"Alice!" the voice caused Alice to turn her head. She smiled brightly and laughed as she ran to greet the owner of the voice. For a moment they hugged, laughing, and chatting to each other.

"Alice, Alice, Alice, Alice...Alice?"

Alice jolted awake as the car ran over a bump. She looked over at her mother who had been calling her name, trying to wake her up. Alice scowled darkly before she turned to look out the window. She frowned. She didn't recognize anything around her. They were obviously in a very desolate place. She sighed inwardly. She couldn't believe her parents were making her do this. She was just fine.

"Alice please pay attention." Her father said in a stern tone.

"We're trying to help you Alice, we've tried all we could think of, this is our last resort, and you will participate. Just try this. Sera has been very kind to offer this. It'll help you to be away from the world for a while. Please behave." Her mother spoke as if she were talking to a five year old and this bothered Alice even more than her father's stern tone.

"I'm not going to change." She spoke flatly.

For a moment her parents exchanged helpless glances.

"Garret wouldn't want you to be living like this and doing these things to yourself." Her mother spoke tentatively. Her words were a mistake.

"You know nothing about what Garret would want for me." Alice's eyes had turned darker as she glared ice at her mother. "You leave him out of this." Her voice was deadly as she looked completely stiff and rigid in her seat.

The rest of the trip went on silently. Her mother had given up on trying to talk to her and her father just ignored her like she ignored him. They had turned onto a dirt road quite a while ago and Alice realized that she wouldn't be seeing civilization for a while and she would be stuck in the middle of nowhere with strangers. They pulled up in front of a fair sized farmhouse with a large barn off to the side and plenty of corrals spread out. Alice frowned.

They all came out of the car, Alice's father went to the trunk and pulled Alice's luggage out. Alice just stood where she was, her black clothes hanging loosely on her body as she glanced around. The sun felt warm on her neck, and that made her mood turn even worse. She felt like hitting something or someone right then. Her life sucked.

"Please behave yourself Alice." Her mother wrapped her arms around Alice, but Alice didn't return the gesture and quickly pulled from her mother's arms. "Where is Sera?" her mother thought out loud for a moment. Kate Callen needed to speak with Sera before she left her daughter. She was nervous to be doing this to Alice, but she felt that this was their last resort to getting Alice back from the brink.

The ranch on the whole seemed quiet with the exception of the animals that could be heard making their presence known here and there. At first when the car pulled up the dirt path and released its occupants it appeared as if no one was home. But surely that was a misconception because the solid door of the ranch house was sitting wide open, no doubt to allow the cool breeze to pass through the interior of the house that probably lacked a conventional cooling system.

It took a minute, but it was clear that somebody in the house had heard the car because a shadow moved near the open window of the kitchen and shortly after the delicate figure of on exotic looking wide eyed olive skinned woman appeared in the open doorway. Although the women hadn’t seen each other in a number of years, Sera was a hard person to forget and Kate, though older, had not changed much in her appearance since their younger years and was easily identifiable.

“Kate! You’ve arrived at last.” Smiling with genuine regard Sera walked down the short but long row of steps and met them. “Hello, Alice.”

While they woman didn’t hug Sera did take Kate’s hand and gave it a reassuring squeeze as if to say...You’ve come now and everything is going to be OK.

For a few seconds the woman simply stared at each other without speaking s if something was being passed between them and suddenly both woman chuckled lightly and dropped hands.

“It’s so good to see you again Katie. I admit I wasn’t sure I’d see you again so soon.” Sera remarked placidly as she tilt her head slightly to the side as if she knew something God didn’t. “Now you have to give me a hug.”

This time the woman did embrace both making happy sounds of recognition in spite of the circumstances that were bringing them together again.

“And you, Alice…” Pulling away Sera turned her attention to the sullen looking teenager. “You’re practically all grown up. I can hardly believe it when I think back on when you were born. I couldn’t be there I’m afraid, but your mother sent me all kinds of pictures over the years.”

Not expecting much of a response in return, Sera straightened back up and half turned towards the house. “Shall we go in ladies? There’s cookies and lemonade. Eva baked them for us this morning and Alice I can show you your room if you like. Most people don’t get the full tour, but I think we’ll make an exception this once.”

Sera extended her hand in welcome before turning the rest of the way around and walking towards the stairs all with the natural cautious grace of a doe in winter.

Sure enough just inside the door and to the left was a large wide kitchen and near the middle window a small round table with two chairs, glasses and a pitcher of bright yellow lemonade. The cookies were on the island counter where they’d original been set to cool.

“Before I show you both around I’d like to talk to Kate first. Alice, your mother has told me you’re rather fond of horses. We have several here. Work animals mostly. I was wondering if you’d be willing to bring some apples out to them? I got off to a bit of a late start this morning and I’m afraid I didn’t have time to do it myself. You don’t have to of course. But I’m sure they’d be very appreciative of the treat if you did.” Sera indicated to a large basket near the door loaded with about half a dozen fresh looking apples of varying color.

“Please. Help yourself to some cookies and refreshments first. We also have milk if you’d like.” Sera added neatly with a soft close lipped smile.

Alice was dearly hoping no one was home and that they could leave. She didn't like this place. For a moment it seemed like no one truly was home and they could leave, but suddenly a woman appeared in the doorway and Alice glowered sourly. She folded her arms and instantly turned her attention away from the adults in hopes of becoming invisible. She completely ignored Sera as she greeted her with a friendly hello.

Kate was simply thrilled when she saw Sera. The two had never been biological sisters, but that hadn't stopped them from watching out for each other when they were younger. They were definitely closer than a lot of actual sisters, they often joked about being put in the wrong families by accident and how they were supposed to be sisters when they were young.

"It's so good to see you too Sera." Kate smiled gratefully as Sera squeezed her hand in a reassuring manner. Kate was extremely grateful to Sera for giving Alice this opportuniry to escape her tragic life and try and start something new in a totally new enviornment. The two hugged and chatted for a moment before quieting down as Sera addressed Alice.

Alice naturally ignored the woman completely. She rolled her eyes as she kept her eyes trained on the distant mountains as she didn't want to even have Sera talking to her like she was some child. Alice was nearly an adult, and as soon as she turned 18, she was gone. She wasn't going to stick around, she didn't care what her parents would think when she ran away, they hardly deserved to have her around.

Alice's father retrieved her luggage from the trunk of the car and gave her a pointed look. She huffed and followed her mother and Sera into the house. She followed her mother and Sera into the kitchen. She only glanced at the cookies before turning her eyes to look outside as she pretended that she wasn't there, and they weren't talking to her.

As Sera spoke, Alice did look over at them. She was about to protest and firmly say she wasn't going to budge, simply for the sake of being difficult, but her mother shot her a very harsh look that she couldn't ignore. She went to pick up the basket full of apples.

"I don't need food." She snapped harshly as she glared at Sera before she left the house and headed to the barn.

"I'm so sorry Sera, please excuse her manners. It's been so difficult, ever since Garret's death. She's gotten into so much trouble, and most of it is simply to defy us and our rules." Kate finally let her composure fall as she took a seat and picked up a cookie.

Meanwhile Alice walked into the barn in a very foul mood. She set the basket of apples down. Many of the horses' ears perked and they instantly knickered excitedly as they saw the basket of apples. Alice suddenly felt a little bit better as they all greeted her in a genuine and innocent manner. Alice sighed but felt the turmoil inside of her calm down as she picked up apples and went to the first stall.

For a while Alice just patted the horses as she fed them apples. They all were extremely gentle and accepting of her despite not even have met her before. As long as she had the delicious apples, they liked her and would be her friend. Alice began to relax and actually felt happy for the first time.

As she moved down the stalls in the barn, she glanced outside of one of the windows and spotted a blue roan in a small corral. She left the barn, completely intrigued.

Alice watched the horse for a moment. He had a very wild look in his eye and he was pawing the ground restlessly. He tossed his head and snorted nervously. He looked panicked. Alice felt frightened for a moment, but as she watched the horse, she suddenly felt an understanding with the beast. She brought the last apple from within her pocket and looked at the wild roan as he walked restlessly around the corral. It was obvious he didn't belong here, just like Alice.

"Hey, I'm not going to hurt you." She spoke in a soft voice. She held the apple in her hand so it was in plain sight for him to see. The horse instantly perked up at the sight, but he still looked ready to bolt, if he could. "It's okay, I know how you feel." She mumbled.

The horse slowly approached her and took a step back every few moments. Finally he was next to her hand and sniffed. Alice held perfectly still and waited. She suddenly felt her senses shut out to everything as this horse held her attention fully and completely. She held her breath as he took the apple and quickly retreated away. He munched through the apple rather quickly before glancing at her in hopes of seeing more.

"I'm sorry, there isn't any more." Alice said feeling dismal that she hadn't fed the other apples to the horses in the barn. She rested her arms on the railing as she watched the horse. He swatted a few flies with his tail as he turned to face her again.

Alice outstretched her hand carefully. She waited patiently and finally the horse carefully walked back over. He held a look in his eye that suggested if she did anything funny, he was going to bolt. She let him sniff her hand before she carefully placed it on his face. For a moment they stood still, but a startled bird spooked him and he tore away.

Alice sighed as she watched him canter around the corral completely trapped. She knew how he felt, and she had the sudden urge to just open the gate and let him go. She wanted to see him free, not trapped in the corral like a bird in a cage. She contented herself to just watched the horse as he tossed his head and kicked his legs wildly.

Once Alice had reluctantly departed from the house with the basket Sera invited Kate to sit down at the small round table so that they could discuss the situation before Kate was due to leave her daughter in Sera's care.

"She's a strong willed young woman, Katie. In the long run that's good but its going to take a long time to break through that shell she's built up around herself since Garret's death. Six months at least, eight respectively." Sera said lightly as she tucked her hand up under her chin.

"I know we've talked about this at length but I want to ensure that you realize this isn't going to be an exact science, Alice is going to have to want things to be diffrent and even if we get her clean and sober there's always the chance that she could slip backwards if she refuses to deal with the core of her problems. I need you to understand that you might never have the relationship you once had with her again. Even under the best curcimstances things will be diffrent for her and the both of you."

Kate watched her daughter leave and felt ready to completely crumble. She had tried to be a good mother, she kept the rules enforced, she never shouted much at Alice, what had gone wrong? She knew Alice had taken Garret's death hard, but why was she being so rebellious because of it?

"I know Sera, and that worries me. I know half of the stuff she's doing is out of complete and utter defiance to the rules and expectations, I know she doesn't even like most of it, she's just doing it." She put her face in her hands for a moment before sighing heavily. She listened to what Sera said and nodded. "I know, ever since the accident I knew things wouldn't ever be the same." She took a bite of cookie before setting it down. It wasn't that they weren't good, but eating was suddenly a sour idea.

"We've known each other a very long time Sera, am I a bad mother? Is this my fault? Did I not give her enough space or time to grieve?" she felt lost as she looked at Sera. "I wish I could see that little girl with pigtails bouncing into the room again, but I know she's gone. She's been replaced by this monster who says no to everything even if she actually wants it. We've tried everything, you're our last hope Sera, are you certain this will help her?" Kate felt her lip tremble at the thought of Alice dead in a ditch somewhere because she hated life.

"You're a wonderful mom, Katie." Sera reasured her. "You've done everything anyone who loved their children would do. But Alice needs something more right now. Something you and your husband can't provide her because you love her so much. I can promise she'll get all the nurturing she needs her, but she has to be ready for it. I know it seems like Alice is in the worst kind of curcimstances but really she's still a very healthy, bright, young woman who has no real concept of what hitting bottom looks like. Our goal here is to show that there are consequences for our choices in life, both good and bad, and that we must own them."

"This place is not about taking away freedoms. Alice will recieve everything she needs and while its true that we do live rather basically I want you to know that there will always be provisons in place for any and all contigencies. You and your husband aren't going to be afforded much contact with Alice while she's here and eventually she will have previlages to contact you but not before the first ninty days. At the six month mark we'll arrainge for a formal visit where you'll be able to observe her progress. During this time she might seem very much adjusted and you might have a strong deire to end her time here. But I ask that you wait until the eight month mark before you decide." Sera explained.

"I'm going to do everything I can for her Katie but is going to mostly be up to her. She's so much stronger than she realizes. I'm going to show her how to use that strength to off set her weaknesses." Sera patted Kates hand. "Lets call her back now and I'll show you around."

Katie smiled at Sera and dabbed at her eyes. She listened to what Sera said and nodded. It seemed like this was going to be promising to help pull Alice from the brink, and get her back into healthy and happy shape. She wished things had been different for her children, ever since they had been called about the accident, but wishing didn't help anything at all.

"You have no idea how much I truly appreciate this Sera, I'm so glad that you are willing to help us." She sighed in a relieved sort of way. She looked at the doorway as her husband, Henry, came into the room with a small smile on his face.

"Kate I think this is going to be the best place we've put Alice." He seemed to have hope shining in his eyes again, something Kate hadn't seen in months.

"What are you talking about?" Kate stood to her feet confused.

"Come here and look at Alice," he said and left the kitchen to go stand on the porch where the corral was visible.

Alice stood right against the fencing as she stared at the mustang. He seemed completely untameable and wild. She would stand there, her hand outstretched, and he'd walk over. She would stroke his face tenderly for a moment, a smile on her face, and when a noise interupted the silence he'd quickly dart away in a spooked manner. Then he'd approach her and the cycle would repeat until he finally just stood there enjoying the attention.