Davy and cat rolled on the floor. He managed to grab the feline’s body and tugged repeatedly. The cat dug in, determined to punish the man for disturbing its peace.
Billy rushed over and swatted at the cat, which bit his hand before releasing Davy’s bloodied face and racing off into the dark.
Weeping over his bitten hand, Billy tumbled to the kitchen floor, landing beside his cohort.
His friend scowled beside him. “Quit caterwauling, Billy. That animal made enough noise to raise the dead. We should skedaddle.”
Indeed, it has. Grace was waking.
Luc sensed her moving around.
“I have to bind up this wound on my hand first. Ain’t leaving blood all over the place for that woman to worry about.”
“Okay, if she woke up, she’ll be here real soon, but I think I got time to finish checking this firebox.”
“If it was in there, it would be burnt to cinders by now.”
“Boss’ll ask, and he’ll know if I lie. Besides, this one’s cold. Ain’t been used in a while.
“Fine.” Billy removed a grimy rag from a pocket and tried to wrap his hand. Davy took to his knees again and peered into the oven’s firebox. With both men occupied, Luc moved at spectral speed, lifted one of the burner covers and huffed a strong breath into the stove. Ash and soot exploded through the door.
Davy howled, fell back to lay kicking on the floor. “Godamnitall. Help!” he screeched. “I’m blind. Help me. Arrgh! It hurts.”
As he screamed, he made the grand mistake of rubbing his eyes. The misguided attempt to clear his vision ground particles of soot and ash into his eyes. He’d probably never see clearly again.
Dropping the rag, Billy leapt to his feet. “I saw a pail of water near the back door.”
“Don’t move!” Grace stood at the bottom of the old servants’ stairs, rifle at her shoulder aimed at the heavyset man’s forehead. Beside her, Mercury growled, and Mars bared his teeth.
Billy raised his hands and froze, but his gaze flitted from Grace to Filthy to the rear door.
“Help me.” One of Davy’s hands left off rubbing his eyes and flailed the area beside him. “Where are you? Why ain’t you helping me? I’m in pain.”
Evidently, the blinded man hadn’t realized Grace was there. His cry distracted her for a moment. Unfortunately, it was long enough for Billy to dash for the door.
Luc was faster. He shoved the heap of trash that’d been swept to the side of the door into the man’s path. Billy tripped. Momentum sent him flying, and he landed on his back beside the pail he’d earlier intended to find. He gasped for air like a beached fish.
Mars sprang, landing full length atop him, and growled in the man’s face.
Grace strolled over to the fallen man, placing the muzzle of the rifle against his forehead. “Mars, heel.”
The dog obeyed. Her target hauled in air. The rifle kept him on the floor.
“Quit your bitching, Davy. We got bigger problems,” The heavy-set man said when he was able to speak.
Davy was beyond reason. He fumbled his hand into a pocket and withdrew a large handkerchief. He began rubbing the cloth over his eyes.
“Stop that,” Grace ordered. “You’re making it worse.”
“Miz Thibodaux?” Davy squeaked, but he ceased rubbing his eyes.
“Glad you remember whose house you’re trespassing in.” Her attention never left Billy. “You,” she said to the larger man. “I’m going to step back and let you help your friend. Then you’re going to tell me exactly what you are doing here.”
When the rifle moved, Billy levered himself to his feet, retrieved the water pail, and returned to sit at Davy’s side. “Gimme that.” He grabbed the cloth from his cohort. “You ain’t the only one in pain.” Billy cast a resentful glare at Grace. “My whole body aches. Think I broke something.” He dunked the kerchief into the pail then turned to his partner.
“I need you to sit up,” he told the man.
Davy flailed with his hands. Billy captured one and hauled the man upward. “Ow! You’re hurting me,” Davy hollered.
