Dalton"Did you hear the news this morning?" Drew asks as he comes into the shop, sipping on his mug of coffee."News really wasn't what was on my mind this morning.""Judging by that goddamn hickey on your neck, I can just imagine what you were busy with," he grumbles."Don't hate, he'll start sleeping through the night again.""Not soon enough for me," he takes a healthy drink of the coffee this time. "I don't understand how one baby can be so much more work than two were.""Would you like me to cry you a river, or are you going to tell me what news I missed?"He gives me an annoyed look, but I'm having way too good a morning to pay any attention to it. "They pulled a body outta Barren River last night."Now I'm paying attention. "Oh really? Anyone we know?""Judging by the info they've released so far, it's Owen. We'll confirm with our source at the medical examiner's office, but at least we know for sure what happened to him."There's another piece of that puzzl
DaltonThree Weeks Later"Whatever." I fling a rag at Caelin. "You absolutely did not get a woman my age to pay for your damn meal last night.""I didn't ask her to," he argues. "Talk to Remy, we were together. She paid for both of our meals."I shake my head. "You're so full of shit.""She did!"We've been giving him a hard time this morning. He and Remy went out for their weekly dinner and drinks, but they came back with this story about an older woman paying. "Pictures or it didn't happen."He throws the rag back at me. "I don't need you all to believe me, I know what went on."I'm still chuckling as I make my way back over to the bay I'm working in. There's a car up above my head, and I'm getting ready to change the oil when I feel a vibration in my pocket. Pulling my glove off, I reach in and grab my phone out. I'm surprised when I see Mandy's name.M: I need you to come home.D: Home? I thought you were at work.M: I had to leave. I need you here, D.D:
Mandy"I'm scared." I reach out for Dalton's hand, holding it tightly as I press into the contraction. "It's been a long time since I had to do this.""You're the strongest person I know, babe. You've got this."A part of me wonders if he's right. Do I have this? Can I bring this child of ours into the world? There were times these last eight months I wondered. Like when they put me on bedrest, and that one time we couldn't find the heartbeat. I'd almost crumbled, but Dalton had been there to hold me up. We've fought, but instead of each other this time, we've fought as a unit, to bring this baby into the world.It's a surprise. If it's a boy or a girl. He gets to pick the name for a girl.I get to pick the name for a boy, and I know exactly what I'll name our son. "I don't know, feels like it hurts a lot more than it did last time." I grit my teeth, pushing into the contraction like they told me too. "And the room isn't done. What are we going to do?"He kisses me on
CaelinInside the sounds of the party spill out, to where I'm sitting on the back porch, finishing up the last of this particular pack of cigarettes. I always tell myself this one will be it. The final one.But within a few days I'm right back to the familiar hard pack. It's my go-to for everything. When I'm stressed, when I'm bored, and when I'm doing my absolute best to keep my hands off Justice Walker, I smoke.The party going on in there isn't about to stop anytime soon. The Walker twins are popular at school, and the fact they're turning eighteen on a Friday night into Saturday isn't lost on anyone. My phone vibrates and I take a minute to look at the pictures my sister sends me of my niece. Just what we needed, another girl around here. But she's got me wrapped around her little finger. All of a sudden, I hear voices start yelling."Ten!"The countdown has started, it appears."Nine!"I'm supposed to be watching over them, but I had to come out here to get rid
JusticeGazing out the window next to my bed, I look up from my laptop. I've been writing on her for years, and she's having a hard time keeping charge, but I'll keep her around for as long as I can.She's seen it all. The aftermath of the kidnapping with Travis, the bond Caelin and I have forged from one of the worst nights of our lives, and the kisses we've shared since. Going to the folder I've labeled as my journal, I look for a few particular documents. When I see them, I click on each, taking a moment to read how I felt in those moments. The AftermathDoc Jones said it would be good for me to start writing my feelings out. This is my first attempt. Here it goes…I was kidnapped and Caelin Blackfoot saved my life.SafetyIt's slightly insane. In the five years since the kidnapping, I've started to only feel safe with one person. Caelin.Although I know the people in my life would move heaven and earth to save me, the only person who's ever gone through with that is him. A
Caelin"C'mon, I just need you to please fix my laptop."Justice Walker can plead like no one else, and she knows I'll do anything she asks me to.It started with a kiss.No, that's a lie. It started in the middle of a dangerous situation where my family was being threatened. As a seventeen-year-old kid, I hadn't known what to do. Instead, I'd acted on instinct, and killed a grown man to save the then ten-year-old standing in front of me.Never will I be able to forget the minutes that lead up to the decision I made. The fear on her face, the smugness on his. If I close my eyes, even now, I'm right back there. Mildew and mold, along with the musk of disuse build in the back of my nose, almost to my throat. A dungeon of equal parts dust and moisture, confusing the senses, not letting one believe where they truly are. In the distance there's a drip, drip, drip. A steady cadence of water coming from above our heads. But it's what's right in front of me that's scaring the fucking shit ou
JusticeI'm emotional as I carry my laptop out to my car. This is the one thing I never wanted to give up. Seems crazy and stupid, I'm sure my therapist would tell me all the ways I'm co-dependent with it, but she's gotten me through a lot.Opening my trunk, I put her safely amongst a blanket, rubbing her beat up cover, and thinking about all the papers, poems, and thoughts I've written on her. "Justice!"Turning at the sound of the voice, I grin when I see my dad, jogging my way. "Hey." I reach out, hugging him tightly. "I haven't seen you in a few days. Are you finally okay with me and Harley moving out of the house?""I'll never be okay with that." He tightens his arms around me. "But your mom mentioned I had to let you two live your own lives. Whatever the fuck that means.""Dad…""I know, I know. What are you doing here?"Tilting my head toward the trunk, I glance down. "She's given up the ghost and I was hoping Caelin would be able to fix her.""Jesus, you and that laptop. Could
CaelinThe vibration of the bike underneath me is one of the things I love most about riding. The way the bumps in the road move up through my body, the wind slapping against my face, and the howl of my bike slicing through the air as I speed down Louisville Road with my dad beside me.Early morning is our time. I'll never give it up, even for all the money in the world.We come to a stop over the river, obeying the red light. "Do you want to stop at the law office before or after breakfast?" he yells over the idling."I'll do it after. If she's nice, I might even give her a biscuit."Dad grins, causing me to smile back. "At some point you're going to have to admit it.""Admit what?""That you've got it bad for little Justice Walker."The light flips to green, allowing him to take off before me. I immediately hit the gas to catch up, his words tumbling around in my head. Little Justice Walker, my ass. The last few months she's grown up more than I ever thought possible. Since her and
William Walker Jr., 85 of Bowling Green, died peacefully in his sleep at his residence. The Warren County native was the son of the late William Walker Sr. and Lauren Walker. He was the husband of Denise Walker, who survives.He was the owner of Walker's Wheels.His legacy will be carried on through the members of the Heaven Hill MC, Bowling Green Chapter, and the numerous friends who became family. Liam, as he was known to everyone who cared for him, had a gift of taking people who had given up on themselves or had no direction, and showing them they were worth putting work into. Over the years many have found themselves under his tutelage. Hundreds have called him friend, and others have called him family. He took great pride in who he was, and what he did. The loss of him is a hole that won't be filled - ever.He is survived by his wife of forty-three years, Denise. Son Drew (Charity), daughters Mandy (Dalton), and Tatum (Remy), sister Sharon (Rooster), nephew Carter (Storm), numer
HarleyFifteen Years Later "Are you sure you want me to teach you, and not your dad?" I question Erick, looking up at him, because he's now taller than me. He grins, the one so much like his dad I have to do a double-take. "No matter how good he is on the back of a bike, I think everyone knows you're better." "I wouldn't say that. He can hold his own, but I've been riding longer than him." "Exactly," he runs a hand through his shoulder-length hair. "He can show me how to do all the mechanic shit, but I want you to teach me how to ride." I should reprimand him for the curse word, but he hears it so often with the group we hang around. It'd be like telling him not to breathe. "Okay," I nod. "The first thing I want you to know is you're going to be wearing a helmet until you're eighteen and can make your own decision about what you want to do." "Mom," he groans. "Don't mom me. It's what's going to happen. It's a right of passage, and you're go
Harley"He looks like us, doesn't he?" I whisper to Justice as we sit on the screened-in back porch at Grandma and Gramps' house. "He does," she coos. "Those eyes and the set of his chin are one-hundred percent Walker. His little wisp of blonde hair. Are you going to let yours go back to blonde?" She asks, lifting up a lock of my still-dark hair. "I don't know, I kinda like it. Not that I want to be different than you, but it sets us apart." "It does and I understand. You should do whatever you want. "His lips are Bishop's, though. Full and plump, always ready for a smirk or a smile. I think he's got his forehead too." Grandma walks in. "Give me that baby. He looks so much like Drew did when he was his age." I roll my eyes. "Don't give Dad any more bragging rights than he already has. He's been almost unbearable to put up with. You'd think he pushed this kid out of his vagina." "He doesn't have one," Justice points out. "Exactly."
BishopCarrying my son out for the members of Heaven Hill to meet him is one of the proudest moments of my life. There are still remnants of tears below my eyes and I can't be bothered to wipe them away. This is one of those moments I don't mind showing my emotions. The doors open and there they all are, standing and waiting. "Hey." I smile up at them over his head. "How's Harley?" Justice asks immediately. "She's good. They're sewing her up and then she'll be okay for visitors. She told me to tell you not to leave, she wants to see you." Immediately, her shoulders relax. It must've been hard for her to be out here knowing her twin was going through everything inside those doors. "I'd like you all to meet Erick Walker." There's a murmur of confusion as everyone questions his last name. Drew puts his hand on my shoulder. "Bishop came to me a little while ago and asked if he could take my last name. He and Harley plan on getting married at some p
HarleyAfter sex with Bishop, I fell into the best sleep I've had in what seems to be months. When I'm jolted awake by a pain stretching across my abdomen and a gush of wetness between my legs, I'm more surprised than anything. I gasp loudly. "Lee, you okay?" His voice is sleepy and I don't want to disturb him if I don't have to, but as another pain stretches across my abdomen and then goes down into my back, I know I need to. "I think my water broke." I gasp as the pain keeps going. "How far apart are they?" We went to the classes they offer but, truth be told, I'm blanking on everything they told us right now. So much for paying attention. "I just woke up so I haven't been able to time them, but I know if my water's broken we need to get to the hospital." "Your bag is here, isn't it?" "Yeah I have one here, at the shop, at home. Just in case." I grimace as I try to sit up, but this has been hell on my core muscles. "Give me a minute and I'll
Bishop"If you roll over one more time, you're going to roll off this bed." "I can't get comfortable," she grumbles. "My belly's too big. I can't sleep and I just wanna be able to lie on my stomach. I haven't been able to do it in months. I wish you could feel this. It's annoying," she complains, turning over so that she's cuddled up against the body pillow she's taken to sleeping with. "Do you want me to shove a pillow under my shirt? Put a watermelon around my waist?" I think this is the stupidest thing I've ever heard, but whatever it takes to put her at ease, I'll do. "That's a great idea. There's a cantaloupe in the kitchen, why don't you go grab it?" She's absolutely not kidding. The tone of her voice isn't playing around. I squeak out. "Right now?" "Why not? If I can't sleep, why should you?" She says with an evil laugh. "Alright, if I'm getting up, so are you." "Easy buddy, I'm already awake." She reaches out, without words, ask
Harley"Get out of here." I shoo Will's hand away. "We're gonna eat in less than an hour.""I've watched you, you keep eating," he complains."I am heavily pregnant," I argue with him. "It's fucking hot and my ankles are swollen, do not argue with me."Bishop grabs Will's hand. "C'mon, little man, let's go play some Call of Duty with Caelin.""Gladly." He sticks his tongue out at me."You've got to be nicer to him," Mom admonishes me.Justice interrupts. "She's got to be nicer to everybody.""You try carrying around a watermelon on the front of your body and see how you feel," I retort. "I'm fucking uncomfortable.""It gets better," Grandma says as she comes over to rub my shoulders. "I know it's hard to think it's going to, but it will. I promise.""I'm so sick of people saying it's going to get better," I grumble. "Every time I go and they make me spread my legs, I dread it. She did this thing called scraping my membranes this week. I mean, what the fuck? It hurt so bad. Like, do I
BishopI'm nervous as I watch Drew across the bays. This is something I never thought I would do and since we talked about how Liam wasn't his biological father, I've gone back and forth, wondering if this was the right decision. In the end, I know it is. He catches me looking, narrowing his eyes in a what the fuck way. Putting my hands in my jeans pockets, I walk over to him. "You mind if we talk?" Immediately, he looks worried. "Is everything okay?" "Harley's fine, but what I want to speak to you about has to do with her." "Okay, wanna go behind the shop?" "I wanna ask her to marry me." I hold up my hand. "But I have a request for you. I wanna take the Walker last name." He opens his mouth, then shuts it, before opening it again. My stomach drops and my heart pounds. The silence stretches on between us and I'm worried about what I've just requested. "I'm sorry, you don't have to say anything." He reaches out, holding on tightly t
Harley"Eight more weeks and it's looking like he might come early. You're carrying low. He's a good weight, though, so as long as we can keep him in four to six more, you're good," Doctor Simmons says as she checks me. "Have you been having any pain or anything?" "No." I shake my head then think better about it. "Actually, yeah I did. Bishop and I were..." I stop, not sure how to proceed without being crass. "Being intimate and I felt some pressure." "Was there bleeding afterward?" "No, it just got uncomfortable very quick. To the point where I had to ask Bishop to stop. I've never done that before, not since we had sex for the first time." My face flames as I tell this woman more than I ever expected to. "It's okay," she explains. "You're going to be feeling more pressure the closer you get to him coming. Like I said, you're already carrying low. The lower he gets, the worse it's going to be for you. Your hips are widening and preparing for you to give birth,