Texas Hustle by Cynthia D’Alba Read Free Book Online

lodge, rounded the drive by cabin one and skidded to a stop. He stepped off his machine, pulled his helmet off his hair, laughing loudly and pointing at his brother, Lane.
    “I win,” Clint shouted as Lane Montgomery came to an abrupt stop beside him.
    Lane removed his helmet. “Enjoy your victory while you can. Tomorrow, you shall eat crow.”
    “God. Those two idiots are going to kill themselves,” Nadine said.
    “I don’t know about you, Nadine, but I made sure Lane’s life insurance was paid up.”
    Darren looked over at his aunt who’d joined them on the porch and laughed. “I swear, Aunt Jackie. I don’t know if you’re kidding or not.”
    “Not,” she deadpanned.
    “I’m pretty sure you know Porchia Summers, right? Porchia. My Aunt Jackie.”
    Jackie hugged her. “Of course I know Porchia. Why, at least ten of my pounds are totally her fault.”
    Porchia laughed. “Sorry about that?”
    “Don’t be. I enjoyed every delectable ounce.”
    “If y’all will excuse us, we’ll get unpacked,” Darren said.
    The two older women waved them off and headed over to where their husbands stood comparing their all-terrain vehicles.
    “I bet those two were quite the handful growing up,” Porchia said. “Seems like they really enjoy each other.”
    Darren grinned. “They do and they were. I understand why Dad moved to Florida to set up his ranch, but I also know he’s really missed Uncle Lane and living in Texas.”
    They climbed back into the truck.
    “I’m going to drop the trailer and ATVs before we unload. That work for you? Or do you need to, um, go inside first.”
    This was pitiful. He was acting like a ninth grader on a first date with a senior.
    “Do you mean do I need to pee?” Porchia grinned. “I’m fine. What can I do to help?”
    “Not a thing. Sit tight.”
    He followed the drive past cabin four, turned left toward Marc Singer’s fifth wheel, passed it and pulled to an open area where a couple of other trailers were parked. He whipped the truck and trailer around and backed them in.
    Reno followed them down the trail and had the ramp on the trailer lowered and was on one of the new Hondas before Darren could get out of his truck. Reno revved the engine and then backed the machine off. Darren climbed onto the second one and followed Reno down the ramp. Once they had their new four-wheelers unloaded, Reno uncoupled the trailer from the truck and Darren pulled a couple of feet forward.
    “Want to drive the ATV to our cabin?”
    Porchia’s face reflected her surprise. “Really?”
    “Sure. You ever been on one?”
    “Not in years. Why don’t I drive the truck and you ride over?”
    “If you’re sure?”
    “I’m sure.”
    Porchia slid into the driver’s seat. Darren got on his ATV, as did Reno. The guys headed back toward the main lodge with Porchia following.
    Cabin five was directly across from the lodge, separated by the drive and the large fire-pit area.
    Darren pulled into a dirt parking area and jumped from his machine. “Home sweet home for the next ten days.”
    “This place is incredible.” Porchia hopped down from the truck. “Listen to how quiet it is.”
    Wind rustled through the needles of the tall pines. Sunlight dappled on the ground. Somewhere in the distance, a bird trilled. Suddenly, the roar of an ATV broke the silence.
    “Oh well. It was nice while it lasted,” she said.
    The cabin was definitely a step up from Porchia’s expectations. When camping had first been mentioned, she’d envisioned tents, blow-up mattresses and hard ground. Then Darren had pointed out that they would have their own cabin.
    Since the only camping in cabins she’d done was with her Brownie troop, she hadn’t been too excited at the prospect. At Brownie camp, a cabin had uncomfortable cots and communal bathrooms, not to mention the rats that had begged for food at night. She’d gotten used to the environment and loved being with her friends, but camping had never found its