Big Easy (Cowboy Craze) Read online

  “I’m not sure about that. Somehow, I don’t think so. I think it’s more complicated than blackmail.”

  Easy seemed to concentrate on their joined hands. “But…what he did to her. Raping her with that tree limb.” He hissed out a long breath. “Something like that requires a special brand of crazy.”

  “Exactly. Uh…there’s more.”

  Jewel reached for the paper. “A woman’s missing.” She folded the paper so the article she wanted him to see was front and center. “Marion Cole.”

  Easy snatched the paper from her. “Marion?”

  The shocked look on his face and the emotions emanating from him told Jewel two things – one, Marion Cole was the woman he was with on Friday, and two…he had nothing to do with her disappearance.

  “She was last seen at the Blue Goose.”

  “Damn, Jewel.” He raised his head to meet her eyes. “This was the woman I told you about. The woman I took to the club.”

  “I know.”

  He nodded his head in understanding. “Believe me, though, the woman was fine the last time I saw her in the parking lot of the club. In fact, she kneed me in the balls right before she stalked off.”

  “Why did she do that?”

  “I told her the date was over and I was taking her home. I was nice about it, but…I pissed her off. She stormed away.” A guilty look came over his face. “I guess I should’ve followed her, made sure she got home safely.”

  Yea, you probably should have, Jewel thought. “She’s a grown woman.”

  “We just didn’t hit it off.” Easy covered his mouth with his hand, letting out a long sigh. “Hell, she wasn’t you.”

  Jewel felt an ache growing in her chest. “I’ve just got a bad feeling about her disappearance. Especially, when you consider this…” She refolded the paper so he would see the photographs of the other two women who were missing.

  Easy took the paper and quickly read the article. It didn’t take him long for him to put two and two together. “You think Hill had something to do with this? Do you think these women are dead?”

  “Yes. And yes.” Jewel drained the remainder of her drink.

  “What proof do you have? Or do I want to know?”

  “Probably not.” Jewel captured his eyes with hers. “The last time Willie Mae came to visit me these two women were with her. So, was Julie Davis.”

  “They were with her?”

  Jewel waited while knowledge dawned in his eyes. “Yea, they were dead. Same as Julie.”

  “Holy shit.” He rose from his chair to walk across the room and back to the table. “They attached themselves to Hill’s wife? Like Eliza attached herself to that little boy and his mother?”

  Jewel nodded. “I think Everett took trophies and his wife was wearing them. The women were drawn to the jewelry Willie was wearing.”

  He reached out and picked up the paper again. “This article talks about human trafficking. You think Everett’s involved with that?”

  “Could be. Easily.” Jewel wrapped her long hair around her fist and pulled gently. She was frustrated and strung out. Wound tight enough to break. “Like I told you once before, I wouldn’t doubt what the man is involved in. He’s as crooked as they come.”

  “A barrel of snakes.” Easy added his own visual to her point, then paused to consider the facts. “Why did those women end up dead rather than shipped off to God knows where?”

  “That I don’t know. He might be connected to them all, but not in the same way. The women in Lafayette were younger than Julie Davis.” Jewel’s speech slowed as an idea came to her mind. “Maybe, he was having an affair with her and she stumbled on something she shouldn’t have.”

  “Or maybe he just gets off on killing women. Indiscriminately.”

  “True.” Jewel couldn’t argue that point. “Oh, and there’s more.” Once again, she reached for the paper.

  “More? I don’t think I can handle more,” Easy mused, but came around to her side to see what she wanted to show him.

  “The woman who was struck and killed at Laurel Plantation.” She showed him her picture. “I have this gut feeling she was one of the Hills’ victims too.”

  “Holy shit.” Easy sat back down, heavily. “This is mind boggling.” He thought for a minute, then raised his head to look at her. “You said the Hills’ victims, as in Hills plural. Are you saying you think his brothers, the mayor and the sheriff, could be in on this?”

  “I do,” she said solemnly. “Don’t look so shocked. This is Louisiana. When notorious Edwin Edwards was running for his fourth term for governor against KKK wizard, David Duke, one of Edwards’ campaign slogans was Vote for the Crook, It’s Important and another was Vote for the Lizard, not the Wizard.”

  “Politics is a trashy game and it’s getting worse, not better.”

  “You’re right about that. Here, though, it’s been even crazier. After Katrina, so many people left. Moved. Started over somewhere else. Some of the ones who remained were unscrupulous, people who never should’ve been voted into office ran and got elected. Everett’s brothers were a good example of that unfortunate fact. I don’t know if you realize it, but Louisiana lost all of its records. Arrest records. Court records. Criminals got a free pass, a chance to start over fresh – after all, where there’s no evidence of your past wrongdoings, you can begin with a clean slate.”

  “Doesn’t seem fair. Does it?” He pondered a moment. “So, what are you going to do about this? Who are you going to tell?”

  Jewel jerked in her seat, his question jarring her. “Tell someone? Who would I tell? Everett’s brother?”

  “There has to be someone over his head. Go to the FBI. The state police. Hell, how about that deputy you helped, what was his name?”

  “Truman Lawson.”

  “Yea, he owes you. Plus, he’s seen you in action. Tell him.”

  Jewel stared into her empty glass, tilting it to swirl the tiny amount of amber liquid that remained. “I’m not sure where his loyalties lie.”

  “Can’t you read him?”

  “Maybe.”

  Hearing the weariness in her voice, he took her glass. “Well, think about it. We don’t have to decide anything tonight.” Standing up, he walked to the stove. “Did you make dumplings?”

  “I did.”

  “For me?” He smiled like a little boy.

  “For you.” Jewel pushed to her feet. “Let me dish you up a bowl.”

  “Hot-diggity dog.”

  She couldn’t help but smile as they dipped up the creamy chicken goodness. “There’s cornbread too. If you want it.”

  “Oh, hell yeah.” He cut a large slice of the golden pone. “Want some?”

  Jewel shook her head. “The dumplings are enough for me. I always have to watch what I eat.”

  “Shoot. You’re perfect.” He took down two glasses and filled them with ice for sweet tea.

  Settling in her chair, she watched a curl of smoke rise from the dish of the fragrant chicken stew. “I’m glad you think so.”

  Seeing her worried look, he hooked his foot in a chair, pulling it out to sit down. “Don’t fret, honey. I’m here. I won’t let anything happen to you; I promise.”

  Jewel appreciated his willingness to help her. “I just feel like something’s coming, you know?”

  “Like what?” Easy took a bite and moaned appreciatively, “Damn, this is good. You’re a marvelous cook.”

  “Thanks.” She warmed at his compliment. “As for what’s coming? Something big. Threatening. Like a storm.”

  “Not literal. Not like a hurricane.”

  Jewel shook her head. “No, not weather. Circumstances. Evil.”

  “Geesh.” He took another bite. And another. “I never knew my former life was boring until I met you.”

  “Oh, no.” This made her giggle. “That doesn’t sound good.”

  “Oh, but it is,” Easy told her with a smile. “I find every moment with you to be exciting. Thrilling.” He gave her a s
teady look. “I’m really glad our paths crossed.”

  Jewel chewed on her bottom lip, her eyes dropping from his penetrating gaze. She clutched her fork so hard; she almost dented the metal. “Me too. I’ve become accustomed to your face.”

  “Ha!” He laughed. “You’re funny.”

  Jewel breathed easier. The moment of levity had lightened the mood considerably. “Hey, when you finish eating, how would you like to see some of my dad’s collection?”

  His eyes shone with excitement. “Oh, shoot, yea. I’d love that.”

  Once they were through with their meal, Easy accompanied Jewel up to the attic.

  “Hold on,” she told him as she pulled a couple of sheets off the top of some display tables. “Okay, here it is.”

  Easy moved closer to gawk and stare at things he found absolutely fascinating.

  “Look, he kept scrapbooks and storyboards.” She moved one photo album to Easy. “This book chronicles all of the creatures that have been proven to exist.” Jewel began turning pages. “The giant squid. The platypus. The frilled shark. The okapi. And on and on.”

  Easy took time to study the pictures. “I’ve never heard of an okapi.”

  “Closely related to the giraffe, if I remember correctly. To me, it looks more like a cross between a zebra and a donkey.”

  “Dang, this is wild.” Easy grinned at her, his excitement clearly showing. “What’s this?”

  Moving next to him, she crossed her arms over her breasts as she explained the group of pictures and slides. “What Dad considered to be evidence of a small bipedal primate in Sumatra called the Orang Pendek. According to his findings, the creature stands between thirty and sixty inches in height, is covered with golden fur, and has a human-like facial appearance.”

  “Oh, is this a video?”

  “Yea, I added this later. After he died.” She took the drive to a laptop she kept in the corner to play it for him.

  Easy bent down to watch. “What am I seeing?”

  “Three guys riding a dirt bike. Now, watch…” She pointed with her finger. “It runs out of the brush and ahead of them down the trail.”

  “Oh, yea! It’s running upright and looks like it’s carrying a cane.”

  “A big stick. Right.” Jewel sighed. “Could be real. Could be a hoax.” After shutting down the computer, she replaced the flash drive where he’d found it, then gestured toward other photos and files. “Whenever you want to, you can come look through all of this stuff. He had tons of info on Sasquatch, the Thunderbird, lake monsters, and my favorite…”

  Easy leaned in, anxious to know what she liked best. “Ooooh, megalodon! Nice!”

  Jewel held up a shark tooth bigger than her hand. “Yea, look at this,” she whispered with a grin. “Best part? It’s not a fossil.”

  “What do you mean?” he asked in a whispered reverent tone.

  “Megalodon lived two and half million years ago. This tooth is just a few thousand years old.”

  “But that’s ancient.” Easy sounded disappointed.

  “Not when you’re talking about the fossil record, a few thousand years ago – is just yesterday.”

  “What else you got?”

  She laughed at his tone. “Here are some photos taken by a fisherman.” Jewel handed him one that made his eyes widen. “That boat is about ninety foot long.”

  “And the shark swimming next to it rivals that length. Shit.”

  For the next hour, she shared with him her father’s work. “As you can tell, he loved what he did. Pity that people judged him for it.”

  “How did your father die, Jewel?”

  His question caught her off guard. She let a second or two go by before she answered – enough time for the pain to well up in her chest, then level off to a bearable ache. “Cancer.”

  “I’m sorry.”

  “Don’t be.” A hint of anger came to her voice. “There was an operation that could’ve saved him – or at least prolonged his life. He wouldn’t have it, though – not if it meant he’d be grounded. Unable to travel. He chose his work…” Her voice broke.

  “Jewel, honey.”

  “I know he loved what he did. He was lucky. I just wish he’d loved me as much.”

  Easy took her in his arms and held her tight. “I would’ve chosen you.”

  Jewel clung to him for a few precious seconds, absorbing his affection. Could she believe his sweet words? Jewel didn’t know – not for sure. Like before, she was too afraid to look deep enough to know for certain. If she ever did and found out he was just kidding himself – and her – it would all be over. “Thanks.”

  Needing some distance, she pushed out of his arms to recover the tables. When she was finished, she asked, “Ready to go down?”

  “Yea. Thanks for showing me this. I enjoyed it.”

  “Come up anytime you like. He made copious notes and there are thousands of pictures.”

  “I appreciate it,” Easy told her as they descended the stairs. “Did you do anything with Dad’s Izze-Kloth?”

  “Yes. I am readying it for our use. Would you like to see?”

  “Sure.”

  Jewel led him to the sunporch to show him the medicine cord lying in the glass box, moonlight gleaming on the reflective surface of the lid. “See. Safe and sound.” When she turned to face him, she was surprised to see him jerk. “What’s wrong?”

  “I guess in my own way, I’m scared too. Afraid what you do won’t work.” He chuckled. “Afraid that it will.” Easy stepped up to look out the window. “What if he’s angry with me, treasure? What if he can’t forgive me?”

  “I can’t see that being the case.” She came near to him and placed a consoling hand on his arm. “Put yourself in his shoes. Imagine if you had a son who made the mistake you did. Could you ever forgive him?”

  “I think so.”

  “I know you could.” She spread her hands imploringly. “You’ve got this huge heart and I bet you’re just like your dad, aren’t you?”

  This brought a chortle to Easy’s lips. “My father was a much better man than I’ll ever be.”

  “Well…he must be something. I can’t wait to meet him.” She tugged on the sleeve of his shirt. “Come on. Let’s get a bowl of ice cream and watch some television before we head to bed.”

  “Okay, I like that idea.” He allowed himself to be led, thinking how good it felt to be doing these ordinary things with her.

  As she dished up some Blue Bell Homemade Vanilla, Jewel thought to ask about Philip. “Any news on the search for Pepper and her husband?”

  “They’ve located the plane, but it’s in a rough region. I’m sure they’re hurrying as fast as they can.”

  “I bet.” Handing him his bowl, they made for the living room, choosing to sit side by side on the couch. “Do we need to call and check on Wren?”

  “No. Jed’s taking care of that little matter tonight.” Easy pulled her leg over his, enjoying the closeness.

  Jewel picked up the remote to switch on the TV. “Let’s see. This is Monday night. I usually watch a couple of doctor shows and a lawyer show.” She set it to one of the network channels where a commercial of a dog behind the wheel of an SUV was influencing many to buy a Subaru.

  “What? No wrestling? Or knife making over a hot forge?”

  “Ha!” Jewel exclaimed. “No.” Giving him a sidewise glance, she melted at the sight of his ice cream moustache. “Unless you just want to. I’m sure you could talk me into most anything.” Staring at him with an incredulous smile, she had to ask, “You’re eating with a spoon. How did you get ice cream over your upper lip?”

  “Like this.” He held the bowl up and took a bite straight from the heaped mound, his lips coming back iced with cream.

  “Why?”

  “Why do you think?” He grinned at her. “Aren’t you tempted to kiss me?”

  Jewel sighed with sensual satisfaction. “You are hard to resist, Blackhawk.”

  “Well, don’t strain yourself t
rying.” He took their bowls and placed them on the coffee table. “Come here, beautiful.”

  Television was forgotten as she framed his face to kiss away the sweetness. His lips were warm. Familiar. Dear. He kissed her back with such passion it stole her breath from her body. In no time at all, they were lying on the couch side by side, limbs and lips entwined. Jewel strained against Easy as his hand moved under her shirt to pull down the cup of her bra. She gasped when he palmed her breast, rubbing the nipple until she moaned with pleasure.

  Long minutes passed while they fooled around like teenagers. Laughing as they shed their clothes. Easy worshiped her breasts, then slid his hand down into Jewel’s panties to drive her crazy. One hot moment followed another until they were making love, their breaths mingling, their skin heated and damp from the excitement. Afterwards, they cuddled, her head on his chest, falling asleep on the couch. Their troubles forgotten for a few wonderful hours.

  Satisfied. Happy.

  * * *

  “Jolie Blon, sweetest one, me-oh, my-oh – blah, blah, fun on the bayou…” Yea, Easy knew he was mixing up songs and messing up the lyrics. “I don’t care! I’m happy as a clam!”

  A little stiff, maybe.

  He and Jewel slept on the couch for most of the night. They hadn’t moved to the bed until he’d awoken with the need to visit the little boy’s room. Finding Jewel draped across him like a sleeping kitten, he’d gathered her into his arms and carried her to bed. Once he finished his business in the bathroom, he’d crawled under the covers and pulled her close. When he left for work before dawn, she’d still been sleeping. Easy smiled knowing that when she awoke, Jewel would find he’d left her a note on the refrigerator.

  Now he was speeding down the deserted highway as the sun began to peek over the horizon. A light morning fog was rising over the land as he slowed to turn toward Belle Chasse. When he picked up speed again, a flock of egrets in the marsh grass took flight and winged overhead, casting a shadow in front of him. They followed the path of the winding road, causing him to remain beneath the pall they cast. The visual image gave him pause, bringing back all the things Jewel had told him about the women who were dead or missing. He knew she felt all of the bad things they discussed were connected. Easy didn’t doubt the woman’s instincts, she’d proven herself time and time again. He just regretted that ugliness could touch her life, he longed to protect Jewel in any way he could. At first, he’d urged her to go to someone, to tell them her suspicions and impressions. Now, he wanted to ask that she walk away, not get involved. At this point in their relationship, Easy wasn’t sure how Jewel would react to him interfering in her decisions. “Too bad, baby. We’re involved, better get used to it.”