Chapter 8 #2
“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.”
When Cooper still didn’t say anything, he sighed. “I screwed up, Cooper. It’s brutal living with the fact that I wasn’t there for Cadee. Or Camden.” He swallowed hard. “I wish I could go back, but I can’t. The only thing I can do is be here for them now.”
Cooper finally spoke. Or more like growled. “They don’t need you being here for them. They have me, Callum, and Mama.”
“So you don’t miss having a daddy, at all?”
Cooper shot a narrow-eyed look over at him before he returned his gaze to the road. Huck figured that was Cooper’s way of saying “fuck off.” So he shut up and spent the rest of the drive sipping his coffee and listening to the sound of the tires rolling over the graveled road.
When they reached a weathered corral, Cooper and Callum pulled in and started unloading the horses. Chaos didn’t seem to be in a better mood. The horse snorted and stomped and jerked at the reins as Callum backed him out of the trailer.
It had been a while since Huck had sat a saddle and he wasn’t looking forward to mounting the beast. Or flying through the air and busting every bone in his body. But he wasn’t about to chicken out in front of his son.
Or Cadee.
But when he went to take the reins from Callum, Cooper stepped up and took them. “I’ll ride Chaos. He’s my horse.”
Huck could have kissed him, even though he was pretty sure Cooper had done it for Cadee who looked as relieved as Huck. Although he still felt nervous when he swung up in the saddle of the horse they did give him.
But as it turned out, riding a horse was like riding a bike. After only a few minutes, his muscle memory kicked in, and his body adjusted to being in the saddle again. He couldn’t help remembering the first time he’d ridden.
It had been the summer before their eighth grade year.
He’d been bored one day and decided to steal Jaxon’s truck keys and take a joyride out to the Stockton Ranch.
Not wanting to go to the house and get into it with her daddy and brothers, he’d pulled off the road before he reached the house and texted her
She’d come riding across the meadow on her appaloosa horse, Comet, like some kind of fairytale princess.
It had been that moment he’d realized his best friend was stunningly beautiful.
That moment when his hormones kicked in and he couldn’t keep his gaze away from her full bouncing boobs and the way her curvy ass fit the saddle.
She had been completely unaware of his lecherous thoughts.
As soon as she’d ridden up to him, she’d held out a hand for him to join her.
Not wanting her to think he was afraid, he’d hopped on behind her .
. . and immediately regretted it when the feel of her body snuggled against him gave him a major hard on.
But Cadee was too innocent and too focused on teaching him how to ride to notice.
“So you’re not good at riding?”
Camden’s question caused Huck to startle.
He turned to see Camden sitting on a horse right behind him.
He looked just as at ease in a saddle as his mama.
Although he didn’t look so happy when Cadee walked her horse over and handed him a safety helmet.
His scowl was deep as he took it from her and put it on.
Once she’d moved away, he grumbled to Huck.
“She thinks I’m a baby.”
“Maybe she just wants to keep you safe. That’s what mamas do.” He hesitated. “Good mamas.”
Camden studied him. “Your mama was Ms. Hennessy, huh?”
Huck nodded. “Yes.”
“She was real nice. I liked her.”
Huck’s heart felt like it had been put in a vise and his eyes stung. Thankfully, before he could burst into tears, Cooper whistled.
“Let’s head out!”
Camden flashed him an impish grin that reminded Huck of Poppy. “Race you!” He took off on his horse.
Huck hesitated for only a second before he urged his horse into a gallop and followed his son.