Welcome To Hickville High (Hickville High Series Book 1) Read Free Page B

get it. He’d bet ten minutes alone with a guy and she’d be shedding her clothes, but that wasn’t what he was about. The youngest—what’s-her-name—wore long bangs that covered her face. She looked scared to death, but he reckoned she was too tough to admit it.
    As they reached the eight-by-ten fence in front of the coop, he turned to the girls. “We have one rooster, The General, and eight hens.” He cracked opened the gate and squeezed through. The girls followed.
    The chickens ran toward them. The girls squealed and ran for the gate. Austin bent low and guided the birds back toward the coop. “They’re not going to hurt you. They think I have feed. Come on, you’re gonna have to learn how to fetch eggs someday.”
    Kelsey, Ryan, and the other one stood flat against the fence, wide-eyed and breathing hard. Kelsey spoke up. “Fetch eggs? Not today, besides we’re wearing sandals.” The other girls nodded in agreement.
    Austin straightened and shook his head. “Hopeless.”
    One of the chickens broke from the group and charged the girls, flapping and squawking like she was telling them to get the hell out of her coop. The girls screamed and pushed through the gate.
    Laughing, Austin picked up the bird and walked to the fence. “Here, pet Miss Emma. Make friends.”
    Kelsey eyed the bird suspiciously. “Don’t they carry salmonella or something?”
    “Only if they’re slaughtered and the meat kept out too long.”
    The girls let out a collective “Ewww.”
    Ryan stepped up. “I’ll touch her.” Gingerly, she reached through the wire of the fence and lightly stroked the chicken’s back. The bird wriggled in Austin’s hold and she jerked her hand back until it settled again. “Her feathers are so soft. Mackenzie, your turn.”
    Mackenzie. That was her name. She stepped closer and reached toward the fence but hesitated.
    “Come on Kenzie, don’t be chicken.” Ryan snorted at her joke.
    “Not funny.” Mackenzie rolled her eyes and shoved her hand through the octagon shaped hole to touch the bird. Her hand got a little too close to the beak and Miss Emma managed to get a good peck into her index finger.
    She jumped back and gave a little squeal. Austin lowered the bird to the ground. “Are you okay?”
    “Yeah, it didn’t break the skin.”
    “Okay. So we’ll pick up on chicken handling one-oh-one later. Hang on.” He jogged to the hen house and grabbed an egg before joining the girls outside the chicken yard. “Let’s meet Winifred.”
    He led them to a fenced yard to the right of the henhouse.
    “Winnie!”
    A rotund white pig lumbered to the fence. “Hey girl, are you hungry?” He tossed the egg and the pig craned her neck just enough to snatch it out of the air. She crunched and yolk squeezed from her mouth and slid down her chin.
    Kelsey gave a disgusted look. “That just might be the grossest thing I’ve ever seen.”
    He laughed. “It’s good for her.”
    McKenzie held her stomach. “I’m never eating eggs again. Can we go back to the house?”
    “Sure.” Austin knew the girls were from Chicago but he had no idea they’d be completely clueless.
    “Thank you,” Mackenzie sighed.
    As they walked up the steps to join the adults, Jack pulled a sip of beer and swallowed. “So did you teach the girls everything they need to know?”
    Austin leaned against the porch railing. “Let’s just say we got a start.”
    Kelsey plopped down on the vacant rocker. “I am not a country girl.”
    Jack winked, tipped his beer toward her and said, “You are now.”
    Mackenzie and Ryan joined Austin leaning against the railing.
    Kelsey folded her arms across her chest and set her jaw before speaking. “Mom, did you know there are chickens—with eggs?”
    Mrs. Quinn answered, “That’s wonderful, dear. Farm fresh eggs!”
    “Well, who’s going to pick them?” Kelsey said.
    Pick them? Austin bit his lower lip and studied the toe of his boots to keep from laughing. Mr. Quinn