Chapter 6 #3
“He might have Dawson’s blond hair, but the rest is all you. The way he walks, the way he crinkles his eyes when he laughs . . . although he stopped laughing quickly when that one kid showed up and started hassling him.”
Huck sat up. “Hassling him? What do you mean hassling him? Like we heckled each other as kids.”
Jaxon shook his head. “With two brothers, I know the difference between playful heckling and bullying. The way the kid shoved him wasn’t playful. Especially when he’s a head taller and twice Camden’s weight.”
Huck was completely unprepared for the rush of protectiveness that washed over him. His entire body shook with suppressed anger as he rose to his feet.
“Someone is bullying Cam?”
Jaxon held up a hand. “Now calm down, Huck. I don’t know that for sure.”
“Then I guess we need to find out.” He walked out of the kitchen.
Once he got showered and dressed, he headed to the elementary school.
He had no idea what he was going to do if Jaxon was right.
It wasn’t like he could beat up a kid. Which was how Dawson had handled the kid that tried to bully Huck when they were little.
But he couldn’t just stand by and let Camden get bullied either.
He arrived at the elementary a little after one o’clock.
He had no idea when school ended, so he parked his motorcycle under a tree and waited .
. . for two solid hours. He must have nodded off because he startled awake to a bell shrilly ringing.
He sat up just as kids swarmed out of the doors like ants when you stick a garden hose in their anthill.
Camden was one of the last kids out. His steps were slow and hesitant like he was dreading what lay ahead.
Sure enough, as soon as he reached the kids waiting to get on a school bus, a big kid separated from the crowd and approached him.
The look of fear on Camden’s face was enough to have Huck jumping off his bike and crossing the street.
As he drew closer, he could hear the kid talking to Camden.
“So, Cami, are you still going to come as a wittle dinosaur for Halloween?” He chortled. “What a baby!” He poked Camden in the chest with his finger. “And tell your mom to cut the crusts off your sandwiches. How many times do I have to tell you I don’t like crusts, dumbass?”
It was too bad Huck wasn’t a kid. He would have loved nothing more than to put this little asshole in a chokehold and make him apologize. Instead, he would have to settle for nonviolent intimidation.
He tapped the kid on the shoulder, maybe a little harder than necessary. The kid whipped around. “What the fu—” He cut off when he saw Huck and completely changed his demeanor. “Oh, hey, sir. Did you need something?”
“Yeah,” Huck said. “I need you to quit being a bullying dick.”
The kid’s eyes widened and so did Camden’s. Huck figured he probably shouldn’t have cussed. But he was too pissed off to care.
“Do you understand what I’m saying, you little shit?
I want you to stop bullying Camden. Stop stealing his sandwiches.
Stop calling him names. And stop making fun of his Halloween costume choice—which, by the way, is awesome.
Who wouldn’t want to be a dinosaur instead of a stupid ninja, zombie, or that dumb guy from the movie Scream? ”
When the kid blinked, Huck figured he’d hit the nail on the head. He glanced at Camden. “Tell me something, Cam? Who would win in a fight? The Scream guy or a raptor?”
Camden hesitated for only a second before he answered. “A raptor.”
“Exactly.” Huck looked back at the bully. “So whose costume is the stupidest, dumbass?”
The kid pointed a finger. “I’m gonna tell my daddy on you.”
“Good. You do that. And your daddy and I will have a long talk about stolen lunches and raising sons to be bullies. In fact, if I hear one word from Camden about you bullying him, I’ll make sure to look your daddy up myself.
Now y’all better get on the bus. I know for a fact school bus drivers don’t like to be kept waiting. ”
The kid raced off as if he had a firecracker up his butt.
Camden didn’t move. He just stood there staring at Huck with confusion in his hazel eyes.
“What are you doing here? Did my mama send you? Did she find out about Miles stealing my lunches?”
“No. I was just driving by and saw you and thought I’d say hi. But you probably should have told your mama.”
Camden shook his head. “It would just worry her and she’s already worried about the debt the ranch is in.”
Huck had been wondering why Cadee needed money. Like Poppy, he thought the Stocktons had plenty. Obviously, that wasn’t the case. And like Camden, the thought of Cadee being worried didn’t set well with him.
“Okay, then,” he said. “It will be our little secret. But if Miles starts in again, you need to let me know.”
Camden studied him as if trying to gauge whether Huck could be trusted. “Yeah . . . okay. Thanks.”
Huck nodded. “Anytime. Now you better hurry. You don’t want to miss the bus.”
Camden hesitated for only a second before he turned and walked toward the bus . . . his step much lighter than it had been before.
And so was Huck’s as he headed back to his motorcycle.