Between Dusk and Dawn (2 page)

“
The owners should call the
local vet for that,” LaShaun said as she sealed a plastic container
with the shrimp Creole.

“
Frank Jeffers over on the
other end of Black Bayou first called in that somebody was stealing
his cows and goats. That was two days ago. Today he found three
goats slaughtered.” Chase wore a slight frown. “I mean really
ripped up bad.”

“
Sounds like wild dogs.”
LaShaun felt a prickle along her arms as she remembered the keening
animal like call in her woods.

“
Or coyotes.” Chase wrapped
the remaining loaves of bread in wax paper.

“
Around here?” LaShaun put
the rest of the food in the fridge and faced him.

“
Believe it or not,
Louisiana has a growing coyote problem. The population has gotten
bigger, and they’re moving up from snatching small house pets I
guess. I’m no authority on the damn things. Frank is in a big
uproar about it. He’ demanding that we protect his
property.”

“
Okay, you’re going on a
coyote stakeout. Guess I better start fixing you coffee and
homemade donuts for those long night watches,” LaShaun teased,
covering her mouth to hold in a giggle.

He crossed the space between them in
two long-legged strides and grabbed her around the waist from
behind. “Me chasing mangy animals is funny to you, huh?”

“
I think you’re very
qualified to chase down all kinds of criminals, included the furry
ones. Quit that,” she squirmed as he held her tighter.

“
I’ll have you know I was
trained by the FBI for real police work, missy.” He lifted her from
the floor.

“
Put me down,” LaShaun
ordered, though she didn’t try very hard to get away.

“
Take back that crack about
a coyote stakeout, and I may turn you loose.” Chase pulled her
closer to him and buried his face into her hair.

“
Maybe I don’t want you to
let go.”

Instead of trying to get away, she
pressed against his pelvis. Chase took in a slow breath and
exhaled. LaShaun felt his growing passion, and let her head fall
back. His long, strong fingers pulled her hair loose from its braid
until it was around her shoulders. They kissed as they unbuttoned,
unclasped and pulled free of clothing.

“
Here?” LaShaun murmured,
her lips still against his.

“
Hmm,” was his only
reply.

He lifted her against the countertop,
and LaShaun wrapped her legs around him. Soon they were locked in a
steady rhythm of sweet passion. He entered her, letting her rest on
the warm granite surface. The sensation of floating in his arms
combined with his steady thrusts pushed LaShaun over the edge, but
each time he eased her back by slowing his pace. Soon even he
couldn’t hold back. As the heat between them rose, LaShaun cried
out begging for more. She reached her peak in an explosion of
pleasure that sent the most delicious shock waves all through her
body. Holding on for every last bit of delight, she savored the
force of his release inside her. Chase moaned and gasped as the
fever took control of every inch of his being. He called her name,
urging her to move with him. LaShaun bit into his shoulder, crying
out once more as she rode the wave of a second orgasm. Seconds
later they grew still. Then Chase lifted her from the counter.
LaShaun trailed kisses down his chest, and led him to her bedroom
leaving their clothing scattered don the kitchen floor.

Once in her private sanctuary, she
pulled back the comforter and they climbed into bed. LaShaun
snuggled against him. “I love that you wanted to be with me after a
trying day at work.”

“
No place I’d rather be.
Whenever you’re ready we can make this forever, cher,” Chase
whispered as he stroked her hair.

LaShaun felt the disquiet of her
doubts threaten the sweet moment. “I know. It’s just...”

“
Times have changed,
LaShaun. Nobody would question us being together, or hold that
against me being elected.”

“
Not out in the open, but
you know damn well they have plenty to say behind closed doors.
With you running for sheriff things could get nasty.” LaShaun
wanted to protect him, but the thought of letting him go for his
own good left her feeling weak with despair.

“
Girl, how many times I got
to tell you; I’m a big boy, and I can handle these small town folks
just fine,” Chase said in a light tone.

LaShaun finally manage to get free of
his arms. She sat up next to him. “The subject of me being a
political liability has come up. Tell me the truth.”

“
Joe Castille brought up
the Trosclair murder investigation, and your cousin’s case. I
forcefully reminded him you were cleared in both cases.

<< Read A Darker Shade of
Midnight for more LaShaun Rousselle adventures in spooky
crimes>>

“
The chief alderman is an
influential man, and he knows what folks think. Maybe he’s got a
point.” LaShaun pulled the sheet up to her chin. She looked at him
steadily.

“
He’s got a lot of bull is
what he’s got.” Chase gazed back at her for a few moments as
silence stretched between them. “Honey, I’m not psychic. Say what
you got to say.”

“
I’ve never been as close
to a man as I feel to you; having someone who looks out for me,
even though I can stand on my own,” she added quickly.

“
I know.”

“
What we have is good; real
good, but...” LaShaun took in a deep breath and let it
out.

“
Okay, I didn’t need a
sixth sense to hear the ‘but’ coming at me.” Chase smiled at her,
but her somber expression made it fade away. He stroked the arm
LaShaun used to hold the sheet up as though it were a shield.
“Baby, come on.”

“
No, listen to what I’m
saying. Dealing with funny looks when you walk by and the comments
are going to be a way of life if you’re with me. You need to think
long and hard. I’m used to being on the outside. But you’ve been
part of a supportive community and family all your life. Popular
guy in high school, accepted around town as one of the white hats.
I’m not sure you grasp the reality of having people judge you based
on being with me,” LaShaun said as she closed her eyes and
swallowed hard.

There. She’d said it, and she knew the
danger. He could very well consider her words and the way he was
being treated, and decide he couldn’t handle the subtle ostracism.
But she needed to know sooner rather than later. Maybe she should
have been more forceful in pushing him away before they’d shared
such sweet moments. Learning to be alone again, to settle for the
occasional lukewarm love affair would be gut wrenchingly painful.
But that would be less painful than seeing the love light die
slowly in Chase’s dark Cajun eyes.

“
I’m going to think about
what you said, seriously think about it. Because I know this means
a lot to you, for me to be absolutely sure I’ve made the right
decision. But I have to tell you, giving you up ain’t the answer,
cher. Being Sheriff just wouldn’t be enough without the love of my
life.” Chase gently tugged LaShaun’s arm until she lay nestled
against him again.

LaShaun let out a sigh of relief
inwardly at his response. “Don’t say I didn’t warn you.”

Chase reached under the covers and
lightly smacked her bare bottom. “And I’m warning you, get used to
putting up with me a lot longer than you figured.”

She wiggled with pleasure and managed
to get even closer to him. “What did I do to deserve a
spanking?”

“
Trying to talk me out of a
good thing, that’s what.” Chase kissed the top of her head. Then he
threw back the covers and stood up.

“
And where are you going?”
LaShaun sat up in surprise. She enjoyed the view as he bent over to
pick up his underwear. The dark blue briefs had somehow landed on
the hardwood hallway floor just outside the bedroom.

He turned around and stepped into
them, then stood with one hand on his waist. “I’m going home,
ma’am. I’m not going to get into the habit of spending nights at
your place.”

“
Good idea. That will
generate less gossip.” LaShaun nodded, though the bed already felt
colder without him.

“
Forget politics. When we
start keeping house I want it to be for real. Right now we’re still
dating, and I’m letting you get comfortable with being part of a
couple.” Chase went out and came back with his shirt and pants. “I
don’t want you to get too skittish on me, more than you already are
that is.”

“
I’m thinking of you,”
LaShaun protested with a huff.

“
Uh-huh, I believe it.
Being alone is a way to feel safe. So maybe a little part of you is
afraid?” He pulled on his pants and zipped them, then paused, still
holding his shirt.

“
Now you’re the one talking
nonsense.” LaShaun slapped at the beautiful quilt that served as
her bedspread as though straightening it. She avoided looking at
him for a few seconds. When he didn’t say anything she glanced at
him. “What?”

“
LaShaun Rousselle,
dangerous magic woman, is a scared of me. I’m one powerful
dude.”

“
So full of yourself, Mr.
Deputy Sheriff,” LaShaun retorted. She snatched up the round accent
pillow that matched the quilt and aimed it at his head.

Chase laughed and caught it. “Okay,
darlin’. I won’t tease you. Now give me a goodnight kiss to send me
on my way.”

“
I’m not sure you deserve
one.” LaShaun didn’t resist when he leaned down to her. In fact she
wrapped her arms around his necked and kissed him hard. “Now get on
home.”

“
Yes, ma’am. I’ll call you
tomorrow. Oh, and be careful to...”

“
Lock the door, keep my
shotgun handy and the phone close by,” LaShaun repeated his
favorite mini-lecture on safety each time he left her alone. She
put her lips to his ear. “If you stayed the night more often I
would be well protected.”

He gave her another pat on the bottom.
“When you’re ready. Now come on and lock up.”

“
What does that mean?”
LaShaun pulled her robe from a hook on the closet door and padded
after him down the hallway to the back door.

Chase tipped an imaginary cowboy hat
at her. “You know exactly what I’m talkin’ about, ma’am.” He blew a
kiss and went out the door.

“
Smart ass,” LaShaun
muttered. She clicked the locks in place then hugged herself and
smiled.

*****

Two hours later the musical bells from
her landline phone finally cut through the fog of sleep. LaShaun
rolled onto her back and looked at the red numbers on the digital
clock next to her bed. Her pulse picked up as anxiety flooded
through her. Nobody called with good news at two o’clock in the
morning. The soft glow from the night light in the hall kept her
from groping around in the dark. She found the phone on the fifth
ring before her voice mail picked up.

“
Hello,” she said,
forgetting to check the caller ID first. When she did glance at it
said, “Unknown”.

“
Don’t let ‘em get her. You
got to help,” said a raspy female voice raspy, desperate and like
she was in deep trouble.

Chapter 2

Tuesday morning, and just four hours
after that early phone call, LaShaun sat at her kitchen table.
Bright sunshine, still new to the day, lit up the lovely fall day.
Fatigue kept sneaking up on LaShaun, but she fought off the urge to
yawn several times. The mystery surrounding that call had made it
hard for her to go back to sleep, but an hour after that intense
ten minute conversation, she’d managed to drop off. LaShaun’s
visitor, on the other hand, looked as though she hadn’t slept at
all. LaShaun had agreed to this crack of dawn meeting because Mrs.
Clothilde Arceneaux had sounded so disturbed. Two china cups of
strong Louisiana dark roast coffee sat between them on the table.
LaShaun waited patiently for Miss Clo, as she was affectionately
called around the parish, to get to the point. The grandmother of
Acting Sheriff M.J. Arceneaux, who had become one of LaShaun’s only
two female friends in the town, Miss Clo wore a plain pink blouse
tucked into a long floral skirt. At seventy-four, she still looked
good and kept active.

LaShaun had more waiting and less
patience after another fifteen minutes of listening to Miss Clo.
She chattered about local church events, her grandson’s school
awards and the weather. LaShaun was about to push her to the reason
for her visit when the older woman put down her cup and
sighed.

“
I expect you’re tired of
me blabbing on like a nervous squawking hen.” Miss Clo patted her
lips with a napkin.

“
No, ma’am. You take your
time,” LaShaun said, hoping she would ignore that
invitation.

Miss Clo smiled at her. “Your monmon
did a good job teaching you manners. But I’ve been testing your
patience long enough. I just don’t know how to tell it. And she
wouldn’t come with me.” She sighed and fidgeted with the floral
cloth purse in her lap.

“
Just start with something
simple. Now, who wouldn’t come with you?”LaShaun asked.