Luc’s face paled. “We both know how gossip flies.”
“Especially here.” Grace kissed his cheek. “If DeLille doesn’t know I’m alone now, he’ll know very soon.”
Luc gave a single nod. “Then we’d best hurry and continue as planned.”
“Right, the amulet was the first step. Now we need to deal with the animals and get the things we want with us to theOnly Love.”
“That won’t take much time or effort, we should be away long before DeLille gets here.”
“Probably,” Grace worried a fingernail.
“You aren’t certain? What might delay us?”
“Since we don’t know when someone will come for the horses, I need to make certain they have enough feed and water to last until someone gets here.”
“I’ll go with you.”
“I wish you could. Given that you still have spectral speed, some part of your curse remains. You’ll frighten the horses, and it will take twice as long to care for them.”
“Then, I’ll get Mars, Mercury and the cat to theOnly Love. I’ll be back before you finish with the horses, so you’d better hurry.”
“The dogs should stay. They’re protection against DeLille.”
“If DeLille is prepared, he’ll shoot them before they can act.”
“You have a point. Please take them.”
“I’ll be back for you as fast as possible.”
Grace kissed him. “I know.”
He left to find the animals.
She donned her galoshes and raincoat then dashed out to the stable. One glance toward the bayou revealed the water creeping close to ten yards from the house. She prayed her someone would arrive in time to rescue the horses. All the humidity had swelled the wood of the stable doors causing Grace some difficulty. She was about to call Luc for help when the soft pine panel broke free.
I have to calm down, or the horses will sense my worry.
She took a deep breath. The light inside was poor, but she had no time for a lantern. Quickly she piled hay into the mangers, then filled the water buckets. The pack horse was happily munching the handful of alfalfa she added to the hay before she went to Maymie.
“You’ve been a great horse. I hate to leave you, but I can’t take you with me.” She laid her cheek against the mare’s muzzle andhugged Maymie’s neck for a few heartbeats. As she headed for the stable door, she halted. The rear door leading to the corral was ajar.
Better close that too.
Grace was less than two feet away when she saw the arm blocking the door. “Oh no.”
The door opened, and DeLille stepped over Guidry’s body. His sheriff’s badge was pinned to his coat, and he held a pistol aimed straight at her.
“Oh no, indeed, Miz Thibodaux. You turn around, now, and face that wall there.” He gestured to his right with the pistol. “Put your hands behind your back.”
She complied. “I didn’t do this.”
“Well now,” he said as he clasped manacles around her wrists. “I suspect you may be right about that, but you ain’t got any witnesses. I’ll have to take you in. Good thing I got my automobile, we can go straight to the parish lock up.”
“You know there aren’t any witnesses, because you did this.”
His laugh had a maniacal edge. “Ain’t nobody going to believe you. ’Sides you probably won’t make it as far as the jail.”
“Why not?”
