Free Counting On It (Hearts for Ransom Book 1) by Georgia Evans Page B

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    “Any chicks around here?” the teenage legend in his own mind, Spencer, asked Mason. The two of them had just joined the small group, who had congregated at the picnic tables in front of site seventy-four, to witness the Jesse-Austin show.
    Mason just glared at the boy.
    “Come and sit with us,” Bo invited Seth, who had placed himself as far away from the rest of them as he could.
    Without a word, the red-headed boy obediently stood up and meekly walked over and sat down on the bench in front of Bo, who had parked himself on the table. Logan and Bo exchanged glances, a question in Bo’s eyes. Logan nodded. He thought the boy was used to either doing what he was told or suffering the consequences in a very painful way.
    “How old are you, Seth?” Bo gently asked.
    The boy’s voice was shaking as he answered. “I’m twelve, sir.”
    “I told you, Seth. You can call me Bo.” Bo was obviously trying to reassure Seth that he was in no danger with him. “My real name is Bogard, but my friends call me Bo. I’d really like it if you and I can be friends.”
    Seth, visibly shaking, looked over his shoulder at Bo. “Yes sir, Bo.”
    If Logan could have gotten his hands on the person responsible for this twelve-year-old’s demeanor, he’d be sorely tempted to beat him to within an inch of his life. While he was at it, he’d like to talk to Trevor’s parents. They might just have financial problems, though, and couldn’t give him what he needed through no fault of their own.
    The photographer had been snapping pictures of Paul Findley and Kaleb putting their tent up. That wouldn’t do Haynes any good, but it might help the grocery store owner. Besides, Logan was already tired of worrying about his expression.
    “What about the piece with Miss Scott? Anybody got dibs on her?” Spencer was addressing Mason again.
    “I assume you mean Miss Michaels.” Logan knew that tone of voice. Mason was holding his temper in check by a thread. “How old are you, Spencer?”
    “I’m thirteen. Older women dig me, though.” He was way too smooth for a teenager.
    “Well, Spencer,” Mason continued, “it is not respectful to refer to any female as a piece. I also don’t want to hear you refer to, or call, any woman anything except their names while you’re with me. So, stop it with the women talk. Got it?”
    Spencer lazily saluted Mason. “Whatever you say.” He smirked at Mason. “But it won’t be my fault when one of them comes after me.”
    Personally, Logan wouldn’t have minded hearing a response from either Emily or Abby. From his own past experience, he was pretty sure it wouldn’t be pleasant.
    “Getting acquainted?” Pastor Rhinehart and Kent, flanked by the other two men and their charges, stood in front of them.
    “I like Colton,” Andy, the “duh” boy, announced.
    Colton looked flabbergasted. They had barely spoken two words to each other since sitting down.
    “Brody and I are going to be friends,” Luke told his pastor. “Ain’t we Brody?”
    Brody grinned at him and nodded. Maybe the giant of a kid was a teddy bear.
    Austin stood up, defiance in his posture. “Jesse’s stupid, and he’s too bossy. I don’t like him. I want somebody else.”
    “Too bad.” Where had this Jesse come from? “You’re stuck with me for the next two weeks, and you’re going to have to learn to live with it. I’m here to teach you how to be a man and, by toadstools, I’m gonna do it. So sit down and shut up.”
    Logan waited to see what the pastor would say. When he smiled at Jesse with a look of satisfaction on his face, Logan began to wonder if maybe Pastor Rhinehart wasn’t as clueless as he first appeared.
    “Let’s all go for a walk.” The pastor’s suggestion caused Logan to immediately rethink his position in regards to the man’s intelligence.
    “I ain’t goin’ on no walk with him.” Of course, the speaker wasAustin, still standing, referring to Jesse.
    “Where