Big Easy (Cowboy Craze) Read online

  “Why don’t you just ask her?” Bernadette looked desperate and confused.

  “I will. I’m just not sure how much she’ll be able to tell me.”

  Gathering her things, Bernadette looked like she was ready to escape. “Okay, I’ll do as you ask. What do I owe you?”

  “Nothing now. Go home and see how Rudy acts. Also, try to confirm Eliza’s existence. When you have answers, come see me. We’ll settle on a fair price at that time.” She pinned Bernadette with a stare, using a bit of friendly persuasion. “Don’t worry, I’ll know what’s going on. We’ll be psychically connected for a while.” In other words, she didn’t intend for the mother to skip out without paying her anything at all. Better let her think she could monitor the situation from a distance.” Jewel wasn’t actually sure she could – but it sounded good.

  “Absolutely.” Bernadette brightened as she took Rudy by the hand. “Thank you. I feel better already.”

  After seeing them out, Jewel pivoted to find Eliza watching her carefully. “Now, what in cornbread hell am I going to do with you?”

  * * *

  “If you’ll have those fence posts and wire waiting at the gate for me at eight in the morning, I’ll get you a check Johnny-on-the-spot.” Easy waited for the vendor’s reply. “Good deal. Just be careful bringing that semi in on the dirt road leading in to Belle Chasse. It’s narrow. Don’t want you to get in a bind.”

  After settling that matter, Easy flipped on the radio and sighed with satisfaction. All in all, the day had been good. Productive. “And the evening promises to be even better.” He couldn’t help but recall his last conversation with Jewel. “I’m invited over for supper. Hot dog!”

  After making the turn onto Gentilly Road, he was so anxious to arrive at his destination, he practically counted the circuits the tires made on the bumpy road. Earlier, he’d studied the directions for installing the camera over a cup of coffee and it seemed straight forward enough. He had all the tools he’d need, he carried them everywhere in the Weather-guard box in the back of his truck. As he drew near the houses, he strained to make sure Jewel didn’t have any company. He didn’t want to barge in on her when she was busy. “Looks all clear to me.”

  Parking in his own drive, he gathered what he needed and hightailed it across the yard, anxious to be with her again.

  …Inside, Jewel scurried around, putting last minute touches on dinner. The afternoon had been a busy one. She’d taken care of the cable guy, letting him in to the house next door to do the installation. She’d also spent an hour with Eliza, reassuring her. At the moment, she was sitting on a cushion on the floor, still within the circle, playing with a couple of Jewel’s old dolls. Frankly, she didn’t know what she’d tell Easy about the situation. For one thing, she didn’t know if he’d be aware of the child or not. Obviously, he’d see the salt, brick dust, and other things littering the floor.

  Hearing the slamming of a vehicle door, she jumped in place, wiped her hands on a dishtowel, then hurried to let him in. As soon as she opened the door, there he stood with a tender scowl on his face. “Did you even look out the window to see who I was?” Easy didn’t wait for an answer. “No.” Waving a plastic bag, he nodded his head. “Good thing it was me with the camera.”

  “Yea, good thing.” She gave him a saucy smile, then allowed him to enter. “Want a cup of coffee before you install that thing?”

  “That sounds good. Real good.” He stepped inside, placed his tools on the floor next to the door, then moved to the kitchen. After placing the camera on the dining table, he took off his hat and hung it on the corner post of a ladder-back chair. “How you doing, treasure?”

  Jewel took a mug from the kitchen cabinet and filled it from the pot. “Whew. It’s been a day; I won’t say it hasn’t.”

  Easy flipped the chair around, so he could straddle it and lean on the back, facing her. “Tell me about it.”

  Handing him a mug, she poured one for herself before answering. “I made some tinctures this morning. Mixes of herbs and oils that I sell or use in my work here. And…” She pulled out a chair and picked up a newspaper from the seat, placing it on the table in front of him. “When I picked the paper off the front stoop, I saw this.”

  Easy looked at the same paper, same photo that he’d seen earlier. “Not the most flattering picture, is it? I look like Taylor James having a really bad day on the set of that Samson movie, look at that frown!” He laughed, then saw she wasn’t amused. “Sorry. I’m not making light of the situation.”

  “You neglected to mention this last evening. I was a bit shocked to see you were the one who discovered the body.”

  “Well, I wasn’t alone.” He took a sip of coffee and sighed. “It was awful. I’ve never seen anything so sad and cruel.”

  Jewel chewed on her lower lip, wanting to tell him about her vision. Even though she struggled for a few moments, she decided not to do so. This was just too delicate a matter to dive into without studying all the angles and all the ramifications. “Right.” She folded the paper and put it away. “I can understand why you didn’t say anything. You had your hands full with my problem from the moment you got home. Besides, you don’t have to tell me everything – or anything, really.”

  “Now, wait. I never said I didn’t want to share with you. I just didn’t think about it, that’s all. Honestly, I didn’t want to think about it. As bad as I hate you had to deal with that idiot last evening, I was grateful for the distraction.” He made a face. “A woman shouldn’t have to die that way.”

  Jewel didn’t press him for more info, she knew all the details already. “Other than the revelation in the paper, I let the utility guy in to do the installations and I dealt with a couple of clients.” She peered over his shoulder, checking what Eliza was up to. Jewel wasn’t surprised to find the little girl studying them intently. “Ah, how about you?”

  Easy felt like there was more to her day than she was telling him. “Well, the police told us not to leave town.”

  This shocked Jewel. “You can’t seriously be considered a suspect.”

  “No. I don’t think I am, not really. I guess the cops are just being cautious. After all, when you don’t have a suspect, you have to cast the net wide.”

  Jewel shook her head, biting her tongue to keep from shouting what she’d seen in the vision. “I just hope they find the real killer soon. Get him off the streets.” Although, knowing what she knew about Everett and his family, she doubted justice would ever see the light of day.

  “Yea, me too.” He placed his now empty coffee cup on the table, his eyes caressing Jewel’s pretty face. “Other than that, I came into town with Jed and we ordered some heavy equipment. While we were there, I bought the camera for your front door…and…” He opened the sack and took out another item. “I also bought a night vision camera to set up at my place.”

  “Oh, really? Why?” She took the box from his hand. “Where are you going to put this? Is it for Cotton?” His interest intrigued her.

  Easy grinned. “I think Cotton wants to play chess. There was an extra move on the board this morning. I sort of challenged him to a game. I want to set this up and see if I can catch him in the act.”

  “Wow.” Jewel smiled. “Neat.” She was just glad he wasn’t panicking over the idea of his ethereal roommate. “I want to know what you capture.” Seeing his reaction to that situation, Jewel decided to share the news about her unexpected guest. “Uh…I think I ought to tell you something.”

  Her tone caused Easy to go on instant alert. “What? What’s wrong? Is it about that guy who was here the other night? The one I saw you hugging?”

  “What?” For a moment, Jewel was confused. “Hugging? Oh, that was Calvin Webb. He lost his wife a while back. He’s been so sad, but I think I’ve convinced him it’s time to move on.”

  “With you?”

  Jewel stared at him with mouth agape. Was he jealous? “No, not with me. I prepared him a little love spell and sent him home with
hope in his heart.”

  “Oh. All right.”

  Her explanation seemed to satisfy him. “So, what did you want to tell me?”

  She shrugged her shoulders and wiggled in her seat a bit. “I had a visit from this young woman and her autistic child. He was seeing things at their home. A little girl. The mother took him to a therapist and was told he was psychotic. She brought him to me so I could…read the situation.”

  “And?” Easy prompted.

  Jewel nodded in a direction over his shoulder.

  Turning in his chair, he looked in the direction she was indicating. At first, all he saw was a cushion and toys of some kind lying on the floor. He also noticed the ring on the floor made of some kind of powdery dust. “What is this?” At second glance, he saw something move, almost like tendrils of smoke lingering in the air. “Jewel…uh…” Easy blinked, then focused his eyes on the space until he could make sense of what he was seeing. “Is that…?”

  “That’s Eliza. She was scaring my client and confusing her little boy. I…uh…detained her until I could figure out the best solution to the problem.”

  “Huh.” Easy nodded his head slowly. “I guess it’s safe to assume she’ll be joining us for dinner?”

  CHAPTER EIGHT

  “No one can ever say hanging out with you is boring, treasure.” Easy used a screwdriver to affix the bracket to the outer wall where the camera would hang.

  “I guess not.” Jewel sat on the first step; her arms wrapped around her knees. “Of course, in my business I attract the weird things of the world.” She thought a moment. “Maybe, they’re not so weird. I think people are just closed off to what they don’t understand.”

  “Closed off has its upside,” he mumbled as he tightened a screw into the board.

  “Maybe.” Jewel laughed softly. Even though she could name half a dozen possible calamities hanging over her head, she felt free with Easy. “You’re certainly open to the unknown. Some people wouldn’t have detected Eliza’s presence at all. You can see her clearly.”

  “I have no explanation. I’ve never been…connected before.” That he could recall. “I’m not sure I like it.”

  Jewel didn’t understand his position. “Wouldn’t you rather know what’s around you? Would you rather be in the dark about such things?”

  “They do say ignorance is bliss, darling.” He blew a bit of sawdust away from the camera. “There, I think that’s it.”

  “I don’t know why some people are more awake to such things. After Bernadette left, I did some research. I found an article in a scientific magazine written by a psychologist who suggested autistic children could be magnets for spirit activity. They process information differently; they see the world differently – maybe they’re more open to the supernatural.” She let out a sigh, running a hand down her leg to dislodge a mosquito. “I just wish people realized there are so many wonders in this world, we’ll never know or understand everything.”

  “Yea, there are certainly wonders in this world.” Finished, Easy gathered his tools as he listened to her speak. He was amazed at the difference in the way she reacted to him now compared to the day they met. She seemed peaceful, at ease. This made him glad. “Are you going to keep the little ghost girl in that circle all night?”

  “Yes. I don’t want her returning to Bernadette’s house, not yet, anyway. I’m afraid if I remove the salt and brick dust, she’ll just transport back.”

  “Won’t she be miserable just sitting in that one spot?”

  Jewel smiled at his obvious concern for the little spirit. “You’re sweet, and no, I don’t think so. I’ll give her more things to amuse her.” She paused for a moment, thinking. “I don’t pretend to know everything about spirits. I know they don’t get hungry and they don’t get sleepy, but I will try to insure she doesn’t get bored. Tomorrow, I’ll try to figure out what happened to her and why she’s still here. If she gets used to me, I…will probably remove the circle so she can come and go.”

  Easy let his eyes caress Jewel as she sat there contemplating how to entertain a long dead child. “You’re amazing, did you know that?”

  His appreciative attention unnerved her. “Thanks for putting in the camera. You’ll have to show me how to work it before you leave. Are you hungry?” She stood and dusted off the seat of her jean shorts.

  “I sure am.” He checked out her delicious legs. “I haven’t…indulged in a good while.”

  Recognizing the lust in his voice, she cut him a teasingly scathing glance, trying to ignore how her nipples were tingling at the thought of what he could do to her – if she surrendered to her own desire. “Well, come on. I’ll try to satisfy your appetite.” Jewel smiled when she heard him groan. “I made a big dinner.”

  He held the door for her, then moved in languorously behind her, enjoying the view. “Smells damn good in here, that’s for sure.”

  “Thanks. You can wash up if you’d like, while I put the food on the table,” Jewel offered as she began moving around the kitchen, hunting pot holders and serving spoons.

  “All right.” Easy noticed she didn’t tell him where to wash up, but he figured he could find it. Moving into the living room, he stopped to study the tiny, shimmering child. She was sitting on the floor with her legs crossed, her transparent hand stroking a baby doll’s hair. To Easy’s surprise, his heart went out to the little girl. Squatting down, he drew close. “Hey, Eliza. You okay?”

  She lifted her face and gave him a smile. “Yes. Dolly’s pretty.”

  Easy glanced over his shoulder to see Jewel watching him with appreciation in her eyes. Good. He liked earning points with her. Returning his attention to Eliza, he asked, “Is there anything you want?”

  The little girl’s mouth turned down. “My mommy.”

  Oh. “I understand. I miss my mama too.”

  “Is she gone?” Eliza asked with concern.

  “Yea, for a while now.” For a moment, Easy’s thoughts centered on his mother and the last time they were together. He’d helped her bake cookies. When they were done, they’d laughed and talked over a glass of cold milk and a handful of Snickerdoodles.

  “Will you read to me?”

  Eliza’s request shocked Easy. When he turned to look at Jewel, he could see she was surprised also. “Well, sure, I guess.”

  Jewel left what she was doing and came over to the magical circle. “Eliza, if you’ll play with the doll a little while longer, Easy will read to you after supper. I think I have some children’s books around here somewhere.”

  “Okay.” She nodded, her attention returning to the doll.

  Easy rose, shared a stunned look with Jewel, then moved on to wash his hands. When he returned, it was to find the dinner table laden with a large platter heaped with steaming rice and covered by succulent thick brown gravy that smothered chunks of tender beef, wedges of potatoes and carrots, and was topped with fresh green hot peppers. There was also a salad, hot bread, a peach cobbler, and sweet tea. “Good Lord Almighty, girl. I haven’t seen a spread like this in many a day.” As he took a seat, his stomach growled in appreciation.

  Jewel beamed at his compliment. “I hope you like it. Fair exchange, don’t you think? A meal for a camera installation?”

  “Maybe.” He waited for her to take a seat before taking the first succulent bite. “I was hoping we could consider this our first date.”

  Held spellbound by every word coming from his sexy mouth, Jewel tried to appear nonchalant as she buttered a piece of French bread. “I think a first date should be something a bit more special than eating home cooking around a worn kitchen table.”

  “While being observed by a baby spook?” Easy asked, amused. “Okay, as pleasurable as this is, I can do better. Let’s call this a pre-date celebration.”

  Jewel felt like her heart might beat out of her chest. “I didn’t really think you made a habit of dating, Easy.”

  Okay, yea, he deserved that. “Doesn’t mean I can’t start. Want to become m
y newest habit, treasure?”

  With her hands shaking, it was hard to hold her fork steady. “I don’t know about that.” She took a moment to sip the glass of sweet tea. “However, I…”

  Easy was enjoying her food immeasurably. He was enjoying her company even more. “Have mercy, baby. I’ve never experienced a craving like this.”

  Jewel licked her lower lip. “Well, I was considering taking you up on your offer.” She cleared her throat. “A woman has needs too, you know. Plus, I trust you.”

  Fuck! She had needs? “You trust me?” He found all of this to be very good news.

  Feeling the need to clarify, she pushed her plate away. “I don’t mean that I expect anything from you. I understand how this works. I meant that I’m not…afraid of you.”

  Several things about her explanation bothered him, but none worse than the thought of her being afraid of anyone. “Did someone hurt you?”

  Jewel shifted in her seat. “I didn’t say that to make you feel sorry for me. I told you so you’d understand why I’d accept you as a lover.”

  “I get that, and I appreciate the confidence, but… Who Hurt You?”

  His emphatic demand brought Jewel to her feet. “Nobody. Everybody. I’m not like you. I haven’t dated a hundred people.” She tossed her hair over her shoulder. “I’m a curiosity, Easy. Some guys are downright scared of me. Others see me as easy prey. Someone they can fulfil their sickest fantasies with. After Mother’s calamity, things got worse – not better. So, I don’t…date.”

  “Son-of-a-bitch,” Easy fumed. He’d considered getting seconds, but his appetite had waned. “I’m glad you trust me.”

  His admission brought a bright smile to her face. “Good. So, in answer to your question. Yes, I’ve considered your invitation. And I accept.”

  That was all he needed to hear. “Oh, hell yeah. You won’t be sorry.” Easy gave her a sultry, wicked stare. “I promise to take you to heaven and back.”

  A full body shiver shook Jewel from head to toe. “Oh.”