You're Busting My Nuptials (Tizzy/Ridge Trilogy Book 2) (33 page)

The poodle yo-yoed and nipped at his heels. She finally connected with the ruffle on his pants leg, and dangled mid-air, as Billy Bob tried to shake her loose. “GET OFF ME! GET OFF ME!”

Nana grabbed her pet and tucked the four pound monster back under her arm and covered the poodle’s eyes. “I am so sorry,” she said. “You’d think a dog that wears costumes every day would be more tolerant of others who do. I apologize. She doesn’t like clowns.”

“That makes two of us,” Rayann mumbled.

Billy Bob unwrapped his body from the tree. “That’s okay. I’m sorry, Tizzy. I was going to stay for the tour, but I’m so traumatized, I’m leaving.”

“Oh, please don’t go,” Nana said. “I can put Alexandra in the car.”

Billy Bob wiped sweat from his head and smeared makeup like a kindergarten finger-painting. “I accept your apology, but I’m too upset to stay.”

Billy Bob left and others arrived. Tizzy addressed the crowd which now numbered about thirty, paying close attention to the three remaining clowns. One was dressed as Freddy the Freeloader. She couldn’t determine if the one dressed as Freddy the Freeloader was a man or woman. The dark over-sized suit hid every identifying detail. The rubber mask concealed any hint of long or short hair and white gloves covered the hands.

Tizzy waited for everyone to gather, then began. “If y’all will come over here, I’m going to start the tour.” From the corner of her eye, she saw Colton motion for two more of his men to move closer. He came to stand next to Tizzy.

A female clown nudged her way to the front of the pack. Rosy cheeks and long lashes were a sharp contrast under her orange wig. Tizzy searched the crowd for the third clown. She spotted him standing at the edge of the group. His hands were hooked in the straps of his overalls and a bright red bandanna trailed from his shirt pocket. With his big painted grin and crimson wig, he looked like Ronald McDonald had
a farm.

“This is the grave of John ‘Red’
Brown,” Tizzy began. “As many of you know, Brownsboro was settled in 1849 by Mr. Brown, who owned and operated a toll bridge across Kickapoo Creek. Now, if you’ll follow me over here,” she said, moving a few stones over. “This is the resting place of Henry Cade, who by 1860, erected the local sawmill and cotton gin. When the railroad came through the county in 1880, the town moved closer to the railway, where downtown remains today.”

Nana raised her hand and Tizzy acknowledged her. “Yes, Nana. Do you have a question?”

“Have you told your grandfather about Om and if so, how did he take the news?”

“Tizzy?” Mary Frances Heston called out. “Would you mind asking my sister what she did with Momma’s brooch? I can’t find the pin anywhere. Her grave is over yonder,” she said, pointing the way.

Before Tizzy had a chance to answer, requests were flying from all directions.

Tell John I found out about the affair he had wit
h Helen and I want to know why.

Ask Zelma if our old high school friend Lena is with her. I never thought that witch would get to heaven.

Ask Maynard what he did with all our savings?

Ask my sister, Faye to finally tell me the truth about getting a facelift. I know she did, but would never admit to it.

Ask my brother Ferrell if he can find out who really shot JFK?

Tizzy
’s head spun out of control, the same as the tour. Colton’s men moved even closer. Sensing the confusion, some of the crowd walked away, including the clowns.

Tizzy held up her hands. “Listen, please. I can do your bidding, but that doesn’t mean they’ll answer me. Generally speaking, if they took the information to their graves, they won’t divulge it now. That was the whole point in the first place, don’t you think?”

Tizzy knew there was no getting out of the requests, so she did the best thing she could think of. “Okay. I’ll get answers for all of you, but I need silence. Please wait by the entry. I’ll join you when I’m done.”

One by one, she went to the graves. Before she realized, she was standing next to Boone’s. She started to walk away, but changed her mind. “Boone? Are you going to the carnival?”

“I’ve already been. I rode the carousel with Gracie. It was wonderful.”

“Why didn’t you stay?”

“I’ve told you. My ability to reveal myself zaps my energy. With the tea party yesterday, I didn’t have a lot left for the carnival.”

“I don’t understand.”

“It’s complicated. In a nutshell, Gracie’s not afraid of me, so my emotional energy doesn’t get recharged.”

Tizzy pulled her brows together in confusion.
“So—you become re-energized from fear?”

“Yeah.”

“That’s weird.” Tizzy hesitated. “Well, I better get downtown.”

“Tizzy? Are you okay? I sense something in your voice.”

Tizzy decided she didn’t need to mention the bombing or the clowns or all the people who’d died in the last few days. If he was going to hear about it, Tawny, Gwynn, or Horace could tell him.

“No, everything’s fine. Bye.”

After answering everyone’s questions, Tizzy took a deep breath and headed to the car with Rayann helping Synola through the sand again. Colton finished up the
sweep
of the vehicle and gave her an all clear. “Can you believe how wrong that went?” Tizzy remarked, as she slid behind the wheel.

“I thought it was fun,” Rayann said, taking the shotgun position. “Except for the clowns.”

“That was my favorite part,” Synola said.

“I’m not doing this again. Next year, they can get someone else.” Tizzy relaxed her head against the seat.

“Why did you lie to everyone?” Synola leaned forward for the answer.

“I didn’t lie.”

“Tiz, you’re not fooling me. You told everyone you didn’t get anything, but I know you got answers from some of those ghosts, so what did they say?”

Tizzy understood what Boone meant about his energy being drained. The ability to speak to the dead was bad enough, but having to edit what they tol
d her was too much of a burden.

“John said he had an affair with Helen, because he never loved his wife to begin with. Zelma said Lena is there due to a death bed prayer of forgiveness. Maynard spent the savings on prostitutes and gambling. Faye denied the facelift, claims she was just naturally beautiful. And if anybody up there had anything to do with JFK’s death, they’re not talking.” Tizzy ran her fingers through her hair, took a rubber band from her wrist, and pulled the long strands into a ponytail. “My biggest lie was to Nana. I couldn’t bear to tell Paw about Om. I told Nana he approved, just to make her happy.”

Tizzy waited until the crowd dispersed and then started her engine. “Bad news from Boone,” she said.

Both friends gave her their attention.

“It’s like I thought. He didn’t have enough energy to stay with Gracie. We’re going to have to depend on mere mortals.”

Within a few minutes, Tizzy and the girls reached downtown. She turned into the ally next to her dad
’s bar and parked. Colton and his crew were right behind her and sandwiched her car between theirs.

When she got out, she paused a moment to enjoy the mixed aromas floating through the cool evening air.
Candied apples, funnel cakes, fried Twinkies, cotton candy.
It occurred to her perhaps that’s why she loved baking so much. She’d been coming to this festival all her life. Those smells had been embedded in her memory.

Synola’s voice jarred her from her nostalgia. “Jinx texted. We’re to meet them at the baseball field.”

They picked up their pace. Tizzy was anxious to get to Gracie. Colton and his band of five men followed close behind. The street was closed off to cars, but pedestrian traffic was heavy. Tizzy locked arms with both friends and they plowed their way through.

When they reached the field, Ridge, Jinx and Bubba were standing near the entry, each looking in a different direction. Before Tizzy could ask about Gracie, Ridge pulled them into a huddle. “Listen, I got the results of some license plates I had Rita check for me. It looks like the two port-a-potty guys you met are here, so stay alert. They may be involved in my abduction.”

A wave of panic ran through Tizzy. “Where’s Gracie?”

Ridge pointed to the stands. Nana and Om sat with Gracie between them. Tizzy waved at her and she waved back.

“What do you want us to do? Are you thinking they’re going to try to take you again?” Synola asked.

“At this point, we just need to be on guard,” Jinx said.

Ridge placed his hand on Tizzy’s shoulder. “Your dad and Uncle Sam are coming to take care of the Punkin’ Chunkin’ competition, so we can pay attention to the crowd in case something does go down.”

“You got your eye on anybody in particular?” Colton asked.

“Yeah, clowns and a couple of guys in suits.” Ridge ran a hand over his jaw. “They were here a minute ago, but I don’t see them now.”

Colton rocked back on his heels. “We had four clowns at the cemetery. Tizzy knew one of them. Some guy named Billy Bob.”

“We ruled him out. What about the other three?” Ridge asked.

“Two males, one female, I think,” Colton said. “In these damn costumes, hard to tell.”

“Maybe we need to draw them out,” Tizzy said.

They all looked at her.

“Like in the movies. Someone goes off on their own to see who follows.”

Saint and Sam arrived, spoke as they walked past the group, took the microphone and announced the first contestant.

From the corner of her eye, Tizzy caught a glimpse of bright fabric moving quickly on the street.

Ridge must have seen it too, because he said, “Something’s happening. Jinx, Bubba, let’s go. Colton, you stay with the girls.” All three men took off in a trot.

Tizzy lunged forward and Colton caught her by the wings. “No, Tizzy. Let them handle the situation.”

She slipped her arms from the wing-bands and sprinted away with Rayann and Synola behind
her. She heard Colton curse and within seconds, he was on their heels. She didn’t have a clue how Synola was managing, but the click, click of silver spikes were right with her.

She caught sight of Ridge’s Superman cape flapping in the wind as he rounded the corner onto a deserted street a block away. By the time she caught up, the three men were walking in circles.

Bubba wheezed out. “Where the hell did they go?”

Ridge shrugged. “Beats me.”

“I should have brought my night goggles,” Jinx said, breathing completely normal.

“Dammit, Tizzy! Didn’t I tell you to wait at the field?” Ridge scolded. “
Jesus.
You never listen to me.”

“Sorry, man,” Colton said.

“I understand. I’m married to her.”

Tizzy stiffened. “I’m not sure I like your tone.”

“Not the place. Not the time,” Ridge said.

Tizzy frowned at him, but he meant business, so she hushed.

The men took the lead and the girls and Colton followed as they made their way back to the field. About halfway down the street, Tizzy stopped and cupped her ear.

“What is it?” Colton asked, moving closer to her.

Ridge turned to face them.

“Listen,” Tizzy said.

“I don’t hear anything but the crowd and the carnival,” Colton remarked.

Jinx came to stand next to Tizzy and held his hand up to stop everyone from speaking.

“Psssst, over here.” A faint whisper from the darkness.

Tizzy and Jinx took a step toward a massive clump of Pampas grass.

“Are you in there?’ Tizzy whispered.

“Yes, are they gone?”

“Is who gone?

“Those men in the black suits. Those horrible men. They’re trying to kill us.”

Jinx took out a small penlight and flashed the beam toward the grass. “Come out,” he commanded.

Two clown heads p
oked between thin green leaves.

Rayann jumped behind Bubba.

Ridge drew his gun and pointed at them. “Show me your hands.”

“Don’t shoot. Tell them who we are, Tizzy.”

“How do I know who you are, you’re in clown make-up.”

“Oh yeah, I forgot. It’s Dick and Harry. Remember? From the club?
We do our business, after you do yours.”

Tizzy glanced at Ridge.
“Of course. How could I forget? Y’all are going to have to come out now or I’m afraid my husband is going to shoot you, because he’s in a really pissy mood.”

Tizzy made note of the dagger look Ridge sent her.

The men stepped out, hands in the air.

Ridge lowered his head. “Fifty words or less, why did you take me?”

They both started to speak at the same time.

“Stop!” Ridge shouted. “Which one of you is Harry?”

“Me,” the one on the right said.

“You talk.”

“Okay. I dated Tawny for a while. She told me Gwynn had something going down and needed some help. She said it was a prank. We were supposed to kidnap some groom and make him late for his wedding.”