Page 75 of Liberty

“No, no. She’s like everyone's ma…” I told her. “Ma Walker.”

Briget’s eyes went round as she asked, “You know Ma Walker?”

I stared at her. “Do you?”

Shrugging, Briget replied, “Everyone knows Ma. She’s been a fixture in Ramton for a long time. Though no one has seen her for a while.”

“That’s because she and her family are in hiding,” Belle stated flatly.

“Oh, yeah.” Belle nodded. “The war on the Walkers, yes.”

“You know about that?” Fate asked her.

“Of course, most everyone knows about that psycho woman, Ophelia. Running our town into the ground and going after the Walkers.”

“The man in the suit,” Belle said. “He’s her son. And that really nice woman that was with him? We think she’s O’s daughter.”

“Oh, wow. So you got caught up in that mess?” Briget stared at Belle. “I mean, most everyone in town that hasn’tmoved away knows that it ain’t safe to be a Walker or to be anywhere near one either.”

The room went quiet.

Looking around at our stoic faces, she then turned to ask Belle, “What?”

Belle let out a long breath and motioned to me. “Meet Liberty Walker.” Nodding, she pointed at Fate. “And his brother, Fate Walker.”

Briget looked lost. “No, no. There’s Olivia, Talon, Raven, Rip, Dagger and Hawk…No Liberty or Fate.”

“We are their cousins from Sugarland Texas,” I told her.

Raising her brows at me, she slapped her hand over her mouth. Then dropping it, she told me, “Get a fake last name or something. Do not tell anyone that you are a Walker. People are scared here. I’m not sure what they would do.”

“Well, we didn't plan to make it public,” Fate said.

I nodded. “In fact, we would just rather not be noticed.”

Briget laughed and pointed at us. “You and your brother stick out like red haired clowns in a clown car that has been set on fire!”

Fate stared at her then looked over at me. “I can’t figure out if that’s an insult or…?”

Belle laughed. “Nah, it’s probably a compliment. But I was thinking the same thing. You two won’t blend in. Big, muscle bound…”

“...and good looking,” Briget added with a nod of her head.

Fate wiggled his eyebrows as he glanced over at me. “Did you hear that?”

I shook my head then stared at Belle. “We still have a job to do.”

“What job?” Briget asked.

“See now, that is all a part of the tea, B,” Belle told her. “Let’s get some paper plates and napkins ready for the pizza.”

“I got soda and beer.” Fate raised the pack of coke and beer up.

“I’ll take a Michelob,” Briget said.

Fate leaned closer to me and whispered, “Ilikethis girl.”

“Easy does it, you just met her.” I shook my head. “And unless you’re serious…just don’t.”