by Bree Cariad
“All right, Dad. It was nice to meet you, Mr. Brenten.”
“Call me Curtis, please, Deeka.”
Nodding to let him know she’d heard, she gave her father a hug and a kiss on the cheek before stacking the dishes and taking them inside. Since her dad had barbequed there were very few dishes, but she quickly washed them up before returning to her bedroom. Pulling out her mp3 player, she stuffed the earbuds in her ears and grabbed her eReader. In no time at all, she had all of Curtis’s books downloaded and had Morts-Vivants open. From the very first paragraph, she was hooked.
Nowhere else in civilization have the undead caused more havoc than in New Orleans, Louisiana. From the corner stores selling various talismans and each corner with its own practitioner in the ancient religion of voodoo offering their services, New Orleans should be the safest city alive. But on this night, on the eve of Mardi Gras, hell was about to open its doors and release its inhabitants. On this night, the Big Easy would meet its match. And Reginald Clearing had just the right vantage point to watch every moment of the game this city would lose.
Blinking her eyes, Deeka was surprised to see sun coming in the window. What day was it? Yawning, she spotted her eReader lying next to her. Realizing she had fallen asleep while reading, something that was an all-too-common affliction, she hit the button to see the date. It took a second before the date and time came together in her head.
“Oh, no!” Leaping off her bed, she didn’t even try to tame her bed hair. Instead, she quickly changed into jeans and a t-shirt and shoved her feet into a pair of tennis shoes before running out of her bedroom and the house. She ran full out. It was already 8:15, which meant she was late for her appointment to help Mr. Kinsley clean up the brush. Running, it still took her fifteen minutes to reach his house and she was panting hard as she knocked on the door.
Bending over and bracing herself with her hands on her knees, she took a few deep breaths, looking up as the door opened and instead of Jerod Kinsley, she saw his wife Camille.
“Hello?” Camille said with a nice smile.
“Hi,” Deeka said, standing up and trying to catch her breath. “I’m supposed to help Mr. Kinsley clear up some brush this morning.”
“Of course. He headed down to the lake where he wanted to start. If you take the footpath to the left, you can follow it down.”
“Thanks, Mrs. Kinsley.”
“Oh, Cami, please! Mrs. Kinsley is a wonderful name, but you’re only a few years younger than I am.”
Nodding, Deeka gave a short wave before jogging down the path. It was well-worn. She assumed one or the both of them trod it daily. As she came close to the lake, she spotted him. “Mr. Kinsley!” she called and he looked up from where he was using some sort of hoe to cut down the tall grasses.
“Deeka, I’m glad you came. This is a thankless job and I’ve been putting it off far too long. Cami reminded me that today’s the picnic, though. So, we’ll only do this for an hour so you can enjoy yourself.”
“Thanks.”
Working alongside Jerod Kinsley was actually fun. He was quiet but had a good sense of humor and while he worked steadily, he didn’t seem to be in a great rush. It was easy to take the gloves he gave her and as he cut the grasses, gather them together and tie them up with rope.
“Ten o’clock, Jerod!” Cami’s voice made them both look up and Jerod, startled, checked his watch.
“Thanks, love!” he called back and turned to Deeka. “I apologize. I lost track of time. Please. Head home and do what you need to do. I know how important a day like today is for a girl just starting her courting year.”
“Thanks, Mr. Kinsley. Do you want me to come back tomorrow?” she asked.
He looked confused for a second and then smiled. “This has settled your debt to us, Deeka. You don’t need to return.”
“I don’t mind. It’s been kind of fun, actually.” Plus, she wasn’t really sure what she was going to do the next day. Helping out the Kinsleys seemed like a good way to spend her time.
“Well, if you would like to help. How about tomorrow and Tuesday from eight until ten? I have appointments both days starting at eleven.”
“Great.” She beamed at him and handed his gloves back before turning back to the track she had walked down here on.
“And, Deeka,” he called. Turning around, she waited for whatever he was about to say. “I don’t mind you walking on my land. Just ask before you do so? Then there won’t be any personal issues.”
Blushing a little at his meaning, she nodded. “Thanks.” She started off at a jog but in no time was at a full sprint on the way home. Today was the Memorial Day Picnic and she needed to look her best.
The picnic was full to overflowing by the time Deeka and her father arrived. People she knew and people she didn’t know were everywhere and from the moment she and her father stepped out of the car, she searched for her two friends. Chrissa and DeLynn were both born and raised in Hyacinth, but out of all the girls her age, Deeka felt most comfortable with them. They weren’t as judgmental as most of her graduating class seemed to be.
“Is that Chrissa?” Barrett asked and she looked up, following his gaze to where her friend was jumping up and down, waving at her.
“Chrissa!” she called, waving back, barely stopping herself from jumping up and down as well. In her deep blue shirtwaist dress, with the breeze blowing, it would be her luck that the entire thing would rise up and everyone would get a peek at what she was wearing underneath. Deeka was pretty sure that kind of social faux pas would be impossible to bounce back from. It didn’t surprise her to see Chrissa in pants as she was still seventeen and wouldn’t be eighteen until fall. No need to dress to impress if the guys wouldn’t even be looking at her. Her short, naturally shocking, bright red hair had been cut since Deeka last saw her and was literally sticking straight out from her skull. She looked like her head was on fire.
“Go on,” her father said with a grin. “Go, talk, converse, and chat some more. I’ll get us a spot on the north lawn. Come over when you’re hungry.”
“Thanks, Dad!”
Deeka sprinted across the lawn, giggling at her friend’s wide smile. “Hey! New do?”
“Hey! I was afraid you weren’t coming,” Chrissa said, glancing around and pulling Deeka a little to the side. “And yeah.” Grinning, she patted her hair. “Does it look bad? I was ticked at Aunt Marjorie and so when Mom gave me money to get my hair cut, I went to the Cut n’ Curl instead of the stylist my aunt wanted me to go to. Jade suggested this.”
“Your head looks like it’s on fire, but I like it.”
Beaming, Chrissa nodded. “Cool. Did you hear?”
“About what? What would I hear in Hins Creek?” Deeka asked in amusement. Besides the fact her father abhorred gossip, being in Hins Creek tended to make sure she was the last to hear any of the hubbub that went on in town.
“DeLynn’s already had her first official courting dinner,” she said with a giggle. Deeka waited, knowing Chrissa would fill her in faster if she didn’t ask any questions. “Mark Conners.”
“Oh.”
Not much was known of Mark Conners, but his family moved into Hyacinth four years previous and had one of those reputations that made most polite people in town walk to the other side of the street if they saw them coming. Just like all eighteen-year-olds, Deeka knew the names of the men who could possibly be courting and his name was on the list, but as he had just moved to town three weeks ago, she knew nothing about him.
“I can’t wait to hear about it,” Chrissa went on, her dark green eyes scanning the vista in search of their friend. “I mean, Mark Conners! I’m surprised her mother accepted it.”
“We don’t even know the Conners,” Deeka said, trying to find something nice to say. “Maybe they aren’t as bad as we think.”
“They own a business on Fargyle. How good could they be?” she whispered back.
That was a valid point but Deeka could hear her father’s response in h
er head, which would be along the lines of, “Don’t judge a person just because of their family or where they live.” And he stood by that. An FBI agent for almost twenty years, his friendships covered the full gamut from the rich to the poor, the most law-abiding citizen to the lifetime crook. Barrett didn’t let much get in the way of friendship if he liked someone.
“DeLynn!” Chrissa squealed, making Deeka jump and she turned to see their friend darting toward them in a frilly yellow dress which, with her pale skin and white-blonde hair, made her look like a faerie.
“Hey!” she said, her bright blue eyes sparkling. “Having fun?”
“Yep! Now spill.”
To Deeka’s surprise, DeLynn turned pink. She had never seen her friend blush before. “I don’t know what you mean,” DeLynn hedged, looking down at her dress and picking at one of the frills.
“Please,” Chrissa scoffed. “I taught you that maneuver. Let’s find some privacy so you can give us the dirt on Conners.” Grasping her friends by their wrists, Chrissa tugged them toward the trees. As she wasn’t looking, she missed it, but Deeka saw DeLynn’s face turn red, but it wasn’t a blush. She looked angry.
Once they were hidden behind some trees, Chrissa released them and turned around, her eyes bright with excitement. “Well?”
“Mark Conners is a very nice man,” DeLynn said through stiff lips. Deeka realized their friend must actually like the guy and offered her a small smile at the same time Chrissa blushed, which was a common look for her.
Her hand smacked over her mouth as her dark green eyes widened. “Oh, DeLynn. I’m sorry.”
“Just because people talk bad about his family means nothing,” DeLynn said in a quiet tone, her skin tone going back to the normal pale ivory they were used to. “It’s gossip and mean spirited. He’s a very nice man.”
“What does he do?” Deeka asked, trying to break the tension.
Turning toward her, DeLynn gave her a small smile. “He’s a nurse at the hospital. Mark worked in Portland until a few weeks ago when his mother became ill. He moved here to help take care of her and his younger siblings.”
“You like him.” Deeka said it firmly.
Her smile grew and she nodded. “Yeah. The possible suitors who came over the last year were okay. But none of them did much for me. Mark…well…he’s sweet and kind and he brought me chocolates.” She beamed making Deeka smile.
“Good for you.”
“I hope. Won’t know unless he asks for another dinner.”
They both turned toward Chrissa who looked abashed. “Sorry, DeLynn. Truly. I’m glad you’ve found one you liked, though…” The twinkle returning to her eyes. “Better than a Wally Smyder, any day.”
“Oh, geez,” Deeka said, groaning as she thought about the day before.
“At any moment,” DeLynn agreed, giggling. “So what about you, Deeka? Any courting dinners yet?”
“Not so far,” she admitted. “And considering the choices? I’m kinda glad.” She paused for a moment, her thoughts on the dinner the night before. Now that she knew Curtis, she wished he had been an official courting dinner. He was fascinating and sweet and, to be honest, hot.
“Spill,” Chrissa said, narrowing her eyes.
“What?”
DeLynn started to giggle. “Whoever you were thinking of? Your eyes lit up and gained that dreamy quality.”
“Nothing,” Deeka said, scrunching up her nose. “Dad had one of his friends over for dinner last night. He was…kinda nice.”
“Kinda nice?” Chrissa asked, raising an eyebrow. “I want more than kinda nice. I hear Kevin Nurfer is still available. I told Dad if he accepted a dinner request from him, I was leaving town.”
“Anyone want a popsicle?” DeLynn asked, turning back toward the mayhem. “I’m hungry.”
“Grape!” Chrissa hollered, running after her. Relieved that DeLynn had changed the subject, Deeka trotted along in their wakes.
They sampled the popsicles, faerie ice, and the PinPrickle Ice Cream by Leylander Farms which was a strange combination of winter mint and chilies. But by far their favorite item was on the outskirts of the food area. The TaterPig. “Deeka, enjoying the fair?” She looked up in surprise to see Jerod Kinsley manning the booth.
“Yeah. Are you an explorer now?” she teased, looking up at the banner above the large ovens.
“Once an explorer, always an explorer,” he teased back. “Everyone want a TaterPig?”
“Yep!” all three of them yelled making him smile.
“I’ll take two. Wanna take one to my dad,” Deeka said, pulling her wallet out. Three minutes later, the three of them sat on the bench next to the booth digging into the baked potato with a sausage stuffed in the middle.
“Love these things,” DeLynn moaned. Pulling out the sausage link, she bit into it. “Whoever thought of it was genius.”
“Potatoes and pork,” Chrissa agreed, stuffing a piece in her mouth. “I’m in.”
Deeka snickered as a piece of potato shot out of her friend’s mouth while talking and before long all three of them were laughing. This was what she had been looking forward to. Just being silly with her friends. When they were finished, Jerod handed her a hot TaterPig for her dad and she waved as they left.
“How do you know Mr. Kinsley?” Chrissa asked.
“He lives relatively close,” Deeka hedged, knowing her friends wouldn’t let her get away with that.
“What happened?” DeLynn asked.
Grimacing, Deeka began her tale. Before she had even reached the part about telling her dad about spotting Jerod and his wife accidentally, her friends were giggling like crazy. When she reached the fragment about the birch rod, they were laughing hysterically. They were halfway across the park when she got to the point in the story about Rosaurs and Wally Smyder.
“Oh, he’s such a loser,” Chrissa snapped. “You shoulda punched him in the nose again.”
“Nah. Then her dad probably would’ve birched her,” DeLynn said sagely. “So what happened then?”
“Err, well, Wally said something I didn’t understand and the guy behind me in line chastised him about it and I ran.”
“Sounds right to me,” Chrissa said, nodding. “Jerk.”
“So who was your knight?” DeLynn asked, turning to look at her. She always described any man who was particularly heroesque as a knight. Deeka had quickly caught on to the term and found there were more knights out there than dragons, though Wally the dragon was still annoying.
“Dad’s friend as it turns out. The one that came for dinner last night.”
“Wow.” DeLynn sent her a shy smile and Deeka found herself grinning back. It was obvious her friend recognized that Deeka was interested in the knight but would keep it to herself. Something Deeka found very peaceful about DeLynn. She never shared someone else’s secrets. Ever. She was a lot like Deeka’s dad in that way.
“There’s your dad,” Chrissa said, pointing and DeLynn spotted her father seated on one of the lawn chairs he had brought, her chair set up across from his.
“Okay, I’m gonna go give him his TaterPig.”
“I’d better go find Mom,” DeLynn said. “She wanted me to meet Harry Heinsfeld’s son.”
“The military man?” Chrissa asked with interest.
“Yep.”
“Yum.”
Giggling at Chrissa’s military fixation, Deeka waved to them and trotted over to Barrett. “Hey, Dad.”
Chapter 3
For the next few days, Deeka kept busy. She enjoyed helping Jerod clear the brush and appreciated talking to him. He was a kind man with a very dry sense of humor and Deeka decided Cami had been extremely lucky in getting him.
Of course, she was only with him for two hours each morning. The rest of the day she spent with her nose in a Curtis Brenten novel. They were riveting. Each paragraph pushed her onto the next, sometimes reading at twice the speed she normally did just because she had to know what was going to happen. Morts-Vivants went quick
ly, followed by Loup-Garou, Licorne, and she was deep into Farfadet when she heard the front door shut.
“Deeka!” her dad called.
“Hey, Dad!” she called back, not breaking her eyes from her eReader.
“What’s got you so hooked?” he asked, walking into her room.
Looking up, she grinned. “Curtis’s books. I’m reading Farfadet at the moment.”
“Ahh, Detective Avrahm verses the leprechaun. Obviously you’re enjoying them?”
“Page turners,” she said emphatically, making him chuckle. “I’m not sure which one I like best! He does such an amazing job at weaving in mysticism and reality to where I’m almost believing the creatures exist…and yet like Avrahm, I’m sure there is a logical reason for what goes on.”
“Curt’s a great writer.” He paused, looking deep in thought. “Would you mind if I invited him over to dinner a few nights a week until he gets settled?”
“Mind? Nope! Maybe I can pick his brain about some of the stuff in his books.” Pausing as he turned to leave her room, she said, “Dad?”
“Yeah?” He looked over his shoulder as he paused at her doorway.
“I like him.” As much as she tried to say it without emotion, she felt the tell-tale blush enter her cheeks.
One of those inscrutable expressions crossed his face, which made it impossible to tell what he was thinking. “Deek, I have a very high opinion of him, but the man isn’t from here and doesn’t understand our way of life.”
“I know. And after Mom, I can understand not wanting to get involved with an outsider. But…he’s fascinating, the kinds of things he’s done so far. I’d just like to get to know him better.” Knowing her father would want to be sure she meant it, she looked him straight in the eyes and waited while he gazed at her.
A small smile crossed his features and if she was any judge, it looked as though her father was pleased with her reaction. “Good to know. And it looks like he plans on staying. He says he really likes what he’s seen of Hyacinth so far. Now, finish Farfadet so that you can discuss the reality of leprechauns with him tonight.”