Chapter Four
Chapter Four
Joel had seen people eat slowly before, but Cooper took the prize. He chewed at a sloth’s pace. Even after everyone else had finished and washed their plates, he sat there continuing to pick at his remaining oat flour pancakes chatting with Debra and Callaway as if the situation were not awkward in the least. Joel finally went outside and relieved his frustration by petting Cooper’s horse.
It proved to be good timing. The sound of gravel crunching gave him something else to focus on. The crunching was light enough that it could only be coming from a small person walking up the driveway alone. Jules momentarily perked up, but then relaxed again as if recognizing the footsteps.
Sure enough, Ricky shortly emerged from between the trees. When he spotted Joel, he
