Creole Hearts (28 page)

“The stars do be falling from the sky!” a black man shouted from the wharf.

Other voices echoed his. Cries of fear. Of awe.

Guy stood transfixed. “
Dieu
,” he whispered reverently.

He’d learned about meteors at school in France, but as he stared at the flaming skies he felt as the Negro on the wharf did. The stars were falling.

Le bon Dieu
had given him a sign that he, too, must change as his world was changing. The time had come to forget what was outmoded and hold only to the true.

He turned and started back to Lac Belle, the heavenly display still flashing above him. Every Creole must become my brother, he told himself. Together we can hold our place in New Orleans, only together can we enjoy the benefits the Americans have brought, while we try to keep from being swallowed up by them.

They're like the Mississippi, the Americans, sweeping everything along in a swift current. But we Creoles can be an island in that river, can remain ourselves if we join together as one. Be Americans and yet Creoles, too.

Guy stopped to borrow a horse to gallop home. It was late, but not too late, if he hurried. He rushed into the house.

"Cecile," he called. "Cecile! Come to me, immediately."

Madelaine ran into the foyer, Fabrienne behind her.

"Marry him," Guy said to his sister. "Marry your American with my blessings." He embraced her, then let her go to turn to his wife.

"Where's Cecile?" he asked.

"Here I am,
Cousine
Guy," Cecile said, appearing at the curve of the stairs. "I was about to retire."

"No," he said. "Fetch your cloak and bonnet and come with me."

All three women stared at him as if he'd lost his mind.

"My eyes have been opened," Guy said. "The stars have fallen from the skies to show the last of the La Branches his way. A new way, indeed, but the right one.”

“Tonight I'm bringing Cecile with me to learn of her origins. Hurry, now, and get ready, Cecile. I am taking you to meet your uncle.”

“Your Uncle Nicolas Roulleaux.”

The End

About The Author

Jane Toombs, the Viking from her past and their calico grandcat, Kinko, live on the south shore of Lake Superior in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula wilderness. Here they enjoy refreshing Springs, beautiful Summers, colorful Falls and tolerate miserable Winters. Jane is edging toward ninety with her published books and has over twenty-five novellas and short stories to her credit. She’s been published in every genre except men’s action and erotica, but paranormal is her favorite. She’s a member of a closed twelve author promo group called Jewels Of The Quill, where she’s “Dame Turquoise”

Also from Books We Love, Golden Chances Books 1 to 7, Hallow House, Books I and II, and Ten Past Midnight. Six stories and three poems on the dark side of paranormal. Everything from ghouls to the heart-eating Egyptian beast who decides one's fate. Even the touches of romance are definitely different. But what traveler can expect the norm when on the wrong side of midnight? Ten past midnight All's not well. Every road leads right To hell..

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