Between Dusk and Dawn (15 page)

“
I’ll make you some
dinner,” LaShaun said as she pulled on her cotton pajama bottoms.
When he merely waved in response, LaShaun pulled on the matching
T-shirt top and went to the kitchen.

She heated up leftover red beans,
steamed three cups of rice and mixed up a pan of cornbread. The
beans had sat overnight, so the seasonings would make them even
more flavorful. As soft swamp blues played in the background,
LaShaun set the table. Soon the kitchen filled with the smell of
onion, garlic and the cornbread baking in the oven. LaShaun hummed
along with a familiar tune as a local artist, Tray Delacroix, sang
about a sweet love affair. Tray alternated between verses in Creole
French and English. When the singer cracked a joke about his
Louisiana hot sauce LaShaun laughed. Chase slipped his arms around
her as she stirred the pot of beans.

“
I know just what he
means,” he said, his words muffled as he pressed his mouth against
LaShaun’s neck.

“
Don’t mess with the cook,”
LaShaun pretended to try and shake him off.

“
Fine. But I’ll tell you
this much, I’m spending the night,” Chase said and back
away.

LaShaun turned to stare at him. Chase
wore a loving smile as he gazed back at her. He was dressed in tan
pajama pants and matching muscle T-shirt. “I thought...”

“
Yeah, but I’ll feel better
being here tonight. I brought a few things.”

“
After I the trouble I
caused.” LaShaun turned to the large pot again and shook her head.
“Those folks are right, your family and friends. You should stay
away from me.”

He reached around her and turned down
the fire under the pot. He checked on the bread and then grabbed
her by the hand. “The food is okay. You come over here.”

“
But the
bread...”

“
Ten minutes left on the
timer. I checked.” Chase sat on the sofa in the small family room
right off the kitchen. Then he pulled LaShaun onto his lap. “I want
to tell you something.”

“
We have to be realistic.”
She started to say more, but couldn’t make the words come
out.

“
I’ll talk, you listen.”
Chase gently turned her face to his forcing LaShaun to look him in
the eyes. “We’re a team. I may get irritated... okay... mad as
hell, at you sometimes. But I’m not going anywhere. I want to marry
you.”

LaShaun tried to jump from his lap,
but he held her firmly with two strong arms. “The last few hours
should be enough evidence why that’s a bad plan. I’m always getting
into these complicated situations,” she replied.

“
More proof you need me to
bail you out,” Chase said with a grin.

“
Be serious. I don’t want
you to suffer because I was born under this cloud. I care about
you,” LaShaun finished in a shaking voice.

“
I love you, and you love
me. Yes? Saying it won’t bring some supernatural disaster down on
our heads.” Chase pressed his face against neck.

She brushed his thick dark curls with
the tips of her fingers and nodded. “You’re one stubborn Cajun
Cowboy.”

He laughed and looked up at her. “Then
it’s settled. We’re engaged.”

“
What the...”

“
I even got the ring,”
Chase said and fished around under the seat cushion, finding an
emerald green velvet box. He opened it to reveal an oval
multicolored ametrine stone set in eighteen karate gold with round
diamonds on either side.

LaShaun finally managed to catch her
breath and speak. “This looks just like Monmon Odette’s ring, the
one she got from her grandmother.”

“
Acting as her attorney,
Savannah had strict instructions to give me a package two months
after her death. Mrs. Rousselle also included a letter that told me
not to tell about it, not until and unless I wanted to spend my
life with you. And I do.” Chase slipped it on LaShaun’s right ring
finger.

“
Monmon Odette showed this
to me once when I was a little girl, and then she locked it away.”
LaShaun stared at the ring mesmerized by the play of color as the
green, gold and pink stone shimmered.

“
Now you’re grown up, and
going to be a married lady.”

“
You have an election
coming up. Reverend Fletcher is already plotting against you, and
all these murders with me smack in the middle of it all. Oh no.”
LaShaun tried to wriggle off his lap.

“
Oh yes.” Chase held on
tight.

“
I can’t let you risk
everything...” LaShaun started and stopped when he clamped a hand
over her mouth.

“
I have no intention of
losing the election. I’m going to start speaking out to the people
in Vermillion Parish who care about the issues and won’t be fooled
by intolerant scare tactics.” Chase lost his serious expression and
grinned at her. “You like it? M.J. helped me practice.”

LaShaun blinked at him. “You really
have lost your mind.”

“
Crazy like a fox. Dave is
mostly unknown. The mayor and three aldermen are with me for now.
Of course those politicians might jump ship if the winds get to
rough. Who knows?” Chase shrugged. “But it doesn’t matter. I have
faith in the wonderful people who will come out to vote for justice
and common sense. Hey, I’m getting better at speech making on the
fly.”

“
My past may be held
against you, Chase. And more” LaShaun frowned at him, and gazed at
her light brown skin against his. Even with his skin tanned from
the sun, the difference was evident. “I don’t want you to lose your
dream of being Sheriff because of me.”

“
I’m not saying we’re the
most progressive place, but when it comes down to it good old Cajun
common sense wins out.”

LaShaun thought about what he said for
a few moments. “Oui. Monmon Odette said our culture has been unique
down through history. We’ve tried to treat each other decent for
the most part, before Louisiana became part of America that is.
Seems like there is always somebody eager to point out the
differences and whip up hatred.”

“
We don’t plan to let that
happen. With the election delayed I’ve got more time to campaign.
And we can concentrate on these murders, and figure out what
Patsy’s been up to.” Chase frowned.

“
Did she have anything to
say that would help?”

“
I can’t go into details,
but she gave a little bit that might lead to something. The biggest
part of being a cop is dealing with people who don’t tell the
truth, or at least don’t tell it all.”

“
I hear her husband won’t
let her come home or see their kids. Maybe she doesn’t want to
admit she ran off with another man. If they divorce she could lose
custody of the children,” LaShaun said.

“
*Unless Vince is really
dumb he’s already figured out the story with the rest of the town,”
Chase said, then he kissed LaShaun tenderly. “Speaking of
marriage.”

LaShaun looked at the ring on her
finger. Light danced in the facets as the colors seemed to come
alive the longer she gazed at it. Would it be selfish to grab a
chance for happiness? Chase would likely face ostracism from family
and friends.

“
I know what I’m getting
into, cher,” Chase whispered as though he could read her thoughts
by looking at her expression.

“
You have to promise me
something, “LaShaun said after a few moments. She looked into his
dark eyes.

“
That’s what this night is
all about, promises.” Chase kissed shoulder and neck.

“
If at any time you feel
the going is too tough, or you can’t cope with the whispers
and...”

“
I won’t, but go on,” Chase
broke in.

“
You’ll tell me honestly.
Don’t keep it in, or brood about it. Like you said, we’ve got to be
honest with each other. Sometimes it might be us facing the world.
Make this decision with a clear head, no hearts and flowers to make
things look rosy.” LaShaun pulled away from him. The love in his
eyes tugged at her soul, but she resisted the urge to melt into
him. “This is a huge decision for you. I’m already an
outsider.”

“
Stand by me, love, because
I’m more than ready to stand by you,” Chase said firmly, no trace
of doubt in his voice or his dark gaze.

LaShaun gasped at the impact of his
honesty. No matter what, they would be a force of love that would
meet every test thrown at them. She bent her head and tasted his
sweet lips, savoring his eager response. When she pulled back
LaShaun nodded. “Yes.”

Chase closed his eyes and nuzzled her
neck. “Yes,” he repeated. Several minutes went by as they held each
other before he spoke again. “Darlin’?”

“
Yes.” LaShaun
sighed.

“
Can we please eat? I’m
starving.” Chase grinned at her.

With a burst of laughter LaShaun gave
his arm a swat. Then she jumped from his lap. “The
bread!”

For the rest the evening the darkness
just outside the windows looked romantic and cozy, like a country
quilt around their special world. They didn’t look at the news, or
talk about death, crime and the mystery of what was happening in
their beloved bayou parish. Later LaShaun drifted off to sleep
cradled by Chase’s long body. A howling far off in the woods barely
registered in her semi-conscious haze of contentment. Her eyes flew
open for only a second or two then closed again.

Chapter 9

The next morning LaShaun woke up in a
strange mood, she wasn’t quite sure what she felt. Anxiety floated
around her like a sticky swamp fog. She should have been happy. And
indeed looking at the drop dead gorgeous ring on her finger brought
a rush of joy to her heart. Then she would feel anxious again, and
the good vibe faded as the implications of saying “Yes” to Chase’s
proposal sank in. She also had a vague sense that more bad events
would soon happen.

Still she greeted Chase with a smile
when he woke next to her. They cooked breakfast together and
exchanged small talk. LaShaun sent him off to work with a loving
kiss. Anyone watching would see a normal scene. Except LaShaun had
to admit she agreed with Reverend Fletcher. Something sinister had
settled in Vermillion Parish. She washed the few breakfast dishes
left, unloaded the dishwasher of dinner dishes and put them away.
She hummed a light tune hoping to banish the unsettling feeling
inside her gut. It didn’t work.

She went to the small parlor and found
the leather bound book she’d tucked away in drawer. The rare volume
from Monmon Odette’s library felt warm and heavy as she picked it
up. LaShaun turned to the section where she’d placed the antique
copper bookmark her grandmother used so often. The text described a
creature LaShaun didn’t want to believe existed. Turning a page she
gazed at the drawing of a half human, half animal monster. Finally
she decided. After calling the museum she drove into town to meet
with the curator, Pete Kluger. One of the employees, a young
student named Nyla, grinned at LaShaun when she walked into the
lobby.

“
Good morning. It’s a
beautiful day,” Nyla said.

“
I’m glad someone is
feeling cheerful,” LaShaun grinned back at her. “New fella? No,
wait. You reunited with an old love; one that you feel sure really
cares about you.”

Nyla’s stared at LaShaun with her
mouth open for several seconds. “Damn, you really are
psychic.”

“
Watch your language, young
lady. I have to keep repeating myself,” Dotty muttered as she
walked to the reception desk. The office manager ran a tight
ship.

“
Hi Dotty. I hope you’re
having great morning,” LaShaun chirped. “Pete is expecting me.”
Before Dotty could reply LaShaun zipped past her toward his
office.

“
Thinks she owns the
place...”

Dotty’s voice faded as LaShaun kept
walking down the hall. She entered the small ante room decorated
with antique furniture and through a second door into his office.
She stopped when she saw Miss Clo and Joyelle seated in two chairs.
Joyelle sniffled and blinked hard when she saw LaShaun and then
whimpered. Miss Clo patted her back and made soothing noises. Pete
blinked rapidly and kept rubbing his forehead as he gazed at them.
Pete seemed to let out a sigh of relief at the sight of LaShaun. He
met her at the door.

“
I’m glad to see you,” he
blurted out. “So glad.”

“
Hello everybody. What’s
going on?” LaShaun looked a bit bewildered.

“
I was discussing local
legends with these ladies. Um, maybe they took something I said too
literally.” Pete hefted a large leather bound volume to show
LaShaun.

“
I don’t believe any of
it,” Miss Clo blurted out. She glanced at her friend. Joyelle
merely shook her head, took out a tissue and dabbed her eyes.
“Honey, don’t get upset. There’s got to be another
explanation.”

“
Explanation of what?”
LaShaun sat down across from Joyelle on a large upholstered
chair.

“
Maybe I shouldn’t have
upset you, Mrs. LeJeun. I sometimes get excited about Louisiana
Cajun lore.” Pete looked at LaShaun as though asking for
help.