A few days later
The dark blue Chevy truck pulled up to Walker Ranch. Bonham, Abby, Tommy, Liam, Stella, and Auggie all ran out smiling. Cordell got out of the car and ran over to the passenger side. He helped Krisa out of the car keeping his arm tight around her waist. She was still a little weak from being in the hospital and helping up the pathway to the door. Tommy was the first one to reach them and he wrapped his daughter in a tight hug.
"Welcome home baby girl"
"Thanks, Daddy it's good to be home." Krisa returned the hug as she smiled at her dad.
"Welcome home sweet girl I'm so glad you're alright." Abby greeted her with a hug of her own.
"Welcome home Krissy," added Bonham as he joined the hug.
"Thank you two for watching out for my dad. An keeping him safe." Krisa said with tears in her eyes she would always be grateful to the Walkers for what they've done.
"Hey you and Tommy are family and we watch out for each other," Bonham said.
"Bonham is right" Abby added.
Krisa smiled and hugged the two once again.
"Welcome home Ms. Krisa." Stella and Auggie said in stereo.
"Thanks you two."
"Ms. Krisa I'm sorry for what I said the day of your accident. I didn't mean to upset you." Stella apologized.
"You didn't Stella. It was all me. Nothing to apologize for okay." Krisa reassured her.
"Okay."
Cordell couldn't who had been quiet for the most part finally spoke up.
"Alright as much as I'm sure everyone wants to keep the welcome home. I think Krisa needs to get inside and sit down."
"Come on in," Abby said as she led the group into the house.
Once inside Cordell helped Krisa into the living room and get her seated on the couch when he noticed Liam motion for him to follow him. Krisa noticed this and nodded telling him to go talk to his brother. The two men left the others inside as they walked out to the back of the house.
"What's up?" Cordell asked his younger brother.
"We got intel on Starson"
"What did you find out?"
"Turns out Krisa was right about the old barn at the back of Tommy's place. It looks as though Starson is going to be using Tommy's house as a cash house"
"Y..you mean like as in"
"As in all the drugs from the cartel is going to be brought to Tommy's house and probably kept there for an amount of time until they get ready to move it."
"What does Captain James think?"
"Larry has at least two shifts out at the barn. They're watching Tommy's place twenty-four-seven right now. Has Startson contacted you again?"
"No not since the hospital."
"Cordy you can't go after him alone. You know that right." Liam said noticing the look in his older brother's eyes.
"I…"
"Don't lie I know you. You love going rogue and playing by your own rules. Only this time you are a target. Starson knows that if there is one way to hurt Krissy that is to get to you. So please don't do anything stupid."Liam added
Cordell looked down at his boots with a small smirk. The two of them knew him well enough to know that he would indeed go rogue if he got the chance. Only this time he knew that both his brother and his best friend were right. If did go rogue this time it wouldn't just be him getting hurt. Krisa would be hurt as well and it would be all his fault again. Looking back up he smiled at them.
"You're right you're right. If I did go off on my own Starson would take it as I leave Krissy alone and he might try and hurt her by getting to me. But…"
"No buts this time Cordi. You and I both know that going off on your own is dangerous this time. Because as much as Krisa thinks she's the target she isn't"
"It's me," Cordell said his nose flaring
Liam nodded. As much as he didn't want to admit it his older brother was in deep this time. Not only could Cordell end up dead. There is a good chance that Krisa would give herself back over to Starson just to save his brother and if that happened Cordell would still go rogue. The last thing Liam wanted was to lose both his brother and his best friend.
"Everything alright in here?" Abby asked as she joined her two sons in the kitchen. "You've been in here a while. Krisa was starting to worry."
"Everything is fine Momma," Cordell answered his voice low.
"Just talking about the plan to keep Krisa and Tommy safe," Liam added.
"You're both terrible liars. What is going on?" Abby asked point blank looking at both of her sons.
"What are they lying about now?" Bonham walks up behind his wife.
"It seems like these two are keeping secrets."
"We aren't keeping secrets Momma. Liam was just…"
"I was telling Cordi about the intel we found on Starson from out at Tommy's place. An warned him not to rogue this time. Because it's not just himself he could be hurting." Liam said.
"His right Cordell. Now I know you like going out on your own and working the cases the way you want to. But this time son you've got to think about the person who is the victim here. Do you want to see Krisa hurt when she's been through so much already?" Boham asked his eldest son.
"Course not Daddy but…"
"No buts Cordell you will not go off on your own. Larry will NOT be calling and telling me you're hurt or something worse. Do you understand me?" Abby said her face going dead serious.
"Yes, momma" Cordell answered softly.
"Come on no more talk about the problem we've got a celebration to be part of." Bonham said as he led Cordell, Liam, and Abby back into the living room.
Krisa, Stella, and Auggie were all sitting on the sofa while Tommy was sitting in one of the easy chairs. Stella and Auggie were giggling about something with Krisa who was holding what looked to be an old photo album. Bonham chuckled as did Abby when the two realized what the three were all looking at.
"So Dad did wear these things?" Stella asked in a fit of giggles.
"Yep, all though I was pretty sure he was gonna stay bow-legged after wearing those chaps," Krisa told her.
"Is Uncle Hoyt a rodeo clown?" Auggie asked
"Oh yeah." Krisa laughed.
"No not Halloween 98," Liam said with a groan
"Oh come on Li you were so cute," Krisa said, turning the page showing Stella and Auggie a picture of Liam dressed up as a doctor.
Cordell chuckled as he walked behind the couch standing behind the three. He laughed at the picture of his younger brother, himself, Hoyt, and Krisa dressed up for Halloween when they were around ten years old. He and Hoyt went as a bull rider and a rodeo clown. While Liam had gone as a doctor and Krisa had gone as a gypsy princess.
"Melaw is that you and Gramps?" Auggie asked looking at an old picture of Abby and Bonham.
Bonham walked over and glanced at the picture of himself, Abby, Tommy, and Krisa's mother all standing around the fire pit at Tommy's ranch.
"I remember that night," Bohnam said
"What night?" Abby asked looking at the picture.
"That was the night Tommy and Lena threw a birthday party for your dad. We'd spent weeks planning that surprise party only for Hoyt to ruin it." Bonham said with a chuckle.
"I wanted to kill him for telling Cordell about it."
Krisa and Cordell didn't say a word they both stayed quiet looking at the old photo. It was the last one before things started to change between them. The picture had been taken just before the end of eighth grade. It hadn't been the last picture of the two but it was close to the second to last one. Looking down at the photo Cordell felt something in his chest a quick pain if you would at the memory. Stella noticed the look in her father's eyes when she glanced up at him.
"You okay Dad?" she asked him.
"Ye…" Cordell cleared his throat. "Yeah Stella Blu I'm good"
"This was one of the last pictures your dad and I took," Krisa said pointing to an eighth-grade graduation picture.
"Why?" Auggie asked.
"August…." Cordell wanted to tell his son to stop.
"Well that following year in high school, your dad met your mom officially and Hoyt met Geri. They were cheerleaders and since your dad and Hoyt were on the football team they were always hanging out." Krisa explained.
"So Uncle Hoyt and Dad ditched you?" Stella asked.
"No Stella, friends grow apart in high school. You and I still talked and hung out sometimes but over time we both grew apart. It happens. I could see your dad falling in with your mom and Hoyt and Geri falling head over heels. So I backed away it was only right."
"Doesn't seem right for Dad and Uncle Hoyt to just leave you like that if you had been their best friend," Auggie said.
Krisa didn't say anything as she turned the page. Tommy could see it in her face though she wasn't lying when she said she'd backed away from Cordell and Hoyt. She had done it because her feelings for Cordell had become real by that point. Abby and Bonham both noticed this as well. As did Liam. The room felt silent as Krisa closed the photo album putting it back under the table.
"Umm, I think I'm going to go get a drink," Krisa said as she got up heading to the kitchen.
"I'll help you, baby girl," Tommy said as he followed her.
Walking into the kitchen Tommy wrapped his daughter in a hug tight. He knew she'd lied when she told Stella and Auggie that she'd backed away from Cordell and Hoyt. The truth was Hoyt and Cordell had left her. When they met Geri and Emily the two boys had all but forgotten Krisa and had left her alone.
"You didn't have to lie to them," Tommy said.
"Daddy…"
"Cordell and Hoyt stop talking to you."
"I know but Stella and Auggie don't need to know that. It was a long time ago and I won't have Hoyt's memory ruined for them."
"Krissy…."
"No look what happened that year it's in the past. I won't have anyone talking bad about Hoyt or Emily okay? Stella and Auggie have nothing but good memories and I won't let them think their mother and uncle were bad people. I won't do that to them."
"Still Krissy that cost me almost twenty years of not seeing my daughter."
Krisa was about to say something when there was a knock at the door. Liam walked to the front door and opened it. Gerri was standing on the other side.
"Hey Ger come on in." Liam greeted her.
"Thanks, Liam," Gerri said with a smile as she walked inside.
"Gerri, what's up?" Cordell asked seeing his old friend walk into the house.
"I heard Krisa was out of the hospital and thought I'd come by and say hello," Gerri said
"Well that's very nice of you Geraldine," Bonham said.
Auggie and Stella greeted the woman who had been an aunt to them all their lives. Krisa and Tommy heard Gerri in the living room and walked out from the kitchen. Krisa felt her stomach sink when she saw Gerri standing in the Walker's living room. Tommy noticed this yet still smiled at the guest.
"Geraldine it's good to see you. Been a long time." Tommy greeted the newcomer.
"Hi, Mr. Chester it has been a long time. Hello Krisa."
"Gerri nice to see you it's been a very long time."
"Almost twenty years. Funny how you would come back only a year after Em died." Gerri said with an evil grin.
"Gerri…" Cordell started.
"No Cordi, I find it strange that she shows up a year after Em dies and suddenly you two are back to being thick as thieves. After she up and left. All because she had feelings for you and you didn't love her back." Gerri said anger in her voice.
"Geraldine!" Bonham's voice was low and growly.
"Dad, what is she talking about?" Stella asked her father.
"It was a long time ago," Cordell said glaring at Gerri.
"Oh so no one here knows the real reason that Krissy over here ran to Houston was because she couldn't handle the fact that Cordell was in love with Emily. So instead of being a big girl about it and letting him go. She ran away to Houston crying the little.."
Gerri didn't get a chance to finish before Krisa slapped her across the face so hard everyone heard it. Gerri went to slap Krisa back until Liam pulled Krisa back and Cordell held Gerri back. The two women glared daggers at each other. The silence in the room was tense until Stella spoke up.
"Dad? What is Aunt Gerri talking about?"
Krisa sighed as she looked at Stella. "Long time ago before you and Auggie were born. I had a crush on your father. I wanted to tell him but he was in love with your mother. I came to tell him only he was out riding with your mother that day. So I left and went to Houston. I didn't come home for years. But I promise you Stella it had nothing to do with your parents. I was a dumbass teenager."
Gerri laughed as she rolled her eyes at Krisa. "You were jealous of Emily and Cordell."
"Jealous? I was never jealous of what Emily and Cordi had. You on the other hand every time Hoyt even looked at another girl you lost your temper. Or have you forgotten what happened when Hoyt asked me to homecoming freshman year of high school?"
"Hoyt only asked you that year because he felt bad for you. Hoyt never liked you."
"Geraldine!" Abby and Bonham said at the same time.
"Gerri! You know Hoyt loved Krisa. He was her best friend too and he didn't ask her to homecoming that year because he felt bad for her. He asked for homecoming that year because he didn't want her to feel like she had no one to go with. Cordi was already paired off with Emily and you were digging into Hoyt so much he wanted to go with someone who gave a dam about him." Liam said
"Ms. Krisa did you and our mom not get along?" Auggie asked.
"I won't lie to you Auggie, your mother and I were never friends. But she was a good person and she was never mean to me at all. She was kind to me, unlike someone in this room who was rude to everyone. " Krisa answered him.
"Excuse me?" Gerri asked. "I know you are not talking about me."
Cordell stood between the two more so towards Krisa than Gerri. He wasn't about to let this go any longer. The fact that Gerri came here to start trouble when this wasn't the time or the place he knew that Gerri and Krisa had bad blood but this was going way too far.
"Geraldine I think you need to leave now," Bonham said.
"Me?" Gerri asked.
"Gerri please leave," Abby added.
"Fine," Gerri said as she stormed out of the house. "Em was right you always pick Krisa over her."
"Emily never said that," Cordell said glaring daggers as Gerri stormed out of the house.
Krisa needing to get out of the house walked out through the back door and headed out to the barn. It wasn't that she didn't want to be around anyone she just needed to get away from the tension in the room. What Gerri said had gotten to her. The fact that she had even brought up Emily was wrong of her. Reaching the barn Krisa walked over to the horses and climbed up on the fence leaning over she started to pet the red rone foal that was only born a few weeks ago.
"I'm sorry…" a voice said from behind her.
"Sorry for what?" Krisa asked not turning around.
"About Gerri, she had no right to come here and bring up Emily in that way," Cordell said keeping a distance for the moment.
"It doesn't matter she was gonna do it whether I was here or not."
"Still it wasn't right."
"She wasn't wrong really. Maybe I shouldn't have acted like such a brat and just moved on."
"Kris…"
"Come on Cordell we both know how I acted was bratty."
"It wasn't bratty, you were being yourself. Just I was the one who was blind to it. I guess in the back of my mind I always thought you would be there ya know. No matter what. Then one day you weren't there anymore and it was weird."
"Did you even notice? Or did someone have to point it out to you that I was gone?"
Cordell was silent for a moment. If he was being honest with himself it hadn't been until Hoyt had come running up to him in the hall one day at school that he had even realized she was gone. Hoyt had always been Krisa's protector the one who watched out for even after the three had drifted apart. Hoyt always made sure to check on Krisa as did Liam. When Krisa hadn't shown up for school in a week, it had been Hoyt who'd gone over to check on her. When Tommy told him that Krisa had moved away because of Cordell, Hoyt had almost killed him for it.
"Hoyt was the one who told me. He'd noticed you hadn't been around for a week or so and …. He got worried."
"Figures it would be him."
"He almost took my head off that day. I'll never forget it he came up to me and punched me right in the jaw. He was so mad. Started saying how it was my fault that you were gone."
"Wrong word to use on his part," Krisa said with a slight smile.
"Yeah, it was Em and Gerri who pulled him off me. When I finally asked him what he meant by gone all he was that you had left. And you weren't coming back."
"Again wrong words to use. Hoyt was always a bit on the dramatic side."
"That day I called your dad and asked him what was happening. He told me that you'd decided to move to Houston to live with your grandparents for a while and he didn't know when you'd be back."
"Hoyt kinda scared you huh?"
"Kinda thought you'd gone and died."
"I wasn't going that far Cowboy," Krisa said as she turned to face him.
Cordell just smiled wrapping his arm around Krisa and hugging her tight. If he was being honest with himself it had scared him to his very core. At first, he hadn't been too sure about what Hoyt was talking about but he remembered having a black eye for about a month and a busted-up lip for more than two weeks.
"Still I'm sorry I ever acted the way I did," Cordell said
Turning around Krisa looked into his eyes. The same light green eyes she'd been in love with for so long. She had always loved his eyes. They never stayed the same shade of green. She could read Cordell's mood by his eyes. Right now they were light green but they had been that dark green just before a summer storm and they were slowly turning back to light green. Cordell smiled when he caught her looking at him. The silence between the two was uncomfortable or tense. It was just them.
Liam cleared his throat as he walked into the barn. The spell between Cordell an Krisa had been broken with the arrival of Liam. Who spoke breaking the silence.
"Sorry to break up the umm love fest. But Captain James just called he needs you both at HQ"
"What's up?" Cordell asked.
"He got something on Starson he needs to show Krissy."
"Well at least maybe something good will come out of this bad day," Krisa said with a smile.
"Always trying to look on the bright side," Cordell said as he kissed the top of her head.
Liam couldn't help but laugh as the three walked out of the barn and back up to the house. Little did they know that someone was watching them.