by C. J. Parker
Agnes huffed angrily and stomped down the stairs with such force the windows rattled.
Snow exited the bedroom. “Soft drink run.”
Bobbie dropped onto the couch. “Take Lexie outside, Snow. I know she’s listening to every word.”
“Okay.” He nodded. “We’ll be out back if you need us. I won’t let her wander off.”
Lexie opened the door to her bedroom and entered the living room. “Just send the kids to play, is that it?”
“Stop acting like a brat, Lexie.” Bobbie turned toward the kitchen and Bertha stepped out as if on cue. “Make sure they stay close?”
“Course, I will.” Bertha ushered the kids out the door. “Come on, babies.”
“Excuse us for just a minute. We’ll be right back.” Bobbie drew Kangee into her bedroom and told him the edited version of everything that had happened in New Orleans. “Kangee, we need to tell Cuda everything.”
~~~
Kangee and Bobbie returned to the living room, but telling Cuda didn’t sit well with Kangee. He turned his back on Cuda and faced Bobbie. “I’m not comfortable with that idea.”
“We don’t have a choice.” Bobbie sidled up to Kangee and wrapped her arms around him.
“The hell you don’t. You’re going to tell him that the Guardians are out to kill us all? How do we know he isn’t one of them, their spy or something of the like? Won’t that give him the advantage?” How could she not understand the can of worms this would spill?
“Look, if he’s part of the Guardians, that’s kind of like shooting himself in the foot, isn’t it?” Her voice ran over him like hot chocolate, burning and comforting at the same time. “Besides, he’d know all this anyway.”
He glanced at Cuda again. The eyes that looked back at him were filled with sadness and defeat. “You sure?”
She nodded. “Besides, you’ll be right here with us.” She kissed him gently.
God, save him from lame-brained, determined women. “Hell.”
She dropped into the chair across from the couch where Tabatha and Rhonda flanked Cuda. Kangee stayed where he was, leaning cross-armed against the wall where he could look out the window.
Or leap on Cuda if he so much as twitched in Bobbie’s direction.
“Cuda,” Bobbie started. “We believe you.”
His eyebrows rose sharply, though his eyes held a hint of disbelief. “You do? Why?”
“Can we trust you?” Bobbie stared him in the eyes, unblinking.
Tabatha twisted her T-shirt in her fist, released it and started again. “We’ve got things to tell you, Cuda,” her voice broke, “that could get Bobbie Rhonda and me killed if you go back to your uncle and tell them.”
Cuda glanced from one face to the other. “What is all this about?” Bobbie gripped her hands so tightly her fingers grew numb. “I’ve been in New Orleans with Rhonda and Tabatha for a month or so. I knew about the Guardians before they did. At least, I knew what my brother had told me before he was murdered. When Tabatha told me she was leaving New York for New Orleans, I knew I had to follow her there. I didn’t know if they knew about Tab and Rhonda, but I couldn’t take that chance.”
“Okay.” Cuda shrugged. “And?”
“No, I’ll tell him.” Rhonda picked lint balls off the arm of the couch. “Cuda, I killed Phelps.”
“Oh, no.” Bobbie shook her head vehemently. “I cut him up pretty badly. It could have been me that was the cause of his death.”
Cuda’s face drained of color.
Tabatha stepped forward. “I showered him in broken glass. I think the infection may have done him in.”
“Yes, but I’m the one that set him on fire,” Rhonda insisted.
Cuda warily stared from one to the other. His fists worked at his sides as if he were ready to kill them all. “So, you all had a part in it. Why? Don’t you realize what you’ve done?”
“He was hired by the Guardians to kill me and my son.” Rhonda took his hand in hers. “Then, he took a liking to Tabatha and wouldn’t take no for an answer. It wasn’t something we set out to do, you know. We didn’t really mean to kill him. But he just kept coming at us. He was alive when they took him to the hospital, but he died the next day.”
He peered at Rhonda’s long-fingered hands for several moments before pulling his away. “I need to think about this.”
“Cuda.” Kangee tried to appear relaxed. “Rhonda thinks you may want to come back to the village. Is that true?” Kangee watched for any sign of reaction from Cuda. But his face was a mask of banked rage. The calm before the storm?
Bobbie raked her fingers through her hair. “You would be welcomed if you could live here with me as queen. But not if you feel the need to fight me at every turn.” She gazed at him steadily as if waiting for a reply.
Cuda stared at her with a bemused expression. He opened his mouth to speak, but shook his head and left, Kangee following him to the doorway. Cuda shifted as he ran down the stairs and vanished into the woods.
“I’m going after him.” Rhonda turned to leave.
Bobbie shook her head. “No. Not until we’re sure those men are no longer out there or to see if Cuda isn’t going to them. We have men posted all over the swamps, reporting back what they see.”
Tabatha nodded. “I think we need to give him time to come to grips with what he knows and needs to do. We can only prepare for whatever side his decision falls on. I think he’s so confused he isn’t quite sure who to trust. But we can thank Rhonda for what control he maintained.”
Rhonda’s mouth turned down in a hard frown. “Cuda has a mind of his own. He’s not some castoff begging for scraps. He’s one of you. Cuda deserves a chance to prove it.” She walked into the dining area, picked up the radio as she passed the side table. She cranked it to life.
…now positioned two hundred and eighty miles southeast of New Orleans, category four, Hurricane Mona is moving toward the northwest at eight miles an hour. Sustained winds are at one hundred and thirty two. The high that formed over the last few days has moved west, leaving Georgia, Alabama and most of Mississippi out of the strike zone. If the high keeps moving east, we may be out of danger, but, and this is a big ugly but, there is another high forming west of Texas and will most likely stall the eastern high from moving more westerly. This is called the bowling alley effect, Mona being the ball and us the pins. Not good news, girls and boys. If it stays at that speed, it will strike land within thirty-five hours. But you know these storms speed up when they get close to land. Those who were here for Katrina, learn from it. Heed the evacuation orders. Board up and get the…
Bobbie grabbed the silent radio and cranked it again to get the last of the report, but when the sound returned, Faith Hill’s voice filled the room.
Rhonda rushed out the door, screaming Cuda’s name.
Bobbie ran out the back. “Lexie! Snow!”
Chapter Fourteen
The six-by-six deer blind sat high in the old oak tree, nothing more than rotting planks nailed to two-by-fours adjoined to the spreading limbs, not a hundred feet from the village. The sun was maybe an hour from setting. Shadows cast long tendrils of gloom over the surroundings.
He’d presented his trophy to the Guardians, but they still wanted more. Always more. The Speculator wondered if they’d found the old cat yet. He’d made sure she was far enough off the trail before he killed her. He’s sprayed her with about half the bottle of liquid the salesman at the hunter’s store had told him would cover any scent from anything, from human to animal and everything in between.
He climbed the tree with ease and dropped his tackle box in the center near the tree’s trunk. He opened the box and removed the bottle of scent cover and sprayed the foul liquid over his clothing and all along the platform, then poured the remains of the bottle around the base of the tree. He removed his knife and whetstone, but before he could slide the glistening blade across the stone, he heard voices. He laid flat and waited.
The Speculator’s p
atience was soon rewarded when a young girl raced out into the open. She was a pretty thing. Blond hair, a bit too short for his taste, but it would grow out. Her fair skin all but glowed in the sunlight filtering down on her. She was dressed in nothing more than a worn-thin T-shirt and what appeared to be the bottom half of a bathing suit. Long, tanned legs seemed to stretch on forever.
She raised her nose into the air and snorted.
How un-lady-like.
What would she be like when he fucked her? Would she be wild and dangerous? Or would she be a kitten, all soft and purring? His erection pressed against the zipper of his jeans, but he didn’t dare move for fear of being detected. He wasn’t ready to let her see him yet. He wanted to watch her move. Each motion she made sent strong desire to his groin, like mighty jolts of electricity.
The Speculator readied to push himself on all fours and stand when a young boy strode out of the woodland. He took the girl into his arms and kissed her on the neck.
“Come on, Lexie. Bobbie didn’t mean anything. She’s our queen, and there will be some things she can’t talk about in front of us. You’d best get used to that.”
“It’s not that. It’s that she keeps thinking I’m just a kid. I’m not, Snow.”
The boy nuzzled his nose into Lexie’s hair. “Yeah.” He laughed lightly. “I noticed.”
The Speculator’s stomach tightened, his chest begged for air. He didn’t like that punk bastard touching his girl. He pushed himself up to his hands and knees, ready to jump the boy when he heard a voice filter though the woods, calling for someone named Lexie and Stephen.
Now he knew her name. Lexie ran out of site with the punk running closely behind. Too damned close. He had to be more careful. He’d noticed as he’d approached the shore that the woods were dotted with men. But he was smarter than them.
Watching the boy run after Lexie, he smiled. He’d found his next victim.
Chapter Fifteen
The fear in Bobbie’s voice sent shivers up Kangee’s spine. He raced through the house, passing Bertha in the kitchen, ran out the back door, coming to a abrupt stop next to Bobbie on the landing. “What’s wrong?”
She didn’t answer him as she frantically scanned the tree line. Bertha stepped out the back door and shrugged. “The kids said they were going to walk along the yard. They wanted to be alone. There ain’t nobody out there with them, I assure you. Otherwise, I wouldn’t have let them off the porch.” Bertha gazed down at Bobbie wringing her hands. “What’s happened?”
“Hurricane coming.” Kangee watched Bobbie pace the length of the deck. “A bad one.” He gripped her upper arms stopping her pacing. “Honey, it’s not going to hit in the next few minutes.”
Snow broke through the tree line first, Lexie on his heels. They flew up the back steps mid-change, Lexie looking around wild-eyed.
Bobbie took her by the shoulders. “Stop it, Lexie. No one’s hurt, but we’ve got a problem.”
Kangee’s tension eased as Bobbie wrapped her arms around the girl and the muscles in Bobbie’s neck and back relaxed.
She released Lexie and took a step back. “Don’t run off like that again.”
Lexie looked away, her cheeks reddened. “We wanted a few minutes alone. We weren’t doing anything.”
“I remember those days.” Kangee smiled at Snow.
“So do I.” Bobbie smiled softly. “And I have no problem with you two spending time together as long as you’re smart about it. Please tell me you weren’t going off looking for those men.”
Lexie’s blush intensified. “Bobbie, please.”
“A conversation for another day.” Bobbie raked her fingers through her hair. “I need your help. Both of you.”
Kangee nodded in agreement. “Bobbie got the radio going. There’s a hurricane coming, and it’s going to be a bad one. When you add that to the threat of Cuda’s friends and a killer on the loose, we’ve got trouble.” Kangee tried to remember if anyone was out on the Gulf fishing, then remembered the men stationed around the area watching for intruders. He’d have to warn them. “None of us can go wandering off right now.”
“What about Derek?” Tabatha’s question drew Kangee’s attention as she stood in the doorway, eyes wide in her pale face. “He and Troy left for New Orleans.”
“Now, baby girl, you stop that worrying.” Bertha dragged Tabatha into her arms. “You know Derek. He knows you. You both have things to do. He’s the law. He’ll see to the safety of his own. Troy will help him, then train him all up and send him back to you.”
Tabatha’s hands flew to her mouth. “Momma?”
Bertha glanced away and quickly back again. “Langton took her to Memphis. The doctors approved it.”
“Langton? My lawyer? She hates him.” Tabatha placed her hands on her hips. “And how would you know that?”
Bertha shrugged. “Just do.”
Tabatha stared at her old friend for a long, hard moment. “One of these days, Miss Bertha, we’re going to have to sit down and talk.”
“Okay, but we’ve got too much to do right now.” Bertha shuffled into the kitchen.
Kangee shook his head in amused exasperation. He’d never get used to the powers these women had. If they could harness their powers, the Guardians wouldn’t have a chance.
Cuda climbed the back steps, Rhonda at his heels. “I found Cuda about a mile away.” She shook her head. “That coyote can sure move fast.”
“Where were you going?” Kangee crossed his arms over his chest. “To warn your uncle?”
“If he has any sense, he’s half way to Houma by now. He has a place there that he’s survived several hurricanes in.” Cuda shrugged. “You don’t see him waiting for me, do you?”
“Can’t this wait, Kangee?” Rhonda grasped Cuda’s hand and drew him to her side. The look in her eyes as she gazed at him, turned Kangee’s stomach. “The announcer said it’s a category four right now. But it’s still a good bit away and expected to weaken and then strengthen again.” She swallowed hard enough that the sound of her throat tightening then releasing could be heard. “Then hitting us dead on.”
“It’ll be a category five by the time it hits us.” Cuda shook his head.
“That means another Katrina.” Tabatha stared out over the dark forest. “The city still hasn’t recovered from her and the condition of Gray Manor after the fire, it won’t survive either.”
“Can the village withstand another storm like that?” Bobbie ran her gaze over the stilted houses.
“When we rebuilt after Katrina, we used steel framing and the pilings holding up the buildings are wood-encased steel posts. We can withstand the winds, but it’s the surge that worries me.” Kangee looked up to stare into the sky. Not a cloud marred its perfection.
“Tabatha, you and Lexie start warning everyone to pack up and be out of here within the next two hours.”
Kangee glanced at the sun and judged it to be no more than two in the afternoon. If they worked together, they could have everyone out before nightfall.
Bobbie turned to Cuda. “Are you sure those men aren’t still in the woods?”
His whole body tensed. “I promised you, Bobbie, they’re gone. I don’t even know that man Phelps. I have no loyalty to him. I won’t set you or your people in harm’s way. We can settle our differences later.”
“Fine.” Bobbie skimmed her hands over her face.
Kangee formed a “to-do” list in his head. “Snow, gather the men holding watch out in the woods. Tell them what’s happening and to start boarding windows.”
Snow nodded.
Kangee kissed Bobbie and moved away. “You women should go on ahead and get the shelter ready. We’ll stay and get the shutters up.”
“Oh, how macho of you, darling.” Bobbie rolled her eyes.
Bertha clapped her hands gaining attention. “This isn’t the Titanic. We’ll leave as families. That way no one will take stupid chances because they’re worried about loved ones left behind. Make sure everyone
has their camp stoves and food.” She paced and ticked off a list. “Ice, bottled water, games for the kids, radios, and bedding. Cuda, are you coming with us?”
“No. Once I know you all are on your way, I’ve got to get to my uncle’s place in Houma.” Cuda brushed his hair off his forehead.
Rhonda raced down the stairs. “But…” She looked Cuda in the eyes.
Cuda gave Rhonda’s hand a squeeze. “I’ll be fine.” He kissed her on her cheek. “Worry about yourself.”
“But…” Rhonda’s voice was a pitiful whine.
“Lord, you do like to argue. It’s like having a bratty little sister.” Cuda smiled. “I’ll see you when I can get back. I’ll be okay.”
Rhonda nodded. “All right. But if you get yourself killed, I’ll have Tabatha raise you up so I can kill you again.”
Cuda tilted his head, his eyes narrowed. “Raise me?”
“We need to get moving.” Kangee sent a veiled glare in Rhonda’s direction. At least, she had the grace to look flustered. “If you’re going, Cuda, then go. There are enough men to handle the preparations. You can help us most by keeping your uncle away from here.”
Cuda nodded curtly. “Keep her safe, Kangee, or…”
Kangee’s ire rose sharply. He took a step forward. “Or what, coyote?”
“Wait!” Bobbie stepped between them placing a hand on each chest. “Where are Omeda and the others who went with you earlier?”
“Don’t worry about Omeda.” Cuda backed away. “She doesn’t worry about you.” His head rolled back, as his body dropped to the ground, shifted and ran into the woodland.
Bobbie watched him disappear. With a determined nod, she started barking out orders. “Kangee’s right. We’ve got things to do if everyone is going to get away from here safely.”
Opening a drawer in the kitchen, she grabbed and thrust a ring of keys into Rhonda’s hand. “Gulf side of the Council House there’s a green shed. Unlock it. Pull out everything that isn’t too heavy for you.” She paused. “Is everything as it was? I mean, since Katrina, have things been moved?”
Kangee shook his head. “Nothing has changed. Everyone knows what to do.”
