Welcome To Hickville High (Hickville High Series Book 1) Read Online Free PDF Page A

distance from the strangers on the porch. “Mom, can I shower before I help?”
    Mackenzie looked like she’d just as soon disappear than have to face talking to people—especially the two Texas boys occupying the porch.
    “Honey, you’re just going to get dirty doing chores,” Mom answered.
    Kelsey went into protective mode around her youngest sister. Outside the gym, Mackenzie was too timid and shy to take up for herself. “Mom, she’s soaking wet, give her a break.”
    Mom looked at the soaked tank and shorts she wore and nodded. “Okay, but hurry.”
    As soon as Mackenzie got the go-ahead to defer chicken handling, she retreated back to the house.
    Kelsey took a sip from her coffee. Did everything have to be such a battle? Her stomach answered with a growl. “So is there anything for breakfast?”
    Mom said. “You get the eggs and I’ll scramble them.”
    “You’re kidding, right?”
    Before Mom answered, Austin put his mug on the wicker and glass coffee table and stood. “Come on. It’s not that bad. I’ll help ya.”
    Kelsey was about to protest when Ryan jumped up and volunteered for the job.
Perfect—let her do the dirty work.
Pleased with the situation, Kelsey settled in the rocker Austin vacated.
    Only before her butt got warm and her coffee turned cold, Dad gave her the look and said, “Go help your sister.”
    She slammed her mug down on the table and pretended she hadn’t noticed the coffee splash over the edge. She set her jaw and gave Dad a dagger stare before she turned her back and jogged down steps toward the henhouse. I just have to make it until graduation looped in her brain.
    By the time Kelsey caught up with the others, Ryan was in full flirt mode. Kelsey’s stomach tightened as she watch her sister grab Travis’s bicep and cower behind him as they entered the chicken coop. Austin walked on the other side of Ryan and teased her about chicken phobia. Surely even these rednecks could see Ryan wasn’t really afraid. But they played along anyway. What was it about her sister and guys? Why did Ryan seem to need their attention? Couldn’t she see that it made her look desperate and weak? No girl should ever depend on a guy for self-esteem. Whatever. Kelsey just wanted to get the eggs so she could get back to her coffee.
    She squeezed through the chicken yard gate, ignored the clucks of the feathered monsters, and walked right up to the hen house. Show no fear. “So what do I do?”
    A smile tugged at the corner of Austin’s mouth. “Well, it’s pretty basic. You stick your hand in the nest and take the egg.”
    Kelsey rolled her eyes. Be in control. “Is that all there is to it? Then what’s the big deal?” She turned her back and reached toward the first nest.
    “There is just one more thing.”
    She stopped with her hand in the air and looked over her shoulder at Austin. “What?”
    “The eggs will have chicken shit on them.”
    Her stomach knotted.
Be strong.
“I can handle it.” She reached in and grabbed for a small oval shape. But the thing she held was rough. She pulled it from the nest and blasted a scream from her lungs. A snake, big and ugly, dangled from her clutches. If she let it go, it would bite her. So she held the thing as far away from her body as possible, danced in place, and squealed. “Get it!”
    “It’s not gonna hurt you.” Austin reached for the snake, but she saw it try to curl up toward her arm. Not good. She flailed it around in hopes it would change direction.
    “Help me!”
    Ryan ran from the chicken yard toward the barn. Chickens spilled out of the open gate. Travis took off after the chickens. Austin continued to try to get the snake, but his arm seemed to be one step behind Kelsey’s.
    Kelsey yelled again. “Help me!”
    “Drop the snake!”
    “No, he’ll bite me.”
    “Then hold still.” She did and the snake stretched its body toward her midriff. She gave one last yelp and dropped it—on her tennis shoe. Holding a snake in her