McKettricks of Texas: Austin Read Free

ride. But clearly Tate and Garrett had eventually tracked him down.
    Much to his relief, the dog he’d named Shep wriggled out from behind a pile of old tires all but overgrown by weeds, wagging his tail and lolling his tongue.
    Part German shepherd, part Lab and part a lot of other things, by the looks of him, Shep wasn’t a big dog, but he wasn’t a little one, either. He was about the same size as Harry the beagle, and his coat was probably brown, although it would be hard to tell until he’d had a bath.
    Austin tossed his room key to Tate, while Garrett got out of the truck to call the dog.
    Shep growled halfheartedly and laid his ears back. One of them was missing a chunk of hide.
    â€œIt’s all right, boy,” Austin told the frightened animal through the open window of Tate’s rig. “This is my brother Garrett. He used to be a politician, but you can trust him just the same.”
    The dog gave a low whimper, but he wagged his tail and let his ears stand up.
    Austin pushed the truck door open. If Garrett tried to touch the poor critter, he’d be bitten for sure.
    â€œCome, Shep,” Austin said very quietly.
    Shep sort of slouched around Garrett, then crept over to stand on his hind legs, both front paws resting on the running board of the truck.
    â€œLet’s go on home,” Austin told him.
    After considering the proposition, the dog high-jumped into the rig, scrambled across Austin’s boots and clawed his way up onto the seat next to him.
    Tate appeared with Austin’s shaving kit and duffel, a five-pound sack of kibble under one arm.
    â€œYou square on your bill and everything?” he asked, flinging the works into the truck bed. He turned to take in the sorry place once more, no doubt registering theoverflowing garbage bin and the broken asphalt in the parking lot, where weeds poked up through the cracks.
    Tate shook his head.
    â€œYeah,” Austin told him. “I paid in advance.”
    Tate nodded, crossed to the office to drop off the key.
    â€œThis is a real shit hole,” Garrett observed, settling into the front passenger seat again and wearing his hotshot aviator glasses.
    Austin didn’t see any point in refuting the obvious. “Why did you and Tate track me down to Pinky’s last night?” he asked. Shep was lying down on the seat now, and Austin ran a light hand over the animal’s matted back, letting him know he’d be okay from then on.
    â€œYou’re our kid brother,” Garrett said, sounding tired. “When nobody sees you in a while, we come looking for you. It’s what we do.”
    Tate was striding toward the truck now, resettling his hat as he moved. He opened the driver’s-side door, got in, started the engine. Although he wouldn’t have admitted as much, Austin was glad to be headed home, and glad to have his brothers’ company, even if they were a couple of royal pains in the ass.

CHAPTER ONE
    Blue River, Texas
November
    T HE EVIL BRIDES WERE GAINING ON HER, closing the gap.
    Paige Remington ran blindly down a dark country road, legs pumping, lungs burning, her heart flailing in her throat. Slender tree branches plucked at her from either side with nimble, spidery fingers, slowing her down, and the ground turned soft under her feet.
    She pitched forward onto her hands and knees. Felt pebbles dig into her palms.
    Behind her, the brides screeched and cackled in delighted triumph.
    â€œThis is only a dream,” Paige told herself. “Wake up.”
    Still, sleep did not release her.
    Flurries of silk and lace, glittering with tiny rhinestones and lustrous with the glow of seed pearls, swirled around her. She felt surrounded, almost smothered.
    Suddenly furious, the dream-Paige surged to her feet.
    If the monsters wanted a fight, then by God, she’d give it to them.
    Confronting her pursuers now, staring directly at them,Paige recognized the brides. They were—and at the