Okay, chapter one has to go up now so that I can draw my readers in. (Sometimes, just a prologue won't do that.) A/N: For those of you that don't know, DFW is short for Dallas Ft. Worth International Airport. Also, Dallas, Ft. Worth, and the surrounding communities in Dallas and Tarrent counties are know as the "Metroplex".

Chapter 1:

Texas Vacation

The hot August sun glinted off the silver body of an American Airlines jet en route to DFW International Airport. Four of its passengers were still trying to keep up with their rapidly changing lives. Riley Poole, a blue-eyed brunette, was about to meet his girlfriend's parents. He and she had already been through adversity together, so he figured that this would be much easier than trying to outsmart a murderous creep.

Alexis Lowell, Riley's girlfriend, pushed a strand of her golden-blonde hair out of her blue-gray eyes. For her, this was a homecoming. She hadn't seen her parents in two years. Now that she had finished college, she wanted to visit her parents and help them with a few things in their new house in Ft. Worth. (They moved from Dallas.) She was also excited to introduce them to her new friends.

Benjamin Gates looked through a newspaper to kill some time. He nudged the shoulder of the woman he had recently become engaged to and smiled. She had champagne colored hair and blue eyes. He laid the newspaper in his lap and took her hand. He was just along for the ride, and to visit the state that had once fought its own war for independence and become its own independent republic.

Abigail Chase smiled at Ben's teasing. She stared at her brown-haired, blue-eyed companion. She just needed a break from life at the Archives, as the summer holidays were the busiest time of year for them.

All in all, the four were looking forward to a relaxing vacation in Cowtown.

Riley watched for their luggage to come around on the carousel. "Why did I get stuck doing this?" He asked himself. Alexis was on the phone with her parents, and Ben and Abigail had gone to get the rental car.

Suddenly, Riley saw one of their bags on the carousel. He lurched forward and snatched it off, as if afraid someone else might take it if he didn't get it first. "Great, only seven more to go."

"So, that's it so far?" A light voice asked from behind him.

Riley half-smiled. "Yeah. We might have to check lost baggage." He said sarcastically, placing his free arm around her shoulders.

Abigail, bored with the paperwork Ben was filling out, returned to help with the suitcases. "So, your parents' new house is in Ft. Worth?" She asked.

"Yeah, it's off Camp Bowie." Alexis answered, picking up the last suitcase.

Ben joined them as the group turned to leave. He threw a set of keys at Alexis. She caught them with a flourish. "What's this for?" She asked.

"You're driving, Miss Texas." He answered with a smile.

"So, who wants to stop and get something to eat?" Riley asked; hoping Alexis would finally stop.

"Riley, we're eating at my parents' house, for the millionth time!" Alexis said through clenched teeth. The drive from DFW wasn't long, only about thirty minutes, but to Riley, that was a lifetime.

Ben was amazed that Alexis remembered where everything was after the several years it had been since she had spent time in Ft. Worth. She grew up in Dallas, but she had often visited Cowtown. "So, what's this area like?" Ben asked.

"I've never really been in this area before. I've only seen the houses directly on Camp Bowie. They said the house was a colonial style from the fifties." Alexis said.

"Sounds like a charming home." Alexis nodded in agreement and exited the highway.

Mr. and Mrs. Lowell ran down the stone walkway to the street as Alexis and her friends unloaded the car.

Riley looked into the sky. The sun's heat was unbearable. "It's like two hundred degrees out here!" He complained.

Ben jabbed Riley in the side. "Quit complaining. I'm sure you can handle it."

Alexis hugged her parents. "It's so good to see you!"

As the others joined her with the suitcases, Alexis introduced them to her family. "These are my parents, Jessica and Charlie Lowell."

Ben put the three suitcases he had down and shook Mr. Lowell's hand.

"Mom, Dad, these are my friends, Benjamin Gates and Abigail Chase." Alexis said, then took Riley's hand. "And this is my boyfriend, Riley Poole."