Page 62 of Promise Me a Forever Texas Love

Except he had never found the right one.

Now she had to wonder if he ever would. It certainly wouldn’t be making porch swings for the good folks of Promise Springs. How could making a small amount on carpentry jobs be enough for the boy who had always wanted to strike it rich? A boy who talked nonstop about living in a big city in a fancy house and owning a Harley motorcycle and driving it all over the country?

How could she believe that boy had changed into a man who could be satisfied living in a small town and driving an old truck . . . and loving a simple country girl?

No wonder Cooper had looked at her as if she was a complete idiot. She had fallen so easily into her old habit of believing everything Huck told her. Even after he’d left her and ghosted her for eight long years. How could she be so foolish when she was a mama? A mama who needed to protect her son.

One of her mama’s favorite sayings popped into her head.

Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me.

If Huck fooled her again, she’d have no one to blame but herself.

CHAPTER TWENTY

Despite his late night with Cadee, Huck woke up early. Probably due to the adrenaline pumping through his body. He felt like he could do anything. Climb Mount Everest. Swim the Atlantic. Be worthy of a sweet country girl.

Last night, they hadn’t gotten a chance to talk about the future. He intended to remedy that today.

But first he had a porch swing to deliver.

Before starting a new life with Cadee, he wanted all secrets out.

He had set up a time to meet the sheriff at his house, but when he got there, Sheriff Gentry wasn’t there. While he waited, he started installing the swing. He was attaching the steel chains to the sturdy overhead hangers he’d screwed into the porch ceiling when the sheriff finally showed up.

“Hey, Huck!” Sheriff Gentry called as he got out of his car. “Sorry I’m late. There was a little fender bender in town.”

“No worries.” Huck climbed down from the ladder he’d brought as the sheriff took the steps to the porch.

“Damn, that looks great, Huck. The workmanship is as fine as your daddy’s.”

For once, Huck felt proud to be his father’s son.

Sheriff Gentry sat down in the swing. “A damn fine swing. Let’s hope Laurie feels the same⁠—”

An old guy with more hair on his brows than on his head came hurrying up the porch steps holding a shovel like a baseball bat. His eyes narrowed on Huck. “So I see you caught the Hennessy Hooligan, sheriff. I told you he was sneaking around and up to no good.”

Sheriff Gentry rolled his eyes before he stood to address the old man. “Everything’s fine, Delbert. Huck was just bringing over the porch swing he made me.”

“Are you sure he wasn’t stealing something? I could never prove it, but I know his little sister stole all the garden gnomes from my front yard.”

Huck mentally cringed. So that was where Poppy had gotten the seven gnomes that lived in her room.

The sheriff held up his hand. “I’m sure, Delbert. Now please put that shovel down before you hurt yourself. I got this handled. The Hennessys are family.”

Delbert lowered the shovel and snorted. “Fine. But I’d watch my back if I was you. Just because your daughter married one of them hooligans, doesn’t mean you’re safe. Even wolves can turn on their own.” He shuffled down the porch steps.

A few weeks ago, Huck would have laughed off the old guy’s comments. But now, he didn’t find them amusing. Not when he was trying so hard to fit into the town. His frustration must have shown on his face.

“I wouldn’t take what Delbert says to heart,” Sheriff Gentry said. “He’s just old and set in his ways.”

“He’s not wrong. We were hooligans.”

“You were kids who didn’t have any supervision. Without supervision, kids don’t always make the best decisions.”

Huck certainly hadn’t. If he wanted to prove to Cadee that he’d finally grown up—that he’d finally become a man who could own up to his mistakes—he needed to start here.

“I was the one who stole the money from Mickey’s Gas Station.”