“I’m sorry I can’t make your rheumatism go away.” DeLille planted a kiss on his wife’s head.”
“I know.” An impatient frown crossed her face. “Distract me. Tell me about Guidry.”
“He thinks we should get rid of Miz Thibodaux.” DeLille circled the small room as he spoke.
“That man is so stupid. She gets murdered or disappears, we’ll have all sorts of people poking around investigating. What did you tell him?”
“I didn’t tell him anything.” He paused in front of his wife. Tenderness filled his eyes. “I let him talk himself into arranging to have Jeffries and Walters search the house with orders to—and I quote—take care of her.”
“Those two are almost as great fools as the other two, what were their names?”
“Bill and Davy.”
“Did your cousin up north eliminate them?” A brief, joyful gleam replaced the pain squinting her eyes.
“I heard he had them working construction. There was an accident with some cement.” DeLille tossed off the comment as if he spoke about the weather.
The smile on Edina’s face would make a strong man quail.
Luc blinked, glad at the moment he was ephemeral.
These two are evil.
“Good to know your cousin is reliable. Now what are we gonna do about Guidry?”
“I think either Miz Thibodaux or Mr. Guidry will have to meet with an unfortunate end.” DeLille nodded as he paced “Whoever remains alive can be accused of murdering the other one.”
“Whatever you do, do it before Guidry messes up and sends those two fools to off Miz Thibodaux,” Edina insisted.
The grocer nodded and moved to look out the window at the rainy night. His hand fisted in the worn curtains, and his lips curled in a cruel smile. “Definitely. I have some details to arrange and told him to delay until he hears from me.”
“I wonder what kind of end should happen?” Glee brightened Edina’s brown eyes. “Maybe a drowning. That would be logical, with all this rain we’ve been having. The bayous are filling up fast.”
“I’ll sleep on that. You coming to bed?” he asked.
“I don’t think I can sleep tonight,” she whined.
“You want some of that aspirin the doctor gave you?” His voice and expression were tight with concern.
“That stuff doesn’t work. Get me some laudanum before you turn in, please.”
Luc returned to theOnly Love. He needed rest. If Edina DeLille’s pain was anything like his own, he felt sorry for the woman. Although his own body-splitting pain had not turned him bitter or hateful enough to kill anyone. The woman should be grateful she had drugs she could use to escape for a time. For Luc there was no escape. He’d confirmed the danger to Grace, so he had to tell her. Given DeLille’s plan to rid her of her land manager and crew in addition to whatever end would befall Guidry, Luc believed he had a day, two at the most to persuade Grace to leaveSweet Dreams.
All he needed was a few hours rest. He could listen for her and the dogs. Any unusual sound would alert him. Confident in his abilities to avert danger, he closed his eyes and dreamed.
Chapter Twenty
The Only Love, Mal Chance Bayou
April 17, 1912 New Moon
The mattress dipped as his beloved sat beside him. She stroked his brow, and kissed his cheek. “I am so very glad I left home to find you.”
Luc pushed the coverlet aside, circled her waist with an arm and gently pulled her to lie across his chest. “You talk too much, Grace, my love.” He kissed her, receiving the boon of her kiss in return. He reveled in the stroke of her hands, The press of her breasts, the heat of her thighs and body. “You also have too many clothes on.”
She lifted her head to meet his gaze, smiling that heart squeezing smile. “Are you planning to do anything about that?” Grace teased.
To pleasure them both, he took his time, yet the ease of disrobing her pleased him. No dress, stays, petticoats, or chemise. Nothing but a few buttons and that amazing invention the zipper. Her breasts filling his hands distracted him. The warm damp at the apex of her thighs urged him.
