Preface
…While Analise poured Hellen’s coffee, she thought about what Hellen had just said about her situation. “So, what exactly is your situation?” Analise asked.
“Injured animal. Trying to keep it alive. Somebody really did a number on it. Shot it through the back a few times, and even through its skull. One of the bullets took one of its eyes. It even had deep gashes through its body. A boat propeller, I believe. Was probably whoever shot its last attempt to be sure it died.”
“Damn, Hellen. I’m surprised you found it alive,” Analise said.
“Me, too. I thought it was dead, but it twitched when I tried to bury it. It obviously wasn’t ready to be buried yet, so I decided to see if I could help it survive.”
“I’m sure it’s grateful.”
Hellen laughed. “Not even slightly. Surliest damn thing I’ve ever come across, but I suppose I would be, too, if someone attacked me and left me for dead.”
“That’s understandable,” Analise said. “So, you headed home? You going to be around for a few days?”
Hellen kind of hemmed and hawed, not really committing to one thing or another. Finally she looked Analise in the eye. “I think I’m going to stop by and visit my mom and dad for a little while, then maybe tomorrow or the next day heading back to see how my gator is.”
“Gator?! You’re trying to save an alligator?!”
“Well, yeah. Why not. He’s not that much different from Gerald,” Hellen said, gesturing in the general direction of Harleystill playing on the side porch with her iguana. “Doesn’t anything have the right to live as long as it’s not hurting anything else?”
“Aren’t gators just cold blooded, prehistoric eating machines?” Analise asked.
“Some, maybe. But Analise, they’re all wild creatures. They’re just trying to survive.”
“Please don’t try to pet the damn thing! It could eat you!”
“At this point, I think it’s more afraid of me, than me of it. It’s weak, and struggling to heal.”
“Just be careful. Please.”
Hellen nodded, looking into her cup as she swirled the remaining coffee around inside it. “I’m being more careful than you’d think,” she practically whispered.
‘Cher’ is a Cajun word.
It’s pronounced very similarly to the word ‘share’ though sometimes without the ‘r’ being fully pronounced.
It is a term of endearment meaning dear, darling, beloved or sweetheart.
Chapter 1
Hellen walked past Brandt and Kaid as the darkness was beginning to set, acting like it was the most normal thing in the world for her to just walk away from Havoc and Analise’s reception. She was hoping that no one would think her leaving was out of the ordinary and not call her out on it. She just couldn’t fake it anymore, and that meant it was past time for her to go.
Naturally, with her nosy family, it wasn’t to be.
Brandt’s attention was locked on the dust trail Remi’s car had left behind, so when Hellen walked right through it to cross the road and start toward her house, he saw her right away. He didn’t hesitate. “Where you going?!” he called out.
Hellen didn’t stop walking, or turn around to speak to Brandt, she just kept going when she shouted her answer loud enough for him to hear despite the fact she was walking away from him. “I’m going to go home and get a little rest. I have a headache.”
“You coming back out for the bonfire?” Brandt asked.
“I might, let me see if I can get rid of this headache first,” she answered, now fully across the road and preparing to jump over the deep ditch that ran parallel to the road.
“Alright. But listen, be careful by the ditches and all the lots with the tall grass in them. Watch yourself. I’d have sworn I saw some gator tracks out by my place yesterday,” Brandt said.
Hellen stopped walking and turned to face Brandt. “Are you sure?”
“Oh, yeah. Big ole muddy mess on the bank there where we launch the boat. Looks like it’s been back and forth a few times, but I’m not sure if the last of its tracks were coming orgoing. Just be careful so you don’t get bitten. It’ll move along eventually.”
