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Grandparents. Can t really count my sister yet, she s still too
young.
We ll be fine, Jerry shouted. He was out in the yard
fiddling with his truck. The hood was up and his hands were
black with grease. Millie said he liked fixing things. It kept
him busy and out of her hair& so sometimes she broke stuff
on purpose just for him to fix. Easy fixes, according to
Chase. He told me that on a few occasions it included large
pieces of machinery, like the truck.
Hey, tractor s fixed. Chase came around the side of
the house with Stinker.
Damn, I wanted to help, Jerry shook his head and
went back to tinkering with the truck.
Maybe next time. Millie appeared smiling in the
doorway.
You wouldn t actually break a tractor, I whispered.
She shrugged. Honey, with Jerry unable to work
with the men like he used to, I d take a sledge hammer to it
to keep him busy. I like my kitchen free of busybodies.
Dictator with a wooden spoon, Jerry grinned,
wiping his hands on his jeans.
Hey, Chase eyed me, and then the spot next to me
on the swing.
I smiled, thinking he d join me, but he glanced at
Whiskers and crossed his arms. Honestly, it was just a cat.
I set him down on the porch. His tail went straight in the air
and he started hissing, walking sideways as Chase came
toward the swing.
Whiskers swatted, his nails hitting Chase s boot,
Damn it.
Oh, my poor baby. Millie picked up the cat and took
him in the house with her, laughing.
Baby my ass, Chase sat and put his arm around me.
I don t get it, I said. Why does that cat hate you?
Hell if I know,
I smiled, but then my lips curled& I smelled
something& Chase, where were you before you fixed
the tractor?
Dustin laughed, Out with the cows.
I stepped in shit. Chase pulled off his boots and
tossed them out into the grass. He tried to kiss me and
I shook my head.
Uh-huh, no! I squealed, but he stole a kiss before I
could move away. I m going to stink.
Well, you two have fun. Dustin stood, calling Moose
with him. Time we get going. I got a hot date later. I don t
want to pick up Willa smelling like you, McCree.
Bye, thanks for the help, Chase said. If you need
us to speed up haying, let me know. I can spare a few guys
if your dad is pressed for time.
Thanks, I ll tell him. Dustin nodded, getting in his
truck. Moose hopped in the bed, tail wagging.
I watched the truck drive away. You still need a
shower.
Chase sniffed his shirt. I know. I can t smell it
anymore, and that s probably a bad thing.
It was time to head in the house, and Chase went
into the yard to pull Jerry away from the truck. Another storm
was on its way. Millie would have dinner ready soon. I was
going to help her set the table since we were the only clean
ones.
But once Jerry had cleared the porch and went into
the house, Chase had his back to me in the yard. He was
trying to figure out what his aunt had done to the truck.
I eyed the garden hose, feeling a little, well& bad.
He closed the hood and whistled for the dogs, letting
them know it was time to head in.
As soon as he turned I had the hose in my hands and
let the water rip.
The stream hit him square in the chest, soaking his
shirt.
For a second he simply stared at me, bracing his
hands on his hips. He was standing in a mud puddle,
soaked.
I started giggling. Now you smell like Stinker.
Lets see if you like it. He charged for me, grabbed
the hose and turned it on me.
I jerked back on the hose, struggling for control. My
bare feet slid out from under me. Chase grabbed for me,
laughing, and we went down, sliding across the yard. There
was mud and grass everywhere. I picked up a handful and
smeared it across his face.
He aimed the hose just right so the mud splattered
me head to foot.
You win. I give up! I squealed, crawling away. His
hand closed around my ankle and he yanked me back, only
to drop a handful of mud on my head.
We were laughing, laying on our backs in the
puddle, when Millie appeared above us. She was shaking
her head, grinning. Couple a pigs rolling in it. Don t think
you re coming in the house like that& go jump in the pond
first. I ll leave towels on the back porch
I sat up and looked down at myself. I was covered.
So was Chase.
Okay, Chase stood, pulling me up with him. We
slipped and slid across the yard, around the back of the
house. He glanced down at me, smearing some of the mud
off my face. You better watch your back, Briar baby.
I smiled, glancing behind me jokingly. Don t see
anyone there.
Smartass. He grabbed me around the waist,
tossing me over his shoulder. I screamed, watching his feet
eat up the ground as he took off running. I kicked my legs,
but he wasn t putting me down for anything.
Chase! I found myself flying through the air and into
the pond behind the house. Not fair!
He stood on the dock, head tipped back, laughing I m
sorry.
I swam for the dock, holding both arms out for him.
Help me out, please.
He reached down, but I used gravity to my
advantage and tugged him in headfirst. He surfaced, the
mud swirling around us. Fine, we re done.
I swam backwards, watching him. Until next time.
Ha, he slapped the water. Whatever you say.
With a smirk I dunked my head and rinsed my hair.
The mud dissolved easily enough, but when we finally got
out of the pond, it was no use trying to dry ourselves. It had
started raining again. We ran up to the house and made it
to the back porch just as the clouds let it rip with thunder
and lightning.
I wrung the water out of my hair and moved onto my
jeans. We re going to soak the floors.
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