Walker (Cordell Walker x Female!Reader)

Don't Fence Me In & Duke

(So I decided to combined Don't Fence Me In & Duke because there was just too little for y/n to do in these episodes & having them be separate chapters would've been pretty short. If I ever combine episodes again going forward, just assume it's for the same reason.)

Today, Liam and I were helping Cordell and the kids move the rest of their stuff from their townhouse into the farmhouse they're currently living in. "You got a lot of stuff packed in here." Liam said. "Is this all from the old place?" I asked as we carried some boxes inside the farmhouse. "Yeah. That was the last trip." Cordell replied.

"Hey, Dad?" Stella said, getting up from the couch as we enter. "Hey." Cordell greeted. "Can I paint my room?" Stella asked, walking over to us. "Paint your room?" Cordell asked, setting his stack of boxes down on the counter.

Liam does the same and walks back outside while I set my stack of boxes down by the fridge. "Benjamin Moore has this app that helps you choose colors." Stella said, standing on the other side of the counter as she swipes on her phone.

"Okay..." Cordell muttered. "I like First Light." Stella said, turning her phone towards her dad for him to see. Cordell takes her phone to get a closer look at the colors. "First Light. Uh, very calming. Which would be great for you." He said, then he shuts her phone and hands it back to Stella. "Now, please help us unpack."

Stella sighs, taking her phone back and August walks in, carrying a box and wearing a big white rim sunglasses and a blue rocker wig. "He added me on Insta, oh, my God." He said in a mocking tone. "Knock it off." Stella said, slightly irritated.

"What on earth are you wearing? You look like Sasquatch's deranged cousin." I joked and the boys erupted into laughter. "Give me that." Stella said, snatching the wig off her brother's head.

Cordell then pats one of the boxes, getting his kids' attention. "Okay, hey, hey. Once we get unpacked, we can grab pizza. Okay?" He said. "Yeah." August said, smiling and he heads upstairs. "Okay." Cordell said, pointing at Stella, who didn't look as thrilled.

"Stella, come on. Don't tell me you hate pizza now." Cordell said. "No, it's just... I have that community service thing at the stables near the outlet mall." Stella said. "The prison stable. Why there?" Cordell asked, concerned.

"I don't know, I said I grew up on a ranch or something." Stella mumbled. "Well, listen to me. We Rangers keep our horses there. Prisoners help out, they have stable duty... it's part of the rehab... and I'm sure they'll be on a different rotation, and I'm sure there'll be guards, but just steer clear. Okay?" Cordell instructed and Stella nodded.

"Okay?" Cordell said again. "Yeah."  Stella said, then she walks off. "Is that really safe? To let teenagers work in the stables that also just so happens to have prisoners helping out?" I asked Cordell.

"It's not ideal, I know. But I trust the guards will keep all the kids safe." Cordell replied and I nodded, but I couldn't shake the bad feeling about the whole thing. "Hey." Cordell greeted Liam, who comes back in with another box. "Hey." Liam said and Cordell moves the wig out of the way so Liam could set the box down on the counter.

"Uh, Stella's friend Bel... uh, how's the case going with her parents' immigration?" Cordell whispered to Liam as Stella goes back to sitting on the couch. "It's not good. I confirmed from a colleague that they are on ICE's radar." Liam whispered back. "You think they'll get deported?" Cordell asked.

"I hope not. I'm talking with them tomorrow." Liam replied. "Isn't there anything you boys can do?" I asked. "Not much. We can try to delay it but not by much. Once ICE's wants them out, that's it." Liam said and I frowned, feeling how grim the situation is for them.