Page 27 of Promise Me a Forever Texas Love

Mrs. Stockton frowned. “It’s too bad she can’t put her degree to use here in Promise Springs.”

“Why not? I’m sure there are folks who would love their house to look like this. And it’s not like she has to just use her talents here when there are so many big cities within a couple hours drive.”

Mrs. Stockton nodded. “Then maybe you can convince her of that. I sure haven’t been able to.” She headed to the kitchen and he followed.

It was a big country kitchen with a picture window over the apron sink that showed off the pinkish tinge of the sunrise. He stood in the doorway and watched Mrs. Stockton bustle around pouring coffee into a travel mug and then pulling a foil-wrapped burrito out of the oven.

She packed the burrito into a thermal lunch bag, slipped a napkin into a side pocket, before she handed it and the travel mug to him.

“There you go. The stables are out back. Don’t worry about the boys. They’ll be a little gruff to begin with, but they’ll come around.”

Gruff wasn’t exactly the word Huck would have chosen for the way he was greeted by Cooper when he arrived at the stables behind the house. The oldest Stockton sibling looked like he wanted to beat the shit out of him, then toss him over a cliff.

He might have if Camden hadn’t seemed so happy to see him.

“Hey, Huck! Mom told me you were helping today.”

Huck glanced at Cadee who looked about as thrilled to see him as her brother. He couldn’t say the same. His heart thumped in overtime as he took in her T-shirt, wrangler jeans, cute braids, and trucker’s cap.

Camden looked just as cute in his full cowboy attire, including roper boots, a brown Stetson, and chaps with fringe.

“Hey, Cam. I like your chaps.”

He glanced down and grinned. There was something about the dimpled grin that had Huck’s heart flipping. “Uncle Cooper had them specially made for me as an early birthday present.”

Huck had no clue when his son’s birthday was and he was too ashamed to ask. “Wow. That was real nice of your uncle.” He glanced at Cooper and got a glare in return.

“Yeah, he’s awesome. So is my Uncle Callum. He got me new boots when I started school.”

“And I’m a little upset you stopped wearing them to school.” Callum came out of the stables leading a huge horse. A huge, angry horse that was snorting and fighting the reins Callum held.

“You’re riding Chaos?” Cadee asked her brother.

“Nope.” Callum grinned at Huck. An evil grin. “I figured I let your old friend here ride our best horse.”

Cadee’s eyes widened. “Absolutely not, Cal. You know Huck isn’t good at riding.”

“Then what’s he doing here? If he can’t ride, he can’t help.”

Camden looked at Huck in question. There was no way he was going to lose face with his son. Even if the thought of riding the horse scared the crap out of him.

“I ride just fine,” he lied. “I appreciate you giving me the best mount, Cal.”

Callum smiled. “No problem . . . Huckleberry. Let me just get Chaos loaded and we’ll get going.”

Huck had hoped he’d get to ride in a truck with Cadee and Camden. But Cooper and Callum had other ideas. Callum herded his sister and nephew into the truck with him while Huck was stuck with Cooper.

The oldest Stockton reminded Huck of Dawson. Stoic and grumpy. Talking to Dawson was like talking to a stone wall. Luckily, Huck was a natural born talker. He didn’t even wait until they’d pulled away from the ranch to start in.

“So I’m going to assume Chaos has come by his name naturally and your brother can’t wait to see me thrown on my ass.”

“He’s not the only one.” Cooper grumbled under his breath.

Huck laughed. “Yeah, well, I can’t blame y’all. If someone impregnated Poppy and then left her high and dry, I would want him thrown on his ass too. I certainly wouldn’t want him anywhere near my sister and nephew. But just so you know, if I’d known about Camden, I would have come back.” He hesitated, deciding to be completely honest. “At least, I hope I would have. I guess there’s no way to be sure.”

Cooper’s jaw tightened, but he didn’t say a word. So Huck continued.

“And just so you know, I take full responsibility for Cadee not being able to get in touch with me. After we . . . did what we did, I freaked out a little. When I finally stopped freaking out and accepted what had happened, I figured it was best if I stayed away.” He paused. “Because we both know she deserves better than me.”