Fools (Licking Thicket 3)

“—married three days ago.’?”

I’d be willing to bet the only other time this barn had gotten that silent that fast was nearly twelve years ago, when Brooks Johnson had outed himself on a hot mic in front of the whole town.

It was kind of weirdly fitting that our story ended the same way.

“Uh.” I turned to the crowd, held up my left hand, and said, “Surprise?”

Cindy Ann appeared directly below the stage, with Big Red Johnson by her side. “Do you mean to tell me,” she yelled up, “that after spending three years unable to figure out how to get your acts together, you two’ve managed to get yourselves hitched in two months?”

I looked at Dunn.

He looked at me.

We wrapped our arms around each other’s waists and nodded.

“Ha ha! Did I call it, or did I call it? All y’all better pony up!” she yelled triumphantly. “I done told you they’d be married by the Fourth of July, and every one of you took that bet! Now the town square’s gonna have a new pergola come Lickin’ time, thanks to Dunn and Tuck!”

Wait, what?

“Y’all oughta know by now not to bet against a Johnson woman knowing her own son!” Cindy Ann turned back to give us a wink. “And you really oughta know by now that here in the Thicket, every fool can find happiness, but only the smartest folks figure out how to keep it. Now, Red, get those fiddlers out here!”

Dunn clasped a hand over his eyes and laughed out loud. “Tucker? I’m not sure if my mama just called me smart or a fool.”

“Well, whatever she called you, I guess I’m the same.” I shook my head, mystified.

“Smart fools, then?” he teased. “No hyphen needed?”

I looked up at the man I loved, the man I’d married, the man who challenged me and teased me and made me better every single day. “Just plain fools,” I told him softly.

Then I pulled him down and kissed the hell out of him, right in front of the whole town, because I would always be a fool for Dunn Johnson.

And I didn’t mind that one bit.