Page 26 of Promise Me a Forever Texas Love

It was Cadee’s mama.

Tiffany Stockton had always been a beautiful woman and she still was. An older version of her daughter, she had Cadee’s same petite body, dark wavy hair, and expressive blue eyes. Those eyes didn’t show surprise or anger. Just concern.

He understood why. He was more than a little concerned himself about his ability to be a good daddy.

He pulled off his cowboy hat. “Good mornin’, Ms. Stockton.”

“Good mornin’,” she said.

“I guess Cadee told you I was coming to help.”

“She did,” she said and then waited. Obviously, she wasn’t going to make this easy on him.

He cleared his throat. “Is Cadee here?”

“She and Camden are helping Cooper and Callum load the horses.”

He took a few steps back. “Okay then, I guess I’ll go⁠—”

She cut him off. “A lot of folks think you and your siblings are trouble. My husband was one of them.”

“Yes, ma’am. I know that.” Joseph Stockton had never liked Huck and, in middle school, had banned his daughter from seeing him. Knowing how much she loved her daddy, Huck had been surprised when she hadn’t listened. And thrilled as hell that she wasn’t willing to let their friendship go. Even for her beloved daddy.

He waited for Mrs. Stockton to say she thought he was trouble too.

Instead, she surprised him. “I never agreed with Joe.”

He blinked. “You didn’t?”

She shook her head. “I always thought you and your siblings were just acting out to get your mama’s attention. Not to speak ill of the dead, but I think everyone knew Rosie didn’t give y’all enough of her time and attention—something I know she regretted at the end of her life. Unfortunately, it was too late to mend the relationship with her kids. I think that’s why she showered Camden with her love and attention.”

Huck had given up on his mama’s love long ago. Or so he’d thought. But if he’d given up on it, why did the thought of her showering Camden with the attention she’d withheld from her own kids make his chest feel so damn tight.

“She enjoyed being with Camden?”

She looked surprised. “Cadee didn’t tell you?”

“No, ma’am.”

“Well, maybe I shouldn’t have said anything. I just wanted you to know that I don’t blame y’all for being ornery kids.” She hesitated and her face got a stern expression. “But if you haven’t grown out of your wild ways and do something to hurt my family, I won’t be as forgiving. Do you understand?”

“Yes, ma’am. The last thing I want to do is hurt Camden. Or Cadee.”

She nodded. “That’s good to hear. Now did you have time to eat breakfast? You look a little green around the gills.”

That’s exactly how he felt. Especially after hearing about his mama. “No, ma’am.”

“Then come on in and I’ll get you a breakfast burrito and a cup of coffee to go before you head on over to the stables.”

The house smelled like a mixture of fresh-baked cookies and air-dried sheets, the same scent that always surrounded Cadee, and the foyer was as magazine worthy as the front porch.

On one wall was a huge solid wood wardrobe with cupboards and hooks for hats and jackets. Next to it was an antique umbrella holder and a bootjack. The opposite wall had a side table filled with glass pumpkins and fat candles in wooden candleholders. Above it was a group of family pictures in coordinating frames.

Through a doorway, he could see the family room. It was cozy and yet elegant, with overstuffed chairs and the throw pillow-filled couches surrounding a big fireplace of Austin stone.

“Cadee did all the decorating,” Mrs. Stockton said. “Did she tell you that she got a bachelor’s degree in interior design?”

“No, ma’am.” He hadn’t even known she was interested in interior design. But it made sense now that he thought about it. When they were kids, she had loved watching HGTV and every other year wanted to redecorate her room. He’d been forced to look at paint swatches until his eyeballs burned.