'Maddie, can I come in?' Bonham questioned as he knocked on her bedroom door.

'Just a moment.' She replied as she finished doing up her shirt buttons. 'Okay, you can come in now.'

He opened the door as she put her boots on. 'Your mare is missing.'

Maddie's head shot up. 'What? She was there last night when I checked on her before going to bed.'

'Looks like she jumped the fence in the middle of the night.' He replied. 'I've already got the hands tacking up and spreading out to find her.'

'Let's hope she hasn't gotten too far then…' Slapping her work hat on she followed him out to the kitchen, Abeline handing them both a sandwich to take. Liam was there at the island eating breakfast and she exchanged a brief hello and goodbye to him as they headed out the door.

Cordell, Stella and August were coming up to the house as they left, Bonham stopping to fill them in on what had happened but Maddie hurried on her way to the quarantine yards. As she got closer she realized that Bonham was right. The mare was nowhere in sight.

The hoofprints in the sand told her exactly what had happened. With the gate to the shelter being open it had given the mare just a little extra run up to jump the fence. Jump the fence she had, for the hoofprints continued on the grass outside the yard. Without knowing how long the mare had been out for, there was no telling how far she had gotten.

Bonham soon joined her, leading two horses. 'You can borrow Chopper, he'll look after you.'

She nodded as he handed her the reins. 'Where do we start looking?'

'The ranch hands are covering the ranch-' He pulled a map from his pocket and the two of them looked at it closely. 'Hopefully they'll find her on our land but I doubt it. Marcus followed the trail as far as he could, he lost it just inside the front pasture.'

'So you're saying Bel could be out on the highway by now?'

'Fraid so, if she kept moving as fast as she was. Cordell's going to alert the police to keep a look out and report her as missing so if anyone spots her, we'll find out.' He paused for a moment, not liking what he had to say next. 'There's a chance she might have gone onto the Davidson property where that fence is down in between our place and theirs. I don't think our new neighbors will appreciate a mustang running rogue on their land.'

'In other words-' She quickly figured out what he meant. If Bel was on their land causing trouble, they had every right to shoot her. 'We better find her asap.' Tossing the reins over the gelding's neck she mounted up as Bonham folded the map away before mounting Ace. 'If that's the case, I'll take the Davidson side and you search going out to the highway.'

He nodded. 'There's a radio in your saddlebag, check in regularly.'

'Understood.'

The two of them went their separate ways, Maddie urging her gelding into a canter towards the Davidson property. If Bel had crossed onto their land, it would be where the fence was down in the creek on the boundary line. They had been intending to get it fixed but since they didn't have any horses or cattle in that pasture it had been forgotten amongst the other things that needed to be done on the ranch.

It wasn't long before Maddie picked up Bel's trail again, a few hoof prints here and there in the packed earth. Bel wasn't shod which made it easy to tell she was on the right trail but at the same time made it harder to track her. After checking in with Bonham and the ranch hands to update them, she kept following the tracks right to where the fence was down.

Bel had crossed onto the Davidson land.

Damn mare… She cursed her in her mind, Chopper carefully navigating his way through the creek and up the bank to the other side. Bonham had confirmed he was on his way but she hoped she would find the mare before he joined her. If there was already bad blood between the two families, it wouldn't help that they were essentially trespassing on their land. The idea was to get in, find the mare and get out again before the Davidsons realized they'd had a visit from her new mustang.

Coming atop a hill, Maddie brought the gelding to a stop and got her binoculars out, looking at the valley below. There. There she was, grazing in knee deep grass near an old burnt out barn. 'Maddie here.' She started over the radio. 'I've located the mare near an old barn. I'm going to try to circle around her and guide her back to the ranch.'

After checking in with Bonham and the ranch hands, she started Chopper down and to the left of the mare, hoping to circle around behind her. As she got closer, the mare suddenly raised her head and looked right at them. She'd spotted them.

A moment later, the mare was off and racing.

Maddie urged the gelding into a gallop after the fleeing mustang, one hand guiding him with the reins and the other getting her lasso ready. The mare was fast, there was no denying that and Maddie pushed her gelding to go as fast as he could.

They raced on, Maddie staying as close to the mare as she could get but even so, the mare's lead began to lengthen. 'Come on Chopper, faster!' She dug her heels into the geldings' sides and he responded with a burst of speed, the teen gaining a little ground for a moment.

Chasing the mare up a rise, Maddie realized with horror that a gully was coming up. The gulch where a post and rail fence had been built at the bottom between the two properties. With a sense of urgency she asked her gelding for more speed but he didn't have anymore to give. They wouldn't catch up to her in time.

The mare raced down into the gully, Chopper coming to a hard stop as the teen watched with her heart in her mouth. Down, down the mare galloped, jumping logs and dodging boulders. There was no way Maddie would have followed her down there, it was too dangerous for a mule let alone a horse.

The fence was straight ahead and she prayed that the mare would try to stop but the momentum kept carrying her forward. Her hand flew to her mouth with a gasp, realizing the mare was about to try jumping it. Three, two, one. The mare tucked her front legs up tightly, flying over the fence with inches to spare.

Bel raced on.

Maddie urged the gelding back into a gallop, losing sight of the mare as she raced back up to the road. Bel was on Walker land for now but it wouldn't be long before she'd come to another fence that was the boundary again. If what she had done was anything to go by, that fence wouldn't stop her.

She had to cut her off.

With knowing the land as well as she did, she was able to take short cuts and soon the mare was in her sights again. This time when the mare leapt over the fence, Maddie was right there behind her. She wasn't about to let the mare get away a second time.

The Davidsons driveway was just ahead, the mare bolting across as the sound of a vehicle trying to brake could be heard. Without time to slow her gelding she made it across just before the truck would have run into her. With Bel only a few lengths in front of her now, she didn't look back, whirling her lasso above her head. She only had one try, if she didn't catch her now she doubted she'd get the chance to get this close to her again. She let it go, the noose settling securely around the mustang's neck as she hurriedly wrapped the rope around the saddle horn.

With the rope around her neck, Bel tried to speed up but Maddie was slowly bringing her horse to a stop and with it, the mustang. Finally, both the mare and the gelding came to a halt, Maddie patting Chopper's sweaty shoulder as the mustang fought on the end of the rope. 'Easy, easy girl. Woah now.'

Bel stopped for a brief moment, their eyes meeting and then she started to fight the rope again. Madde wasn't about to let her go and held tight to her, backing Chopper away from the mare. As soon as the mare stopped fighting, she stopped the gelding and the pressure on the rope was eased slightly. After repeating it for a few times, the mare began to realize she couldn't get away and her fighting lessened.

Turning Chopper around, her heart sank as she saw the truck stopped on the driveway. She hadn't had time to react, had been so focused on running down the mare she didn't even know there was a vehicle coming.

As she got closer, she could see it was Colton standing beside the truck. 'I-I am so so sorry-' She started, Bel putting up another slight protest at being close to another human. 'I-I didn't see you coming, I'm so sorry-'

'Hey, no harm done.' Colton tried to shrug off the incident, Maddie refusing to look at him. 'Where'd this one come from?' He questioned, motioning to the black mare.

'She um… she's the mustang I bought that I was telling you about… She escaped her yard last night, I was trying to catch her before she came into your family's land. I'm so sorry-'

'Forget it Maddie.' He interrupted. 'I'm just glad I could stop in time, plowing over you wouldn't have been a good way to make amends between our families.'

Maddie cringed, her thoughts imagining scenarios... 'Yeah… For your sake and mine.' She looked at his truck. 'Is your truck okay?'

'It's fine, you and that horse would have been worse off.'

A slight chuckle escaped her lips. 'Yeah… I um… I better get this girl back to the ranch before she causes any more havoc. Can-can we keep what happened between us? I um…' She paused for a moment. 'I don't want any more trouble between our families.'

'I guess we can.'

Maddie let out a sigh of relief. 'Thank you Colton. Again, I'm so sorry about this.'

'Maddie, it's fine. Really. Go take your horse home, we'll forget this ever happened. Okay?'

'Okay.' She nodded as Colton got back into his truck, Bel tossing her head and snorting when the engine revved to life.

'See you 'round Maddie.'

'Bye Colton.'

Bel danced around at the end of the rope as Colton drove off, calming again once the truck was out of sight. The radio on her belt crackled as Bonham checked in with her and she reported that the mare had been caught and she was on her back.

As they made their way through the creek back onto Walker property, Bonham rode to meet them. 'Are you okay?' He questioned, seeing how lathered up and sweaty both of the horses were.

'I'm alright, Bel led us on a merry chase but the main thing is that I've got her now.'

'We'll have to make the yard smaller so she can't get a run up, just until she's handled.' He glanced around. 'Run into any trouble?'

'Other than her not wanting to be caught, no.' They both urged their horses forward, Bel eventually settling down to be led back to the ranch. 'One thing's for sure, she can run. She's the fastest horse we have on the ranch. '

With Bel's little 'adventure' and worried about what the outcome would be if the mare tried it again, Bonham excused Maddie from her usual work for a few days so she could concentrate fully on her new horse. Since they knew she could jump a five foot and a half fence with ease, with Bonham's help she was able to make the yard smaller so the mare couldn't get a run up again. The day she had escaped they'd spent the evening fixing it up and when morning came the next day, the mare was still where she belonged.

Maddie took training slowly with the mare, just working on her accepting her approaching her and being in her yard. Her persistence paid off for after the third day of training, the mare let her thoroughly clean and dress her wounds. It was a huge win for her and after that, she'd called it a day. Slowly and carefully, she was earning the mare's trust.

'Thought you might need a drink.'

She glanced back as Abeline came over with a glass of water in hand, the teen patting the grass beside her. 'Thank you.' She smiled as she took the glass, the woman sitting down beside her.

Abeline motioned to the mare in the yard. 'How's she going?'

'We're getting there, slowly. Just takin it one step at a time.'

'You know, I was watching the video you uploaded of her this morning on her page-' She remarked, watching the mare for a moment before looking down at the teen 'And it reminded me of something.'

'What?'

'You. You-you were so timid and shy when I first met you and just look where you are now.' Maddie chuckled, her cheeks reddening. 'You've come so far Maddie from that girl, I'm so proud of you. I just wanted you to know that.'

A wide smile came to her lips as she gave Abeline a hug. 'I couldn't have done it without your encouragement,' She replied, looking up at her. 'You've helped me more than you'd ever know, all of you. You all have had a part to play. I couldn't have become who I am today without you all.' As a thought entered her mind, she sobered. 'I wouldn't even be here today if it wasn't for you.'

Abeline knew exactly what the teen spoke of and she held her tight, pressing a kiss to her head. Neither of them spoke for a long moment then Maddie turned around, lying back against Abeline as the woman placed her arms around her once more.

Maddie glanced up at her, content in her arms. 'I love you Abeline.'

'I love you too, my sweet girl.' She replied, tears coming to her eyes. It was the first time Maddie had said those three little words, a testament to just how much their relationship had blossomed since the girl had come to live with them.

'Ain't this a touching sight.' Bonham remarked with a laugh, coming to join the two of them on the lawn outside Bel's pen. 'My two favorite girls.'

Color rose in Abeline's cheeks. 'You always know how to make me blush, don't you?'

Maddie giggled as Bonham kissed his wife's cheek.

'What's so funny, little one?' He asked at her laughter.

'You two are so cute.'

Abeline chuckled, raising her eyebrows as she looked up at Bonham. 'We're cute apparently.'

'It would seem so,' He tousled Maddie's hair and she giggled again as she pulled away from him. 'According to this little rascal.'

'Hey, I'm not a rascal. I protest.' She said while pretending to pout.

'Na, you're not all that bad.' He replied with a smile then motioned to the yard. 'How's it going with Bel?'

'Well, she's not bolting around the pen anymore when you and Abby came over so I'd say that's a win. I'm also doing exactly what you said, only going in the pen with her if there's someone here with me.'

'Why don't you show us what you've been doing with her then?'

Maddie grinned. 'Sure. I was working on leading her while Marcus was watching us. She'll be ready for a halter soon.'

'Aren't you glad you agreed to let her try with Bel?' Abeline questioned softly as Maddie headed through the gate into the mare's pen. 'She's doing great with her Bon.'

'You know I was only worried for her safety…' He replied, the mare cautiously walking to meet the girl once she was in her yard. 'And I thought she couldn't handle her but it would seem that she's proved me wrong.'

'Hey Bel…' Maddie greeted softly, letting the mare sniff her for a moment before she gave her a pat on the neck. The mare flinched slightly but didn't attempt to move away and after a moment seemed to enjoy the touch. Running her hand down to the mare's shoulder, she started to give her a scratch to which the mare responded by lifting her head and leaning against the pressure. Maddie laughed. 'Is that the spot hey?' She began to scratch with both her hands, the mare enjoying it immensely.

'Had enough yet?' She questioned with a chuckle. 'My arms are getting tired missy.'

Bel pulled away from her a moment later and Maddie gave her another pat before stepping away from her. She started with getting the mare to face up then went through the exercises that she had been doing with her for the previous sessions. Before long Bel was walking by her side as if she'd known how to lead her whole life and without the use of a halter and leadrope.

When Maddie felt that they had done enough of that for one day, she collected a rope halter off the fence then walked back to the center of the yard. Bel stopped when she stopped, the mare eyeing what she held in her hands curiously. 'This is a halter Bel, it goes on your face so that I can lead you around and tie you up when I need to.' She explained softly. 'Here,' She held it out to her. 'Take a look.'

The mare cautiously extended her nose towards it, gave it a quick sniff then abruptly pulled back. Maddie didn't react or respond, just kept holding it there in the same position and after a moment, the mare took another sniff. 'There, it's not so bad-'

Before Maddie could stop her, the mare took the halter in her teeth and pulled it out of her hands, tossing her head as she trotted around the yard with it. 'Bel!' Maddie laughed as she stood in the center of the yard, hands on her hips. From outside the yard she could hear both Bonham and Abeline's laughter and she shook her head with amusement. 'Bring that back Bel.'

The mare stopped for a moment, the halter still in her teeth then she threw it into the air. Picking it up as soon as it hit the ground, she was off again running around the yard.

'So you want to play with it, do you?'

Bel kept prancing around, playing with the halter.

'Guess that's a yes then.' She chuckled. 'Alright, you play around with it for a moment then.'

When the mare finally tired of her antics, Maddie picked up the halter where she dropped it and approached Bel again. 'How about I show you the proper use for a halter, hey?' Carefully and slowly she rubbed the mare's face all over with the halter, starting from her muzzle and working her way up. Bel's head dropped to be in line with her withers, a clear indication that she was relaxed and okay with what she was doing.

'Alright, I'm going to put it on you properly now.' Maddie stated then slipped the halter around her nose. The mare stood quietly as she brought the poll strap over behind her ears and slipped it through the tie loop, using a quick release knot to tie it in place.

Bel was wearing a halter for the first time.

With a click of her tongue she invited the mare to walk with her, Bel keeping pace with her once more as she walked around the yard. Even with changes of direction and speed the mare didn't fall behind or stop once. It was a huge step for her and after working with her for a little longer, Maddie decided it was time to call it a day.

Later that afternoon, Maddie received a call from the lady at the horse rescue she had contacted about the mustangs. While it hadn't been an easy task, Mrs. Johnson was pleased to inform her that every last mustang from the auction that had been bought by the kill buyer had been saved. The eighteen mustangs were on their way to the horse rescue as they spoke and Maddie was overjoyed to hear that they were safe from slaughter. While she understood that not every horse could be saved, at least the herd of Spanish Mustangs were now in good hands.

What was even more surprising was that Mrs. Johnson had been able to obtain records of the horses from the Spanish Mustang registry. Every single mustang from the sale had been part of an extensive purebred breeding program with bloodlines going back to the 1950's. If it hadn't been for her intervention, the horses would have been slaughtered and the years of careful breeding lost. It would have been a terrible blow to the future of the Spanish Mustangs, for five out of the eighteen horses were stallions.

Mrs. Johnson had also been able to tell her more of her own mare's history as she'd been able to get in contact with a friend of her late owner. Mr. Hanson had bred Spanish Mustangs all his life but when he'd started getting older, he'd had to reduce the size of his operation. Most of his horses he had personally been able to rehome but he had passed before being able to find homes for the last eighteen. Hanson's friend, Miss Lilly, had been most pleased to hear that the black mare had found a good home as she had been one of his personal favorites.

Mr. Hanson had bred Bel himself, her sire had been one of the five stallions on that one way truck. When Bel's pedigree and registration papers came through to her, she thought it quite amusing that Bel's sire was named 'Texas Ranger' and that Bel's official registered name was 'Ranger's Gal' though she decided to keep Bel as her name.

After promising Mrs. Johnson she'd keep her updated with how Bel was going, she had gone to do her own research to see if she could find out anything else. What she found was pleasantly surprising, Bel came from a line of Spanish Mustangs that were well known for being great endurance racing horses. Then again, if they were even half as fast and had a third of Bel's stamina it wasn't surprising.

When she had first seen the mare in the auction, she had never expected to go down the rabbit hole she just had. Saving Bel had saved the lives of another eighteen horses and she had helped to ensure the survival of the Spanish Mustang breed with those five stallions being rescued. Those five stallions had some of the best bloodlines to be found in the breed.

Not wanting any more attention drawn to her (she found it hard to accept compliments at the best of times) Maddie kept what she had helped to achieve to herself.

The next morning as Maddie was cleaning Bel's pen, her phone began to ring. After putting the shovel down she pulled it from her pocket and frowned. She didn't recognise the number but thought it best to answer anyway. 'Hello? Maddie speaking.'

'Ah hello? Maddie is it? I'm Edna Wilkis, I think you might have found my horse.'

'Okay Ma'am.' She took a seat on a bale of hay, Bel watching her curiously from across the gate. 'Can you describe the horse that you are missing? Just to make sure that the horse I found is the same one?'

'Of course. It's a thoroughbred gelding, his name is RockabilityRoundWagon though I call him Rocky for short. He's sixteen hands and twenty eight years old. On his near side, underneath his jaw, he has a whorl.'
A smile came to her lips. 'I think the horse we have found might be yours then, Mrs. Wilkis.'

'That would be great news, I've been so worried about him…'

Maddie's smile widened as she listened to the woman explain what had happened, that she had taken a fall and broken her hip a few weeks ago and her family had moved her into a nursing home. A neighbor had been looking after her horse but after a tree fell on the fence, he had escaped and disappeared.

Deciding that the best course of action since she obviously couldn't come see Rocky herself, Maddie offered to go and visit her. After speaking with her a little longer, she arranged to go see her that afternoon and they ended the call.

Once she had hung up though, she realized she had a little problem. She had no way of getting into Austin to go and visit her. With Bonham and Abeline gone for the day, Cordell and Liam both at work and Stella having her SAT coaching after school she had no one available to drive her to the city.

After thinking her problem over a little longer, an idea came to her mind and she pulled her phone out from her pocket again to send a text.