Page 134 of Huckleberry Hill
Declan nodded. “I’ll get my things.” He stared at me and placed his hand on my shoulder. I gripped his wrist and then gave it a squeeze before letting go. My father and I both watched him grab Merlin’s lead and urge the horses to follow him.
“Connor.” Muddy had come out some time during the altercation to stand on the porch. “Come inside.”
Dad looked at me, his jaw clenching, but then he reluctantly did as his mother bid.
I followed at a slower pace, glancing over my shoulder to see Declan, still tall, still proud. He didn’t look at all put out by my father’s decision. Then again, it wasn’t much of a surprise.
I stepped into the house and closed the front door. “Dad, we need to have a talk.”
Chapter Thirty
The Ranch
* * *
“Coffee, Hadley?” Muddy asked as she stood in the kitchen.
“That would be great, thanks,” I said.
“Start talking,” Dad commanded.
“I will not,” I said, crossing my arms and glaring at him. “You will not bully me into talking about this until I have a cup of coffee in my hands and you calm down.”
“I won’t calm down,” he seethed. “I stopped in town at General Merc and you know what Lucy told me? She told me you and Declan were dating. I’ve been gone five minutes and?—”
“For the record, we had planned to tell you the moment you got home,” I said. “But things kind of spun out of control.”
I took the coffee Muddy offered me. “I assume you’re staying for this conversation?” I asked her.
“Damn right I am,” she said with a sassy grin. She glared at her son. “Listen to your daughter and by God, if you make her cry, I’ll get the shotgun.”
Dad looked duly chastised. I bit my lip to hold in my laughter.
“Sit,” she commanded. “And really listen to her. Okay?”
“Okay.” He sighed, sounding tired. “Wait, you don’t seem surprised by any of this. Why not?”
“I already knew about them.” She shrugged. “And anyone with two eyeballs and a brain cell or two could see they were sniffing around each other from the moment they met. God, they’re no better than two cats in heat.”
“Not helping,” I told her.
“Ferrets in heat, then.”
“Really not helping,” I stated.
The three of us sat down at the kitchen table. Dad opened his mouth to speak, but then thought better of it.
“Declan did not seduce me,” I told him.
“You’re fresh off a broken engagement,” he said. “You’re not in your right mind.”
“That’s just it,” I said. “I am in my right mind. I’ve never been more right about anything in my whole life.”
“You were in bad shape when you got home,” he stated. “You’re telling me you’re in love with someone two weeks after meeting and—and?—”
“I married your father after sixteen days of knowing him,” Muddy reminded him. “And you married Kathleen four months after knowing her.”
“That’s different,” he said in frustration.
