Page 122 of Love, Lies, and Whiskey

“No, thanks. I’m afraid I need a rain check, if that’s a’right. I’ve got something I want to take care of back at the house.” As they headed around the barn, Doc decided to ask the questions he never had. “When all that went down with me and Juliette, you had to know we were sneaking off to that cabin. Why didn’t you stop us?”

“Because I raised you to respect women, and she was a bright, mature young lady. I wasn’t worried that you were taking advantage of her, and you two were crazy in love. That’s rare, son. I wouldn’t steal that from either of you.”

“I’m glad you didn’t, but why didn’t you tell Cowboy and Dare and everyone?”

“At the time we’d thought she’d dumped you, and you were heartbroken. You didn’t need your siblings giving you shit about it, and with what went down with her father, we thought the less it was talked about, the better.”

As they walked up the hill, Doc couldn’t stop thinking about the way his parents had been there for him without letting on that that was what they were doing. When they came to the road that led to his place, he said, “Hey, Pop, thanks for not giving up on me.”

“Don’t count your chickens,” Tiny teased with a chuckle.

“RODEO, WAKE UP.”

Lucas groaned, and Sadie licked his face.

Doc shook his shoulder. “Come on, buddy. Get up.”

Lucas squinted at the clock as Pickles and Mighty crawled over him, tails wagging. “Why? It’s five thirty in the freaking morning.”

“I know. I need your help before school.”

“For what?”

“To help me grab some lumber from our stockpile. We’re going to build your mom porch swings.”

“Now?”

“No. We’re going to gather the wood and get set up in the workshop behind the barn. It’ll take a while for us to get them built.” Doc tossed him his jeans. “Hurry up. It’s a surprise.”

“Why not buy her one?”

“Because we’re not lazy.” That earned a smile. “And we’re going to make them special.”

He sat up to pull on his jeans. “Them? Like more than one?”

“Yup. We’re building two since sometimes we stay at your place, and sometimes we stay here.”

He grinned. “She’s gonna be so happy, but you know you’re spoiling her by building two, right?”

“Just setting the standard, bud. Now get dressed, brush your teeth, and meet me downstairs in five minutes. I’m going to feed the dogs.”

“Wait.” Lucas stood up to button his jeans. “Can I help you build both of them?”

“That’s the plan.”

“But how can we do it without her knowing? I’m at school all day.”

“We’ll be crafty. When you stay here, we’ll get up before she does and put in an hour of work. The nights we go driving, we’ll sneak in more time. We’ll get ’em done.”

“Cool.”

“Meet me downstairs, and try not to be too loud. We don’t want to wake your mom.” He slapped his leg, letting out a soft whistle, and the dogs jumped off the bed, following him downstairs.

THE DOGS CAME along for their adventure. As they sifted through the woodpile, Doc pointed out the boards that were warped or not suitable for building and explained why, teaching Lucas as his father and grandfather had taught him. Lucas asked a dozen questions about how they were going to build the swings, how long it would take, and how Doc learned to build in the first place. As Doc shared stories of his youth, telling Lucas about his father and grandfather teaching him how to build, how to care for the animals, and how to take care of the ranch, Lucas’s curiosity turned to enthusiasm, and that enthusiasm was contagious. Doc felt lighter and less stressed with every story he shared, weaving humor into them to see his boy smile.

Before they knew it, the wood was chosen and stacked neatly in the workshop, ready for them to begin their project. They couldn’t yet, since Lucas had to go to school, but they headed back to the house in higher spirits. Doc wondered if his father had known Lucas wasn’t the only one who needed a purpose beyond the norm, but just as the thought hit, he realized the answer.

Tiny had always known exactly what he and his siblings had needed. Doc hoped, in time, he’d learn to have Lucas’s back in that way, too.