Chapter 2-The Confession

Marie heard the low hum of the boat before she saw it coming around the ancient cypress trees in the bend. Strangers never came this deep into Bayou Cane unless they were 'gator poachers or the law. From the pit of her stomach she knew...it was the law.

She recognized Sheriff Herbert standing in the stern of the police boat. He was a tall muscular man, at least in his late twenties, with a stock of thick black hair. It was that dark hair and blue eyes that gave him the appearance of a Terrebonne Parish man. She heard he was from somewhere up around Shreveport. He had married old man Duhon's daughter and when Sheriff Duhon retired he got his son-in-law elected. Sheriff Duhon had a lot of political clout in Terrebonne Parish and all of Louisiana. Marie figured the old man must be the richest man in the state. At sixteen Marie didn't care much for politics, but she loved the gossip. Sheriff Herbert had been nice to her and her family the day he visited all the settlers along Bayou Cane. She especially remembered his easy way of talking and boyish grin. She knew if he had won the families over on the bayou, he must be a pretty good person. There weren't too many people lived so far back in these swamps, she knew all of them and they didn't take to strangers.

Renee saw Marie standing in the yard stirring a large iron pot over a low flame. From the aroma drifting up, he knew she was making lye soap. The steam rising from the hot pot had turned Marie's hair to a mass of damp ringlets framing her heart shaped face. Her pale complexion had turned a rosy pink and glistened with sweat. He had seen her from a short distance the year before and found her hard to forget. A tiny thing no more than five feet four inches with long black hair, little ruby lips and piercing sad eyes. Those unusual pale blue eyes had caught his attention and held him captivated. He wondered if she ever smiled.

"Miss Marie is your mama in the house?" Sheriff Herbert asked as he stepped onto the marshy ground. There were different ways to approach someone with the news their family member had been a victim of a violent crime. He had studied all the ways in academy, but it never made the task any easier. Often times the shock and anger hit the family and they took it out on the messenger. Renee steadied himself.

Marie looked up and stopped stirring the boiling liquid. "Sheriff, I tink she's back dare." Marie replied pointing back to the house.

"I have some bad news for your family. Can you get your mama to come out to talk to me?"

Most all the houses on the bayous followed the same pattern. They were built of unpainted cypress boards high off the ground to weather the storms and surging bayou waters. Poles at least five feet tall supported the cabins and were used for various purposes. Renee couldn't help noticing this cabin was a little shabbier than most he had seen. The chimney on the east side had a few missing bricks. No curtains in the window, and the rusting tin roof all gave the place a forlorn appearance.

Marie scurried off toward the house in her bare feet. Nudging a sleeping bloodhound off the steps of the porch she called from the door ... "Mama de law is here to talk to you." It didn't take long before a passel of kids began peeking from behind the door jam. Renee knew these children, like so many other families, had lived back in these swamps for years never going to school or seeing anyone but their own family. Visitors were a rare event.

A small woman stepped out of the dark house fussing with her hair. Sarah Terrebonne had once been a beautiful woman with long dark hair and flashing dark eyes. Sarah did not resemble the fresh faced girl she once had been. She had grown old before her time. Her body and face revealed too many babies, too many hard times, but most of all too many beatings. It was obvious her nose had been broken many times and from the scars on her face, neck and arms those beatings had been bad ones. Her graying hair was formed into a hasty bun and the dirty dress she wore hung loosely on her skeletal frame. A chipped front tooth somehow made her even more pitiful.

"Sheriff, you want to talk with me?" Sarah asked holding her hand in front of her mouth standing on the front porch inches from the front door. Her voice was soft and melodious with a mixture of French and English that most the people in South Louisiana spoke. Cajun the outsiders called it.

Renee looked up the steep steps at Mrs. Terrebonne and swallowed hard. "I'm afraid I have some bad news. Can I come up?"

"No, I'll come down to the yard." Mrs. Terrebonne took off her dirty apron and laid it across an old rocker. These Cajun people were very private and leery of strangers.

"I'm sorry to tell you Mrs. Terrebonne but a shrimper found the body of your husband in the bayou last night. I need to ask you some questions." Renee used his best Cajun French.

"Okay," Sarah replied in French in a tired voice. Her eyes never leaving the ground.

He expected Mrs. Terrebonne to be more surprised with the news. From her answer he couldn't tell if she knew something about her husband's death or this deadpan response was her normal. "From the appearance of the body he had been dead a couple of days. "

Marie had gone back to stirring the lye soap mixture when suddenly she dropped the wooden paddle and turned toward the sheriff. Her face was livid with anger as she spewed out her words. "She can tell you 'nuthin. I tell you... he was an evil bastard and a coo-yon. The fool is burnin' in Hell where he belongs."

"That may be so; I still have to ask some questions. You see it wasn't an accident. He was found with a butcher knife stuck in his stomach and it wasn't the only cut he had. Someone killed him... this I am sure." Renee reached for a pad and pen out of his front pocket. "Now, Mrs. Terrebonne if you will give me a statement... I won't need to take you to town."

Mrs. Terrebonne looked back towards the house for a brief moment then in a low voice, "I kill de bastard." Renee looked up from his pad, he had not expected to get a murder confession. Sarah looked up into Sheriff Herbert's blue eyes with her dull brown eyes. "He beat me for years. I could take no more."

Marie rushed toward her mother, grabbed her arm, and screamed. "No, mama you know you didn't kill dat bastard. Why you say dat?"

Sheriff Herbert was stunned for a moment. He reached back slowly for his handcuffs. "I will have to take you in Mrs. Terrebonne... I'm sorry."

"No, you cannot lock my mama up. She not done it." Marie moaned as she lurched forward grabbing the sheriffs hands.

"Stand back Marie, I don't want to take you to jail, too." Renee pushed Marie's hands away and took the defensive stance with legs spread apart that he learned in police academy. The thought quickly flashed that maybe he had been foolish coming so far back in these swamps alone.

"Marie, stand back." Mrs. Terrebonne commanded in French.

Marie quickly did as her mother said. "I'll tell you everything, just let my mama go." Marie pleaded. "Mama could never hurt anythang, please let her go." Marie fell to the ground like a rag doll with tears making streaks in the grime on her face.

The sheriff wasn't surprised that Marie had stood up for her mother. It was natural for kin to defend each other. However, he had a gut feeling... that Marie knew the truth. He would listen to what she had to say. "Okay, Miss Marie, tell me what happened. You know that everything you say can be held against you in a court of law." Sheriff Herbert proceeded to read Marie her rights.

Minutes later the sheriff, Sarah Terrebonne and Marie sat at a long Cyprus plank table on which years of use had scrubbed the wood smooth and faded. It took a moment for Renee's eyes to adjust to the dim room. The only natural light filtered through a window in the sparsely furnished cabin. The rough plank floors were covered in grime and multiple grease stains. On the west wall a smoke charred fireplace simmered a reddish stew. Renee noticed various fishing and trapping gear on the plank walls along with an assortment of faded clothes hung from nails. In the corner sat an old metal bed frame topped with a sagging mattress. The pee stained mended quilts reeked of urine. The odor of unwashed bodies, bacon fat, and urine combined to create a noxious atmosphere in the small room.

"Vous les enfants git!" Sarah made a scooting sweep with her hands. A tall lean boy stepped out of the shallows in the corner holding a dirty faced toddler with no clothes. He gave his mama a questioning look and then walked slowly out the door. Two other shaggy dark haired children and one old mangy yellow mutt came out from under the sagging bed frame. The old dog stopped in front of the table and began biting his left front leg and scratching with his hind leg. A small blonde girl smiled at Renee ...pulled the old dog by his floppy ear and scampered out the open door.

"You have some beautiful children, Mrs. Terrebonne."

"Thank you, "Mrs. Terrebonne smiled for the first time. "Would you like some coffee?

"Yes, thank you." Renee knew it would be rude to refuse Mrs. Terrebonne's hospitality.

Mrs. Terrebonne walked over to a sooty blue speckled large pot sitting near the low embers of the fireplace. "Marie, git a cup."

Marie placed a stained chipped porcelain cup in front of the sheriff. It was obvious to Renee that Ms. Terrebonne had offered him her very best. "Thank you, Marie."

The coffee was hot and strong. Renee took a long sip of the warm liquid and smiled at Mrs. Terrebonne. Then he turned back to the table and began writing on a legal looking document the date; October 8, 1943 and time 13:00 at the top of the page. Sarah sat down in a cane back chair across from the sheriff and reached for a syrup bucket under the table to spit out her White Tag chewing tobacco.

"Okay Miss Marie, come sit here next to your mama. I now need your statement for the record. You can begin whenever you feel like it." Sheriff Herbert held his pen close to the paper. "Start with stating your name, where you were born and your age for the record. Then just tell me what happened in your own words."

"My name is Marie Ruth Blanche. I was born in Lafourche parish. I am sixteen years this past October 10th." She hesitated for a moment, "I don't know where to begin?"

"Just begin at the beginning." Renee said reassuringly.

Marie got a faraway look in her eyes for a moment. "My papa was a good man, he loved mama and us. My grandmamma told me I was like him. Dey say I have his black hair and blue eyes and his bahbin. I never thought my face looked like I was pouting but dat is what dey say. I guess 'cause I don't smile much. Everybody loved my papa...he never did no harm to anybody. My papa never laid a hand on us. Like I said he was a good man. He died of the Consumption when I was four years old and left my two year old brother, Alex, my mama and me with nothing but dis fish cabin. My papa's people lived on dis land ever since the le Grand Derangement. You know when the Acadians got runned out of Nova Scotia. My papa's people was run out of dare and settled on dis land. No one tried to run dem out of dis swamp. I guess it was just too bad a land for anyones to care about. After papa died things got pretty hard, some days we didn't have much to eat. I don blame my mama for marryin' Mr. Terrebonne; she didn't have any other way to feed us. He was a very bad man, but mama didn't know dat at first. Dat is until he started beating us"

Marie paused again for a moment as if in deep thought with both her fist balled in tight clenches.

"He beat my mama for years 'til there was no life left in her eyes. He beat my brother Alex and me, too. Mama tried to fight him away from us but it weren't no use. Mr. Terrebonne was too strong and mean. He would laugh and beat her bloody den start on us again. I never told dis afore, but he killed my brother; choked him to death right out dare on dat porch." Marie pointed to the front porch with tears beginning to well up in her eyes. "My brother, Alex, was ten years old. He was de same age as my brother Armon is now. Alex was short and skinny; not nearly big enough to help mama, but he tried and he died. Mama and I buried him out by dat big old tree yonder." Marie pointed to a moss covered ancient oak tree at the edge of the yard. We buried him beside da other two babies mama birthed dead. It weren't no reason for dem babies to be born dead except dey was beat to death inside mama's belly by dat mean bastard."

Marie suddenly stopped telling her story and Sheriff Herbert could see tears falling down her cheeks.

"It's okay Marie just take it slow" Renee reached out to touch Marie's hand. Marie jerked back like she had been shocked.

"I be okay...I dun cried my tears 'til I ain't got any left." Marie replied wiping her face with the back of her dirty hand. . "Git your pen; I finish dis story. Mama said she killed dat bastard Terrebonne but she lied. She lied for me." Marie continued.

Renee paused with pen in mid-air for a moment, My God what more can this child tell me?
Marie placed her finger on the paper. "Write dis down." Marie's voice brought the Sheriff back to the business at hand. "He come in from the bayou all whiskey drunk and stinking like da skunk. He mean all da time, even meaner when he drunk. I decided right den. I weren't going to take no beatin' tonight and no one in my family was goin' to get hurt. Not tonight! I said to myself. I got a butcher knife from the drawer and stuck it under my mattress. Brother Armon he ten years old, and Claude, he eight, dey sleep here in de front room. Baby Ramon, he two, sleeps on a pallet in mamas' room. Sally, she four, and me we have da back room. Sally sleeps over in de corner on dat old mattress dat used to belong to my brother Alex. I must have fell asleep; at first I could not see 'nuthin. I heard Sally Mae groan and moan. I knew dat sound. He dun got tired of me and now was going after her. I guess I dun got too old for him. I weren't goin' to let it hoppen to her like it had me. My eyes got used to da dark and dats when I saw him slap his filthy paws across Sally's mouth. When he got on top of her with his smelly pig body... I stabbed him. I meant to stick dat knife into dat fat back all de way to his belly 'til he screamed like the hog that he was. It only hit his shoulder and he come up like a raging bull 'gator after me. He grobb me by da neck and was chokin' the life out of me. I thought he done killed me for sure. I got my arm loose and I stabbed him again and dis time it went to dat big belly. He looked at me kindda funny den he just fell over dead. At first I couldn' believe he was dead. I taught maybe my mind were playin' trick on me. I poked him with my foot and he didn' make no sound. I knew he was dead den for sure. I wrapped him in Sally's quilt. He was heavy but I drugged him all by myself to da water. Dare was no body that holped me. I swear. I hooked a trolling line to him and my pirogue and dragged him down da bayou a long ways. All de ways to 'Gator Bayou. I stopped when I saw a bunch of them red demon gator eyes looking out at me from da water. I leave him for 'gator bait. Served him good...he was a devil himself. I'm not sorry. Not one bit. Dat is all I have to say." With that last statement Marie pushed her cane chair back very hard and stood up defiantly.

"It's okay Marie; I think I understand what happened. Thank you for telling me your story. It looks to me like self-defense. I will need you to sign this statement then I'll take it back to the station."

Marie reached over and signed the paper in a large childish scrawl.

"If I need any more information, I'll come see you again. Take care of your mother and siblings." Sheriff Herbert stood up from the table and placed his pen back in his pocket. "Good bye Mrs. Terrebonne. Don't worry, everything will be okay." Sheriff Herbert said in French. He nodded at Mrs. Terrebonne and started his way back to his boat.

The children were obviously around but hidden in the trees around the house. Renee felt a deep sadness as he walked down to his boat tied on an old stump. How could this land display such beauty in the trees, foliage, and animals but yet, such human cruelty as these children and wife have experienced. He looked at Mrs. Terrebonne standing on the porch watching him leave. Then he did something he had never done before in his twenty-nine years of living...he broke the law. He took his pen and marked 'Case Closed.' Claude Terrebonne's death will be declared an unsolved case and will end up in some dusty file cabinet where no one will have to worry about that bastard ever again. I'll see to that. I don't think anyone will miss him or even care. Just another devil got his due. Renee got back into his boat and waved goodbye to the Terrebonne family.

Author Notes

Please accept my feeble attempt to get the reader to "hear" the broken French/English of the Cajun people. It is a beautiful sound but some words are not easily understood.

Mrs. Terrebonne looked back towards the house for a brief moment then in a low voice, "Je l'ai assassine(I murdered) him." She finally looked up into Sheriff Herbert's dark eyes with the dullest and saddest brown eyes Sheriff Herbert had ever seen. "Il me battait(He beat me) for years. I could take it no more."

Marie rushed toward her mother and grabbed her arm. "No, mama you know you did not kill dat bastard. Why you say dat?" Marie screamed.

Sheriff Herbert was stunned for a moment. He had not expected a confession. Now suddenly everything had changed. "I will have to take you in Mrs. Terrebonne, I'm sorry." Sheriff Herbert reached back for his handcuffs.

"No, you cannot lock my mama up. She not done it." Marie moaned as she lurched forward grabbing for the sheriffs hands.

"Stand back Marie, I don't want to take you to jail, too." Sheriff Herbert pushed Marie's hands away and took the defensive stance with legs spread apart that he had learned in police academy. The thought quickly flashed that maybe he had been foolish coming so far back in these swamps alone.

"Marie, lacher les mains du sherif. (Let go of the Sheriff's hands)" Mrs. Terrebonne said in a firm voice forgetting her sparse English in the excitement.

"I did it, Bon Dieu (good Lord), I did it. I'll tell you everything, just let my mama go." Marie pleaded. "Mama could never hurt anythang, please let her go." Marie fell to the ground like a rag doll with tears rolling down her grime spotted cheeks.

The Sheriff wasn't surprised that Marie had stood up for her mother. It was natural for kin to defend each other. He had a gut feeling... that just maybe Marie was telling the truth. He would at least listen to what she had to say. "Okay, Miss Marie tell me what happened. You know that everything you say can be held against you in a court of law." Sheriff Herbert proceeded to read Marie her rights.

"Mais, I'll tell the truth on my mama's bible." Marie held up her right hand in a swearing gesture.

Minutes later the sheriff, Sarah Terrebonne and Marie sat at an ancient rough Cyprus table. Dim light filtered down from the only window in the sparsely furnished cabin. Rough worn bare floors, a smoke charred fireplace, and three simple rooms was all there was to this place. On the walls the sheriff noticed various fishing and trapping gear. In the corner an old metal bed frame with multiple pee stained ragged and mended quilts on the sagging mattress. An assortment of faded clothes hung from nails on the rough walls. The musty smell of unwashed bodies, bacon fat, and urine assaulted the sheriff's nose. Sheriff Herbert thought this must be the saddest place I've ever visited. There is nothing of beauty here.

"Vous les enfants git!" (You kids git!) Sarah made a scooting sweep with her hands.

Four little shaggy dark haired children and one old mangy yellow dog came out of hiding. The old dog stopped in front of the table and began biting and scratching with his hind leg. The smallest little girl smiled at Sheriff Herbert ...pulled the old dog by his ear and scampered out the open screen less door.

"You have some joli (beautiful) children Mrs. Terrebonne."

"Merci Sheriff."(Thank you) Mrs. Terrebonne smiled for the first time. "Puis-je vous offrir une tasse de cafe? (Can I offer you some coffee?)

"Non merci (no thank you).I'm fine."Sheriff turned back to the table and began writing on a very legal looking document the date:August 8, 1942 and time 13:00 at the top of the page. "Okay Miss Marie, I now need your statement for the record." You begin whenever you feel like it." Sheriff Herbert held his pen close to the paper. "Start with stating your name, where you were born and your age for the record. Then just tell me what happened in your own words."

"My name is Marie Ruth Blanche. I was born in Lafourche parish sixteen years ago." She hesitated for a moment, "I don't know where to begin?"

"Just begin at the beginning." Sheriff Herbert said reassuringly.

"My papa was a good man and he loved mama and us. People have told me I'm like him. Dey say I have his black hair and blue eyes and his bahbin (pouting facial expression), too. But he never laid a hand on us. Like I said he was a good man. He died of the tuberculose (TB) when I was four years old and left my two year old fr¢¿½re (brother) Alex, my mama and me with nothing but dis cabine de poisson (fish cabin). My papa's people have lived on dis land ever since the le Grand Derangement (the deportation of the Acadians from Nova Scotia). Dey was run out of dare and settled on dis land, I guess, no one tried to run dem out of dis swamp. After papa died choses (things) got pretty hard, some days we didn't have much to eat. I don blame my mama for marryin' Mr. Terrebonne; she didn't have any other way to feed us. He was a very bad man but mama didn't know dat at first. Dat is until the beatings begun. "

Marie paused for a moment as if in deep thought with both her fists balled in a tight clench.
"He battre (beat) my mama for years 'til there was no vie (life) left in her eyes. He bucher my brother and me, too. Mama tried to fight him away from us but it weren't no use. He was too strong and mean. He would laugh and beat her bloody den start on us again. He killed my brother; choked him to death right out dare on dat porch." Marie points to the front porch tears beginning to well up in her eyes. "He was ten years old and not nearly big enough to help mama but he tried and he got killed. Mama and I buried him out by the woodpile with da other two babies she birthed dead. It weren't no reason for dem babies to be born dead except dey were beat to death inside mama's belly. "

Marie suddenly stopped telling her story and Sheriff Herbert could see tears falling down her cheeks.

"It's okay Marie just take it slow" Sheriff Herbert reached out to touch Marie's hand. Marie jerked back like she had been shocked.

"I be okay...I dun cried my tears 'til I ain't got any left." Marie replied wiping her face with her hand. . "Git your pen I finish dis story." "Mama said she killed dat bastard Terrebonne but she lied. She lied for me." Marie droned on.

Sheriff Herbert sat for a moment in his own thoughts, My God what more can this child tell me?

Marie placed her finger on the paper the sheriff was writing on and began her story again. "Write dis down." Marie's voice brought the Sheriff back to the business at hand. "It hoppened when I heard Sally Mae groan and moan in da night. She's my baby sister only 4 years old. I knew dat sound. He dun got tired of me and now was going after her. I guess I dun got too old for him. I weren't goin' to let it hoppen to her like it had me. He come in from the bayou all whiskey drunk and stinking like the b¢¿½te puante (skunk). He was mean all da time but even meaner when he drunk. I decided right den. I weren't going to take no beatin' tonight and no one in my family was goin' to get hurt. He thought he was foolin' me by going to bed early... that ecrevisse (crawfish). He had plans for Sally and he meant to do dirty business. Not tonight! I said to myself. I got a butcher knife from the drawer and stuck it under my mattress. Mais (well), the tree (three) boys they sleep here in the front room and Sally and me we have da back room. Sally sleeps over in the corner on dat old mattress dat used to belong to my brother Alex. I must have fell asleep; at first I could not see 'nuthin but I smelled da bastard. My eyes got used to da dark and dass (that is) when I saw him slop (slap) his filthy paws across Sally's mouth. When he got on top of her with his smelly couchon (pig) body... I stabbed him. I meant to stick dat knife into dat fat belly 'til he screamed like the hog that he was. It only hit his shoulder and he come up like a raging bull 'gator after me. He grobb me by da neck and was chokin' the life out of me. I thaught he done killed me for sure. I got my arm loose and I stabbed him again and dis time it went to dat pig belly. He looked at me kindda funny den he just fell over dead. I wrapped him in Sally's quilt and I drugged him all by myself to da water. Dare was no body that holped me. I swear. I hooked a trolling line to him and my pirogue and dragged him down da bayou a long ways. I stopped when I saw a bunch of them red demon gator eyes looking out at me from da water. Dare I leave him for 'gator bait. Served him good...he was a demon himself. I'm not sorry. Not one bit. Dat is all I have to say." With that last statement Marie pushed her cane chair back very hard and stood up defiantly.

"It's okay Marie; I think I understand what happened. Thank you for telling me your story. It looks to me like self-defense. I will need you to sign this statement then I'll take it back to the station."

Marie reached over and signed the paper in a large childish scrawl.

"If I need any more information, I'll come see you again. Take care of your mother and siblings." Sheriff Herbert stood up from the table and placed his pen back in his pocket. "Good bye Mrs. Terrebonne. Don't worry, everything will be okay." Sheriff Herbert nodded at Mrs. Terrebonne and started his way back to his boat.

The children were obviously around but hidden in the trees around the house. Sheriff Herbert felt a deep sadness as he walked down to where his boat was tied on an old stump. How could this land display such beauty in the trees, foliage, and animals but yet, such human cruelty as these children and wife had experienced. He looked at Mrs. Terrebonne standing on the porch watching him leave. Then he did something he had never done before in his thirty-two years of living...he broke the law. He took his pen and marked "Case Closed." Smiling he thought to himself ... Alex Terrebonne's death will be declared an unsolved case and will end up in some dusty file cabinet where no one will have to worry about that bastard ever again. I'll see to that. I don't think anyone will miss him or even care. Just another devil got his due.

Chapter 3
Chapter 3 Part 1

By justjo66

Warning: The author has noted that this contains the highest level of language.
Warning: The author has noted that this contains the highest level of sexual content.

Chapter 3-Home Coming
 
Sheriff Renee sat twirling a pencil between his fingers.  It had been a quiet rainy Monday morning; the Friday and Saturday drunks had sobered up and gone back to work. Confessions had been made to the priest on Sunday and forgiveness granted… all was right with the world.  But it wasn’t in Renee’s world.  He had dealt with newsmen all the past week regarding the body found in the bayou.   The ‘Houma Daily' news   ran it first ,then the New Orleans press got the story and it made front page. He knew it would all die down after a little while.  It wasn’t the first time a body had been found in a bayou.  Renee was a very patient man.  He would wait.  Meanwhile, his nightmares had returned.  He’d had them the first six months that his friend Gene had been killed, but they stopped as abruptly as they   began.  That is until last night.  He woke with cold sweats and yelling “call an ambulance”.  Renee leaned back in his office chair and let his mind remember the dream. The dream always started out pleasant with him back in Shreveport. He thought it strange how he could remember so many details. It always ended with Gene lying in that back alley bleeding to death.  Renee on the cold blacktop holding the bloody mess the 357 Magnum had burned into Gene’s skull. Blood pooling onto the filth covering the ground, sweat rolling off Renee’s face, and him sick with shame and guilt. He promised Gene when they were kids that he would never let him down. He failed him.

Renee  lit a cigarette and watched the smoke swirl up toward the tin ceiling of his office. “Damn Gene, I am sorry man. It should have been me.” He stubbed out his Lucky Strike.
 
**********
Evangeline is coming home soon from New York.  I’ve got to get my shit together. . I’m going to tell her that two months is too long to stay away.  I’m lonely without her. I need her body close to me at night. 
Just at that moment, Evangeline came bursting through the door.  She wore a beautiful stylish dark blue suit with three buttons down the front and patent leather shoes to match.   She was the picture of perfection.  Renee found himself  speechless.  He stood up quickly.
“Well, hello, darlin’ I’m sorry if I surprised you.  Your boy out there at the front desk told me he’d tell you I was here…but of course I wasn’t going to wait on him.” Evangeline flicked her hand quickly across her long chestnut bangs, rolled her brown eyes back and smiled coyly. “Don’t you just love my new hairstyle?  It’s called a Peek-a-Boo, just like Veronica Lake wore in her last movie.”

The thought flashed through Renee’s mind, she has a lot of gall, that man she’s calling a boy is at least 52 years old.  “I…I didn’t expect you for another few weeks. What happened?”

Renee ran over to give her a big welcome home hug and kiss, but Evangeline brushed him off by side stepping him and flopping herself down in the only other chair in the room.  “Is this that old chair that used to be in my daddy’s office?  Why, I can’t believe you don’t care anymore about appearances than to keep this old thing. The leather is just about worn out.”

He walked over to the old brown leather chair that he happened to love and kissed Evangeline full on the lips.  “I’m so glad to see you.  I really missed you. I’m glad you came home early”

“Oh, darlin’ you will smear my lipstick.” Evangeline took her compact out and looked at herself briefly then put it back into her large matching purse.  “You just can’t believe what a wonderful time I had in New York.” she began to rattle on. “But it was beginning to bore me. All Daddy’s friends are so old, and all they want to talk about is this silly war.”

As he sat back down behind his desk ,he hadn't heard much of what Evangeline had said. “I’m glad you had fun. I missed you.”

“I’ll tell you all about my trip when we get home, right now, I’m starving.  Daddy dropped me off; he was going to the bank.  He told me to tell you to take me home.  I wonder what Maybelle will be cooking for supper? I hate riding in that old police car of yours, but I guess that’s the only way I’m going to get home.  I’m exhausted.  Can we go now?”

“Yes, I’ll put things away and let Deputy Pierre know I’ll be taking the afternoon off.”

The drive home was uneventful.  Evangeline continued to rattle on about the war and how it had affected the styles and how she just could not understand this dire need to ration everything by the government. 

“Why, did you know that the government is asking us to give up our nylon stocking for the War Effort?   I saw signs everywhere: ‘Mend and Make Do.’ Evangeline gave a loud audible huff.

“What do they expect us to do?  Mend and Make Do, well, I never!  And I tell you dear; all the ladies in New York were dressed so fine. Why, I felt like a country mouse.  I had Daddy march right to midtown with me and we bought a proper wardrobe for the city.  We were invited to several parties at Senators’ and Congressmen’s homes.   It was just delightful to mix with real gentry for a while.”  Evangeline droned on.            “I just didn’t know my daddy knew so many important people.”      
                                                                                  
“That’s great dear, I’m glad you had fun.” Renee replied.

“Ohooo, there’s our beautiful home.”  Evangeline squealed just as they rounded the bend in Bayou Road.  Standing before them was an enormous red brick plantation home built in 1787 in the French Colonial style with six white Doric columns.   Large old oaks with their limbs reaching almost to the ground surrounded the front of the property.  In back two old charred wood structures; the remaining traces of what had once been slave cabins back when the Duhon Plantation had been one of the richest sugar plantations in Louisiana. Mr. Duhon liked to brag that this plantation had been in his family since before the Civil War.  He especially loved to tell the story of what he called the ‘Battle of Houma’.   He would tell it to anyone who would listen about the four Union soldiers in route to Houma from New Orleans in a wagon in 1862. They were caught by the Houma ‘guard ‘and two killed and the other two severely wounded. He would then swear and tell how the Union Army swooped down on Houma with four hundred troops and began a wholesale arrest of residents.  They burned the home of Doctor Jennings and two other houses were torn down; the Negroes were set free.  The part he liked to tell the best was how they tried to burn his plantation, too, but it didn’t burn down completely.  All their livestock was ran off and they had to survive like the Native Houma Indians and the Creole people…off the land.   After the war, they restored the fine old home and the Duhon family fared well in the new Union economy buying up land and raising sugar cane and cotton. 
Renee just shook his head.  This wasn’t their home. He would have never left the Caddo Parish Sheriff’s Department in Shreveport if Evangeline had not worn him down with her relentless crying and pleading about her daddy needed her since her mother had died last year. She was Mr. Duhon’s only child.  Renee knew she was spoiled but he could not say ‘no’ to her. 
 
  Later that night after a fine supper of Crawfish Etouffee and Tarte a la Bouillie, Renee and Evangeline retired to their forest green and pink bedroom. Maybelle had put fresh air dried scented sheets on their big bed.   Pink rose bouquets lavished in Wedgewood crystal vases on both bedside tables.  A rose had been placed on Evangeline’s’ pillow. A bottle of imported red wine chilled on the desk with stemmed crystal glasses. Renee smiled and secretly thanked Maybelle for being so thoughtful. As Renee bathed and got himself ready for bed, Evie sat at the dressing table and removed her makeup. 

Renee appeared in the steamy bathroom door wearing only his pajama bottoms.  His dark chest hair formed little ringlets from the moist bathroom air and his cheeks flushed from excitement.  Walking over to Evangeline he stooped down and kissed the back of her neck. “Oh Evie, I missed you so much.”

“Sweetie, not now…I’m just filthy from my trip. Let me freshen up.” Evie rose from the dressing table and headed for the bathroom .“My goodness, dear, you left this bathroom a steamy mess. I’ll just be a little while.”

One hour later, Renee still  waited anxiously for Evangeline to finish her bath.  He could hear the water splashing in the tub and visualized her white smooth silky skin and the warm water splashing across her shoulders and breast.  It had been a long time since they had been together.                       
Evangeline  entered the bedroom dressed in a pink silk dressing gown of floral design. Her long flowing chestnut hair gleamed in the faint glow of the antique bedside table lamp. 

“Evie you are so beautiful.” Renee’s voice was husky as he handed her a glass of wine.

“Why, thank you dear.” Evie chirped. She took the wine and took a long sip.  “Hmm, this is good.” 

Renee walked up closer and ran his fingers through Evies’ silken hair. Then he leaned in to kiss her. Hmmm, you smell so good.”

“Renee, you feel damp.  Go dry off some more.” Evie scowled.  She poured herself another drink and sat down again at the dressing table to comb her hair as he went back into the bathroom.

He came out of the bathroom and tossed the fluffy pink towel across to a chair, she was still brushing her hair.  He crawled under the satin quilt. “Hmm, this feels good, smiling playfully “Evie, come see how much I’ve missed you.”

 

Author Notes

The story continues with Evangeline coming home after being gone two months.

Chapter 3
Chapter 3 Part 2

By justjo66

“Oh, Cher, I am so exhausted tonight. Would you mind terribly if we just go to sleep.” Evangeline whined.                                                                                                                                   

“Yes, I would mind.  I need you and want you tonight.”

“Well okay…if you’re going to be a cad about IT.”  Evangeline plopped into bed beside Renee and  lay there with both feet together. 

Renee gave her a sad look and rolled over.  “I’ll see you in the morning.  I love you Evie.”
 
Morning found Renee bleary eyed.  He had tossed and turned most of the night and once gotten up and sat in the green brocade wingback chair by the open windows.   The cool damp breeze   blew the sheer curtains out toward the room and the smoke from his cigarette made hypnotizing twirls up and out the windows.  He could smell the musty smell of the swamp, the fields, and distant wood smoke. Fall was his favorite time of year.   He had not thought that he would like living in Houma but had found it to be peaceful and a friendly place. A place he could live the rest of his life and raise a family.  He had grown up poor with loving Christian parents in West Monroe. His daddy and two brothers were all involved in law enforcement.  All six of his sisters had children and loving husbands.  He hoped someday he and Evangeline would be as happy as his parents and have at least five children.  He had a peculiar feeling that something was troubling Evangeline. It began not too long after Thanksgiving the year of his graduation from the West Monroe Police Academy.  Class of ’40; he was so proud on that day.  He finally accomplished his dream of becoming a police officer like his daddy and uncles.  He thought that whatever was bothering Evangeline would work itself out.  Heaven knows he had tried to get her to talk to him. 

Renee was awake and staring at Evangeline when she suddenly yawned and opened her eyes.

“Were you staring at me? I must be a mess.” Evangeline reached up to smooth her hair.  “I need some coffee this morning.”  Evangeline cooed.

“Evie, you know I adore you.  I sat up last night thinking about all that’s happened since Gene got killed and our move to Houma.  You know I wasn’t too keen on coming here.  I’m still not too fond of living here with your daddy.  I know…I know…don’t give me that look.  I don’t want to start an argument this morning.  I just want to tell you that I like it here and hope we can start a family soon.”

“Oh, poo are you going to start that again?” Evangeline frowned.  “I’m too hungry and I need coffee before I can think about such things. Besides, babies will ruin my figure and they are a lot of trouble.  I hope you’re not expecting me to become your breeding cow.”

“Evie, my mother had nine kids and I know my daddy never thought of her in any way but as a loving mother and wife.”  

“Yes, but just look how she took care of all you brats and then died about the time the last one of you was grown.  She spent her life raising kids.  I don’t want that kind of life…”

“Damn you Evie, my mother loved being a mother.  I don’t even want you to mention her name. You lied to me. You told me when we first met that you loved and wanted children.” Renee got up from the bed and began putting on his pants.

“Who are you to call me a liar?  You’re the liar!” Evangeline screamed.

“What the hell do you mean?” Renee came back in a low voice.

“I mean, when I met you at ‘Ole Miss’ you were going to law school.  I thought you were going to be a lawyer…not some damn policeman.”

“Evie, you knew good and well I planned to do a couple of years of law and then take the exams at the West Monroe Police Academy.  I never lied to you.”

“Yes, you did…you did.” Evangeline began crying. “I never thought you were serious that you would trade becoming a lawyer for a low paying cop. Why, your whole family is dirt poor.  Why, wouldn’t you want to better yourself? The only reason you went to police academy was because of Gene.  Wherever he went…you were close behind him.  Don’t you know he just used you?  Why, I guess you’d be over somewhere fighting right now if it had been left up to Gene. You followed him down to the Navy recruitment center right on his heels.” Evangeline sneered.

“Evie, you know damn well when the Japs bombed Pearl Harbor I was the first on our block to try to sign up.  You are right about one thing…if they hadn’t turned me down with a heart murmur; I would be there right now fighting instead of here arguing with you.”

“Well, sometimes I wish you were!”

“Why were you so jealous of Gene?”

“Because you loved him  more than me . Youspent all your spare time with him!”

“He’s dead, Evie.  Yes, I did love him… like one of my brothers. But, I didn’t love him more than I love you.  All I have ever wanted to be is a cop. I want to make you happy, too.  I’ll always take care of you and love you.  You don’t have to worry about finances or anything.”

“No, I sure don’t… my daddy has the money to support me like I need.”

“There’s more to life than money.  I make enough to take care of you.  We could move into our own house any time and start our family.”

“Right! You go back to that same old crap again.  Well, I don’t want to move into some clapboard bungalow and live the little wifely life.  I want to travel, dress in the latest styles, and have parties.  Can you give me that?” 

“No, I’m not as rich or powerful as your daddy.  I can promise you I will do everything in my power to give you what you need.  Evie, twenty-five is not too young to start a family. You can’t be your daddy’s little girl forever, you’re my wife.”   Renee continued getting dressed.

“Don’t even talk about my Daddy!” Evangeline threw a pillow at Renee.  “If you thought all I wanted was to be a wife and mother when you married me, well, you were sadly mistaken.” Evangeline walked into the bathroom and began brushing her hair. She dropped the brush and bent over to pick it up.”

When she straightened up, Renee was standing over her and reached out to touch her arm. “Please, I don’t want to fight with you.”

 “Oh baby, I didn’t mean I would never have children. I just don’t want them now when I’m still so young. “Evangeline cooed.

 Renee took her in his arms and began kissing her neck. “I’m sorry, Evie, I love you.”

“Let’s not talk about it anymore, I’m starving, we’ll have Maybelle fix us a wonderful breakfast and you will feel better, dear.”  Evangeline nudged i[ tp Renee .  “Then maybe we can take a little drive to Baton Rouge and see a movie.  I hear ‘Citizen Kane’ is supposed to be playing.  It has that Orson Wells guy in it.  You know the one that made that crazy radio show not too long ago about the aliens…you know ‘War of the Worlds’.   Wouldn’t that be lovely?”
 
 
 
 

Author Notes

Evie's homecoming is not as Renee had planned.

Chapter 3
Chapter 3 Leaving the Bayou

By justjo66

April had come with its rains and now it was hot humid June again. Marie had been up since before daylight this morning on the bayou with Armon trying to catch their supper. She had plenty of time to think while the hot sun beamed down on their bare heads. Marie loved everything about the bayou. The way the mosses hung from the old cypress trees, the wild azaleas purple, pink, and white blooming in early spring, the sounds of the bull frogs at night; even the mosquitoes. It was her home.

"Armon, see dare a big one, cotch (catch) him!" Marie yelled to her brother as a huge green frog jumped from the marsh grass to shore. She paddled her pirogue to the bank expertly and Armon jumped ashore.

"Caught dat booger!" Armon exclaimed with glee. "Coooh (expression of astonishment) luk at da size o dat frog."

"Bon (good), dat makes us tree (three) frogs, two Redfish, dat trap full of ecrevisse (crawfish) and one old sorry snake. Mais, (well) we will eat good tonight." Marie smiled at her brother. "You did bon my frerot (little brother).

It had been almost a year since the Sheriff had visited the Terrebonnes' cabin and they had not heard any news of the case. He had sent his deputy to check on them three times and 'see if they needed anything.' Of course her mama had told him each time, 'they were fine.' Bayou people sometimes were just too independent and proud for their own good. Marie knew things were getting desperate. They had been surviving off the fish, shrimp, small gators and other small game that Marie could catch or shoot. She thought if she could hunt for the big gator's she would be able to bring in enough money for sugar, flour, coffee and the other things most of which had ration cards now since the war began. Armon, her ten year old brother had tried to help her the one time they went out looking for the big gators, but he was not strong enough yet to help her very much. This was not going to be the solution. Even with all these worries Marie was the happiest she could ever remember since Mr. Terrebonne wasn't around to torture them anymore. In fact, she had seen with her own eyes the younger children becoming more playful. They weren't so afraid any more. Even mama walked a little less stooped. Fear does that to people. And the Lord knows Mr. Terrebonne had been a monster. Now the monster was gone and it was up to her to see that her mama didn't have to sell her soul to another one to keep them all alive.

She had turned seventeen in October. It was time for her to strike out on her own. There wasn't any money to be made here in Houma for a girl like herself with no job skills, but with the war still going on and all the men folk off fighting she knew she could probably find work in New Orleans. She would get a job and send money back to mama. But how was she going to get to New Orleans, she had never even been out of LaFourche parish?

The sun was already setting and dark shadows forming in the cypress groves when Marie headed home from the bayou. She could see her mama had already lit the coal oil lamp for them.

"Come see." Marie yelled as she and Armon pulled the pirogue to the marshy bank.

Sally and her old yellow dog she called Yeller scrambled out from under the porch. The two younger boys were nowhere to be found. Most likely still in the swamp play fighting or some other boyish pastime. Sally was covered from head to toe with dust and dirt from the porch.

"Mais, whatcha have in da bucket, Marie?" Sally squealed with delight reaching to see what had been caught.

"Oh, somthin bon to eat...you dobber peu de salete (little dirt dobber)." Marie picked her up around the waist and twirled her around.

Sally squealed even louder with delight and squirmed loose from Marie's grasp. "Yeller come see." Sally called. The old dog slowly crept up to the crawfish bucket and peered inside; scratched himself and strolled back to the porch.

Ms. Terrebonne sat on the front porch in an old rocker cutting okra that she had picked that morning from her garden. She would put the okra and some tomatoes into a gumbo with whatever the children had caught or trapped today. "Marie and Armon, you did bon."

Later after supper when the children had been put to bed, Marie decided it was time to speak with her mama about leaving. "Mama, I need to talk with you."

Nodding, Ms. Terrebonne went out onto the porch and sat down in her rocker and retrieved an old pipe from her apron pocket. Marie recognized it as her papa's. Marie followed her and sat down on the step. Marie watched her mama taking small drags from the pipe as the smoke twirled up toward the sky. The smell brought back memories of her papa sitting on the porch on summer's nights smoking his pipe and holding her in his lap. She missed everything about him. She had been so young when he died but she could still remember his strong arms, his laughter, and his love for her. The wind off the bayou brought other familiar smells and sounds that only the swamp could create. She didn't know how she could stand to leave this place. The night was cooler and felt so good after the hot day.

"Mama, I need to talk with you about leaving." Marie began.

Mrs. Terrebonne just kept smoking and staring out into the blackness of the bayou. Then she stopped and put her pipe down. "When ya goin' and where?"

"I thaught (thought) I'd go to New Orleans and git a job and send home som money to holp you and the kids out."

"You aint' got no money to go nowhare."

"I'll be okay; I know how to take care of myself,mama."

"I guess ifns I can't change yor id©e I'll give you my blessing." Mrs. Terrebonne got up from her rocker and headed into the cabin. Shortly she returned with a Prince Albert tin and handed it to Marie. "Dis is da weddin' band dat yor papa gave me on da day we got married. You take it and sell it. It won't brang much money but it wills holp."

"Oh mama, I love you so much." Marie got up from the steps and hugged her mama. "I'll take papa's ring but I will never be able to sell it, I promise." I'll leave in da mornin'."

Morning came with cloudy skies and the look of rain. Marie had not slept much. She was excited about leaving and scared, too. She had packed her meager belongings into a burlap hog feed sack the night before and had hoped to get off before all the children woke up. She didn't think she could face saying goodbye. Of course, her mama had already gotten up and made coffee and biscuits.

"You need to eat, Marie. I hav you somethin' to eat for later. " Mrs. Terrebonne said.

"Thanks mama." Marie peeked into the small flour sack and saw that her mother had lovingly wrapped Boudin Rouge and corn pone in newspapers for her trip.

"I see you wearin' the dress I made fer you last summer. Yous so tiny it only tak two flour sacks. It's real pretty; the blue flowers mak yor eyes shine. You gonna need som shoes to wear with dat dress." Mrs. Terrebonne walked into her bedroom and reached under the bed and grabbed a worn pair of heavy men's boots.

"Mama, I can't take Mr. Terrebonne's boots." Marie was a little taken aback.

"Dat's okay, he don' need dem anymore." Mrs. Terrebonne said in a mater-of-fact way. "You got to hav shoes when you git to New Orleans. I don' want no peoples tinking you just poor swamp trash."

"Okay, mama I'll take dem." Marie tied the laces in a knot and slung them over her shoulder with the burlap bag. "I got to go. I love you mama. I will send you som money soon." Marie hugged her mama and headed down to her pirogue.

"It look lik rain." Mrs. Terrebonne took her pipe out of her pocket and headed back inside the cabin.

Chapter 3
The Homecoming

By justjo66

Warning: The author has noted that this contains the highest level of language.
Warning: The author has noted that this contains the highest level of sexual content.

Chapter 3-Home Coming

Sheriff Renee sat twirling a pencil between his fingers. It had been a quiet rainy Monday morning; the Friday and Saturday drunks had sobered up and gone back to work. Confessions had been made to the priest on Sunday and forgiveness granted... all was right with the world. But it wasn't in Renee's world. He had dealt with newsmen all the past week regarding the body found in the bayou. The 'Houma Daily" news ran it first , then the New Orleans press got the story and it made front page. He knew it would all die down after a little while. It wasn't the first time a body had been found in a bayou. Renee was a very patient man. He would wait.

Meanwhile, his nightmares had returned. He'd had them the first six months that his friend Gene had been killed, but they stopped as abruptly as they began. That is until last night. He woke with cold sweats and yelling "call an ambulance". Renee leaned back in his office chair and let his mind remember the dream. The dream always started out pleasant with him back in Shreveport. He thought it strange how he could remember so many details. It always ended with Gene lying in that back alley bleeding to death. Rene on the cold blacktop holding the bloody mess the 357 Magnum had burned into Gene's skull. Blood pooling onto the filth covering the ground, sweat rolling off Renee's face, and him sick with shame and guilt. He promised Gene when they were kids that he would never let him down. He failed him.

Rene lit a cigarette and watched the smoke swirl up toward the tin ceiling of his office. "Damn Gene, I am sorry man. It should have been me." Renee stubbed out his Lucky Strike.

**********
Evangeline is coming home soon from New York. I've got to get my shit together. I'm going to tell her that two months is too long to stay away. I'm lonely without her. I need her body close to me at night.

Just at that moment, Evangeline came bursting through the door. She wore a beautiful stylish dark blue suit with three buttons down the front and patent leather shoes to match. She was the picture of perfection. Renee found himself speechless. He stood up quickly.
"Well, hello, darlin' I'm sorry if I surprised you. Your boy out there at the front desk told me he'd tell you I was here...but of course I wasn't going to wait on him." Evangeline flicked her hand quickly across her long chestnut bangs, rolled her green eyes back and smiled coyly. "Don't you just love my new hairstyle? It's called a Peek-a-Boo, just like Veronica Lake wore in her last movie."

The thought flashed through Renee's mind, she has a lot of gall, that man she's calling a boy is at least fifty-two years old. "I...I didn't expect you for another few weeks. What happened?"
Renee ran over to give her a big welcome home hug and kiss, but Evangeline brushed him off by side stepping him and flopping herself down in the only other chair in the room. "Is this that old chair that used to be in my daddy's office? Why! I can't believe you don't care anymore about appearances than to keep this old thing. The leather is just about worn out."

Renee walked over to the weathered brown chair that he happened to love and kissed Evangeline full on the lips. "I'm so glad to see you. I really missed you. I'm glad you came home early."

"Oh, darlin' you will smear my lipstick." Evangeline took her compact out and looked at herself briefly then put it back into her large matching purse. "You just can't believe what a wonderful time I had in New York," she began to rattle on. "But it was beginning to bore me. All Daddy's friends are so old, and all they want to talk about is this silly war."

Renee didn't hear much of what she said as he sat back down behind his desk. "I'm glad you had fun. I missed you."

"I'll tell you all about my trip when we get home, right now, I'm starving. Daddy dropped me off; he was going to the bank. He told me to tell you to take me home. I wonder what Maybelle will be cooking for supper? I hate riding in that old police car of yours, but I guess that's the only way I'm going to get home. I'm exhausted. Can we go now?"

"Yes, I'll put things away and let Deputy Pierre know I'll be taking the afternoon off."

The drive home was uneventful. Evangeline continued to rattle on about the war and how it had affected the styles and how she just could not understand this dire need to ration everything by the government.
"Why, did you know that the government is asking us to give up our nylon stockings for the War Effort? I saw signs everywhere: 'Mend and Make Do.' Evangeline gave a loud audible huff.
"What do they expect us to do? Mend and Make Do, well, I never! And I tell you dear; all the ladies in New York were dressed so fine. Why, I felt like a country mouse. I had Daddy march right to midtown with me and we bought a proper wardrobe for the city. We were invited to several parties at Senators' and Congressmen's homes. It was just delightful to mix with real gentry for a while," Evangeline droned on. "I just didn't know my daddy knew so many important people."

"That's great babe, I'm glad you had fun," Renee replied.

"Ohooo, there's our beautiful home." Evangeline squealed just as they rounded the bend in Bayou Road. Standing before them was an enormous red brick plantation home built in 1787 in the French Colonial style with six white Doric columns. Large old oaks with their limbs reaching almost to the ground surrounded the front of the property. In back two old charred wood structures; the remaining traces of what had once been slave cabins back when the Duhon Plantation had been one of the richest sugar plantations in Louisiana. Mr. Duhon liked to brag that this plantation had been in his family since before the Civil War. He especially loved to tell the story of what he called the 'Battle of Houma'. He would tell it to anyone who would listen about the four Union soldiers in route to Houma from New Orleans in a wagon in 1862. They were caught by the Houma 'guard 'and two killed and the other two severely wounded. He would then swear and tell how the Union Army swooped down on Houma with four hundred troops and began a wholesale arrest of residents. They burned the home of Doctor Jennings and two other houses were torn down; the Negroes were set free. The part he liked to tell the best was how they tried to burn his plantation, too, but it didn't burn down completely. All their livestock was ran off and they had to survive like the Native Houma Indians and the Creole people...off the land. After the war, they restored the fine old home and the Duhon family fared well in the new Union economy buying up land and raising sugar cane and cotton.

Renee just shook his head. This wasn't their home. He would have never left the Caddo Parish Sheriff's Department in Shreveport if Evangeline had not worn him down with her relentless crying and pleading about her daddy needed her since her mother had died last year. She was Mr. Duhon's only child. Renee knew she was spoiled but he could not say 'no' to her.

Later that night after a fine supper of Crawfish Etouffee and Tarte a la Bouillie, Renee and Evangeline retired to their forest green and pink bedroom. Maybelle had put fresh air dried scented sheets on their big bed. Pink rose bouquets lavished in Wedgewood crystal vases on both bedside tables. A rose had been placed on Evangeline's' pillow. A bottle of imported red wine chilled on the desk with stemmed crystal glasses. Renee smiled and secretly thanked Maybelle for being so thoughtful. As Renee bathed and got himself ready for bed, Evie sat at the dressing table and removed her makeup.

Renee appeared in the steamy bathroom door wearing only his pajama bottoms. His dark chest hair formed little ringlets from the moist bathroom air and his cheeks flushed from excitement. Walking over to Evangeline he stooped down and kissed the back of her neck. "Oh Evie, I missed you so much."

"Sweetie, not now...I'm just filthy from my trip. Let me freshen up." Evie rose from the dressing table and headed for the bathroom . "My goodness, dear, you left this bathroom a steamy mess. I'll just be a little while."

One hour later Renee still waited anxiously for Evangeline to finish her bath. He could hear the water splashing in the tub and visualized her white smooth silky skin and the warm water splashing across her shoulders and breast. It had been a long time since they had been together.

Evangeline entered the bedroom dressed in a pink silk dressing gown of floral design. Her long flowing chestnut hair gleamed in the faint glow of the antique bedside table lamp.

"Evie you are so beautiful," Renee's voice was husky as he handed her a glass of wine.
"Why, thank you dear," Evie chirped. She took the wine and took a long sip. "Hmm, this is good."
Renee walked up closer and ran his fingers through Evies' silken hair. Then he leaned in to kiss her. Hmmm, you smell so good."

"Renee, you feel damp. Go dry off some more," Evie scowled. She poured herself another drink and sat down again at the dressing table to comb her hair as he went back into the bathroom.

He came out of the bathroom and tossed the fluffy pink towel across to a chair, she was still brushing her hair. He crawled under the satin quilt. "Hmm, this feels good,"smiling playfully. "Evie, come see how much I've missed you."

"Oh, Cher, I am so exhausted tonight. Would you mind terribly if we just go to sleep," Evangeline whined.

"Yes, I would mind. I need you and want you tonight."

"Well okay...if you're going to be a cad about IT," Evangeline plopped into bed beside Renee and lay there straight as a board with both feet together.

Renee gave her a sad look and rolled over. "I'll see you in the morning. I love you Evie."
*****
Morning came early for Renee. He had tossed and turned most of the night and once gotten up and sat in the green brocade wingback chair by the open windows. The cool damp breeze blew the sheer curtains out toward the room and the smoke from his cigarette made hypnotizing twirls up and out the windows. He could smell the musty smell of the swamp, the fields, and distant wood smoke. Fall was his favorite time of year. He had not thought that he would like living in Houma but had found it to be peaceful and a friendly place. A place he could live the rest of his life and raise a family. He had grown up poor with loving Christian parents in West Monroe. His daddy and two brothers were all involved in law enforcement. All six of his sisters had children and loving husbands. He hoped someday he and Evangeline would be as happy as his parents and have at least five children. He had a peculiar feeling that something was troubling Evangeline. It began not too long after Thanksgiving the year of his graduation from the West Monroe Police Academy. Class of '40; he was so proud on that day. He finally accomplished his dream of becoming a police officer like his daddy and uncles. He thought that whatever was bothering Evangeline would work itself out. Heaven knows he had tried to get her to talk to him.

Renee was awake and staring at Evangeline when she suddenly yawned and opened her eyes.

"Were you staring at me? I must be a mess." Evangeline reached up to smooth her hair. "I need some coffee this morning," Evangeline cooed.

"Evie, you know I love you so much. I sat up last night thinking about all that's happened since Gene got killed and our move to Houma. You know I wasn't too keen on coming here. I'm still not too fond of living here with your daddy. I know...I know...don't give me that look. I don't want to start an argument this morning. I just want to tell you that I like it here and hope we can start a family soon."

"Oh, Renee, are you going to start that again?" Evangeline frowned. "I'm too hungry and I need coffee before I can think about such things. Besides that, babies will ruin my figure and they are a lot of trouble. I hope you're not expecting me to become your breeding cow."

"Evie, my mother had nine kids and I know for certain that my daddy never thought of her in any way but as a loving mother and wife," Renee countered.
"Yes, but just look how she took care of all you brats and then died about the time the last one of you was grown. She spent her life raising kids. I don't want that kind of life..."
"Damn you Evie, my mother loved being a mother. I don't even want you to mention her name. You lied to me. You told me when we first met that you loved and wanted children." Renee got up from the bed and began putting on his pants.

"Who are you to call me a liar? You're the liar!" Evangeline screamed.

"What the hell do you mean?" Renee came back in a low voice.

"I mean, when I met you at 'Ole Miss' you were going to law school. I thought you were going to be a lawyer...not some damn policeman."

"Evie, you knew good and well I planned to do a couple of years of law and then take the exams at the West Monroe Police Academy. I never lied to you."
"Yes, you did...you did." Evangeline began crying. "I never thought you were serious that you would trade becoming a lawyer for a low paying cop. Why, your whole family is dirt poor. Why, wouldn't you want to better yourself? The only reason you went to police academy was because of Gene. Wherever he went...you were close behind him. Don't you know he just used you? Why, I guess you'd be over somewhere fighting right now if it had been left up to Gene. You followed him down to the Navy recruitment center right on his heels," Evangeline sneered.
"Evie, you know damn well when the Japs bombed Pearl Harbor I was the first on our block to try to sign up. You are right about one thing...if they hadn't turned me down with a heart murmur; I would be there right now fighting instead of here arguing with you."

"Well, sometimes I wish you were!"

"Why were you so jealous of Gene?"

"Because you loved him and spent all your spare time with him!"

"He's dead, Evie. Yes, I did love him... like one of my brothers. But, I didn't love him more than I love you. All I have ever wanted to be is a cop. I want to make you happy, too. I'll always take care of you and love you. You don't have to worry about finances or anything."
"No, I sure don't... my daddy has the money to support me like I need."

"There's more to life than money. I make enough to take care of you. We could move into our own house any time and start our family."

"Right! You go back to that same old crap again. Well, I don't want to move into some clapboard bungalow and live the little wifely life. I want to travel, dress in the latest styles, and have parties. Can you give me that?"

"No, I'm not as rich or powerful as your daddy. But I can promise you I will do everything in my power to give you what you need. Evie, twenty-five is not too young to start a family. You can't be your daddy's little girl forever, you're my wife." Renee continued getting dressed.

"Don't even talk about my Daddy!" Evangeline threw a pillow at Renee. "If you thought all I wanted was to be a wife and mother when you married me, well, you were sadly mistaken." Evangeline walked into the bathroom and began brushing her hair. She dropped the brush and bent over to pick it up."

When she straightened up, Renee was standing over her and reached out to touch her arm. "Please, I don't want to fight with you."

"Oh baby, I didn't mean I would never have children. I just don't want them now when I'm still so young," Evangeline cooed.

Renee took her in his arms and began kissing her neck, "I'm sorry, Evie, I love you."

"Let's not talk about it anymore, I'm starving, we'll have Maybelle fix us a wonderful breakfast and you will feel better, dear," Evangeline urged. "Then maybe we can take a little drive to Baton Rouge and see a movie. I hear 'Citizen Kane' is supposed to be playing. It has that Orson Wells guy in it. You know the one that made that crazy radio show not too long ago about the aliens...you know 'War of the Worlds'. Wouldn't that be lovely?"

Author Notes

The story continues.

Chapter 4
Chapter 4 Leaving the Bayou

By justjo66

Chapter 4-Leaving the Bayou

It had been almost a year since the sheriff had discovered the horrible Terrebonne family secrets. Small towns have a way of keeping gossip alive, but talk did eventually die down after a few months. Claude Terrebonne's' funeral was paid for by the parish and he was laid in a pauper's grave in the Old Bayou Road Cemetery. St. Francis de Soles Catholic church wouldn't permit his burial on their consecrated ground. He had never been baptized and for all purposes was not a Catholic in anything but word. A few of the local fishermen and shrimpers, drunken cronies from the bar in town, townspeople, and one especially curious stranger showed up for the bleak affair. The stranger was very tall and handsome with dark hair and green/yellow eyes. Sarah wondered who he might be. He spoke to no one and left as soon as the service was over.

Mr. Terrebonne's sister, LouElla, read about his death in the New Orleans paper and appeared from nowhere the day of the funeral. She provided a large floral arrangement of dark almost black roses to blanket the wooden coffin. She asked a lot of questions from Sara but didn't get a lot of answers. It was the first time Sarah Terrebonne had met her sister-in-law and as far as she was concerned she "didn't care if she ever saw her again." The children had been terrified of her. Sally even asked "if she was a witch?" Sarah couldn't blame the little ones from being frightened of their long lost aunt. She was tall and rail thin with long fingers and nails painted bright red. Her long beaked nose and black hair and eyes gave her a sinister appearance. Her funeral attire of total black with a large brimmed black veiled hat completed her scary look.

Mr. Terrebonne had been the 'black sheep' of his family. Sarah had heard Mr. Terrebonne complain many times of "how much money his family had but wouldn't lend a hand to help him." They owned most of the land in Terrebonne Parish and were extremely wealthy. Sarah didn't expect any help from them now and LouElla Jeansonne never offered any.
**********
Sheriff Renee had sent his deputy to check on the Terrebonne family three times in the past year to, "see if they needed anything?"

Of course Sara Terrebonne told him each time, "They were fine." Bayou people sometimes were too independent and proud for their own good, Marie thought. Things were getting desperate. They had been surviving off the fish, shrimp, small 'gators and other small game that she could catch or shoot. She had reasoned if she could hunt the big 'gator's, she would be able to bring in enough money to buy the ration cards for sugar, coffee, and the other things they needed. Most everything now was rationed since the war had begun.

Armon, her eleven year old brother, tried to help her the one time they went out looking for the big gators, but he was not strong enough. They were gone an entire day baiting hooks with spoiled chicken. They caught a few alligators that were small enough for the both of them to pull into the pirogue. Her hands were blistered and bleeding from tugging on the lines. Then Armon almost got pulled into the water with the last catch of the day. It was an old 'gator at least ten feet long and weighing probably five hundred pounds. Marie had to cut the line to save her brother's life. After this event, she realized catching and selling 'gators for their hides and meat was not going to be the solution.

Even with all these worries Marie was the happiest she could remember since Mr. Terrebonne wasn't around to torture them anymore. In fact, she had seen with her own eyes the younger children becoming more playful. They weren't so afraid any more. Even her mama walked a little less stooped. The monster that was Mr. Terrebonne had kept them captive to fear too long. Now the monster was gone, and it was up to her to see that her mama didn't have to sell her soul to another one to keep them all alive.

She had turned seventeen in October. It was time for her to strike out on her own. There wasn't any money to be made here in Houma for a girl like herself with no job skills. With the war still going on and all the men folk off fighting she knew she could probably find work in New Orleans. She would get a job and send money back to mama. How was she going to get to New Orleans? She never had been out of Lafourche Parish? She didn't have all the details worked out, but she knew she could do it. She had to.
**********
Marie had been up since before daylight with Armon out on the bayou trying to catch their supper. She had plenty of time to think while the hot June sun beamed down on their bare heads. Marie loved everything about the bayou. The way the mosses hung from the old cypress trees, the wild great blue iris, the yellow trumpet Jessamine's which the old people still used to treat measles, tonsillitis and headaches. Only the old wise ones still made their potions from the Jessamine's since it had a toxic alkaloid that if used wrong could cause skin irritation or even death. Marie loved the colors of the azaleas purple, pink and white blooming in early spring, the sounds of the bull frogs at night; even the mosquitoes. It was her home. Well, maybe not the mosquitoes, she smiled as she swatted the vile creature that had just landed on her arm.

"Armon, see dare a big one, catch him!" Marie yelled to her brother as a huge green frog jumped from the marsh grass to shore. She paddled her pirogue to the bank expertly and Armon jumped ashore.

"Caught dat booger!" Armon exclaimed with glee. "Coooh luk at da size o dat frog."

"Good, dat makes us three frogs, two Redfish, a trap full of crawfish and one old sorry snake. We will eat good tonight." Marie smiled at her brother. "You did good my little brother.

"Hoo you callin' little. I'm as big as you is."Armon replied in his Cajun English.

"You as tall...but you not as wise yet." Marie laughed. "I give you a little more time."

The sun was setting and dark shadows forming in the cypress groves when Marie headed home from the bayou. She could see her mama had lit the coal oil lamp for them.

"Come see." Marie yelled as she and Armon pulled the pirogue to the muddy bank.

Sally and her old yellow dog, Yeller, scrambled out from under the porch. Claude, the eight year old, was nowhere in sight. He was most likely still in the swamp play fighting or some other boyish pastime. Sally was covered from head to toe with dust and dirt from the porch.

"What da you have in da bucket, Marie?" Sally squealed with delight reaching to see what had been caught.

"Somthin good to eat...you dobber peu de salete (little dirt dobber)." Marie picked her up around the waist and twirled her around.

Sally squealed even louder with delight and squirmed loose from Marie's grasp. "Yeller, come see." Sally called. The old dog slowly crept up to the crawfish bucket and peered inside; scratched himself and strolled back to the porch.

Mrs. Terrebonne sat on the front porch in an old rocker cutting okra that she had picked that morning from her garden. Two year old baby Ramon sat playing by her side with an old syrup bucket and a spoon. She would put the okra and some tomatoes into a gumbo with whatever the children had caught or trapped today.

"Marie and Armon, you did good."

After supper when the children were all in bed, Marie decided it was time to speak with her mama about leaving. "Mama, I need to talk with you."

Nodding, Mrs. Terrebonne strolled out onto the porch, sat down in her rocker and retrieved an old pipe from her tattered apron pocket. Marie recognized it as her papa's. Marie followed her and sat down on the step. She watched her mama taking small drags from the pipe as the smoke twirled up toward the sky. The smell brought back memories of her papa sitting on the porch on summer's nights smoking his pipe and holding her in his lap. She missed everything about him. She had been so young when he died but she could still remember his strong arms, his laughter, and his love for her. The wind off the bayou brought other familiar smells and sounds that only the swamp could create. She didn't know how she could stand to leave this place. The night was cooler and felt so good after the hot day.

"Mama, I need to talk with you about leaving." Marie began.

Mrs. Terrebonne kept smoking and staring out into the blackness of the bayou. Then she stopped and put her pipe down. "When ya goin' and where?"

"I thought I'd go to New Orleans and git a job and send home som money to help you and the kids out."

Sarah took another puff of her pipe."You ain't got no money to go nowhare."

Marie looked her mother directly in her eyes "I'll be okay; I know how to take care of myself."

"You ain't nuthin' but a little girl...dat's a big world out dere. How I'm gonna know you okay?
You know I can't read very good."

"I know, mama, you always read in French to us from your Bible. I'll write to you in French...you'll see...I'll be okay."

"I guess if's I can't change yor mind I'll give you my blessing." Mrs. Terrebonne got up from her rocker and headed into the cabin. Shortly she returned with a Prince Albert tin and handed it to Marie. "Dis is da weddin' band dat yor papa gave me on da day we got married. You take it and sell it. It won't brang much money but it wills help."

"Oh mama, I love you so much." Marie got up from the steps and hugged her mama. "I'll take papa's ring, but I'll never be able to let my heart sell it." Marie took the gold band out of the tin and placed it on her right ring finger. "I'll leave in da mornin'."


Morning came with cloudy skies and the look of rain. Marie had not slept much. She was excited about leaving and scared. She had packed her meager belongings into a burlap feed sack the night before and hoped to get off before all the children woke up. She didn't think she could face saying goodbye. Of course, her mama had already gotten up and made coffee and biscuits.

"You need to eat, Marie...I hav you somethin' to eat fer later. " Mrs. Terrebonne said.

"Thanks mama." Marie peeked into the small flour sack and saw that her mother had lovingly wrapped Boudin Rouge and corn pone in scraps of cloth for her trip.

"I see you wearin' the dress I made fer you last summer. It's real pretty. De little blue cornflower's brang out the blue in your eyes. You gonna need som shoes to wear with dat dress." Mrs. Terrebonne walked into her bedroom and reached under the bed and grabbed a worn pair of heavy men's brogans.

"Mama, I can't take Mr. Terrebonne's boots." Marie was a little taken aback.

"Dat's okay, he don' need dem anymore." Mrs. Terrebonne said in a mater-of-fact way. "You got to hav shoes when you git to New Orleans. I don' want no peoples tinking you just poor swamp trash."

"Okay, I'll take dem." Marie tied the laces in a knot and slung them over her shoulder with the burlap bag. "I got to go...I love you mama...I will send you som money soon." Marie hugged her mama and headed down to her pirogue.

"It look lik rain..." Mrs. Terrebonne took her pipe out of her pocket and headed back inside the cabin wiping a tear with one gnarled tobacco stained finger.

Author Notes

The story continues with Marie leaving home to find work.

Chapter 4
Leaving the Bayou

By justjo66

Chapter 4-Leaving the Bayou

It had been almost a year since the sheriff had discovered the horrible Terrebonne family secrets. Small towns have a way of keeping gossip alive, but talk did eventually die down after a few months. Claude Terrebonne's' funeral was paid for by the parish and he was laid in a pauper's grave in the Old Bayou Road Cemetery. St. Francis de Soles Catholic church wouldn't permit his burial on their consecrated ground. He had never been baptized and for all purposes was not a Catholic in anything but word. A few of the local fishermen and shrimpers, drunken cronies from the bar in town, townspeople, and one especially curious stranger showed up for the bleak affair. The stranger was very tall and handsome with dark hair and green/yellow eyes. Sarah wondered who he might be. He spoke to no one and left as soon as the service was over.

Mr. Terrebonne's sister, LouElla, read about his death in the New Orleans paper and appeared from nowhere the day of the funeral. She provided a large floral arrangement of dark almost black roses to blanket the wooden coffin. She asked a lot of questions from Sara but didn't get a lot of answers. It was the first time Sarah Terrebonne had met her sister-in-law and as far as she was concerned she "didn't care if she ever saw her again." The children had been terrified of her. Sally even asked ,"is she a witch?" Sarah couldn't blame the little ones from being frightened of their long lost aunt. She was tall and rail thin with long fingers and nails painted bright red. Her long beaked nose and black hair and eyes gave her a sinister appearance. Her funeral attire of total black with a large brimmed black veiled hat completed her scary look.

Mr. Terrebonne had been the 'black sheep' of his family. Sarah had heard Mr. Terrebonne complain many times of "how much money his family had but wouldn't lend a hand to help him." They owned most of the land in Terrebonne Parish and were extremely wealthy. Sarah didn't expect any help from them now and LouElla Jeansonne never offered any.
**********
Sheriff Renee had sent his deputy to check on the Terrebonne family three times in the past year to, "see if they needed anything?"
Of course, Sara Terrebonne told him each time, "They were fine." Bayou people sometimes were too independent and proud for their own good, Marie thought. Things were getting desperate. They had been surviving off the fish, shrimp, small 'gators and other small game that Marie could catch or shoot. She had reasoned if she could hunt the big 'gator's, she would be able to bring in enough money to buy the ration cards for sugar, coffee, and the other things they needed. Most everything now was rationed since the war had begun.

Armon, her eleven-year-old brother, tried to help her the one time they went out looking for the big gators, but he was not strong enough. They were gone an entire day baiting hooks with spoiled chicken. They caught a few alligators that were small enough for the both of them to pull into the pirogue. Her hands were blistered and bleeding from tugging on the lines. Then Armon almost got pulled into the water with the last catch of the day. It was an old 'gator at least ten feet long and weighing probably five hundred pounds. Marie had to cut the line to save her brother's life. After this event, she realized catching and selling 'gators for their hides and meat was not going to be the solution.

Even with all these worries Marie was the happiest she could remember since Mr. Terrebonne wasn't around to torture them anymore. In fact, she had seen with her own eyes the younger children becoming more playful. They weren't so afraid anymore. Even her mama walked a little less stooped. The monster that was Mr. Terrebonne had kept them captive to fear too long. Now the monster was gone, and it was up to her to see that her mama didn't have to sell her soul to another one to keep them all alive.

She had turned seventeen in October. It was time for her to strike out on her own. There wasn't any money to be made here in Houma for a girl like herself with no job skills. With the war still going on and all the men folk off fighting she knew she could probably find work in New Orleans. She would get a job and send money back to mama. How was she going to get to New Orleans? She had never been out of her parish. She didn't have all the details worked out, but she knew she could do it. She had to.

*****
Marie had been up since before daylight with Armon out on the bayou trying to catch their supper. She had plenty of time to think while the hot June sun beamed down on their bare heads. Marie loved everything about the bayou. The way the moss hung from the old cypress trees, the wild great blue iris, the yellow trumpet Jessamine's which the old people still used to treat measles, tonsillitis, and headaches. Only the old wise ones still made their potions from the Jessamine's since it had a toxic alkaloid that if used wrong could cause skin irritation or even death. Marie's world was filled with the colors and textures of the swamp, the sounds of the bull- frogs at night; even the mosquitoes. It was her home. Well, maybe not the mosquitoes, she smiled as she swatted the vile creature that had just landed on her arm.

"Armon, see dare a big one, catch him!" Marie yelled to her brother as a huge green frog jumped from the marsh grass to shore. She paddled her pirogue to the bank expertly and Armon jumped ashore.

"Caught dat booger!" Armon exclaimed with glee. "Coooh luk at da size o dat frog."

"Good, dat makes us three frogs, two Redfish, a trap full of crawfish and one old sorry snake. We will eat good tonight," Marie smiled at her brother. "You did good my little brother."

"Hoo you callin' little. I'm as big as you is,"Armon replied in his Cajun English.

"You as tall...but you not as wise yet," Marie laughed. "I give you a little more time."

The sun was setting and dark shadows forming in the cypress groves when Marie headed home from the bayou. She could see her mama had lit the coal oil lamp for them.

"Come see." Marie yelled as she and Armon pulled the pirogue to the muddy bank.

Sally and her old yellow dog, Yeller, scrambled out from under the porch. Claude, the eight- year-old, was nowhere in sight. He was most likely still in the swamp play fighting or some other boyish pastime. Sally was covered from head to toe with dust and dirt from the porch.

"What da you have in da bucket, Marie?" Sally squealed with delight reaching to see what had been caught.

"Somthin good to eat...you dobber peu de salete ,little dirt dobber." Marie picked her up around the waist and twirled her around.

Sally squealed even louder with delight and squirmed loose from Marie's grasp. "Yeller, come see," Sally called. The old dog slowly crept up to the crawfish bucket and peered inside; scratched himself and strolled back to the porch.

Mrs. Terrebonne sat on the front porch in an old rocker cutting okra that she had picked that morning from her garden. Two-year-old baby Ramon sat playing by her side with an old syrup bucket and a spoon. She would put the okra and some tomatoes into a gumbo with whatever the children had caught or trapped today. "Marie and Armon, you did good."

After supper when the children were all in bed, Marie decided it was time to speak with her mama about leaving. "Mama, I need to talk with you."

Nodding, Mrs. Terrebonne strolled out onto the porch, sat down in her rocker and retrieved an old pipe from her tattered apron pocket. Marie recognized it as her papa's. Marie followed her and sat down on the step. She watched her mama taking small drags from the pipe as the smoke twirled up toward the sky. The smell brought back memories of her papa sitting on the porch on summer's nights smoking his pipe and holding her in his lap. She missed everything about him. She had been so young when he died but she could still remember his strong arms, his laughter, and his love for her.

The wind off the bayou brought other familiar smells and sounds that only the swamp could create. She didn't know how she could stand to leave this place. The night was cooler and felt so good after the hot day.

"Mama, I need to talk with you about leaving," Marie began.

Mrs. Terrebonne kept smoking and staring out into the blackness of the bayou. Then she stopped and put her pipe down. "When ya goin' and where?"

"I thought I'd go to New Orleans and git a job and send home som money to help you and the kids out."

Sarah took another puff of her pipe, "You ain't got no money to go nowhare."

Marie looked her mother directly in her eyes "I'll be okay; I know how to take care of myself."

"You ain't nuthin' but a little girl...dat's a big world out dere. How I'm gonna know you okay? You know I can't read very good."

"I know, mama, you always read in French to us from your Bible. I'll write to you in French...you'll see...I'll be okay."

"I guess if's I can't change yor mind I'll give you my blessing." Mrs. Terrebonne got up from her rocker and headed into the cabin. Shortly she returned with a Prince Albert tin and handed it to Marie. "Dis is da weddin' band dat yor papa gave me on da day we got married. You take it and sell it. It won't brang much money but it wills help."

"Oh mama, I love you so much." Marie got up from the steps and hugged her mama. "I'll take papa's ring, but I'll never be able to let my heart sell it." Marie took the gold band out of the tin and placed it on her right ring finger. "I'll leave in da mornin'."
*****
Morning came with cloudy skies and the look of rain. Marie had not slept much. She was excited about leaving and scared. She had packed her meager belongings into a burlap feed sack the night before and hoped to get off before all the children woke up. She didn't think she could face saying goodbye. Of course, her mama had already gotten up and made coffee and biscuits.

"You need to eat, Marie...I hav you somethin' to eat fer later, " Mrs. Terrebonne said.

"Thanks mama." Marie peeked into the small flour sack and saw that her mother had lovingly wrapped Boudin Rouge and corn pone in scraps of cloth for her trip.

"I see you wearin' the dress I made fer you last summer. It's real pretty. De little blue cornflowers brang out the blue in your eyes. You gonna need som shoes to wear with dat dress."

Mrs. Terrebonne walked into her bedroom and reached under the bed and grabbed a worn pair of heavy men's brogans.

"Mama, I can't take Mr. Terrebonne's boots." Marie was a little-taken aback.

"Dat's okay, he don' need dem anymore," Mrs. Terrebonne said in a matter-of-fact way. "You got to hav shoes when you git to New Orleans. I don' want no peoples tinking you just poor swamp trash."

"Okay, I'll take dem." Marie tied the laces in a knot and slung them over her shoulder with the burlap bag. "I got to go...I love you mama...I will send you som money soon." Marie hugged her mama and headed down to her pirogue.

"It look lik rain..." Mrs. Terrebonne took her pipe out of her pocket and headed back inside the cabin wiping a tear with one gnarled tobacco-stained finger.

Author Notes

Chapter from book "Curse of "Gator Bayou"

Chapter 4
Life in Houma

By justjo66

Chapter 4 Life in Houma

Sheriff Renee sat twirling a pencil between his fingers. It had been a quiet Monday morning, the Friday and Saturday drunks had all had time to sober up and get back to work this morning. Confessions had been made to the priest on Sunday and forgiveness granted... all was right with the world. But it wasn't in Renee's world. He couldn't seem to shake the depression that had befallen him with the death of his best friend Gene. The site of the blood gushing out of his mouth as he tried to speak still haunted his dreams. Most nights he woke up in cold sweats. Evangeline was coming home today from New York. He hoped she would help him feel better. He had been lonely without her; he missed her body close to him at night and their lovemaking.

Just at that moment Evangeline came bursting through the door. She wore a beautiful stylish beige suit with three buttons down the front and patent leather shoes to match. Her hair was styled in the latest peek-a-boo sweep like Veronica Lake had worn in her latest movie. She was the picture of perfection. Renee found himself surprised and speechless. He stood up quickly.

"Well, hello, darlin' I'm sorry if I surprised you. Your boy out there at the front desk told me he'd tell you I was here...but of course I wasn't going to wait on him." Evangeline flicked her hand quickly across her long bangs, rolled her eyes back and smiled coyishly.

The thought quickly flashed through Renee's mind, she has a lot of gall... that man she's calling a boy is at least 52 years old. Just forget it. He told himself.

Renee ran over to give her a big welcome home hug and kiss but Evangeline brushed him off by side stepping him and flopping herself down in the only other chair in the room. "Is this that old chair that used to be in my daddy's office? Why, I can't believe you don't care anymore about appearances Renee than to keep this old thing. The leather is just about worn out."

Renee walked over to the old brown leather chair that he happened to love and kissed Evangeline full on the lips. "I am so glad to see you. I really missed you."

"Oh, darlin' you will smear my lipstick." Evangeline took her compact out and looked at herself briefly then put it back into her large matching purse. "You just can't believe what a wonderful time I had in New York." she began to rattle on.

Renee didn't hear much of what she said as he sat back down behind his desk. "I'm glad you had fun. I missed you."

"I'll tell you all about my trip when we get home,right now,I'm starving. Daddy dropped me off while he was going to the bank. He told me to tell you to bring me home. I wonder what Maybelle will be cooking for our supper? I hate riding in that old police car of yours but I guess that's the only way I'm going to get home. I'm exhausted. Can we go now?"

"Yes, I'll put things away and let Deputy Pierre know I'll be taking the afternoon off."

The drive home was uneventful. Evangeline continued to rattle on about the war and how it had affected the styles and how she just could not understand this dire need to ration everything by the government.

"Why, did you know that the government is asking us to give up our Nylon stocking for the War Effort? I saw signs everywhere: 'Mend and Make Do." Evengeline gave a loud audible sigh.

"What do they expect us to do? Mend and Make Do...well, I never! I tell you dear, all the ladies in New York were dressed so fine. Why, I felt like a country mouse. I had Daddy march to midtown, that is where all the best stores are located, and we bought a proper wardrobe for the city. We were invited to several parties at Senators' and Congressmen's homes. It was just delightful to mix with real gentry for a while." Evangeline droned on.

"That's great dear. I'm glad you had fun." Renee replied.
"Ohooo, there's our beautiful home." Evangeline squealed just as they rounded the bend in the bayou road. Standing before them was an enormous red brick plantation home built in 1787 in the French Colonial style with six white Doric columns. Large old oaks with their limbs reaching almost to the ground surrounded the front of the property. In back one could see two old wood structures; the remaining traces of what had once been slave cabins back when the Duhon Plantation had been one of the richest sugar plantations in Louisiana.

Renee just shook his head. This wasn't their home. Mr. Duhon liked to brag that this plantation had been his families since before the Civil War. He especially loved to tell the story of what he called the 'Battle of Houma'. He would tell it to anyone who would listen about the four Union soldiers in route to Houma from New Orleans in a wagon in 1862. They were caught by the Houma 'guard 'and two killed and the other two severely wounded. He would then swear and tell how the Union Army swooped down on Houma with four hundred troops and began a wholesale arrest of residents. They burned the home of Doctor Jennings and two other houses were torn down; the Negroes were set free. The part he liked to tell the best was how they tried to burn this plantation, too, but it didn't burn down completely. All their livestock was run off and they had to survive like the Native Houma Indians and the Creole people...off the land. After the war they restored the fine old home and the Duhon family had fared well in the new Union economy buying up land and raising sugar cane and cotton.

Later that night after a fine supper of Crawfish Etouffee and Tarte a la Bouillie (sweet-dough custard tarts) Renee and Evangeline retired to their bedroom.

Renee waited anxiously in the large four poster bed for Evangeline to finish her bath. He could hear the water splashing in the tub and visualized her white smooth silky skin and the warm water splashing onto her shoulders and breast. It had been a long two months since they had last been together.
Evangeline finally entered the bedroom dressed in a pink silk dressing gown of floral design. Long flowing chestnut hair gleamed in the faint glow of the antique bedside table lamp. Renee reached over to caress her hair.
"Hmm, you smell so good. Come see how much I missed you." Renee whispered into her ear.

"Oh, Cher, I am so exhausted tonight. Would you mind terribly if we just go to sleep." Evangeline whined.

"Yes, I would mind Evie, I need you and want you." Renee replied.

"Well okay, if you're going to be a cad about IT." Evangeline plopped into bed beside Renee and just lay there straight as a board with both feet together.
Renee gave her a sad look and rolled over. "I'll see you in the morning. I love you Evie."

Morning came early to Renee. He had tossed and turned most of the night and even once had gotten up and sat in the forest green brocade wingback chair by the open windows. The cool damp breeze blew the sheer curtains out toward the room and the smoke from his cigarette made hypnotizing twirls up and out the windows. He could smell the musty smell of the swamp, the fields, and distant wood smoke. He had not thought that he would like living in Houma but had found it to be peaceful and a friendly place. A place he could live the rest of his life and raise a family. He had grown up with two brothers and six sisters and hoped to have at least five children of his own someday.

Renee was awake and staring at Evangeline when she suddenly yawned and opened her eyes.

"Were you staring at me? I must be a mess." Evangeline reached up to smooth her hair. "I need some coffee this morning." Evangeline cooed.

"Evie, you know I love you so much. I sat up last night thinking about all that's happened since Gene got killed and our move to Houma. You know I wasn't too keen on coming here. I'm still not too fond of living here with your daddy. I know, I know, don't give me that look. I don't want to start an argument this morning. I just want to tell you that I like it here and hope we can start a family soon."

"Oh, Renee are you going to start on that again?" Evangeline frowned. "I'm too hungry and I need coffee before I can even think about such things. Besides that, babies will ruin my figure and they are a lot of trouble. I hope you're not expecting me to become your breeding cow."

"Evie, my mother had nine kids and I know for certain that my daddy never thought of her in any way but as a loving mother and wife." Renee countered.

"Yes, but just look how she took care of all you brats and then died about the time the last one of you was grown. She spent her life raising kids. Renee, I don't want that kind of life."

"Damn you Evie, my mother loved being a mother. I don't even want you to mention her name. You lied to me. You told me when we first met that you loved and wanted children." Renee got up from the bed and began putting on his pants.

"Oh baby, I didn't mean I would never have children. I just don't want them now, when I'm still so young. " Evangeline cooed.

"Evie, twenty-seven is not too young to start a family. You can't be your daddy's little girl forever, you're my wife." Renee continued getting dressed.

"Don't you even talk about my Daddy!" Evangeline threw a pillow at Renee. "If you thought all I wanted to be was a wife and mother when you married me, well, you were sadly mistaken Mr." Evangeline got out of the bed an walked toward the bathroom.

"Well, let's just not talk about it now. I'm starving, we'll have Maybelle fix us a wonderful breakfast and you will feel better, dear." Evangeline urged. "Then maybe we can drive to Baton Rouge for a Sunday drive. Wouldn't that just be lovely."

Chapter 5
Looking for Work

By justjo66

Warning: The author has noted that this contains the highest level of violence.

Chapter 5-New Orleans Bound

Marie paddled her pirogue in the drizzling rain all the way to Houma. The soggy gray moss drooped eerily from the trees. Large green frogs sang in chorus for more rain. Marie was sad and excited all the same time. It wasn't the dark swamp that scared her. It was the thought of going to town where there would be so many strangers. For the first time in her life, she felt really alone. It had been hard at home dealing with her step-dad but she had always had her mother and siblings to watch her back. Now, she would face a whole new way of life.

The plan was to leave the pirogue in Houma for Armon to pick up later. She would walk to US 90 and then hitch a ride to New Orleans. The highway had been deserted all morning.

"I bet the gas rationing has everyone staying home. It don' madder if I hav to walk all de way to N' Orleans I'm goin' to git dere." Marie said aloud trying to build her confidence.

The rain came down in sporadic drizzle then downpours until late morning. She continued to walk with her head down into the rain. Finally, the sun shone through the dark clouds and the temperature warmed. She could feel the steam coming off the pavement. The sunshine felt good on her face and she began to hum "Jolie Blonde" in French and then English while waltzing down the slick highway.

"Jolie Bonde, jolie fille tu m'a quitte pour t'en aller"

"Lovely blond, lovely girl, you left me to go away"

Suddenly, she felt something hit the back of her head hard. "What was dat?" Marie exclaimed. She felt something oozing down the back of her head. A quick feel brought back blood on her fingertips. At first ,she was dazed, and then she saw the amber Budweiser bottle lying in front of her on the blacktop.

"Hey, swamp rat! Whatcha doing out of the swamp?" A teenage boy taunted.

A brightly painted jalopy had pulled up beside her and she could see two boys in the front seat.

"You want a ride, girlie. We'll give you a ride," another teen sneered.

"Naw, I don't want no Nutria, swamp rat, sitting in my car." The driver laughed.

Marie stood frozen for a moment, "No! I don't want no ride, you boys better git or I'll take my pistol out of dis poke and blow yer heads clean off you. Git!"

The driver spat a stream of dark Beech-Nut tobacco and it oozed down his door. "You jest thank you gonna scare us lil girl."

"Yous better be scared you por white boys. I'll kill ye both with one shot."

Another beer bottle flew past Marie's left shoulder spilling the remnants of beer onto to her dress. "I'm a not jokin'...you better git!"

The boys laughed and sped away.

Marie knew she didn't have a gun in her bag. She was glad her bluff had worked. She needed a ride but not with the likes of those hooligans.

Off in the distance ,she saw a dark blue 1939 Studebaker coming towards her. She was still shaken but felt she might not get another chance for a ride today. "This is it; I have to git dis ride." She stuck out her thumb and stepped closer to the pavement in her bare feet. She could see men in the car and knew this might not be a safe ride. She had to take a gamble. She had to get to New Orleans and preferably before dark. The car came to a quick stop.

She heard someone in the vehicle, "Bill, roll down your window. Hey girl, you needin' a ride?"

"Yes, I do." Marie ran to the door and looked in. Inside three young navy men in their dress uniforms smiled back at her. Marie didn't know anything about service men but this was her chance, this might be the only ride that came along today. It was a long fifty- seven miles to New Orleans if she had to walk all the way.

"Get out Bill and let this little lady scoot right on over here beside me." Tom motioned to Bill with a sweeping gesture.

Bill slid out and Marie slid in between the two young sailors.

"Whoa girl! You're wet and you got blood in your hair. You been drinking? You smell like a brewery. What the hell happened to you? Bill asked.

Richard from the back-seat piped in "Well, I don't mind a little water or blood little girl. You can come sit back here with me."

"No, she's just fine where she's at, you're too much of a wolf to let this fine little lamb sit with you." Tom replied smiling.

"I was just kidding. What did happen to you little lady? " Richard replied.

"There was a car just 'fore you. Dey threw a beer bottle at my head," Marie said touching the back of her head again gingerly. "Two 'coonass' boys not much older dan my Boo."

"Them sorry little piss-ants...I wish I'd have been there. I'd teach them to respect a woman. I'd beat the piss out of them." Tom said.

"Well, step on it, Tom, maybe we can catch up with them." Bill motioned with his left hand. "We haven't had a good fight in a long time."

"Aw, you guys know you can't beat up on teenagers even if they do deserve it," Richard piped in. "Just forget about it. Bill, give the little lady your handkerchief to clean the blood out of her hair."

"Where you going and what's your name?" Tom looked over at Marie.

"Marie, my name is Marie. I'm goin' to N Orleans to git a job."

"I'm sorry Miss Marie; we forgot to tell you our names. They call me Tom, this is my car. That one in the backseat, he's Richard and that big lug next to you is Bill."

"Nice to meet you." Bill and Richard greeted Marie at the same time.

"You say you're looking for a job? There sure is a lot of work for women now. You shouldn't have any trouble finding one in New Orleans." Bill chimed in wiping the back of Marie's hair with his handkerchief. "This is just a little bitty cut, it'll heal real fast. Hey, you probably can get a job in Avondale. They have a shipyard there. My uncles' wife has worked there since the war began. She lives in Bridge City not too far from the yards."

"Avondale is on our way...we'll be going right through it on our way back to the base in New Orleans. We'll drop you off at the yard." Tom said.

"Merci, thank you, thank you very much," Marie replied.

"You got any money, girl?" Richard asked.

"What the hell you asking her that?" Bill interjected.

"I just wanted to know. It doesn't look like she has much money. You guys might not have guessed it, but I've been down on my luck before. I know what it's like to be broke with no job and no place to stay." Richard fumbled in his pocket.

"Here I've got a sawbuck you can have; no strings." Richard reached across the seat and handed her the ten dollar bill. "What about the rest of you lugs...got any money?"

Tom and Bill both handed her a sawbuck each from their pockets.

"That'll give you at least enough money to get a few meals and board 'til you can get that first paycheck," Richard said.

"Man, I never knew you were such a kind sort." Bill teased.

"I don't let you guys know all my business." Richard settled back in his seat and pretended to go to sleep.
*****
The Studebaker got quiet as Tom drove the rest of the way to Avondale. Marie couldn't believe how lucky she had been to hitch a ride so soon and with these nice sailors. She wondered if all sailors were this nice. Soon the quietness of the car and the motion lulled her to sleep. She awoke abruptly when the car stopped.

"Wake up, Marie; we're in Avondale, end of the road for you," Tom said shaking Marie.

"Oh, I must hav fell asleep." Marie woke rubbing her eyes. "Thank you so much... for being so kind to me."

Richard roused himself and sat straight up in the back seat and looked Marie full in the eyes. "Just one little thing little lady...don't you EVER take another ride with three sailors again. You hear me...we ain't all nice guys. We could have raped and killed you and no one would have been the wiser. You remember what I'm telling you."

"I will, I will, I promise." Marie got out of the car. "Thank you again."

"Goodbye, little girl." Tom and Bill joined in.

They were gone as fast as they had appeared. Marie stood looking down the highway and thought maybe they weren't real; maybe three angels were sent by God to help her. But no they weren't angels. She looked down at her hands holding three ten dollar real bills. More money than she had ever seen at one time in her life. "I'll be okay," she said aloud to herself. "Now I just got to git myself a job."

Across the highway, Marie could see the large black and white sign with 'Avondale Marine Ways' painted in blocked blue letters. The office was a smallish white board building in front of a chain link fenced yard leading to the huge metal and wood building of the shipyard. Marie sat down on a large rock beside the road and put Mr. Terrebonne's old worn boots on; smoothed her now dried flour sack dress and started out for the office. She took her fingers and ran through her snarled wavy hair. It will have to do; I wish I had a comb.

"Whatcha want little Miss?" A very fat balding man sat behind a small desk just inside the door.

"I'm looking fer a job, "Marie replied sheepishly. "Are you hiring?"

"Well, it depends. How old are ya?" The man behind the desk opened a drawer and got out an application. "Sit down here and fill out this application. I'll need to see your social security card."

"I'm seventeen and I don' know what dat security thang you ask about," Marie replied.

"You got to have a social security card before you can work young lady. You'll need to take your birth certificate down to the government offices and they'll issue you a card so you can work."

"I'm sorry mister but I don' hav one of dose birth thangs either. I was born at home in Lafourche Parish the oldest of my mama's children."

"Well missy, it seems we can't even think about hiring you until you get your paperwork in order. Come back when you do."

Marie turned and slowly left the office. Out on the highway again she sat down and removed Mr. Terrebonne's boots. " I'll git myself to N' Orleans. You'll see old man dare will be work for me dare." She stuck out her thumb and began to hitch another ride. She knew she was ignoring Richard's admonition; she had no choice.

Author Notes

The story continues.

Chapter 5
New Orleans Bound

By justjo66

Warning: The author has noted that this contains the highest level of violence.

Chapter 5-The Ride

Marie paddled her pirogue in the drizzling rain all the way to Houma. From there the plan was to leave it for Armon to pick up later. She would walk to US 90 and then hitch a ride to New Orleans. The highway had been deserted all morning. The gas rationing had everyone staying home. "It don' madder if I hav to walk all de way to N' Orleans I'm goin' to git dere." Marie said aloud trying to build her confidence.

The rain came down in sporadic drizzle then downpours until late morning. She continued to walk with her head down into the rain. Finally the sun shone through the dark clouds and the temperature warmed. She could feel the steam coming off the pavement. The sunshine felt good on her face and she began to hum "Jole Blon" and waltz down the slick highway.

Suddenly, she felt something hit the back of her head hard. "What was dat?"Marie exclaimed. She felt something oozing down the back of her head. A quick feel brought back blood on her fingertips. At first she was dazed, and then she saw the amber beer bottle lying in front of her on the blacktop.

"Hey, swamp rat! Whatcha doing out of the swamp?" A teenage boy taunted.

A brightly painted jalopy had pulled up beside her and she could see two boys in the front seat.

"You want a ride, girlie. We'll give you a ride." Another teen sneered.

"Naw, I don't want no Nutria, swamp rat, sitting in my car." The driver laughed.

Marie stood frozen for a moment, "No! I don't want no ride, you boys better git or I'll take my pistol out of dis poke and blow yer heads clean off you. Git!"

The boys laughed and sped away.

Marie knew she didn't have a gun in her bag. She was glad her bluff had worked. She needed a ride but not with the likes of those hooligans.

Off in the distance she saw a dark blue 1939 Studebaker coming towards her. She was still shaken but felt she might not get another chance for a ride today. This is it; I have to git dis ride. She stuck out her thumb and stepped closer to the pavement in her bare feet. She could see men in the car and knew this might not be a safe ride. She had to take a gamble. She had to get to New Orleans and preferably before dark. The car came to a quick stop.

She heard someone in the vehicle, "Bill, roll down your window. Hey girl, you needin' a ride?"

"Yes, I do." Marie ran to the door and looked in. Inside three young navy men in their dress uniforms smiled back at her. Marie didn't know anything about service men but this was her chance, this might be the only ride that came along today. It was a long fifty- seven miles to New Orleans if she had to walk all the way.

"Get out Bill and let this little lady scoot right on over here beside me." Tom motioned to Bill with a sweeping gesture.

Bill slid out and Marie slid in between the two young sailors.

"Whoa girl! You're wet and you got blood in your hair. What the hell happened to you? Bill asked.

Richard from the backseat piped in "Well, I don't mind a little water or blood little girl. You can come sit back here with me."

"No, she's just fine where she's at, you're too much of a wolf to let this fine little lamb sit with you." Tom replied smiling.

"I was just kidding. What did happen to you little lady? Richard replied.

"There was a car just 'fore you. Dey threw a beer bottle at my head."Marie said touching the back of her head again gingerly. "Two 'coonass' boys not much older dan my brother."

"Them sorry little piss-ants...I wish I'd have been there. I'd teach them to respect a woman. I'd beat the piss out of them." Tom said.

"Well, step on it, Tom, maybe we can catch up with them." Bill motioned with his left hand. "We haven't had a good fight in a long time."

"Aw, you guys know you can't beat up on teenagers even if they do deserve it." Richard piped in.

"Just forget about it. Bill, give the little lady your handkerchief to clean the blood out of her hair."

"Where you going and what's your name?" Tom looked over at Marie.

"Marie, my name is Marie. I'm goin' to N Orleans to git a job."

"I'm sorry Miss Marie; we forgot to tell you our names. They call me Tom, this is my car. That one in the backseat, he's Richard and that big lug next to you is Bill."

"Nice to meet you." Bill and Richard greeted Marie at the same time.

"You say you're looking for a job. There sure is a lot of work for women now. You shouldn't have any trouble finding one in New Orleans." Bill chimed in wiping the back of Marie's hair with his handkerchief. "This is just a little bitty cut, it'll heal real fast. Hey, you probably can get a job in Avondale. They have a shipyard there. My uncles' wife has worked there since the war began. She lives in Bridge City not too far from the yards."

"Avondale is on our way...we'll be going right through it on our way back to the base in New Orleans. We'll drop you off at the yard." Tom said.

"Merci, thank you, thank you very much," Marie replied.

"You got any money, girl?" Richard asked.

"What the hell you asking her that?" Bill interjected.

"I just wanted to know. It doesn't look like she has much money. You guys might not have guessed it, but I've been down on my luck before. I know what it's like to be broke with no job and no place to stay." Richard fumbled in his pocket. "Here I've got a sawbuck you can have; no strings." Richard reached across the seat and handed her the ten dollar bill. "What about the rest of you lugs...got any money?"

Tom and Bill both handed her a sawbuck each from their pockets.

"That'll give you at least enough money to get a few meals and board 'til you can get that first paycheck" Richard said.

"Man, I never knew you were such a kind sort." Bill teased.

"I don't let you guys know all my business." Richard settled back in his seat and pretended to go to sleep.

The Studebaker got quiet as Tom drove the rest of the way to Avondale. Marie couldn't believe how lucky she had been to hitch a ride so soon and with these nice sailors. She wondered if all sailors were this nice. Soon the quietness of the car and the motion lulled her to sleep. She awoke abruptly when the car stopped.

"Wake up, Marie; we're in Avondale, end of the road for you." Tom said shaking Marie.

"Oh, I must hav fell asleep." Marie woke rubbing her eyes. "Thank you so much... for being so kind to me."

Richard roused himself and sat straight up in the back seat and looked Marie full in the eyes. "Just one little thing little lady...don't you EVER take another ride with three sailors again. You hear me...we ain't all nice guys. We could have raped and killed you and no one would have been the wiser. You remember what I'm telling you."

"I will, I will, I promise." Marie got out of the car. "Thank you again."

"Goodbye little girl." Tom and Bill joined in.

They were gone as fast as they had appeared. Marie stood looking down the highway and thought maybe they weren't real; maybe three angels were sent by God to help her. But no they weren't angels. She looked down at her hands holding three ten dollar real bills. More money than she had ever seen at one time in her life. "I'll be okay." She said aloud to herself. "Now I just got to git myself a job."

Across the highway Marie could see the large black and white sign with 'Avondale Marine Ways' painted in blocked blue letters. The office was a smallish white board building in front of a chain link fenced yard leading to the huge metal and wood building of the shipyard. Marie sat down on a large rock beside the road and put Mr. Terrebonne's old worn boots on; smoothed her now dried flour sack dress and started out for the office. She took her fingers and ran through her snarled wavy hair. It will have to do; I wish I had a comb.

"Whatcha want little Miss?" A very fat balding man sat behind a small desk just inside the door.
"I'm looking for a job." Marie replied sheepishly. "Are you hiring?"

"Well, it depends. How old are ya?" The man behind the desk opened a drawer and got out an application. "Sit down here and fill out this application. I'll need to see your social security card."

"I'm seventeen and I don' know what dat security thang you ask about." Marie replied.

"You got to have a social security card before you can work young lady. You'll need to take your birth certificate down to the government offices and they'll issue you a card so you can work."

"I'm sorry mister but I don' hav one of dose birth thangs either. I was born at home in Lafourche Parish the oldest of my mama's children."

"Well missy, it seems we can't even think about hiring you until you get your paperwork in order. Come back when you do."

Marie left the office and walked out onto the highway again. I'll git myself to N' Orleans. Dare will be work for me dare. She stuck out her thumb and began to hitch another ride. She knew she was ignoring Richard's admonition; she had no choice.

Author Notes

Marie leaves home and starts her adventure to find work.

Chapter 5
The Ride

By justjo66

Chapter 5 The Ride

Marie paddled her pirogue in the drizzling rain all the way to Houma. From there the plan was to leave it for Armon to pick up later. She would walk to US 90 and then hitch a ride to New Orleans. Marie had not thought about the gas rationing and that there might not be much travel on the highway. "It don' madder if I hav to walk all de way to New Orleans I'm goin' to git dere." Marie said aloud trying to build her own confidence.

Just then she saw a dark blue 1939 Studebaker coming towards her. This is it, Marie thought. She stuck out her thumb and stepped closer to the pavement in her bare feet.

"Hey Tom ,what's that up yonder in the road; looks like a drowned Nutria. You know one of those damn big rats they have in these swamps." Bill laughed.

"No, I think it's a girl." Richard said.

"Yeah, I think it is. I'm going to stop." Tom replied. "Bill, roll down your window. Hey girl, you needin' a ride?" Tom asked.

"Yes, I do." Marie ran up to the door and looked in. Inside she saw three young navy boys in their white uniforms. She didn't know anything about service men but she had to take a chance; this might be the only ride that came along today and it was a long fifty seven miles to New Orleans if she had to walk all the way.

"Get out Bill and let this little lady scoot right on over here beside me." Tom motioned to Bill with a sweeping gesture.

Bill slid out and Marie slid in between the two young sailors.
"Whoa girl! You are soaking wet. You been out in this rain all morning?" Bill asked.

Richard from the backseat piped in "Well, I don't mind a little water little girl...you can come sit back here with me."

"No, she's just fine where she's at; you're too much of a wolf to let this fine little lamb sit with you." Tom replied smiling. "Where you going and what's your name?" Tom looked over at Marie.

"Marie, my name is Marie. I'm goin' to New Orleans to git a job."

"Well, there sure is a lot of work for women now." Bill chimed in. "Hey, you probably can get a job in Avondale. They have a shipyard there. My uncles' wife has worked there since the war began. She lives in Bridge City not too far from the yards."

"Avondale is on our way, we'll be going right through it on our way back to the base in New Orleans. We'll drop you off at the yard." Tom said.

"Merci, thank you, thank you very much." Marie replied.

"You got any money, girl?" Richard asked.

"What the hell you asking her that?" Bill interjected.

"I just wanted to know. It doesn't look like she has much money. You guys might not ever have guessed it, but I've been down on my luck before. I know what it's like to be broke with no job and no where to stay." Richard said. "Here I've got a sawbuck you can have; no strings."Richard reached across the seat and handed her the ten dollar bill. "What about the rest of you lugs...got any money?"

Tom and Bill both dummied up a sawbuck each from their pockets.

"That'll give you at least enough money to get a few meals and board til you can get that first paycheck" Richard said.

"Man, I never knew you were such a kind sort." Bill teased.

"I don't let you guys know all my business." Richard settled back in his seat and pretended to go to sleep.

The Studebaker got quiet as Tom drove the rest of the way to Avondale. Marie couldn't believe how lucky she had been to hitch a ride so soon and with these nice sailors. She wondered if all sailors were this nice. Soon the quietness of the car and the motion lulled her to sleep. She awoke abruptly when the car stopped.

"Wake up Marie, we're in Avondale, end of the road for you." Tom said shaking Marie.

"Oh, I must hav fell asleep." Marie woke rubbing her eyes. "Thank you so much, all of you for being so kind to me."

Richard roused himself and sat straight up in the back seat and looked Marie full in the eyes. "Just one little thing little lady...don't you EVER take another ride with three sailors again. You hear me, we ain't all nice guys. We could have raped and killed you and no one would have been the wiser. You remember what I'm telling you."

"I will, I will, I promise." Marie got out of the car. "Thank you again."

"Goodbye little girl." Tom and Bill joined in.

Then they were gone as fast as they had appeared. Marie stood looking down the highway and thought maybe they weren't real...maybe three angels were sent by God to help her. But no they weren't angels. She looked down to her hands at the three real ten dollar bills. More money than she had ever seen at one time in her life. "I'll be okay." She said aloud to herself. "Now I just got to git myself a job."

Across the highway Marie could see the large black and white sign with 'Avondale Marine Ways' painted in blocked blue letters. The office was a smallish white board building in front of the chain link fenced off yard leading to the huge metal and wood building of the shipyard. Marie sat down on a large rock beside the road and put Mr. Terrebonne's old worn boots on; smoothed her now dried flour sack dress and started out for the office.

"Whatcha want little lady?" a very fat bald man sat behind a very small desk just inside the door.

"I'm looking for a job." Marie replied sheepishly. "Are you hiring?"

"Well, it depends. How old are ya?" the man behind the desk opened a drawer and got out an application. "Sit down here and fill out this application. I'll need to see your social security card."

"I'm seventeen and I don' know what is dat security thang you ask about." Marie replied.

"You got to have a social security card before you can work young lady. You'll need to take your birth certificate down to the government offices and they'll issue you a card so you can work."

"I'm sorry mister but I don' hav one of those birth thangs either. I was born at home in LaFourche Parish the oldest of my mama's children."

"Well missy, it seems we can't even think about hiring you until you get your paperwork in order. Come back when you do."

Marie left the office and walked out onto the highway again. I'll git myself to New Orleans; dare will be work for me dare. She thought to herself. She stuck out her thumb and began to try to hitch another ride.

Author Notes

Avondale Marine Ways was a real shipyard in Avondale, Louisiana. My granddaddy worked there during WWII and lived in Bridge City.

Chapter 6
New Orleans

By justjo66

Chapter 6 Marie Arrives in New Orleans

Marie walked and hitched rides all day and finally got to New Orleans late in the evening just as the sun was going down. Where to find a place to stay was the immediate question and find something to eat the next. She had eaten the Boudin Rouge that her mama had packed earlier and now she was very hungry. Marie had never seen such a mystical place as New Orleans. Everywhere she looked she was amazed by the tall buildings, beautiful homes with wrought iron balconies, lights, and so many people especially service men. She had even seen a streetcar named Desire earlier when she first arrived. Now wandering down Bourbon Street looking into the open door ways, she could hear raucous laughter, clinking glasses and jazz music. Women of all ages and sizes stood outside on the sidewalk in skimpy clothes that Marie had never imaged existed. Most wore their hair long or either swept up on top of their heads with the reddest lipstick she had ever seen. Occasionally a service man or other gentlemen would walk up to the ladies and then they would leave together down the street. The smells of perfume, beer, and food made her stomach take a few flips. She was hungry. Boy, what I wouldn't give right now for some rice and gravy. Marie thought to herself.

Marie walked a little further down Bourbon Street and found herself looking at a long line of people. Smells of warm bread, gumbo, fried shrimp and other wonderful aromas assaulted her nose. She walked up to a finely dressed lady standing at the end of the line, "Whatcha all in line fer?" Marie asked.

"Why, we're waiting to get a seat for supper at Galatoire's; it's just the finest restaurant in the whole entire world. They will not take reservations and they make us all wait here for hours to get inside," the lady said ,"but oh my goodness is it worth it."

The man standing beside her frowned, "I don't know if it's worth it or not. You would think they could make an exception to their 'first come first served policy' ever now and then for special people...but no NEVER!" He exclaimed.

"Oh, suga', just be patient, you know once you get your order of Shrimp Remoulade, Filet Bearnaise, Broccoli Hollandaise, Crabmeat Salad and Cafe Brule all the waiting will be forgotten and you'll forgive me for insisting we come here tonight, " the lady said to her husband patting his rather large stomach.

Marie thought she would faint from hunger but decided to wait in line, too. She had thirty dollars and surely a meal couldn't cost more than a few dollars.
It took two and a half hours for Marie to arrive at the main entrance to Galatoire's 209 Bourbon Street address. The huge green French doors were wide open and Marie could see inside the first floor dining room. It was a palace of high ceilings, slow moving paddle fans and mirrored opposing walls. Genteel people were sitting enjoying their meals.

Just at that moment a handsome slim man, "Pardon Madame but I'm afraid you cannot come in. You do not have proper attire." The young doorman held his hand up in front of Marie.

"I...I...I'm so sorry...I did not know. I am so hungry. I have money to pay." Marie said.

"Go around to the back and I will see that you get something to eat." The doorman pointed to the back alley leading to the back of the restaurant.

Marie walked down the street a little further and turned left into a very dark dank alley. A large rat scurried across the wet bricks in front of her and she jumped back. "Oh, you scared me." She said aloud.

The back door to the restaurant was barely cracked open and inside she could see lots of activity with the servers and cooks busy with food preparation. "Pardon me, the man at the front said I could get something to eat. I have money to pay."

A gruff looking short man in a white uniform and toque* came to the door. "So, you want to eat? I give you some gumbo."

"Oh, Merci, Merci, I can pay you." Marie held out a ten dollar bill.

"No, no need. Take it and go." The gruff chef pushed a large bowl of gumbo into her hands.

Marie walked back to the dim light of Bourbon Street and sat down on the pavement eating her gumbo. She thought I've never tasted anything this good in my whole life. After finishing her food she got up and began walking again. Suddenly she felt someone bump into her very hard and the next thing she knew a man had grabbed her burlap bag with all her belongings and her money and was running away. "Wait, Wait come back here!" She shouted at him and took after him running as fast as she could. She followed him all the way to Basin Street but could not catch him and eventually lost him. Marie sat down on the cool damp grass and began crying. "Lord, I really need your help. I'm all alone and I'm scared. Please hear my prayer and help me." Marie prayed.

Just at the moment she concluded her prayer a cop car rolled up. "Hey, what are you doing out here this time of night?" The officer asked.

Marie stood up very quickly. "A man stole all my money. I chased him but he git away."

The policeman stepped out of his car and walked around to get a better look at Marie. He took his flashlight and shown it into her dirty face. "Miss, where do you work?"

"I have no job..."

"Where do you live?" The policeman continued.

"I live nowhare right now." Marie replied.

"You mean to say you don't have a job or an address and no money. Girl in this town that's called being a vagrant. It's against the law to be a vagrant. I'm afraid we'll be taking you down to the station. You can spend the night there and maybe in the morning you can find a job and a place to live. If not, I suggest you keep right on walking out of town." The officer grabbed Marie's arm, opened the door of the squad car and shoved her inside.

Marie was shocked that she had been treated so roughly by the police and now was really scared. What was going to happen to her?

The police station was a hub of activity; even on a Monday night. Marie was finger printed and thrown into a cell with twelve women that were drunk, high on drugs or just plain crazy. Marie had never seen a 'woman of the night' but she thought surely this must be what her mama had told her about.

"Hey girlie, whatcha in fer? Stealing some baby's lollipop?" A big boned woman with flaming red hair walked up and looked Marie straight in the face.

"Ah, leave her alone Lulu, she ain't bother' you. You can see she's just a country girl. Look at them flour sack clothes and brogan shoes. Right off the farm I'd say" the second woman said.

"Why don't you mind yer own business, Alice" snarled Lulu.

"You dirty crib whore I'll cut you to pieces if you mess with me." Alice spit out the words and lunged toward Lulu.

Two guards ran up to the bars,"Okay, girls settle down. You know you will get out in the morning, that is, if you behave" the smallest guard Ramon said. "Now sit down and shut up, sleep it off!" Ramon snapped.

Marie spent her night sleeping the best she could on the cold concrete jail floor. The other more experienced cell mates had grabbed all the blankets and were not sharing. Between the cold floor and the snoring women Marie had a very rough first night in New Orleans. Morning brought groans and cursing from the hung over women as they each came awake slowly in the gloomy cell.

"Well little princess how did you sleep?" Alice nudged Marie awake.

"Terrible, just awful." Marie replied.

"You needin' a job kid?" Alice asked.

"Yes, I do but I don' hav a social security card or a birth certificate." Marie replied.

"Don' need one where I work. Good pay and easy work, too. Miss Gigi will be coming for me this morning. Oh, she'll be mad as a wet hornet at me for going downtown on Bourbon Street on my day off and gettin' drunk and thrown in jail but she'll forgive me." Alice said smiling.

Around 11:00 am the jailer came to release all the women in the cell.

"Come on with me girl. Hey, I don't even know your name." Alice motioned.

"It's Marie."

"Marie come with me and I'm going to introduce you to my boss Gigi. I know she'll love you." Alice started toward the front of the jail. "Oh, there she is now!"

Standing in the doorway was a very tall regal lady in her mid-fifties dressed in a navy suit with white blouse. Her blonde hair was held in place by a white snood* attached to a perky little blue hat. Cuban heels and blue leather shoes completed the outfit. Red, white, and blue large costume ear rings graced each ear. "Alice, I'm glad to see you are okay but you know I am very mad at you right now." Gigi shook her head.

"Yes, Miss Gigi I know you are, but look what I have brought you; a new fresh young girl." Alice grabbed Marie's hand and brought her forward.

"You don't say?" Miss Gigi gave Marie a hard look. What she saw pleased her. "Are you a working girl? You don't look like one. You need a job girl?"

"Yes, yes, Madame. I do." Marie said.

"How old are you?" Gigi prodded.

"Seventeen, I be eighteen in October."

"Alice, I can't hire a seventeen year old girl to work with my patrons. " Gigi frowned. "The authorities would shut me down for sure."

"Girl, can you cook and clean house?"

"Yes, Madame I can." Marie replied.

"That settles it. You can come to work for me as my maid. I already have Sophie as my cook but I do need someone to take care of me. Come along girl..."

Author Notes

*Torque: a chefs traditional rippled hat called a Dodin Bouffant or more commonly a toque. *Snood: A type of net like headgear popular in the 1940s made to hold long hair gathered at the back in a type of net bag.

Chapter 6
Chapter 6

By justjo66

Warning: The author has noted that this contains the highest level of violence.
Warning: The author has noted that this contains the highest level of language.

Chapter 6-The Big Easy

Marie arrived in New Orleans early in the afternoon. Her immediate concern was finding a place to stay and getting something to eat before nightfall. She had eaten the Boudin Rouge that her mama had packed earlier and now she was very hungry. New Orleans frightened and excited her all at the same time. She had never seen such a mystical place. The cacophony of automobiles, street vendors, and pedestrians all blended to create a dull roar. Marie felt a little dizzy.

Everywhere she looked she was amazed by the tall buildings, wrought iron balconies, neon lights, and so many service men and women strolling the streets. She made a mental note to herself to be more careful. Early in the day she had almost been run over when she went to cross the street and a strange green and gold contraption came rolling down the middle of the street. Not until it stopped to let passengers off did she see the sign on top 'Desire'. She wasn't sure if that was the name of the vehicle or its destination. She giggled to herself and thought it a strange name in a strange place.

As the sun set over the skyline, Marie found herself wandering down Bourbon Street. Raucous laughter, cursing, clinking glasses and jazz music overflowed into the street from the dimly lit bars with their open doors to let in the breeze on this hot, humid night. The aromas floating out from the taverns were disgusting. An old woman in a dingy blue shawl peddled flowers and charms on the corner to anyone she could stop. A slovenly dressed unshaved man stumbled drunkenly by Marie holding a bottle of beer. He grinned a snaggled tooth smile and tipped his sweat stained fedora. A young dark haired scantly clad woman called from an ornate iron balcony, "sailor come join me." An organ grinder with a cute little red vested and capped monkey played his tunes while the monkey with his silver cup bounced from one pedestrian to another. Women of all ages and sizes stood outside on the sidewalk in skimpy clothes that Marie had never imaged existed. Most wore their hair long and loose. Their faces were painted with rouge and foundation and dark red lipstick. Occasionally a service man or other gentlemen would walk up to the ladies and then they would leave together down the street.

The smells of food drifting in the air made her stomach take a few flips. She was hungry. Boy, what I wouldn't give right now for some rice and gravy, she thought.

Marie walked a little further down Bourbon Street and found herself looking at a long line of people. Smells of warm bread, gumbo, fried shrimp and other wonderful aromas enticed her senses. She walked up to a finely dressed lady standing at the end of the line, "Whatcha all in line fer?" Marie asked.

"Why, we're waiting to get a seat for supper at Galatoire's; it's just the finest restaurant in the whole entire world. They will not take reservations and they make us all wait here for hours to get inside," the lady said, "but oh my goodness is it worth it."

The man standing beside her frowned, "I don't know if it's worth it or not. You would think they could make an exception to their 'first come first served policy' ever now and then for special people...but no NEVER!" He exclaimed.

"Oh, suga', just be patient, you know once you get your order of Shrimp Remoulade, Filet Bearnaise, Broccoli Hollandaise, Crabmeat Salad and Cafe Brule all the waiting will be forgotten and you'll forgive me for insisting we come here tonight. " The lady said to her husband patting his rather large stomach.

Marie thought she would faint from hunger but decided to wait in line, too. She had thirty dollars and surely a meal couldn't cost more than a few dollars.

It took two and a half hours for Marie to arrive at the main entrance to Galatoire's 209 Bourbon Street address. The huge green French doors were wide open and she could see inside the first floor dining room. It was a palace of high ceilings, slow moving paddle fans and mirrored opposing walls. Genteel people were sitting enjoying their meals.

Just at that moment a handsome slim man, "Pardon Madame but I'm afraid you cannot come in. You do not have proper attire." The young doorman held his hand up in front of Marie.

"I...I...I'm so sorry...I did not know. I am so hungry. I have money to pay." Marie pleaded.

"Go around to the back and I will see that you get something to eat." The doorman pointed to the back alley leading to the back of the restaurant.

Marie walked down the street a little further and turned left into a very dark dank alley. A large file tail rat scurried across the wet bricks in front of her and she jumped back. "Oh, you scared me." She said aloud.

The back door to the restaurant was barely cracked open and inside she could see lots of activity with the servers and cooks busy with food preparation. "Pardon me, the man at the front said I could get something to eat. I have money to pay."

A gruff looking short man in a white uniform and toque, chef's hat, came to the door. "So, you want to eat? I give you some gumbo."

"Oh, Merci, Merci, I can pay you." Marie held out a ten dollar bill.

"No, no need. Take it and go." The gruff chef pushed a large bowl of gumbo into her hands.

Marie walked back to the dim light of Bourbon Street and sat down on the pavement eating her gumbo. "I don't think I've ever tasted anything this good in my whole life." she thought as she enjoyed the very last drop of the shrimp gumbo.

After finishing her food, she got up and began walking again. She felt someone bump into her very hard and the next thing she knew a man had grabbed her burlap bag with all her belongings and her money and was running away. "Wait, Wait come back here!" She shouted at him and took off after him running as fast as she could. She followed him all the way to Basin Street but could not catch him and eventually lost sight of him.

Marie sat down on the cool damp grass and began crying. "Mother Mary, I really need your son's help. I'm all alone and I'm scared. Please hear my prayer and help me." Marie prayed softly. "Amen."

Her amen was cut short by a police car slowly rolling up. "Hey, what are you doing out here this time of night?" The officer aimed a large bright light at her face.

Marie shielded her eyes and stood up very quickly. "A man stole all my money. I chased him but he git away."

The policeman stepped out of his car and walked around to get a better look at her. He took his flashlight and shown it again into her dirty face. "Miss, where do you work?"

"I have no job..."

"Where do you live?" The policeman continued.

"I live no place right now." Marie replied.

"You mean to say you don't have a job, money or an address. Girl, in this town that's called being a vagrant. It's against the law to be a vagrant. I'm afraid we'll be taking you down to the station. You can spend the night there and maybe in the morning you can find a job and a place to live. If not, I suggest you keep right on walking out of town." The officer grabbed Marie's arm, opened the door of the squad car and shoved her inside.

Marie was shocked that she had been treated so roughly by the police and now was trembling with fright. What was going to happen to her?

The police station was a hub of activity; even on a Monday night. Marie was made to remove her mama's wedding band and her step-daddy's boots and place them in a paper bag. The man behind the counter put her name on the bag and told her she would get them back the next day. She was then finger printed and thrown into a cell with twelve women that were drunk, high on drugs or just plain crazy.

The smell of stale cigarettes, beer, cheap perfume, and dank unwashed bodies permeated the cell. The cell bars once had been painted white but now they were dirty with big flakes of paint peeling off. The large cell's concrete walls were marked and marred with brown stains, profanities and names of former inmates. She sat down on a rusting metal bench. The steady buzz of the room briefly stopped when she entered the cell. Twelve pairs of eyes briefly stared in her direction then went back to what they were doing. The slamming of the cell door made a chill run across her spine. "Lord I prayed for help...are you still listening?" Marie whispered.

The women were a mixed lot; different sizes and ages all dressed in outrageous attire. An older woman sat in the corner holding her frazzled graying black hair in her hands and cursing loudly. Two women slept side by side on the filthy concrete floor with only a shawl to cover them. Another woman with henna dyed hair paced back and forth in the cell. Marie had never seen a 'woman of the night' but she thought surely this must be what her mama had told her about.

"Hey girlie, whatcha in fer? Stealing some baby's lollipop?" A big boned woman with flaming red hair walked up and looked Marie straight in the face.

"Ah, leave her alone Lulu, she ain't bothering you. You can see she's just a country girl. Look at them flour sack clothes she's wearing. Right off the farm I'd say," the second woman said.

"Why don't you mind yer own business, Alice" snarled Lulu.

"You dirty crib whore I'll claw your eyes out if you mess with me." Alice spit out the words.

"Kill her," screamed the woman that had been holding her head.

"Are you gonna let that bitch, Alice, tell you what to do? Git her Lulu," came another voice from the back of the cell.

"Alice, you better back off...," Lulu said in a low growl with drool running down the right side of her mouth. Lulu lunged at Alice with all the force of a mad bear, her dirty claws ready to strike.
Alice, smaller and more lithe, jumped to the side causing Lulu to run into the metal suspension bars holding the benches in the cell and falling backwards onto the floor.

The cell was roaring with the sounds of the women catcalling to the combatants urging them to fight. "Kill her! Stomp her!" they yelled.

"Get up Lulu...you gonna let this wimp beat you?" Someone yelled.

Alice walked over to Lulu and leaned down close to her face. "Don't do it, Lulu, stay where you're at." Lulu sat dazed. The fight was over.

Two guards approached the bars, "Okay, girls settle down. You know you will get out in the morning, that is, if you behave" the smallest guard said. "Now sit down and shut up, sleep it off!"

Marie eased over to Alice. "Thank you."

"Don't worry about it kid...I've never liked that bitch." Alice smiled.

Marie spent her night sleeping the best she could on the cold concrete jail floor. The other more experienced cell mates had grabbed all the blankets and were not sharing. Between the cold floor and the snoring women Marie had a very rough first night in New Orleans.

Morning brought groans and cursing from the hung over women as they each came awake slowly in the gloomy cell.

"Well little princess how did you sleep?" Alice nudged Marie awake.

"Terrible, just awful." Marie replied.

"You needin' a job, kid?" Alice asked.

"Yes, I do but I don' hav a social security card or a birth certificate." Marie replied.

"Don't need one where I work. Good pay and easy work, too. Miss Gigi will be coming for me this morning. Oh, she'll be mad as a wet hornet at me for going downtown on Bourbon Street on my day off and gettin' drunk and thrown in jail but she'll forgive me." Alice said grinning.

Around 11:00 am the jailer came to release all the women in the cell.

Alice gestured with her Hot Red nails, "Come on with me girl. Hey, I don't even know your name?"

"It's Marie."

"My name is Alice in case you didn't guess it last night." Alice grinned again. Alice stopped in front of the front desk. "We got to stop here and get our belongings. I only have my shoes and earrings to pick up. You got anything kid?"

"Yes, I have my mother's ring and my boots."

When Alice saw the old worn boots handed to Marie she smiled again, "Girl, you ARE from the country."

"Marie come with me. I'm going to introduce you to my boss Gigi. I know she'll love you." Alice started toward the front of the jail. "Oh, there she is now!"

Standing in the doorway was a very tall regal lady in her mid-forties dressed in a navy suit with white blouse. Her blonde hair was held in place by a white snood attached to a perky little blue hat. Cuban heels and blue leather shoes completed the outfit. Red, white, and blue large costume ear rings graced each ear. "Alice, I'm glad to see you are okay but you know I am very angry with you right now." Gigi shook her head.

"Yes, Miss Gigi I know you are. I am sorry... look what I have brought you; a new fresh young girl. Her name is Marie." Alice grabbed Marie's hand and brought her forward.

"You don't say?" Miss Gigi gave Marie a hard look. What she saw pleased her. "Are you a working girl? You don't look like one. You need a job girl?"

"Yes, yes, Madame. I do." Marie said.

"How old are you?" Gigi prodded.

"Seventeen, I be eighteen in October."

"Alice, I can't hire a seventeen year old girl to work with my patrons. " Gigi frowned. "The authorities would shut me down for sure."

"Girl, can you cook and clean house?"

"Yes, Madame I can." Marie replied.

"That settles it. You can come to work for me as my maid. I already have Miss Moselle as my cook, but I do need someone to take care of me. Come along girl..."

Alice shook her short curly brown hair and smiled a big wide smile.

"Oh, I wouldn't be so puffed up Alice...I'll deal with you later. Now come along girls the day is wasting."

Author Notes

Don't worry reader I haven't forgotten about Renee...coming next chapter.

Chapter 7
Chapter 7-Voodoo Curses

By justjo66

Warning: The author has noted that this contains the highest level of violence.

Chapter 7-Voodoo Curses

"Sally, you know I have been home a whole two weeks now and things aren't getting any better with Renee. I swear all that man talks about is having babies." Evangeline sat primly on a gold brocade French provincial sofa in the large parlor of her best friend. "I'm so glad I have a friend like you to confide in. "Evangeline took another sip of her coffee from a delicate blue and white china cup.

"Oh, you poor dear, "Sally said joking. "My Harvey hardly ever wants sex and when he does it's just the same old boring stuff." Sally wrinkled up her nose in disgust. "Now, if I had a cutie like you, oh baby, could I do some damage." Sally laughed.

"We have sex at least once a week. Renee just insists on it. And some of the things he wants to do, why, it makes me blush to even mention it." Evangeline shook her head and then changed the subject abruptly. "How do you like my new hat? You didn't say a word about it and I was sure it would just make you green with envy. Daddy bought it for me in New York. "

Sally put her cup down and leaned into Evie. "Wait a minute...you were just getting to the juicy part, don't stop now. What kind of stuff does he like to do?" Sally whispered.

"Sally, you have been my friend since high school but you don't have to know everything about me. Now forget about Renee. Do you like my new hat or not?"

"Oh, I just love it. I was going to say something right off the bat but then we got so busy talking and I forgot. You are going to have to invite me along on your next trip. Harvey would probably love to have me leave for two months, that way he could spend more time with his mistress." Sally rolled her eyes.

"A mistress, oh no, not Harvey?" Evangeline gasped.

"Oh, I don't care. Let him have his fun; as long as he gives me his money and keeps it quiet. I don't really care what he does. He'd better NOT bring home any of those nasty old diseases that I have heard about. You know I make him wear one of those rubber things, a condom, yes, that's what they call them. They're supposed to keep all the nasties away and prevent pregnancy, too. At least that's what I've heard. The good Lord knows I don't want any brats."

Sally took a sip of her coffee and placed it back on a silver tray. "I tell you what, Evie; let's get George my driver to take us up to Baton Rouge today. We can go shopping and maybe find some mischief to get into." Sally winked.

"Great, that should cheer me up a little. You know I love to shop. I'll call Renee and let him know we might just stay the night. I hear there are a few nice clubs in Baton Rouge. We'll do our civic duty and entertain a few of the troops." Evangeline laughed heartily.

**********

Renee walked into the station and looked up at the clock." Geez, it's already eleven. "He had been gone on a stray dog call most of the morning. Neighbors arguing about a dog running loose in the neighborhood had turned violent, Renee knew that hunting dogs in this part of the country sometimes meant more to a man than his wife and kids. The confrontation had escalated when the complaining neighbors' wife stepped in and threatened to shoot the dog. Then the guns and knives were brought out. The neighbor's wife got punched in the nose by the dog owner's wife and the fight was on. Aunts, uncles, cousins all coming to the rescue of their relatives. It took the Sheriff and his deputy over two hours to get things calmed down and a truce between the neighbors. No one was taken to jail but Renee wasn't certain things might not flair up later in the evening.

"Sheriff, your wife called and left a message." Mary handed Renee a neatly handwritten note as Renee passed her desk. "She said she'd be gone a few days to Baton Rouge with Sally. "

Glancing at the note. "Did she say where she would be staying?"

"No sir, only that she'd see you in a few days."

He wasn't fond of Sally; he had always thought she was a little too loose with her morals but Evangeline had known her a long time and thought the world of her.

Renee's stomach rumbled. "Mary, I'm going to lunch, be back in a while."

Before he could get out the door, Mary's nasal operator's voice picked up the switchboard call. "Sheriff's department. Wait, just a moment. I'll see if he's here."

"Sheriff, this sounds important. Do you want to take this call?"

"Well might as well." Renee frowned.

"Is this the sheriff?" The caller asked.

"Yes, I'm Sheriff Renee. What can I do for you?"

"There's some funny business going on up in 'Gator Bayou. Witchy stuff, I've seen lights at night in the sky and heard some weird sounds. I think you need to come see."

"I'll get right on it. Thank you. I'm sorry but I didn't get your name?"

"No need..." and the caller hung up.

Sheriff Renee motioned to his deputy in one of the back offices. "Pat, come with me, I think I just got a prank call. I need to take the skiff out to Gator Bayou and check things out."

"What's going on, Sheriff?" Deputy Pat got up quickly from his lunch.

"Oh ,something about weird lights and sounds out in Gator Bayou. Most likely just swamp gases or poachers if anything." Renee replied.

"Man, I don't know...that is a real scary bayou. They don't call it Gator Bayou for nothing. Lots of old abandoned boats and swamp grasses so thick it will tangle your motor. Alligators big as our boat and creatures no one knows what they are. Lots of strange things out that way." Pat said.

"Why Pat, if I didn't know better I'd think you're afraid to go out that way." Renee smiled.

"Sometimes it pays to be scared. Some Voodoo priestess put a Gris Gris on you if you not careful just because you come into her territory."

"I'll take my chances, I don't believe in that mumbo jumbo. Get your gear and let's go before it gets any later." Renee walked out the door toward his truck.

**********

Launching the police boat went off without any problems. Pat and Renee were soon on their way to Gator Bayou. They had not seen anything or anyone suspicious all the way out. That is until they crossed the old rusty fence post with the sagging moss covered sign broadcasting that they were now in ' Gator Bayou and to STAY OUT.'

"Man this place is creepy." Pat whispered.

"I won't argue with you about that, but just a swamp, a very old swamp." Renee said.

"Look at that..." Pat pointed to several abandoned wrecked boats covered with swamp slime and mosses. "Man, I mean this place gives me the chills."

At that very moment the boat motor stalled in the thick water lilies. Renee raised the motor out of the water and cleared the debris. "Everything's okay just clogged with these lilies." Renee tugged on the rope to crank the motor but nothing happened. "Damn!"

One more tug and the motor cranked. Both Renee and Pat let out a sigh of relief.

"Look up yonder; a fish camp" Pat pointed.

They pulled the boat up to the shore and tied it off on an old cypress stump. Chicken feathers littered the ground and bushes. Dark red blood had oozed down the side of a stump and dried. A trail of the feathers led to the steps of a ramshackle vine covered fish cabin. Inside the dark cabin, a putrid smell of rotting flesh hit them like a wall. Flies buzzing and the stench of something definitely dead was overpowering.

Pat ran back out the door and started vomiting. Renee proceeded cautiously into the room looking around. On the wall hung a plucked dead chicken with no head and various other occult symbols. Definitely someone had practiced the black arts of Voodoo in this cabin very recently.

"Are you okay Pat?" Sheriff Renee yelled out the open door.

"I'm okay; you need to get out of that place. NOW!" Pat yelled.

"What the HELL?" Sheriff Renee stumbled. "Geez, Pat I found the smell. You won't believe it."
"It's a pig. It's been disemboweled. Guts rotting all over this floor."

Pat stood in the doorway. "Someone has painted his face and it ain't made up for a fais do do."

"Get out of there man this is a house of curses! We mess with this and we'll have a Gris Gris on us!" Pat yelled as he backed towards the police boat.

Sheriff Renee came dragging the fly infested stinking pig out the front door of the shack. "We can't leave this thing. I'm going to throw it in the bayou, the gators will eat it."

"Hurry up" Pat pleaded. "We need to get the hell away from here." Pat was making the sign of the cross as he motioned for Renee to get in the boat.

Once Sheriff Renee disposed of the pig he climbed back into the police boat. "When we get back to the station I'll find out who owns this property and have them clean up the rest of that mess."

"Just get me back to dry land." Deputy Pat was visibly shaken and pale.

**********

Two days later, Deputy Pat did not show up for duty.

"Marcel, drive out to Pat's house and see why he didn't come to work this morning. Damn him I don't know why he won't get a telephone."

"Right Sheriff, I'll get right on it." Marcel got up and headed out the door. Deputy Pat lived far out on Bayou Blue Road but Marcel didn't mind the drive. It was a nice day and the scenery was pleasant.

Pulling up in the gravel driveway Marcel felt a strange chill pass over him. His mother had always told him when you get that feeling "someone's walking over your grave." He shrugged it off as just superstition. Once he had gotten out of the patrol car he still couldn't shake the eerie feeling. A strange stillness surrounded him. The usual cacophony of birds and animals in the dense swamp beyond Pat's house seemed oddly quiet.

"Pat! Pat!" Deputy Marcel yelled as he knocked loudly on the front door. "Wake up man!" The door opened slightly. "Hey Pat, you didn't lock your door, I'm coming in."

The house was deadly silent. Marcel could see a cup of coffee sitting on the kitchen table. "Pat, if you're here answer me." Marcel drew his gun from the holster and walked slowly into the only bedroom. "Shit! Pat! What?"

Pat was lying in his bed in only his boxers with a ham sandwich partially sticking out of his mouth. His body was stiff and fingers blue. Deputy Marcel knew he was dead and had been that way for a while.

Marcel radioed the office. "Tell the sheriff to get out here at Pat's fast. Send Jake Smith, too!"

Sheriff Renee and Jake Smith, the coroner arrived at the same time at Pat's house. Deputy Marcel met them at the front door. "Sheriff it's not a pretty sight. He's been dead a while. It looks like he might have choked on his sandwich."

***********

The local Houma newspaper only mentioned that Deputy Pat had been 'found at home dead from an accidental choking incident.' He had choked to death that was a fact, but Sheriff Renee knew it had not been an accident. He hid the facts from the press. Leaking all the clues to the public would only hinder the investigation. Renee found beside Pat's bed an ashtray with a red lipstick smeared Lucky Strike butt stubbed out. On the floor lay a crumbled black, gold, and red Lucky Strike pack. The kitchen counter also had a half full cup with black coffee. Pat drank his coffee with lots of milk and sugar. No lipstick smudges on the cup. A strange tiny burlap doll with a white face and dark charcoal circles around the eyes was also found in Pat's right hand. Had it been ripped off the killer's neck or placed in Pat's hand? Renee didn't know but he was determined to find out.

It had been a full week and still the coroners' report hadn't come back. Renee was at a loss as to where to begin his investigation. Pat had been a well-liked young man with no known enemies that anyone interviewed could think of.

Renee looked up from his paperwork and found Jake Smith standing in the doorway.

"Hey Jake, come on in. I sure hope you have the report I've been waiting on."

"Yep Sheriff, I do. It's pretty much as we both figured. It seems he was indeed choked to death. The method is called a 'shime-wasa'; it's a blood choke hold very commonly used in Judo. You're probably familiar with it. It's taught in police academy. Strangulation occurs by compressing one or both carotid arteries and/or the jugular veins without compressing the airway. The person being strangled becomes hypoxic and unconscious in a matter of seconds. Properly applied blood chokes require little physical strength. Even a woman can strangle someone with this method. Once the person is unconscious then it becomes easy to perform an air choke or tracheal choke compressing the upper airway and causing asphyxiation and death without any marks left externally on the neck. "

"That probably explains why there wasn't much of a ruckus in the house. Nothing seemed out of place like a struggle had taken place." Renee mulled.

"That's right, first quickly subdue the victim then kill them. Whoever did this is most likely a trained professional in Judo, a military person, or law enforcement. That's the types of people who would know this kind of stuff. Oh, and my secretary said the lipstick on the Lucky Strike was called 'Red Dice' from Revlon. It seems it's a new line out and advertising is in all the glamour magazines. It comes with a matching nail polish, too. I guess she would be the one to know. I don't get much work out of her. She's always got her nose stuck in those damn magazines." Jake laughed. "I filed the death certificate as 'strangulation by unknown cause."

"Thanks Jake. I appreciate your help." Had Pat been right? Were they cursed because they disturbed the fish cabin? He didn't think so. Someone had killed him, this he was certain. The question was "Why?" He didn't believe in Voodoo curses.

Author Notes

Real or not someone in the area is practicing Voodoo and now someone is dead. Gris Gris=a curse fais do do=a Cajun dance

Chapter 7
Voodoo Curses

By justjo66

Chapter 7 Voodoo Curses

"Sally, you know I have been home a whole two weeks now and things just aren't getting any better with Renee. I swear all the man talks about is having babies."Evangeline sat primly on a gold brocade French Provincial sofa in the large parlor of her best friend. "I'm so glad I have a friend like you to confide in. "Evangeline took another sip of her coffee from a delicate blue and white china cup.

"Oh, you poor dear, "Sally said joking. "My Harvey hardly ever wants sex and when he does it's just the same old boring stuff." Sally replied. "Now, if I had a cutie like you, oh baby, could I do some damage." Sally laughed.

"We have sex at least once a week. Renee just insists on it. And some of the things he wants to do, why, it makes me blush to even mention it." Evangeline shook her head and then changed the subject abruptly. "How do you like my new hat? You didn't say a word about it and I was sure it would just make you green with envy. Daddy bought it for me in New York. "

"Wait a minute...you were just getting to the juicy part, don't stop now. What kind of stuff does he like to do?" Sally plied.

"Sally, you have been my friend since first grade but you don't have to know everything about me. Now forget about Renee. Do you like my new hat or not?"
"Oh, I just love it. I was going to say something right off the bat but then we got so busy talking and I just forgot. You are just going to have to invite me along on your next trip." Sally smiled. "Harvey would probably love to have me leave for two months, that way he could spend more time with his mistress." Sally rolled her eyes.

"A mistress, oh no, not Harvey?" Evangeline gasped.

"Oh, I don't care. Let him have his fun; as long as he gives me his money and keeps it quiet. I don't really care what he does. He'd better NOT bring home any of those nasty old diseases that I have heard about. You know I make him wear one of those rubber things, a condom, yes, that's what they call them. They're supposed to keep all the nasties away and prevent pregnancy, too. At least that's what I've heard. The good Lord knows I don't want any brats." Sally took a sip of her coffee and placed it back on a silver tray. "I tell you what, Evie; let's get George my driver to take us up to Baton Rouge today. We can go shopping and maybe find some mischief to get into." Sally smiled.

"Great, that should cheer me up a little. You know I love to shop." Evangeline agreed. "I'll just call Renee and let him know we might just stay the night. I hear there are a few nice clubs in Baton Rouge. We'll just do our civic duty and entertain a few of the troops." Evangeline laughed hardily.

Renee was gone on a domestic violence call when Evangeline called and left a message that she'd be gone a few days to Baton Rouge with Sally. He wasn't fond of Sally; he had always thought she was a little too loose with her morals but Evangeline had known her since grade school and thought the world of her. Before he could get settled in good and have his lunch another call came in.

"Sheriff's department, Sheriff Herbert speaking."

"Is this the sheriff?" The caller asked.

"Yes, I'm Sheriff Herbert. What can I do for you?"

"There's some funny business going on up in Devil's Bayou. Witchy stuff, I've seen lights at night in the sky and heard some weird sounds. I think you need to check it out, sheriff."

"I'll get right on it. Thank you. I'm sorry but I didn't get your name?"

"No need..." and the caller hung up.

Sheriff Renee got up from his desk. "Pat, come with me, I think I just got a prank call but I need to take the boat out to Devil's Bayou and check things out."

"What's going on Sheriff?" Deputy Pat got up quickly from his lunch.

"Oh something about weird lights and sounds out in Devil's Bayou. Most likely just swamp gases or poachers if anything." Renee replied.

"Man, I don't know...that is a real scary bayou. They don't call it Devil's Bayou for nothing. Lots of old abandoned boats and swamp grasses so thick it will tangle you motor. Alligators big as our boat and creatures no one knows what they are. Lots of strange things out that way." Pat said.

"Why Pat, if I didn't know better I'd think you're afraid to go out that way." Renee smiled.

"Sometimes it pays to be scared. Some Voodoo priestess put a gris gris (curse) on you if you not careful just because you come into her territory."

"I'll take my chances, I don't believe in that mumbo jumbo. Get your gear and let's go before it gets any later." Renee walked out the door toward his truck.

Launching the police boat went off without any problems. Pat and Renee were soon on their way to Devil's Bayou. They had not seen anything or anyone suspicious all the way out. That is until they crossed the old rusty fence post with the sagging moss covered sign broadcasting that they were now in ' Devil's Bayou and to STAY OUT.'

"Man this place is creepy." Pat whispered.

"I won't argue with you about that, but just a swamp, a very old swamp." Renee said.

"Look up yonder; a fish camp" Pat said.

They pulled the boat up to the shore and tied it off on an old cypress stump. Immediately they found plucked chicken feathers scattered everywhere. Then on a stump dried blood from some type of animal. They followed the feathers to the steps of the fish cabin and inside the dark cabin a very bad smell first hit them like a wall. Flies buzzing and the stench of something definitely dead was overpowering. Pat ran back out the door and started vomiting. Renee proceeded looking around. On the wall hung a plucked dead chicken with no head and various other occult symbols. Definitely someone had practiced the black arts of Voodoo in this cabin very recently.

"Are you okay Pat?" Sheriff Renee yelled out the open door.

"I'm okay; you need to get out of that place. NOW!" Pat yelled.

At that moment Sheriff Renee stumbled over the thing that had been causing all the stench. It was a disemboweled pig. The face of the pig had been painted white and dark charcoal smeared around both eyes and the snout.

"Geez, Pat I found the smell. You won't believe it." Renee yelled.

"Get out of there man this is a house of curses! We mess with this and we'll have a gris gris put on us!" Pat yelled as he backed away and got in the police boat.

Sheriff Renee came dragging the fly infested stinking pig out the front door of the shack. "We can't leave this thing. I'm going to throw it in the Bayou, the gators will eat it."

"Hurry up" Pat pleaded. "We need to get the hell away from here." Pat was making the sign of the cross as he motioned for Renee to get in the boat.

Once Sheriff Renee disposed of the pig he climbed back into the police boat. "When we get back to the station I'll find out who owns this property and have them clean up the rest of that mess."

"Just get me back to dry land." Deputy Pat was visibly shaken and pale.

Two days later, Deputy Pat did not show up for duty.
"Marcel, drive out to Pat's house and see why he didn't come to work this morning. Damn him I don't know why he won't get a phone."

"Right Sheriff, I'll get right on it." Marcel got up and headed out the door. Deputy Pat lived far out on Bayou Road but Marcel didn't mind the drive. It was a nice day and the scenery was pleasant. Pulling up in the gravel driveway Marcel felt a strange chill past over him. His mother had always told him "when you get that feeling someone is walking over your grave." He shrugged it off as just superstition. Once he had gotten out of the patrol car he still couldn't shake the eerie feeling. A strange stillness surrounded him. The usual cacophony of birds and animals in the dense swamp beyond Pat's house seemed oddly quiet.

"Pat! Pat!" Deputy Marcel yelled as he knocked loudly on the front door. "Wake up man!"


Deputy Pat had been found at home dead. It seems he had choked on a ham sandwich and beside his bed lay a strange burlap doll with a white face and dark charcoal circles around the eyes. The coroner filed it as accidental choking. Sheriff Renee had his doubts. Had Pat been right ; were they cursed because they disturbed the fish cabin? He didn't think so. Someone had killed him, this he was certain. He didn't believe in Voodoo curses.

Chapter 8
New Information

By justjo66

Chapter 8-Lies and Red Herrings
 
It had been three months since the Houma Sheriff’s Department had buried Deputy Pat Clement.   The townspeople spoke highly of the deputy and “what a shame it was that such a nice young man had choked to death on a sandwich.”  Sheriff Renee wasn’t a fool.  He hadn’t let all the facts leak out to the Houma Chronicle about the voodoo doll or even about the call that had taken them out to Gator Bayou.  He didn’t believe in voodoo or its curses.    He would find Pat’s killer and see that he got his day in court. 

So far, the investigation had gone nowhere.  There had been few leads and lots of gossip.  Small towns had a way of getting information spread faster than any newspaper.  It seems that Pat had gone to his local watering hole,   ‘The Crawfish Shack’, gotten drunk and talked a blue hurricane about the incident out at Gator Bayou.  A lot of the people in town were superstitious and it didn’t take long for the rumors of Gris Gris on the sheriff and Pat to get back to Renee.  The word was out that the sheriff would be next.   
*********
 “Deputy Pierre, would you come here for a moment?”  Sheriff Renee called out through his open door to the front desk. 

“Yes sir, I’ll be right there.  What can I do for you, sir?”  Deputy Pierre came to the door of Renee’s office.

“Are you manning the front desk? Where’s Mary?”

“Oh…she is…well sir…she is in the bathroom again.”

“Come on in.  I need to ask you something. The front will be okay until she gets back. I’ll keep my door open.  Take a seat.  You were Pat’s best friend and fishing partner weren’t you?”

“Yes Sir, I think he kind of thought of me like a dad. I was friends with his dad until he died of a massive heart attack when Pat was thirteen. Pat was a good boy.  I should say man.  He always treated me with respect.  He sure loved to laugh and joke around.  I hope you get the son-of-a-bitch that killed him.”

“I will…I thought a lot of Pat, too.  He reminded me a lot of my best friend Gene.  Same  red hair, freckles, and yep he was a joker.” Renee brushed a wave of dark hair back from his forehead with his right hand.

  What I called you in for… did you know anything about him having an affair with a Houma native woman?”

“I…I…knew he was seeing a woman that was married but wasn’t sure who she was.” Deputy Pierre replied.

“I got a letter today from someone telling me that Pat had been running around with a married native woman from up around Ouiski Bayou.  The letter wasn’t signed.  Do you know anything about this?”

“No, No sir…only what I told you.  I knew he had a woman stay at his place a few times and he had mentioned that she was married but I never met her.”

 Renee knew that most the Houma tribesmen were a peaceful lot but one could never tell when it came to stealing a man’s wife.   Had Pat’s girlfriend’s husband found out and killed him?  And if that was the case, what about all the other voodoo symbolism left at the scene of the crime?  What did that mean? Sheriff Renee mulled all this over in his mind.

“Okay, that’ll be all Deputy.  If you find out anything, let me know.  I think I’ll take a drive up to Ouiski Bayou   today and snoop around a little.  I won’t be back to the station today .  If you need me just radio me.”

“Okay, sir.  I will.”  Deputy Pierre replied.

The drive wasn’t a long one but it gave Renee time to think.  He remembered hearing the old men in town talk about the Houma Native Americans.  After all, Houma was named after the natives that had settled here.  The city of Houma had taken its name from a village called Chufuhuma or ‘Red House’ from the Houma tribe.    During the Colonial times the Houma tribes had relocated to Terrebonne Parish and ultimately migrated into the bayous much like the Acadians.  The Houmas had lived harsh lives fishing, trapping and living off the land.  Most of them still spoke pure French with only a few speaking the Cajun French of the Acadians. 
**********
It wasn’t hard to locate the home of Mr. Raul Courteaux once he got to Ouiski Bayou.  Most the people on this bayou   knew each other.  It was fortunate that Renee had towed his skiff since the Courteaux home was only accessible by boat.   

The house didn’t look much different than the hundreds of others Renee had seen in these back swamps.  It was built up on piers to keep the swamp water from flooding the house when the storms and hurricanes came.  A multitude of steps lead up to the front porch.   Alligator hides and other game animal skins were stretched out and nailed to the side of an old sagging shed.  Various traps and fishing nets hung from the rafters under the house.  Two or three old mixed breed dogs lazed in the grassless yard.  The front yard had a huge blackened cast iron pot in the center of the yard.

 Sheriff Renee yelled, “Anyone home?” then again in French, “est a la maison tous?”

A short figure appeared in the open doorway.  It was a brown haired man about five feet four inches with hair hanging loose down his back.  He was holding a rifle pointed right at Renee and behind the short man stood a round  faced pretty dark haired woman with  bright red lips and dark eyes.  “Go away, who are you? You are trespassing on my land,” the short man called in French.

“Don’t  shoot; my name is Sheriff Renee Herbert.  I’m sheriff of Houma in Terrebonne Parish. I just want to ask you some questions.”  Sheriff Renee replied back in French. He backed up a step and held his hands up so the man could see he meant no harm.

“What kind of question you need to ask me?”  The man replied.

“There was a murder down in Houma about three months ago.  Can you tell me where you might have been three months ago?” 

“Are you accusing me of a killin’?” 

“No, I’m just trying to get some information.”

“I think dat prutty easy to answer.  My wife can tell you; I was laid up with an infection from steppin’ on a ‘gator hook while I was out fishin’.  I almost died.  I was laid up for about a month.  Had to go to town to the doctor and everthang ‘fore I git well.” Mr. Courteaux replied in broken English.

“Okay Mr. Courteaux, I think that is all I need to ask you.  Merci, thank you, for answering my questions.  I’ll be in touch with you if I need more.” 

Sheriff Renee backed off the property and got into his skiff.  On the way back to the road, I can check with the doctor to verify his story but I believe I’ve been sent out on a ‘Red-herring’.  Someone is having an awful lot of fun sending me out on a wild goose chase.
 
Later that afternoon, Renee arrived back in Houma tired and hungry and on the way home  thoughts of Pat’s murder weighed heavy on his mind.  Pat dying had somehow stirred up old memories of  Gene.  He could not shake the feeling that he had let Gene down.   It wasn’t a rational feeling but it  was there just the same.  Guilt…guilt for his friend’s death.  He couldn’t even force himself to go to his best friend’s funeral.  He had been too ashamed to face Gene’s wife and his co-workers.  Of course, no one blamed him.  The burden he carried was self-imposed and painful.  He had vowed he’d never let another of his partners die on duty. Had he failed Pat? This thought rolled around in his mind especially after a tiring day or a long night.  He was frustrated with Pat’s case. After three months he wasn’t any closer to solving the crime.  He had followed every lead ,but  they all led to dead ends. 

**********

He got a glass of lemonade out of the fridge and sat down on the veranda. 

“Miss Maybelle, where is my wife?”  Renee asked as their maid passed the open double glass doors leading out to the veranda.

“I don’ know, sir.  She left early dis morning all dressed up in her blue party dress.” Maybelle replied.

“Okay, maybe she told me and I wasn’t listening.  I’m sure she’ll call or be home soon.  Thank you.”

Renee sat on the veranda until long past dark watching the bugs collide into the lights at the corner of the three foot brick wall that surrounded the veranda.  “Where the hell is that woman?” He said aloud.  “Why hasn’t she called me?”  At midnight Renee looked down at his watch and then heard her car pulling up in the gravel driveway.  Soon he heard the key in the front door and heard her stumbling into the foyer.

“Shhhhh got to be quiet.”  Evangeline giggled and whispered drunkenly to her self as she tiptoed through the large foyer. 

“Where the HELL have you been?” Renee waited at the foot of the stairs.

“I…I…I’ve been OUT, if you really must know.”  Evangeline slurred.

Her clothes and hair were disheveled and Renee noticed the top button on the back of her dress was not fastened.   “Who have you been out with?” Renee’s voice beginning to rise.

“My friend Sally and I went to Baton Rouge and went shopping today.”  Evangeline said as she tried to push through Renee to get up the stairs.

“Shopping…shopping…there’s no way you have been shopping all day and look the mess you are in!”  Renee grabbed Evie's hands as she pushed toward him.

“Well! You can believe whatever you want! I’m going to bed!  Let me go!”  Evie yelled and then began crying crocodile tears.

“I’m going to let you go.  Evie you know I don’t believe in abusing any woman…but, I swear you had better not do this to me again.”  Renee said in a calmer voice. 

“Or what?  Oh, I’m so-o-o afraid.  You’re not going to tell me who, where, or when I can go out!”  Evie spat out the words. “I’m going to bed…get out of my way!”

Renee moved aside and Evie huffed drunkenly up the stairs swaying from side to side.

Renee balled his fists and hit the sides of his thighs.  He had never been this angry at Evie before. He would sleep in the downstairs guest room tonight and tomorrow they would talk again when she was sober.
 
 

Author Notes

The story continues with the investigation of Pat's murder.

Chapter 8
Lies and Red-Herrings

By justjo66

Chapter 8 Lies and Red-Herrings

It had been three months since the Houma Sheriff's Department had buried Deputy Pat Clement. The townspeople spoke highly of the deputy and "what a shame it was that such a nice young man had choked to death on a sandwich." Sheriff Renee wasn't a fool. He hadn't let all the facts leak out to the Houma Chronicle about the voodoo doll or even about the call that had taken them out to Devil's Bayou. He didn't believe in voodoo or its curses. He would find Pat's killer and see that he got his day in court.

So far, the investigation had gone nowhere. There had not been many leads and lots of gossip. Small towns had a way of getting information spread faster than any newspaper. It seems that Pat had gone to his local watering hole, 'The Crawfish Shack", gotten somewhat drunk and talked a blue Hurricane about the incident out at Devil's Bayou. A lot of the people in town were superstitious and it didn't take long for the rumors of Gris Gris (a curse) on the Sheriff and Pat to get back to Renee. The word was out that the Sheriff would be next.

"Deputy Pierre, would you come in here for a moment." Sheriff Renee called through his door to the front desk.

"Yes sir, I'll be right there. What can I do for you, sir?" Deputy Pierre came to the door of Sheriff Renee's office.

"Come on in. I need to ask you something. Take a seat. You were Pat's best friend. Did you know anything about him having an affair with a Houma native woman?"

"I...I...knew he had seen a woman that was married but wasn't sure who she was." Deputy Pierre replied.

"I got a letter today from someone telling me that Pat had been running around with a married native woman from up around Ouiski Bayou. The letter wasn't signed. Do you know anything about this?"

"No, No sir...only what I told you. I knew he had a woman stay at his place a few times and he had mentioned that she was married, but I never met her."

Sheriff Renee knew that most the Houmas tribesmen were a peaceful lot but one could never tell when it came to stealing a man's wife. Had Pat's girlfriend's husband found out and killed him? And if that was the case, what about all the other voodoo symbolism left at the scene of the crime? What did that mean? Sheriff Renee mulled all this over in his mind.

"Okay, that'll be all ,Deputy. If you find out anything, let me know. I think I'll take a drive up there today and snoop around a little. I won't be back today. If you need me just radio me."

"Okay, sir. I will." Deputy Pierre replied.

The drive to Ouiski Bayou wasn't a long one but it gave Renee time to think. He remembered hearing the old men in town talk about the Houmas Native Americans. After all, Houma was named after the natives that had settled here. The city of Houma had taken its name from a village called Chufuhuma or 'Red House' from the Houmas tribe. The tribe had gotten its start further north, near Baton Rouge (red sticks). The natives had used red sticks to mark their territory boundary markers thus when the French explorers trekked through Louisiana they found the name appropriate for the tribe. During the Colonial struggles the Houma tribes had relocated to Terrebonne Parish and ultimately migrated into the bayous much like the Acadians. The Houmas had lived harsh life fishing, trapping and living off the land. Even today in 1943 most of them still spoke pure French with only a few speaking the Cajun French of the Acadians.

It wasn't hard to locate the home of Mr. Raul Courteaux once he got to Ouiski Bayou. Most the people in these parts all knew each other. It was fortunate that Renee had towed his skiff since the Courteaux home was only accessible by boat.

This bayou house didn't look much different than the hundreds of others Renee had seen in these back swamps. It was built up on piers to keep the swamp water from flooding the house when the storms and hurricanes came with steps up to the front porch. Alligator hides and other game animal skins were stretched out and nailed to the side of an old sagging shed. Various traps and fishing nets hung from the rafters under the house. Two or three old dogs lazed in the grassless yard. The front yard had a huge cast iron pot in the center of the yard boiling what smelt like sugar cane.

Sheriff Renee yelled, "Anyone home?" then again in French, "est a la maison tous?"
A short dark figure appeared in the open doorway. It was a black haired man about five feet four inches with hair hanging loose down his back. He was holding a rifle pointed right at Renee and behind the short man stood a round faced dark haired woman. "Shah(go away), who are you? Yo are trespassing on my land," the short man called.

"Don' shoot, my name is Sheriff Renee Herbert. I'm sheriff of Houma in Terrebonne Parish. I just want to ask you some questions." Sheriff Renee backed up a step and held his hands up so the man could see he meant no harm.

"What kind of question yo need to axe me?" The man replied in broken English.

"There was a murder down in Houma about three months ago. Can you tell me where you might have been three months ago?"

"Are yo accusing me of a killin'?"

"No, I'm just trying to get some information."

"I tink dat prutty easy to answer. My wife can tell yo I were laid up with an infection from steppin' on a gator hook while I were out fishin'. I almost died. Laid up for about a month. Had to go to town to the doctor and everthang 'fore I git well."

"Okay Mr. Courteaux, I think that is all I need to ask you. Merci, thank you, for answering my questions. I'll be in touch with you if I have more." Sheriff Renee backed off the property and got into his skiff. On the way back to the road he thought "Well, I can check with the doctor to verify his story but I believe I've been sent out on a 'Red-herring'. Someone is having an awful lot of fun sending me out on these wild goose chases."

Later that afternoon Renee arrived back in Houma and drove home. He was tired. This thing with Pat's murder had weighed heavy on his mind the past three months and he wasn't any closer to solving the crime. Oh, he had followed every lead that he had but it seems like they all led to dead ends. He got a glass of lemonade out of the fridge and sat down on the veranda.

"Miss Maybelle, where is my wife?" Renee asked as their maid passed the open double glass doors leading out to the veranda.

"I don' know, sir. She left early dis morning all dressed up in her party dress." Maybelle replied.

"Okay, maybe she told me and I wasn't listening. I'm sure she'll call or be home soon. Thank you."

Renee sat out on the veranda until long past dark watching the bugs collide into the lights at the corner of the three foot brick wall that surrounded the veranda. "Where the hell is that woman." He said aloud. "Why hasn't she called me?" At midnight Renee looked down at his watch and then heard her car pulling up in the gravel driveway. Soon he heard the key in the front door and heard her stumbling into the foyer.

"Shhhhh got to be quiet." Evangeline whispered drunkenly to herself as she tiptoed through the large foyer.

"Where the HELL have you been?" Renee waited at the foot of the stairs.

"I...I...I've been OUT, if you really must know." Evangeline slurred.

Her clothes and hair were disheveled and Renee noticed the top button on the back of her dress was not fastened. "Who have you been out with?" Renee's voice beginning to rise.

"My friend Sally and I went to Baton Rouge and went shopping today." Evangeline said as she tried to push through Renee to get up the stairs.

"Shopping...shopping...there's no way you have been shopping all day and look the mess you are in!" Renee grabbed Evies hands as she pushed toward him.

"Well! You can believe whatever you want! I'm going to bed! Let me go!" Evie yelled and then began crying crocodile tears.

"I'm going to let you go. Evie, you know I don't believe in abusing any woman...but, I swear you had better not do this to me again." Renee said in a calmer voice.

"Or what? Oh, I'm so afraid. You're not going to tell me who, where, or when I can go out!" Evie spat out the words. "I'm going to bed...get out of my way."
Renee moved aside and Evie huffed drunkenly up the stairs swaying from side to side.

Renee balled his fists and hit the sides of his thighs. He had never been this angry at Evie before. He would sleep in the downstairs guest room tonight and tomorrow they would talk again when she was sober.

Author Notes

*Skiff- a flat bottom boat used in shallow waters Red-herrings-from the practice of drawing a red herring across a trail to confuse hunting dogs; something that distracts attention from the real issue

Chapter 8
Lies

By justjo66

Warning: The author has noted that this contains the highest level of language.

Chapter 8-Lies and Goose Chases

It had been three months since the Houma Sheriff's Department had buried Deputy Pat Clement. The townspeople spoke highly of the deputy and "what a shame it was that such a nice young man had choked to death on a sandwich." Sheriff Renee wasn't a fool. He hadn't let all the facts leak out to the Houma Chronicle about the voodoo doll or even about the call that had taken them out to Gator Bayou. He didn't believe in voodoo or its curses. He would find Pat's killer and see that he got his day in court.

So far, the investigation had gone nowhere. There had been few leads and lots of gossip. Small towns had a way of getting information spread faster than any newspaper. It seems that Pat had gone to his local watering hole, 'The Crawfish Shack', gotten drunk and talked a blue hurricane about the incident out at Gator Bayou. A lot of the people in town were superstitious and it didn't take long for the rumors of Gris Gris to get back to Renee. The word was out that a curse had been cast.
*********
"Deputy Pierre, would you come here for a moment?" Sheriff Renee called out through his open door to the front desk.

"Yes sir, I'll be right there. What can I do for you, sir?" Deputy Pierre came to the door of Renee's office.

"Are you manning the front desk? Where's Mary?"

"Oh...she is...well, sir...she's in the jon again."

"How long you been out front? Damn that girl! Never mind get in here."

"Come on in. I need to ask you something. The front will be okay until she gets back. I'll keep my door open. Take a seat. You were Pat's best friend and fishing partner weren't you?"

"Yes Sir, I think he kind of thought of me like a dad. I was friends with his dad until he died of a massive heart attack when Pat was thirteen. Pat was a good boy. I should say ,man. He always treated me with respect. He sure loved to laugh and joke around. I hope you get the son-of-a-bitch that killed him."

"I will...I thought a lot of Pat, too. He reminded me a lot of my best friend Gene. Same red hair, freckles, and yep he was a joker." Renee brushed a wave of dark hair back from his forehead with his right hand.

What I called you in for... did you know anything about him having an affair with a Houma native woman?"

"I...I...knew he was seeing a woman that was married but wasn't sure who she was," Deputy Pierre replied.

"I got a letter today from someone telling me that Pat had been running around with a married native woman from up around Ouiski Bayou. The letter wasn't signed. Do you know anything about this?"

"No, No sir...only what I told you. I knew he had a woman stay at his place a few times and he had mentioned that she was married but I never met her."

Renee knew that most the Houma tribesmen were a peaceful lot but one could never tell when it came to stealing a man's wife. Had Pat's girlfriend's husband found out and killed him? And if that was the case, what about all the other voodoo symbolism left at the scene of the crime? What did that mean? Renee's mind raced.

"Okay, that'll be all Deputy. If you find out anything, let me know. I think I'll take a drive up to Ouiski Bayou today and snoop around a little. I won't be back to the station today. If you need me just radio me."

"Okay, sir. I will," Deputy Pierre replied.

"You tell Mary the Parish don't pay her to stay primping in that bathroom all day."

The drive wasn't a long one but it gave Renee time to think. He remembered hearing the old men in town talk about the Houma Native Americans. Houma was named after the natives that had settled here. The city of Houma had taken its name from a village called Chufuhuma or 'Red House' from the Houma tribe. During the Colonial times, the Houma tribes had relocated to Terrebonne Parish and ultimately migrated into the bayous much like the Acadians. The Houmas lived harsh lives fishing, trapping and living off the land. Most of them still spoke pure French with only a few speaking the Cajun French of the Acadians.
**********
It wasn't hard to locate the home of Mr. Raul Courteaux once he got to Ouiski Bayou. Most the people on this bayou knew each other. It was fortunate that Renee had towed his skiff since the Courteaux home was only accessible by boat.

The house didn't look much different than the hundreds of others Renee had seen in these back swamps. It was built on piers to keep the swamp water from flooding the house when the storms and hurricanes came. A multitude of steps led up to the front porch. Alligator hides and other game animal skins were stretched out and nailed to the side of an old sagging shed. Various traps and fishing nets hung from the rafters under the house. Two or three old mixed breed dogs lazed in the grassless yard. The front yard had a huge blackened cast iron pot in the center of the yard.

Sheriff Renee yelled, "Anyone home?" then again in French, "est a la maison tous?"

A short figure appeared in the open doorway. It was a brown-haired man about five feet four inches with hair hanging loose down his back. He was holding a rifle pointed right at Renee and behind the short man stood a round - faced pretty dark haired woman with bright red lips and dark eyes. "Go away, who are you? You are trespassing on my land," the short man called in French.

"Don't shoot; my name is Sheriff Renee Herbert. I'm sheriff of Houma in Terrebonne Parish. I just want to ask you some questions." Sheriff Renee replied back in French. He backed up a step and held his hands up so the man could see he meant no harm.

"What kind of question you need to ask me?" The man replied.

"There was a murder down in Houma about three months ago. Can you tell me where you might have been three months ago?"

"Are you accusing me of a killin'?"

"No, I'm just trying to get some information."

"I think dat prutty easy to answer. My wife can tell you; I was laid up with an infection from steppin' on a 'gator hook while I was out fishin'. I almost died. I was laid up for about a month. Had to go to town to the doctor and everthang 'fore I git well." Mr. Courteaux replied in broken English.

"Okay Mr. Courteaux, I think that is all I need to ask you. Merci, thank you, for answering my questions. I'll be in touch with you if I need more."

Sheriff Renee backed off the property and got into his skiff. On the way back to the road, I can check with the doctor to verify his story but I believe I've been sent out on a 'goose chase'. Someone is having an awful lot of fun running me all over these swamps.

Later that afternoon, Renee arrived back in Houma tired and hungry and on the way home thoughts of Pat's murder weighed heavy on his mind. Pat dying had somehow stirred up old memories of Gene. Gene had been the best friend he had ever had. He could not shake the feeling that he had let Gene down. It wasn't a rational feeling but it was there just the same. Guilt...guilt for his friend's death. He couldn't even force himself to go to his best friend's funeral. He had been too ashamed to face Gene's wife and his co-workers. Of course, no one blamed him. The burden he carried was self-imposed and painful. He had vowed he'd never let another of his partners die on duty. Had he failed Pat? This thought rolled around in his mind especially after a tiring day or a long night. He was frustrated with Pat's case. After three months he wasn't any closer to solving the crime. He had followed every lead ,but they all led to dead ends.

**********
The crunching of the oyster shells in his driveway stirred him from his thoughts of Pat and Gene. The house seemed unusually quiet.

He got a glass of lemonade out of the fridge and sat down on the veranda.

"Miss Maybelle, where is my wife?" Renee asked as their maid passed the open double glass doors leading out to the veranda.

"I don' know, sir. She left early dis morning all dressed up in her blue party dress," Maybelle replied.

"Okay, maybe she told me and I wasn't listening. I'm sure she'll call or be home soon. Thank you."

Renee sat on the veranda until long past dark watching the bugs collide into the lights at the corner of the three-foot brick wall that surrounded the veranda. "Where the hell is that woman?" He said aloud. "Why hasn't she called me?" At midnight Renee looked down at his watch and then heard the familiar sound of her car pulling up in the driveway. Soon he heard the key in the front door and heard her stumbling into the foyer.

"Shhhhh got to be quiet." Evangeline giggled and whispered drunkenly to her- self as she tiptoed through the large foyer.

"Where the HELL have you been?" Renee waited at the foot of the stairs.

"I...I...I've been OUT if you really must know," Evangeline slurred.

Her clothes and hair were disheveled and Renee noticed the top button on the back of her dress was not fastened. "Who have you been out with?" Renee's voice began to rise.

"My friend Sally and I went to Baton Rouge and went shopping today." Evangeline said as she tried to push through Renee to get up the stairs.

"Shopping...shopping...there's no way you have been shopping all day and look the mess you are in!" Renee grabbed Evie's hands as she pushed toward him.

"Well! You can believe whatever you want! I'm going to bed! Let me go!" Evie yelled and then began crying crocodile tears.

"I'm going to let you go...but, I swear you had better not do this to me again." Renee said in a calmer voice.

"Or what? Oh, I'm so-o-o afraid. You're not going to tell me who, where, or when I can go out!" Evie spat out the words. "I'm going to bed...get out of my way!"

Renee moved aside and Evie huffed drunkenly up the stairs swaying from side to side.

Renee balled his fists and hit the sides of his thighs. He had never been this angry at Evie before. He would sleep in the downstairs guest room tonight and tomorrow they would talk again when she was sober.

Author Notes

The story continues.

Chapter 9
A Night Out in Baton Rouge

By justjo66

Warning: The author has noted that this contains the highest level of sexual content.

Chapter 9 A Night Out in Baton Rouge

Sally's driver dropped them off at the Winsor Hotel in Baton Rouge while they made reservations for the night.

"Sally, I called Renee's office. Some silly girl at the desk told me he was out on some kind of case. I left him a message we'd be shopping and spending the night."
"Aw, Sally it feels good to be in town. What do you want to do first?" Evie asked.

"Let's go shopping for some new things, get something to eat then we will see what comes up." Sally grinned.

Dinner was three martinis and a salad. They shopped all the expensive shops in Baton Rouge. Sally's driver took their purchases back to their rooms.

"What do you say we go have some fun dancing? I wouldn't mind putting my nose up close to some hairy sailor's chest." Sally smiled.

"You are something else, Sally. I'm all for it...let's go." Evie slurred her speech only slightly. "We are so wicked." Evie got up from the table knocking over the remains of her drink. "Oops, sorry."

George, dressed in a gray uniform with a nice gray and black cap, waited patiently in front of Gaudin's for the ladies to finish their meal. He saw the ladies when they got to the front door, smashed out his cigarette on the sidewalk and opened the door. Both women giggled and slid into the back seat. "Where to, Madame?"

"Oh, we aren't sure. Take us to someplace nice so we can dance." Sally said giggling.

"I haven't danced in ages."Evie replied. "Renee is such a stick in the mud he never wants to have fun anymore." Evie pouted.

"Girl, I know what you mean. Let's forget those men tonight, and we'll have ourselves a good time."

"The only time Renee ever wants to go dancing is when he's had a few drinks. He hardly ever takes a drink since the bender he pulled after his friend Gene died. I just don't know why he's so selfish. He knows I love to have a good time and dance. Now since his partner Pat choked to death on a sandwich. Can you believe that? He's been all business saying it wasn't an accident and "he won't let another partner down. Geez," Evie commented.

"Evie, you are lucky to have a man who loves you like he does. I'd give my eye teeth to have one like Renee. Why, he's handsome, loyal, don't gamble, hardly ever drinks, and loves you. Girl, you have it too good."

"I don't think you'd say that if you lived with him. He sometimes just goes off by himself and broods. I hate it when he does that. And he 's always wanting to cuddle or have sex."

"Girl, I think you complain too much." Sally said smoothing her hair. "George, stop up there at 'The Ritz.'

The Ritz was one of the nicest dance halls in Baton Rouge. The place was jumping with military men, women, and the local high-class locals. Evie and Sally were guided to a white linen covered table with one single candle glowing in the center. Drinks were ordered and while they waited they scoped the establishment out. Evie's eyes sparkled from the mixture of the drinks and the excitement.

"Oh Sally, look at that handsome man over there...he keeps looking at us." Evie whispered and turned brazenly to stare him full on in the face. "He's so tall and handsome."

"My gosh, Evie, he's coming over here." Sally grinned.

"Good evening ladies. Would you, Miss, like to have this dance?"

"Why, yes I'd be delighted." Evie smiled.

"My name is Spencer Edwards and yours?

"It's Evangeline."

"Evangeline, what a beautiful name for a lovely lady."

Evie and Spencer danced a slow waltz then he joined her at the table. Sally was dancing and enjoying herself immensely. "Do you come here to dance often?" Spencer asked.

"No never, I'm just here with my friend Sally on a lark."

As the night tarried and the drinks freely flowed,quite both the ladies became quite intoxicated.

"Sally, I'm going to Mr. Spencer's apartment. He told me he buys and sells exotic jewels. I'll meet you in the morning at The Ritz." Evie winked. Evie left with the tall dark haired stranger in his chauffeur driven car. Evie could tell Spencer was obviously wealthy from his elaborately ornate apartment. African and Egyptian art and statues were everywhere.

"Spencer, you have a beautiful apartment. I can see you love African and Egyptian art."

"Yes, I have spent a lot of time over there, in fact, I just came back from buying diamonds and rubies. Would you like to see what I bought?"

"Yes, I love jewelry."

Spencer walked to a very old cabinet and unlocked the door. Inside Evie could see various items that appeared Egyptian antiquities. Spencer pulled out a small black velvet lined box and opened it for Evie.

"Oh my! I have never seen anything so fantastic."

Spencer held out a large white diamond , "Yes, it is said that this one was taken from the eye of an African god" With a smile "they say there's a curse on it. Do you believe in curses, Evie?"
"Ugh...I'm not sure." Evie smiled coyly.

"I have spent extensive time studying the African and Egyptian beliefs. You might say I have developed quite a fascination with their religions." Spencer smiled. "Pardon me, I'm afraid I haven't been a very good host. Please sit down. I'll get us a drink."
**********

Sally heard the soft rapping on her hotel door but didn't want to get up.

"Oh, wait a minute...I'm coming." Sally grumbled holding her head. She opened the door to a disheveled Evie.

"Evie, come in. I'm dying...my head is pounding."

"I know, I feel like I've been ran over by a truck, too. Let's order some tomato juice and vodka from room service." Evie plopped down on the bed next to Sally.

"Well, are you going to tell me?" Sally urged.

"Maybe, but not everything..." Evie laughed

"I'm dying, I have a million questions. First, did you have a good time? You know what I mean." Sally grinned.

Evie sighed. "Hmmm, yes, he was absolutely as gorgeous without his clothes as with them. Only thing I thought a little strange; he didn't have any hair on his upper body anywhere except his dark hair on his head. A large tattoo went all the way down his back from his neck to his waist."

"Oh, how interesting. What kind of tattoo?

"He said he had gotten it when he was a very young boy. His own daddy had done the work. Something about it's suppose to look like the back of an alligator. It was just marks on each side of his backbone. Rather ugly if you ask me. Something to do with some Egyptian god or something. You know that kind of stuff never interested me."

"I sure would have liked to see that. It makes him sound so exotic." Sally purred.

"Yes, I guess you could say that. He was really exciting in bed, too. But, hey, a good girl never kisses and tells." Evie teased.

"Evie, you little tart...I'm your best friend...you know you can tell me all the good parts. Now tell me. I'm dying to know everything."

"His apartment was a pen house suite at The Carlton Arms."

"Ewww, a rich catch. Tell me more."

"Well, he had a velvet lined box with the most exquisite diamonds, rubies, emeralds and other precious stones. He travels all over the world buying and selling jewels. He was fascinating.
I agreed to meet him again next week at his penthouse. Why shouldn't I have a little fun? Renee is so boring."

"Of course ,you should...you deserve some fun. We both do." Sally agreed.

"Well, how was your night?" Evie looked at Sally.

"Not bad. I danced with all the single handsome men and finally one of those hairy sailors that I talked about asked me to go for coffee. We had a good time." Sally grinned.

Author Notes

The story continues. I'm back to writing again after my back surgery. Hope you will continue with my story.

Chapter 9
Rosewood House

By justjo66

Chapter 9 Rose Wood House (Palissandre Maison)

Gigi, Alice, and Marie stepped out onto the steps in front of the New Orleans jail . Waiting for them was a beautiful black and tan 1939 Cadillac Fleetwood Formal Sedan. It was the most beautiful car that Marie had ever seen. The tan leather top and white wall tires all sparkled in the morning sunshine. A chauffeur stood by the back door holding it open.

"Thank you, Mr. Mose." Gigi placed herself in the back seat.

Mr. Mose, a tall middle-aged muscular black man hurried to the other side of the car and motioned the girls to come and get in.

"Thank you Mr. Mose," replied Alice and Marie at the same time.

Marie was spellbound by the luxury of this car. Tan leather seats so soft and between the front and back seats a glass divider that could be raised and lowered.

"Madame Gigi, you must be very rich." The words just slipped out of Marie's mouth.

"Yes dear, I guess people would say that, but my dear I wasn't born rich. I have worked very hard to achieve my status and wealth. If you let me teach you; you will learn how to speak, walk, dress, and entertain like a lady, too" Madame Gigi smiled.

"Oh, dat sound wonderful." Marie sighed.

"First, I will teach you how to speak proper English. A person is known by how well they speak. Without proper English you will never get ahead. Don't worry, my dear, you are young, you will catch on fast."

"I will be a fast learner, you just wait and see, Madame Gigi." Marie replied.

"Marie, you will be living at 'Rosewood House' one of the finest bordellos in all of Louisiana. I expect all of my girls to act like ladies and all the gentlemen visitors to be gentlemen. You will be my maid until you are eighteen and then after that time you can choose your own destiny. Until that time, you will do as I say and I will pay you wages. Is that agreed?"

"Yes, Madame, it sound very bon, I mean good."

At that moment, the car pulled into a tree lined driveway to a huge elegant four story white brick home. The Live Oaks spread their limbs across the driveway as if reaching out to hold hands. Spanish moss draped every tree. The manicured lawns were green with flowers of all varieties planted in multiple beds everywhere on the enormous property. The rose colored shutters on the huge Tiffany stained windows were open to let sunshine into the home. A male peacock strolled across the lawn and fanned his plumage. Marie could barely see the back of the home but she did manage to catch a quick glance of the pond with Swans swimming on the surface.

"What do you think, Marie?" Alice giggled. "Serene and peaceful, ain't, I mean isn't it."

"Oh, oui elle est belle! Oh, I am sorry, Alice, my excitement...do yo speak da French?"

"No, I never learned it. I wasn't born in Louisiana. I was reared in Tennessee."

"I only said 'it is beautiful'. Da house is a dream place." Marie smiled.

"Girls, hurry along Mr. Mose is waiting on you to get out of the car," Madame Gigi motioned. "First Marie, I will get Miss Moselle to fix you something to eat and see that you get cleaned up and new clothes. Then I will introduce you to the other girls tomorrow morning. For tonight you get some rest."

The cavernous kitchen smelled of fresh bread, bell peppers, onions and spices. Standing at a wooden table in the middle of the kitchen a swarthy older woman with a red bandana wrapped like a turban around her graying black tight curls. She wore a black starched uniform with a huge white apron. Just barely poking out from under her skirt was the hint of a red petticoat. She had flour on both hands and a smidgen on her left cheek.

"Why, hello, Madame Gigi. I didn't know you would be coming by or I's would have cleaned myself up a bit." Miss Moselle grinned rubbing her hands on her starched apron.

"No bother Miss Moselle; I just brought you another mouth to feed. This is Marie; she will be my new maid from now on. Please give her something to eat, find her some clothes and show her a bedroom and bath."

"Yes mam' I wills do just dat. I'ms fixing biscuits to cook in the morning but I can gives her some leftovers from last night."

"That will be fine." Madame Gigi nodded her head and left Marie and Miss Moselle alone in the kitchen.

"You awful skinny, girl. I wills fatten you up in no time. I bet it didn't take your mama more than two flour sacks to make dat dress." Miss Moselle smiled again with a bright red lipstick painted mouth. "You can sits over dare where Mose and I eat ever day. Mose is my only son. He drives for Miss Gigi, does all her yard work and bodyguards her, too." Miss Moselle grinned. "He's a pretty good boy, well, I guess he be a man by now. Forty-four and he still not given me no grandchillen." Miss Moselle laughed out loud. "You'll be eating dare, too, since you be the new maid for Miss Gigi. We haves a housekeeper girl comes in the mornings and cleans up the house and does the washing." Miss Moselle handed Marie a hot bowl of jambalaya, "Here, you is girl, now eat dis and I'll show you your room." Miss Moselle sat down with Marie at the table and nibbled on a crust of French bread smeared with butter, garlic and parsley as she watched Marie devour her food.

"Dis is da best jambalaya I ever ette, thank you, Miss Moselle." Marie said between bites.

The next morning Marie woke up in the softest bed and most spacious room she had ever been in or seen. Lush forest green and pink floral rugs covered a pecan hardwood floor. The dark thick forest green drapes were held back by golden cords and through the shear curtains she could see hundred year old live oaks' branches just beyond her window. A fox squirrel chattered loudly from one of its limbs. She even had her own bathroom with running hot and cold water. She had been embarrassed the night before when Miss Moselle had to show her how to work the faucets and showed her the water closet. She had never known anyone with an indoor outhouse.

"Good morning Mr. Squirrel." Marie yawned and giggled.

On the wingback chair in the corner was draped a pale yellow skirt with a matching white blouse with tiny yellow flowers on the collar. The pale yellow sandals sat neatly below the chair on the rug. "Oh, I can't believe how fortunate I am." Marie said to herself in lilting French.

Downstairs after breakfast of grits, eggs, biscuits, and bacon, Madame Gigi appeared in the kitchen doorway.

"I see you have found the clothes I told Miss Moselle to put in your room. Lovely, just lovely. Now come with me, dear, I want to introduce you to my girls. On the way I'll tell you a little about the house."

Marie got up from the table placed her plate, cup, and glass into the sink and followed Madame Gigi.

"As you could see yesterday when you arrived we have a spectacular house here. It has four floors, five parlors, fifteen bedrooms each with its own bathroom, running hot and cold water and all the modern conveniences. I spared nothing in building this house. As I told you yesterday we call it Rosewood House. I patterned this house after a very famous bordello that used to be on Basin Street. It was called Mahogany Hall. You can see I have the most exquisite marble fireplaces and floors, chandeliers, potted ferns, expensive works of art, and Tiffany glass windows. My girls are the cleanest and most ladylike in all New Orleans. I expect nothing else."

"Yes, I can see, this is a palace." Marie replied.

"I expect my girls to work hard for me and in turn I take care of their needs. I pay them well, too. Rosewood House is a fifteen dollar house. The girls get four dollars and the house the rest. I won't bother you with any more of the money details. The men that visit our house expect only the finest. Some are politicians, Admirals, Generals and the wealthy upper class, but all are gentlemen. I won't go on anymore. You will have time to make your decision when you turn eighteen in a few months."

Madame Gigi and Marie crossed the spotless marble foyer and into the first parlor. "Oh, there's my girls now." Madame Gigi smiled. "Good morning, girls. I want to introduce you to Marie. She is my newest girl. She will be working as my personal maid until she turns eighteen in a few months. So, please treat her with respect and kindness."

Standing in the downstairs parlor were eleven spectacular young girls all dressed in stylish street clothes. Marie stood with Madame Gigi as each girl came by introduced themselves and gave Marie a kiss on the cheek and a hug. This amazed Marie since she had only known this to be a custom of her French/Cajun people. This gave her a very warm and welcome feeling.

"Howdy, my name is Nell or Nellie from Texas," a tall six foot natural red haired woman shook Marie's hand very firmly then laughed. "I know...I'm a big one...everything in Texas grows big." Nell laughed again.

"I'm Susanna from Georgia" a petite blonde blue eyed girl stepped up next with a faint look of disdain on her face.

"Oh, yes, our Georgia Peach." Alice leered. "You already know me...Alice, from jail." Alice laughed.

"I'm Florence or Flo from Mississippi."

"Georgia from Alabama."

"May, from Missouri."

"Ruthie from here in New Orleans."

Each girl continued down the line kissing and hugging Marie giving their names and places they were from until the eleventh girl had finished.

"Marie, if you join us you will make it an even dozen. Oh, I hope you do!" Georgia piped in smiling.

"Alright, girls, you all have things to do today. I expect you back to the house by noon." Madame Gigi shushed the girls out of the room. "Marie, I'll leave you to explore the property today. After your noon meal I will have a party dress laid out for you in your room. I will have Alice come and fix your hair and makeup and help you dress. We have a party everyday here from noon until whenever. All you will need to do is be nice to my gentlemen callers and serve them drinks when they ask. Nothing more, nothing less. I think my callers will find you quite enchanting with your blue eyes and dark hair and that melodious French accent . You may speak in English or French. Most of my friends speak French fluently. "Marie, I'll see you this afternoon."

Author Notes

Back in the 1940s homemade dresses were often made of flour sacks. A two flour sack dress would be considered something like a size 2 today. A very petite size.

Chapter 10
Let The Good Times Roll

By justjo66

Chapter 10 Let the Good Times Roll

Marie woke with a smile. It was a glorious fall day. "Today is my eighteenth birthday!" Marie thought aloud and stretched her arms wide. She got up and looked in the full length mirror. "I wonder if I look any different?" she said still talking to herself. No, I'm still about five feet four inches, black long hair, blue eyes, small build, but something looks and feels different. She thought. "I'm more grown up now...I can see it."

Marie had gotten the best present she could have asked for...a letter from her mother. It was written in perfect French, the only language her mother could read. Everything was going okay at home. Her mother had gotten the money that Marie had sent every month. Her brother Armon and the other children had sent their love and 'Happy Birthdays' and told her they missed her. She missed home very much, too. But she knew she would not be going home anytime soon. She needed to keep earning money until Armon was old enough to help the family.

The work had not been hard. Parties every afternoon and often way into the late night hours. Madame Gigi had been right about her gentlemen callers most of them were true gentlemen and were always polite to her. Oh, there were a few exceptions when 'the General' got a little too drunk on his Tennessee Whiskey and grabbed her and gave her a big kiss. Madame Gigi quickly handled that situation and told him in no uncertain terms that I was not for hire, yet. Miss Gigi had the best musicians in New Orleans come nightly and play their jazz and blues music. There had been dancing, singing, jokes, and general good times every night. The girls all seemed to accept her, too. That is except Susanna 'the Georgia Peach'. She was so prissy and thought she was too good to associate with Marie. Nell and Alice had become her close confidants and with them she could be herself. Madame Gigi had worked hard the past few months teaching Marie proper English, etiquette, how to dress, and everything she needed to know to be a proper lady. Her Cajun speech patterns were almost gone except she had kept the melodious sound to her voice. Miss Gigi didn't want her to lose that. It seemed the gentlemen found it quite alluring.

"Good morning, Miss Moselle!" Marie briskly entered the kitchen to find Miss Moselle, Mose, Fay the day housekeeper all sitting at the morning meal. "What a wonderful day."

"Yes Miss Marie, it shore is. I just loves October." Miss Moselle pretended she didn't know it was Marie's birthday.

"Yes, October is my favorite month. The leaves are so pretty on all the old oaks. The air is cooler. I especially love October 10th." Marie hinted.

No use, everyone at the table just kept eating and pretending to not know anything.

"Sit down girl and I'll git your breakfast." Miss Moselle got up from the table and directly she came up from behind Marie with a small white and yellow cake.

"Surprise! Happy Birthday!" Everyone at the table and Miss Moselle yelled.

"Oh my, I am so surprised! I didn't know you knew it was my birthday but I was hoping someone would remember." Marie smiled from ear to ear.

Miss Moselle whispered in Marie's ear,"Now girl I'm not supposed to tell you but later tonight Miss Gigi and the girls have a big cake for you and a special party. You don't tell 'em that I told you. You come back here after lunch and we'll eat some of dis little cake I baked just special for you."

Marie nodded and began her breakfast smiling like the 'Cheshire Cat' in 'Alice in Wonderland.'

Later in the afternoon, Marie couldn't wait to taste the cake Miss Moselle had baked for her. She arrived a little early in the kitchen and found Miss Moselle sitting at the old table drinking her dark roast Community Coffee.

"Hey child, come on in. I was jest sittin' here thinking about old times. Did I ever tell you about Miss Gigi? No? Sit here for a spell...I'll cut you some of dat cake and fix you some coffee."

"Thank you Miss Moselle, I would love some cake and coffee then I have to get dressed for tonight."

Miss Moselle took a long deep breath and began her story. "Well, you know, Miss Gigi and I grew up in the same house. Oh, I is older than her by fifteen years. She be about fifty-four now I reckon. We was both born at 235 Basin Street in New Orleans. That be the address of the most fancy whore house in all New Orleans. It was run by a Lulu White, that weren't her real name, but she weren't from the Indies like she told everybody either. I think she come from Selma, Alabama. No matter she was a pretty good Madame and owned the Mahogany Hall."

"Yes, I heard Miss Gigi say that Rosewood House was patterned after that place." Marie said.

"Yep, it sure was. That place was the most glamorous place I ever did see and hadn't seen nuttin' like it since. Rosewood is like it but it not as pretty. The thing about Miss Lulu was that she was an Octoroon. You know what dat is girl?"

"No, I never heard it before." Marie replied.

"She was seven-eighths white and one-eighth African. She was as white as you girl with long black hair and dem French blue eyes. And did she love da jewelry. Had some pretty thangs. 'Cause she had the African in her the city officials said she was a Negro and couldn't run a white bordello. She had forty girls working for her all of dem Octoroons. Beautiful light skin girls all of dem. No African or any other mensfolk was allowed to visit Mahogany Hall ...it were only for the white rich men. They sure did come visit, too. One of dem white mens was my daddy and one was Miss Gigi's, too. We have the same mama but different daddy's you see. We are sisters but no one would ever guess it, she so light and all. She dyes her brown hair blonde but she got all the looks with dem blue eyes and wavy hair. We both raised up in that house, that is, until 'Storyville' got closed down in 1917. Miss Gigi and I had a hard go of it for awhile. 'Cause we was Octoroon we couldn't work no where there was white women but we left for California. Since I is so dark I pretended to be her maid and she passed herself off as white. We earned a bunch of money out dare in California and dat is how we got da money to build dis place. You don't tell Miss Gigi I spilled the beans and told you all dis stuff. I just needed to tell someone I guess. Miss Gigi she a good person even if she was a whore and runs dis whore house."

"I'll keep your secret, Miss Moselle. I have a lot of my own; I wouldn't want anyone to know. Look at the time. I've got to git; I mean get, upstairs and change."

"You sure doin' good with dat English, Miss Gigi she teaching you good. I does pretty good most time but den I slip back." Miss Moselle laughed. "You git on upstairs. Today and tonight is yours. You have fun baby."

Rosewood House was decorated with festive lights and rose colored ribbons on every post and tree. The house was filled with red and pink roses. Additional chairs had been added to both downstairs parlors and in the center of a long table a huge silver punch bowl with Champagne punch and a white six tiered cake decorated with red roses .

Madame Gigi knocked on the door. "Marie, it's time to go down and make your presentation."

Marie opened the door and for a moment Madame Gigi couldn't get her breath. "I...I...have never seen anyone as lovely as you." Madame Gigi stammered.

"I can't believe this dress is so fantastic, I feel like a princess." Marie smoothed the white silk fabric with the red rose colored trim down.

"I thought you would like it. I ordered it all the way from France. After the party you will also find a table in the mirrored parlor upstairs filled with gifts from myself and the girls." Madame smiled. "Now come with me and we will surprise and delight all my patrons who have come to see you tonight. They have been warned, they only look tonight. We'll talk about your decision tomorrow to join my girls. Tonight it's your birthday , "Laissez les bons temps rouler!"

"Yes, let the good times roll!" Marie laughed and started down the stairs with all eyes on her.

Author Notes

Mahogany Hall was a real fancy bordello in New Orleans in the 'Storyville or The District' during the late 1800's until 1917. This was a time when prostitution was legal in New Orleans. The Madame was LuLu White. However, my characters are all fictional.

Chapter 11
Make Up Sex

By justjo66

Chapter 11 Make up Sex

Renee didn't know at first where he was when he woke up in the downstairs guest room. Then he remembered the fight from the night before. He was scared. So many doubts about Evie's faithfulness. He loved her more than life itself but he didn't think he could or would take it if he found out she was sleeping with another man. Jealousy wasn't a common emotion for Renee but it had reared its ugly head pretty high the night before. He was mad enough if he had been drinking, too, he might have done something he would have regretted. His mother had taught all of her boys that they were to respect women and never, NEVER, hit a woman. He had come very close to the edge a few times with Evie.

"Good morning, Mr. Herbert." Miss Maybelle greeted Renee. "Can I bring you some coffee after I take this to Miss Evie?"

"Yes, that would be good. Is she very hung over?"

"She pretty sick this morning and surly, too." Miss Maybelle giggled.

Evangeline stayed in bed all day and into the afternoon taking her meals upstairs. Renee knew that eventually she would have to come down and then they would have their talk.

At 4 o'clock in the evening Evie stepped out into the crisp fall air. Renee was sitting on the veranda drinking coffee. "Come join me. How do you feel?"

"Oh, I still feel terrible." Evie whined.

"We need to talk about last night." Renee said.

"I know; I know...I was so wrong to get drunk with Sally. I am so sorry, please, forgive me." Evie cooed sliding over to sit on Renee's lap. "I'll make it up to you I promise."

Evie promised to behave herself and that night she made love to Renee like he had never had her do before. It was a night filled with abandon and his love for her proved even stronger. She had even let him leave the lights on, the first time she had done this in their marriage. He noticed bruises and some scratches on her back but chalked that up to her drunken state the night before. He wondered how he could have ever doubted her love for him.

It had been three weeks and things seemed to be going great with Evie. She was allowing him to make love to her more frequently and he had noticed a change in the way they had sex. She seemed so more open to different positions and more verbal with their lovemaking. He didn't know what had come over her. He liked the change but somewhere in the back recesses of his mind he didn't think everything was okay. Just a lingering feeling, a word, a gesture, even one evening... a scent...something just wasn't right.

They had made love that morning and he had been an hour late for work. Sitting at his desk he sat leaning back with his eyes closed still relishing the smell of her and the warmth of her body. The phone startled him at first.
"Sheriff's office. Sheriff Herbert speaking."

"Sheriff, this is Sky Solet, I was the girlfriend of Deputy Pat. I am married to a Houmas man and was going out on my husband with Pat. I only saw him a few times and didn't have anything to do with his killin'. My husband did not either. We were both gone to Shreveport when he was killed. We have witnesses that can stand for us. I needed to get this off my chest. I didn't mean to wait so long. My husband is a good man. It would kill him if he knew. Please, don't let him find out. I will come in and make a statement if I have to." And then she hung up.

Pat's case had been nothing but one dead end after another for months. Finally, a piece of the puzzle dropped out of the clear blue sky. But this didn't help. It only made the case even more a mystery. "Who would want to kill Pat?" Renee said aloud, "and why go to all the trouble of the voodoo mumbo junk?"

Later in the afternoon, Sheriff Renee began to not feel well. Renee picked up the phone and dialed the numbers, "Doc Percy, can you work me in today. I really need to see you. I'm not feeling too well. I'll tell you when I see you. Yes, 3:00 o'clock I can make it. Thanks." Renee showed up at Doctor Percy's small clinic just at 3 o'clock and was taken immediately back to the exam room. Doctor Percy had been Renee's doctor since they had come to Houma. He knew he could trust him to tell him the truth and be discreet.

Doctor Percy knocked on the exam room and entered the small room. "Hello Renee, what brings you in today in such an all-fired emergency?"

"Doc, I think I have the Clap. I've never had it before but my brother did years ago and he had the same symptoms I'm having. I swear to you I haven't been with anyone but my wife. Can you get it any other way except sex?"

"Well, Renee let me take a look. I'll do a test and get back with you. But I can tell you that if you have the yellow drips it's Gonorrhea or as you call it the Clap. I can treat it with penicillin and it will get rid of it for good. Your wife will have to come in for treatment, too."

"Okay, doc can you go ahead and treat me today."

"I'll call my nurse to prepare the syringe. It'll only take her a few minutes to get it ready."

Shortly, a tall bespectacled nurse in a crisp white uniform entered the exam room. Her nursing cap had the black strip across the front indicating she was a Registered Nurse. Renee attempted a joke to ease the tension but Nurse Zelda was all business. "Pull your pants down and bend over Mr. Renee, this won't hurt." Nurse Zelda jabbed the two inch needle deep into Renee's buttocks.

Renee grimaced but didn't say a word.

"Now you must tell your wife to get in here immediately. Sometimes women do not feel any symptoms. It can cause all kinds of problems later on in life if not treated for women and men."

"How long does it usually take to catch this?" Renee asked.

"Oh, it varies, anywhere between 6-10 days usually." Nurse Zelda said as she was leaving the room.

Renee buckled his belt, stopped at the front desk and paid his bill and headed out the door for the nearest liquor store. He needed a drink before going home. Stopping at "Joe's Fine Liquors" store; Renee picked up a fifth of 'Jack Daniels Black Label' and headed for Bayou Blue. He parked the patrol car and took a big swig of the amber liquid. It burned all the way down but he had forgotten how he liked the nutty flavor. It had been a long time since his last drink. In fact, he had not had a drink since right after his partner Gene's funeral. He felt like tonight just might be the night to tie one on again. He took another big swig and lit a cigarette.

Chapter 12
All Hell Breaks Loose

By justjo66

Chapter 12 All Hell Breaks Loose

Rubbing his eyes and scratching his left arm Renee woke with cotton in his mouth, at least that's what it felt like and a pounding headache.
Boy, I shouldn't have kept drinking last night. I'm eat up with mosquito bites. Someone should kick my ass for getting drunk. It doesn't solve anything. I still have to confront Evie this morning. Renee thought. " I guess I'd better call the station and let them know where I'm at." Renee said aloud.

"Hey Pierre, this is Sheriff Renee."

"Sheriff, where have you been? We've been trying to find you. You had your radio off and we sent someone out to your house to find you. Hold on, Sheriff, I need to transfer you to Deputy Marcel." Pierre handed the phone to Deputy Marcel.

"Sheriff, you need to get over to your house right now. No, I can't tell you...just get over there." Marcel hung up the phone.

"What the hell? " Renee had a sinking feeling. He straightened his clothes and started up his patrol car.

Arriving at the Duhon plantation, the first thing Renee saw was the patrol cars and the coroners wagon. He thought, I wonder if old man Duhon has had a heart attack.

Then he saw Deputy Harold running toward his car. "Thank God they found you Sheriff. I've some terrible news to tell you before you go into the house. Wait! Wait, man, let me tell you first."

Renee didn't wait for Deputy Harold to finish telling him anything. He jumped out of the patrol car leaving the door open and ran into the front foyer. He saw old man Duhon, his father-in-law, lying in a pool of blood on the foyer tile floor. Someone had clubbed him to death.

"Where's my wife?" Renee looked at the Deputy standing by Mr. Duhon's body and caught the dire expression on his face.

"Wait! Sheriff, you don't want to go up there, yet!" the deputy reached out to grab the Sheriff but he was too late.

Renee got to the open door of their bedroom and he could see something lying on the bed. He saw his wife's chestnut hair sprayed out on a white pillow but it wasn't her face. This was some kind of grotesque joke. This wasn't real. He thought. Her face was painted ghostly white with large black circles painted around eyes, nose, and mouth just like Deputy Pat's had been. Her arms and legs were tied to their four poster bed with rope. Down the center of her chest all the way down past her abdomen was a large gaping wound. Blood had soaked through the mattress and was dripping out from under the bed.

Renee ran to their bathroom and began retching violently. He washed his face with cold water and walked back into their bedroom.
"Cover her up." Renee barked.

"Sorry Sir, we have to leave her like this until the photographer comes." the coroner said.

"We also found this voodoo looking doll beside the bed. We'll be dusting it for fingerprints." Deputy Michael informed Renee.

"Thanks Michael, I need to get out of here. I'll be downstairs on the veranda if you need me."

"Just one more thing, Sheriff, where's your maid today? We haven't seen her."
"Today's her day off...thank God." Renee headed downstairs in a daze.

Deputy Marcel found Renee sitting on the veranda with his head in his hands. "I'm sorry to bother you sir. The coroner is taking Mr. Duhon and your wife to the morgue...you'll need to sign some papers." The deputy handed Sheriff Renee the papers. "Thank you sir. Is there anything I can do for you?"

"No, thank you Marcel. I'll see you at the station in the morning. I'll be taking a little time off to arrange the funerals.

It had been a week since Evangeline's and Mr. Duhon's funeral. Renee had cried until there were no more tears to cry. What kind of monster was he dealing with that could do something like what had been done to his wife? He had to find this beast. He thought as he went back over the case files of Deputy Pat's murder. Somewhere in these files was the answer. If only he could get a break. The report on his wife had returned that morning and was lying on his desk. According to the report there had not been any indication that she had been raped but there was evidence that she had recently had sexual intercourse within the last 12 hours. Renee knew it had been longer since they had made love. He already knew that she was seeing someone but this meant she had sex with someone the night she was killed. He wondered if Sally, her best friend, knew who she had been seeing.

"Sorry, to interrupt your thoughts, Sheriff. I have a letter for you. It was left in the in box on the front desk...I'm not sure when or by whom. No postmark. Just addressed to you." Deputy Pierre placed the envelope on the Sheriff's desk.

The handwriting was very large and bold with a slight flourish. It was too late to dust for fingerprints. No telling how many people had already handled it but he would dust anyway. He slipped the single white piece of paper out of the envelope and read.

Sheriff Renee,
I hope you are enjoying our little game. Your wife was quite a beauty...I enjoyed her company very much. You can thank me for the little surprise she gave you. It is a nasty little disease, isn't it? She was quite the tigress, I will miss our little tryst.

"Damn him! Damn her! I know this all ties in with that cabin out on Devil's Bayou but how?" Renee said aloud. "Deputy Pierre, come in here for a second."

"Yes sir."

"Did we ever get the report back on who owns that land out on Devil's Bayou?"

"Yes, I think we did, sir. I gave it to Deputy Marcel."

"Okay, thank you. Ask Deputy Marcel to bring the report to me." Renee shook his head in disgust.

"Sir, Deputy Pierre, said you needed this report." Marcel came bearing a yellow piece of paper.

"Why the Hell didn't you give this to me?" Renee took the paper.

"I...I...guess I must have misplaced it, sir, I'm sorry." Deputy Marcel replied looking sheepishly.

"I should fire you for this!" Renee snapped. "Get back to work."

Renee looked over the paper and suddenly the puzzle seemed to fall into place. The land at Devil's Bayou was owned by a Phillip Jeansonne who just happened to be married to Alex Terrebonne's younger sister. The paper also stated that Alex Terrebonne had a younger brother they called Gator that had been in prison down near Houston when Marie had killed Alex, her step-dad. Gator had gotten out of prison about the same time Pat and he had gotten the prank call to investigate the voodoo cabin. That set-up must have been meant for him. Pat must have found out something about who owned the land and was killed for it. All the gossip in town was part of the scheme to throw Renee off the tract while Gator played his little cat and mouse games. Things were beginning to make sense...this was a revenge thing. Why Evie? All part of the game to hurt Renee before Gator plans to kill him.

"Wait a minute...he plans to kill Marie next...I'll be last." Renee said thinking out loud. "I've got to warn her."

Author Notes

Sorry, I still haven't been able to get italics to work around thoughts and the letter.

Chapter 13
Chapter 13 Decisions

By justjo66

Chapter 13 Decisions

Marie had a wonderful time at her birthday party. The girls and Madame had bought her beautiful suits of clothes, shoes, hats, and frilly dressing gowns. Madame had introduced her to all the men. The attention had given her a funny feeling in the pit of her stomach. Marie had been raised up in the bayous but she wasn't stupid. The next morning would arrive accompanied by a hard decision.

It was 5 am and Marie couldn't sleep. She could still hear a few of the patrons down stairs laughing and drinking and the faint sounds of some of the girls still plying their trade behind closed doors. Was it so bad? She thought. I could do what I did to survive Mr. Terrebonne...just go to another place in my head. Could I even stand to have a man touch me? Marie slipped out of her room and tip-toed down the carpeted hall to Nell's room. No sounds were coming from inside. She needed answers bad enough that the risk would be worth it to knock. She knocked lightly on the door.

"Who's there?" Nell's groggy voice asked.

"It's me, Marie, let me in." Marie whispered

Nell opened the door a crack and whispered, "What the hell? What you doing up at this time of the morning, girl?"

"I need to talk to you, please let me in." Marie pleaded.

"Oh, alright, but you know I'm goin' to look like warmed over piss in the mornin'." Nell opened the door. "Now what is it that can't wait 'til a decent hour?"

"Nell, you know I have to give Miss Gigi an answer in the morning. I don't know what to do. My mama didn't raise me to be a fancy woman. She read her Bible to me and taught me I should save myself for my man. What man gonna want to marry me, anyway. I'm already a 'soiled dove' as my mama calls them. My step-daddy made sure of that.

"Marie, gosh darn it. I can't tell you what you should decide. Most of us girls weren't taught to be fancy women either...we just drifted into it for whatever reasons. Mostly to survive. I came to New Orleans with my boyfriend, Austin, after he joined the navy. Oh, we had some fun for awhile that is until he shipped out. I told him I would be true to him and wait but he sure didn't do the same for me. About a month ago after he shipped out I got a dear Jane letter breaking off with me. It seems I had been a fool just like my brother told me. He left me here in New Orleans high and dry without a penny. Hell, I wasn't about to write my brother and let him know he was right. I'd rather starve to death before I would go home to Texas with my tail tucked between my legs. My brother thinks I'm working in the shipyards in Avondale. Soon I'll have enough money to buy the ranch next to him. Then I'll go back home."

"Wow, Nell. Why didn't you go to work in the shipyard?"

"I'll tell you why. I'm not a patient person like my brother. I want everything right now. Working in that filthy shipyard I would barely have made enough to live on and save a little money. Here I had a chance to make more money and girl the work ain't that bad," Nell laughed. "I'd already been rode hard and put up wet. What did I have to lose," Nell slapped her thighs and laughed again. "Anyway, I've been working here for almost three years now and I almost have enough to go home in style. Pretty soon that big old six foot five brother of mine will eat his words and I'll give him a run for his money in the ranching business."

"Thanks Nell. You are a true friend. I guess I'd better leave you alone and get some sleep. Goodnight. I'll see you in the morning."

Madame Gigi caught Marie as she was coming downstairs for breakfast. "Marie, let's talk in my office." Madame sat down behind a huge mahogany desk and motioned for Marie to take a seat. "Now, you know I need a decision from you this morning. So tell me. What is your answer?"

"I know you have been very kind to me these past months. You have kept me off the streets and given me a beautiful place to live and clothes and made me feel like a princess. But I can't work for you as one of your girls." Marie shook her head.

Madame Gigi's face flushed red and her mouth dropped. "What! Why you little ungrateful little piss ant!

"No-o-o, please, I am very grateful. I still want to work for you; just not as one of the girls."

"Do you think I would have taken someone as pretty as you in just to be my maid?" Madame Gigi's voice had gotten cold and hard. "What kind of fool do you take me for? I have spent a fortune on you and introduced you to Congressmen, Generals and some of the wealthiest men in New Orleans and you want to be a maid?" Madame Gigi sneered. "Get OUT...GET OUT of my sight!"

Marie began crying and headed back up the stairs to her room.

Knocking softly on Marie's door Miss Moselle stood outside her door with a breakfast tray. "Miss Marie, open the door, it's Miss Moselle. I have some food for you, honey."

Marie opened the door. "Come in."

"Oh, look at you chile, your eyes are all swollen and red. Stop your crying. I knows my sister can be hard but I talked with her and she said she would let you stay on as a maid for another month untils you can find another job."

"Oh, thank you, Miss Moselle." Marie hugged Miss Moselle.

"Now, you drys those pretty blue eyes and eat your breakfast. Then comes down to the kitchen and I'll gives you some work to do." Miss Moselle smiled.

Everything was going to be alright after all. Marie thought. "I will find another job." Marie said aloud.

Author Notes

Someone has suggested I tell a little about my characters. Marie, one of the main characters is 18 years old and has been working as a maid for Madame Gigi for the past few months. Nell-is a working girl that lives in the same house. She is from Texas and is in her late twenty's Miss Mosselle-is Gigi's (the Madame of the house)cook and sister Renee, is the male main character. He is sheriff of Houma. Hope this helps. :o)

Chapter 14
Chapter 14 Reptilian Eyes

By justjo66

Chapter 14   Reptilian Eyes
 
“Sally, this is Renee.  Sorry, I didn’t get to talk with you at Evangeline’s funeral.”

“Oh, Renee, I completely understand.  How are you doing?”  Sally replied.

“Some days better than others.  I miss her and haven’t been able to sleep in our bedroom. “

“Poor dear…it must have been horrible to have seen her like that.  What did you do with that bed?”

“I called some professional cleaners.  I told them to burn the bed and rugs.  Sally, I need to ask you some questions and I want you to be totally honest with me.”

“Of course, Suga, what do you need to know?” 

“I need to know if you knew who Evangeline was seeing.”

“ She wasn’t seeing anyone.  Why, she loved you.” Sally cooed.

“Sally, please, I’m pretty sure I know who killed her but I need your confirmation.”

“Well, okay, if it will catch the awful man who did this to her.  I don’t know his real name.  I only know she met him at the drugstore in Houma one day about three months ago.  I’m not sure of the date.  He was tall and very good looking with dark hair.  She went with him to Baton Rouge a few times, too, that I know of.  That’s all I really know.  I met him once.  Something sinister about him but I couldn’t put my finger on it.  I promise, Renee, that is all I know.  I hope you catch that bastard.”

“Thank you  for being honest with me.  I will catch him.”  Renee hung up the phone.

 
Renee had heard from his deputy that Marie had gone to New Orleans to look for work months ago,
 however, he did not know where she was working.  It was vital that he find her and inform the police in New Orleans that a serial killer was out for revenge.  He would call the New Orleans police department today.  Meanwhile, he would take a skiff out to Bayou Cane and talk with Mrs. Terrebonne.
 
 Mrs. Terrebonne was doing just fine.  She told him that Marie had a good job working as a maid in a place called ‘Rosewood House’ and that she had been sending home as much money as  could  be spared.  Sheriff warned Mrs. Terrebonne of Alex’s brother and to not give out Marie’s address to anyone else.  He got the address and headed back to town. 

 Renee would have to wait until the end of the week before he could leave his office in Houma and go to New Orleans.   Loose ends had to be tied up at home and the office. The police chief in New Orleans had assured him that there would be a twenty-four hour surveillance placed on Marie and Rosewood House.   He felt pretty certain that Marie was safe for now. 

 
It had been a little over a week since Marie had made her decision.  Things had been rather cool with Madame Gigi.   Marie could tell she was very angry with her.  She hoped this would pass and she would be able to stay on as a maid.   Without a social security number she would not be able to work in the factories or other places.  I will keep to myself  and maybe things will blow over.  Marie thought .   Madame Gigi met her coming in from the kitchen.

“Marie, we’re having a special party tonight for some of my very special patrons.  I do NOT want you anywhere in sight.  Stay in your room.  Do you understand me?”  Madame Gigi ordered.

“Yes, Madame, I will do as you say.”  Marie replied.  That’s strange. She has always wanted me downstairs for these events.  Marie thought.  Later that afternoon, when she could hear the party downstairs beginning she heard a gentle knock on her door.

“Marie, open the door I have something for you.”  Madame Gigi stood holding a platter with supper and a glass of dark red wine.  “I’m sorry you have to stay in your room.  Please drink your wine and have your supper.  I’ll see you in the morning.” 

Marie drank her wine but wasn’t very hungry.  Soon, she felt very drowsy and a little dizzy.  “I guess the wine was a little too much for me,” she said aloud as she drifted off into a drugged sleep.  She heard the downstairs Grandfather clock strike twelve times.  It seemed as if it was far, far away.  For some reason she couldn’t understand why she felt so funny.  Reality seemed to come in and out.  Was she dreaming?  She thought.  Shadows in the room were playing tricks on her.  She thought she had seen a tall man over by her door.  No, it was just a shadow, she thought.

“Who is there?” she called out feebly.  She heard only the echo of her own voice.  Something’s not right.  Her befuddled mind couldn’t grasp the reality.

Then she felt his warm breath  and saw his eyes.  They were yellow green and reptilian.  A hand reached out from thin air.  Something was in her mouth.  She couldn’t scream.  It was a cloth of some kind tied across her mouth and making it hard to breathe.  Then the voice in the dark.

“Shhh, chere, I’ve come to just play with you.  Madame gave you to me tonight.  You play real good and I let you live.” 

Marie wanted to scream but she couldn’t. Tears rolled down her  face.  Her arms and legs were frozen.  She could not get them to cooperate.  She flailed  without any strength. 

“Oh, good, you fight me…dat’s okay, I like it.  I tell you a little secret before we begin our game.  De man you killed, Alex Terrebonne, was my brother.   My name is Gator and my sweet, Chere, you will remember my name.  I will leave you somethin’ to help your memory. “  Gator grabbed Marie by her hair and flipped her over onto her stomach.   “I tie your hands and feet.  I don’t want you to ruin my fun.”  Gator laughed and took out a 9 inch Bowie knife and cut Marie’s gown off her.  “Now, we play.”

Hours later, Marie lay almost dead, bloody, and unconscious.  Gator had raped and sodomized her then took his Bowie knife and from her neck down to her waist had carved a herring bone pattern by taking two inch strips of flesh from her back.  Thirty cuts all together; if she lived she would have scars  for the rest of her life.  He stood back soaked in her blood and laughed.  “A fine job if I do say so.  You’ll live, you are a strong girl and you’ll remember Gator.  My mark is on you.  You belong to me now. I come see you again…we have more fun.  A pound of flesh for my brother.”  Then he slipped silently out of the room.

The next morning when Marie didn’t show up for breakfast, Miss Moselle went to her room and found  the door ajar.

“Oh, mercy, mercy, Oh Jesus, Miss Marie done been killed!”  Miss Moselle screamed.

Nell and a few of the other girls came running.  “What happened?”  Nell asked first.
“Call an ambulance! Get her to the hospital!”  Nell shouted.
 
 
 
 
 

Author Notes

Gator is Alex Terrebonne's brother. Alex Terrebonne was Marie's step-dad that she killed in self defense.

Chapter 15
Chapter 15 Too Late

By justjo66

Chapter 15 Too Late

“Sheriff, what ya doing here on a Sunday morning?” Deputy Pierre asked standing at the Sheriff’s door.  “Isn’t this your day off?”

“Couldn’t sleep, thought I might as well be here.  Spent most the night on that couch over there.”  Renee yawned.

“I have a kid out here that says he has to see you.”  Deputy Pierre stated.

“Okay, let him in.”

A young bare-footed boy about eleven stepped inside Sheriff Renee’s office.

“Aren’t you Armon?  Marie’s brother,” Sheriff asked.

“Yes, yes, I am… Sheriff, I had to come and tell you.  Dat evil man named Gator…he come to see my mama last week.  He threatened all of us with his knife.  Said he kill us all if’n we didn’t tell him who killed his brother.  Mama would not tell him so he got Sally and put a knife to her throat.  I knowed he would kill her sure as day is long.  Mama cried and begged him to let her go.  He a mean man.  Sally was screaming and fightin’ him and den he cut her throat.  I tried to stop him and he stabbed me in my arm.  When mama saw all de blood she told him.  Den he dropped Sally.  God help mama she couldn’t help it.  Now, Mr. Sheriff, he’s going to New Orleans to kill Marie…you got to help her.  I would have com ‘fore now but I couldn’t paddle my pirogue.”  Armon rushed on with his words so fast the Sheriff could barely understand his broken English.

“Is your baby sister okay?” 

“Yes, she be okay, just a flesh wound but it like to have killed my mama she be so afraid.  Please Sheriff; don’t let that monster kill Marie.”    Armon began to cry.

“Armon, you go on back home and tell your mama she won’t lose her daughter to that bastard.  I’ll stop him.  You don’t worry, you hear me.” 

“Deputy Marcel, I want you to follow Armon out to Bayou Cane and stay with his family for a few days. 
Take plenty of ammo and if anything suspicious…shoot first and ask questions later.”

“Right Sheriff, I feel I owe his family that much.”  Deputy Marcel jumped up and began gathering several high powered guns and ammo.

“I’m on my way to New Orleans.  Deputy Pierre, call Chief Renfro in New Orleans and let him know I’ll be there as soon as I can. “
Renee drove home as quickly as he could… loaded his car with a few things; told Miss Maybelle to not expect him home   for a few days and left stirring up dust from the oyster shell driveway.
It usually took him a little over two hours to get to New Orleans.  He got to Rosewood House in one hour and ten minutes.  He was too late.  Still crying and wiping her eyes Miss Moselle told Renee what had happened the night before.

“Sheriff, she’s at New Orleans General.  I don’t know how she doing.  Lord, oh Lordy, she look bad when I see her dis morning.  All butchered up all downs her poor back.  I don’ know what dat chile ever did to deserve dat kind of meanness.”  Miss Moselle continued wiping her eyes.

“Thank you.  I’m going to the hospital now.  Did anyone see the man that did this?”

“No sir…I can’t say I did but somethin’ ain’t right.  Somebodies lets him go up to her room.” Miss Moselle shook her head.

Sheriff Renee spoke with the Chief Renfro at the crime scene and told him all that he knew then left for the hospital.
 
Marie lay on her stomach in a room by herself with a uniformed police officer outside the door.  Sheriff Renee showed his badge to him and was allowed into the room.  Marie was knocked out with just a thin sheet covering her buttocks, but he could see the deep bruises on her back and legs.  Her back was covered with bloodied bandages and gauze.  She was pale, very pale with her black hair matted and tangled around her face.  Long black eyelashes fluttered ever now and then and she moaned as if she was dreaming a nightmare.    “I’m so sorry, Marie.” Sheriff Renee leaned over and whispered in her ear.  “I will get this bastard.  I promise you.  You sleep and heal.  I’ll be back soon.”

Renee left with anger in his face and determination in his soul.  He was going to get this man for every evil deed he had done if it was the last thing on earth he did.  He would stay in New Orleans and help the police as much as possible.  When Marie was well enough to go home he would take her to Houma and watch over her until this monster was caught or dead whichever came first.  He knew if he found him first he would be dead.  This was a new feeling for Renee, he could honestly say in his heart he had never wanted anyone dead before.
 
Nell, Marie’s friend, came to the hospital and was allowed in only because she told them she was her nearest kin.  Day   and night she sat by Marie’s side and watched her wrestle with her demons in a semi-conscious state.  She knew that Marie’s body would heal but wasn’t so sure about her emotional scars.  Nell had quit Rosewood House when she discovered what had really happened.  She had thought that Madame Gigi was a tough woman but never suspected she would allow something as cruel and brutal as what had happened to Marie.  Oh, the story came down that she had only meant to get her money back by allowing the tall dark man to sleep with Marie.  He had paid her $500. to give him undisturbed access to her all night.  Madame Gigi said she didn’t know he had planned to almost kill her, but Nell wasn’t so sure she wasn’t lying.  
-------------------------------
It had been a month and Marie was healing from her injuries.  The herring bone cuts on her back had scabbed over without getting infected.  The scars were deep and ugly.  Marie could not bear to look at them.  Nell had been there daily and assured her that she was still beautiful and would feel much better once she got out of the hospital and to Sheriff’s Renee’s home in Houma.  So far, Marie had been very silent.  She sat and stared off into space but she didn’t cry anymore.  Nell could see a deep cold hardness in her that she had never seen before.  Would she ever be that girl Nell had first met, again?  Nell wondered.

Author Notes

Armon=is Marie's younger brother Sally=is Marie's baby sister Marcel felt he had something to make up to the Terrebonne family because he had misplaced information that might have caught Gator sooner. Gator= Alex Terrebonne's brother

Chapter 16
Chapter 16 Home to Houma

By justjo66

Marie was healing nicely physically but emotionally she wasn’t so well.   Renee asked Nell to go home to Houma with him to help take care of Marie.  She was happy to do it.  After a month of seeing Renee every weekend and sometimes during the week Nell had grown quite fond of the sheriff.  He was kind and caring.  She had not been accustomed to his type of man.   Renee had inherited the Duhon Mansion after the death of his wife and father-in-law and was glad to have someone to share it with.  It had been lonely in the huge rambling home.

Nothing else had been heard about  Gator Terrebonne.  It seemed he had vanished into thin air.  He was a master of the swamps and Renee knew he was just bidding his time playing with them.   That bastard likes the game about as much as the kill.  Renee thought.

Renee had set up a twenty-four hour watch on his house and Sarah Terrebonne’s. He was not about to let anything else hurt this girl.    He had failed his wife and now Marie.  He would NOT fail again.
 
Days rolled into weeks and it seemed every day Marie got stronger and her anger got deeper.  She began dressing in mens’ shirts and pants and wearing her hair down loose on her back. She covered all the mirrors and windows in her bedroom and kept to herself most of the days and nights. She also kept a knife on her at all times.  She slept with a loaded rifle under her bed.   She  would not  find rest until that evil man was dead.  Her thinking was so mixed up she had began to think ALL men were evil.  She had a hardness about her birthed by fear and pain.   Nell and Renee were both worried about her and tried to have her talk about what had happened.  The only response either of them could get was ‘that she didn’t want to talk about it.’

Renee liked to sit out on the veranda in the evenings after work and smoke and watch the sun go down over the tall cypress trees.  The heavy moss laden live oaks gave him a strange peaceful feeling. 

“Hey Nell, come and join me,” Renee shouted from the veranda.

“Okay, I think I will,” Nell replied.
 
“How was your day?” Renee asked
.
“Not bad, Alice Crockett, came by today.  Do you remember her? “

“No, I’m afraid I don’t”

“She was one of the girls that worked for Madame Gigi.  In fact, she’s the one who was in jail with Marie and introduced her to Miss Gigi.”

“You don’t say.  Why did she come by?”

“It seems the Rosewood House got closed down.  Alice was on her way to Shreveport to look for work and just wanted to check in and see how Marie and I were doing.  She also said she couldn’t wait to tell me the news.   It seems that Miss Moselle turned Gigi in to the police.  Oh, not for the torture of Marie; Miss Moselle told Alice she would find another way to get Gigi for that.  She didn’t want her sister to go to jail…only pay for her part in doing Marie so much harm.   Miss Moselle told the Chief a colored woman was running a white bordello.   Miss Gigi had paid the New Orleans Chief of Police protection money for years to keep her place open but when he found out that Gigi was Octoroon, a Colored person he was furious that he had been deceived.   She was told she would never work in New Orleans again.”

“Well isn’t that about the best news I’ve heard lately,” Renee smiled.  “What about Miss Moselle?  She seemed like a kindly sort, totally different than her sister.”

“Alice said Miss Moselle just laughed and said ‘ I’s the best cook in New Awwleans, I’ll have no problem finding myself a job but that no good bright baby sista she gonna find it hard to find customers at her age.  She’ll probably go back to California.  This time she not goin’ to have me along to wait on her sorry ass.” Nell laughed and slapped her thighs.  “Can’t you just see Miss Moselle standing up to Gigi like that not caring if it hare-lipped every cow in Texas.”
 
Renee burst out laughing.  “Nell, where in the world did that expression come from?  I’ve never heard anything like that.”

“Well, if you were a Texan you sure would have heard it before.”  Nell smiled.  “Marie smiled a little when I told her about Miss Gigi.  It was good to see a little of the spark coming back.”

“I miss that in her.  I think it’s going to take time but she’ll come back to us.  A lot of times the heart remembers what the mind cannot.  Now her spirit and soul have left her for a safe place but someday she’ll come home to Houma where she belongs.”

“ Renee, that is the most precious thing I’ve ever heard a man say.”

“Gosh, I wouldn’t want you to think I’m not a MANLY man.” Renee teased.

“Oh, I think you’re plenty of man.”  Nell smiled.  “Next to my brother I haven’t met a better one than you.”

“You flatter me.” Renee grinned.  “What’s your brother like?”

“He’s stubborn, like me, got the McDonald red hair, too.  We’re both tall; he’s over six feet five inches.  His name is Sam…Sam McDonald.  Only kin I got here in the states.  Both our parents are dead.  Rest of the kin still live in Ireland.   Married to a sweet little girl and got a boy and a girl. He joined the Army right after the war began but got part of his left leg shot off and ended up back home after a year and a half.   He owns a thousand acres of prime cattle land in Canyon, Texas.  I’ve been saving up to go back and buy the six hundred acres next to him and start my own ranch.  Finally, I think I have enough.  Rosewood House closing down is probably the best thing that could have happened.  Now, I don’t have any excuses.”

“When you planning on going back?”

“Soon, I guess.  As soon as Marie doesn’t need me anymore.”  Or unless you ask me to stay, you fool.  Nell thought.  At that moment she realized she didn’t want to leave.  She had fallen in love with Renee in the short time she had known him.  But could he ever love her.  His wife, Evangeline, had been a beauty.  She was just a plain old Texas girl.

Renee took a sip of his coffee and didn’t say a word.  Like a bolt of lightning he just realized he didn’t want Nell to leave.  He had been happy with her these past few months.  No, she wasn’t beautiful like Evangeline but she felt comfortable and stable. She was a solid foundation to build a family.  She had a glow about her and laughter in her eyes.  He needed her more than anything.  Renee got up walked over to Nell and leaned down and kissed her.

At first Nell was a little taken back then it dawned on her.  He’s kissing me.  She stood her entire six feet up and planted one right back and gave him a big Texas hug.  “I thought you’d never do that.”  Then she grinned from ear to ear.

Renee grinned, too.  “Well, I was waiting for some kind of signal from you.”

“Man, don’t you ever wait again.” 

Renee kissed her again.
 

Author Notes

Please forgive me if the italics are off. Did this paste from work to home and home computer not so good. ;o( Thus, a few times so and so thought when should be left out but I wasn't sure the italics were going to be clear. Thank you donkeyoatey for the use multiple times of your great picture. I'm on spring vacation for a week so might not continue story for a while due to poor quality of my internet but the story will continue. :o)

Chapter 17
Chapter 17 Danger Lurks

By justjo66

Chapter 17   Danger Lurks
 
Renee and Nell were in love and everything would have been wonderful if not for the fact that Gator was still somewhere stalking around waiting his turn for revenge.  Renee knew this in the back of his mind but he was so crazy in love with Nell that it was easy to relax a bit and forget all those former things.   They were getting married in June.  His brothers and sisters had met her and thought they were perfect for each other.  There had been no secrets from his family.  Renee had told them of Nell’s past.  They didn’t seem to care.  Nell had won them over immediately with her natural charm and honestly.  She had written her brother that she was getting married but no mention of telling him what she had  been doing for the past few years .  In her opinion he had no need to know since in her heart she knew he wouldn’t come to the wedding and she wasn’t sure if she’d ever see him again.  He had been pretty upset with her the day she left home for New Orleans.

Renee met Nell coming out of her bedroom, rushed over and gave her a robust hug,   “Good Morning, did you sleep well?”

Laughing Nell hugged him back, “Yes, I did.”

“Come down with me and we’ll have May belle fix us some breakfast.”

“Not this morning, I’m planning a trip in to Baton Rouge to make some wedding plans and buy my wedding dress.  Do you want to come along?”

“No, no way…I’ll leave that all up to you.  What about Marie?  Is she going with you?”

“No, I thought it would be good for her, but she’s too afraid to leave the house.  Miss Maybelle will be here and your deputy. 
She should be just fine.  I should only be five or six hours.”  Nell smiled.

“She should be.  I’ll come back home for lunch.  You go and have fun.  You deserve some fun.  I’ll see you this afternoon.  We’ll go to a movie or something if you like.”

“That sounds great.  I’ll see you tonight.  I love you.”  Nell kissed Renee full on the lips and gave him a hug.

“I love you, too.  See you tonight.  Have fun in town. It looks like it might rain today.  Be careful.” Renee kissed her back.

Nell told Miss Maybelle and Marie where she would be for the day and left for town.  Renee spoke with the deputy on duty to be extra watchful today since Miss Nell would be gone and then he left for his office.  The day droned on in its normal routine pattern that is until around 10:30am. 

Marie stayed in her room all day just staring out the window at the green manicured lawn and how the trees and sunshine made interesting shadows on the grass.  Around 10:15a.m. Marie thought she saw something strange.  A shadow moved in a way that was not expected.   That’s strange. She thought.  Must be my mind playing tricks on me. I think I’ll lie down a while before lunch.  She thought she was dreaming again that terrible nightmare.  But this felt different. Something or someone was breathing heavy and looking down at her.  She was terrified to open her eyes…but she had too.  Oh God, she screamed in her mind.  Then she began to scream out loud.

“Oh Chere, don’t scream.  It’s only me.” Gator clamped his dirty hands over her mouth.  “It won’t do no good anyway…I done took care of dat deputy.  I taught we might have us some more fun.”  Gator tied a gag around Marie’s mouth and then her hands.  “Oh…what’s dis you have in your pocket?  A little itty bitty knife.  You tink you do Gator harm.  Cooah, I likes my woman to be feisty.  We play cutting games later.  Now you do what I say, you hear me.”  Gator snatched Marie’s hair and pulled her head back.  He looked straight into her eyes with his evil reptilian yellow green eyes.  You want that ole Niggar woman to live downstairs…you behave yo’ self and come with me.  I done told her whare dat sheriff can find us.  You don’t worry he’ll come for you.” 
 
Around noon Sheriff Renee pulled up in his driveway to find Deputy Gavon dead.  His throat had been cut.  Inside Miss Maybelle was tied to a cane chair in the kitchen.  Tears had rolled down her fat cheeks and dried on her face.  The ropes on her wrist and ankles had created dark red welts where they had cut into her flesh.

“Oh Lordy, Mister Renee, thank God you got home.  Dat evil monster dun got Miss Marie.  I seen him leave with her big as you please out that door.  He told me to tell you, ‘that you would know where to find him and that you were to come by your self or he would kill her for sure. ‘ Please Mr. Renee, that man evil…he plans to kills you both.”

“Miss Maybelle, I’m going to call my office on my radio and get some people out here to take care of you.  You lie down on this couch.  I have to go after her.  Tell the others to stay here.”  There was no doubt where he would find Gator.  He was headed to the shack on Devil’s Bayou.  Renee also knew what Gator was up to.  He planned to kill them both.   Renee backed his trailer up and loaded up his skiff.  A light mist was beginning to fall.  It would probably be a full pledged storm by the time he reached the bayou. 

Rain and wind blew hard against Renee’s determined face.  He was mad and scared.  He knew exactly what he had to do but didn’t know how he was going to accomplish his mission.  He had no choice, he had to succeed.   He would get Marie back in one piece or he would die trying.

Gator heard the motor of Renee’s skiff when he pulled up to the soft shoreline.  He yelled out the open door, “Sheriff, that you?  You better be alone.”

“It’s me, Gator.  I’m alone.  Show me Marie.  Where is she?”

“Yous not de one in charge here Sheriff…I call the shots…throw your gun on de ground!”

Renee did exactly what Gator asked and then walked slowly up the steps into the cabin as Gator motioned him to do.   Renee had not forgotten the smell of rotting flesh the last time he had been in this cabin.   He now smelled new odors mixed with traces of the rotting pig flesh.  Two freshly slaughtered chickens with no heads were hung from the rafters dripping blood onto a charcoal fire.  Several jars sat on a cypress wood table filled with vile looking liquids and a huge hexagram painted in blood on the floor.  Marie hung by her hands on a pole in the center of the hexagram.  Her face had been painted with a white substance and around her eyes, nose, and mouth were painted black circles.   Renee could see the terror in her eyes.  He thought, this crazy monster is planning a human sacrifice and Marie is it.  Then I’ll be next. 

“Okay Gator, I’m here.  Now what do you want with us?  You need to let her go.  You have already tortured her enough. “

“You know what I want sheriff.  You and this one…you killed my brother.  She stabbed him and you covered it up.  You are both guilty.  My god, Molec, says a life for a life.  I prepared her for sacrifice with the cutting on her back.   Now she is a proper alligator woman.  She will be a good gift to my god.  You, I just kill you ‘cause you cover up my brother murder. 

The rain and wind raged outside but inside it became deadly silent.  Renee had hidden a small handgun in his pants.  He would wait for the right time and pull it out.  Suddenly a tree crashed outside blown over by the strong wind.  Gator was startled and at that moment Renee saw his chance to take control of the situation.  He stuck the gun in Gator’s face, “All right, Gator, untie Marie, do it now.” He growled.  Gator did as he was told and cut her loose. “Gator throw your knife on that table. Marie, get his knife.”  Renee pulled out his handcuffs and cuffed Gator while Marie held the gun.  “Now, Gator, you are under the arrest for murder and torture.  I’m taking you in.  Start walking.”

Renee helped Marie out the door and down the steps to the skiff while keeping Gator in direct line of fire.  The wind howled and the rain poured down.  Renee shouted to Marie, “Take the gun and watch him while I crank the motor.  Get in the boat, Gator.”  Gator sat down in the middle of the skiff with Marie directly behind him.  Renee went to start the motor.  Suddenly, Gator spun around and lunged toward Marie.  He reached to grab the gun and when he did the boat tilted and he went overboard.  Splashing and flailing with handcuffs in place in the murky water he came up screaming.  “GATOR, GATOR!”
Then Renee saw it.  The biggest alligator he had ever seen surfacing with Gator’s right leg in his mouth.  The alligator began his roll and Renee knew he had to do something.  “Marie! Hand me the gun!”  Then he jumped into the turbulent water.  Rain pouring from the sky and the wind howling almost drowned out Gator’s screams but not quite.  Renee swam as close as he could and aimed for the one tiny spot on top of the alligator’s head, the kill spot, and fired.  “Got him!” Renee shouted.  “Help me Marie get him back into the boat.”

Marie stood there frozen then she reached down and grabbed Gator’s arm and pulled hard . Renee hoisted himself over the side and sat down exhausted.  Renee could not tell if it was the rain pouring down Marie’s face or tears.  Gator’s leg was intact but bleeding profusely.  Great spurts of blood gushed out from a cut artery.  Blood filled the boat and Gator’s clothes.  Gator, barely conscious, moaned feebly.  Marie reached down and cut a strip of her blouse off and tied it around Gator’s leg to stop the bleeding.

“We have to get him to town,” Renee shouted and then started the motor.

Marie suddenly stood up in the boat.  Renee thought for a moment that she was going to dive into the turbulent swamp.  She turned her face up to the rain and raised both her arms to the heavens and screamed, screamed, screamed.  

Author Notes

I had a great time visiting with my mom from out of town. I'm still on vacation until Monday. My computer internet is horrible...so probably reply to reviews then. Sorry to be so late in answering.

Chapter 18
Chapter 18 New Beginnings

By justjo66

  
Marie had traveled a long hard road since leaving her mama and siblings in Bayou Cane.   However hard the lessons had been; she had indeed learned them.   Finally, Gator had been captured and bled to death on the way in to town.  Marie had tried to save his life by wrapping a tourniquet around his leg but the blood loss was too great.  Why she had done this was a puzzle even to her.  She had been terrified of him to the point he had seemed indestructible.  Now he seemed only a horrible nightmare.  The scars were left both physically and spiritually but she would survive.  She had gotten back some of her spirit on the day she was able to see him for what he was, ‘a very evil and sick man.’   Now she was determined to go on with her life.   It had been a year and a half and every day she was more and more like herself.  Renee and Nell’s wedding had been beautiful and now they expected their first child.  Marie was grateful for all that Renee and Nell had done. However,   it was time for her to move on with her life.   The war had ended with the bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, August 6, 1945.  Gas rationing was the first to be stopped.  Now with a vehicle she would be free to go anywhere.    Marie sat drinking coffee and thinking about the past and what she was going to do next.

“Can I join you, Marie?”  Nell sat down slowly at the kitchen table. “I’ve been wanting to talk with you about a plan I have.

“Sure, what is it?” Marie inquired.

“Well, do you remember me talking about the six hundred acres in Texas next to my brother that I planned to buy someday?”

“Yes, I do.”

“I bought it some time ago when I left New Orleans and came to live here with Renee.  It is a nice place with an old house that needs some work but would be okay with just a little loving kindness.  Would you be interested in moving to Texas and managing it for me?  I would pay you well and it would really help me out.  My brother does not know I bought it and I would want it to stay that way for personal reasons.”

“I don’t know Nell.  I don’t know anything about ranches, horses, or cattle.”

“I have the perfect person in Canyon to hire as your foreman.  She was raised up on a ranch and knows everything about it.  She would teach you everything you need to know.  How about it?  You would start out small with a few hundred head and then hopefully we could both make a profit.  Please say yes.”  Nell implored.  “I have been in contact with Alice and Miss Moselle and they both tell me they would also be interested in the venture.  So, you would not be there without friends.  Come on…say yes.”

“How would I even get there…I don’t have a car?”

“Oh, that’s no problem.  Renee and I have already talked about it and you could have my old Ford.  You could consider it our first payment to you as Ranch Manager.  Please don’t say no.”  Nell pleaded.  “It would make me so happy to have you succeed on that ranch next to my brother.  Give him a little run for his money.”  Nell smiled.

“Okay! I’ll do it.  You have talked me in to it.”  Marie smiled the first time in a very long time.  “Texas, here I come.  I’ll need to go see my mama before I leave and say goodbye to my brother and siblings.”

“Good, we’ll make the arrangements and I’ll contact Jesse, that’s the girl I have in mind for your foreman.  You’ll love her.  You have made me so happy.”  Nell got up and hugged Marie.  “Of course I’ll write you and you can keep me up on all the goings on…especially with my brother.”

Two weeks later Marie had visited with her mama on Bayou Cane and told her she would write often and send her money.  A new phase of her life was beginning.    Alice and Miss Moselle had showed up three days ago all packed and ready for their new adventure.  The ‘Three Musketeers’ off to see the world. 

As the three ladies drove off into the sunset giggling.  Nell had thought it would be a hoot to place a sign on the back of their car.  “TEXAS or BUST”
 
 
*This has been 18 condensed chapters of my first novel.  Later, I will go back and fill in the ‘meat’ of the story.  My plan will be to continue the story with Marie as a second book after I  write, re-write, edit, and edit  this one  some more with hopes to publish someday. :O).  I want to thank everyone who has faithfully followed along with my first attempt at a novel.  If not for the encouragement from my reviewers and Fanstory; I would never have tried to do this.
Thank you
Jo Shoemake
(justjo66)
 
  

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