Maddie was still sleeping soundly when a loud commotion broke out, jolting her from her sleep. A moment later she realized it was only Cordell's booming voice down the hallway and not the end of the world, the teen taking a moment to catch her breath. Wearily she rubbed her eyes then her temples. It was the third time in the week that she had woken with a headache. Must have slept wonky again… She thought while she rubbed her neck. Or I might need a new pillow…

With a tired sigh she got out of bed and made her way down to Bonham and Abeline's bedroom where Cordell's voice came from. 'Do you have to be so loud in the morning?' She questioned, stopping in the doorway. 'You'd wake the dead.'

Cordell turned around to her. 'Good-good to see you too this morning Maddie.'

'Okay…' She mumbled tiredly. 'Why are you so cheerful this morning?'

'It's the weekend. It's, its a brand new day-' He stopped, looking at Maddie. 'You okay?'

'Slept wonky and woke up with a headache. Didn't help that you make enough noise for a herd of elephants.'

'That I can agree with.' Bonham said, closing the drawer of the bedside table where he kept his gun safe. 'You didn't come to just bring us coffee.'

'No.. Um, we… are having breakfast at The Side Step and y'all are coming.'

'That's a nice idea.' Abeline said. 'Is it a special occasion?'

'No, not a one. Other than the fact that your refrigerator is broken.'

'What?' Bonham questioned.

'Yeah. So, get up, get dressed. Liam-'

Maddie shook her head as Cordell headed down the hallway to rouse his younger brother, wincing as a sharp pain went through her head.

'Maddie honey, you okay?' Abeline questioned as she placed her mug of coffee on the bedside table.

'Yeah, it's just this headache.'

'Think some hugs might help?'

At the invitation Maddie climbed onto the bed, snuggling up to Abeline as Bonham left to go find some paper towel to clean up the coffee Cordell had spilt on the floor. Abeline placed her arm around her and she closed her eyes in contentment. 'That's better…'

'We might have to get you a new pillow if you keep waking up with headaches.'

'Sounds like a good idea.' Maddie mumbled then yawned softly. 'But hey, at least I haven't woken you guys up this week.'

'I know, you've been doing really good.' She encouraged. 'You know, Christmas isn't far away. Have you thought about what you might want for Christmas yet?'

'I've already got everything I want.' She replied as she opened her eyes. 'I've got a family now, that's all I could ask for.'

Abeline smiled. 'But if you could have anything else, what would you want?'

Maddie bit her lip, not sure if she was ready or not to reveal what had been on her mind the past few weeks.

'What about a new saddle for your horse?' She suggested to help her out.

She shook her head. 'That'd be nice but if I could have anything I wanted, I'd really like for Cordell to adopt me.'

If Abeline was surprised, she didn't show it.

'Then I could be part of a real family, you know.' Maddie continued. 'Not just custody until I'm eighteen but really part of your family. I would get to call you Grandma then, if you'd let me.'

'Have you mentioned this to Cordell?'

She shook her head again. 'I don't want him to do it just to make me happy. If he was to adopt me, I'd want him to do it because he loves me and really wants me to be his daughter, not just because I asked about it. You know what I mean?' Abeline nodded and she chuckled sleepily. 'That was a lot for six o'clock in the morning.'

She laughed softly. 'I did ask after all.'

'What about you though? What would you like for Christmas?'

'Oh… I don't know. I haven't really thought about it yet.'

'That doesn't help.' Maddie chuckled softly. 'You know, this'll be my first Christmas since I was ten. My Dad and I never did Christmas, he was only with me once-' And the rest of the time, he was with his other family. Her thoughts added. 'so it's my first Christmas in five years and I was hoping I might be able to help make it special somehow.'

First Christmas in five years… 'I'm sure we'll think of something you can do to contribute. What did you used to do with your mom? Did you guys have any traditions?'

'Christmas Carols. After my Dad left, Mom and I actually got to celebrate Christmas. We were never allowed to before. Mama and I used to sing carols together in front of the fire on Christmas Eve and roast marshmallows.' A sad smile touched her lips as the memory came to mind. 'We'd sing and read the Christmas story from the Bible and we'd sleep out in the living room. Christmas morning we'd make pancakes together for breakfast then open presents. The most fun I had was trying to get Mom a gift without her finding out about it. Pretty hard to do when you're only six years old and not allowed to shop on your own yet. The first year I got her something, it was a glass block thing with a 3d image of a mare and foal inside. I was so proud of buying that for her from my pocket money I'd saved up…'

'Sounds like a beautiful memory.'

'Yeah…' She sighed softly. 'Even though I have you guys now, I just wish Mama were still here. That's not bad to wish for, is it?'

'Of course not honey.' Abeline assured her. 'Not at all.'

Maddie thought for a moment. 'I'll have to go through the boxes Mom's friend sent again. I might even be able to find some ornaments that we used to put on our tree. Would it be alright if I added one or two of my own to the tree this year if I find them?'

'I don't see why it wouldn't be. If you find them, you can put them up.' She looked down at the teen, Maddie having closed her eyes again. 'You going back to sleep?'

'Mmmm. Just let me have five more minutes.'

Abeline chuckled, a smile on her lips then she reached for the mug of coffee and began to sip it as Maddie snuggled closer into the crook of her arm. As she drank her morning coffee she thought over what Maddie had said to her. Obviously Maddie felt comfortable with telling her what she had and she could see the logic too as to why the teen hadn't mentioned it before to Cordell about him adopting her. On the other hand, experience with men had taught her that unless things were spelt out to them, most times they couldn't see what was right in front of their faces.

And it would make for a wonderful Christmas present for Maddie…

Her mug was emptied by the time Bonham returned and she cautioned him to be quiet with a finger to her lips, motioning down at the sleeping teenager. Her husband smiled, shaking his head with amusement.

'Someone has you around her little finger.' He remarked in a whisper, cleaning up the mess Cordell had made.

Abeline smiled. I wouldn't change it for the world either. She thought as Bonham finished cleaning up the mess then quietly gathered his clothes to head to the bathroom to change. Maddie slept on and though her arm was starting to go numb, she didn't want to wake her.

The relationship she had with Maddie was definitely different from the one she had with Stella. While she wasn't one who had favorites, it was clear to see that Maddie and her had become extremely close. Even though Stella and Maddie were almost the same age, they were complete opposites of each other. Stella preferred to be out of the house doing things with her friends yet Maddie was content to stay at home and spend time with family instead.

She glanced over at the clock, Maddie had been napping for almost half an hour and her arm had gone numb ages ago. When she moved, Maddie stirred. 'Sorry sweetheart but it's time to get up.'

'Do I have to?' Maddie mumbled tiredly.

'Unless you want me to tickle you-'

'No, no. No tickles.' Something that she didn't like people knowing was the fact that she was extremely ticklish. 'I'm getting up…'

'Alright Maddie-' Bonham exclaimed as he returned, ready for the day. 'Stop lollygagging around all day, you heard Cordell. Up and at 'em young lady.'

'Yes sir.' She sighed as she sat up, taking a moment to gather her bearings before she stood.

'If you still have a headache later Maddie-' Abeline said as the teen started out. 'Let me know and I'll see if I can find you something for it.'

Maddie nodded then headed back down the hallway to her room. Bubbles was still curled up fast asleep on her bed when she walked in, the cat stirring when she closed the door behind her. 'Well hello missy-moo.' Bubbles rolled over onto her back, begging for her stomach to be rubbed. She chuckled. 'Oh, you know I can't resist your cute little tummy…'

After giving her cat an appropriate amount of pats and smoochies, she changed into her clothes for the day. Her hair was brushed back into a ponytail and she placed her hat on as she headed out of her room, Bubbles dancing around her ankles. 'Yes, yes. Breakfast time. I know.'

Once her kitten was fed and she had finished gathering what she needed to take with her, she headed out into the morning. Bel whinnied softly when she saw her approaching the pen, a wide smile coming to Maddie's lips as the mustang trotted to the fence. 'Hello girl…' She gave her a gentle pat on the cheek, thrilled that the mare actually had come to greet her for the first time. 'Hello. How you doing hey?'

Bel followed her into the shelter, Maddie taking a look to see if the mare still had food and water. There wasn't quite enough for her liking and so after shooing the mare back into the pen and closing the gate behind her, she entered the shelter to give her more hay and top up her water containers. When they were full again she left the shelter then opened the gate once more. Bel went over to check out the fresh hay then walked back to her, trying to stick her head through the rails.

Maddie laughed softly. 'My my, you do want pats this morning, don't you?' She happily obliged, giving the mare ample scratches beneath her jaw. 'That's my gorgeous girl. I'm not so bad, after all, hey?'

'Come on Maddie-' Bonham called as he and Abeline headed to the truck. 'we're ready to go.'

At his calling she gave Bel one last pat then quickly gathered her bag she'd hung up on the fence. 'Coming sir!'

'So, SAT's today.' Maddie remarked as she and Stella set the table for breakfast. 'You think you're ready?'

'Ah, nope.' She chuckled nervously. 'I know I took all the extra classes and stuff but I still feel so… unprepared. If I don't get a good score, I won't get accepted into college-'

'Hey, I'm gonna stop you there. Okay?' Maddie interrupted and stopped laying out the cutlery for a moment to give her attention fully to Stella. 'I've seen how hard you've been studying, you're going to do great. I know you will. You just need to believe in yourself that you can do this and you're halfway there.'

'How is it that you're younger than me and can come up with better advice?'

She chuckled. 'Your Grandma has called me an 'old soul' on more then one occasion. But serious Stells. You've got this. I know you do.'

Stella smiled. 'Thanks Maddie. That means a lot.' The two of them recommenced setting the table while Bonham, Abeline, Cordell and August were in the kitchen cooking breakfast. 'So… I heard you and Colton have been hanging out together the last couple days.'

'Yeah. Did you hear we found Rocky's owner?'

She nodded. 'Colton mentioned that. Said something too about a miniature horse and goat?'

'Oh, you have got to come over to the Davidsons with me sometime to see the mini. She is adorable. She's like a miniature Rocky, only a much shorter and fatter version. She's twenty nine, she was born a year before Rocky and the two of them grew up together.'

'That's sweet. How is Rocky doing? With studying for the SAT's I haven't really had time to ask you about him.'

'He's doing good, I went over yesterday to check on him and give Mrs. Davidson more cream for his wounds. His leg is almost healed up, I doubt it'd even scar.'

'That's great news.' They finished up with the table, both of them taking a seat to wait since they had finished. 'And Bel?' Stella got her phone out to scroll on Facebook. 'How are you going with her?'

'Making progress.' Maddie replied as August carried out some toast to put on the table. 'Well, lookie here. You didn't set the smoke alarm off this time, wonders will never cease.'

'That wasn't my fault that time and you know it.' He said as he sat it down. 'Someone-' He looked over in Stella's direction. 'didn't get all of her banana bread out of it and it burning set the smoke alarm off.'

Stella rolled her eyes. 'Yeah yeah.'

Maddie chuckled. Sibling rivalry.

'So…' August pulled up a seat beside Stella, hopping onto his phone like his sister was. 'Noticed you've got close to one hundred followers on Bel's page already. Nice work.'

'Really?' She raised an eyebrow then pulled her phone from her pocket to check. 'Huh. I didn't take any notice to be honest.' She remarked as she glanced over her notifications. She had a few comments on her posts too but as Bonham and Abeline came out to join them, she returned it to her pocket. 'I'll take a look later.'

'Good to see someone takes notice of the rules.' Abeline stated when she saw Maddie had put her phone away. Begrudgingly Stella and August followed Maddie's lead and put their phones away. 'Thank you.'

'You know-' Bonham remarked as he pulled out a chair for Abeline. 'In my day, people actually spoke to each other face to face.'

'In like, the age of the dinosaurs?' August teased.

'That's enough out of you young man.' He replied good naturedly, sitting down beside his wife. 'Now where's that bacon…'

Conversation was started around the table as they served up their breakfast, Cordell soon emerging from the kitchen with the bacon.

'I have something, uh, very important… to share with y'all.' Cordell started after setting the tray of bacon in the middle of the table. 'I'm gonna wait until Uncle Liam gets here. Uh-'

'That doesn't sound ominous.' Stella interjected, picking away at her scrambled eggs.

'Ooh… Ominous-' August repeated. 'Yeah. Someone's SAT prep courses are paying off.'

'Hey, I utilised 'ominous' prior to prep.'

'Okay, okay-' Maddie interrupted. 'Why don't we just stick to the matter at hand here, which-' She helped herself to some bacon once everyone else had taken what they wanted. 'is whatever Cordell wants to speak about.'

'Thank you Maddie.' Cordell said as the front door opened, his younger brother returning from his juice run down the street. 'Liam, bout time.'

'Hope y'all didn't wait for me to start eating.' Liam replied as he took the spare seat at the end of the table. 'Finally managed to get my green juice, not that it was exactly what I wanted… Luckily, Saturday is my cheat day-' He reached for the tray of bacon. 'So-'

'Hey! Bacon isn't a cheat. It's a lifestyle.'

Laughter rang out around the table at Bonham's teasing.

'So,' Liam took a sip of his juice and lent back in his chair. 'What's the big news, big brother?'

'There-' Cordell started after a moment. 'There's a camera hidden in our home.'

Blank expressions were on everyone's faces as they tried to make sense of what he was meaning.

'It's like a… like a scavenger hunt?' August suggested.

Abeline looked up from her plate. 'Did you put in a security system?'

'I don't need a stinking security system…'

Maddie covered her ears with her hands as their voices began to raise, the added noise not helping her headache at all.

'Okay, okay, okay!' Cordell exclaimed loudly. 'Stop, stop, stop, stop! Stop, please.'

'Here here…' Maddie mumbled in agreement.

'Listen. What I'm saying is that…somebody or-or somebodies um, broke into the ranch and hid a surveillance camera, likely more then one in our home, to spy on us.'

Shocked silence followed.

As what Cordell said began to sink in, Maddie's stomach began to twist in knots. Oh… I think I'm going to be sick.

'When did you learn this?' Abeline questioned, breaking the silence.

'Last night, after-after-'

'You let us sleep at home after you found a spy camera?' Stella interrupted. 'The day I take my SAT's.'

'I needed to make sure you all were safe and now I'm a step ahead of whoever's watching our home, a-and I can get to the bottom of this. Plus, I have a decent idea of who is responsible.'

Dear lord, I hope it hasn't got anything to do with my father. Maddie thought as the knots in her stomach tightened.

Liam placed his juice container down on the table loudly. 'I hope the Davidson's are on your list of suspects.'

'The Davidson's?' He questioned.

'Gale Davidson stood right there. She made us out as jerks in front of the entire community at the chili cook-off last week. So it would stand to reason that she would want more dirt on us.'

Maddie rolled her eyes as Cordell walked over to his brother and took him away from the table to speak with him. From what she had seen of the Davidson's, they didn't seem to be the type to want to place cameras into someone else's home to spy on them. Not to mention it was a felony and Denise was a District Attorney.

'I don't need you to add fuel to this dumpster fire of a family feud in front of my kids.'

Cordell started, keeping his voice low though Maddie could still hear him easily.

'Besides, the person behind this is Serano.'

'Oh really?' Liam questioned. 'You know, we never found anything in his warehouse that would suggest that he's using hidden surveillance, okay? That's not his M.O., but it could be the Davidson's' M.O.'

'They're our neighbors, Liam. They're not some crime syndicate.'

'Oh, you know what, you know what? You always do this.'

'Do what?'

'You always give Denise the benefit of the doubt.'

'I'm not giving-'

'Never me.'

As their voices raised, Abeline shook her head. 'Hey!' They stopped abruptly at her shout. 'Boys. Enough.'

'Yeah, Mama… Of course.' Liam glared at him as they walked back to the table. 'Here's what needs to happen-' He started. 'We all have to stay away from the ranch until I figure this out. Okay? And I will figure this out. I'll-I'll figure this out by going after the people actually responsible.' He looked at his brother, no one saying a word. 'Eat up.'

Yeah, no thanks… I just lost my appetite. Maddie pushed her plate away from her as Cordell headed to the kitchen. 'I um… Excuse me…' Before anyone could protest she hurried away from the table and headed into the ladies bathroom. Standing at the sink she took a few deep breaths to try and stop herself from panicking. Someone had been watching them. All of them. For how long? How long had their home been spied on? Was it days? Weeks? Months?

What had they seen?

Though her cutting habits were much better now, even so, there had been a few times when she had relapsed. Not badly, not anything like when she had almost died but still, she was so ashamed of herself. The Walkers all thought she had been clean since she'd almost died, only Cordell knew of the one time he'd walked in on her in the barn. The second time she had cut, Cordell had been away for two weeks on a 'Dad and Daughter' holiday with Stella. The third, fourth, and fifth, she had just felt it all building up inside herself until she couldn't hold herself back from cutting any longer.

She hadn't told anyone about it either, had kept it hidden away and secret.

After Cordell, Abeline, the rest of them saying they were proud of her, would they really still be proud if they knew she was still cutting?

It wasn't as easy to stop as they thought.

Maddie clenched her hands together tight, her nails pressing so hard into her palms they'd probably bruise later. She didn't care though. She couldn't cut… She couldn't do it again.

She was trying to stop, she was trying hard.

Deep breaths… She coached herself, doing the breathing exercises that both her councilor and Cordell had taught her. Deep breaths… In… Out…

After repeating them over and over for a couple minuets, she slowly began to calm down. Other thoughts went through her mind but she forced them back. No. Thinking about what the people behind the camera might have seen would be a sure way to bring on a panic attack. Not something she wanted to repeat, not when she expected Abeline or Stella to walk in any moment to check on her.

'You're fine.' She said to herself, looking in the mirror. 'You're fine… Just fine. Keep it together Madeline Matilda Stanton. Your made of tougher stuff then this. Don't you dare let a little thing like this bring you down.'

After she finished her little pep talk to herself, she let out a soft chuckle. 'Okay, you have gone crazy. Talking to yourself. Well, at least I didn't ask myself a question then answer it.'

If she didn't laugh, she'd cry.

Taking another deep breath, she forced her emotions back and her mask slipped back into place. Though she felt comfortable with the Walkers, after years of hiding things and keeping secrets, it was easier to slip back into her old habits then allow herself to show emotions. For a time she had but once she had gotten a hold of herself, she was able to suppress them once again.

Besides, no one wanted to deal with a crybaby.

That was something she had told herself more then once.

When she stepped back out of the bathroom, Liam had already left with Stella to take her to her SAT's. August was over at the table cleaning up after breakfast as Cordell spoke with Bonham and Abeline over the other side of the room.

'You need a hand with this?' She offered as she joined him at the table.

'I was just going to send a search party to come find you.' August replied, trying to lighten the tense atmosphere. 'Wash or dry?'

'Flip a coin?'

He pulled his wallet from his pocket and got out a dime. 'I take heads.'

'Tails wash.'

He flipped the coin and it landed on tails. 'Looks like I get the tea towel.'

'Fine by me.' Maddie chuckled, stacking up the plates. Surprisingly, all of them were empty except for her own. Then again, she hadn't really been too hungry even before Cordell had dropped that bombshell. 'So you were getting worried about me hey?'

'Just worried you might go do something crazy, like I don't know. Run off to go find this guy yourself.'

'Hey, don't sell a girl short. If I'm going to be chasing someone, I'd rather be riding. I'd have dropped home first to grab a horse.' She replied to his slight teasing then sobered before looking over at Cordell. 'Your Dad did what he thought was right by not telling us straight away. Who knows what the outcome might have been if who ever is behind the cameras got tipped off that we know about them.'

'Kind of creepy to think about what they might have seen.' August finished placing the empty cutlery into the plastic basket carry to the kitchen. 'Sure hope they didn't put cameras in the bathroom.'

'You mean, you hope they didn't catch your terrible singing in the shower?' He looked over at her. 'Yeah August. With as close as the quarantine pens are to your house, I had a front row seat to the 'One Man Band' each night I've gone to check on Bel this week-' She ducked at the tea towel he threw in her direction. 'Okay, okay. I surrender.'

Picking up the dirty plates and cutlery, the two of them headed into the kitchen to start washing up. Since it was only a few things and not wishing to waste either water or electricity by using the big dishwasher, Maddie filled the sink to wash everything by hand.

'Hey kiddos-' Cordell stuck his head through the door a little while later. 'I um… I'm about to head to work. Mom and Dad, they're going to take you both on a shopping trip for the day. Maybe you two can get a head start on your Christmas shopping.'

'Yeah, maybe I might buy a camera.' August remarked sarcastically as he wiped up a glass. 'Hope you get the bastard.'

'Augie, language.' He looked over at Maddie. 'You okay Maddie girl?'

'I'm alright.' She plastered a smile on her face, halfway up her arms in water and soap. 'A shopping trip sounds fun.'

'Alright, I'll see you both later then.'

After he left Maddie washed up a couple extra dishes then took her gloves off and wiped her arms and hands on a towel.

'Hey, where are you going?' August protested as she started to the door. 'Don't tell me I have to finish this on my own.'

'I'll be right back, promise.' She replied over her shoulder, the kitchen door swinging shut after her. Cordell was almost to his truck when she came out the front door and she jogged a few steps to catch up to him. 'Cordell, wait.'

He stopped, turning around.

'You forgot your morning hug.'

'Guess I did.' Cordell replied with a chuckle, giving Maddie a hug back. For some reason she seemed to hold onto him longer then usual before she let go. 'Try and have a good day, okay?'

She nodded. 'I'll try. Be careful.'

'Always am.' He gave her a kiss on the forehead then climbed in the drivers seat. 'Bye Maddie.'

'Bye.' Maddie stood in the car park as he left and waved then headed back inside to finish washing up. When everything was clean, both her and August went out to go put the tables back. Abeline was sweeping the floor as they walked out, Bonham wiping down the bar that the employee on duty the night before didn't finish cleaning properly.

'Alright-' Bonham held out a cloth to August. 'How quick you think you can wipe down those tables?'

'Gramps, come on, I'm not a kid anymore. You can just ask me to clean.' He took a glance around. 'Two minuets? Easy.'

'Two minuets?' Maddie chuckled as Bonham tossed a cloth to August. 'How about we race? See who can get the most tables done.'

'Ah, sure. Gramps, you got another-'

'Thanks.' She caught the cloth he tossed her with a smile then raised her eyebrows mischievously at August. 'Ready?'

'Set-'

'Go.'

The two of them took off racing, Bonham and Abeline glancing over for a moment before returning to their conversation. Both Maddie and August were fast, wiping the tables down furiously while each trying to keeping an eye on how the other was progressing.

'Done!' They exclaimed in unison.

Maddie started to laugh, shaking her head. 'Unbelievable.

'Looks like we tied.' August said, the two of them high-fiving each other then he turned to Bonham. 'Did we get that time?'

'Of course you did.' He nodded.

'Well, now that we're all done here.' Abeline said as she placed the broom back where it belonged. 'How about we get that head-start on some Christmas shopping?'