Read Online Plains Crazy by J.M. Hayes - Free Book Online Page B

became immediately clear. It didn’t hurt that Seven of Nine was sexy and dangerous, qualities both Heathers secretly craved. Heather English became One of Two, or One, for short. She got to be One because she was the first Heather in the English household and the person who came up with the solution. Two hadn’t objected. She was glad to have a place to live and people who wanted her to live with them.
    â€œAnybody else up?” One asked, still rubbing the sleep out of her eyes. Like most teens, they were heavy sleepers when they had the chance. This morning, on their last weekend at home between spring semester and summer school, it had saved them from discovering that sex, especially three times before breakfast, wasn’t something exclusively reserved for their generation.
    Her sister, Two, was picking out her wardrobe for the day—a western shirt, silver and turquoise jewelry, and a pair of tight jeans to tuck in her boots. There was a guy who would be home from KU this weekend whom Heather knew Two would enjoy pleasing with her selections—or teasing, depending on her mood.
    â€œYou kidding?” Two asked, glancing at the clock. “When was the last time Judy slept until ten?” She called their parents Judy and Englishman. One was still in the habit of using Mom and Dad. “And Englishman was going in early for Buffalo Springs Day. I’m sure he’s been at work for hours.”
    â€œI don’t think Mom’s home,” One observed. She was gathering her own outfit. Having grown up a country girl, she was less comfortable looking the part. She went with shorts and sneakers and one of those bare midriff blouses that were so popular with the guys. She wasn’t dressing for anyone special, but lots of boys she’d dated, or wanted to date, would be home for the celebration.
    â€œMom would have roused us at least an hour ago.” She padded across the carpet to the hall door, opened it, and did what teenagers usually do when they want something. “Mom?” she shouted. The house remained quiet.
    She went down the hall. Two followed right behind her, both girls carrying their clothes instead of wearing them. They slept in super-sized tee shirts, One’s bearing a Blue Dragon logo, Two’s advertising a seed company. “Anybody home?” One called.
    Nobody was.
    â€œI wonder if Mom left us breakfast.” Judy had done so regularly while they were in high school and had continued the habit when they came home from college for weekends and holidays. As far as Judy was concerned, they were still kids—too young for most of the things they wanted to do. Heather and her sister had become passionate advocates of their independence, except when it came to preparing meals.
    One started down the stairs toward the living room. Two left her clothing in a pile beside the banister across from the bathroom and followed. Squirming into tight jeans was best dealt with after breakfast.
    â€œWhat this?” One had just spotted the suitcases by the door.
    â€œLooks like someone’s going on a trip,” Two said. “You suppose it’s us?”
    She joined her sister and examined the unfamiliar luggage. Their parents hadn’t been anywhere requiring suitcases in years. “Jeez,” Two said. “I know they fight and Judy threatens to kick him out from time to time, but I never thought she’d kick him out far enough to need this.”
    â€œOhmygod!” One said, looking at the passport. “I didn’t even know Dad had one of these. He hasn’t been out of the country since he was in Vietnam.”
    â€œI’ll bet Judy’s been making him renew it,” Two said. “You know how much she wants to travel.”
    â€œBut why would he be going now?”
    Two shook her head. “And more important, why wouldn’t someone have told us?”
    ***
    Why stick a deposit inside a big duct-taped envelope?