Page 106 of Sweet Home Louisiana

Two minutes later, Owen, Josh, Sawyer and, yes, everyone else, was there.

“Someone stole an airboat.”Maddie held the cap out.“And I think I know who.The drunk guys Sawyer kicked off the tour the other day were wearing these caps.”

“Shit,” Sawyer muttered, taking the cap.“What the hell?”

“Revenge?”Maddie suggested.“We wouldn’t give them a ride so they decided to take one on their own?”

“Dumbasses,” Owen said.“There’s no way they know how to drive an airboat, is there?”

“And in the dark on the bayou?”Josh asked.“No way.”

“So we have to go after them,” Owen said.

“Guess so,” Josh agreed, looking just as irritated.

Maddie’s hand shot out, grabbing Owen’s arm.“Wait, what?You can’t go out there.”

“Why not?”

“You don’t know who they are for sure.And maybe they have guns.”

“Why would they have guns?”

“Maybe they’re…hunting.Or think they are.”Maddie thought back to the guys who crowded into the office, pissed off.“They’re a bunch of stupid college guys who think they know more and are way cooler than they actually are.”

“So chances are that they’re joyriding with an airboat and are more a danger to themselves than to us,” Owen said.“They’ll probably end up stuck in the grass and will be whimpering, sure the gators are going to eat them by the time we get there to rescue them.”

She was suddenly scared.“We don’t know for sure who took the boat, or what their intention is, or what they have with them, and what they might do if they get spooked or were angry…or both.”

He nodded, his expression serious.“I know.But we have to go after them.They could hurt themselves.Or someone else.If they get stuck, they’re not getting out unless we go after them.”

There weren’t many people who lived out on the deeper bayou but there were a few along with a series of rental cabins on one branch.People could rent them for hunting and fishing, or just getting away.They all had docks and sat close enough to the water that an airboat could absolutely go crashing into one of them and hurt someone.

“I’m coming with you.”

Owen scowled.“No.”

“Yes.”

“No.”

“It’s my airboat, too.”

Owen paused at that.“For a few more days anyway, right?”

She frowned.“No, I—”

“Let’s go!”Josh shouted.“We can do all of this later.Let’s getourboat back here.”

Owen looked down at her.He seemed to make a decision.He leaned in and pressed his lips to hers.“We’re not done with this.”

She nodded.“We’re definitely not done.”

Emotion flared in his eyes briefly, but then he turned toward the boats.Josh and Sawyer were in one and Owen headed for the other with Maddie on his heels.

Their boat was actually in front so they’d be the first out.She jumped on board and grabbed a headset as Owen untied the boat and then climbed into the driver’s seat.He started the engine as Sawyer fired the second boat up.

They were only a few yards from the dock when they saw a boat come around the trees at the bend.It was getting dark, but the sunset wasn’t completely gone.It was enough to light the area.Kind of.For a little longer.

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