Page 133 of Huckleberry Hill
“Nowhere,” I lied.
“You’re a terrible liar.” He took a step down off the porch and came toward me. His gaze took in my disheveled hair and my appearance.
“Nice hoodie. It looks familiar.”
I took a deep breath. “Dad, let’s go inside. We need to have a talk.”
“Damned right we need to have a talk,” he said, his expression morphing into anger. “Right after I fire Declan.”
“Dad, don’t?—”
“Where is he?”
“He’s . . .” I pointed in the direction where I’d come from.
Like a ghost, Declan suddenly rounded the bend and appeared. He didn’t stop off at the barn, instead he let Merlin trot toward us, Goldie tethered to his saddle. Declan’s eyes went to me and then to Dad. He dismounted and patted Merlin’s neck.
“Connor,” he greeted, inclining his head.
Dad didn’t take his eyes off him. “You son of a bitch.”
“Dad,” I snapped.
“No, Hadley, stay out of this,” Dad said, turning on his heel and heading up the porch steps.
“Where’s he going?” Declan asked me. “Why is he going inside?”
My brow furrowed. “I think he might be getting his shotgun.”
“For dramatics, right?” Declan asked.
“Where the hell is my shotgun!” Dad yelled from inside the house.
I winced. “Eh, sure?”
“I hid it,” Muddy yelled back. “You will not make a gelding out of that boy!”
“That’s not a boy,” Dad bellowed. “That’s a man. That’s a man who seduced my daughter!”
Declan took a step toward me and wrapped an arm around my shoulders. “I think someone from town might’ve told him.”
“I think you’re right.” I turned to him. “You should take Merlin and go for a ride. I’ll talk to my dad. I’ll calm him down.”
“No.” He cupped my jaw. “We do this together.” He suddenly looked up. “You might want to move.”
“Why?”
He gently pushed me out of the way. I turned and saw my father striding across the lawn. When he got to Declan, he clenched his fist and slugged him right in the jaw.
Declan took it like a man.
But when Dad wound up to give him another punch, I yelled, “Dad! I love him!”
Dad’s hand stopped mid-flight and he looked at me, astonishment on his face. “You what?”
“I love him,” I said, taking a hesitant step toward Declan. “We love each other, Dad.”
Dad cursed under his breath. He looked at me and then glanced at Declan. “You’re fired.”
