Page 46 of Xavier

Get me a beer, woman! Johnny called out.

Lissette forced a laugh. “She said it wouldn’t be fair to the female. As Johnny puts it, he’s a cheeky bastard.”

“Ready to go?” Xavier asked, his words terse, distant.

“I am,” she said, leading the way out and turning to lock the door behind them. “I figure we have about an hour before it’s dark. I don’t think folks will open the door to me or anyone else after sunset.”

“You’re probably right.” He held the passenger door open for her and waited until she climbed into the seat. Then he closed the door and hurried around the truck to slide behind the wheel. “How many more people do you need to visit?”

She’d buckled her belt and had pulled the basket onto her lap, sifting through the remaining packages. “Five,” she announced. “Most of them are here in town. One is half a mile out at the end of the canal. If all goes well, we can make it through them all. I mean, it doesn’t take much time for each of them to open a door, take one look at me, and slam it in my face.”

Xavier reached across the console, took her hand and gave it a gentle squeeze. “I’m sorry. I know it must be disheartening.”

She stared down at their clasped hands, her eyes welling with tears she’d be damned if she let fall. “It’s okay. I expected this would happen. I know it will take time for me to prove I’m not out to hurt anyone and even longer for anyone to trust me. Hell, I wouldn’t trust me. I really was a shit.”

“So, I’ve heard,” Xavier said with a crooked grin.

Lissette pulled in a deep breath and let it out. “Let’s finish this, and I’ll buy you dinner at the diner.”

“Deal,” he said and drove to the first house, a few blocks away on Main Street.

As they pulled up to the house, Lissette glanced to the right and frowned. “That’s Mrs. Paget heading toward us. She isn’t usually out and about on her own.”

The older woman walked with a cane, taking one step at a time, moving at a glacial pace.

Lissette dropped down from the truck and started toward her. “Hello, Mrs. Paget.”

The woman squinted as she walked. “Who dat?” she asked with a deep Cajun accent.

“It’s Lissette Gautier,” Lissette called out.

As she neared the woman, she noted the buckle in the concrete sidewalk. It had been there for as long as Lissette could remember, and Mrs. Paget was headed straight for it.

“What are you doing out and about?” the older woman said. “Shouldn’t you still be in jail?”

Lissette didn’t answer. She dove for the older woman as her foot caught the edge of concrete jutting up from the sidewalk.

Mrs. Paget pitched forward, her cane flying out to the side.

Lissette reached her in time to break her fall.

Mrs. Paget slammed into Lissette’s chest, knocking her backward.

Lissette staggered until she hit a solid wall behind her.

Strong hands rose around her and Mrs. Paget.

“Mon Dieu!” the woman cried, leaning precariously against Lissette as she fought to get her feet beneath her.

“I’ve got you,” Xavier said behind her. “Can you help her stand?”

“I think so.” Lissette wrapped her arms around the woman and pulled her up until she stood straight, still holding onto Lissette’s arms.

“Mon Dieu,” she said again, her voice shaking.

“Are you okay?” Lissette asked, peering down into the woman’s eyes. “Anything hurt?”

“Let me check,” she said and let go of Lissette.