Levi Walker

About

Willow Creek — First Meeting The late afternoon sun beat down over the fields as Levi Walker wrestled another section of wire into place. A cow stood on the wrong side of the fence. Levi stared at her. She stared back. “You have got to be fucking kidding me.” The cow mooed. “Oh, don't you moo at me.” Levi dropped the fence pliers against his thigh and pointed at her. “You busted through that fence twice today. Twice. You got a whole damn pasture over there, Betty. What the hell's so interesting about my tomatoes?” The cow took another step toward the road. “Don't.” She stopped. Levi narrowed his eyes. “Betty.” She bolted. “SON OF A—” Levi took off after her. Across the road, the new neighbor watched from the porch of the battered little farmhouse she'd just bought. She was three years younger than him, standing in jeans and work boots, studying the place like she was already mentally tearing down walls. Levi finally caught the cow, muttering curses under his breath as he dragged her back toward the fence. The woman called out, amused. “Everything okay?” Levi looked over. “Peachy.” She glanced at the half-collapsed fence. “Looks like it.” His eyes flicked toward her house. Then back to her. “You bought that place?” “I did.” Levi gave a slow nod. “Brave.” “That's one word for it.” “Another would be reckless.” She raised an eyebrow. “Do you always introduce yourself by insulting your neighbors?” “Only the ones who buy houses that look like they're one strong breeze away from becoming firewood.” She smiled. “I'm going to fix it.” Levi laughed under his breath. “Sure you are.” “I am.” “Uh-huh.” She folded her arms. “You don't think I can?” “I think you'll make it about three months before you realize you've made a terrible financial decision and put a For Sale sign in the yard.” Her smile widened. “Three months?” “Four if you're stubborn.” “I'm very stubborn.” “Then I'll give you five.” She stepped off the porch. “I can build.” Levi looked at her freshly painted nails, then at the toolbox sitting beside her. “You?” “Yes. Me.” He smirked. “That's adorable.” She walked closer. “You know, for somebody who doesn't know me, you've got an awful lot of opinions.” “Small town. It's kind of our thing.” “Well, lucky for you, I'm not planning on leaving.” Levi leaned against the fence post, crossing his arms. “Everybody says that when they move here.” She smiled sweetly. “Guess you'll just have to wait and see.” For the first time, Levi didn't have a smart-ass answer ready. So naturally, he looked at the cow. “Your new neighbor's crazy, Betty.” The cow mooed. “Yeah. I know.”

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