TEXAS FALL

Texas Fall Created by Boyd Craven III Presented by Raventhorne Books Written by: Boyd Craven III with Boyd Craven Jr., LA Bayles The characters and circumstances in this story are a product of the authors’ imaginations, and represent no real person, living or dead. Any real public places or names are used only to build atmosphere in the reader’s mind. Copyright © 2023 Raventhorne Books All Rights Reserved No part of this story may be reproduced in any way without prior written consent of the authors. Contents Contents Chapter 1 Chapter 2 Chapter 3 Chapter 4 Chapter 5 Chapter 6 Chapter 7 Chapter 8 Chapter 9 Chapter 10 Chapter 11 Chapter 12 Chapter 13 Chapter 14 Chapter 15 Chapter 16 Chapter 17 Chapter 18 Chapter 19 Chapter 20 Chapter 21 Chapter 22 Chapter 23 About The Author Chapter 1 Ethan Garcia Rice Texas October 27th Day Before Event Ethan took his hat off, and used an old bandanna to wipe the sweat off his forehead and his temples. It wasn’t too hot for late October in East Texas, but he’d worked up a sweat unloading the three pallets that had been dropped off earlier. He often got deliveries this way, with notifications automatically going to both him and his sister. Smiling, he closed the barn doors, promising himself that he’d tackle organizing his loot in the cooler part of the evening, or early morning. Working around the heat was one thing, but he wasn’t somebody who could stand out in the 110 degree heat all day doing heavy labor without it taking a toll on his body. A vibration in his pocket startled him, and he put his hat back on his head and fished for his cell phone. Emma! “Hey sis, how ya doin’?” Ethan said after he hit the accept button. “Great! I just got a notification from the trucking company. Did we have any damage?” she asked. “Oh, so it’s not, ‘Hey ‘lil bro, how’re you doing?’ You’re more interested in knowing about your panels, batteries, and charge controllers!” “Pretty much.” Emma giggled. “Oh, and how are you?” “I’m doing fine, thank you. As far as I can tell, everything is intact. I checked every panel and none of them were broken. Just some of them weren’t quite so… purty.” She laughed again. She knew he said pretty that way just to bug her; her high school boyfriend had called her ‘purty’ once, and it had been a running joke ever since. Ethan was the literal baby brother at 28, while Emma was 33—and the brains of the outfit in his opinion. “Yes, those are used panels, or ones that were sent back as seconds because of an imperfection. I got them for like $40 a panel. The batteries and shipping are what really cost the big bucks.” “No kidding? I never would have thought. So how are you doing out in Uvalde? You're dating that cowboy… what’s his name… Steven?” “Oh, no sir! Don’t even go there. I don’t think he’s my type, uh uh, no way. Anyways, I heard from Luna the other day. Is there something you should be telling me, baby brother of mine?” OH CRAP! What is she talking about?! “She called you?” Ethan asked, trying to clarify. “She did. She’s pretty excited too, but didn’t want to break the news to me without telling you first. She just said that good things were coming, she knew it.” “Sis, did she say if she was like, pregnant or something?” Ethan asked, sort of waiting for the other shoe to drop. “That’s what I asked her, but she wouldn’t say one way or another. I thought you were gonna ask the woman to marry you this year though.” “That’s next year,” Ethan admitted. “I mean, things are going pretty good and she’s finally settled in her career. She’s got her own place though. I don’t know what she’s talking about.” “Why, would that freak you out?” Emma asked. “I offered to let her move in with me, stay in the parents’ old room together. That way she wouldn’t be so far away, and we could sorta maybe make more solid plans for the future.” “Solid plans? You?” Emma started laughing. Ethan had to pull the phone away from his ear. He couldn’t tell if the donkey next door was laughing, or his sister was. Jackass, it wasn’t that funny! “Well, I doubt it’s pregnancy or marriage then, because she’s moved further away to be closer to her job.” “It sounds like you’re a bit salty about that, baby brother,” she teased. “Just a little. But… this is where my work is, it’s where the property is.” “I know, Eth. Just leave my room untouched. If you can convince her to move in, I don’t care if you take Mom and Dad’s room, though wouldn’t that be creepy? Sleeping with your lady friend in the same room your parents—” “Alrighty then!” Ethan interrupted her. “So, what’s new in the world of high tech stuff you can’t even tell me about?” “Well, I’m working on something that will bring global communications worldwide in the next three years. Think of your cell phone, but no towers, ever. Wireless internet without a dish or power sources necessary. The ability to fly to the stars, and make huge tunnels while driving electric cars.” “You just read that off the company's literature, didn’t you?” Ethan said. “I sure did. Really though, I can’t talk specifics. You know I’m not actually in Uvalde though, I just say that because it’s the next biggest town in the area.” “Yeah, working in a hidden complex in southwestern Texas somewhere. And it’s not on Uncle Sam’s payroll?” “That’s not something I can talk about, since I’m the communications lead for unspecified projects that have no name nor purpose.” “You’re so full of it.” Ethan snickered. “Did you send any more big orders this way? I need to plan some afternoons with Doctor Ashley.”