Page 67 of Promise Me a Forever Texas Love

“Like what?”

Huck was more than a little surprised to hear his son’s voice. What was Camden doing there? He started climbing the ladder to find out when Poppy’s heartbreaking reply stopped him.

“Like make you think they’ll be around forever and then be stupid enough to get killed in a car accident.”

“Your mama didn’t die in a car accident,” Camden said. “She died from smoking too much. My uncle Cal said.”

“And your uncle Cal was right. But I wasn’t talking about my mama. I was talking about my daddy.”

“Both your parents are dead?”

“They are. So instead of sitting here bellyaching about how your mama lied to you, you should be thankful you have a mama and a daddy.”

“And what if I don’t want Huck as my daddy?” Camden said, belligerently, and Huck almost fell off the ladder from the surprise and pain that punched him in the chest.

Camden knew. He knew Huck was his father and he didn’t want him. He pressed his forehead against the rope ladder and tried to breathe as Poppy continued.

“Sorry, kid, but it doesn’t work that way. You don’t get to choose who your parents are. If you did, I would have swapped out mine a long time ago. You just get what you get, and you don’t throw a fit. And from what I heard, Cadee is a pretty damn good mama. And Huck . . . well, I don’t know what I would have done without Huck as my brother. Or Dawson and Jaxon, for that matter. They watched out for me and loved me better than our parents ever did and I love them to pieces. But if you tell them I said that I’ll deny it and then put spiders in your bed.”

“I’m not afraid of spiders, but I’m not gonna tell them. Especially Huck because I’m never gonna talk to him again. He’s dumb and he’s stupid and I hate him.”

Huck felt like bawling his eyes out. Not only had he screwed things up with Cadee, but he’d also screwed them up with Camden. While he was feeling like the worst human in the world, Poppy went on.

“First of all, stupid and dumb mean the same things. And secondly, you don’t really hate Huck. You’re just mad because he didn’t tell you he was your daddy. The reason he didn’t tell you is because he’s worried about the townsfolk treating you badly because you’re one of us. The Hennessy Hooligans. I’m sure it’s the same reason your mama lied to you. She was trying to protect you from bad gossip.”

“Well, I don’t need to be protected. I’m eight!”

“Eight. Wow, I didn’t realize you were so old. Probably because you’ve been sitting here sniveling like a little baby!”

“I have not!”

“Have too!”

“You’re mean!”

“You’re right! As your aunt—yep, that’s right, I’m your Auntie Poppy—I’m not ever going to tell you anything but the bold-faced truth. So here it is. Listen up. The Miles kid who told you about your daddy sounds like an arrogant jackass. Next time he gets all cocky with you, stop being a wussy and punch him right in the mouth. If that doesn’t work, kick him in the balls. Next, get over yourself, kid. You live on a big fancy ranch with a family who loves you and showers you with all kinds of attention. Yeah, okay, so you didn’t have a daddy for the first eight years of your life. Well, now you do. And not just any daddy, but a damn funny daddy who knows how to bring sunshine to even the darkest day. A daddy who knows how to build tree houses and can charm the pants off any woman.”

Huck cringed as Camden asked. “Why would you want to charm the pants off a girl?”

“We’ll discuss that when you’re older. My point is that you have nothing to be whining about, kid. So stop before I kick you out of my treeboat.”

Huck waited for Camden to reply. When he did it wasn’t at all what Huck expected. “But isn’t it my treeboat too? I mean I’m half Hennessy Hooligan. Right?”

“Hmm? Well, you do have a point. Of course, that won’t stop me from pushing you over the edge. You can ask your daddy about that. Hey, Huck! Tell Cam about the time I almost pushed you out of the treeboat.”

Huck finished climbing the ladder, wondering how his sister had known he was there. When he got to the top, he found her in the hammock and Camden sitting on the deck . . . glaring at him belligerently.

“Hey,” Huck said with a forced smile. “What are y’all doin’?”

Poppy rolled her eyes as if that was the stupidest thing he could have said while Camden continued to glare.

“Well, I wish I could say this has been fun.” Poppy pushed up from the hammock. “But it’s been about as fun as getting a cavity filled. So I’m going to tag out.” She glanced at Camden. “See you around, kid.”

He was too busy shooting eye-daggers at Huck to reply. Something that made Poppy laugh.

“Yep, he’s a Hennessy, alright.” She shoved Huck out of her way so she could get to the ladder. “Have fun, Huckleberry.” Terrified about being left alone with an angry Camden, Huck grabbed her arm and sent her a pleading look. She shook her head and spoke low enough that only he could hear. “Oh, no. I did my aunting duty. Now it’s all up to you, Daddy.” She gave him two quick slaps in the face. “Don’t fuck it up.”

That was exactly what Huck was terrified of doing.