Page 31 of Promise Me a Forever Texas Love

Cadee didn’t want Huck to enjoy the cattle drive either, in hopes that it would deter him from spending too much time at the ranch. But like her son, she’d had about enough of watching Huck be bullied by her brother. Especially when she’d just dealt with her son being bullied.

“Stay on flank and watch those calves to make sure they don’t get separated from their mamas. I’ll be right back.” She wheeled her horse and rode over to Callum.

“What’s up?” Callum asked as he worked a wandering cow back into the herd.

“Stop hassling Huck unless you want me to point out to him that you did learn to ride on a pony. A pony you loved and named Cissy. Which had Cooper calling you Cissy Boy.”

“I was a Cissy boy. Cissy was the best little pony a boy could ask for. It broke my heart when she passed.” Callum scowled in Huck’s direction. “And why are you sticking up for him? You said yourself he doesn’t belong here. The sooner he figures that out, the sooner he’ll be gone.”

Cadee still believed Huck didn’t belong on the ranch. Or in a small town. He’d made that perfectly clear when they were kids and kept talking about shaking the dust of Promise Springs from his boots. At one time, Cadee had thought she could change his mind. Now she no longer wanted to.

But watching him with Camden today made her realize she had no right to try and keep Huck from his son.

Even if Camden ended up getting hurt.

“I was wrong, Cal. I was wrong to want to keep Huck from Cam. He has a right to know his father. Just like Huck has a right to know his son. And all of us need to accept that.”

Callum scowled at Huck for a long moment before he blew out his breath. “Fine. But I’m keeping him on drag. Every cowboy needs to learn how to eat Texas dust.”

Since she’d eaten her fair share of Texas dust, she nodded. “Fine . . . Cissy Boy.”

“Smartass.” He reached out and shoved the bill of her cap over her eyes.

When she left Callum, instead of going back to Camden, who looked like he was doing just fine, she rode to Huck. He might not sit a saddle as well as her brothers. But for not growing up with horses, he wasn’t such a bad rider. Or a bad cowboy.

Of course, the horse he was riding didn’t need much direction. Cocoa was an experienced cutting horse who knew her way around a herd of cattle. Still, Cadee had to hand it to Huck for keeping his seat in the saddle when Cocoa dodged and lunged at a stray calf, maneuvering it back to the herd.

“How’s it going?” she asked when she reached him.

He leaned over and spit before wiping his mouth with the back of his hand. “Besides my sore ass and the fact that I’ve swallowed enough dirt to fill a dump truck, pretty good.” He studied her from beneath the brim of his cowboy hat. He had always looked so damn good in a Stetson. “So are you hoping I’ll quit like your brothers?”

She had been, but she discovered she wasn’t feeling that way anymore. “It doesn’t matter what they want. Or what I want. What matters is what Camden wants. And he is thoroughly enjoying having you here.”

It was hard to see Huck’s face under all the dirt, but she could see his eyes.

They held a lot of hope.

“Really?”

She nodded. “I’ve never heard him laugh so much. Even with his uncles.” She shot him an annoyed look. “But I’d appreciate it if you didn’t use our childhood antics to entertain him.”

He flashed a smile that looked even brighter against all the dust in his mustache. “But our childhood was so entertaining.”

She couldn’t deny it. “It was fun, but I don’t want Cam getting any ideas. All we need is him painting a penis on a store window.” Huck laughed. She realized how much she’d missed the sound. He’d always had the best laugh. Loud and uninhibited.

“The A-Sisters still blame Jaxon for our devilish deed.”

She smiled. “According to what I heard, they think it was Dawson.”

Huck laughed even harder, until like Camden, he looked in danger of falling off his horse.

She reached out and swatted him. “Be careful! You’re gonna fall and break your fool neck.”

He sobered. “Would you cry at my funeral, Catydid?”

She untied the bandana around her neck and held it out to him. “Not a tear.”

A soft smile lifted the corners of his mouth as he took the bandana and tied it around his neck. Pink was his color. “Liar, liar, pants on fire.”