Here is chapter 10! Thanks for reading as always.

Dina -

"JJ!" I called though to the living room "Dinner is almost ready, can you put your toys away?"

"Oki!" he called back in his cute little voice

There was a knock at the door.

Ellie, where the fuck are you?

I headed over to the door and was greeted by the younger Miller brother, Tommy.

"Howdy Dina" he greeted me with a smile

"Hey Tommy, happy birthday" I stood on my tiptoes and gave him a hug "Come on in. Ellie isn't back yet. She's late, can you believe it!" I huffed

Tommy headed over to JJ and scooped him up in his arms "ohhh mamma Ellie is in trouble" He laughed at JJ who giggled back at him

"She should have been back by now. She was only heading over to the farm for some of her things and Joel's guitar" I walked back into the kitchen and looked out of the large window overseeing the front yard, there was still no sign of her. "I'll set the table, she shouldn't be long" I took out some plates and started to dress the table when another knock at the door sounded.

"Oh howdy James" Tommy had answered the door "Come on in" James entered the house with a small parcel in his hands.

"Errr Ellie ordered this this morning but she never came back to collect it" He held out the parcel in my direction leaning towards me he whispered "It seemed pretty important when she came in this earlier"

I walked over and took the parcel of him "Thanks James, she should have been back by now actually"

"Happy birthday by the way Tommy!" James moved backwards to where he was originally stood

"Thanks" Tommy nodded awkwardly at him

"It's okay I was on my way home anyway I just thought she might have forgotten, I need to shoot, mums expecting me back" he explained and was straight out of the door.

"Huh" I headed back into the kitchen and placed the parcel down. I peeled back to wrapping and revealed a cake with 'Happy Birthday Tommy' written on it. I looked up, staring back out of the window. The sun was starting to go down and that would make it dark soon. I could feel the worry moving over me in a wave. Why would Ellie be so late? She left early and she knew we were having Tommy over tonight. Something just didn't sit right with me.

"Everythin' alright Dina?" Tommy interrupted my train of thought.

"I'm not sure. Ellie should have been back by now. I've just got a bad feeling." I looked over at him, he still had JJ in his arms. "Could you do me a favour and watch him, I just want to see if she's signed back in"

"Sure no problem. You love hangin' out with uncle Tommy don't ya?" He bounced JJ in the air who giggled infectiously.

I grabbed my jacket and swiftly left the house. I marched up to the main gate pretty quickly. I was getting increasingly worried.

"Dina hey" Maria shouted over "I'm just on my way home, did Ellie get the stuff she needed from the farm? I must have missed her coming back through"

"Actually that's why I'm here. She's not back yet and I'm a little worried"

Marias face looked concerned "come on, let's check if she's signed back in '' I followed the older blond woman up to the small post just inside the main gate where the signing in book was. She flicked through the pages running her index finger along each box. "Hmmm" her eyes narrowed at the page then she looked back at me before walking over to Simon who was on guard duty. "Hey Si, has Ellie come back through?"

"Nope, not seen her since she left this morning" he called back down

I felt a lump in my throat "It's getting dark Maria, I need to go look for her. What if she's hurt?"

Maria moved closer and put a hand on my shoulder "I know by now I'm not going to be able to stop you. Go grab Japan from the stable and I'll get Simon to follow you up. Here take this" She handed me her pistol "Ellie didn't sign out a gun this morning"

I took the gun and slipped it into my belt and started to head towards the stable. I must have been wearing a more worried look on my face than I thought because Maria stopped me "Dina she's a strong one your girl. She's a Miller, I'm sure she's okay''

I sprinted as fast as I could to the stables. Maria had already radioed through that I was on my way so they had Japan ready to go. Without speaking, with a nod, Harriet handed me the rains to Japan and opened the stable door. I jumped on and rode out back towards the gate. Maria was there holding it open waving me though.

I'll check the trail through the woods first

The short ride to the trail seemed to last forever, I pushed Japan as fast as he could go. If she's coming back from the farm this is the way she would go. The trail practically went from the farm all the way back to Jackson.

Ellie would have gone this way if she was coming back from the farm.

Hopefully I'm just overthinking things and she's just late and I'll find her coming out of the woods with that stupid guitar on her back and I'll shout at her and we will laugh about how worried I got.

Yeah hopefully that's just it.

I reached the opening to the trail and instantly noticed something on the path. I quickly jumped off Japan and hurried over to it, there it was again the lump in my throat along with a sick feeling in the pit of my stomach as I realised what's in front of me.

"Ellie's backpack" I dropped to the floor and clutched the bag in my hands, a million thoughts going through my mind. She wouldn't have just left this here, she goes everywhere with this beat up thing. I got back up and took a look around the area to see if there was any sign of her.

"Ellie, where are you?" I whispered

About 10 yards further into the forest I saw a small bunch of flowers that look to have been trampled on, they look newly picked. I look at them closer and notice splatters of blood on them. My heart rate increased with every realisation that something bad has happened to her.

These must have been for me from Ellie.

I could hear horse hoofs approaching loudly behind me followed by footsteps. "You got here fast Dina!" Simon puffs out of breath "what have you found?"

I picked up the flowers in my free hand and Ellie's bag was still in the other and turned round to face him. "Ellie's bag and a bunch of flowers with blood on them" my hands start to tremble "something bad's happened"

We looked around the trail a little and found no sign of Ellie, I'm not a great tracker but I do know one who is. Tommy. We headed back to the town and updated Maria on what we found before heading back home to see Tommy who was still looking after JJ.

I ran up the porch stairs and burst into the house.

"Dina! Did ya find Ellie?"

"No I think something bads happened Tommy and I need your help"

"What can I do?" He looked a little shocked at the question

"I think someone's taken her. Her bag was left at the entrance to the trail and so were a bunch of flowers with blood splatters on them. I'm not the best tracker but the ground around looked as if there had been a scuffle. I need your help to go after them"

Tommy looked down uncomfortably "Dina, look. My leg aint.."

I cut him off "Tommy, she's done so much for you. We will take the horses and I will deal with any trouble along the way. All you have to do is find the trail. You owe her"

He started to scratch his beard "I dunno Dina"

"Tommy please! I can't lose her again. I won't lose her, you have to help me" I pleaded with him

"Okay. Okay I'll do it" He sighed "Let me go get some things. We can't leave in the middle of the night, we won't be able to pick up a trail so we will go at first light okay, meet me by the gate at sunrise"

I placed my hand on his arm "Thanks Tommy"

He nodded at me and was straight out of the door. I paused for a moment and knelt down, resting my face in my hands. Thinking of everything that could be happening right now. She wouldn't have just left us, not again without telling me. She must be in trouble. But who? Who would take her and why?

"Fuck"

"Mummy" a little voice came from behind me followed by two tiny hands on my arm "Where's mammy Ellie?"

I uncover my face and look at him "I'm not sure JJ, I need to go out and look for her in the morning"

"Can I come?" his big brown eyes looking at me, he looked just like his dad.

I smile at him "you need to stay here. In case she comes back, can you do that for me?"

"yeah" he grinned

I pulled him in for a hug before standing up and taking him upstairs. "Come on you, let's go pack a bag your going to grandma and grandads for a couple of days"

"Yaaay!" he cheered

I laugh at him. He's always so happy without a single care in the world.

After packing JJs bag I took him straight over to Robin and Julie's house and explained what was going on. Of course they were more than happy to look after JJ for me. I couldn't just sit around till morning in the house, it would drive me crazy with worry. I headed back out to the gate and checked in to make sure Ellie hadn't magically come back. There was still no sign of her. I went over to Marias to tell her what was going on and to take up some more of my time.

"Hey Dina, come in" Maria opened the door and gestured to me to go inside "Before you tell me your well rehearsed story I want to stop you there. You have my approval to go look for Ellie. I don't like it but I don't like that she's out there on her own either."

I was a little bit shocked, I thought I would have to beg her to let me go. "Tommy is coming with me, he's going to help me track her"

"Yes he stopped by and informed me he would be making the trip with you" She walked over to the dining table and sat down placing her hand around the mug of coffee she had previously been drinking. "I know he didn't want to go, I don't really want him to go either, not when he has been doing so well and we have been getting along again" She let out a long sigh " but I think he needs to do this. He's still the strong, brave Miller man I married all those years ago and he loves his niece" She brought the mug to her face and took a sip before continuing "Just be careful out there, please"

Before I could reply there was frantic knocking at the door. We both looked at each other trading worried expressions, it was late and the knocking was getting louder and louder. I went over and answered it, it was Simon who was out of breath.

"Is it Ellie?" I asked

"No" He huffed "Kieran and Olivia are back. They have some information but there at the clinic. You're going to want to go over there. Now"

Without hesitation I ran past Simon and headed for the clinic. Maria just behind me. The clinic was only a short distance from the house as Maria lived in the centre of town. We ran through the main doors and into the back room where they both were being treated. Kieran had a head wound that the doctor was stitching up and Olivia was laid on the bed with an icepack on her ankle.

"What happened?" Maria asked

"We ran into some trouble while out on our hunting trip. Ouch" Kieran winced as the doctor was stitching up his head. "West of here, it was pretty far out. Almost on the edge of our patrol border by the small group of hunting lodges. There was a woman, she was massive, scars all over her arms. She attacked us when we tried to approach her and tried to.." He paused and looked over at Olivia. "Urm Dina, she was dragging someone behind her. It was Ellie"

I already knew who they were talking about, big woman, after Ellie, scars on her arms. My handy work. And I knew in the pit of my stomach where this was going, I could feel the tears welling up in my eyes, she must have come back for revenge. "It was Abby" I lifted my hand to my head and rubbed my temples "That fucking bitch. Was Ellie okay?"

"Her hands were bound and there was something round her mouth, like a gag" Olivia spoke this time "I think she had blood on her face and shirt too, looked like they had had a fight"

I felt dizzy and my knees wobbled as I listened to the words, trying to process what was happening. I reached out and leant my hand against the wall to steady myself.

Breath, just breath

"Kieran tried to confront her but she knocked him clean out. I tried to go after them but I fell and twisted my ankle" She looked down at her bruised swollen foot that was propped up on the bed "I'm really sorry we couldn't do more"

"You did good, I'm sure Ellie wouldn't have wanted you to get in harms way" Maria broke the silence

"Oh, they were on foot, so if you're going after them you should be able to catch them up. I'd come with you but I struggled to get back here with my ankle"

"I'll go" Kieran offered "I'll take you to where we ran into them and follow your lead from there. I owe Ellie so I'm happy to come"

"Ar.."

He cut me off raising his hand at me "I'm sure, no arguments, I'm coming okay. Just let the doc finish this and I'll meet you by the gate in an hour when it's light?"

"Okay, thanks Kieran. Tommy is coming too."

The next hour seemed to last forever, I packed my bag, packed it again and waited by the main gates pacing up and down waiting for Tommy and Kieran to arrive. I'd already got Japan from the stable ready to go. I wondered to myself why Kieran would want to come so badly, what did he mean he owed Ellie? Was this some weird knight in shining armour shit? Figure he'd show up and save her, win her over all whale her current girlfriend is there?

I shook my head, pull yourself together Dina, one thing at a time.

"All ready to go?" Tommy called from behind me. He was riding Dash. A large black horse that was pretty new to Jackson.

Finally

Kieran followed shortly behind him, he was sporting a large bandage wrapped around his head, this blond hair poking from every side. "Hey guys" He waved "we ready?"

"Yeah lets go" I jumped up onto Japan and we were off out of the gate. First stop was where we found Ellie's bag. I wanted Tommy to look over it before we headed for the Western border.

Tommy hobbled over to where I found Ellie's bag and crouched down to get a better look

"Hmmmm. Right" He stood up and limped around the area, studying patches of grass and dirt. Feeling some of the branches with a stern look on his face.

It felt like a decade, every moment we were here was a moment Ellie was out there with that psycho.

"Okay" He finally finished and came over to stand next to me "Just like I thought. Our Ellie put up a bit of a fight by the looks of things" He turned around and pointed at a pile of dirt "There see, you can see the boot marks close together and just over here" He moved forward a little towards a group of trees "Looks like somethin' hit this here tree, awful hard. There is some blood on it, see?"

I stepped over and took a closer look. There was a small smudge of blood on the bark as well as some broken sections with pieces of bark littering the floor. Now he's pointing it out, it all started to become clear.

"And here, there are some marks in the grass too. I'm not the tracker I used to be but if I had to guess I'd assume Ellie was somewhere over here" He pointed to where I found the bag "you found some flowers didn't ya?"

"Yeah" I answered back

"These stems here have been cut clean with a blade by the looks of it, so she must 'av knelt down and cut em. Abbys come up behind her. They had a confrontation here and someone, am assuming Abby got the upper hand and threw Ellie into the tree then onto the ground here. The marks look too small to be Abby"

I shuddered at the words I was hearing, I could picture the fight happening right in front of me. Abby throwing Ellie around like a rag doll, she wasn't the fighter she used to be, not really. She's hardly been out of Jackson apart from short hunting trips and she was nearly as skinny as the day I found her in Santa Barbara.

"Kieran, let's go to the western perimeter and take a look there. If I know Ellie she will have left some kinda trail to where she was goin' if she was capable of doin' so" Tommy commanded

"Yeah sure thing Tommy this way"

We got back on the horses and headed to the western perimeter. It was a couple of hours riding through the forests, we pushed the horses a little more as I kept insisting we get there as soon as possible. We arrived at the small clearing near the patrol border where the three old hunting cabins stood. This area wasn't used very often. We mainly used it if we needed to go on longer hunting trips or to store gear.

"Over here Tommy!" Kerien shouted "We had just come out of the far cabin when we saw them"

"Comin' out?" Tommy started to ask and sore Kierens face turning a shade of red. "I don't wanna know kid" He laughed

Tommy dismounted Dash and had a look around the area. Again not saying much, just scratching his beard and making lots of 'hmmm' noises.

"You see anything Tommy?" I asked eagerly

"There are some track marks over here, definitely two of em. One a little more heavy footed than the other. They are going west into the woods'' He walked over towards the tree line "Dina" he called over "here look" He pointed at the tree closest "See I knew she'd leave something for us to follow"

I took a closer look at the tree and there was more blood, it looked to resemble a hand print.

"Right, let's move on. Hopefully she's left more along the way" Tommy instructed

Please leave a comment if you are enjoying the story!