Big Easy (Cowboy Craze) Read online

  Jewel didn’t backtrack, but she tried to soften the blow. “I can’t be a hundred percent sure that he’s the one doing it, but I do know he was there when it happened.” She tapped the underwear still lying in a soft heap on the surface of the table. “I guess it could be a friend…or one of his brothers. Either way, I’m sure he’d protect them. You can’t risk it. You need to leave town. Everett didn’t want you to come visit me, and there’s a reason for that. If he finds out you’ve been here – if he gets a clue you know anything, suspect anything – that I’ve told you anything…I don’t know what he’d do to you, Willie.”

  The woman stared at Jewel with huge, round eyes. “Are you in danger too?”

  An unexpected tremor shot through Jewel’s body. “You let me worry about that. You just take care of yourself.”

  * * *

  “Now, let me get this straight, Mr. Blackhawk…”

  Easy sat at a wobbly desk in the sheriff’s office. He’d been asked to come in for questioning. Across from him, Otis Hill lounged – legs extended, arms crossed over his chest – staring over his glasses. “You were with this woman at the Blue Goose on Friday night.”

  “Yes.” Easy nodded for what seemed the hundredth time. “I picked her up and we spent a few hours together. At some point, I decided to call an end to the evening. I offered to take Marion home, but she wasn’t ready to leave.”

  “I interviewed one man who saw the two of you struggling in the parking lot.”

  “That’s true. She was offended that I wouldn’t spend more time with her. She kneed me in the balls and stalked off.”

  “Are you sure she didn’t knee you in the nuts, attempting to get away from you?”

  Easy grimaced. “Although, I offered to escort her home, she refused. She assaulted my manhood because I told her there was somewhere else I needed to be.” He shook his head at how this all sounded. “I was sorta there on the rebound, I’d agued with the woman I’m currently seeing. Making the date with Marion was a mistake.”

  “A mistake you tried to rectify by killing her?”

  “Hell, no!” Easy’s blood pressure spiked. “If someone saw us struggling, then surely that same person saw her walk away and me leave – by myself!”

  Sheriff Hill blew out a breath and shook his head. “That’s not in the report.”

  “Well, talk to more people! I’m sure Marion went back inside the club.”

  “Did you see her go back inside the club?”

  “No. I was bent over double, half blind with pain. I didn’t see anything!”

  “Hmmm, I bet that made you angry, didn’t it?”

  “No, not particularly. I figured I deserved it after asking her out when I wasn’t really interested in her.” Easy glared at the sheriff. “Do I need a lawyer?”

  Sheriff Hill held up both hands. “Nope. Nope. Not saying that. Not yet.” He gave Easy a penetrating look. “We’ve got to gather evidence. Talk to more people. Do some forensic testing. I’m just telling you not to leave town. We will want to speak to you again. I’m sure.”

  Seeing he was free to go, Easy stood and picked up his Stetson. “I’m not going anywhere.”

  Before he could take a step away, the sheriff reached out and put a hand in front of him. “Oh, while you’re here, let me ask you one more question. Where did you go when you left the Blue Goose? Do you have an alibi for the time of the murder?”

  “Do you already know the time of the murder?” Easy knew his question was probably foolish. Pissing off the sheriff couldn’t be a good idea.

  “Where did you go when you left the club?”

  “I was with another woman.”

  “Does this woman have a name? Can she vouch for you?”

  “Jewel Baptiste on Gentilly Road.”

  Sheriff Hill’s head snapped up. “Witch Hazel’s daughter? The palm reader?”

  “Yes.”

  “Well…I’ll be damned.” He snorted and scoffed. “You seeing the likes of her?”

  The comment made Easy see red. He clenched his fists to keep from lashing out. “Jewel’s a lady. A fine lady.”

  “If you say so.”

  “I say so!” Easy took one step, then turned toward the lawman. “I wish you luck finding the real killer – but it’s not me.”

  “Like I said, Mister…Blackhawk, we’ll be in touch.”

  As Easy stalked out of the police station, ignoring the questioning glances he received from half a dozen cops. He felt sick to his stomach. Fuck! This was a helluva mess. After climbing in his truck, he checked the time. He didn’t intend to go back to Belle Chasse, the work day was over. “What work? Not a damn thing got done today.” By all rights, he ought to go back and check the cattle. He just didn’t feel like it. Pulling his phone from his pocket, he called Jed. After two rings, his friend answered.

  “Hey, you all right?”

  “Yea, I’m fine. The cops just finished questioning me.”

  “Shit, man. This is crazy.”

  “No kidding. Look, I hate to ask you to do this, but would you do me a favor and ride out to check on those cows near to calving? I don’t feel like coming all the way back out there. Now, I will if you have plans…”

  “Nah, I’ll do it for you, brother. Was the interrogation rough?”

  “Not particularly.” More correctly, he wouldn’t admit it to Jed. “The whole thing just has me tore up inside. I’ve never known anyone who was murdered before. Especially not a woman I’d dated.”

  “I understand. Go rest. This will all work out.”

  “Hey, you didn’t see Marion after I left, did you? I’m almost certain she went back into the club. I mean…she didn’t have a ride. She would’ve come in there to hook up with a friend to see her home.” Or some guy to spend the night with. Easy just couldn’t voice that thought out loud. Speaking ill of the dead just seemed wrong.

  “I didn’t see her. Sorry. Maybe she ran into someone outside after you left. Or maybe I just missed her. I’m sure by the time they question everybody who was there that night, some new information will turn up. You don’t have anything to worry about, you have Jewel to vouch for you. Right?”

  “Yea.” Easy headed home. “Now, I just have to tell her she’s my alibi. Somehow…I don’t look forward to that.”

  …At home, Jewel tried to calm her nerves by pulverizing dried flower heads with a mortar and pestle. There was something therapeutic about grinding the crisp blossoms into a fine powder. As she worked, she sorted through her feelings. Frankly, she was scared for Willie Mae Hill. From what she’d seen, from what she knew, the woman had to be in danger. An animal like Everett couldn’t have real feelings for anyone – his brothers maybe, but it would be a pack mentality.

  After Willie left, Jewel spent an hour researching news articles for anything on sex trafficking or human trafficking, whatever you wanted to call it. She gave herself a headache researching the type of woman most vulnerable to being caught in the sad trap. Oddly enough, she found there was no stereotype. While the homeless were certainly included, as were immigrants, Jewel discovered the victims came from all socio-economic backgrounds. Some had families, some did not. Some were uneducated, some were highly educated. The manner by which these women, men, and children were coerced into this type of thing ranged from kidnapping to recruitment through false promises. The victims were approached on the streets, in clubs, or online. Again, there was no sure pattern. If the Hills were involved in such a travesty, that still didn’t account for the murder victims. Why kill someone when you could sell them?

  Truthfully, Jewel had no ready answers.

  Pausing to pour the fragrant powder from the small stone vessel into a ready jar, Jewel heard the sound of Easy’s truck. By now, she could recognize its particular noise. A smile came to her face as she put the lid on the jar and cleaned her hands on a towel. After her harrowing day, she craved his presence. Pausing long enough to clean her work area, she finished in time to open the door for him just before he
knocked.

  “Hey.”

  “Hey,” he answered, hesitating to step inside.

  Jewel could immediately tell something was amiss. Without qualm, she drew him to her, pressing herself against him. “What happened?” As he wrapped his arms around her, Jewel picked up on his anxiousness. She didn’t wait to analyze the images she could see – men standing in a circle around… Oh, no. “Easy, what’s wrong?”

  Hugging her tight, he buried his face in her neck. “Wren found Marion Cole’s body on Belle Chasse property. She was dead, killed like the other woman, Julie Davis.”

  Jewel felt her body turn to ice. Her fear had just been confirmed. “How horrible.”

  “Yea, it was. I hate it so much.”

  She let the cold reality sink deep into her bones. “What did Wren tell the police? Did she tell them what she’d witnessed early Saturday morning?”

  “I don’t know. I presume so.” He sighed, a slight shudder passing through his body. “I feel so guilty.”

  Jewel knew he wasn’t guilty. “What do you mean?”

  “I never should’ve left her. I should’ve insisted on taking her home.” When Jewel didn’t respond, he continued, “She was angry when I wanted to end our date. I couldn’t talk her into going with me, she said she wasn’t ready to leave the club. And that’s the last I saw of her.”

  His voice sounded so weary, she willed strength and energy into his body. “Just tell the truth, that’s all you can do.”

  “They asked me to come in for questioning. Said I might’ve been the last person to see her alive.”

  This shook Jewel. Now, she knew the reason for the overwhelming dread she’d felt yesterday, the feeling of a storm brewing on the horizon. “That can’t be right. Because you didn’t kill her.”

  “No, I didn’t.” Easy stroked her back. “I’m mighty afraid the sheriff thinks I did, though.”

  “Well, you wouldn’t. You couldn’t. Besides, you were with me.” She pressed her face to his chest, inhaling his essence. She found the scent of him not only arousing but comforting. Hay. Leather. Fresh evening air.

  “I told them I was with you, treasure. I hated to drag you into this, but I didn’t really have a choice.”

  “You were with me. Why shouldn’t you say so?” Although, she didn’t know how much her word would be respected with the police. “Besides, since you’re innocent, there won’t be any evidence to prove otherwise.”

  Easy kissed her on the side of her neck. “Why is this happening?”

  “Come inside. I have supper for you.” She took his hat and hung it on the rack next to the door. “Let me get you a beer, you need to relax.”

  As he moved into her house, he felt as if he’d entered a sanctuary. A place where nothing could ever hurt him. The moment he stepped through her door, the tightness in his chest dissipated. Easy felt as if he could breathe. “God, I’m glad to get here. What a day!” He lifted his head to take in the aromas coming from the stove. “Something smells good.”

  “Collard greens, cornbread, and dirty rice.”

  He came to hug her. “Thanks. You take such good care of me.”

  Jewel wanted to take care of him – she just had to figure out the best way to do it. Once she dished up their food and poured sweet tea, she joined him at the table. She didn’t reintroduce the topic right away, Jewel wanted him to eat in peace. “Hopefully, I set a woman on a course to get pregnant today.”

  Easy gave her an adoring glance as he ate steadily. “If you will it, I’m sure it will be so.”

  “I think her problem’s mainly stress. I gave her some suggestions, put a little will and intent into motion for her.”

  Sopping up some of the pot liquor with a hunk of cornbread, he gave her an assessing look. “Do you want to have children?”

  This question took Jewel by surprise. “Oh. Well. Yea. Someday. How about you?”

  Easy took his time answering. “Yea, I think so. Two of my brothers have taken the big step, their absolute joy seems genuine enough.” He paused to take a drink of tea. “This notion is pretty new for me, the idea of having kids. I never saw myself as daddy material.”

  “What changed your mind?”

  He gave her a heated look. “You. You make me feel things I’ve never felt before.”

  Zing! Jewel felt pure joy zip through her blood stream like carbonated water. “Really? I can scarce believe that.” In truth, she wanted to hear more. The only thing holding her back was their present reality. “Easy…I think we need to talk about Marion and the other women. I need some advice.”

  Her topic change threw him for a loop, bursting his bubble of serenity. “All right.” He pushed his near empty plate back, ready to give Jewel his full attention. “I want to hear whatever you want to tell me.”

  Jewel kept her eyes on the unused dinner knife by her plate, reaching down to soothe the smooth shiny metal with her thumb and first finger. “I told you last night that I suspect Everett Hill.”

  “Yea. We talked about you sharing your theory with some branch of law enforcement.”

  “Right.” She nodded. “And my fear of not being believed and not knowing who to trust.”

  “I thought about that while Sheriff Hill was questioning me. It was hard to endure the cross examination when I suspected he already had all the answers.”

  “I can imagine.” She lifted her eyes briefly to lock with his. “Anyway, Willie Mae Hill showed up here today. She was furious that her husband had forbade her to come see me.”

  “Damn, Jewel. Even if this guy isn’t the killer, he’s a crazy son-of-a-bitch.” He shook his head, disturbed. “I don’t like this. I don’t like it at all.”

  At this point, Jewel couldn’t argue with him. “She was angry that he’d taken back all the jewelry he’d given her. In Willie’s mind, he’d hocked it.” In deep thought, she chewed on her bottom lip. “I think he took the items back because he feared letting his trophies be displayed so publicly.”

  “Makes sense. I guess he’s not totally stupid.”

  “In retaliation, she went through his things.” Jewel dropped her voice to a whisper. “Today, she showed up with a silver necklace, one of those where the centerpiece isn’t a jewel or stone but a signature written in script. The name featured on this necklace was Marion.”

  Easy set ramrod straight, his head jerking up, every muscle tightened. “No way.”

  Jewel nodded. “I read a piece of clothing Willie brought and I believe I saw Marion’s death. If I did, there was more than one person there.”

  “Verifying what Wren said she saw.”

  “Right.”

  “Well, you need to tell someone, Jewel.”

  She heard the note of excitement in his voice. “I talked Willie into doing it. I was able to convince her she was in danger. She’ll soon be heading to Chicago to stay with relatives. I asked her to call someone to report what she knows just as soon as she’s safe. At that time, she’ll have Marion’s necklace as proof.”

  “Are you sure she’ll do it? Are you sure she won’t back out?”

  Jewel could tell he was disappointed. “Easy, it will mean so much more coming from Willie. You know testimony from psychics doesn’t carry a lot of weight.” She took his hand. “This will work. It won’t be long before they’ll be looking at Everett Hill as the suspect.”

  “I hope so.” He helped her clean up the dishes and store the leftovers. “Don’t let me forget, I need to go over to the house before bedtime and get some clothes…” Easy paused. “Unless you want me to spend the night over there.”

  “No. I want you here.” She stood up and hugged him from behind. “Just don’t get any ideas that you don’t still owe me rent.” Jewel smiled when she felt the laughter rumble in his chest.

  “All right. I won’t forget the rent.”

  Feeling the tenseness in his body, she took him by the hand. “Let’s take a walk. We’ll feel better.”

  “Sounds good to me.”

 
; In a few minutes, they were out of the house, and roaming through the garden. Past the fairy houses, meandering through the shade plants. Hostas. Ginger lilies. Elephant ears. Banana bushes. Coleus and Birds of Paradise. They followed the path of stepping stones until they could connect to the boardwalk. Once on the planked wooden surface, they slowed their pace, enjoying the stillness of the early evening air.

  “What are you thinking about?” he asked, walking close enough their bodies were touching as they moved.

  “I’m trying to make sense of the fact that we’ve only known each other…twelve days, is it?”

  “Maybe.” Easy couldn’t imagine it. “Seems longer.”

  “Longer?” Jewel laughed. “That’s not very romantic. I thought you’d say it seems like only yesterday.”

  “No. No.” He wrapped a strong arm around her shoulders. “This is more romantic. I feel like I’ve known you forever. I feel close to you.”

  “Oh. Okay.” She agreed his way sounded better.

  “When this mess is over, how would you like to go somewhere?”

  “You mean when the killer is caught?”

  “Yea, that’s what I mean,” he told her as they came to the water’s edge. “When we don’t have anything to worry about, let’s go somewhere for the weekend. Not a day trip, the whole weekend.”

  Hope flared anew in Jewel. “I like the sound of that. Where would we go?”

  Easy tugged her down as he took a seat on the dock. “Would you like to take a trip to Kingsland? See where I live?”

  He was asking her to come home with him? To meet his family? Jewel thought she knew what that meant. “Sounds fun.” As much as she wanted to shout her enthusiasm to high heaven, she still didn’t feel confident enough to assume too much. After all, she knew what Easy was like – she’d read his palm. Had he changed? It seemed so – but she couldn’t know for sure. Could she?

  “We’ll do it,” he promised her. “I’ll introduce you to my family and show you the beauty of the Texas Hill Country. We’ll eat BBQ galore. I’ll take you up on top of Packsaddle Mountain and down to swim at The Slab.”

  “What’s the slab?”