Big Easy (Cowboy Craze)

by Sable Hunter

  “Hey.” Philip chuckled. “I’ve walked in his shoes. I know how much the little things count. Anyway, Samuel will be there before you know it. Take care.”

  “Goodbye, Philip.”

  As soon as Jewel hung up the phone, she was aware of her mother at her side. “I couldn’t help but overhear. Since you were folding Easy’s clothes earlier, I took the liberty of choosing a pair of jeans, briefs, and a shirt for him.” She placed them on the bed in a neat stack.

  “Thank you.” Jewel’s hands were shaking as she changed into a conservative black sheath dress with a matching bolero jacket. “Just hand me those sandals, would you?”

  Hazel knelt in the closet to grab the shoes. “See, you’re going to get to see him sooner than you expected.”

  “Yea.” Jewel pulled on the sandals, then hurried to the mirror to freshen up her meager makeup. “I want to see him…and I dread seeing him.”

  “Of course.” She used a comforting hand to push her daughter’s hair over her shoulder. “Just be strong for him. Make him glad you came. A loving smile. A gentle touch. Those are the things that will help him most.”

  “Thanks, Mom.” Jewel gave Hazel a hug, then stopped to pick up the stack of Easy’s clothes before going out to wait for Samuel. “I’ll do my best.”

  CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN

  “I guess you drew the short straw,” Jewel said with a hint of embarrassment in her voice as Samuel Blackhawk backed out of her drive to head to the Lafourche Parish courthouse.

  “Oh, no. Not at all.” Samuel seemed surprised at her comment. “Glad to do it.”

  “When Philip called, I should’ve told him I’d drive in myself. I guess I was just too anxious to see Easy to think straight.”

  “Uh, I apologize for not realizing that you and Easy were…”

  Jewel laughed softly when she heard him hesitate as he attempted to define her and Easy’s connection. “First and foremost, we’re friends.” She didn’t really want to label what they shared – it meant too much to her.

  Sam shifted uneasily in the driver’s seat. “I’m sorry. We’re just not used to Easy having a relationship with a woman beyond a…casual one.”

  “I know. We’ve talked.” She gave him a bright smile. “I think I got a pretty good read on Easy, considering I read his palm the day we met.”

  “Wow.” Sam chuckled, giving Jewel a more considering glance. “There wasn’t a chance of him putting things over on you, I guess.”

  “I went into the relationship with my eyes open, if that’s what you mean.”

  “There’s something to be said for that, I suppose.”

  “I think so.” Jewel pressed the palm of her hand on Easy’s folded clothes. “Anyway, I appreciate the ride. Philip and Zane were a bit concerned over the threats I’ve received.”

  “Threats?” Surprise colored Sam’s tone. “What kind of threats?”

  Crash!

  At that exact moment a tree fell in front of them, toppled across the road directly in front of the vehicle.

  Sam slammed on his brakes, throwing them both forward as far as their seat belts would allow. Jewel gasped as the cab of the truck was engulfed by branches and foliage. They couldn’t even see out the windshield.

  “What the fuck?” he yelled, cutting the engine, then turning to look at Jewel. “Are you all right?”

  “Yea. I’m okay.”

  Sam took hold of the door handle. “Let me see how bad this is.”

  Jewel reached out to grab his arm. “Be careful. I don’t think this was an accident.”

  “Seriously?” He looked at her like she was crazy. “This tree was cut on purpose? To fall at the exact moment we passed by?”

  She heard his scoff. “I don’t know. Just be careful.”

  He gave her one last searching look before climbing out. Jewel sat still as he examined the tree. In a few seconds, he was back. “Well, it was cut. A fresh cut.” He exhaled loudly. “I think I can move it, but I’ll need an axe.”

  “I have one…but we’ll have to go back after it.”

  Sam nodded. “Good thing we haven’t come far. Do you want to stay here or walk back with me?”

  “I’ll go with you.” Jewel didn’t have to think twice about that decision. She climbed from the truck and they started off at a swift pace. “The axe is under the porch in the storage shed.”

  “So, you really think that was done to keep us from going to the hearing?”

  Jewel cut a glance at Sam, her heart dipping at the sight of him. He looked so much like his brother. “Or just to scare me, maybe. Someone has been warning me not to interfere. I think I know who killed those women.”

  At her admission, Sam looked all around them. “You said you’ve received threats?”

  Jewel nodded, her eyes watching the progress of her feet as she maneuvered the ruts in the road. “Three, not so subtle messages. A dead snake holding a dead mouse in its jaws. ‘Mind your own damn business’ written on my windshield and the word ‘die’ scrawled over my palm reader sign.”

  “Geesh. This is crazy.” Sam scanned the woods on either side of the road. “Philip said you think you learned something about the killings through a reading?”

  “Yes.” Jewel picked up her pace a little, knowing Sam was holding back so she could keep up with his longer strides. “Did they tell you who I suspect?”

  “Yea.” Sam dropped the level of his voice. “You must be right, if you’re receiving threats. What are you going to do about it?”

  Hearing the challenge in his voice, she let out a stabilizing breath. “I’m ready to talk. It’s just…people won’t readily believe me.”

  “So, what’s the worst that could happen?”

  “Besides someone taking a potshot at us from the woods?” She giggled when his eyes widened. “Ridicule, I guess – which is nothing, considering what’s at stake.” Seeing the spot in the road up ahead where they would cross onto her property line. “Almost safe.”

  “What do you mean?”

  Giving him a sidewise grin, she confessed, “My mother and I laid a hoodoo line of protection. See?” She pointed at the line of red brick dust still obvious on the ground.

  “I do.” He was careful not to step on the line. “I saw the movie Skeleton Key,” he gave her a knowing grin.

  This made her laugh. “Hey, it was fairly accurate on a few points.” She pressed a hand to her heart, admitting to herself she was breathing easier after crossing the line. The only problem – they had to get back.

  Nearing the house, she pointed to the opening under the front stairs. “I’ll hurry and get the axe.” When she emerged, it was to find her mother leaning over the bannister. “You heard me rummaging around in the shed?”

  “Nope. I was on the computer. Saw you on the camera. Sam said a tree fell in front of you.”

  “It did.” She handed the large axe to her traveling companion. “We’d better be going. I’ll tell you more later.”

  “Wait. I’ll drive you.” Hazel ran back in to get her keys. “No use taking chances.”

  Jewel glanced at Sam. “Mothers are smart sometimes.” They made for the car as Hazel came tripping down the stairs. “Thanks, Mom. This will help.”

  “No problem,” she told them with a grin. “That’s what moms are for.”

  Despite all of the turmoil, Jewel felt her heart grow warm.

  Soon, Hazel deposited them at the scene of the accident and waited for them while Sam chopped the tree into small enough pieces that he could move it off the road. Once he was through, Jewel told her mother goodbye, “Be safe going home. I’ll be back when it’s over.”

  Hazel kissed Jewel on the cheek. “Kiss Easy for me.”

  “I will,” Jewel told her as she climbed into Sam’s truck and fastened the seat belt. After giving her mom a wave, they were on their way. “Are we going to be late?” she asked Sam.

  “No, I don’t think so. Let me check in. I’ll call Daniel.”

  While Sam talked
to his brother, Jewel kept a watchful eye out the window of the truck.

  “We’ll make it. The judge is running a little late. Cleaning his fish, is what they told Zane.”

  Jewel didn’t laugh. “I hope he’s not part of the problem. You can never tell who’s a member of the old boys’ club.”

  “I just have to believe that justice will prevail,” Sam spoke quietly. “I don’t know what we’ll do if Easy is convicted. Much less, what he’d go through.”

  Jewel touched his arm. “Let’s have faith. I’m going to talk to the authorities as soon as I can find someone who’ll listen. I’m going to provide Easy with an alibi and we’re working hard trying to think of some way to back it up.” She didn’t try to explain the St. Expedite spell.

  “Okay.” Sam gave her a grateful look. “You’re right. There’s a lot of things we can do. Zane is on top of it. He’s interviewing a lot of people and he’s also got that FBI agent coming into the mix.”

  “Yea, let’s take a deep breath.” She did as she advised. “Now, tell me about yourself. Easy’s been worried about you, you know.”

  “He has?” Sam frowned. “Why?”

  Jewel bit her tongue, thinking she probably shouldn’t have said anything. “Oh, I don’t know. He thought you might be…uh…”

  “What? Seeing someone?”

  Jewel laughed. “Are you admitting to it, or just reading my mind?”

  “I’m reading your mind.”

  While she read his, she found he wasn’t exactly telling the truth. “Huh. I thought Benjen was the shaman of the family.”

  “Wow. Easy’s been doing a lot of talking, hasn’t he?” Sam looked a bit uncomfortable.

  “Yea,” she said with a sigh, wishing she could talk to Easy right at that moment. “He loves you very much.”

  “I love him too,” Sam whispered. “I just wish he could be happy. It’s been so long since he was happy.”

  “I understand.” Jewel knew he was speaking of the weight of guilt Easy carried around about his father.

  “Once upon a time, Easy’s heart was open to the world.” Sam let out a long sigh. “But when our dad was killed, he seemed to withdraw. Looking back, I realize that he was so young and his heart was so broken, he dealt with the pain by turning his back on the possibility of finding happiness.”

  “He punished himself.”

  “Right,” Sam agreed readily.

  Jewel wanted to tell him about Yuma’s visit, but didn’t feel it was her place. “Until this happened, I’d like to think he was on the road to being happier.” As soon as she said the words aloud, Jewel realized she sounded a bit egotistical. “I didn’t mean…”

  “Oh, you’re right.” He took his eyes off the road long enough to glance at her with a bit of a smirk on his face. “The last time we talked, he seemed to be in a jovial mood. Were you the reason?”

  “I don’t know.”

  “Are you the reason he’s in trouble now? Did you stumble into some sort of a hornet’s nest and Easy was the one who ended up getting stung?”

  Wham! Even with her mindreading skills, she hadn’t seen this coming, which told her the feeling came from his gut. What was worse – Jewel was afraid he was right. “I…uh…I’ve worried about the same thing.”

  Her admission seemed to surprise Sam so much that he ran off the road a few feet before he righted the vehicle. “Really? Well, I hope that means you’re going to do everything you can to get him out of this mess.”

  “I told you before, I’m ready to talk, to tell what I know. I’m willing to share the information I garnered from my readings with Willie Mae Hill. I’m also going to tell whoever will listen that I saw the necklace they consider to be evidence against Easy in Willie’s possession just the day before. In fact, I’m going to ask someone to check on Willie. She’d promised me that she was going to leave town, take that necklace with her as proof, and call the FBI to tell them the things she’d seen and heard.”

  “I’m sorry. Clearly, you have every intention of helping my brother.”

  “Of course. I love your brother.”

  Boom!

  Wow.

  Her confession seemed to surprise Sam as much as it surprised herself. “Damn. Don’t tell him I said that.”

  “Why? He doesn’t know?”

  “No. I don’t think so,” Jewel groaned her frustration. “I mean…we’ve never talked about it. Not that we haven’t enjoyed one another,” she groaned again and Sam laughed.

  “Don’t you want him to know?”

  “I’m not sure.” Jewel hung her head, suddenly feeling a bit sick. If Easy didn’t feel the same way, her love could be a burden at a time when he didn’t need anything else to worry about. “Just don’t tell him. Okay?”

  “Don’t you think knowing how you feel might be a comfort to him at a time like this?”

  Comfort? “I’m not sure.” Jewel knew better than anyone what lay in the stars for Easy. She’d taken a glimpse into his future and all she’d seen was more of the same lifestyle he’d always led. But…that was before she’d come into the picture. Before they’d shared their days, laughed…loved. Could someone’s destiny be rewritten? “My crystal ball gets hazy at times, Sam.” After all, she sure hadn’t seen the fiasco of him being accused of murder coming. If she had – she would’ve never let Willie Mae Hill within a mile of her house.

  “All right. I won’t tell him,” Sam promised. “You have my word.”

  “Thanks.”

  “Although…I suggest you think about it long and hard.” His tone became thoughtful. Almost introspective. “Not telling someone how you feel can have long-lasting repercussions.”

  “Are you speaking from experience?”

  Sam held up a finger and pointed. “I think we’re going to have to table this discussion. Looks like we’re here.”

  Jewel could see that Sam looked relieved to end the conversation. If she didn’t have so much on her mind, she might try to delve into his. While he spoke, she’d picked up on the sad, beautiful face of a woman. Unfortunately, that image was overridden by one from her own memory. She still couldn’t get past what she’d read in her own cards.

  A vision of herself crying her heart out over Ezekiel Blackhawk.

  * * *

  Easy felt like he was looking at the world through a foggy haze. What was happening in front of his eyes didn’t really have anything to do with him. He glanced down at the snaps on the cuffs of his shirt. It felt a bit weird to be wearing his own clothes again – which didn’t make sense. Not much time had passed since he’d been arrested – had it? If he thought about it hard, he could probably remember. Somehow, not knowing exactly how long he’d been in jail was preferable over counting the hours. Over the prosecutor’s voice droning on about the case against him, he could hear a man clearing his throat.

  Daniel – that was Daniel’s voice.

  Easy glanced over his shoulder, spotting all three of his brothers sitting together at the back of the courtroom. Over their heads he could see paint peeling on the wall. Benjen’s gaze caught his eyes and Easy smiled. He was so glad they were there, he just hated Daniel and Benjen had to be away from their families.

  And sitting next to them was Jewel. His Jewel.

  He rubbed his palms on his knees. She’d brought him his clothes to wear. Lord help, he wanted to hold her so much.

  “Why now?” he whispered under his breath. “Why did this have to happen now?” The moment it seemed like he was about to find happiness, the sky goes and falls on his head. “Why?” Who was he kidding? He knew why. He didn’t deserve to be happy. His father might’ve forgiven him – but a person still has to pay for his crimes.

  “Will the defendant please stand?”

  Zane nudged him and Easy rose to his feet.

  “Ezekiel Blackhawk, you are being charged with first degree murder in the death of Marion Cole. How do you plead?”

  Yes, a person has to pay for his crimes. But in this case…he wasn’t
guilty of the crime. Lifting his head high, Ezekiel looked into the wrinkled, bespectacled face of the judge. “Not guilty, your honor.”

  His answer seemed to reverberate through the court room. There were murmurs he couldn’t make out. The judge rapped his gavel and they moved on to the matter of bail. Easy wasn’t surprised when bail was denied. Zane had told him to expect this. There was no way his family could’ve come with the exorbitant fee if it had been granted. As the date was set for the trial to begin, Easy felt like his life was slipping through his fingers. After hearing the prosecutor talk about him being seen with the victim, the body being found where he worked, and Marion’s necklace being found at his house – he wondered how any jury could find him innocent. The prosecutor had also told him that other charges were pending. Other murders.

  As the judge ended the proceeding, Easy contemplated the possibility that he might never again be a free man.

  When the police came to escort him back to jail, Zane stopped them. “Give him a minute, will you? His family is here.”

  Easy didn’t know if he could face them – but when he turned around, it was to find himself in the midst of a huddle. His brothers came close enough he could bow his head and feel their arms around him.

  “This is going to be fine.”

  “Don’t worry. We’re going to get you out of this.”

  “You’re innocent and we’re going to prove it.”

  He nodded, not even cognizant of who said what. “Thanks. I hope so.” Raising his head, he saw Jewel standing to one side. “I love you guys, but could you give me a minute.” He nodded at Jewel.

  Sam held out his hand to welcome her close, then he and his brothers turned away, giving them a bit of privacy.

  “Hey,” Easy muttered as Jewel drew near. “I’ve only got a second, but I wanted to tell you that I’m glad you’re here.

  “Where else would I be?” Jewel asked with her heart in her throat.

  “I’ve got myself into a little mess here, haven’t I?”

  “I’m going to get you out, Easy. I promise.” Jewel vowed, her voice shaking.