McKettricks of Texas: Austin Read Online Free PDF Page B

changed the subject. “Will you be a chaperone when we go to Six Flags, Aunt Paige?” he asked. “I bet Mom would do it, but she’s got to teach school all day and help the drama club put on the musical and get ready to get married and stuff.”
    Paige glanced at Austin, over the seat.
    Austin indulged in a wink.
    Paige blushed a little, shut Calvin’s door, got into the front seat, snapped on her seat belt and started the engine. All the while, she was careful not to look at Austin again.
    â€œWill you, Aunt Paige?” Calvin persisted.
    â€œDepends,” Paige said mildly, though there was a faint tremor in her tone. “When’s the big day?”
    â€œIt’s the Wednesday before Thanksgiving,” the boy answered eagerly. “My teacher said she’d like to know what lame-brain scheduled a field trip for the day before a big holiday like that. She likes to bake pumpkin pies that day, but now she’ll probably get a pounding headache and have to spend the whole evening with her feet up and a cold cloth on her head.”
    Austin grinned. “Your teacher said all that?”
    Calvin nodded vigorously. “She wasn’t talking tothe class, though,” he clarified. “It was during recess, and I went inside to the bathroom, and when I came back, I heard her talking to Mrs. Jenson, the playground monitor.”
    â€œAh, I see,” Austin said very seriously as Paige started the car and backed carefully out of her parking space. There were other kids leaving the premises with their mothers or fathers, and casual waves were exchanged.
    â€œI think this dog is pretty friendly,” Calvin remarked. “Can I pet him? Please?”
    â€œYes,” Paige answered, hitting every possible pothole as she guided the compact out onto the highway. “But no sudden moves.”
    They rolled along in companionable silence for a while, but when it came time to turn right and head back out to the Silver Spur, Paige turned left instead.
    Austin didn’t comment, but Paige explained anyhow.
    Women. They were always ready to give a man more information than he needed.
    â€œCalvin likes to stop by Blue River High and see his mom for a few minutes before going home,” she said.
    Home. Austin liked the sound of the word, coming from Paige. He liked that she meant the ranch when she said it— his ranch.
    He immediately reined himself in. Whoa, cowboy. Don’t go getting all sentimental. You’re all wrong for Paige Remington and she’s all wrong for you and you learned that the hard way, so don’t forget it.
    â€œGarrett says Mom works too hard,” Calvin announced. “And you know what?”
    â€œWhat?” Austin asked, shaking off his own thoughts to pick up the cue.
    â€œI get a baby brother or sister right away. ”
    A grin broke across Austin’s face.
    Paige looked his way and smiled a little before replying, “Well, maybe not right away, Calvin. Babies take nine months, you know.”
    â€œGarrett says all the other babies will take that long, but the first one can come anytime.”
    Austin laughed at that.
    â€œGarrett says, Garrett says,” Paige teased, craning her neck a little to catch sight of Calvin in the rearview mirror. Hers was a slender, pretty neck, and Austin ached to trace its length with his lips. “It’s the gospel according to Garrett McKettrick.”
    â€œThat,” Austin put in drily, “would be some gospel.”
    â€œHush,” Paige told him, but the word was warmly spoken, nice to hear, like the way she’d said home a few minutes before.
    They reached Blue River High School, and Paige pulled into the teachers’ parking lot. Except for Julie’s car, an old pink Cadillac, and the fancy white pickup truck Garrett had bought soon after he and Julie got engaged, the lot was empty.
    Plenty of the kids in the drama club had cars, of course, but the students