by Sable Hunter
“No.” He shook his head emphatically, knowing he had to take his leave before he did something stupid, like pin her to the wall and kiss the breath from her body.
When he turned to go, she didn’t give up, coming out from behind the scarred wooden counter to tag along behind. “I haven’t seen you before, and I don’t think I would forget someone who looks like you.” Wasn’t that the truth… Yummy tall. Ripped. Dark unruly hair. Sexy scruff of beard. Piercing blue-black eyes. “Do you live nearby, T-Rex?”
The door was only half a dozen feet away – he could make it if he focused on putting one foot ahead of the other. “Far enough, I hope. Thanks for the oil.”
Far enough to keep away from her. “Okay, I get it.” A spike of hurt sliced through Glory. All her life she’d been judged and found wanting, mostly for things she had no control over. “You didn’t have to warn me off; I was just being nice. There’s no need to be snide, especially when you’ve been looking at me like you want to have me for dessert.”
T froze in his tracks. Hardening his eyes, he let his gaze rake over her. “Lady, I don’t know what your game is but I’m not interested. I don’t know how much clearer I can make it.”
Bam! She felt the blow of his words like a fist. With a forced shrug, she pretended not to care. “Your loss.” Glory wasn’t sure she believed her own hype, but it sounded good. Dropping her head, she studied the dog so she wouldn’t keep staring at the man who’d just dismissed her. The pup was staring at a puddle of dampness on the concrete floor like it was starving to death for water. “See. He’s thirsty.” She quickly filled a small bowl and set it down for the dog. “No use punishing him because of me.”
Pausing to let Buford drink, he tried not to look at Glory Bee Hudson. Once the bowl was empty, she picked it up and set it in the sink. “Have a nice day, Mr. Beaumont.”
The hurt in her voice was undeniable and it bothered him. T-Rex didn’t understand why he was being rude. This wasn’t his style. “Look, I’m sorry. I’ve had a bad day.” The anniversary of the day a man killed his father would always be a red-letter occasion. He’d much rather be drowning the hours in bourbon, but he was five years sober and he didn’t intend to fall off the wagon, even if he couldn’t get the sound of his sister’s screams out of his ears.
Something about his expression softened Glory’s heart. “No problem. Don’t worry about it. We all have bad days.” She trailed him outside, telling herself he probably wasn’t worth the regret she was feeling. Most men weren’t. Still…every step he made seemed to tug her along like there was an invisible cord linking them together. Once he got to the dock, she stopped. As the big man boarded his boat, settling the dog next to him, Glory observed from a distance. Part of her wanted to say something else, anything to prolong the contact, to find some common ground. But she didn’t – she’d never been one to push in where she wasn’t wanted. Maybe she’d misread the signals her heart was sending and maybe he had reasons to keep her at arms’ length. He wouldn’t be the first one.
As the motor sputtered to life, Glory held her hands behind her back, refusing to give in to the inclination to wave. T-Rex Beaumont didn’t want to be friends with her. And that was a pity, she was a nice person with a lot to offer.
Oh well, like she’d said before – his loss.
T-Rex headed his boat down Bayou Chene away from the bait shop, feeling an overwhelming sense of loss. Why had he been such a jerk to the girl? If his life were different, he would’ve welcomed her playful flirting. She had no idea he was damaged goods – broken. Heading home, he scarcely saw the passing landscape. This was his home and he loved it…but he was lonely.
*
“Patrick and I are heading up to Firepower-Munitions later this evening. Beau located a Sweet Sixteen for me. It’s a beauty, you ought to see it, a sixteen-gauge Browning A-5 shotgun. Why don’t you go with us?”
Revel Lee’s idea was tempting, T enjoyed visiting Beau LeBlanc’s reptile preserve, SafeHaven. “Sounds like a double date. You and Harper, Beau and Harley. I don’t want to be a third-wheel. Hell, even Patrick and Savannah. Jesus. That’d make me what? A seventh wheel? No thanks.”
“Harper’s in New Orleans with Savannah. They’ve gone on a shopping spree.”
T-Rex laughed, hearing the hint of panic in his friend’s voice. “Separation anxiety?”
“No, I’m happy she’s having a good time.” His words were brave; his tone wasn’t quite as convincing.
Newlywed bliss. The truth was – T was jealous. “I think I’ll stay here and check the trot lines. Whatever I’ve caught, I’ll split with you, Revel.”
“Are you sure you don’t want to come, T?”
“Yea, I wouldn’t be good company.”
Revel didn’t say anything for a second. “Today’s the day. Isn’t it?”
“Yea, this is the day.” T shut his eyes. The day his sister was murdered and the day he’d turned into his father. The day he sealed his fate, learning he could never trust himself – his temper, his strength – around anyone he loved. The idea of hurting someone who trusted him was his greatest fear…and the reason he pushed people like Glory Bee Hudson as far away as possible.
“Stop it.” Revel spoke to his friend sharply. “You’re all wrong, you know. The T-Rex Beaumont I know would never hurt anyone he loved. Just wait until Harper has the baby, you’re going to be babysitting all the time.”
“Wait. Harper is pregnant?”
“My wife is having my baby, yes.”
T-Rex could hear the joy in his buddy’s voice. He pulled Revel close for a hug. “That’s great. Congratulations.”
Revel gasped for air under the big man’s embrace. “Ease up, T-Rex. I wanna be around to see my child born.”
T released and stepped back. “Sorry about that. You are so lucky.” Equal parts of jealousy and joy welled up inside of him. He’d give everything he owned for a child – for a wife and family.
“You can be just as lucky as me, all you have to do is open your heart and stop being afraid.”
“I’m not afraid.” Anyone who saw T-Rex Beaumont would believe his declaration. How could this powerful, strong, giant of a man be afraid of anything? Yet…he was. He’d lived through a nightmare orchestrated by the man who’d fathered him and he knew exactly how much damage could be done to an innocent by a husband and father who had no control over his temper…or his fists. Genetics had done their number on him, he was his father made over again. So, T had taken steps to ensure the cycle of sorrow stopped with him. Thanks to Lauren Middleton, he’d stopped drinking. He attended AA meetings faithfully. He’d gone to college and earned an engineering degree. Now, he had a good job and worked alongside his best friend. But that was where his good fortune stopped. He couldn’t afford more. He couldn’t afford a wife or a family – the potential cost was just too high.
No hostages to his tainted fortune.
“Prove it,” Revel whispered the word. “Show me you aren’t afraid. Let someone in. Don’t condemn yourself to a life sentence of solitary without even a chance.”
“I can’t risk it, Revel Lee,” T gritted out the words.
“Think about it. We’ll help, we’ll do anything in our power to prove to you that you’re a good man. Please.”
T wasn’t unmoved by his friend’s plea. “I can’t. I just can’t. You don’t know what I’m capable of.”
“I know you’re capable of defending your defenseless sister against a monster.”
“I didn’t…” His voice broke. Alice died anyway. “I failed.”
“You tried, and you destroyed the destroyer. He was the monster, not you.” Revel paused, giving his friend a chance to respond and when he didn’t, Revel pressed on. “I trust you, T-Rex. You walked my wife down the aisle of the church to me. We all trust you. We can see you for who you are.”
T was too choked up to say much beyond, “Thanks, friend. You have fun tonight. I’ll check with you soon.”
“All right, but
we’re not giving up on you. Nana Fontenot came to dinner last week and she asked about you. She said something odd.”
T felt the short hair on the back of his neck stand up. Nana Fontenot was the real deal, a hoodoo swamp witch. A good witch, but still a witch. “What did she say?”
Revel cleared his throat and chuckled. “She said your life was about to take a different turn, that you’d soon meet a woman who would take you places you’ve never been before.”
Uh-oh. “I’m not interested in going anywhere with anybody, Revel. So, no matchmaking.”
“Can’t fight fate.” Revel laughed some more. “Or swamp magic.”
*
Over the next few weeks, T found himself in the uncomfortable position of running into Glory Bee Hudson at every turn. If he didn’t know better, he’d think she was following him. A worse thought than that was if fate was the one who kept throwing them together. If that were true – fate and Nana Fontenot had a cruel sense of humor.
When he went into Loreauville, he ran into her at the grocery store. She’d been happy to see him and he’d acted like a total ass, looking over her head instead of into her eyes. Truth be told, she was so sexy and appealing in her dainty purple sundress, looking at her was as painful as staring straight into the sun.
T-Rex! How are you? I’ve been thinking about you. Do you like boudain? I tried my hand making a big batch, I think it’s good. If you could stop by the Bait Shop tomorrow, I’d love to give you some.
She’d love to give him some.
Good God Almighty.
His mind ran rampant when he heard that phrase. T politely declined her offer, barely escaping before she coerced him into having coffee with her in the diner next door.
Another time, he bumped into her at their small community post office. She was struggling to tote several big boxes to Calvin’s rusty old truck. He helped her, finding himself unable to ignore the problem she was having, being unable to see over the pile of stuff she was carrying. When she tripped, he caught her, boxes and all. How do you drive this thing? Can you even see over the steering wheel? he asked once he had her loaded up and ready to go.
I sit on a couple of pillows, she confessed. I found some frozen mayhaw juice in the freezer and I made jelly. Can I tempt you with something sweet?
I don’t eat much jelly.
I wasn’t referring to just the jelly, she gave him a seductive little smile. The next time you come in the store, I’ll give you some anyway. Just in case.
T nearly tripped over his own big feet trying to get away from Glory Bee Hudson before he succumbed to her siren’s song.
During the next week or so, the fact that he found himself at the Bait and Tackle shop time after time was pure coincidence. He just needed a lot of what Glory had to offer – oil, gas, snacks, bait, and tackle – those were the only needs he allowed himself to acknowledge. He wasn’t sure why he was subjecting himself to self-torture. So far, he’d managed to escape Glory’s clutches. But that wasn’t for lack of trying on her part…
Would you like to go to the movies with me, T-Rex? I think there’s an action film playing. I’ll pay. She looked at T with those big purple eyes, full of expectant happiness.
He refused. I’m too busy.
Just yesterday, she followed him to his boat, playing with Buford as they walked. Guess what? A man came in yesterday from that TV show, Swamp Life. They’re going to be filming nearby in a week or so. I let him taste my gumbo and they asked me to cater a few meals. Would you like to go with me and meet some of them?
No thanks. I’ve got stuff to do.
He was getting use to watching disappointment cloud her eyes.
Okay. I understand. Can’t blame a girl for trying.
Her honest efforts to capture his attention were far more successful than she realized. Even though he tried to convey to her that he just wasn’t interested in her as a woman, that she just wasn’t his type, nothing could be further from the truth. She was exactly his type.
As he climbed into his boat, she just stood and watched him leave. Again. Be safe, T-Rex. I’ll see you next time!
When she held up her hand in farewell, he found himself waving back at her.
*
A couple of days later, T eased the skiff down the bayou, checking his trot lines. He kept the catfish and cut the alligator gar and turtles loose. Buford sat behind the cooler, tethered on a short rope. T would be glad when his dog learned some manners.
A thump followed by an abrupt bark caused T-Rex to look behind him, just in time to see a water moccasin strike out at his dog. “Shit!” He grabbed the oar and flipped the serpent up and out of the boat. “Are you all right?” Buford answered only with a happy grin. “Ignorance is bliss, buddy, ignorance is bliss.” Warily he peered up into the branches of a bald cypress, making sure the low-hanging Spanish moss didn’t contain any more snakes.
Standing up, he used the push pole to maneuver out of the inlet and into deeper water. With eyes closed, he took a deep breath. There was peace to be found in this place. His sanctuary. He’d hunted and explored in this bayou his entire life. Unwilling to go home to a too empty house so soon, he veered right and went deeper into the swamp. This tributary and its surrounding wilderness was called Misery, mainly for its dangerous reputation. Treacherous pools of quicksand lay camouflaged beneath the shallows, and moccasins, even bigger than the one that had dropped into his boat, loved to hide among the leaves and undergrowth. A smile played on his lips. His imagination loved to play here, this was where he’d come when he needed to be alone. Many nights as a kid he’d hid out in a makeshift tree house, hunting the Rougaroux or pretending to be a pirate. Familiar frissons of excitement peppered his skin. This place was magical. Some said it was cursed, but he didn’t buy into that belief. Yes, there were legends and some of them were based on truth. Nana Fontenot wasn’t the first witch to live in this swamp. Before her, Voodoo priestess Mama Violet Black had cursed the region, bringing a hurricane down on the area as promised on the same day as her funeral. The storm surge had obliterated a small village, never to be rebuilt. T wondered what they’d done to Violet to cause her to rain revenge down on their heads.
As he glided along, T-Rex absorbed the atmosphere – the bird calls, the lapping of the water, the occasional rustle in the bushes from small animals foraging for food. This was his home, he felt safe here – like nothing could hurt him…and he, in turn, could hurt no one else. Taking a deep breath, he resigned himself to the fate he deserved.
Not too far away…
Glory pushed through the bushes, making her way to the bank. Checking the crawfish traps was sort of exciting, like hunting Easter eggs or playing a slot machine. The opportunity to provide some of the meals for the crew of Swamp Life was a gift from heaven and she didn’t intend to mess it up. If her mother could only see her now, maybe she’d regret moving away from her.
Maybe not.
Either way, Glory was going to make it, or die trying. She didn’t want to be rich, she just wanted enough to provide herself with enough money for food and the medicine she needed in order to stay alive. Insurance was still out of her reach, so far she’d just been paying the fine for not having it – which was cheaper than the insurance itself.
“Thank you, Uncle Calvin,” she muttered, as she found the rope tied to the first trap she’d baited with chicken gizzards. During the few weeks they’d spent together, Calvin Boudreaux had taught her how to fish and how to capture the succulent mudbugs so many people craved. “I wonder how many are in here?”
Tugging the trap out of the water wasn’t easy, but she kept pulling. Once she had it in hand, Glory opened it, emptying the contents of the wire cage into a cooler. Thanks to her uncle, she had access to a Yeti on wheels. There was no way she’d have manhandled one big enough otherwise and making a half dozen trips between the Teche and the old cabin would’ve taken hours and more strength than she possessed. Remembering her uncle’s advice, she watched her step. The swa
mp was full of creatures that could do her harm. He’d told her tales of snapping turtles with a mouth big enough to take her arm off. She had no desire to meet one of those or any of the snakes that inhabited the region. With her dislike of reptiles, it was a wonder she wanted to live in what some would call a godforsaken place.
Thick gumbo mud oozed up between Glory’s toes as she leaned back to jerk on the rope. The edge of the dang trap was hung on the submerged roots of a twisted cypress tree. She had no desire to wade deeper into the murky waters of the bayou, nor did she relish sticking her hand underwater to pry it off. A gator could be lurking just out of sight and she wanted to keep all her fingers. Turning her back to the deeper water, she tried for a better angle. “Come on, give!” she demanded as she yanked with all her strength. “I’m not letting you little rascals get away. You’re already sold!”
With a loud creak, the root broke and the trap sprang free throwing her off-balance.
Splash!
“Sweet Mary Martha Joseph!” Her butt hit so hard, she dislodged half the Chene.
“Criminy!”
Wiping the water from her eyes, Glory stood, noticing her trap was slowly floating away. “Oh no, you don’t!”
Slowly she slogged after the wayward metal cage, which was caught in the slow-moving current. A few feet away there was a drop-off, or at least that’s what her cousin, Warren, had told her. The water was deep enough to swim in. But who’d want to? Truth be told, you certainly wouldn’t be swimming alone. As she moved, warm mud wrapped around her ankles. One step – two, three, four.
“Whoops.” This time when she tried to pull her foot up to take a step, it wouldn’t come. “Oh, crap.” What the heck? Again, she tried and instead of pulling herself free, she only sank deeper. She was caught in one of the swamps hidden dangers – quicksand.
And if that wasn’t bad enough, an odd creepy feeling wiggled down her spine. Looking behind her Glory noticed ripples undulating across the water, coming in her direction. Something was in the water with her, something big.