Walker Rewrite

Back in the Saddle

**A/N - to reiterate, the song at the top is for the ending. Look for the A/N. It will tell you when to play the song******


Augie, Boham, Abby, Liam, and I are in the kitchen. Liam is making a smoothie, and Bonham is sitting at the island bench, showing Augie the horse-maintaining tools. I am leaning against the bench near Augie drinking my morning coffee in my PJs that are shorts, and a singlet top, when we hear the door open and close. I look over and see Cordell walking into the kitchen.

"All right, look here, August. This is a strap cutter." Bohman says

"Good morning," Cordell says, walking over to the cupboard next to Liam

"Good morning Cordell," I say to him

"This is a stitch groover. See this line here?" Bonham tells Augie, showing him that line on the strap

"Honestly, Bonham, I pit my fruit on that counter," Abby says

" Well, I've been edged out of the space my shop formerly occupied, so..."

"There's plenty of space for you to take up on this ranch."

"Hey. What are you doing here so early?" Cordell asks Liam while getting a cup out of the cupboard

I feel eyes on me. I look up and see Cordell looking at me with a smirk. I saw his eyes give me a once-over, but I act like I didn't see it. He looks away quickly and back at Liam while I approach the boys.

"No one nails this smoothie quite like I do," Liam says

"That is true," I say

"I-i b-brought breakfast," Cordell says, looking flustered while looking at me.

"It's okay. You kind of missed the boat on that one. I then call 'Stella Blue!"

Stella enters the kitchen with her bag and places it on the chair.

"Hey. Soccer." Cordell says to Stella

Liam and I both turn around and look at Stella. I give a smile. She gives one back. I then walk over to the sink to wash my coffee cup and leave it on the sink to dry.

"Big game tonight," Liam says.

Cordell goes back to look inside the cupboard for his cup

"Yeah. No, yeah. Uh, yeah. Of course. Uh, hey, where is my coffee mug? I've only had the same mug here for 17 years."

"You know, you make a good point. This has always been your home, right? That's why I thought you'd be happy out in the farmhouse." Abby says

"It's great what you've done, but it's not our house."

"Your children have been here nearly a year. A little stability. Think about that."

"I am thinking. W-What I'm thinking is that we should ease back into things on our own terms, Mama. You know, back to normal and all that. But thank you, of course."

I look at Stella and see her roll her eyes, shaking her head. I can tell she's getting annoyed at Cordell. Liam gives Stella a travelling cup.

"Does it even matter to you where we want to live? I got to go. Sianna?" Stella says

"I can take you," Cordell says

"Uh, I hope you don't mind We kind of hit a groove. Give me a second, Stella, to get dressed. Meet you in the car."

I step out of the kitchen with Stella by my side, my heart racing with a mix of anticipation and nerves as I make my way to my room. I quickly throw on a pair of jeans that hug my curves just right and choose a nice top that reflects my vibrant spirit. Pulling on my favourite boots, I take a moment to brush my hair, letting it cascade down freely, a small act of defiance since today is about me stepping out into the world at the sidestep.