Chapter Fifteen
Lord have mercy, it was stinky under here. Landon wrapped a bandana around his face and headed deeper under the house, searching for whatever was smelling like death wrapped in farts.
He did hate this part of doing handyman work. Lord, yes. Mr. Beau’s Grandmère had asked him to do it, though, and they was all heading to his place tomorrow, so now was it. His eyes watered. Whatever it was, well, it was ripe.
“You find it yet?” Mr. Coke sounded altogether too amused. That was easy enough being out in the open air, standing there and watching.
“No, sir. Think I found Mr. Beau’s old stash of porn.”
“Oh, now!” Mr. Sam’s hoot was right on cue.
Looked like he was drawing a crowd. He kinda wondered why he was doing this, with all these able-bodied bodies around. Maybe they liked playing shove the Cajun under the house.
The scent of ’gator hit him, about a second before he saw it. “Shit, marthy. ’Gator!”
“Landon! Get out of there.” Beau was shouting and stomping, which he hoped would send the cocodrie the other way.
“Uh-huh.” He started backing up, and the big motherfucker lunged and hissed at him, showing all those teeth. Okay. Okay, shit.
“Careful, chou.” Beau was making a lot of noise, and someone was banging a spoon against a pan.
“Somebody best get some duct tape…” If he could just get M’sou Gator’s mouth closed.
“I got it.” That was AJ Gardner, and he could hear the boots thumping as the man ran inside. That made the ’gator turn about a couple of times, hunting for the new threat.
“Landon? Get out of there.” His cher sounded plumb aggravated. Adam could be grumpy about the weirdest things.
“I’m a bit stuck, cher,” he called back, and M’sou Gator stared at him with black eyes and opened its mouth again.
“Well, then I’m coming in.” Adam wiggled in next to him, a loop drawn up to toss at the ’gator. Oh, now, his man was a good roper. That might work.
“You gon’ get dirty.” Still, he could use the help. “I’ll grab his mouth, you slip the loop for me.”
“What? No…”
Landon lurched forward, grabbed the ’gator’s muzzle and squeezed hard, bracing himself for the roll that was coming. Adam moved ‘most as fast, the loop hissing as loud as the ’gator, accurate as hell.
“Keep it tight!” They rolled, the ’gator carrying him, slamming him into one of the house beams.
“Shit.” Adam grunted, wiggling around him to keep the rope taut. He’d thought Adam was better on horseback, but that was impressive squirming.
He didn’t answer, there was mud in his mouth. Adam started tugging and Landon started pushing, his ass sliding in the dirt. Then the ’gator headed in the other direction, moving backward.
“I got his tail, y’all!” Gramps Pharris hollered.
“Well, hold on!” AJ flew in like a baseball player sliding into third base, a roll of duct tape in his hand. If they could get that mouth taped, they could stop stressing everyone out.
Including M’sou Gator.
Between the three of them, they got him signed, sealed, and delivered, then Landon hollered. “Pull, Gramps!”
There was a groan and a creak and bang, there he went. Mr. Coke was strong as hell. AJ whooped, crawling past him, grinning like a fool.
They all scrambled out, and he threw himself on the critter, trying to keep him from thrashing with his body weight. Poor thing would kill itself, fighting. “Beau! Beau, where you want him?”
“I’ll call the nuisance ’gator man. Y’all lay down on top of him and it will keep him calm.”
“’Kay.” He covered the big beast’s eyes, grinning up at Mr. Sam. “I figured out what was stinkin’.”
