“Did you hear that? Just one more.”
She took a deep breath and took the next rung. As soon as she did, Dawson’s hands slipped beneath her arms and hauled her over the edge. She collapsed against his chest with relief for a brief second—just long enough to realize that Jaxon wasn’t the only Hennessy with impressive muscles—before she was lifted out of his arms and pressed against the other set of impressive muscles.
“Why didn’t you tell me you were scared of heights?” Jaxon asked.
“I’m not. I’m just scared of rickety, unstable ladders twenty feet off the ground.”
Poppy snorted. “And this person is supposed to be protecting the town?”
“I said shut up, Pops,” Jaxon said. “And don’t act like you’re so tough when you have a fear of water.”
“I do not have a fear of water. I have a fear of drowning.”
Huck laughed. “What’s the differ—oww! Why’d you hit me, Pops?”
“That’s enough you two.” Jaxon drew back and leaned down so his eyes were level with Tully’s. She was surprised by the deep concern she read in their golden depths. “You okay?”
She nodded. “I think so.”
He smiled. It was soft and caring and she suddenly felt like the fearful climb had been worth it just to see that smile. “Well, since it took so much to get you up here, you might as well enjoy the view.” He took her by the shoulders and turned her. “Look.”
She sucked in her breath.
It did feel like she was standing on the deck of ship sailing out into the deep blue ocean of the sky. A strong breeze blew through her hair and the sun shone hot on her face. To her right, the river wound through the valley like a glittery ribbon of silver, surrounded by outcroppings of pecan, cedar, mesquite, and oak trees. To her left, was the town of Promise Springs, a mishmash of rooftops peeking out from green billowy treetops.
Growing up in Texas, she had seen a lot of pretty things—wild mustangs racing through red rock plateaus, a sea of purplish bluebonnets waving in a stiff spring breeze, longhorns lazily grazing through grass-covered hills, the gulf waters lapping against a rocky shore.
But none of those sights compared to this.
Maybe because this was home.
“Oh my gosh,” she breathed. “This is the best treeboat ever.”
“Damn straight it is!” Poppy moved way too close to the edge of the deck and held out her arms like Rose on the Titanic. “Nothing could make this any better.”
“Well, maybe one thing,” Tully said.
Poppy turned to her. “What would that be?”
“An elevator.”
All the Hennessys laughed . . . except for Poppy. She didn’t even smile. “Why are you here?”
“Jesus, Pops!” Huck said. “Way to be hospitable.”
“Sorry, but I’m not a flirt like you, Huck—happy whenever any pretty girl is around. I want to know why the daughter of the sheriff who put our brother in jail is hanging out in our treeboat.” She glared at Jaxon. “And he invited her.”
Jaxon released Tully’s shoulders and stepped to her side. “She came to offer us a loan to finish Honky Tonk Heaven.”
“Yeehaw!” Huck jumped and punched the air, causing the boat to rock in the branches when he landed. Tully might have freaked out if Jaxon hadn’t taken her hand and squeezed it reassuringly as he hollered at his brother.
“Quit jumping around, Huck!”
“Sorry.” Huck shot her a huge smile. “I’m just thrilled that you’re going to be our partner, Tulls.”
“She’s not our partner yet, Huck,” Poppy said. “You’re not the only one who gets to make that decision.”
“Poppy’s right.” Jaxon looked around at his siblings, seemingly unaware that he’d yet to release her hand. “We do it like we always have. Everyone gets a vote. Majority wins.”
