Big Easy (Cowboy Craze)

by Sable Hunter

  “Fine.” Jewel shucked off her shoes and padded into a quaint kitchen. She made for a large mahogany hutch with glass doors, so big it practically covered one wall.

  Easy followed suit and removed his boots, then walked over to her fridge. “I’m gonna put these mudbugs in your icebox.”

  “Help yourself.” Still at the hutch, Jewel reached for a couple of dark colored jars. Her back was stinging like fire, but what was really bothersome was her surprising reaction to this man who’d invaded her space. When she’d rented him her mother’s house, she’d had no idea he would be so dang hot. “I’m sorry you have to do this.”

  “No problem.” Easy came to stand near her. “Found some medicine for the stings?”

  “Yea.” She moved to sit sideways in a straight back chair. “I’m embarrassed,” she mumbled as she tugged her shirt off again, then reached around to unhook her bra. “This is not how I normally deal with people I first meet.” Making herself vulnerable to anyone, much less this bigger-than-life man was difficult for Jewel.

  “Hey, I have a great bedside manner.” Easy hooked a foot around the leg of a chair and pulled it close enough so he could sit behind her.

  Jewel hid her face by burying it in the balled-up garments she held with one hand, while passing him the small containers of oil and salve with the other. “I bet. We’re not in bed, however.”

  “No. We’re not.” Easy accepted the medicine, his eyes stalling on her ringless left hand. “You’re not married.”

  Jewel huffed a wry laugh. “Not even close.”

  “Hmmm. Me either.” Easy opened one of the jars as he eyed her feminine back. The angry welts marring her beautiful skin was a sacrilege. “Wow,” he exclaimed as the pungent odor hit him in the face. “What is this stuff?”

  “Apple cider vinegar mixed with some calendula and lemon balm. Especially for stings. I sell this type of stuff.” She waved her hand about, drawing attention to the wall to wall shelves and apothecary cabinets.

  “I can see you have lots of oils and tinctures.” Easy glanced around, amazed at all the bunches of dried flowers hanging from the ceiling. “My mom always used baking soda and sugar on stings.” He used his finger to dab on the medicine, leaning near to make sure there was no stinger left behind. “How does that feel?” It surprised Easy to find he had an irresistible urge to kiss the delicate slope of her shoulder.

  Jewel let out a sigh and trembled. She could feel his breath on her back. “Better. Thank you.”

  She brought her hands up to fix her bra, but Easy stopped her. “Let that stuff dry a moment before you adjust your clothing.”

  “Okay. We’ll give it a second or two, then I’ll walk you over to the house.” She hunched her shoulders as if to hide from him as much as she could. “I need to show you where the electric box is and stuff like that.”

  “All right.” Easy rose from his chair. “Do you mind if I look around. You have some interesting stuff here.”

  Jewel shrugged. “Go ahead. I have nothing to hide.”

  Easy noticed her tone didn’t seem to jive with her words. Nevertheless, the woman intrigued him, and he took advantage of the opportunity to learn more. Ambling around the room, he took in the myriad array of candles, crystals, and containers of herbs. The farther he moved into the living room, the more dried flowering plants he found hanging from the ceiling. There were dozens of books lying around with intriguing titles, he ran his finger over one. “Practical Magic. I saw that movie.” By the window overlooking the bayou, he noticed a painted wooden table where a deck of cards lay spread out. “I see you’re into voodoo.”

  Jewel rolled her eyes as she rose to her feet, keeping her back to him while she adjusted her bra. “None of that has anything to do with voodoo.”

  “Sorry. I’m just trying to put two and two together over here.” Any analytical thoughts he could process were quickly playing second fiddle to his growing awareness of her as a woman. Eating her up with his gaze, Easy admired Jewel’s muscle definition. Perfect. Her body was flawless, her breasts tempting handfuls, her skin like silk over glass. Jewel was fit, yet female in every way that counted. She was built like a fuckin’ dream. “Don’t get me wrong. I have nothing against it if you are. My brother is a professed shaman. I’m used to things that go bump in the night.”

  She cut him a scathing glance. “I bet you are. And I don’t mean anything supernatural.”

  “Hey! What does that mean?” He laughed and touched the deck of cards, cutting them, then spreading them out in a fan shape. “You don’t know anything about me.” But…he’d like to know more about her.

  “Oh, let’s see.” She finished redressing, then faced him. “You’re from Texas. Raised on a ranch. You have Native American ancestry.”

  “Obviously.” He winked at her. “I can play cowboys and Indians all by myself.” Tapping the table, he gave Jewel a beckoning look. “How about a reading? I could use a little advice.” Caught up in the moment, Easy didn’t stop to heed the warning bells going off in his brain.

  Jewel shook her head. “I don’t think so. I have a feeling you’re making fun of me. I’m sure you’ve heard all the gossip.”

  Easy held up his hands. “Hold on. I haven’t heard anything about you.” He quickly discounted the weird warning about the area from the little Cajun fishmonger.

  Jewel gestured toward the fridge. “You arrived with crawfish. Still frozen. I’m thinking you ran into one of the locals who relished bringing you up to speed on the scandal.”

  Scandal? “Nope. Don’t have a clue to what you’re talking about.” He didn’t really care either. His family had borne the brunt of prejudice too often for him to give much credence to idle talk. “Come on. It’ll be fun.” He gave her what he thought was a sexy wink. “And you owe me for the medical help.”

  “I owe you? For being a decent human being?” Jewel was trying to hide a smile, somewhat unsuccessfully. This man just wouldn’t do.

  Easy shrugged his wide shoulders. “I figure a reading would clear our account. Or a kiss. Or both, maybe.”

  At the mention of a kiss, Jewel dove for the table. “Sit down. We’ll do a reading, but let’s make this quick. I have real customers coming in later and I have some things to do first.”

  “Customers?” He joined her, sitting opposite. “For readings?”

  “And consultations.” She waved her hand around the room. “I, uh, help people.”

  “Interesting.” Easy found he wanted to know more. He was about to formulate a series of questions when she reached out her hand to him.

  “Let me read your palm first.”

  Easy felt his heart speed up at the prospect of placing his hand in hers. As he did so, he shivered at the electrical tingles surging up his arm. “Okay. Tell me what you see.”

  Jewel found herself trembling as she cradled his hand. He was so warm and his hand was a model of masculine perfection. “You’re no stranger to hard work.”

  Easy chuckled. “My calluses are a dead giveaway to that fact, I suspect.”

  “Right. I respect them. I’m not fond of men with soft hands.”

  Ripples of awareness made their way up Easy’s spine. “Good to know. What else do you see?”

  Jewel swallowed, licking her lips to buy a moment of time. She was feeling things for this man. Things she couldn’t afford to feel. Shaking her head, she focused on what she could see in his palm. “You have a big hand. Large palm and long strong fingers. This tells me you have characteristics from more than one element.”

  “Element?”

  “Earth. Air. Fire. Water.”

  “Oh.” His tone hinted at amusement.

  Jewel chose to ignore his faint derision. “You’re stubborn, but responsible. Sometimes materialistic. You work with your hands and are comfortable with the tangible in life. You can be sociable, talkative, and witty.”

  “Exactly.”

  “Also…shallow, spiteful, and cold at times.”

  “Hey.” S
he was hitting a bit too close to home for comfort. “You been talking to my brothers?”

  “You can also be moody, emotional, and inhibited. Sometimes egoistic, impulsive, and insensitive.”

  “You’re not being very nice, Miss Baptiste. Don’t you see anything good at all?”

  “You love your family.” She rubbed a finger along one of the lines. “You bear a lot of guilt.” She felt him stiffen, his hand jerk in hers. Instinctively, she held it tighter. “You’re a little impatient and highly-sexed.”

  “Now, you’re talking.”

  He seemed pleased with her latest revelation. Rubbing the fleshy mount under his thumb, she made a tit-tit sound with her tongue. “You have a predisposition for hedonism.”

  “I am not a heathen. My mama took me to Sunday School, I’ll have you know.”

  “Not a heathen. A hedonist, a pleasure seeker.”

  “Oh, well, yea.” He laughed in full agreement.

  “I see you have a need for instant gratification.”

  “Hey. Hmmm.” He laughed again. “Maybe, yea.”

  Not something to brag about, she thought. “Your Jupiter mount is well-developed, which means you are dominant, possibly self-centered, and can be aggressive.” Rubbing the mount under his middle finger, she sighed. “I also see how stubborn you can be. A little cynical, and prone to depression.”

  “Now, you’ve quit preaching and gone to meddling.”

  She ignored his chastising, running her finger along one of the lines. “You’re cautious about entering into relationships.”

  “Duh.”

  “But your family is very supportive.”

  “That they are.”

  “You’ve gone through an emotional crisis at some point.” She felt him stiffen again. “But I see you living a long and vital life.”

  “Finally, some good news. How about my love life? Am I going to live happily ever after?”

  Jewel sensed his sarcasm coming through loud and clear. “You’re afraid of getting your heart broken.”

  “Hey.”

  She gave him a quick grin to soften the blow. “So, you avoid the possibility through a series of lovers and the absence of serious relationships. In other words, you’re a tomcatting Casanova.”

  Pulling his hand from hers gently, he tried to tell himself that the bruised feeling around his heart was indigestion. “That’s why everyone calls me Easy.” With a tight grin, he asked what he thought was obvious, “What? Did I go out with one of your friends once upon a time?” And sleep with her. And not call her in the morning?”

  “Nope. No friend.” She picked up the cards he’d already cut and laid out a cross. “Your heart is in your palm and your fate is in the stars.” Glancing down at the cards, her eyes widened, and she immediately swept her hands across them, disturbing the pattern they’d formed. “That’s all.”

  “What? Hey. What did you see?”

  “Nothing.” Jewel stood up, her hand going behind her to wiggle her bra strap off the sore bee stings. “Get your crawfish. I’m walking you over to the house.”

  “You saw something.” Easy stood, pushed his chair under the table, then stared at Jewel Baptiste. “Look at me.”

  She closed her eyes for a moment, pulling a curtain over her soul.

  “Look at me, pretty lady.”

  Jewel shivered at his seductive tone. Turning her head, she met his eyes. “I didn’t see anything.” She lied like a dog.

  Easy locked gazes with her. Her emotions were not easily hidden, but she’d managed. “Am I going to die soon?” The question was on his lips even as he reminded himself that he didn’t believe she knew anything – saw anything. Those things she said meant nothing. Some right. Some wrong. Guesses.

  “No. You’re not going to die anytime soon.” She stalked across the floor and put on her shoes, then marched to the fridge and took out his crawfish herself. “Here.” She held them out. “Let’s go.”

  Easy had no choice but to go along with her plan. He’d accomplished what he came over to do. His good deed for the day. “You’re right. I need to get settled. I’m just glad the place is furnished.”

  “Well, I’m not sure you’re going to share Hazel Baptiste’s eclectic taste in décor. Truthfully, it was just easier for me to rent it furnished than try to clean it out and store everything.”

  “Hazel? Your mother’s name is Hazel? Like Witch Hazel?” Trailing along behind her, they left the house and started down the stairs.

  Upon hearing Ezekiel’s repetitive questions, Jewel lost her concentration and missed a step. She would’ve fallen flat on her face if her new tenant hadn’t reached out and snagged her before she hit the ground. “I knew it! I knew you’d heard the gossip.”

  “I haven’t heard any gossip,” he reiterated, keeping a grip on her arm, a little unwilling to let her go. “This woman just told me Witch Hazel haunted the bayou. I didn’t know she was a real person and I’m sorry for your loss.”

  Jewel pulled from his grasp. “Haunting isn’t too far off, but my mother isn’t dead. She moved to Florida to live with her sister.” Leaving Jewel to clean up the big mess she left behind.

  “Oh. Okay.” Easy shadowed her closely – just in case she took another misstep. “Look. I don’t know nothing about nothing. I’m just grateful to have a house to live in while I work.” And a very intriguing landlady. Even though the sun was beginning to sink behind the treetops, there was enough light for him to make out some type of small structures on the ground on both sides of the path. “What are those things?”

  “Fairy houses.”

  “Fairy houses?” He stopped and bent down to inspect one, finding what looked like a rugged, rustic doll house made from stone and wood. There were tiny windows and a small door. “I’ve never seen anything like this.”

  “Come on, Ezekiel. You can inspect my little village some other time.”

  “All right.” He stood and went on, but slower, still taking in the different shaped houses. “Do you really think fairies live in them?”

  “I’d like to think so.” Jewel let that thought hang out there for a few moments while she opened the garden gate from one yard to the next. “But no.” He didn’t need to have more evidence that she had a screw loose. “Fairy houses are a thing. It’s a hobby. Kids used to come and look at them, before…”

  “Before what?” Easy brushed his hand along the weathered banister as he climbed onto the porch of the house he was renting.

  “Never mind.” She pulled open the screen door. “Undo the lock.” When he gave her a blank stare, she reminded him, “I gave you the key before the bee stung me.”

  “Oh, yea.” He fished out the key from his pocket, slipped it in the lock, and turned it. As he did so, he peered through the glass. “Hey, there’s someone in there.”

  Jewel frowned, startled that he’d seen something. Not that she didn’t believe anything was there – there was. No, she was surprised that Ezekiel Blackhawk could discern the presence. “Probably a trick of the light.” She certainly didn’t want to get into a discussion of the paranormal at this point in their relationship.

  “No.” Ezekiel pushed open the door. “I swear I saw something.” He moved in quickly, not taking time to appreciate his surroundings. Instead, he was intent on finding out if someone had broken in. “Kids, maybe. How long has the house been vacant?”

  “Uh, six months or so.” Jewel flipped on some lights, thinking the illumination would ease Ezekiel’s mind and send the spirit back where it came from – for a while, at least. “You won’t find anything. I checked the house this morning. Everything’s fine.”

  Ezekiel took the time to check every window and door. He also went upstairs and looked in every closet and under the beds. “What the hell?” He was so sure he’d seen the outline of a man through the glass. “I guess I’m going nuts.”

  “No. You probably need glasses.” Jewel stood lounging against the doorjamb. “The electric box is on the back porch. The refrig
erator is old. If it quits working on you, let me know. I’ve been meaning to buy one…but money’s been short. I won’t let you go without, though.”

  “Well, thanks.” Easy brushed his palms on his jeans. ‘I appreciate that.” He held out the bag of crawfish. “I guess I’d better cook these little rascals soon, I’ve put them through the mill.”

  “Come in the kitchen. One of the burners on the stove is cranky.”

  On the way, she told him about a window that was prone to sticking, a floorboard that was loose, and a commode that would continue to run if you didn’t jiggle the handle just so. “It’s an old house, what can I say?”

  “I understand. Houses need care. We did a lot of renovations to our home after my dad died.”

  Jewel could hear the sadness in his voice. “Sorry. Losing someone is hard.”

  “Yea.” As he moved through the dwelling, Easy took in the atmosphere. Homey. Antiques. Lots of pictures of birds and the swamp. “I guess you took out all the weird stuff, huh?”

  Except the ghost. “Yea. Mostly. I’m sure there’s a few skeletons left in the closets.” When they arrived in the kitchen, she opened one of the cabinet doors. “Complete with dishes. Even a few pieces of Waterford glass to hold your wine.”

  “I like that.” He gave Jewel an assessing look. She was even prettier now than when he first noticed her unique beauty. “How about joining me for these crawfish? If we don’t have the ingredients for the boil, I’ll run into town an get what we need. We can make it a little housewarming party for me.”

  Jewel felt her entire body jolt with an electric charge at the thought. “No, thanks. Like I said earlier, I have customers coming.”

  “Ah, come on.” Easy moved into her space and rubbed her silky cheek with one finger. He’d been dying to do that. “Everybody has to eat.”

  “I’m on a diet.” She moved back a few inches. “Besides, I don’t think our seeing one another socially is a good idea.”

  “Why?” Easy held out his arms as if showing off what she was missing. “I’m a joy to be around.”

  “I’m sure you are.” Jewel couldn’t help but smile. “But I’ve read your palm. I know how you operate.”