My Texas Sweetheart (book one)

by Acheson, Pauliena

  “Well, four miles to the left is near Nana’s, but what guys would be there at this time?” Creed says.

  “Don’t know, but we need to get one step ahead of them,” Chase says. We head back towards the trucks and jump in, all following behind Chase. He sends me a text:

  Chase: I sent a text to everyone involved. Keep your eyes open just in case they’re playing with us again.

  We keep our eyes open on the way there. We didn’t see them or Adam’s truck. As soon as we are at Nana’s, everyone gets out and heads for the door. “Why don’t you boys all stay out here and keep watch, and I’ll go in to see if the girls are in there,” Chase says. We all spread out as Chase goes into Nana’s.

  A few minutes later, he comes back out without Mags and Amy. Well, fuck, where are they? This is really starting to get annoying. “Text your girl and see what she has to say now,” Jade grumbles. It looks like everyone is starting to get pissy about this.

  Jase: Alright, enough of the games. Where the hell are you?

  Chapter 24 (Maggie)

  Wow, this has to be the best day I have had in a long time. Not only have we been getting the best of Jase, Adam, and Jake, but now my other brothers and the Navy SEALS, too. This shit is too funny. Amy and I have not been able to stop laughing since this started and, once the others joined, it got funnier. Watching all their reactions is the best. “This has to be driving them crazy,” Amy says. Yeah, I bet it is, but they need to learn that girls are smart.

  “No doubt,” I tell her.

  I had to keep myself from jumping out the minute I saw Chase. I was so happy to have him home, but I had to remember that he was helping the boys. Amy and I have been playing around with them for the last three hours, and it’s so fun! We are watching them at Nana’s right now. Some of them looked pissed. I look over at Amy and smirk, “Damn, do they look pissed,” I say.

  “All but Chase and his buddies. They seem to be having fun,” Amy says. My phone goes off with a text:

  Jase: Alright, enough of the games. Where the hell are you?

  Yeah, he’s pissed, but whatever. I’m not coming out and giving up. They have to catch us first. “What did he say?”

  I look back at Amy, then over at Jase. “He said enough of the games and asked where the hell we are,” I told her, still looking at my man.

  I glance over at the other boys and see a huge smile on Chase’s face. I wonder what my bullheaded brother is thinking. “It looks like Chase could be planning something, Amy.” I look over at her and see that she is studying them, as well.

  “Yeah, and you know we’ll be in deep shit so I say we keep this up a little bit longer.” She beams at me.

  I smirk right back at her. “I think that’s the best thing I’ve heard all day,” I tell her.

  Maggie: Aww, is my baby getting a little pissy? Come on, Jase.

  Smiling at Amy, I show her the text. “You should start sending them in mass texts to everybody,” she laughs. Huh, that sounds like a good idea. I attached them all to the next text:

  Maggie: So, boys, how is it standing in Nana’s parking lot? I said that you should cool off at the swimming hole! Love, Mags and Amy XOXO

  I beam over at Amy and we both start laughing. We look over to see the guys looking all around to see if they can see us. My phone starts beeping like mad. Amy and I laugh.

  Jase: Yes, baby, I’m getting pissy because the last text you sent said something about running off with other men. STOP TOYING WITH US, WOMAN!!

  Adam: For fucks sake, Maggie, where are you?

  Chase: Are you having fun, baby girl?

  Jade: You’re a brat!

  Creed: Come on, sis. Come out, come out, wherever you are!!

  Jake: Shit!! Maggie, you two get your asses out here!

  Nate: Damn baby girl. Keep going this shit is funny as hell!!

  Todd: I think you’re my new hero…. baby girl!!

  Laughing, I show Amy all of their messages. “Oh, my god, Maggie. That’s funny shit!” It sounds like the poor babies are tired of playing with us.

  Maggie to Jase: Lover boy, I was only joking about the men. I would never leave you for anyone else, and baby…?

  Maggie mass text: Come on, boys! Are you really going to let two little girls beat you at this game? And, Chase Nate and Todd, I’m having a blast!!

  Amy and I sit there, watching them all look at their cells. “Think we should move to the school football field now?” I ask. Amy nods and we start crawling away. As soon as we are a good ten feet away, we both stand and run to Adam’s truck. As I start it, my phone beeps with messages:

  Jase: What’s your question, baby?

  Chase: Keep up the good work, baby girl.

  Adam: You’re not gonna beat us so give it up.

  Jade: You and Amy are having way too much fun here.

  Creed: Bring it on, baby girl.

  Jake: I’m getting really close to hating you two.

  Nate: Lol no worries baby girl, some of us are having fun!!

  Todd: Glad you’re having fun tormenting us…. LOL!!

  “This is sweet. The dumb asses didn’t even know we were right there,” Amy says.

  I peel out and head towards the school, which is only five minutes from Nana’s. As I park the truck in the trees so the boys don’t see it, I say, “Time to give them another clue.”

  Maggie to Jase: If you’re a good boy, maybe I’ll give you something XOXO.

  Maggie mass text: So, my dear loving boys, here’s your next clue. If you like getting down and dirty by playing sports, which might be where to find us.

  I grab Amy’s hand and we run close to the truck, but out of sight. “Now we wait,” I say.

  She looks at me and smiles. “You know they’ll show up. They’ll probably try even harder to corner us this time. So where are we going after this? It’s almost dark.”

  I look out at the field. “Yeah, I know. Plus I have pills I gotta take soon so I say we go back to the ranch and hang with the old folks. We can have a bonfire. When we get there, I’ll send another clue that will take them back to the river, or maybe the fields.”

  I grin at her and she laughs. “You are so evil and I LOVE IT!” She says, grinning.

  Just then, we hear trucks coming. “Damn, they are gonna be pissed when they find us back home later,” I say.

  We watch as they jump out of the trucks and start looking around for us, but we’re nowhere to be found. It doesn’t take long for the texts to come in:

  Jase: What are you gonna give me, baby? And, seriously, where the hell are you two?

  Chase: Damn, sis, hats off to you.

  Shaking my head, I watch as they all gather around each other. Nudging Amy, I signal to her that we should leave before they find us. “Looks like they might be coming up with a plan,” I whisper.

  “Yeah, it’s probably a good idea to get out of here.”

  We start to walk/run towards the truck. Getting in, I have one last look at the boys and notice that they are still standing in a circle. I start the truck, leaving the headlights off so they won’t see them, and start backing away. As soon as we are a good distance away, I turn the headlights on and head towards my parent’s ranch.

  When we get there, Amy and I run up to my room and put on yoga pants and t-shirts. Heading back down, we see dad and Quinn sitting at the table. “Hey, Daddy, wanna have a fire and roast hot dogs tonight?”

  He looks over at me and nods. “Sure, baby girl. I’ll go start the fire; you can go get your mom and Carol.”

  I start back to the living room, sending a mass text to the boys. I grin:

  Maggie mass text: So, boys, here’s your final clue. We could be between two fields, or we could be cooling off. Have fun!!

  Amy and I walk into the living room. “Hey, Mom, Dad’s starting a fire so we can roast hot dogs. Would you tow like to join us?”

  Mom and Carol smile at me, nodding. “Yes, baby girl. We’ll come join you.”

  I smile when my p
hone starts buzzing:

  Jase: It’s too dark for swimming so you better not be “cooling off”.

  Chase: Alright, you two outsmarted again but, this time, it’s not happening. We’ll find you.

  Adam: GET OUT OF THE DAMN WATER AND CORNFIELDS!!

  Jade: I’m going to kick your little ass, sis.

  Creed: How the hell did you two get away from the football field?

  Jake: Oh, my god. Seriously?

  Nate: Shit, you should see how much this is pissing them off baby girl!

  Todd: Not, even gonna ask how you got away…. AGAIN!!

  I burst out laughing and double over, showing Amy the texts. She starts laughing as hard as I am. “Alright, girls. What’s so funny?” Mom asks, but I can’t catch my breath.

  When I can talk again, I explain to her what we have been up to for the last four hours. When dad and Quinn walk into the living room, all of us are laughing. Dad gives us a weird look. “Alright, what’s this about?” he asks. We tell him what’s going on and they start laughing along with us.

  When we finally pull ourselves together, we head outside. Mom and Carol grab hot dogs and all the stuff to make s’mores. “I can’t believe you two have those boys running all over,” Dad laughs.

  Amy and I giggle. “We’re just smarter,” I say. After a couple of hot dogs and some s’mores, we see three rows of headlights. Oh, shit. I bet they are going to be fuming. “Here they come, girls,” Dad laughs.

  I look over at Amy and say, “Do you want to run now? Because they’re going to kill us.”

  They get to the house and park. Getting out of the trucks, they all look over at the fire and I know the minute they see us because they look even more pissed. Scrambling out of our chairs, Amy and I run over and hide behind my dad. Dad laughs and puts his arms around us. “Scared, girls?”

  “Hell, yes, we are,” I say, panicking. “We had them running around for five hours. They’re going to kill us.” Dad and Quinn can’t seem to stop laughing. “Stop it! This isn’t funny!” I snap.

  “Yes, yes it is, baby girl,” Dad says.

  All of a sudden, we hear feet pounding the ground. “You little brats are in so much trouble,” Creed growls.

  Amy and I try to push ourselves closer to dad. I grab on to Quinn to make him stand in front of us, but the bastard won’t stop laughing. “Stop laughing, damn it!” I snap, which only causes the adults to laugh more.

  I look over at Amy. “They’re not helping. We should have just made a run for…” Why is she looking like that? I raise a brow at her.

  “Watch out, Mag…!” That’s all I heard before being picked up. I scream.

  “So, baby, it was funny for the last five hours, huh? It’s not so funny now, is it?” Jase says in an eerily calm voice. I hear Amy scream, but I can’t see who has her.

  “So that last clue was bullshit, huh?” Creed asks.

  “Yes. We were here when I sent that last clue,” I squeak.

  “You two brats may have won today, but we’re gonna have fun now,” Chase says. “Dad, you suck at protecting.” He shakes his head, still laughing. Dammit, it’s not funny anymore.

  I look over at Amy and see Adam holding her over his shoulder. “Hey, it isn’t our fault that we’re smarter then all of you. Jase, put me down!” I snap.

  Jase just laughs. “Nah, baby, not yet.”

  He starts walking and I hear the rest of the boys following. Oh, shit. Where are they taking us? I look at Amy, who’s looking right at me. She mouths, what are they doing?

  I shake my head at her. No clue, I mouth.

  Next thing I know, I’m thrown in the air and land in freezing cold water. “Oh, you’re such a BASTARD!” I yell at Jase. Amy is yelling and cursing, too.

  “I think we’re even,” Jase says, smiling.

  I glare at the bastards. “You think so?” I say.

  Mom walks over to help both Amy and me out of the water. “Why don’t you two go change?” She says.

  I nod, still glaring. “This is so not over,” I growl, and they laugh.

  “Yeah, laugh it up now, bastards,” Amy says. I grab Amy’s arm and we start walking towards the house.

  “I gotta shower, too. I don’t want to smell like river water,” I tell her.

  We head up to my room and I pull out a pair of yoga pants for Amy and a pair for myself, then grab two tank tops. I pass the clothes to her while I head out the door to go shower. “You gonna shower after me?” I ask. She nods and sits down with my iPad.

  I jump in the shower and quickly wash. I get out and dry off, then pull out the hair dryer. When I am done, I put on my yoga pants and tank top. I hear somebody come into my room. “Where’s Maggie?” I hear Adam ask.

  Opening the bathroom door, I see Jase, Adam, Jake, and Chase standing there. “What do you want, Adam?”

  “Just checking to see if you two were still pissy…but I guess you are.”

  I smile, sweetly. “I’m not pissy anymore,” I say. “Amy, shower is yours.” She gives me a smile and heads to the bathroom.

  Walking over to my dresser, I pull out a hoodie for me and one for Amy. “So you really aren’t mad?” Chase asks.

  I look at him. “I’m really not mad.” They all look relieved.

  Jase walks over to and pulls me into his arms. “Wanna go back out and enjoy the fire?”

  “Yeah, why not?”

  We start heading downstairs when I stop. “I’ll meet you outside. I’m just going to go tell Amy to come out after she’s done.” They nod.

  I run back into my room so I can let Amy know we were going outside. “Hey, I just came back to tell you were all heading back outside. I put a hoodie on the bed for you.”

  “Sounds good. Let me put this on and I’ll come with you.”

  As soon as Amy is ready, we head back outside to the fire. “All dry, girls?” Dad snickers.

  I roll my eyes. “Very funny, Daddy.”

  I stand there, glaring at him, until I feel someone pulling on my arm. “Baby, stop glaring at your dad,” Jase says through his laughter.

  I turn and glare at him. “Okay, would you rather it be you I’m glaring at?”

  He stops laughing. “Um, no.” I smile at him and wink.

  He bends down to give me a kiss, but is stopped when Adam says, “No kissing the enemy, Bro.” I turn towards Adam and he backs up, holding his hands up. “Shit, don’t glare at me. That’s scary.” I roll my eyes.

  “Maggie’s gonna kick your ass, Bro,” Chase warns and everyone starts to laugh.

  “Just remember this,” I say. “We weren’t the ones running all over town looking for two girls.” I smirk.

  Adam, Jake, Jade, Creed, and Jase glare at us, while Chase and his buddies laugh. “Yes, baby girl. You outsmarted the Navy SEALS. Trust me. That will never happen again.”

  I raise my eyebrows at him. “Really, old man? You think it would never happen again? I bet it would go the same way the next time because you all suck!” I wink at him. Everybody gets really quiet.

  Chase raises an eyebrow. “Old man? Come on, baby girl. We all know that I wasn’t trying very hard to find you.”

  Adam and Jase both glare at him, and I bust out laughing. “Looks like you aren’t gonna be on their team again.” Amy’s laughing so hard she almost falls over.

  Adam growls. “You never tried…?” This only makes us all laugh harder. Smiling, Chase shakes his head, and Adam goes stomping off.

  Jase walks over to me and wraps his arms around my waist. “Wanna go for a walk, baby?” I nod. He touches my chin and I look at him. He presses his lips to mine. “I missed spending time alone with you today,” he whispers.

  “I know, but we have the rest of tonight and tomorrow,” I whisper back and he nods. We start walking towards the pond, saying good night to everyone.

  Chapter 25 (Jase)

  What a way to begin Spring Break. The ladies got the better of us last night. I’m gonna have to talk to the guys later when the girls go
to town to do some shopping. How can two girls do this is eight guys? It’s not going to happen again. Looking over at my alarm clock, I realize that I am late for the morning chores. “Oh, shit,” I mumble. “Dad’s gonna be all over my ass.”

  Jumping up, I get dressed and, as I stumble towards the front door, I pushed my feet into a pair of socks and boots. “Where you going in such a hurry?” Mom says as she comes into the kitchen.

  “Gotta help Dad with the chores before he rips me a new one,” I respond.

  Mom laughs. “I don’t think your dad is expecting you this morning. Seems to me that, while you were sleeping, your little lady dropped by and she’s out there helping him now.”

  “What do you mean?” I ask, not believing what I’m hearing.

  “Dad gave me strict instructions that you don’t need to come to the barns this morning, but that you are to strap on an apron and help me make breakfast.”

  She had quite the mischievous grin spreading across her face. “But…,” I tried to argue.

  “I won’t have any of your lip this morning, young man. If you know what’s best for you, you’ll put on this apron and follow me into the kitchen. Seems to me that there are dishes to finish before we can start cooking your little lady a hearty breakfast. Oh, by the way, Dad put in an order for fresh butter. I need you to grab the old churn from the cellar.” She strode out of the hallway and into the kitchen…and starts LAUGHING!

  Grabbing my phone, I throw a quick text off to Adam:

  Jase: You’ll never guess what the hell I woke up to this morning.

  Adam: Bet you’re wearing a pretty pink apron like me…grrrrr.

  Jase: You mean…?

  Adam: Yeah, Amy is out in the barn with Dad doing the chores, and little miss goody two-shoes is upstairs sleeping.

  Jase: Oh, no, she isn’t.

  Adam: What do you mean?

  Jase: It seems to me that the girls are still playing because your sister is over here doing chores with my old man!

  Adam: No fucking way!!

  Jase: Okay, play it cool and just go with it. After breakfast, meet me at the river with your brothers, Nate and Todd.