'Hey Bel… Hey girl.' Maddie spoke to her mustang softly as the mare walked up to her, giving her a pat before hugging her neck tightly. 'Morning…'

Bel, sensing that something was off with her human, tucked her head in around her.

She closed her eyes, just holding onto the feeling of warmth and security that she found being with her mare.

Heaven knew she needed it.

The last couple of days had been horrible to say the least. With everything on the line come tomorrow it felt like she was walking on eggshells with everyone in the family. Tempers had flared and the home she knew had changed until it felt like she was living with a bunch of strangers again. It wasn't the same warm and comforting family that she had been proud to be a part of.

Everything had changed.

Bel shifted her weight after she'd been holding onto her for a minute and she let go, wiping away a couple of tears that had trickled down her cheeks. 'Hey… I've got something for you.'

The mustang eagerly snatched up the sugar cube that she offered her and Maddie rubbed her cheek as she ate. Seeing that Bel had something good to eat, Dakota ambled on over from where she'd been grazing beneath the old oak to see if there was anything for her.

'Yes yes… I've got something for you too.' A sad smile touched her lips as Dakota nudged her coat pocket and she quickly drew out another sugar cube to give her. 'There you go. Happy now?'

With both horses having had their morning treat Maddie headed back across the pasture to the shelter, both mustangs following along behind her. When she'd finished feeding and giving them their morning groom she just stood there with them for a while, gaining strength from their presence to see her through the day.

If only there were some way she could fix this…

The horses would be the only ones to see her cry. No one else needed her adding on more problems. She needed to appear strong. To do her best to hold her family together. Maybe there was some way that they could make it through this.

What had Cordell said at his birthday party?

That being together made them stronger?

It was hard to believe that party had only been a couple weeks ago with everything that had happened since then. It felt like it had been from another lifetime.

Everything had been going so well for her.

It was almost as if the universe had seen that she was moving on, moving forward and actually happy for once and just had to make it all come crashing down.

Again.

Giving her girls one last pat she headed out of the pasture and up to the barn to start the rest of her chores. Bonham was already there working on the morning feed when she came in, her grandfather looking over at her as she walked up the aisle. 'Morning Maddie.'

She offered him a sad smile. 'Morning Grampa. Want me to do anything?'

'Shouldn't you be up at the house eating breakfast?'

Maddie shook her head. 'Way I'm feeling, I don't want a repeat of the other day. I'll eat something later.'

Bonham placed the feed dipper back inside the barrel. 'You okay?'

'Are any of us these days?'

She made a point. 'I'm about finished here, Cordell should be out soon to train with Chopper. Would you mind getting him groomed and geared up?'

She nodded and headed down to Chopper's stall. 'Hey Chopper.' She gave the gelding a pat as he reached his head out over the door to her. 'Ready for a little exercise?'

After she had caught him she led him out of the stall, tying him up in the alleyway before heading to go get his gear. When she returned Bonham had finished the morning feed and was standing beside the gelding giving him a pat. 'You take one side, I take the other?' She offered as she placed the grooming kit down near the horse.

'Yeah, I guess.' Maddie handed him a brush and curry comb over Chopper's back and they both set to work in silence.

When he'd finished being groomed Bonham left to go get the tack and Maddie stayed with the gelding, running her hand down his neck. All their hopes were placed on this horse and she wondered if Chopper knew just how important it was that he win the race tomorrow. Chopper began to nibble at her hand and she laughed softly. 'I haven't got any sugar cubes for you my boy.' She gave him a scratch behind the ear instead. 'I know you enjoy them but I'm all out.'

'That horse smooching you for sugar again?' Bonham questioned with amusement, placing the gear he was carrying over the fence Chopper was tied to.

'Yeah. He's got a bad sweet tooth just like Bel and Dakota.'

'Maybe you shouldn't give out so many treats when you're training them.' He suggested, handing her the geldings bridle. 'Though if he wins tomorrow I might just buy him a fifty pound bag of sugar cubes.'

'Will that come with a voucher for dental work too?' Maddie chuckled as she coaxed the gelding to take the bit.

'Maybe on second thought we'll just give him an extra serving of oats instead.'

'I'm sure he'll enjoy that just as much.' The headpiece went up over his ears and she did up the throat latch snugly before adjusting the curb strap beneath the geldings chin. 'Why have you put the curb back on him? He was doing just fine with the snaffle when I was working with him.'

'He's just been getting slightly headstrong lately and Cordell wanted me to swap it for extra control.'

'Oh…' Maddie made no further comment and instead took hold of the reins so Bonham could saddle him up.

'You and Dakota looking forward to the Finals?'

'No.' How can I even think of competing in the Finals with everything that's going on around here? She wondered. 'But I guess we're as ready as we'll ever be.'

'That's good.' Bonham slid the saddle blanket in place then added an extra felt pad on top before placing the saddle up onto the geldings back. 'Someone's sweet sixteen is just around the corner too.'

'Yeah… Haven't given that much thought either to be honest.' She did up the other side of the breastplate while her grandfather tightened up the cinch.

'Well-' He finished with the cinch, giving Chopper a pat before turning back to his granddaughter. 'After tomorrow it'll all be over and life can get back to normal.'

She forced a small smile onto her lips as he patted her shoulder. 'Want me to lead him and get him warmed up for Dad?'

'Might as well. I'll join you out there in a moment.'

'Alright. Come on Chopper.' With a cluck of her tongue Chopper stepped forward after her and she led him on out of the barn, bypassing a couple of the ranch hands as they went about their day. A couple of guys were out talking near the corral but she didn't pay them any attention as she went past and headed into the pen to get Chopper warmed up.

Tying the reins around his neck and looping them back through the throat latch she sent him out around her to free lunge for a moment to see how he was doing. The last couple of days while her Dad had been riding him the gelding had seemed tense and off color but as she watched him closely here, he seemed to be doing okay. With a click and wave of her hand she turned him and sent him the other direction, still at a trot.

'So, is this the star of tomorrow?' Cassie questioned as she stopped beside the fence, watching the horse Maddie was working with.

'Cassie!' Maddie exclaimed with a laugh. 'You almost gave me a heart attack. You gotta stop sneaking up on a person like that.'

'More fun this way.'

'Haha.' She rolled her eyes. 'But to answer your question, yes. Woah boy.' Maddie commanded, Chopper slowing to a stop then she went out to him to lead him back into the center of the corral. 'I didn't expect to see you here this morning.'

Cassie shrugged. 'Got the day off so I thought I'd come over and see how y'all are doing. How are things, by the way?'

'Next question?'

'That good?'

'What would you expect my answer to be?' Maddie questioned as she untied the reins from Choppers bridle. 'It's just fine here, thanks for asking Cassie. Nevermind the fact that tomorrow we could lose our home, the only place I've actually had that feels like a home.'

'Woah, I was just trying to make conversation.'

She sighed heavily, looking back over at the Ranger. 'I'm sorry.'

'I get it. It's a lot to deal with.' Cassie replied. 'Is there anything I can do?'

'Got a time machine so I jump back in time to when things were good?'

'Ah, nope. Don't have one of those in my back pocket.'

'Didn't think you would have.' Maddie picked up the reins then placed her foot into the stirrup, swinging up onto the tall quarter horse in one fluid motion. 'After tomorrow, it'll all be over. One way or another.'

Bonham came over to join Cassie at the fence as Maddie started warming Chopper up. 'Glad you could make it, New York.'

'Anytime sir.' She replied, watching Maddie lope the horse around the corral. 'Your granddaughter rides like a boss.'

He chuckled. 'Maddie is one heck of a rider, I'll grant her that. I'd like to be able to take the credit for it but it was mostly Abby teaching her.'

'Abby?' She questioned with surprise. 'I thought you were the horseman around here.'

'Turns out my wife still has a couple secrets left up her sleeve. She taught Maddie how to ride and jump bareback, rest she figured out by herself.' He turned his attention back to the corral as Maddie got the gelding to practice some rollbacks to get him to bring his hindquarters beneath himself. 'Looking good Maddie. Just give him a little extra rein. There you go.'

'Alright, so-' Cassie turned back to Bonham. 'Now that I'm here, anything I can do?'

'Well, I forgot to get the jar of sugar cubes out from the tack room. Maddie here gives the horses a little treat once she's finished riding them.'

'Bribery. I like it.'

'If you could fetch that, I'd be obliged. It's on the bench in the feed room. You can't miss it.'

'Right, I'll be back in a moment.'

Cassie headed off, Bonham's attention returning to watching Maddie with the gelding. Chopper was going well with her, considerably better then how he had been with Cordell over the last couple of days. Spying Cordell walking over out the corner of his eye he motioned for Maddie to finish up. 'Bring him in Maddie, Cordell's here.'

'Right sir.' Maddie finished up her loping lap of the corral then brought the gelding to a stop and dismounted. 'Good boy.'

'Maddie's got him warmed up for you.' Bonham said to Cordell as his son joined him. 'Head on in and get started.'

Cordell nodded, opening the gate. 'Yes sir.'

Chopper drew back a step as Cordell walked into the corral, Maddie quietening him with a gentle word and touch. 'Go easy on him Dad.' Maddie said as she handed the reins to him. 'He's a little jittery today. Just take it easy.'

'Right. I'll remember that.' He placed the reins back around the horse's neck, Maddie holding onto the gelding's cheek-strap as he adjusted the stirrup length again. When he'd lengthened them out properly he mounted up and he let her get out of the corral before trying to get Chopper to walk on.

Maddie watched closely, standing beside her grandfather as Cordell started riding around the arena. Chopper had become a totally different horse when Cordell had swung into the saddle and she sighed heavily, looking up at Bonham. 'Dad's in no shape to be riding tomorrow if the last couple days is anything to go by.'

'Just give him a chance Maddie.' Bonham replied. 'Cordell's been in the saddle long before you were even born.'

She shook her head as Chopper threw his head up, trying to get away from the pressure the harsh bit was placing onto his tongue. Cordell might have asked for the bit to be changed but it wasn't the bit at all. It was him. Chopper was sensitive to his emotions and was fighting him.

Bonham must have had enough of watching the poor horse being yanked around for he spoke up after a moment. 'Cordell, ease up on the rein.'

'He's not going the way I want him to.' Cordell yanked the gelding head around to the left. 'Move on Chopper.'

Chopper, still tossing his head and hollowing out his back, started to move in the direction that Cordell wanted.

'All right, you got your back straight, now get your head forward.' Bonham instructed. 'Focus where you're going.'

'I know how to ride a horse.' He shouted back.

'Well, it doesn't look like it.'

'That's an understatement.' Maddie added beneath her breath, earning herself a look from Bonham as she lent against the fence, her arms and chin rested on the top rail.

'Well-' Chopper fought him to go the opposite direction. 'he's not going.'

Bonham shook his head. 'Oh, my lord.'

Chopper, having enough of having his mouth yanked on, began to hop and shy. 'Woah. Easy.'

'Yippee ki-yay, cowboy.' Cassie exclaimed as Cordell rode out a half rear the horse gave him, joining Bonham and Maddie back at the corral fence. 'Got your horse nip you requested.'

Cordell looked over their direction at the new voice.

'Oh, this is my new ranch hand.' Bonham remarked.

'Coach.' He looked at her. 'Just consider me your new assistant for the day. Whatever you need, I'm here.'

Chopper stopped suddenly, refusing to walk on. Cordell nudged him with his heels then slapped him with the end of the reins. 'Go on!'

Maddie shook her head. It was her father who was making the problem with Chopper, not the horse at all.

'And if he does anything wrong,' Cassie continued to Bonham. 'I hold him, you slap him.'

An amused smile touched his lips. 'Well, I'll keep that in mind.' A phone started ringing a moment later and he realized it was Cordell's phone. 'Oh, don't answer. Don't even think about answering it.'

Maddie had to cover her mouth to stifle a laugh when Chopper stepped on the phone her father had dropped. 'That's one way of ending a call.'

'Yeah, who keeps their ringer on their phone around horses anyway?' Cassie agreed as Cordell dismounted to check the damage to his phone. '

'The hell you thinking, boy?' Bonham questioned as Cordell shook the sand off his iphone.

'It was Denise. Could've been about the race.'

'Oh my lord.'

'Great.' Cordell exclaimed, holding up a totally smashed phone.

'Yeah, right.'

'It's not me, it's Chopper.' He insisted as he led the horse over to the fence to tie him up. 'Why don't I just ride a different horse?'

'It has nothing to do with the horse. Maddie just had him going perfectly before you got here.'

'Well, if she's that good with him why doesn't she just ride?'

'Why don't I?' Maddie questioned.

Bonham ignored Maddie. 'I'll show you.' He turned to Cassie. 'Take one of those sugar cubes, give it to Chopper.'

'Yes, sir.' Cassie replied. 'Come here.' Chopper came over closer to the fence as she offered him the sugar cube. 'Come here.'

'Watch her.'

'Oh yeah.' Carefully Chopper took the sugar cube and ate it then began to lick Cassie's hand. 'Good boy. Yeah, I think your dad's right.' She remarked as she looked over at her partner. 'This horse is pretty much making out with my hand right now.'

'Really?' Cordell questioned as she rubbed it in. 'Y-you really took the morning off work for this?'

'Yes, and it was totally worth it.' Cassie agreed.

'Okay. All right. Fine. It's not Chopper, it's me.' He finally admitted. 'I'm in my head. And my riding is off.'

'Okay. You know what? Why don't you go on back to the house.' Bonham stepped back over to Chopper, giving the gelding a pat. 'You're done here.'

'What?'

'Well, you said it yourself. You can't race. So, I will.'

Without another word Cordell turned and picked up the phone he'd tossed back into the sand, heading out of the corral.

'Maddie-' Bonham turned back to his granddaughter. 'You think you can work him today for me? I need to clear my head.'

'Alright.' Maddie agreed with a nod, turning her attention from her dad's disappearing figure back to her grandfather. 'Sure.'

'New York-' He addressed Cassie as he headed back out of the corral. 'You mind watching her? Don't need her falling off and breaking something into the bargain.'

'Of course Coach.' Cassie tipped her hat at him.

'Thanks.'

Maddie walked back into the corral as Bonham left too, speaking softly to Chopper as she approached him again. 'Yeah… You can feel Dad's upset, can't you boy?' She questioned softly as she rubbed the geldings face. The bit, even though Cordell had only been riding him for a few minutes, had already left bruises on the gelding's mouth. When she saw them, she shook her head. 'Cassie, mind passing me a couple of those sugar cubes? Better give this guy a peace offering before I think about getting back on.'

Cassie walked over closer, handing her a couple through the fence. 'Here.'

'Thanks.' She offered them to Chopper then while he was eating them, started undoing his bridle.

'What are you doing?'

'I can't ride him with that bit, not after how his mouth looks.' Maddie replied, Chopper dropping the bit into her hand as she took the bridle off. 'Here-hold this for me.' Cassie placed the jar of sugar cubes down and held onto the bridle as the teen detached the rein from the bit that she held around his neck. 'Thanks.'

'What, you going to ride him without a bridle?'

'Mmmhmm. Done it before.' Holding the single rein around his neck in place of a proper neck rope she mounted up and started Chopper around the corral.

Cassie stood back and watched as Maddie again ran the gelding through his paces, this time with only a neck rope to guide the horse. When she had finished in the corral Maddie requested for her to open the gate and they headed across to the large grass paddock where the teen began to give him his proper workout.

Bonham came back over as Maddie was giving the gelding his gallop, raising an eyebrow as he stopped beside Cassie, noting the bridle in her hand. 'What's Maddie using on him now?'

'Just a neck rope.' Cassie replied. 'You know, I've seen some pretty good riders in my day and most of them wouldn't even consider galloping a horse with just a neck rope.'

'Maddie's either special, reckless, or both.'

'I'd go with both.' She agreed, Maddie breezing the gelding past them again as she did another lap of their makeshift training track. 'You don't have to be so hard on yourself for protecting your family. I would do the same for mine.'

'Sounds like there's a story there.'

'Full transparency… I mean, my old partner's family.'

'Strong families always have a stray or two.'

'Yeah well… I'm sorry to pry, but uh… the biggest land dispute I've ever dealt with was in a game of monopoly… So… how long has this feud with the Davidson's been building?'

Bonham sighed heavily, his eyes on Maddie as she brought the gelding back to a canter. 'It was peaceful when Marv and I were younger, but…that was a long time ago. We all mourned him. It was hard on Abby given her history but… hell, when-when he died, I felt relieved. I thought the land dispute was gonna be buried with him, but here I am. Dealing with it again. I guess that's why I'm so hell-bent that I know what's best.'

'Maybe you do.' Cassie agreed. 'But don't let complications with another family affect what you have with your own. Let them in.'

Bonham didn't reply, thinking over what she had said as Maddie finished cooling the gelding down. 'Cassie, you mind fetching a proper halter and lead rope from the barn?'

'Sure thing coach.'

He turned back to his granddaughter as Cassie headed up to the barn. 'We best give him a hose down and turn out for a while before I run him again this afternoon.'

Maddie nodded as she dismounted, leading Chopper over to the gate by the rein around his neck. 'You're going to have to change his bit though, Dad cut his mouth up pretty bad.'

'Oh what…' She stopped the gelding so he could take a look and he sighed heavily as he saw the bruises and wounds the bit had left on the gelding's lips 'I've got some salve we can put on that. You've been riding Chopper, why do you think he's acting up on Cordell?'

'Cause Dad's upset, he's reflecting his emotions and fighting against them.'

'My thoughts exactly.' Bonham agreed, running his hand down the gelding's face.

'Don't be hard on Dad, he was trying so hard to avoid all this. He wanted peace between our families just as much as I do.' Maddie replied as she looked up at him. 'Where is Dad?'

'Geri just came by, Denise ambushed Augie at the Side Step and took him to Ranger headquarters for questioning about the lantern he took from their barn.'

'Can she do that?'

Bonham shrugged. 'Cordell's gone in to sort it out. God… What a mess.'

After a moment Maddie placed her hand on his shoulder. 'It's gonna be okay. Regardless of how tomorrow turns out, we all still have each other.'

He smiled at her, wiping off some dirt she'd managed to get on her cheek while riding. 'I know little one.'

'And Grampa, are you really going to ride tomorrow?'

'I don't see that I have much of a choice.'

'You-you could let me ride.' She suggested softly after a pause.

'No honey. It's too dangerous. You've never raced before.'

'Then Chopper and I have something in common. And yes. We have. You think it was easy catching Bel that time when she escaped?'

'Chasing after a rogue mustang and racing for our family ranch are two very different things, Maddie girl. I can't afford to leave it to chance. We can't lose tomorrow.'

Maddie sighed softly as she ran a hand down Chopper's neck. 'I guess. Forget that I said anything.

'Come on.' He placed his arm around her shoulder, Cassie coming back across the pasture with the halter and lead rope for Chopper. 'Chin up. Everything will be fine again after tomorrow.'

She managed a sad smile at him trying to cheer her up. I sure hope so.

'Grampa?' Maddie knocked gently on the door frame of the tack room, Bonham looking over at her from a saddle he was finishing off. 'You missed dinner.' She said as she walked in, a plate in her hand. 'Thought I'd bring it out to you.'

'Thank you darlin. Just put it down there.' He motioned with his knife over at a spare spot on his leather crafting table.

'What are you working on?' She questioned after placing it down, taking a seat on the edge of the table.

'Just fixing up this saddle for tomorrow.' He patted the seat of the saddle. 'I'm guessing everyone else has already eaten?'

'Not that we had much of an appetite. August is pretty upset by what happened earlier and Stella and Colton got into it at the Side Step apparently…' Maddie looked back at him. 'Why is it that some people seem to find such enjoyment in hurting other people?'

Bonham placed his knife down with a sigh. 'I don't know little one. I guess… when people are unhappy, they want to make those around them unhappy too. I don't know.'

'It's not right.'

'No, it's not.'

Maddie looked down at her hands as her grandfather began picking at his plate. 'I could have let my past turn me into a monster like my dad was but I didn't. I didn't want to hurt other people like I had been hurt. I just want to make people feel better, not hurt them… I even tried to be friends with Colton and now…'

Bonham placed his hand on her knee. 'If everyone has a heart like yours, the world would be a better place.'

She smiled sadly at the compliment. 'Would you like me to do the night feed? Dad's feeling pretty crummy at the moment and I tried talking to him but maybe you need to?'

'I'll go talk to him when I finish up here.' He assured her. 'Make sure Chopper gets his extra scoop of oats, we need him in top condition tomorrow.'

Maddie nodded as she stood up. 'Yes sir.'

'Once you finish up the feed, you go on to bed. Try to get some sleep.'

'Might have better luck flying to the moon.' She remarked as she headed to the door, stopping to look back at him. 'Night Grampa. I love you.'

Bonham smiled at her. 'I love you too darlin. Sweet dreams.'

Time slipped by as Maddie organized giving out the night feed, the teen yawning softly for the fifth time as she scooped an extra dipper of oats into Chopper's bucket. Placing the bucket down on the trolley they used to carry out the feed she rubbed her eyes tiredly, looking at the time. It was quite late, almost eleven already. Just a few more feeds to go. She reminded herself as she picked up Skylar's bucket, adding in her ration.

When she'd finally finished giving out all the feeds and filling the hay nets it was after eleven by the time she stepped out of the barn. Her flashlight illuminating the way she headed over to Bel and Dakota to check on her mares before heading up to the house. As she stood there giving Bel a scratch she heard the sound of something up near the barn. She frowned, giving Bel one last pat as she went back to investigate. It almost sounded like a door being closed.

'Grampa, you in here?' She questioned as she walked back into the barn, flicking on the light. There was no answer except for the gentle sounds of the horses in their stalls. 'Must be hearing things.' Maddie remarked to herself as she walked over to Skylar, the palomino having her head out over her stall door. 'Must have been a possum hey?' She said softly as she gave the mare a pat. 'How you been girl? Sorry I haven't had the chance to give you much attention lately.' Her hand going back into her pocket she found one last sugar cube and offered it to her. 'I'll have to take you out for a good run sometime. You'd enjoy that, wouldn't you?'

Suddenly, a floorboard creaked from the direction of the tack room and Maddie's hand froze. It sounded like there was someone in the barn after all. Quickly and silently she darted across to the tack room then opened the door cautiously. Even without turning the light on she could see that it was empty and frowned. Everything looked as it should. 'Okay. I'm sleep deprived and have finally lost what little brains I have.' She said to herself with a tired chuckle. 'I am finally going crazy.'

A moment later and the door closed again as Maddie headed out, the figure hiding just outside the tack room door let out a breath they'd been holding in.

The day of the race dawned unusually beautifully sunny, Maddie looking over at the sunrise with trepidation. Of course it had to look like a beautiful day… Couldn't it have been raining instead so that the race would have had to be canceled?

Bel and Dakota were munching away at their hard feeds, blissfully unaware of just what was at stake today. Their family couldn't afford to lose their ranch but there was the very real possibility that exactly would be the case. One hand on Bel's wither, her fingers intertwined through her mare's mane, she looked at the last message that Colton had sent her. They'd planned to go for another trail ride and picnic together before all this crap had happened… Since the night that the Davidson's had wanted to meet though and lines had been drawn, she hadn't heard from him.

The trail ride never happened.

For a moment she contemplated sending him a message but decided against it, returning her phone to her pocket with a sigh. What could she say that mattered anyway? Colton was involved in this, in Denise taking Augie in for questioning. Stella practically hated him judging by the way she'd spoken about him the previous evening. How did she feel about it though? How did she feel towards him?

Sad.

Disappointed maybe.

She really liked Colton but with everything that had happened, maybe it was for the best.

As she stood pondering thoughts in her mind, watching the sunrise, a loud crash from the barn caught her attention. She frowned as it sounded again and gave Bel one last pat before leaving to investigate.

Walking into the barn she turned the light on, her steps quickening as she realized that it sounded like it was coming from Chopper's stall. As she reached his stall and looked in, she gasped. 'Oh my God…' Chopper was down, cast beneath his manger. 'Woah, woah, steady boy. Easy… I'm here… I'm here…' She called softly as she opened the door, the gelding stopping his fighting for a moment. 'Sssh… it's okay. There's a boy.' Careful not to get herself kicked she made her way around to his back and knelt down beside him. 'It's all right… Ssssh…'

Her hand ran gently over his sweat glistened hide and though she could feel her heart skip a beat, she forced herself to remain calm. 'It's okay Chopper, just give me a moment.' When the gelding had calmed a little she stood again, removing the aluminum hay manger out of the way so he didn't injure himself on it while struggling to get up. 'I'll have to go get Dad to help, okay? I'll be right back.'

Closing the stall door behind herself she went to leave then stopped as she walked past Skylar's stall. Skylar was the first to greet her every morning when she came in- She hurried over to her, the mare standing with her head in the corner, sweat glistening off her golden hide. Her box looked like a war zone, the sawdust strewn every which way and Skylar was covered in it which meant she had been rolling too. 'Skylar. Skylar.' She called softly, clicking her fingers. Skylar made no acknowledgement of her presence and she was about to walk into her stall when she heard the sound of pawing coming from another box.

A bay quarter horse mare was pawing at the ground and biting at her flanks when she looked into her stall, Maddie's heart skipping a beat. Just like the previous two she was covered in sweat but unlike the others, seemed frantic almost. Something was wrong. Really wrong.

She started for the door again then heard the sound of a horse struggling to breath and ran to the stall. 'Oh god.' She flung the door open, falling to her knees beside Ace, her grandfather's prize stallion. He was just lying there motionless, his teeth grit together as he struggled for each breath. His eyes were glassy and bloodshot as she stroked his cheek gently, looking him over.

The horses were sick.

Something was wrong.

Colic.

The realization of what this was hit her like a tidal wave. The sweating, the pawing, rolling. The other signs like no manure in the boxes, nipping at their flanks, kicking up at their stomachs. Lifting Ace's lip she saw his gums were a pale gray and when she pressed her thumb against it, it took seconds for color to slightly return. He could hardly breathe too, his body heaving for air each time he tried to take a breath.

Ace was the worst of all of them.

'It'll be okay boy. It'll be okay.' She ran a hand down his neck, feeling down to his legs. His legs were cold. That's not good… 'I'll be back. You're gonna be okay.'

Standing up she headed out of the stall and closed the door behind her, her heart racing as she looked into the other stalls. It looked like there were two other horses that were sick but the rest seemed to be okay.

After seeing the horse in the last stall looked alright, Maddie ran from the barn back to the house. She'd never seen colic before but she'd done enough reading to know that was exactly what it was. Colic could kill a horse in a manner of house and who knew how long those horses had already been sick for.

'Maddie-' Abeline looked up with concern as the teen burst in through the back door. 'What's wrong?'

'Where's Grampa?' She questioned as she rested against the door frame, catching her breath.

'Right here.' Bonham replied as he walked into the room. 'Maddie, what's going on?'

'You gotta come quick. Chopper's down-' Maddie started as the rest of the family came into the room. 'And there's other horses sick. I think it's colic.'