Bubbles was curled up asleep in her lap, Maddie absentmindedly petting her cat as she sat on her bedroom floor reading through one of her mothers journals. It had been a little over a week since Minnie Jayne had offered to help her make a name for herself in country singing but she still hadn't come to a decision yet. She was torn two ways; between having the chance to make something of herself or to decline the offer. Was it really fame and fortune she wanted? She didn't know.

So far, no one knew about the offer she had been given. The family had all been busy with their own lives as of late and she hadn't had the chance to ask anyone's advice. Bonham had left earlier in the week for another short trip, this time something to do with a cattle contract with one of their meat buyers and with them being short staffed on the ranch, both she and Abeline had been working in his stead.

Sighing heavily, she rested her head back against the wall behind her, staring up at the ceiling. She'd hoped that by reading through her mother's journals she might find some words of wisdom to guide her decision but so far she hadn't come across anything that stood out to her. Reading through the journals though had been giving her a new look at the person her mother had been, what being revealed slowly breaking down the image she had held of her all those years. Her mother wasn't perfect. She was human. She had her struggles just like everyone else…

'Maddie?'

'In here Mawline.' She replied to Abeline's call, her grandmother appearing in the doorway a few moments later.

'I'm about ready to head into town,' Abeline started as Maddie closed the book she'd been reading. 'Would you like to come along?'

Maddie nodded and gently placed her cat down onto the ground before standing, placing her mother's journal back onto her desk. 'Sure. Would we have time to get to the feed and seed while we're there? I'm running low on Dakota's supplements and I forgot to ask Grampa to grab me some before he left.'

'We can drop by on our way to the market.' She assured her as the girl gathered her bag and hat then the two of them made their way down the hallway back into the living room. 'I'll just be a moment…'

Abeline headed to her room and Maddie waited in the living room for her to return, her thoughts again going to the decision she had to make. Could she really see herself singing for a career? Especially when she had a hard time performing at the best of times. Being in the spotlight, being famous like that, was that what she really wanted? Oh sure, being famous looked great enough but not all that glitters is gold-

'Alright.' Abeline exclaimed as she returned with her handbag slung over her shoulder. 'Got everything?'

'Yep.' Maddie agreed with a nod. 'Let's get moving then.'

As they drove into Austin, Maddie stared absentmindedly out the window, deep in her thoughts. Abeline glanced over at her after a time wondering why she was so quiet. 'Maddie?' She didn't reply or acknowledge that she was speaking to her. 'Maddie?' Again, no response. 'Maddie?' She placed her hand on the teens shoulder, shaking her gently.

Maddie turned around with surprise as she was jerked back to reality. 'Sorry? Were you saying something?'

'I was trying to.' She chuckled. 'You looked about a million miles away.'

'Mmm.' After blinking a couple of times her vision returned to normal though her head was still aching. Resting her head back against the headrest she rubbed her temples for a moment then sighed gently, looking at Abeline. 'Say you're at a crossroads and you have to make a decision. Both of those decisions have the potential to change things for the rest of your life but you haven't the faintest clue which path you want to choose. How can you decide which is the right path to take?'

Abeline raised her eyebrows, glancing at the teen for a moment before returning her attention to the road ahead of them. 'Well I…' She was caught a little off guard by the depth of her question. 'I would say to choose which one you feel is right. Which path you are most drawn to. The path that will make you the most happy.'

'But what if you can't decide which path will make you happiest?'

'I take it we're talking about some kind of decision you have to make here?'

Maddie nodded, beginning to bite her cuticles anxiously. 'I uh… Last-Last Friday, at the open mic night, Minnie Jayne spoke to me at the end of the evening. She uh-she offered me a chance to make a career as a country singer. She reckons I've got talent and maybe could become a bigger name then Mama was in the industry…'

Abeline raised an eyebrow, quite surprised at the offer Maddie had been given.

Her voice trailed off and she sighed, looking out the window for a moment before looking back down at her hands. 'I just… I don't know what to do.'

'Does that kind of life appeal to you?' She asked after a moment. 'I mean, being in the spotlight? In the public eye? Touring for months on end to perform concerts.'

'That's what I mean. I don't know if that's something I'd like or not.' Maddie replied with a sigh. 'What would you do if you had a decision like this?'

Abeline thought over the question for a minute or so, glancing over at the teen as they waited at an intersection for the traffic to clear. 'If it was me, I'd think long and hard about what it is I really value in my life. Would it be worth giving up what I have now for something I could regret taking later on down the road?'

The teen nodded, digesting the advice her grandmother had gifted her. 'That kinda helps, I guess.'

'Well, what do you value?'

'Family. My horses. Helping horses-' They turned onto the road heading into Austin and she glanced out the window at the scenery once more. 'I do enjoy my singing and writing songs and if I do take up the offer and become a singer then I'll be following in Mama's footsteps. I just… I'm unsure what I really want to do, you know?'

'When do you have to make a decision by?'

'She didn't give me a date, just said to let her know when I've made up my mind. I've been thinking about it all week…' Her sentence trailed off and she sighed softly again. 'Why aren't big choices ever easy?'

Abeline chuckled softly. 'That's just life I'm afraid honey.'

After dropping into the feed store and Maddie purchasing the things she needed for Bel, the two of them headed into the Austin markets. There were plenty of people browsing what the market had to offer and Maddie kept close to Abeline's side as they shopped. This was the market where Abeline had brought her extra garden produce those months ago when she'd been living on her own. Selling the produce she grew and working at the Walker ranch were the only things that had stopped her going hungry when she had to fend for herself while her father was in prison. That time felt so different it was like it had been another life. Because it had.

Abilene glanced down at the teenager as she browsed through the tomatoes to find the best looking ones. 'What's the smile for?' She commented curiously.

'Just thinking.' Maddie replied, looking up at her. 'How lucky I am to have you all. How lucky I am to have a family again.'

It was Abeline's turn to smile and she placed an arm around the girl's shoulders, pressing a kiss to her head. 'And we're lucky to have you too. You know that?'

She nodded then returned to the business at hand. 'So, what else is on the list?'

'Um… Potatoes, zucchini, broccoli-' She looked over the paper in her hand again. 'Would you mind grabbing a bag of onions please?'

'Sure.' The onions were placed into the basket and once that was done Maddie returned to her grandmother's side again. 'They had some really nice rhythm bead sets in at the feed store.' She commented as the two of them moved over to another table so Abeline could find the herbs she needed. 'There was a set that would go beautifully on Dakota but they're so expensive.'

'Remind me again what those are?'

Maddie chuckled softly. 'They're like necklaces but for horses. They have bells and things on them and some sets come with extra tassels to place in their mane and tail. It's mainly for decoration but the bells help calm down anxious horses and riders to.' She explained as Abeline added some parsley into the basket, their garden at home having been visited by rabbits as of late. 'Me, I just think they're pretty though with me saving up to buy Dakota at the auction, I haven't got any extra money spare to buy a set.'

'If you could choose a set though, what color would you pick?'

'Dark blue and silver. It would go great against Dakota's coat.' Maddie looked up at her with a mischievous grin. 'I do know a particular fifteen year old who has her birthday coming up…'

'Oh you do, do you?' Abeline teased back, adding in some rosemary and thyme before they headed over to pay for their groceries. 'Have you been good enough for presents this year?'

'Oh please. I'm a perfect angel.'

'Hmmm.' She smiled down at her as they joined the lineup for the registers. 'That is open for debate.'

'Hey-' Maddie protested with a chuckle. 'I am a pretty good kid, aren't I? Least I haven't let Dad think all these months he was responsible for knocking over that hitching rail in the front yard.'

Abeline did a double take, looking down at her. 'Pardon?'

'Oh….' Me and my big mouth! She cringed as she realized Abeline didn't know. 'Um… I wasn't supposed to let that slip.'

'I can see that.' They moved up a space and she looked back down at her granddaughter. 'Care to elaborate?'

Maddie shook her head. 'I'm sorry. I said too much already.'

'I see.' Something about that whole thing had never sat with her but it was evident that whatever Maddie knew, she wasn't going to share any time soon. 'I forgot to get carrots-' She exclaimed after having gone over what was in the basket. 'Would you go grab a couple bags please?'

'Can I grab one for Bel and Kota too?'

'I guess you can.'

Maddie smiled, glad for the opportunity to get away from the previous topic of conversation. 'Thanks.'

Maddie grabbed the carrots and Abeline paid for everything, the two of them about to leave when Abby caught sight of an old friend. Maddie hung back from the conversation as they spoke and when she was finally ready to leave, Abeline turned around and walked right into Gale. 'Oh!'

'Oh! My.'

'Gale.' Abeline chuckled nervously. 'Well, lucky for us, no one was holding a cauldron of chili.'

'That-that's funny.' Gale remarked with a soft laugh. 'Haven't seen you since. Yeah. Hello Maddie.'

Maddie offered her a smile. 'Morning, Mrs. Davidson.'

Awkward silence fell.

'This is the best market in town, isn't it?' Abeline questioned after a moment.

'Oh, yeah.' Gale agreed. 'I was hoping the spice selection would be a little more varied. I need it for the Barn Burner.'

'At the Side Step?'

'Yeah. Colton came by. He said the chili was lacking. Got to, you know, maintain the family recipe.'

'Right.' Of course Gale couldn't let up an opportunity to get a dig in at her… 'You know, uh, Colton has been by the house, and he and August were working on their music. He is such a sweet kid. And talented. You know, I taught them that song that Marv used to sing.' She paused, realizing what she had said. 'I'm sorry.' She apologized. 'I shouldn't have said that.'

'It… It's fine.' Gale assured her.

'I'm sorry.'

'I appreciate you welcoming Colton into your home.' She changed the topic. 'I do and Colton speaks highly of you Maddie-' She looked over at the girl. 'though you haven't been over to see Rocky and Biscuit lately. We've missed having you over.'

'Sorry, Mrs. Davidson. I've just been so busy with training Dakota and getting extra work put into her before the end of the competition,' Maddie explained. 'And with working at the Side Step and schoolwork too… I just haven't had the chance to come by.'

'I've missed our conversations, hopefully you'll have time to come by again soon.' Gale said in reply. 'Colton mentioned something about you competing in the mustang makeover. I hope you do well.'

Maddie smiled. 'Thank you.'

'Anyway. I best get moving. Good seeing you again Abby. Maddie.'

Abeline looked over at Gale as the woman started browsing through the vegetables they had on offer at one of the tables then back down at Maddie. 'Just how much time have you spent over there Maddie?'

'Not-not a great deal.' She replied truthfully. 'I mean, when Rocky was hurt I was going over twice a day to change his wounds and give Edna updates on his condition. Mrs. Davidson would usually have some fresh cookies baked too and would invite me to stay to have some.' She looked up at Abeline, reading her expression carefully. 'Have-did I do something wrong?'

'No, no sweetheart.' Abeline placed her arm around the girl's shoulders as they started back to the parking lot. 'Just… be careful. Gale-I-we, don't trust her.'

Maddie nodded. 'I thought that you two were friends though?'

'That was a long time ago my girl. A lot of water has passed under that bridge since then.' She glanced back at Gale, the woman watching the two of them leaving. 'Be careful, alright?'

'Yes ma'am.'

At the gentle knock on her door, Maddie closed her journal and placed it down on the bed beside her. 'Doors open. Come in.'

'You feeling any better?' Stella questioned as she walked into the room.

'A little. Damn algebra for giving me another headache.' She replied, her sister taking a seat on the bed beside her. 'Is dinner almost ready?'

'Almost. What are you reading there?'

'Oh, this?' She fingered the leather cover of the journal. 'Just my mom's old journal. Looking for a little advice and thought maybe my mom had written down some words of wisdom in here but apparently, I am still yet to find them.' She looked back up to Stella. 'Something up?'

'August and I were wondering if you'd like to come with us tomorrow to the Street Jackets. They're putting on a concert at the Majestic tomorrow afternoon.'

'Street Jackets? That's Colton's favorite band isn't it?' Maddie questioned. 'I'd love to come but with training Bel and Dakota and working at the Side Step, I just don't have the energy for an evening out right now.'

'No worries. That's fair. Just thought I'd ask anyway.'

She smiled. 'I appreciate it. So,' Bubbles got up from the foot of the bed and came up to her to ask for some attention. 'Dad's birthday. What are we going to do?'

'Oh… I hadn't even thought that far to be honest.'

'It's like, literally only a couple weeks away.'

'I know! I have been busy too lately-'

'Maybe a particular boy has your thoughts?' Maddie teased with a smile and Stella's checks flushed bright red.

'Okay, okay. Yes. Maybe.'

'I knew it!' She exclaimed excitedly. 'So, when are you two going to become official?'

'I don't know. I don't even know if he likes me back-'

'Gosh. You are slow then.'

'Hey!' Stella laughed. 'What about you and Colton?'

Suddenly the loose string on her embroidered quilt cover looked very interesting. 'I um… Well… I don't think anything is going to happen there.' She replied slowly after a moment. 'Especially with all the stuff between our families. I don't think our folks or his would be super happy if we started seeing each other in any kind of 'relationship' so… yeah. That about sums it up.'

'At least Colton's father isn't anyone that Dad's put in jail.'

'No, just Uncle Liam filed a fake police report and the Walkers and Davidson's have been at each other's throats since the 1870's.' Maddie exclaimed. 'So. Returning to the matter at hand. Dad's birthday. What are we going to do? I mean, I want to do something special for him since it's his first birthday I've been adopted for. Any ideas?'

'Um…' Stella thought for a minute. 'He really liked the drawing you did for Edna for Christmas. Maybe you could give him a drawing?'

'Yeah. Maybe… Are we going to be throwing him a party though?'

After taking a moment to think it over, she nodded. 'That sounds like a good idea. I mean, we haven't thrown Dad a birthday party since the year before Mom died. I'll talk to Mawline and Uncle Liam, get them onboard but that sounds like a good idea.'

'Alright. So that's sorted. Next up-presents. What are you going to get him?'

Stella laughed softly. 'I haven't the faintest clue. I'm not great at drawing or writing songs like you-'

Her face lit up as she interrupted her sister. 'That's it!'

'What's it?' She raised an eyebrow.

'A song!' Maddie said excitedly. 'Just hear me out. If we're gonna throw a party, where were those parties originally thrown?'

'The Side Step?'

'Mmmhmm.'

'I can't see how that connects with songwriting-'

'I write something for the three of us to perform together for Dad at the party.' She replied.

'Uh… Have you heard August sing? He could make a dairy cow's milk curdle.'

Maddie laughed at that. 'Yeah, on second thought we want it to be a good experience and not have everyone run away. He can stick to the piano. How are you at singing?'

'Me? Oh I don't-'

'Come on Stel.' She pleaded. 'I've heard you singing in the shower and you aren't that bad at all.'

'I ain't that good either-' Stella protested

'That's beside the point.' She cut her off. 'You could do it, you just need a little help.'

'Try a lot of help.'

'Not as much as August would need.'

'No.' Stella chuckled. 'No, I guess not.'

'So-' Maddie looked at her, attempting to give her the most adorable puppy eyed expression. 'What do you say? Are you in?'

She sighed then nodded after a moment. 'Alright. Alright. I'm in. With me singing I can guarantee this is an event people won't be likely to forget in a hurry.'

Maddie was humming away softly as she brushed Dakota, experimenting with a new tune for the song that she was trying to write up to perform at her father's surprise birthday party. Stella had spoken to Gramps, Mawline and Uncle Liam and the three of them were onboard with the party planning. As they had in the past, they'd be holding the party at the Side Step and it was a helpful thing that Cordell's birthday landed on a Friday this year. They'd be holding the party the next Friday and with that not leaving her much time to get something organized, she'd been attempting to come up with something for the last couple of days without much luck so far.

Dakota lifted her head at the sound of a truck coming up the drive and she smiled when she saw that it was Colton. Untying the mare from the post across the yard she led her over to the fence near the truck as he got out. 'Hey.'

'Hey.' Colton replied, stopping at the fence. 'I haven't dropped by at a bad time, have I?'

'No, not at all.' She assured him. 'Dakota is just getting her second thorough grooming session of the day. I want her coat so shiny I can see my reflection in it come the finals.'

He chuckled softly at that, Maddie joining in with him. 'How is she going?'

'Good. Really good. We placed a second and third in the trail class Dad took us to over the weekend. Missed out on first by only three points, I dropped the rope for the gate when we were going through the obstacle and had to dismount to pick it up, hence the loss of those three points.'

'Better luck next time then?'

'Mmmhmm.' She began brushing the mare down again then glanced back at him. 'Any particular reason you dropped in?'

'Ah… There kind of is…' He replied as he ran a hand down the mare's face. 'It-it's kind of important.'

Upon hearing that and catching onto the nervousness in his voice, Maddie directed her full attention back to him. 'Alright. I'm all ears. Fire away.'

Colton chuckled again, trying to calm his nerves and muster up enough courage to pop the question. 'Maddie… I um… I kind of like you and um… I was wondering if maybe-'

'If I like you too?' She questioned when his voice had trailed off.

He nodded.

'Colton.' She smiled then sighed softly. 'I do. I do like you but do you think that there's any chance of anything the way our families are? I mean, Mawline and I ran into your Grandma in town the other day and well…' She sighed again. 'How could there be anything between us amongst all this bitterness? This anger?'

'I know.' He replied slowly after a pause. 'I-I've thought of that too.'

Maddie gave Dakota another pat then turned back to him, placing her hand on his. 'I do like you Colton and if there were any way that this could work-'

'Maybe it can? I mean, do we really have to tell anyone just yet? Maybe everything between our folks will blow over in time.'

'Or maybe hell will freeze over, a horse will be elected the President of the United States and pigs could fly.'

'Yeah…' Colton sighed. 'I get what you mean.'

'But yes.' She smiled. 'There's no reason anyone else needs to know right now. I just… I-I've never had a boyfriend before or even thought about relationships along those lines-'

'You don't have to worry.' He chuckled as he gently interrupted her. 'You don't have to do anything special. Just be yourself. The rest will come in time.'

Maddie nodded, Dakota nudging her gently to ask for another pat. 'Okay. So…' She tucked a loose lock of her hair back behind her ear. 'Out of curiosity… What would we classify ourselves as at this point in time?'

'How about… Casual friends getting to know each other better and seeing where the road leads?'

'Alright. That's good enough for me.' The mare nudged her again and she glanced down at her. 'Well, if you want to get to know me better-' She teased with a smile. 'how about you pick up a brush and give me a hand getting this gal's coat to shine.'

He rolled his eyes playfully but climbed through the fence and took the brush that she handed to him. 'Well, you heard the girl, Dakota. Hope you're ready for a thorough grooming.'

Colton glanced over at Maddie, the girl having been rather quiet the entire time they'd been riding back over to his place. 'Something on your mind Mads?'

'Hmm?' She questioned as she turned to him. 'You say something?'

'I asked if you have something on your mind.' He replied. 'You've been pretty quiet today.'

'Just thinking.'

'Care to share what you're thinking about?'

'Why? Don't like the silence?' He went to reply but she chuckled softly. 'I'm only teasing you.'

'Whatever is about, you looked a million miles away.'

'No, a bit closer to home than that I'm afraid.' Maddie smiled, gently laying the rein against Bel's neck to straighten her out on the track again. 'A couple weeks ago I got an offer to become a country singer. I'm still trying to make up my mind about it.'

'A country singer? Wow, that's great. You have got talent Maddie.'

She felt her cheeks warm slightly.

'You going to accept?'

'That's just it. I don't know what I should do.' Maddie sighed softly, running a hand down the mare's neck. 'I've been reading through my mom's old journals in the hope they'll help me to make up my mind but all that's done has made me more confused. Some of her entries, she seemed so happy with being a singer and stuff but in other ones she wrote that she wishes that she never took up singing.'

Colton guided Dakota back onto the path, preventing the mare from snatching up a mouthful of grass. 'That doesn't sound helpful at all.'

'It's not.' She sighed again. 'And I haven't told anyone else this but what the media said about my mom, they were right. My mother was a drug addict and alcoholic. I read through those entries where she spoke about her struggles with her addictions. It was Bruce, my blood father, that introduced her to both. She started going out with him a few years before I was born and he was her dealer. Then things happened and I came along… She stopped the drugs and alcohol when she found out I was pregnant, went cold turkey and that didn't make my father too happy apparently. He wanted her to abort me.'

Colton raised his eyebrows. 'Wow Maddie… I'm sorry. That's rough. From what you've told me of your mom the two of you sounded close. To find that out…' He shook his head.

'It was a bit of a shock to be honest but at least I've found some answers to questions I've had over the years. Especially in recent times with things that happened with my blood father…' She looked back at him. 'I haven't told you what happened to him, did I?'

'Not that I can remember. Only that he had passed and the Walkers took you in.'

'Well, the truth is a little more complicated than that. He was…' Maddie paused before continuing. 'Murdered. I-I saw it happen. He uh… He was in the wrong crowd. Lost to a bunch of guys in a poker game and they came to collect. There was an argument. He was shot. I was shot getting away from them.'

'Woah… Maddie.' He looked over at her. 'Why-why are you telling me all this now?'

She shrugged. 'I just thought you should know of my past if there's the possibility of this 'friendship' going any further. You deserve to know that I'm not without my problems and I don't want you to go into anything blind.'

'Maddie, your past… It doesn't matter to me. I like you for who you are here. With me.'

Maddie thought for a moment then decided to go the whole way. She'd already started, she couldn't stop now… Dropping the reins across the front of her saddle she began to roll up her sleeves right up as far as they would go. Though her scars had begun to fade they were still very much visible and she saw the look on Colton's face, quickly turning away. 'My past is written in these scars. This is who I am.'

'You… you self harm?' He questioned with concern after he'd gotten over the surprise of what she'd revealed.

She nodded, looking straight forward at the path between Bel's ears. 'I have since my mother passed away when I was eleven.'

'Maddie…'

'This isn't easy for me.' She continued, interrupting him before he could say anything else. 'My past isn't pretty. My father physically and emotionally abused me then I saw him killed in front of me. I almost committed suicide after because I went too far when I cut. I still flinch when a guy raises his hand or his voice, even when it's my Dad. I have nightmares and panic attacks-'

'Maddie. Maddie, stop.' Colton interrupted gently, maneuvering Dakota over closer to Bel to place his hand on her knee. 'Maddie, listen. Look at me.' He waited until she had turned to him and when his eyes met hers, he could see hers were filled with tears. 'I like you for who you are. Past, scars and all. We all have our scars. Heck, my parents have been arguing for years and Mom keeps trying to get my Dad to divorce her and my Dad… He just keeps trying to make it work. I mightn't have gone through what you've been through but Maddie. It doesn't matter to me. I still like you regardless.'

'Are… are you sure?' She questioned, her whisper cracking with emotion.

'Yes.' He replied firmly. 'What brought this all on?'

'Reading through my mom's things…' Maddie said after a long moment. 'I think I know in my heart what is the right decision to make about Minnie Jayne's offer.'

'And that is?'

'To say no. Reading through my mom's journals, she wasn't happy with the life she had. She regretted choosing to become a singer. The fame, the spotlight, it took hold of her. Changed her. Drove her to pick up the bottle and drugs. I don't want that to happen to me.' Bel came to an abrupt halt as she asked her to stop, Colton reining in Dakota and turning back to her. 'Excuse me one moment. I need to make a phone call.'