'Oh come on Maddie-' August protested as she took another halter down off the rack. 'How long does it take to choose a halter? Like, seriously? Just pick one.'

Maddie chuckled as she tried to choose between the red one and the purple one. 'Its more then just a halter Augie, I'm choosing a color for everything. Her feed buckets, her rugs, her gear-' She contemplated them both for a moment then decided against them and returned them to the rack. 'It's not a decision to be taken lightly.'

He rolled his eyes. 'I don't see why it matters.'

'You're a boy. Of course you don't.' Her eyes wandered back to the purple halter that had first caught her eye. 'I think purple will suit her.'

'Well, hallelujah-' She took the fancy rope halter from the rack and added it to the empty basket she was carrying. 'About time.'

'You could go wait in the car like your Grampa is doing.' A matching lead rope went into the basket after the halter then a couple of training lead ropes of varying length joined it. 'Or why don't you go browse around like Abby is doing?' She motioned across the store where Abeline was browsing through the women's clothing section. 'Because I'm going to be here awhile.'

August shook his head, sighing heavily. 'No, I offered to help you choose your stuff for Bel so I'll stick to it. What's next?'

'Grooming gear, brushes and such. It'll just be nice to have my own gear for Bel instead of having to borrow every time I need to do something with her.' A cheap nylon head collar was added to the basket as well as another lead rope for a spare set then they headed over to the grooming section. 'I should look at saddles too while I'm here, even though it'll probably be awhile before she needs one of her own.'

'You can still use Mom's saddle for awhile, I guess.' He saw the questioning look on her face. 'The one you've been using for Skylar and the other horses was Mom's old saddle.'

'Oh, I didn't realize… Probably should have guessed though considering Skylar was your moms horse.' There were quite a few different grooming kits on the shelf, some in plastic containers and some in bags and she wondered which one would be the best. Finally she settled for the largest bag kit they had which contained almost every kind of grooming item imaginable. 'I have wondered something though, why don't you and Stella have your own horses?'

August shrugged. 'When we were little there was a pony Grampa had on the ranch for us both but yeah… Guess the horse bug never bit us. Unlike someone else I know.'

She chuckled as they continued their way around the shelf to the other side. 'Got it from my Mom. She was horse crazy when she was my age. She said she was able to ride before she could walk. I only remember going to visit her parents ranch a couple times when I was little but somewhere there's a photo of me and her riding her old horse. I must have been three at the time?' Looking over the dressage whips she chose matching purple ones that glitter grips. 'We visited again when I was five for a little while but other then that, I don't remember anything else.'

He nodded then motioned to the whips she was holding. 'What are you buying them for? I thought you were against whips.'

'In an abusive way, yes, I hate them; but a whip is just a tool. It's the person that's behind them that makes them bad. I want to start liberty training with Bel to work on our bond on the ground before I do much riding and I'll need these and a couple carriage whips. They're only used as an extension of my arm and to give cues. I'd never beat a horse. You don't need to.'

'Makes sense. So-' Maddie handed him the whips to hold as she looked at the carriage whips. 'Liberty training? What is that?'

'It's a combination of advanced groundwork and tricks, like rearing and bowing and such.' She was happy with the length of the two she had chosen then added a lunge whip to the collection before they continued on. 'I want to do it for fun, my mom did it with her horses.'

They continued their way around the shop, Maddie adding a couple extra things to the basket before going to the counter to leave the items there and continue shopping. When she had finished gathering everything she needed at that point in time for Bel, they joined back up with Abeline.

'How'd you go?' She asked, glancing up from another clothing rack as the two teenagers came over to her. 'Get everything?'

'Everything for Bel, yep. I won't buy her rugs or anything until I've been able to measure her up-' Her voice trailed off as Abeline took a skirt off the rack. 'Oooh, that's nice.'

August sighed, his stomach reminding him that it was nearing lunch time. 'If you two are doing clothes shopping, I'm going out to join Grampa in the truck. Can we go for lunch when we finish here?'

Abeline nodded, taking her attention off the skirt for a moment. 'Any place in particular you'd like to go?'

'Anywhere there's food.'

'Typical male response.' Maddie teased. 'I do have a suggestion though.' She stated tentatively. 'When my father took me to go shopping for Bubbles stuff, we visited this cafe for lunch and they had the best strawberry milkshakes I've ever had. Could we go there?'

'Do you remember what it was called?'

'Nope. It was in a food court in a big shopping center though, we went to PetSmart and…' She thought for a moment. 'There was a Build-A-Bear store there.'

'I know the place. That'd work for you Augie?'

'Fine by me. I'm gonna-' He raised an eyebrow at the shirt Maddie pulled from the rack. 'Gonna go wait in the car.'

Maddie chuckled after he left, hanging the shirt on the rack again. 'Boys.'

'You'll learn soon enough when you start dating young lady.' Abeline took another look at the skirt and held it down in front of her jeans. 'What do you think?'

'I like it, I think it'd suit you.' She replied. It was high-waisted, ankle length and made from a brownish suede like material. 'You should wear skirts more.'

After thinking about it for a little longer, she shook her head and returned it to the rack. 'Probably wouldn't have anywhere to wear it to. It's nice though.'

The way Abeline had looked at the skirt didn't slip past Maddie, the teen inconspicuously attempting to check the price tag on it after she had moved onto another rack. After doing some math, she figured out she'd be able to afford it. There was one left in her size too, the only problem was being able to purchase it without her noticing it.

'Hey Maddie, come here.'

She went over to Abeline at her invitation, Abeline holding up a nice blue denim shirt with flowers embroidered into the shoulders. 'You do need some good going out shirts, I think this one would look nice on you.'

Maddie took a look at it for a moment then nodded. 'It does look nice, but I've pretty well spent all the money I have on hand already with Bel's gear.'

'I'll get it for you.' The girl went to protest but she wouldn't hear of it. 'Maddie, don't argue with me about it. You know you won't win.'

'Fine.' She sighed heavily. 'But you can't keep spoiling me! You already brought me that new pillow. It's too much.'

'Nonsense. Besides, you need it anyway.'

Guess who's getting that skirt for Christmas… Maddie thought with a mischievous smile as Abeline searched for a shirt in her size. Now how to get it without you noticing it…

After they had finished looking through the clothing, they headed to the counter to make their purchases and started out to the truck. 'Oh damn!' Maddie exclaimed loudly about halfway across the car park. 'I forgot a fly veil. I'll be right back-'

'Don't take too long.' Abeline replied as the teen hurried back to the store.

'I won't.'

'Forgot something?' The lady at the counter questioned when she walked back into the store.

'Had to get 'someone'-' She motioned out the store window to the truck in the car park. 'out of here first. I'll just be a moment.'

Quickly Maddie went to the rack where the skirt was and picked out the right size, grabbed an extra fly veil (to go with her cover story) then headed back to the counter. 'Can I get this wrapped up please?' She questioned as she laid the skirt down on the counter. 'Don't want her to see it before Christmas.'

'Not a problem at all.' She assured her, taking some brown wrapping paper out from beneath the counter. 'Your Grandma will like this one, it's been a best seller since it came in.'

Maddie went to say she wasn't actually related but then decided against it and just smiled. 'I hope so. It's so hard to buy presents when they already have everything, you know? Better to do Christmas shopping now then the at last minute.'

'Totally agree with you there.' She replied. 'Would you like this in another bag?'

'I'll just stick it in this one, it'll be fine.' After paying for the skirt and the fly veil, she put the brown paper wrapped package in the other bag with her lead ropes and such. 'Thank you.'

'No problem, enjoy the rest of your day.'

'About time,' August said out the window as Maddie emerged from the store. 'We thought maybe something had happened.'

'Oh haha.' She playfully hit him over the head with the fly veil before opening the door. 'She had to go out back and find an extra size for me.'

'Isn't it a bit early to be buying fly veils?' Bonham questioned as Maddie climbed into the backseat. 'You won't need them till Spring.'

'Buying them now means I've got time to train her to get used to them before she needs to wear them.' She closed the door and put her seat belt on. 'Alright, lunch, here we come.'

A little while later, as the family waited for their lunch to arrive, Maddie slipped into the Build-A-Bear store to look around. It was like the one she remembered visiting as a child with her mom, memories coming to mind as soon as she had walked in. A sad smile touched her lips as she picked up one of the bears. It was identical to the one that her mom had brought her…

'Lunch just arrived.' Abeline remarked as she walked up to Maddie, the teen startling slightly. 'Sorry.'

'It's alright, just thinking.' She replied with a sigh, still holding the teddy. 'Mom brought me one like this one for my tenth birthday, I didn't expect they'd still have one exactly like it here.'

It was a light, cream colored bear with an embroidered smiley face. 'It's pretty cute.'

'Yeah, I loved it. Somehow she had a voice recording put into it, her singing that lullaby song she wrote for me. I used to hold it to get to sleep when I was in the foster homes. Made me feel close to her I guess.'

They started out of the store back to where Bonham and August were seated. 'Do you still have it?'

'I wish. My father didn't think it was appropriate for a teenager to still have stuffed animals. First time he tried to throw it away I went dumpster diving to get it out, second time he threw it in the fireplace.'

God, what kind of father would do that? Abeline thought, glancing down at the teen.

'Couldn't get it back that time.' She said sadly. 'But I am probably too old for teddy bears now anyway. Good thing I've got Bubbles to cuddle at night.' They returned to the table, Maddie sitting down next to August. 'Alright, who's turn is it to say the blessing?'

By the time that Bonham got the call from Cordell that it was safe to return to the ranch, Maddie was more then happy to go home. After the long day they'd all had shopping, she was exhausted and not to mention, still had quite a bad headache. Once they'd finished lunch they had split up, Bonham and August going to look at stuff they liked while she and Abeline had done some more Christmas shopping.

She had lost count of how many shops she and Abeline had gone through but at least she had been able to mark off presents for Liam, Stella and August. Stella had probably been the easiest to shop for, she loved jewellery and makeup so with Abeline's suggestions, she'd found her a nice necklace and earring set and a kit of her favorite makeup. For Liam she had brought a thousand piece puzzle and August would be getting a pair of headphones because, apparently according to him, you could never have enough headphones.

Ideas for Bonham and Cordell were a little harder to come up with and after not finding anything she liked that would be appropriate for them, she'd decided to shelve their shopping for another day. Abeline had managed to get most of her shopping done too and of course, Maddie swore secrecy. No one would be able to wrangle out of her what Abeline had gotten them for Christmas.

Before they'd even gotten out of the car park though, to everyone's amusement, Maddie was already asleep. She slept the entire way home, only waking once they'd pulled into the drive.

'How was shopping?' Cordell asked as he walked over to join them, the other officers at the scene finishing up the last of the things for the day.

'Exhausting.' Maddie was the first to reply. 'I could sleep for a week.'

'Boring-' August added. 'Especially when these two were looking at clothes.'

'How's it going here son?...'

Maddie excused herself, telling Abeline she was heading to go check on Bel. When she got closer to the pen, she could see that the mare was clearly worked up. 'Hey, hey Bel-' She stopped at the fence but the mare didn't want to come over to her. 'You been running hey?' The mare was covered in dry sweet and definitely had been quite upset. She frowned. Yes, having a lot of people here was probably the reason why she was so anxious but it was like she'd been seriously spooked by something.

She looked back towards the house which was where Bel was focused on then decided she'd try to see if anyone could tell her why the mare was so spooked. Bonham, Abeline and August were gathered on the front lawn discussing something as she walked over to join them.

'You think they'll be able to salvage the footage?' August questioned, earning himself an eyebrow raise from his grandmother. 'Because that way I could prove that I did not eat that last piece of cheesecake, alright?'

'I might have a little confession about that.' Maddie said with a chuckle. 'I kinda, mighta, been nibbling away at it during the day then 'poof' it was all gone.'

'And you let me take the blame for that? Gee, thanks Maddie.'

'No problem Augie,' She grinned. 'anytime.'

A couple more officers walked out from the house, carrying plastic bags containing cords for the cameras they had found. 'What's it gonna take to get people to stop coming after this family?' Bonham started. 'I swear-'

'Bon.' Abeline cut him off, placing her hand on his arm. 'All that matters is that we are all here, safe.'

He was going to reply when a female officer approached them, holding a wooden box. 'We found something when we opened up the walls. Appears unrelated to the surveillance equipment. Does this belong to you?'

Bonham looked at the box as she handed it to him. 'Well, that's the emblem this family's used for generations. I believe it must belong to us. Thank you very much.' Inside the box lay a Colt pistol and an old faded piece of paper which he pulled out to open after passing the box to Abeline.

'What is that?' She asked, Maddie and August coming over closer to get a better look.

'This looks like a map.' He remarked as he unfolded it. 'It's a map of our property. 'Walker Ranch, belonging to E.B. Walker.'' How about that.'

They looked over the map for a little while then Maddie remembered what she had come over to ask. They didn't have any idea what might have gotten her horse so upset and so she went in search of Cordell. She found him speaking with the Captain and waited patiently until he had finished. 'Um, Cordell… I've just been over to see Bel and it looks like she's been pretty worked up about something. Did something spook her?'

'Uh, there was a situation-' Cordell started. 'Here, earlier, while we were trying to find out who was behind the cameras. Liam fired some warning shots, I'd say that probably is what frightened her.'

'Alright.' She nodded. 'That would make sense then, 'cause she's still quite anxious.'

'I-I'm sure she'll settle down once everyone else has gone.' He assured her. 'She's okay though?'

'Yeah, just worked herself into quite a sweat is all. Nothing a good brush can't fix.' Her eyes fell on the open door. 'You um… You wouldn't have happened to see Bubbles though? Would you?'

'Bubbles? Ah, no. I haven't seen her. Not since before we left for breakfast this morning.'

Maddie sighed. 'I bet the gunfire has probably spooked her too. Guess I better go look for her.'

'Once I finish up here, I'll come give you a hand, okay?'

'Thanks, that'd be great.'

By the time the law enforcement had finished with their investigation and sweep of the house, it was nearing dark. Much to Maddie's worry, she hadn't found Bubbles either and as the sun slipped down behind the horizon, she only became more worried. Bubbles was a tiny cat compared to the feral cats that roamed around the ranch and it wouldn't end well for her if one of them fought with her. Not only that, but she'd make a tasty snack for the many predators that roamed the hills.

True to his word, Cordell had joined forces with her to find her cat, getting everyone else involved in searching for her as well. They'd started inside first since Bubbles was an indoor cat only but there had been no sign of her and their search had been extended outside. The garage, the sheds, the barn, every single hiding spot that they could think of had been checked and double checked.

She had disappeared.

They kept searching.

As Maddie was making her way back to the barn to check in the hayloft again, a faint meow caught her ear. 'Bubbles?' She heard it again in answer to her call but as she looked around, she couldn't see her anywhere. 'Bubbles? Where are you girl?'

The meowing continued, prompting her to look up and there she was. High up in the tallest tree near the barn. Walking over to the truck she placed her hands on her hips as she gazed up through the branches. 'How on earth did you get all the way up there?'

Her only reply was more plaintive and sad meows.

'Come on down, it's safe now.'

Bubbles didn't move and after a moment, Maddie realized that she was stuck. 'Alright, alright. I'm coming. Hold your horses.'

The things I do for my pets… She thought as she started up the tree. Back in the day she had been quite the accomplished tree climber but now, being much older and a lot bigger too, climbing a tree was harder work then she had remembered. Bubbles continued to meow and she stopped for a moment to catch her breath, looking up to see how much father she had to go. 'I'm coming, I'm coming.'

Slowly she worked her way up into the tree but with the light fading fast it made it a lot harder to see what she was doing. Finally though she made it to the top, the branches creaking a little under her weight. I sure hope this doesn't break…

'Come here Bubbles. Here sweetie.' She encouraged softly, reaching out as far as she could without letting go of a sturdy branch. 'Come here, I've got you. Come on.'

Bubbles looked at her as if to say 'If I could get down by myself, don't you think I already could have?'

The cat didn't move and Maddie sighed. Her arm just wasn't quite long enough to reach her. Now that she was closer to her, it only took her a moment to see what the problem was. Somehow Bubbles had gotten her right back leg wedged in between two branches and hadn't been able to free herself. Looking at the branches carefully, she slowly moved closer towards the cat.

There was a creak.

Then a groan.

She held her breath but the branch held steady while she managed to get the cat's leg unstuck, Bubbles purring loudly as she pulled her towards her and held her against her chest. 'I've got you now, you're okay.'

But I'm not… She thought as she glanced down. Gosh… It was a long way down.

Maddie swallowed hard as she realized just how high up she was. She'd never climbed a tree this high before and with a cat under one arm, just how on earth was she going to get down? Not to mention that the last fading rays of sunlight had just sunk below the horizon. 'Oh crap…'

She might have unstuck the cat but all she'd done was successfully manage to get herself well and truly into a pickle.

'Didn't think this one through, did we girl?'

The branch creaked again.

'You know, I probably should have just asked for help…' How on earth had she thought this was a good idea?

Yep. She was most definitely regretting the choices she had just made.

'I am not going to live this one down…'

As the branch creaked again then gave a little under her feet, she knew she didn't have time to think about what the Walkers would think. She needed help before the branch broke. Carefully she placed Bubbles onto her shoulder then pulled her phone from her pocket. The next problem, who to call?

Abeline. She decided after a moment of thought. The worst she'd do would be laugh then say to sit tight and she'd get the boys to come get her down.

'Hey Abby, I found Bubbles.' She started after she had picked up her call.

'Oh, great news honey.' Abeline replied, mouthing to everyone that Maddie had found her cat. 'But why didn't you just come in to tell us?'

'Well… That's the thing…' Maddie could feel her cheeks burning up. 'Bubbles was stuck up a tree and well… we might kinda…' She took a deep breath then blurted the situation out in one go. 'bebothstuckupthesamedamntree.'

'You're stuck up a tree?' Abeline began to laugh then turned the phone onto loudspeaker. 'Oh god Maddie, how did you manage that?'

'Um….' She could hear them laughing in the background but as the branch gave slightly again, she knew it was no laughing matter. 'Cause I really didn't think this through before I tried climbing it, okay? Like, not to cause anyone to worry but um… I think the branch I'm standing on is going to break soon. Can I get some help please?'

Bonham took the phone from Abeline. 'Where are you Maddie?'

'The oak beside the barn. Of course Bubbles had to climb the tallest tree.'

'Alright, you stay put. We'll come get you down.'

'Not like I have much of a choice…' She mumbled beneath her breath as Bonham ended the call. 'Well, this is a fine way to spend the evening.' She said after returning her phone to her pocket. 'Why on earth did you have to choose this tree to climb?'

Bubbles purred louder and nudged her cheek with her cold nose.

'Yes, yes. I love you too. Now stay still while we wait to be rescued.'

It wasn't long before lights came from the house, the whole family coming out to see the predicament that she had gotten herself into.

'How's the weather down there?' She yelled as they pointed their flashlights up into the tree.

'God Maddie…' Bonham mumbled beneath his breath when they saw how high up she was. 'How on earth…' He didn't bother to finish the sentence. She was up high, higher than any of their ladders would reach.

The branch creaked again, Maddie shifting her weight closer to the trunk. 'Are you all just gonna stand there or help a girl out?'

'Can you climb back down?' Liam shouted.

'If I could, don't you think I would have saved myself the embarrassment of calling you guys out to help me? I can't hold onto Bubbles and climb down at the same time.'

'Just leave the cat.' August suggested. 'They have nine lives anyway.'

'Not helpful Augie.' She glanced down as they spoke amongst themselves, swallowing hard. She'd never been this high before… 'Come on guys! I take it that now isn't a good time to tell y'all that I'm scared of heights?'

'Just hold on Maddie-' Abeline replied. 'we're trying to figure out how to get you down.'

'Take your time… Take your time.' She mumbled under her breath again then someone ran back to the house. A few moments later they returned and she frowned. What were they doing? Couldn't they just get a ladder or something?'

'Alright Maddie, I'm coming up to get you.' Cordell said as he started up the tree, the backpack carrier Maddie used for her cat on his back. 'Listen carefully Maddie, we're going to have to work together, okay?'

'As long as it gets me down, I don't care what we have to do.' The creak that came from the branch was a longer one, Maddie tightening the grip she had on another branch. 'Hurry Cordell. I don't think this'll hold me much longer.'

'I'm coming-' He looked around for another handhold, his way illuminated by his headlamp. 'I'm coming. Just stay calm.'

'I am calm.' Outwardly, that was. Inwardly, she was already freaking out clear into overdrive. Not only was she feeling nauseous, being lightheaded too didn't help when you were close to sixty feet from the ground. 'Just hurry, please.'

Cordell was closer to her now but stopped quite a few feet down from her. 'I can't come any higher Maddie, the branches won't hold my weight. You're going to have to work your way back down until you can put Bubbles in her carrier then we'll climb down together, okay?'

'I don't think I can…'

'Yes, you can Maddie. Just listen carefully-'

Following Cordell's instructions and guidance, she carefully navigated her way backwards down towards him and not a moment too soon. As she moved her weight off the branch she had been standing on, it had finally gave way and she'd have fallen if she had been there any longer. Her heart was racing but she forced herself not to panic and to just listen to Cordell's voice and keep moving. It was hard climbing down while still holding onto her cat but with him speaking softly and reassuring her she could do it, she finally made it down to where he could reach her cat.

'Alright, careful now-' Maddie handed him her cat and he held her as she opened the carrier then he handed her the cat back to put inside. Bubbles protested loudly at being shut inside the backpack but neither of them paid her any mind. 'You're doing good Maddie.' Cordell encouraged. Maddie nodded, too terrified to speak. 'We're going to get down from here, okay? Together. You'll follow after me, I'll keep telling you what moves to make. You're gonna make it down.'

She swallowed hard, tightening her hold on the branch. The branches were starting to move underfoot, the lightheadedness worsening. 'I think I'm gonna faint…'

'Oh no you don't!' He said sternly. 'You listen to me Maddie. Focus on me. Deep breaths. Come on.' He waited until she had taken a few deep breaths. 'Good. Focus on my voice. Don't look at the ground.'

Cordell started down once more, speaking Maddie through every single move. Their progress was slow and each of them lost their footing more than once but finally, he reached solid ground.

'That's it Maddie. Only a few more feet to go. You're almost there.'

Finally, Maddie too was down. Without a word she threw her arms around Cordell, the two of them holding each other tight as the family crowded around them. Maddie didn't hear what they said, just held on tight to him. I am never EVER climbing a tree again! She promised herself, her racing heart starting to slow again to its usual pace.

When Maddie pulled away from him, Cordell placed his hands on her shoulders. 'Don't you ever, ever, climb that tree again!'

'I'm never climbing any tree ever again!' She corrected. 'If Bubbles gets herself stuck again, she can stay there.'

'Just see that you keep that promise. That was too close young lady, you could have been killed. Don't-don't you ever do something so foolish again!'

Maddie's bottom lip quivered as his voice rose but she forced herself to keep it together. 'I won't, promise. I didn't realize how high it was…'

'Just don't do it again.' Cordell reinstated, taking her into his arms again. 'You had us all so scared sweetheart…'

Don't you worry, I was scared too! Safe in his arms, a few tears escaped her eyes that she couldn't hold back any longer. That damn cat… One thing was for sure though, she would never climb another tree as long as she lived.

Abeline looked up from her knitting as Cordell walked back into the room, her son sighing heavily as he took a seat with her next to the fire. 'Maddie asleep?'

'Finally.' He replied. 'I-I still can't believe she did something that stupid. I mean… Stella, August, yes, I'd expect something like that, but Maddie-'

'Cordi.' She interrupted gently. 'Maddie saw her cat up that tree and that's all she thought about. Reckless and stupid, yes, but you know what she's like. She'd do anything for that cat. Even climb that tree.'

'I know.' He ran a hand wearily over his face. What a day… Liam almost being shot, again, everything with him and the Davidson's, their argument after they'd gone to fix the fence that Micki had brought down then Maddie getting herself stuck up that tree. 'I just… I-I don't know... how to discipline Maddie… how to guide her. With everything that has happened in her past, when-when she does something wrong, I don't know how I should respond. She could have been killed if she'd fallen.'

'After today, I don't think she'll be climbing any more trees in a hurry.' There had been a couple moments her heart had skipped a beat when both her son and Maddie had lost their footing. 'It really scared her, she won't do it again.'

'No-no I hope not.' He sighed again. 'What… What makes it harder is that she's so frightened of being punished… Being punished the way her father used to punish her. She just kept apologizing over and over… Afraid I was going to hit her. I could see the fear in her eyes when I was speaking with her... I just… What do I do with her?'

Abeline placed her knitting aside. 'What have you said to her so far?'

'Just-just that it was reckless, dangerous and irresponsible what she did. She-she promised she won't do something like that again and I know she keeps her promises but at the same time, I-I can't just let it slide. She put herself into danger without thinking… There-there has to be consequences, for that. I told her I would think about a punishment for her and tell her what will be tomorrow.'

She nodded and silence fell as she thought about what he'd said. 'I think the scare she got probably would suffice but if you want to add extra, I'd give her extra chores for a week. She's a good kid Cordi, I think she's going to be more worried that she upset you by her behavior than anything else. She really does try hard to please everyone.'

'I'll think about it.' He sighed again. 'I just can't believe she did something so stupid.'

'When you were her age, you did things way more reckless than just climb a tree.'

'I know… Now I understand why you and Dad got so worried.'

She chuckled. 'Having kids of your own has a way of making you see that. Least she's not experimenting with fuel bombs in the backyard.'

'Yeah… I guess I can be thankful for that. If the worst thing she does is climb a tree; that I can live with.'

'You know, I had an interesting talk with her this morning.' Abilene remarked as she got up to add another log to the fire. 'I was asking her about what she would like for Christmas.'

'What-what did she say?'

'Adoption.'

'A-adoption?' He repeated.

She nodded. 'She said if she could have anything she wanted, it'd be to be adopted by you. That little girl loves you Cordi, she trusts you. I honestly wasn't surprised when she answered with that.'

'You know…' He chuckled softly. 'I um… I've actually been thinking about adopting her for quite some time now but there never seemed to be a good time to raise the subject to her. With everything that-that's happened over these past few months, I've just never had the chance.'

'It's what she wants Cordell. She wants to be part of our family, officially.'

'But why-why hasn't she come to ask me about it before?'

'She said she didn't want to bring it up and have you adopt her to make her happy. She wants to be wanted, wants to know that she's really wanted.' She returned to her chair. 'Feeling like she belongs here means a lot to her. Just think about it, maybe we can give her what she really needs this Christmas.'