“I-I saw Camille leaving. She packed almost everything she owned within a day. And she left in the middle of the night. I heard her say your name, Genny, and I knew she was going to wherever you were.” Bernard swallowed. “I couldn’t help you eight years ago, but I thought maybe I could help you now. I know why she’s here.”
Genny’s hand tightened on Lee’s. “She told me she’s here to visit me and my daughter.”
“No, she’s here to take your daughter back to New Orleans.”
“What?” Genny swayed toward Lee. “Why would she do that? She hasn’t cared enough to even write one letter in eight years. She didn’t want me as a daughter, why would she want her granddaughter now?”
Her voice had risen to nearly a scream. Lee led her over to the desk and made her sit down. He kept his eye on Bernard, whose gaze was locked on Genny.
“What else do you know?” Zeke crowded Bernard, pushing him back into the cell. “Camille and her piece-of-shit boy tried to kill my fucking cousin. So you’d better tell us what you know or get the fuck out of my town.”
Bernard looked like a rabbit facing the big bad wolf. Lee almost smiled at the sight, but then he remembered the dire situation they were in. He had to stop thinking about himself—he had a family to protect. No more selfish shit.
“Your daughter’s name is Sophie, right?” Bernard glanced at Genny.
“Yes, her name is Sophie. She’s…seven.” Genny’s ashen complexion worsened.
Bernard blew out a breath. “She is Allen Coddington’s child.”
It was a statement, not a question, but Genny nodded just the same.
“Sirius Coddington must know about her somehow. He’s offered your mother ten thousand dollars to bring her back to New Orleans to be raised in his house.” Bernard’s words dropped like rocks in a still pond.
“Excuse me?” Her mother had lied about Sirius’s death, that was obvious. It was one of thousands of lies Camille Boudreaux had spouted. Instead of falling to pieces, the shocking information seemed to make Genny’s spine straighter.
Bernard nodded, even as he tried to move away from Zeke’s bulk. “It’s true. I heard her talking to Sirius last week. She assured him she could retrieve the girl without any resistance.”
“He knows where we are?” Genny’s voice grew sharper.
“No, Camille refused to tell him. After all, if Sirius knew where Sophie was, he could send his men to get her.” Bernard shook his head. “I think she wanted to feel the cash in her hand when she brought the girl back.”
The man’s appearance smacked of conspiracy with the very bitch who had arrived in Tanger to wreak havoc with their lives. Lee grabbed him by the collar, shaking him until his teeth rattled. “And now you appear in Tanger and tell us a story about Camille.”
“I swear, I’m not working for her. I am Genny’s friend, that’s all.” He swallowed so hard, Lee heard the man’s throat move.
“I don’t believe a word of it,” Zeke spat.
“It’s true. I swear.” Bernard looked at Genny. “Genny, I came to help you. Eight years ago I didn’t do nothing to help and you got sent away. I-I thought maybe I could make up for that.”
Lee looked at Zeke and he realized his brother was thinking the same thing. “Put him back in the cell.”
Bernard sputtered as Zeke shoved him in the cell and turned the key. Genny turned to frown at Lee.
“What are you doing?”
“He’s lying, Genny. Lying through his fucking teeth.” Lee touched the gun on his hip. “If Naomi wouldn’t yell at me for making a mess, I’d put a new hole in his head.”
Bernard’s eyes widened. “Don’t let him shoot me, Genny.”
Lee smelled raw fear coming from the man. Soon enough he’d tell them what they wanted to know.
“Lee, please. I don’t think he’s lying.”
“You haven’t seen him in eight years and he appears the day after your mother does telling you that he’s here to help you? Think about it, Genny. He probably came with Camille to help her.”
She finally heard what Lee was saying and this time when she looked at Bernard, her eyes narrowed.
“Bernard, what are you really doing here?”
This time, Bernard’s innocent expression fell and guilt replaced it. “She promised me a thousand dollars to help her. Miss Boudreaux told me she needed help to get your daughter. I told her no, so she fired me.” Bernard peered at her through the bars. “I’m sorry, Genny. So sorry. You’ve got to believe me. I only wanted to help you.” Bernard sounded sincere, but Lee didn’t believe him entirely.
Zeke looked at Genny. “It’s up to you, sister. What do you want to do with him?”
She turned to look at Lee. In her eyes he saw confusion and fear, but he also saw something else. He realized she’d already forgiven Bernard and wanted his approval to let him out. Lee never thought he’d be able to communicate with a woman without words. Suddenly he knew he was in trouble, because he was always going to give in when she asked him for something, with or without words.
“Let him out, but the little bastard is not going to leave our sight.” Lee was pleased when Genny smiled at him, a shaky one but a smile nonetheless.
“Don’t worry, I’ll shoot him if he tries anything.” Zeke bared his teeth at Bernard and the young man looked like he would piss himself in a moment.
“Let’s go back to the mill and see what’s going on. I want to check on Gid.” Lee took Genny’s arm, confident his brother would keep the fool in check.
The sun had risen in full while they’d been at the jail. The warm sun couldn’t chase away the chill that had settled in Genny’s soul when she discovered the full extent of her mother’s perfidy. She had used everyone around her for her own purposes, even to the point of plotting her granddaughter’s kidnapping.
It made Genny wonder if she ever knew who her mother was at all. Camille had seemed like a vapid, self-centered woman but she’d shown herself to be more than manipulative. She’d crossed the line to cruel and crazy, with an insatiable need for money.
When Lee, Zeke, Genny and Bernard walked into the mill Jake rose from the table, the gun instantly in his hand. “I don’t remember inviting him into my house.”
“I did.” Lee ushered them all in, much to Genny’s relief. “This is Bernard. He’s a, well, he’s…”
“He’s an old friend from New Orleans.” Genny rescued her husband from telling her sordid life’s tale to her new family. “He also told us why Camille is really here and will help us stop her.”
Jake stared at Bernard a bit longer. “I’ll let him take breakfast with us, but I ain’t trusting nobody from New Orleans.”
Genny couldn’t blame Jake for being suspicious. She had a hard time figuring out how to trust herself. Bernard sounded sincere, though she wasn’t sure she believed every word of his story. However he did sound earnest about what Camille planned. Or maybe she just wanted to believe her childhood friend wasn’t another one of her mother’s playthings.
The fact remained Camille had lied so many times Genny had lost count, and Sophie was now in serious danger.
Genny suddenly noticed Gideon was gone. “What happened?” Her gaze swept from Gabby to Naomi, but they both smiled.
“Don’t worry. Gideon woke up and had a little broth. Jake and Martin carried him upstairs to recover. We just made some breakfast for everyone.” Gabby gestured to the table. “Please sit. There’s plenty.”
Breakfast was a somber meal in comparison to dinner the night before. Genny could hardly remember what life was like two days earlier when her thoughts were on the wheat crop and finding a way to tell Lee she loved him. Now they were fighting for their lives.
“Camille wormed her way into staying with Hettie.” Jake made a face. “That old bitty never liked me or Gabby as mayor. Did all she could to kick us off the town council.”
“Wait, your wife is mayor?” Bernard stopped with a forkful of eggs halfway to his mouth.
&nbs
p; “Is that a problem?” Jake narrowed his eyes.
“No, just, ah, surprised.” The newcomer wisely turned his attention back to his plate.
“If Camille is at Hettie’s house, we should invite her to the restaurant for dinner. All of us can be there to confront her, arrest her and be done with it.” Lee almost growled his plan. “I want this over with. I’ve already had a helluva wedding day and not much of a wedding night.”
Genny squeezed his arm. “I think that’s a great idea. Confronting her is the only way to bring her out into the open and finish whatever it is she started. I won’t give her another chance to take my daughter.”
“Then I can arrest her.” Zeke’s smile could have frightened small animals.
Genny never thought she’d be glad to see her mother again, but if they did this right, it would be the last time.
After some heated discussions, Genny left the mill with Lee, Zeke, Bernard and Jake. Gabby kissed her husband goodbye as if he was going to battle, which in a way, they all were.
Genny started trembling the moment her feet hit the porch. It wasn’t excitement or fear, but rather the knowledge all the lies she’d based her life on were about to come crashing down, and along with it, the architect of her unhappy existence.
Jake walked with Bernard, keeping his hand on his pistol at all times. Genny barely noticed anything around her as she walked between Zeke and Lee. Together they were pretty formidable men, broad-shouldered, hats pulled down low, and lethal pistols strapped to their thighs. She felt safe, which was an unusual and unfamiliar feeling.
“I’ll go to Hettie’s house and meet you at the restaurant.” Zeke broke off from the group and loped off down the side street to the house surrounded by flowers. It was as if Camille was the insect hiding in the beautiful blooms.
Margaret welcomed them into the restaurant. “Is Gideon all right?”
Lee pulled out a chair for Genny. “Doc says he’s got a long road, but he’ll recover.”
“Thank God.” She glanced at Genny’s finger. “Something you need to tell me, Lee?”
For the first time since he’d married Genny, Lee felt his cheeks heat, as if he had gone behind Margaret’s back to marry another woman. Silly notion, but just the same, he couldn’t stop it once it started.
“Genny and I got hitched yesterday.” He squeezed his new wife’s hand.
“Congratulations.” Margaret smiled and Lee was pleased to see Genny smile in return.
“Thank you. Now can we get some coffee? I need some of that mud you brew.” Lee hadn’t teased her in so long, it felt surreal to do so.
Margaret picked up on it immediately. “At least the spoon doesn’t stand up in it like that sludge you used to make.”
With a chuckle, she went into the kitchen for coffee. Bernard and Jake settled at the table, and they turned together, watching the door, waiting for the spider to come into the trap they’d laid for her.
Genny just hoped no one else would get hurt. It was only through the grace of God that Gideon had survived the stab wounds. She would spend a great deal of time making it up to him with baked goods made from her own wheat.
It seemed like hours until they heard footsteps on the front steps, but it was only about ten minutes. By then the coffee had been drunk and the mood had tightened until the tension in the air almost crackled. When Genny heard Camille’s voice, she nearly jumped off the chair. Lee put his hand on her knee.
“It’s okay, darlin’. We’re not going to let her hurt anyone again.” He squeezed lightly and stood to face the woman who had come to destroy their lives.
Genny rose too, standing on his left side so Lee had free access to his gun. As soon as Camille walked in she nodded at Genny, ignored Lee, then she finally noticed Bernard. Her expression filled with rage and she looked between them.
“What is going on here?”
“I’d like to ask you the same question, Maman. Bernard has told us quite a few things about you and what you’ve come here to do.” Genny’s heart beat so hard her ears hurt, and her mouth went dry as cotton. She pressed on though, eager to vanquish the real demon in her life. “You were going to steal Sophie, weren’t you? My daughter! She’s the Coddington heir and you were going to bring her back to New Orleans for money. Tell me, Maman, did you honestly think I’d just give you my daughter? Or that I wouldn’t fight you tooth and nail?” Genny was so furious she was nearly breathing fire.
Camille’s face tightened until she resembled a hissing snake. “I thought to collect money from the brat I whelped twenty years ago. You ruined my life, my figure and cost me my inheritance.”
“How dare you blame your stupidity on me?” Genny shook her head. “You chose to follow your lover to New Orleans.”
“Ha! And you believe that story?” Camille circled the table in front of them, drawing closer to Genny. Zeke was ten feet behind her, gun in hand. “Your father was a stableboy. I made up the story about your society father so he would support me. You see I’d bedded him, but only after I’d caught pregnant already.” Camille’s smile was all sharp teeth. “I should have gone to that crazy voodoo woman and gotten rid of you when I had the chance. You’ve been nothing but trouble since then.”
Genny tried to take it all in, but she felt as though Camille was slapping her with words. “Maman, I don’t believe it.”
“It doesn’t matter what you believe. All I want is that girl.” She pulled a pistol from her bag and pointed it straight at Genny. “Or you will leave her an orphan.”
Genny stared down the mouth of the gun, its black muzzle a yawning maw of death. “My family is all here, including my husband. Will you kill us all?”
“I don’t need to. All I need is to threaten you and your darling husband will do anything I want to save you.” Camille cocked the gun. “Tell the sheriff to go get Sophie now or I will splatter your brains all over your new husband.”
Lee was rigid as steel beside her, his breath coming in shallow pants. He’d risk his life for her, she knew that, but she refused to allow it to happen. If there was one thing she’d do right in her life, Genny would not permit someone she loved to be hurt again.
She stepped in front of Lee. “Go ahead and shoot me then, because I won’t let you take Sophie.”
“Genny!” Lee tried to get around her, but she widened her stance to block him.
“Come on, Maman, are you just big threats or are you going to use that gun?” Genny walked toward her until the gun pressed into her belly, hard and deadly against her. “Kill me. Or would you rather it be more dramatic?”
She didn’t think about what she was doing, she couldn’t. Genny only knew she had to stop her mother. She pulled the gun up until it was pressed against her cheek.
“Do it.”
Camille cocked the gun but before she could pull the trigger, a sound of unholy terror broke the air. Genny dropped to her knees as the rebel yell echoed through the building. Zeke tried to pull the gun from Camille’s hand, but she held on, firing into the air. The smell of gun powder and fear permeated the room. Genny got back up and ran at them, determined to stop her mother from hurting Zeke.
A strong arm snatched her by the waist, stealing the breath from her body just as Zeke hit the floor with Camille in his arms. The gun went off again. This time it didn’t fire into the air. Genny screamed, unwilling to believe Zeke had been shot because of her. She struggled against the arm that held her captive, recognizing Lee’s scent as he held her tight against his chest.
“Easy, Genny, easy.”
“Oh my God, is Zeke hurt? I can’t, please, he’s your brother.” She sobbed as the reality of another death hit her.
“No, he’s not hit, but your mother is.” Lee held her until she stopped flopping like a fish on a line.
Genny took hold of her self-control with both hands and yanked back at the panic and raw fury that had driven her. She’d tried to protect her new family, the only ones to ever accept her as she was, flaws and crimes included.
“My mother?”
“Yes, darlin’. I think she was hit in the chest.” Lee let her down and took her hand. He rubbed at the gold band on her finger.
Zeke rose from the floor, blood splattered on his shirt. “She okay?” he cocked his head toward Genny.
“I think so, but she scared the shit out of me two minutes ago.” Lee spoke of his wife as if she wasn’t holding his hand, staring down at her mother’s body.
Genny knelt and took her mother’s hand, pressing it to her cheek. “I’m sorry you didn’t find your way to a family like mine, Maman. Finally, se finis.”
“My God, Genny, are you okay?” Bernard appeared beside them, his face pale. “I’ve never seen such a thing before.”
“Shut up, Mitchell, and help me take the body over to the doc’s.” Zeke didn’t wait for Bernard to stop sputtering. The two of them, along with Jake, took Camille’s body wrapped in a tablecloth, leaving Lee and Genny alone in the restaurant.
The blood on the floor was a stark reminder that death came to everyone, even those who deserved it. Genny could not feel bad for her mother’s fate even if her childhood had shaped her into the monster she became. Somehow though, Genny had escaped from her mother’s dark world, found a farm to call home, and finally a man to call her own.
Lee folded her into his embrace and Genny wept silent tears for her mother, for the childhood she never had, and for the grief she should feel for the woman who had given birth to her. Finally, finally, Genny was free.
They walked arm in arm out of the restaurant. Lee was glad Genny’s mother was dead, but he wasn’t going to tell her that. It wasn’t very Christian of him, but hell, Camille wasn’t much of a Christian woman herself. The woman had been a monster and he’d wonder for the rest of his life how she was blessed with an incredible daughter like Genny.
Lee wanted to take her home and start their life together.
Home.
Lee had a place to call his own, a farm that he would find a way to pay for no matter what. Even if it wasn’t legally Genny’s, they would keep it come hell or high water. By the time they arrived at the mill, Bernard was walking back with Zeke, eyes wide as he kept a wary eye on the big sheriff. He seemed so damn young compared to Lee, and there was likely only five years between them.
Lee: Devils on Horseback, Book 4 Page 18
