Mika's introduction chapter you guys! Hope y'all enjoy her character, she gets to stick around for awhile 😊

Again, TW for dealing with after effects of self harming.

Enjoy and don't forget to follow and comment!

The ride from Walker Ranch to Briar Ridge passed by in silence, Maddie staring blankly out the window at the passing scenery as Liam drove Bel and Dakota to their new home. As the equestrian center came into view, Maddie began to show a little interest, looking up as they turned into the drive. 'Fancy...' She remarked with raised eyebrows. 'This place sure doesn't look like your average trail barn.'

Liam chuckled a little. 'Nina would take major offense if she heard you call this place a trail barn.'

'What kind of place is this anyway?'

'Showing, show jumping, dressage.'

Sleek and well groomed thoroughbreds were grazing in the pasture on her left, a few warm-blood weanlings running around on their right. It was defiantly a far cry from their ranch, where she had felt at home. 'Sure don't look like there are any cows around...'

'She was good enough to offer full agistment at half the price to Mom since they go way back so you would do well not to ruffle any feathers here.'

'Well... I'll keep that in mind.'

As Liam brought the truck to a stop in the parking lot, a gray haired woman with a walking stick came over to them with a girl about Maddie's age accompanying her. 'Mrs. Duviack.' He said as he climbed out of the truck. 'Been a long time.'

'That is has been, Liam,' She smiled, shaking his hand. 'you've grown since I last saw you.'

He chuckled. 'I should hope so, seeing as I was only ten at the time.'

'And how many times did I tell you to call me Nina? Mrs. Duviack makes me sound so ancient.'

'All right, Nina.' He smiled. 'I can't thank you enough for taking Maddie's horses on at such short notice.'

'My pleasure Liam. I'm sorry to hear about what's happened.' A young girl with reddish-brown hair came around the truck and stopped beside him, Liam placing his arm around her shoulder.
'You must be Maddie.' She said with a smile.

'Yes ma'am.' Maddie offered a timid smile back. 'Like Uncle Liam said, we're very grateful to you for this.'

'Don't mention it, I'm happy I was able to help.' Nina motioned at the girl beside her. 'This is Mika, one of the stable girls here. She'll be able to give you a tour around the place and help get your horses settled in while Liam and I go over some paperwork. Mika, you've got things under control here?'

Mika nodded. 'Yes ma'am.'

'Very good. I hope you like it here Maddie.'

'Thank you, I'm sure I will.'

Liam and Nina headed towards a large house, Maddie turning her attention back to the trailer as one of her horses began to paw the floor. 'Sounds like Bel's eager to get off there.'

'Let's get her off then.' Mika went to the other side of the trailer, the two of them lowering the tailgate together.

Maddie had guessed right that it was Bel putting up a fuss. 'I'll back Dakota off first and hand her to you, Bel can be a bit antsy around new people.' Mika nodded and waited for her to give her the all clear before bringing the bum bar across and carefully, Dakota was backed off the float. 'Good girl.' She gave her a pat once they were standing on solid ground, her little mustang looking around with a quiet but curious glance. After making sure she was calm she motioned for Mika to come take her.

'Hello Dakota.' Mika offered her hand to the mare to sniff then took the lead rope and led her out of the way so Bel could be off loaded.

Unloading Bel was slightly more exciting, the mare scrambling backwards as fast as she could to get off the trailer. 'Easy... Easy girl.' Maddie soothed as she followed her back, the mustang stopping after throwing a decent fit. 'Easy...' She ran her hand up and down the mare's forehead until Bel was calmer and let out the breath she'd been holding back. 'She's usually alright with travailing.'

'She can probably tell something is up.' She replied. 'New place, you're nervous.'

'Yeah...' Maddie sighed, running her hand down the mare's neck. 'You're okay...'

Mika waited until the mare had calmed down, Dakota standing quietly with her. 'Shall I lead the way?'

'Lead on.' As Maddie led Bel after Dakota, Mika started her guided tour of the equestrian center and a basic history of the place. First impressions were right, this place was fancy. There were two indoor riding arenas, three outside sand arenas, a full sized cross country course and the center bordered a national park with plenty of trails for riding. There were three full time trainers, each specializing in a different area of English riding and plenty of stable-hands to help care for the horses.

Approaching the barn, Maddie raised her eyebrows. It was fancy, definitely fancier than any barn she'd ever seen before. A couple horses wearing show rugs and hoods were led past, Bel taking fright for a moment until she had calmed her down. 'You and I are definitely out of our league here my girl...' She remarked to Bel softly as Mika kept up her seemingly endless commentary. There didn't seem to be any other borders around, Mika explaining soon after she'd noted she seemed to be the only person not wearing an 'Briar Ridge' shirt that most people who boarded only came to ride once or twice a week. The rest of the time, their horses were cared for and ridden by the staff.

'So... Any questions?'

'Yeah...' Maddie replied, having already forgotten nearly every detail that Mika had told her about. 'Do the horses here get turnout time?'

'Mostly. About an hour or so a day. Here we are.' They came to two stalls next to an entrance and exit for the feed and tack room in the middle of the building. 'You can place Bel in the one on the right.'

Turnout for only an hour a day? 'But you guys will follow whatever routine we request for our horses, right?'

'Yep.' Mika un-haltered the mustang and turned her loose into the stall, sliding the door into place as she left. 'What does their day usually look like?'

'Um... Pasture turn out twenty four seven?' She said as she turned Bel into her box, Mika showing her how to secure the door in place. 'Honestly, I don't know how they will go being in stalls for most of the time. They've both lived out at grass since I've had them.'

'They're both mustangs too, aren't they? Big size difference if they are.'

Maddie nodded. 'Bel is a Spanish Mustang, hence her height. Dakota was from a herd up in Colorado.' She looked at Bel as the mare began to investigate her new home with rather loud snorting. 'They can both be turned out, right? I mean, there's space to have them out at pasture for the day?'

'There's plenty of room, no need to worry about it.' Mika assured her as she hung Dakota's halter and lead on the hook beside her stall. 'You can place Bel's there.' She nodded at the one in front of the other stall. 'Once we've brung over all your gear and feed stuff, we'lll sit down and write up a schedule for them. I'll just have to speak with Rachel, she's the head groom, about pasture turnout for them both but we'll make it work.'

'That's a relief. I think both Bel and Dakota would climb the walls in a couple days being cooped up all the time.' She replied as they headed back through the barn to the parking lot, Mika grabbing a trolley for the gear on her way.

Mika smiled, glancing over at her. 'You care about your horses, don't you?'

'My folks would say I care more about my girls than I do about them.'

She chuckled.

'Why do you ask?'

'You wouldn't believe the amount of people we get through here who couldn't care less about their horses' well-being. As long as they're tacked and ready to win whatever big show is on the weekend, they're happy.'

Maddie shook her head. 'I don't know how people can be like that. I love doing everything with my horses, even the mucky stuff.' Mika laughed again. 'I know it's been organized for them to have full board but I'm allowed to be here to help out, right?'

'Of course. If you're planning to come do things, just give me a text beforehand so they don't like, get accidentally fed twice.'

'Oh, they both would love that.'

'I'm sure they would.' Mika agreed as they reached the trailer again. 'Alright, how much gear have we got?'

'All their feed is in the front of the trailer, my tack is in the back of the truck. I'll grab the tack.'

'No, I can. Part of my job.'

'If you think I'm just gonna stand here and let you do all the work, you've got another thing coming.' Maddie chuckled, un-clipping the tarp from the top of the tray. 'I would assume that you've been assigned to look after Bel and Dakota?' Mika nodded as she opened the front door of the trailer. 'Well you'd better get used to me helping out with their care. I've been doing it since I had them both and just cause they're boarded here at a fancy stable I'm not about to stop.'

'You know what-' Mika remarked as she placed the first plastic barrel onto the trolley, impressed that Maddie didn't appear to be another snotty-nosed rich girl with attitude. 'I think you and I are going to get along beautifully.'

Maddie chuckled, a real smile coming to her lips for the first time in days. 'You know, it's funny. I get the exact same feeling.'

'Friends?' Mika questioned hopefully.

Maddie extended her hand towards her to shake. 'Friends.'

The house never looked as empty as it did when Maddie stepped back in later that afternoon, the only things left were boxes and things sitting on the floor waiting to be packed. All the furniture had been taken into storage earlier by the removalists, the remaining boxes left being packed to be picked up in the morning.

Seeing the house so empty, so bare, reminded Maddie that this was real.

They had lost their home.

'How'd it go with Bel and Dakota?' Abeline questioned, carrying another box in from her room to add to the stack at the front door. 'They settle in okay?'

'Yeah... Yeah, they'll be okay.' She nodded, placing her handbag down on a taped up box. 'Sure is a fancy place that Briar Ridge.'

'Yeah, it is. They'll be well cared for there. You won't have to worry about them.'

'I know... it's just...'

'Not the same as having them in your own backyard?'

Maddie nodded. 'The girl who's been assigned to them, Mika, she seems real nice. Bel even took to her easy and you know Bel, she doesn't just like anyone. I guess it's a good thing it's full board too with everything...' She sighed softly. 'Where are we going to sleep tonight?'

'I asked the removalists to leave the mattress till last though yours got loaded onto the truck before I remembered.'

'So I'm on the floor then?' She chuckled softly, shaking her head. 'Gees, that's worse than being kicked out to the dog house.'

'You and I can bunk together for the night.' Abeline started filling one of the cardboard boxes from the one she was carrying. 'Maddie...' She looked over at the teen as she picked up one of the photo frames that was yet to be packed away. Their family photo they'd had taken a couple months after she'd been adopted. 'I'm worried about you sweetheart.'

'No need to be.' Maddie replied with a forced smile. 'I'm alright.'

'You know... A grandmother's intuition lets her know when someone isn't telling the truth. You might say you're fine but I can tell you aren't.'

Her eyes began to mist at that and she quickly returned the photo back to the pile to be packed away. No. She wouldn't break down in front of Abeline. Abeline had enough to deal with without her adding to her burden. 'I better go finish packing my room.'

She exited out of there as quickly as possible, closing the door behind her. How could her family care about her when she was the one responsible for this? Taking a deep breath she looked around the space she'd called her own since coming to the Walkers. Her furniture was gone, her belongings either on the floor waiting to be packed or already packed away in the boxes beside her door.

Bubbles had been curled up asleep on her dressing gown in what little remained of the sun, her cat waking with a yawn then padded across the floor to her. 'Least I've still got you here with me, little one.' She remarked sadly as she picked her cat up, Bubbles purring loudly as she rubbed her chin. 'Guess we'd better get the rest of this mess cleaned up, hey?'

Anything she thought she would need in the next couple of days went into one of the new suitcases they'd brought, the rest being carefully packed away for storage. Day turned into night beyond the window, the moon rising over the last time they'd sleep in the Walker ranch house. Tomorrow, the keys would be given to the Davidson's and that would be that.

All because her best wasn't enough.

Abeline came to check on her once and Maddie assured her she was fine, her grandmother not bothering her again after that. When she had finally finished packing everything away she sank down on the floor in the middle of her room, thoughts dancing through her mind. This really was the first place she had to call home. A real home.

She had so many happy memories already here, albeit some sad ones too. It was here that she had learnt it was okay to trust again. That it was safe for her to open her heart again. She learnt what love truly was and not what she thought it to be from the years spent with her father.

It was out there in the living room she'd called Cordell 'Dad' for the first time ever, the kitchen turned dance floor when he came home after work and had begged her to dance with him. Movie and game nights with Stella and August, time used getting to know each other better. Her and Abeline in the kitchen cooking singing to whatever song came up in her playlist. Bonham teaching her how to work with leather and work cattle. Trail rides had with Colton...

Colton.

Saturday night, after having put Skylar to sleep, he'd stayed with her until he was sure she was alright then had disappeared back into the night. They'd agreed it was best to leave things be for a while, both of them knowing they needed time and space apart until things weren't as raw.

It wasn't Colton she hated but his family and now, she guessed she could understand why the Davidson's were so mean to them if what she felt towards them was anything to go by.

A lone tear slid down her cheek and she quickly wiped it away, turning her thoughts to more important matters. Her legs had been bleeding on and off throughout the day and sooner or later she knew she had to tend to the wounds. With her room finished being packed there was no time like the present.

She gathered what she needed and slipped out of her room, Abeline and Liam deep enough in conversation to not notice her go by. The bathroom door was locked behind her and her things placed onto the bench-top before she carefully slid out of her bloodied jeans.

A few of the cuts began to bleed again, having been stuck to the inside of her jeans. She had known it would happen which was why she had chosen to wear her blacks. Blood didn't show on black clothing. It was something she had learnt years ago when she had first started.

Stepping into the warm shower she tipped her head back, letting the warm water run over her. After a time she smoothed back her hair, looking down at her legs as the water washed the dried blood away until only the open wounds were there. She wished the water could wash her problems away just as easily as the blood but it couldn't. Nothing could fix the broken that was she.

A knock sounded on the door a little while later and she turned the water down for a moment. 'What's up?'

'What do you want for dinner?' Stella questioned from the other side. 'Uncle Liam was going to grab pizza while he picks up August from the Side Step.'

'I'm not hungry.'

'Mawline said nothing isn't an option.'

She sighed softly. 'Fine. Plain cheese pizza would be great.'

'Alright. Don't take all the hot water, the rest of us need to shower you know.'

'I know. I know...'

Stella left and peace returned. Knowing that she couldn't hide in the shower forever she finished washing her hair and stepped out, realizing she only had a light colored towel to dry herself with. She groaned inwardly. She was getting sloppy these days... Before when she would cut she thought out every little detail so she wouldn't get found out and now she couldn't even remember to get a dark towel.

Her wounds were bleeding a little but some tissue and gentle pressure soon took care of it. She kept a kit together hidden in her room for times like this to care for her wounds when she cut, antiseptic and cream and such. If you'd have been smart you would have done this earlier. She reminded herself as she began to properly clean and dress her wounds, using the largest dressings she had to cover where she'd cut. A couple bandages held them in place and after she slipped into a pair of black leggings, no one would be any wiser.

Maddie finished up with her legs and dressed, drying her hair before she went out. Liam had already left, Abeline and Stella in the living room arranging mattresses and blankets on the floor. 'What's all this for?' She questioned with surprise.

'We're doing a camp-out.' Stella replied. 'Thought it might be nice for us to sleep together tonight.'

'Anything I can do?'

'Ah, I think we've pretty much got it under control...' Abeline said as she thought for a moment. 'You finished with your room?'

She nodded. 'All packed. The boxes just need to be moved out to go with the rest of them.'

'And your things from the cellar?'

'Already got them. I can't believe we're going to leave an entire cellar full of food for them.'

'You know-' Stella remarked with a mischievous grin. 'We could take all the labels off everything so it'd be luck of the draw.'

'Or swap them over-' Maddie added, getting her gist.

Abeline shook her head in amusement. 'We aren't doing either, you two. There's no sense in wasting good food.'

'It's just a shame the Davidson's get to eat all of it.' She replied with a sigh. 'Can't I just swap over a few labels? Maybe the strawberry and that hot jalapeno jam you made last year?'

'Though that would be rather amusing, no. Do unto others as ye would have them do unto you.'

Stella let out a loud huff. 'Would be nice if other people other than ourselves followed that.'

'Yeah...' Maddie agreed. 'I was nice and look where that got me.'

'Don't let the Davidson's change who you are, Maddie.' Abeline said gently after a pause. 'You have a good heart, a kind heart. They've already taken everything else, don't let them take that from you too.'

'Abby's object lessons hey?' She chuckled sadly, looking away. 'I always said my Mama's fault was that she was too kind, that she always tried to look for good in people when there wasn't any to be found. Guess I take after her more than I thought.'

'Honey, to be kind like that isn't a bad thing-'

Maddie started back to her room. 'Doesn't help you make it in an unforgiving world.'

It was late when Cordell finally got home, Maddie having pretended to be asleep when he'd come over and tucked her covers tighter around her before giving each of them a kiss. Stella and August were very much out to it on the mattresses across from her but Maddie couldn't sleep. Not only were her legs sore from what she'd done but her mind wouldn't let her rest either.

Across from them, sitting in front of the fireplace with glasses in hand, were Abeline, Cordell and Liam. She was grateful that where they were the light was off and it was dark enough so they wouldn't notice she was awake. They were speaking quietly so they didn't disturb them but she could still catch what was being said.

The reason Cordell was so late was because he and Cassie had been following up a lead, chasing up one of Marv's former employees. Somehow he'd ended up at the Side Step to speak to Geri and when Cordell had gotten there, he'd told them what had happened.

He and Frank, Geri's adopted father, had been there the night of the fire.

Bubbles rose from the foot of her bed, snuggling up close to her chest, Maddie gently stroking down the cat's nose as Cordell continued to recount the events of the evening.

It had been Frank who had killed Marv. Bonham was innocent.

When she heard that Bonham was going to be released in the morning, relief washed over her for a moment before an unsettling feeling rose in her stomach. With him being released, the inevitable couldn't be shrugged off much longer. He didn't have a home to come back to because of her.

Cordell kept speaking quietly and when she heard Geri's name mentioned, her attention returned to their conversation.

Geri was a Davidson.

She was the baby that everyone thought had died yet had lived, Marv having given her away after she'd been born.

Well, she had wondered if things could get any worse and there it was...

Abeline, Cordell and Liam spoke for a little longer then after the fire had been stoked to keep the room warm overnight, the three of them headed to bed. As Abeline slid under the covers beside her, Maddie closed her eyes, pretending to be asleep once more.

Quiet fell once more, the only sound save for the gentle breathing of those asleep around her being the crackling of the fire.

Her eyes opened again when Abeline had settled in, her rhythmic deep breathing telling her she was asleep.. Though Maddie was tired, she couldn't sleep. The minutes ticked slowly by as she watched the gentle dance and sway of the flames in the fireplace.

The last night they'd stay at Walker ranch.