Chapter 18 #2
“Mama Briar, look what I found!” he squeals with excitement.
He proudly holds out a children’s book. The cover shows a lizard perched on a log, scowling straight at the reader with a white splatter on its head.
I cover my mouth to stifle a laugh when I see the title: Who Pooped on Me.
Julie shoots Walker a glare, resting her hands on her hips. “Walker Bartholomew Halstead, did you sneak another one of your books into the craft room? I thought we agreed those stay at Briar’s and the craft room is for educational books only.”
He rocks back on his heels, shrugging. “Sorry, Ma. I saw it in the toy store window the other day and couldn’t resist adding it to the collection.”
Briar filled me and the girls in a while back on Walker’s ongoing tug-of-war over children’s books.
He’s given Caleb a few silly ones, and as a lifelong teacher, Julie doesn’t think they’re appropriate reading material.
She doesn’t mind him giving them to Caleb to keep at his house but doesn’t want them here.
Lately, though, Walker’s been sneaking new ones into the craft room to get a reaction out of her.
Caleb comes over to Julie, whispering loudly. “Grandma Julie, can we read this one together like we did Something’s Wrong! A Bear, a Hare, and Some Underwear?”
Walker clutches his chest with a mock gasp. “Ma, have you been giving me grief about my book selections while secretly reading them with Caleb?”
Julie huffs, pushing a strand of hair from her face, but doesn’t answer.
“She does the funniest voices, like when the bear yells ‘Who left my underwear in the fridge?’” Caleb chirps, giggling, before his eyes go wide. “Uh-oh… I was supposed to keep that a secret. Sorry, Grandma Julie.”
She chuckles, giving his hand a reassuring squeeze. “It’s all right, sweetie.”
“Someone’s got you wrapped around his little finger.” Walker tuts.
“Who could say no to that cute face?” Julie says, nodding toward Caleb’s beaming smile.
“Now make yourself useful and take the meat out to your father and brother.” She marches over to the counter and retrieves a dish of barbecue chicken that she thrusts into Walker’s hands.
“They’re still wrestling with that new grill your father brought home last week and are struggling to make heads or tails of all the extra gadgets that came with it. ”
“Yes, ma’am,” he replies, wisely not arguing.
“Jensen, you grab the pineapple skewers,” Julie adds, passing him a tray full of them.
He nods. “Sure thing.”
“What about me?” Caleb pipes up, puffing out his chest. “I want to help too.”
“Of course you do.” Julie bends down, giving his cheek a gentle pinch. “You’ve got the most important job.”
His eyes light up. “What’s that?”
She brings over a bowl covered in plastic wrap. “To make sure Gramps cooks the tofu and vegetables so Birdie can eat with us.”
I’m touched that she goes out of her way to make vegetarian dishes when I come over. One time in high school, I brought my own meal, and after that, she always made sure there were plenty of options I could eat—never once making me feel like a burden.
“How come you don’t like barbecue chicken? It’s my favorite,” Caleb exclaims.
“I’m a vegetarian,” I say.
He blinks at me before turning to Briar. “Mama Briar. What’s a veggie-tor-ian?”
Everyone bursts out laughing at his adorable attempt at the word.
“It’s someone who doesn’t eat meat. Birdie sticks mostly to fruits and vegetables,” she explains.
“Oh.” He frowns like he still might not fully understand. “Does that mean she doesn’t eat the meat Uncle Walker makes?”
A cheeky smirk crosses Julie’s face, and Briar and Jensen exchange amused glances. When I look over at Walker, he’s chuckling, clearly entertained by a six-year-old calling him out on his career choice.
Admittedly, it used to bother me, but I’ve come to accept that society will never cut back on their meat consumption, and the Halsteads treat their cattle better than any other operation in the country—I know because I’ve done my research.
Besides, they’ve taken in more than their fair share of my rescues, and Heath even kept a calf named Petunia two years ago after her mom didn’t survive her delivery—she’s totally his pet now, even if he tries to deny it.
Still, watching everyone’s reactions to Caleb’s innocent question thinking I might be offended is hilarious.
I crouch next to Caleb so we’re eye to eye. “I don’t eat the meat Walker makes but I’ve heard it’s tasty. Those cows are lucky to have him and your Uncle Heath taking such good care of them.”
“One day, I’m going to be a cowboy too,” he declares with a toothy grin.
“You’ll make a mighty fine one,” I agree, giving his cowboy hat a playful tap.
“Come on, Caleb,” Briar says, waving him over. “We better get this food out to Uncle Heath and Gramps so we can eat soon.”
“Okay.” He clutches the bowl he’s holding tight, tiptoeing as if it were full of fine china, his tongue peeking out in concentration as he follows Briar and Jensen to the back door.
The little boy who I met last year and who he is now is night and day. When Jensen and Caleb first moved to Bluebell, Caleb didn’t speak. His mom had just died, and he’d retreated into himself. Now he’s a little chatterbox and we’re all constantly entertained by him.
Walker shifts the tray of chicken to one hand and laces his fingers through mine as he heads toward the back door. “You defended me. I figured you’d take the chance to throw me under the bus,” he says, winking at me.
“I’ve learned there are far worse things happening to animals that I can actually do something about, so as long as you and Heath keep treating your cattle with the respect and care they deserve I’ll let it slide.
” I meet his gaze with a teasing smirk. “Besides, you’re rather useful to me right now, so I’d better stay on your good side. ”
He chuckles. “Is that so?”
“Mh-hmm,” I whisper, rising on my toes to kiss him.
Our lips have barely touched when Caleb’s voice rings out from the back porch. “Eww. Kissing is gross.”
I pull back just enough to glance up at Walker, his eyes twinkling with amusement, and we both break into laughter at Caleb’s comment.
My chest swells with happiness, and I wish this moment could last forever, with Walker gazing at me like I’m his world and being surrounded by the lighthearted chaos of his family. It’s confirmation that I’m exactly where I’m meant to be.