taking a deep breath, she nodded then slowly and carefully, transferred her weight to her right leg so she could lift her left. Her leg shook as she placed her foot into the stirrup and she held on tighter, bouncing a couple times on the ground before she tried to mount up. It was awkward but between the two of them, Maddie was finally up on the horse behind Cordell.

'You okay?' He asked, glancing over his shoulder at her.

She nodded while she caught her breath. 'Never better.'

'Hold on tight.' At that, his daughter wrapped her arms around his stomach. 'Ready?'

'Yep.'

'Alright. We'll start at their pasture then work our way further into the ranch.'

Maddie nodded again as the gelding started forward. 'Sounds like a good idea to me.'

'So… Ah-' Cordell cleared his throat as the gelding walked on, the two of them still searching for Maddie's horses. 'How-how's things been?'

Maddie sighed heavily. 'Alright, I guess. Just the same old… You know.' Her voice trailed off as she looked around the countryside, her eyes sweeping the landscape for any sign of her mustangs. 'But having Sasha, Dad… She's helped me so much.'

'I… I'm glad to hear that.'

Silence fell once more.

'Dad…' She started cautiously after a time. 'How are you?'

'I'm fine Maddie. Nothing-nothing to worry about. I am squared-'

'Nope. Don't want to hear that saying again.' Maddie interrupted before he could finish. 'If I ever hear that again, it's too soon. No offense.'

Cordell chuckled a little. 'None taken.'

'But… Dad… Are you really fine?' She questioned softly after a pause. 'I-I'm just… I'm worried about you.'

'There's no need to be. I'm just fine.'

Hearing in his tone that he considered the matter closed, Maddie decided it was in her best interest to drop the issue. Looking around again and seeing no sign of her mustangs, she sighed. 'How much time do we have left?'

Cordell took a look at his watch. It was almost seven-thirty. 'We'll have to start heading back, didn't realize that was the time. I'm sorry.'

'It's alright, I appreciate you trying to help. Can we just go up there then head back?' She asked hopefully, pointing to a hill a short distance away. 'Might be able to see a bit further from up there.'

Tapping the gelding with his heels, the horse began to canter. 'We're heading back after this, alright?'

'Deal.' She answered as she held tighter to him. Please, please be up here. She begged in her mind as they started up the hill. Where could her horses have gotten to?

Reaching the top, Cordell brought the gelding to a halt and took a look around with his binoculars. Seeing Dakota grazing amongst the saltbrush in the valley below, he smiled. 'Bingo.' He handed them back to Maddie, pointing down to where he'd spotted the mustang. 'Just there.'

'Thank goodness.' She breathed with relief as she looked at Dakota then did a sweep around to spot Bel and Hope. 'But Bel and her foal aren't with her.' Taking a second look confirmed her first observation as she lowered the binoculars and handed them back to her father.

'Finding Dakota is a start.' He told her as he picked up his two-way radio. 'Liam, we've found Dakota. We're going to catch her then return to the ranch. Any sign of Bel or Hope?'

'No luck yet Cordi.' Came his reply after a pause. 'I'm thinking they've headed up to the foothills. I'm coming back now. Dad and I'll bring Maddie back out to search after breakfast.'

'Roger that. Out.' Returning the two-way to his belt he looked back at Maddie. 'Got your halter and leadrope ready?'

She nodded, both items already slung over her arm. 'Yep. Hopefully she's not going to be a pain to catch.'

Slowly Cordell rode the gelding down the hill towards the mare, Dakota lifting her head from her grazing when she heard them approaching.

'You naughty girl.' Maddie told her as Dakota chewed away on her mouthful of grass. 'You had me worried.' Taking a sugar cube from her pocket she held it out to her, her father stopping their horse a short distance back from the mustang. 'Come on, playtime is over.' With a sigh, Dakota slowly began walking back towards her. 'Good girl.' She praised as the mustang allowed herself to be caught, standing quietly as she tied up her halter. 'Where's Bel and Hope, hey?' She asked as she let the mare have the sugar cube. 'Where'd they get to?'

'They're not around here.' Cordell remarked, having been looking around with his binoculars. 'Sorry Maddie. We really must head back, I can't be late for work. Captain James has something important for us to take care of today.'

'It's okay Dad. I understand. At least we've got one out of three.' She replied as he started the gelding forward again, Dakota following along calmly behind. 'They can't have gone far.' I hope. She added, taking one last look around as they headed back to the ranch. Where are they?

Liam had already arrived by the time Cordell and Maddie made it back to the ranch, Liam looking up from untacking his horse as they came in. 'Where'd you find her?'

'South pasture, about a mile from her paddock.' Cordell replied.

'Any sign of Bel or Hope?' Maddie questioned as they stopped and she handed Dakota's lead to her father to hold so she could dismount.

Liam shook his head. 'Nothing. They couldn't have gotten onto the road though, the front gate is still closed.' Seeing Maddie going to dismount he left his horse and went over to them. 'Need a hand?'

'Yeah. Thanks.'

'No problem. Down you come.'

With Liam's help, Maddie was soon down and back in her wheelchair while Cordell quickly dismounted after her. 'I better run, I'm gonna be late.' He started, turning to his brother. 'Can you-'

'I'll tend to Riley.' Liam held his hand out to take the reins. 'Breakfast is served up at the house. Go grab a bite to eat before you leave or you'll have Mama fussing over you.'

Cordell chuckled a little at that. 'Yeah, she will. You know Mama.'

'You go on up with him Maddie,' Liam added as Cordell started to the ranch house. 'I'll tend to Dakota.'

'You sure?' She questioned, running her hand up Dakota's forehead.

'Yeah. Go. Quicker you eat breakfast, the quicker we can get back out looking for Bel and Hope.'

'Alright. Thanks Uncle Liam. You behave, big girl.' Maddie cautioned Dakota as gave the mare one last pat before handing him her leadrope. 'I don't think she's hurt herself but can you give her a once over please?'

'Of course.'

She smiled gratefully. 'Thanks.'

Leaving Liam with the horses she headed after her father on up to the house, the smells of breakfast greeting her as she opened the backdoor. Her family was already at the bench eating and glanced over at her while she wheeled herself in. 'Oh, breakfast smells great Mawline.'

Abeline smiled. 'Thank you Maddie. Your plate is already here.'

'Brilliant.' Quickly she washed her hands then joined them to eat. Small talk was made around the table but Maddie didn't take much notice, too busy eating and worrying about where Bel and Hope might have gotten to.

'Thank you for breakfast, Mama.' Cordell exclaimed as he finished, standing. 'Augie, good luck with your game today.' He said, offering his hand to him for a fist bump.

'Thanks Dad.' He smiled broadly. 'You're gonna be there, right?'

'I-I'm gonna try. Stella-' He turned to his daughter. 'See you later.'

'Bye Dad.' She smiled as he gave her a kiss on the head. 'See you tonight.'

'Maddie-' Maddie looked up from her breakfast at him saying her name and he gave her a quick kiss also. 'Hope you find Bel and Hope.'

'Yeah, me too. Thanks again for helping me look for them.'

'Anytime. Bye Mama, Dad.'

'Bye.' Bonham remarked, helping himself to the last piece of bacon from the plate.

Abeline quickly got up, taking a paper bag from the bench as Cordell went to leave. 'Don't forget your lunch.'

Cordell smiled, taking the bag she handed him. 'Thanks Mama.'

'Have a good day.'

'Will do.' He replied on his way out the back door.

Abeline returned to her seat after Cordell had left, glancing over at the time. 'Stella, Augie, you both best get a move on or you'll be late.'

Stella nodded as she stood, having already finished off her breakfast. 'Well, I'm ready. Just waiting for you Augie.' She placed her plate into the sink. 'I'll wait for you in the car. See you Maddie.

Maddie smiled a little. 'Bye sis.'

'Hope you find your girls soon.'

'Yeah, me too.'

'Forgot to close the gate on their paddock, hey?' August questioned as Stella left, shoveling the last of his breakfast into his mouth.

'No, no, I don't know how they got out.' Maddie replied with a sigh. 'I know it was locked last night. I'm just glad Dad could give me some help, we found Dakota at least.' She paused for a moment. 'Good luck with your game.'

'Yep.' He stood, grabbing his schoolbag off the back of his chair. 'Gotta go.'

'August, put your plate in the…' Abeline started as August left, the door closing loudly behind him. 'Sink.' She finished with a sigh and stood, taking the empty plates over to the sink to be washed up.

'Well-' Bonham looked over at Maddie as he finished up his breakfast. 'You ready to head back out?'

Maddie sighed heavily, looking over at the door that August had disappeared out of. What was his problem with her these days? Was she just imagining it or had he become rather cold and rude to her? 'Yep.' She turned back to her grandfather. 'Let's get to it then.'

'Stinker!' Cordell exclaimed as Liam came to join him, Trey and Maddie. '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!'

Cordell was running, running…

'What, did it finally get too hot for you to go out running on the surface of the sun?' Cassie exclaimed as she walked into the Ranger's gym, surprising Cordell who had been working out on the treadmill.

His heart pounding, Cordell quickly turned off the treadmill, hiding the pistol he'd been carrying while he'd been working out. 'Hey. Yeah, yeah.' Leaning over he quickly hid the pistol back into his bag beside the treadmill before Captain James saw it as he came in and grabbed out a towel. 'Something like that.' He turned to Larry. 'Uh, Cap, you got that assignment for us? '

'Yeah. Yeah, got a request in from up the ladder.' He nodded. 'You know we've been helping out with the more sensitive evidence runs ever since last year's issues?'

'Yeah.' Cordell chuckled nervously, still getting over the fright that Cassie had given him as he wiped the perspiration from his arms. 'The truck with Serrano's evidence?'

'Yeah, you guys drew the short straw.'

Cassie and Cordell exchanged a look then she turned her attention back to their Captain. 'Where we going?'

'You're picking up at a crime lab near Dallas, bringing it back down here.'

'Dallas office isn't handling?' Cordell questioned, his heart slowly returning to its normal pace. God, Cassie had frightened him…

'No. Origin jurisdiction.' Captain James explained. 'So, you know the drill, right? Keep the evidence in your custody. If you got to stop- potty break, snacks, whatever- just maintain the chain.'

He nodded. 'Yes, sir.'

'Have it delivered by midnight and you're good.'

'Okay.'

'Hey. We're getting ready to start. You might want to…' He motioned at his clothing.

'Yeah, shower.' He chuckled nervously. 'Heading that way right now.'

'Okay, this guy…' Captain James started with a chuckle a little later that morning, his Ranger's gathered together in the main office to witness Trey being officially brought in as a Texas Ranger. '...throughout his training, he proved time and time again that he has more than what it takes. We are stronger with him in our ranks. Y'all know I like to keep it short, so let me just finish by saying that this is truly one of the greatest honors of my career. Congratulations, Ranger Trey Barnett.'

At that, Trey started into the office, smiling broadly as his now fellow co-workers applauded for him. Cordell clapped him on the back as he went past and he nodded at him and Cassie as he continued over to where Captain James stood.

'All right.' Captain James exclaimed as the noise began to die down, producing a badge to pin onto Trey's shirt. 'Let's do this.' Pinning the badge on, he shook Trey's hand. 'Welcome to the Texas Rangers.'

'Thank you, sir.' Trey shook his hand then drew him in for a side hug. 'Thank you, sir.'

He smiled as more applause arose from those gathered around. 'You're welcome.'

'Way to go.' Cordell added, offering his hand for a fist bump. 'Welcome to the family, Trey.'

'My man.' Trey smiled.

'Is this a good time to ask about carpooling to work?' Cassie questioned as she gave him a hug.

He laughed at that. 'I've seen you drive. I'll take my chances in my own car.'

'Hey.' She pretended to be terribly offended at that. 'I'll remember that.'

Trey laughed again as he let her go then turned to address the rest of the Rangers. 'Thank you, everyone. Thank you. Seriously. This is a true honor.'

'All right,' Captain James started as the applause died down for a third time. 'let's get back to work.'

True to his word, after breakfast Bonham and Maddie headed out again in search of Bel and Hope. Liam also was helping as well as a few of the ranch hands that could be spared from their daily duties but so far, they hadn't found any sign of the two missing horses.

Where are you guys? Maddie pondered, looking around the countryside as Dakota followed along after her grandfather's horse, Bonham leading the way for her. Thankfully, Dakota hadn't hurt herself during her little adventure and after convincing her grandfather that she was up to riding on her own, he'd finally agreed to let her ride the mare. An hour and a half of riding behind the saddle instead of in it earlier had done a number on her backside.

They rode on, broadening the search area further into the ranch. The morning sun was warm on Maddie's back and she dropped the reins across the front of her saddle, reaching for her water bottle. Summer was over, Fall was here again but yet, the weather hadn't gotten the memo that the season had changed for it felt as hot as a summer day. She drank greedily, a few drops of water sliding down her chin and when she'd finished, picked up her binoculars again.

Nothing.

Just cattle dotting the horizon here and there.

'Where on earth could they be?' Maddie questioned as she placed the binoculars back into her saddlebags and picked up the reins once more. 'I thought they'd have gone to be with the other ranch horses.'

'Yeah, that's what I thought too.' Bonham replied, shifting his weight in the saddle. After a moment, he glanced back at her. 'You managin alright lil one?'

'I'm alright Grampa. I just want to find Bel and Hope.' Coming atop another rise, Bonham reined his horse in and she stopped Dakota alongside his mare. 'I've already looked.' She remarked when he grabbed out his binoculars to search the landscape. 'Nothing but cows, cows and more cows.'

Confirming what Maddie said to be true he grabbed out his map from the saddlebag, motioning for her to come over closer. 'We're here.' He said, pointing to a spot on the map. 'That's the boundary to our land and the Davidsons.'

Maddie nodded. 'That's where the fence was that Dan took down, wasn't it?'

'Yeah. We replaced it though.'

'Well, they don't seem to be on the ranch.' She said after a pause. 'Could they have gone up onto the federal reserve?'

Bonham thought about that for a moment. 'It's possible if a fence was down somewhere but the boys rode the boundaries last week and they were fine then.'

Maddie nodded, looking back at the map. 'What about the creek fencing between our land and the Davidsons? That's where Bel got out last time. Maybe she's gotten back onto their property?' Quickly she pulled her phone from her pocket to ring Colton then sighed. 'No service so I can't call Colton. Can we ride over there? Take a look?'

'Alright. You start that way, I'll call it in.'

Nodding again she clucked her tongue and Dakota trotted forward, Maddie leaning back as the mare navigated her way carefully down the little slope. After finding her way down, Dakota smoothly jumped into a canter at her cue, Maddie riding across the pasture to the little creek that ran through the ranch.

Coming into the forest, she slowed her to a trot along the dirt path, a couple rabbits darting out in front of them from some bushes. Dakota jumped a little in surprise but kept going, Maddie running a hand down her neck. 'Just some rabbits…' She said softly, taking a deep breath to calm her own nerves again. 'Only some bunnies…'

Arriving at the creek she slowed Dakota right back to a walk then a halt, looking around. After a moment she found what she had been looking for. A low spot in the fence, a dead pine tree having fallen on it. Nudging Dakota with her heels the mare slowly stepped forward and she guided her over to the fence, looking at the ground.

An unshod hoof print was clearly visible in the sand next to the creek, followed closely by a foal sized hoof print. 'Thank goodness.' She breathed with relief as she gave her mare a pat. 'They have gone over to the Davidsons.'

Hearing the sound of a horse cantering back up on the path she turned around, Bonham riding over to her. 'They've gone onto the Davidsons alright. The wind we had the other day must have blown the tree over.'

'Yeah.' Bonham agreed, taking his two-way radio from his belt. 'Better get the ranch hands onto this before any cattle decide the grass is greener over there.'

Maddie nodded as he called the ranch hands over the radio, taking another good look around. Bel clearly had been making tracks to get onto the Davidson land, this was where she'd gone the first time when she'd escaped. 'Wonder why she didn't stay with you…' She murmured to Dakota. 'Wonder why she'd want to go over there.'

'Alright. Let's go.' He remarked once he'd finished on the radio and urged his mare on again. 'Be careful, take it slow.'

'Mmhmm.' Maddie started Dakota after his horse, the mare carefully choosing where she placed each hoof in the creek. Slowly they followed Bonham leading the way, the horses stepping over the broken fence. 'Look, tracks.' She exclaimed, seeing hoofprints in the softer ground a short way from the creek. 'Looks like they're heading for the plain near the old barn.'

Bonham nodded in agreement. 'Looks like it.'

Urging the horses into a trot they began following the tracks, Maddie letting her grandfather lead. After riding a short time they came up a hill overlooking the ranch below and in the distance, the mustang herd grazed. Bonham brought his mare to a stop and she halted Dakota alongside him, the two of them taking out their binoculars for a look.

'She's there alright.' Bonham said, locating the mare in the midst of the herd after a moment. 'Her and Hope.'

Maddie breathed with relief as she also found them. 'Thank God.' She zoomed in on them, her mare grazing calmly near a roan while Hope frolicked around with one of the yearlings. 'They seem alright, don't look like they're hurt.'

'Well-' He turned to his granddaughter. 'what do you want to do? We can herd them into the corrals to catch Bel and Hope. Wouldn't be able to do that for a couple days though.'

Sighing, she shook her head. 'No point Grampa, not while I'm not actually working Bel. They might as well stay for the meantime. Besides, they seem happy with the herd and Hope does need to be socialized with other foals. Might as well leave them here till Hope weans herself.'

'You sure?'

Thinking about it for a moment, she nodded. 'Yeah. It's the right thing to do. Bel's always had more of a free spirit than Dakota. She probably misses being in a herd.'

'Well, it's your choice but if you leave her there, you know she'll end up being wild again.'

Maddie shrugged. 'And I'll tame her again.' Seeing Hope and the yearling she was playing with running around, she smiled a little. 'I'd rather them be happy.'

'Alright. Let's head back then. My butt is getting sore.'

She laughed at that. 'Try sitting behind a saddle for an hour and a half…'

'I feel it in my bones, man.' Scooter started as he, August and Brock walked towards the playing field to get ready for the football game. 'We win with this last QB to defeat Holy Word on our team? That takes us to dub-city, my friends. '

'Seriously, bro.' Brock agreed. 'It's perfect.'

'Boys, listen, skip day, all right.' August added, completely ignoring his sister as he walked past where she and Geri were working at the Side Step food van. 'Paintball, the lake. Possibilities are endless.'

Stella sighed, shaking her head as she saw her brother with those losers as she cleared away the rubbish from one of the tables set up in front of the van. What was he thinking getting into that group? Brock and Scooter were nothing but trouble and everyone knew that except August it seemed. Yeah, they were part of the 'in' group but that was only because they were a bunch of immature idiots anyway.

'Kinda weird, huh?' Geri questioned as her niece joined her in the food van again.

'I don't know what I was expecting being back here,' Stella replied, tossing the trash into the bin. 'but it wasn't whatever this is.'

'The nostalgia factor takes time.'

Looking at her, she sighed, rolling her eyes. 'Yeah…'

'Hey.' Geri smiled at her kindly. 'It'll get better.'

'Thanks.'

'Geraldine Broussard.'

At the new voice, Geri looked down to see a blonde woman and a younger blonde girl standing in front of the food van.

'Oh, my God.'

'Oh, my gosh. Becca Ferguson.' She exclaimed after a moment, realizing who the woman was. 'Wow. Hi! This is, this is Stel…'

'Stella Walker.' Becca interrupted. 'Already visiting from college? It's crazy. I could have been your mom.' She laughed.

'So, uh, are you still in- what was it- pharma sales?' Geri questioned, trying to divert the conversation for Stella's sake.

'It's biomedical technology.' She corrected.

Geri nodded. 'Oh, right.'

'I just wanted to stop by and say how inspiring it is to see you here. Year after year, so bravely, after everything that's happened.'

'Oh. Thank you.'

With that, Becca and her daughter left, Geri and Stella exchanging a look. 'Oh boy…'

'Yeah.' Stella agreed. 'That's one way to put it.' She paused for a moment, seeing a couple more people leaving one of the tables. 'Well, guess I better get back to it. Those tables won't clean themselves.'

Geri nodded as Stella headed back out of the van then took a look at the time. 'Stella, when you're finished with the tables, break time?'

'That'd be good. Thanks.'

Clearing up the rest of the tables didn't take too long and once she'd finished, she helped herself to a serving of fries and a sandwich and headed back out of the van to go eat. Taking a seat at one of the empty tables she looked around, the other kids going about their business. Nibbling at a fry, she sighed. She felt like an outcast now, not knowing anyone else that was here. Seniors and Juniors didn't have much to do with each other and with all the kids from her class either at college or going on with their lives, she had no one here to talk to.

It felt weird to be back at school.

Her phone vibrated in her pocket and she pulled it out, checking to see what the notification was. It was from Maddie, her sister just messaging to say that they'd found Bel and Hope. At least she's having a better day. She thought as she sent back a short message and set her phone down on the table beside her meal.

'Hey.'

She looked up, seeing her Aunt coming over to join her. 'Hey.'

'Mind if I sit?'

'Go ahead. As you can see, there's plenty of space.'

Geri sat down beside her. 'No one to speak to, hey?'

Stella looked down at her fries, picking another one up. 'You could say that.'

'Mind if I steal a fry or two?'

In reply, Stella pushed the food over closer to her.

'It was really weird of Becca to say that about being your mom.' Geri started after a moment after eating a couple fries. 'And everything else that she said, really.'

'Yeah, that was gross, but whatever.' Stella paused. 'It's just that… Four months ago, these were my stomping grounds, and now it feels icky somehow.'

'Yeah, I get that. I think it's just going to take you a little while to figure out your routine, but you'll get there.'

'I just don't want to be that weird alumni who's always around.' At that, Geri made a face and she quickly realized what she'd said. 'I didn't mean- I-I was not thinking. Total word vomit.'

'It's fine. It's fine.' Geri chuckled. 'I was actually thinking about this earlier. You know that conversation that we had about dreams and whatnot?' Stella nodded. 'I don't know if you know this, but I was supposed to go to business school, and then life got in the way. My dad died and he left me the Side Step. And, you know, it wasn't my plan, but it was the hand that life dealt me. And it's what keeps a roof over my head. Kind of like how it's doing for you right now.'

'Deciding not to go to college was huge. And I just feel like there's more hard choices now. I thought I'd figure it out faster, is all.'

'Well, Stel, part of being a grown-up is owning your choices. And you're really lucky that you have a safety net while you figure it all out. 'Cause not most people do. I think if you just try to focus on the bigger picture, I know it's hard, but stop thinking about the little things. You're gonna save yourself a lot of heartache. Okay?'

Stella nodded, thinking about that. 'Okay.'

'I'll let you eat then.' Geri remarked, seeing that there were a couple people beginning to line up to get food and she stole one last fry from Stella's plate as she stood. 'The van won't run itself.'

At that, Stella chuckled a little then sobered as her aunt left, thinking over what Geri had said as she continued eating the rest of her lunch.

The soft sounds of calming instrumental music filled the truck as Cordell and Cassie drove back to Austin from Dalla after picking up the evidence Captain James had sent them to collect. Glancing over at Cassie he saw she appeared half asleep and thankfully, hadn't brought up the incident that had occurred earlier on that morning in the gym.

Returning his attention to the road ahead, he let his thoughts take him where they wanted to go. August had his game on today-he looked at the clock. If they pushed it just a little, he could make it in time to be there. He wanted to be there. Lately he hadn't been able to give August much alone time and he was aware of that. Things had been a little crazy, what with the mustangs last week and trying to repair what was broken between him and Maddie…

Maddie seemed to be doing a little better now, thankfully. She certainly didn't need her horses to go missing though and hoped that by now they'd managed to find them. At least he'd been able to help her find Dakota. That was the least he could do, considering… His daughter having taken up drinking to cope with what she'd gone through? That was hard to swallow when he knew that partially, he'd had a part to play. She needed him and he hadn't been there for her. Even now, he didn't really know how to be there for her or for Liam.

Both of them had been struggling but he knew that him not seeing just how much it was affecting Maddie had been totally his own fault and no one else's. He was trying, he was trying to work through it. Get past the memories that came to mind every time he saw his brother or his daughter. How could he erase those images from his mind? Every time he looked at Liam he saw him on that concrete floor, being held by his daughter after what Sean's thugs had done to him and every time he saw Maddie… He saw her blood on his hands.

Maddie could have died in there.

He could have lost his daughter.

How could he forgive himself if he had lost her?

He'd already lost Emily and the thought… The thought of losing another person he loved shook him to his core. They'd already almost lost Maddie because of her cancer but that he felt he could have dealt with. Her ending up dead because of his job… That was another kettle of fish entirely and though he felt like he was dealing with everything that had happened in captivity, he knew it wasn't true. He'd only been pushing it down, trying hard not to think about it all instead of facing it head on. He couldn't deal with it. Not now.

Out of the corner of his eye he saw Cassie reaching for his phone and his thoughts returned to the present. 'Hey, what are you doing?'

'Nope.' Cassie turned off the music. 'We've had like six hours of calming auras and that absolutely wild guided meditation by Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson.'

'Okay, you don't have to say his whole name.'

'I do. It's a sign of respect.' She pointed out as she began scrolling through his playlists to find something she actually wanted to listen to. 'But enough is enough. It is DJ Cassie's turn.'

Cordell wasn't overly enthused by that, knowing what her taste in music was like and boy, did they have completely opposite tastes in music. While he preferred to listen to country or old rock, Cassie was so into whatever popular music there was that it was nauseating. 'Oh, good.' He remarked half heartedly with a sigh.

'It's only fair.' She pointed out, finishing going through his playlists. 'What? You seriously only listen to country? What is wrong with you?'

He laughed a little at that. 'Country is the only decent music there is.'

'If you say so…' Returning his phone back to the center console she grabbed her own phone to find something. 'Let's see… You know, the two of us on a little road trip, snacks galore, little bit of mysterious evidence in the back, it's a nice change of pace from…'

'From, what, kidnappings and trauma?' He questioned when her voice trailed off.

'For starters.' Cassie replied, turning to him. 'But, yeah, even if that means we both miss family stuff, and speaking of family, your brother misses you. Maddie misses you.' She paused for a moment as the sound of a notification ping began. 'And I'm glad we get to start a new chapter and catch up on the scenic route.'

'It's nice.'

'Hmm.'

'Really nice.' Cordell agreed, beginning to get a little irritated at the constant pinging. 'It would be perfect if you could silence your phone. I mean, who is texting you nonstop?'

She looked at him, frowning. 'I thought it was you.'

'Me?'

'Yeah. I was trying to be nice because, I mean, yeah, hello, that is incredibly annoying.'

'Incredibly annoying.'

'Then what the hell is it?' Cassie questioned as she tried to figure out where the sound was coming from.

'I-I don't know. What? Cass, what?' He glanced over at her, Cassie looking intently into the backseat. 'What is it?'

Swallowing, she motioned to the evidence box. 'It's coming from in there.'