The third episode of "The Madison" commences with a flashback, where Stacy shares with Preston that every time he departs from the town, the girls create a ruckus. He corrects her, saying it's every time he goes on a vacation. He peers outside and informs her that it's snowing in June, and he can't go fishing. Stacy reveals that Abby and Dallas are seeking a divorce. Preston asserts that the couple was doomed from the start. Stacy adds that Dallas is staying in the apartment and seeking spousal support. She believes they should let Abby figure things out for herself. However, Preston thinks that time has passed and wants to support Abby. He suggests that Paige can find a way out, but Abby has big dreams without the drive to see them through. She remains their responsibility, even though she is the eldest.
Preston states that they can love Abby all they want, but only she can love herself enough, and it's her problem to fix it. In the present, at the ranch, Russell removes his bandage to find the lump healed. Abigail serves the girls breakfast as Paige walks in. Paige calls Abby a hypocrite and warns her against saying such things in front of the girls. Russell tries to intervene, suggesting bicarbonate paste for the hornet's stings, but noticing the tense atmosphere in the room, he silences himself.
Abby asks him to go out with the girls, and a physical fight ensues between them. Stacy walks in and douses them with water, furious that they have completely forgotten why they're there. Stacy blames herself for never teaching them love and respect for each other, commanding them to clean up after themselves. She also calls Cade to help her pick up Paul's truck from the sheriff.
Russell and the girls proceed to the upper room, where they marvel at the arrangement of furniture, including a pool table. Cade arrives, and Stacy asks Abby to accompany her. She also tells her to pick the card that the girls wrote.
Abby informs Cade of a card she has for his wife, Kestrel. They drive to Cade's home to present the card to Kestrel. As they arrive at the sheriff's office with Cade, Abby is left out of their conversation as they discuss a dancing horse. The receptionist tells her they are praying for her peace, but she feels the prayers are not working.
As they drive back to the ranch, Stacy asks Abby about her plans. Abby admits that she needs to work on herself or find a man to make her happy. However, Stacy invites her to stay with her in Montana. Abby declines, suggesting that her mother should stay in New York where her friends and family are.
Stacy threatens to sell Abby's house and insists on staying in the city. The argument escalates, and Abby demands to be let out of the car. Her mother reluctantly agrees and drives away. Cade calls Van to pick up Abby.
Meanwhile, Stacy stops the car and pulls out a gun she had found. Cade approaches her, suggesting that this is a permanent solution to a temporary problem. He shares his loss of his father and asks her to hand over the gun for safekeeping.
The scene is filled with tension and emotion as each character struggles with their own demons and desires. The language and actions of the characters add depth and nuance to the story, making it more engaging and relatable for the reader.
Stacy, her best friend Lillian on the line, urgently needed her presence. Lillian promptly asked for the address, assuring Stacy that she would be there the next morning. Meanwhile, Van chanced upon Abby on the road and offered her a ride, switching on the siren to lift her spirits. The thrill of people scurrying out of the way only served to delight her further.
Elsewhere, Russell and the girls were engrossed in their search for something to munch on. Paige made a beeline to her mother's cabin, surprising Stacy by informing her that Abigail was at the next ranch. She had left Abby on the road, after all. Paige shared that she had overheard words like "handsome" and "uniform," and joined the girls for dinner. Stacy's face lit up seeing them share a meal together.
The scene shifted to the neighbor's ranch, where Abby, Cade, and Van sat, watching a boy ride a horse. The younger one was playing around in the stable. Kestrel brought them beer and signaled Cade to leave, giving Abby and Van some alone time. We learned that Van was a widower with two boys, aged 14 and 11. Abby, on the other hand, told him that her ex-husband was very much alive, though she wished he were dead. Van warned her against such sentiments. She asked to leave, and he drove her home.
Upon arrival at the ranch, he asked how long they had been in the valley and when they would all return. She replied that those were questions with no answers. She wrote down her contact information and kissed him goodbye. The family peeked at them through the window, where Abby told him to call her after the funeral. The girls commented on how handsome he was, while Russell noted his fitness and good shape.
In a flashback, we saw Preston and Stacy sharing a moment in the bathtub as he massaged her feet. They started talking about Abby's divorce and the fact that the judge hadn't approved child support. Preston suggested that Abby and her ex split the tuition or place the girl in public school. But Preston was adamant that it wouldn't happen. He added that Dallas lacked ambition but was a nice guy. He felt they had enabled this situation by never letting Abby stand on her own. She was now 33 years old, and they needed to let her fall down.
However, Preston couldn't let that happen, claiming she was still his baby. He said it was his job to pick her up every time she fell. In the present, Stacy said, "I told you, honey," and it seemed like she was probably talking to Preston's ghost since she felt his presence in the ranch.
