Bayou Paradox by Robin Caroll

Author:Robin Caroll
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Steeple Hill
Published: 2008-09-25T04:00:00+00:00

ELEVEN

Sooner or later, something had to give.

At least, that was the philosophy Tara held to at the moment. She pulled two more leaves from the stem and ground them in the stone mortar with the pestle. Daylight quickly faded into night, streaks of purple decorating the skyline over the trees. If she planned to finish preserving the foliage before it got too late, she’d better get to crackin’.

And what about the sheriff’s embrace? What was up with that?

She ground the leaves almost to liquid and then froze. If she didn’t pay better attention, she’d ruin the stock. With the droughtlike weather, she couldn’t afford to waste a single leaf or stem. She’d have to keep her wits about her. Now wasn’t the time to ponder Bubba Theriot’s motives or actions.

Even if his hug had felt like coming home.

Tara slammed the pestle onto the table, her hands trembling. What was happening to her? A simple hug from a man she didn’t particularly like right now reduced her to a simpering mess. She shook her head. No. She’d deal with figuring out her emotions later. Right now, she had to concentrate on making the healing potion and figuring out who did this to Grandmere and Tanty.

Suzie Richard’s face flashed across her mind as fast as a hurricane making landfall. Tara’s hands stilled. Suzie. She’d acted so strangely. Why was she frightened her husband might find out she’d visited Tanty?

If only Tanty had written what, exactly, Suzie had consulted with her about, maybe then Tara could figure out why the woman kept coming to mind.

Every instinct in Tara told her that Suzie wasn’t involved in the attacks on Grandmere and Tanty, yet she lingered in Tara’s thoughts. Why?

She ground carefully as she went back over every little detail, every movement and nuance of Suzie. Aside from being embarrassed and frightened her husband would find out, nothing else about the woman stuck out.

Tara clenched her teeth. What was she missing?

“What’re you doing?”

Tara jerked around to face Alyssa. “Just grinding some foliage.” What would possess her sister to step foot inside what she’d dubbed a heathen haven?

Wrinkling her nose, Alyssa entered cautiously. “Oh.” Her eyes widened as she gazed about.

“Don’t worry. No head of bat or eye of newt today.”

Alyssa’s cheeks filled with air, then she exhaled slowly. “Ha. Ha.” With a hand pressed to her stomach, she ventured a little farther into the room.

What, no sarcasm from the queen? Tara narrowed her eyes and studied her sister. Alyssa’s color was wan, yet there was a distinct glow about her. A freshness to her skin. Her eyes blinked, the irises sharper, clearer. Even the scar under her lip took on a refreshing radiance. And her hair…it shone under the fluorescent lighting, full of luster and body. Something different, yet not…not sick. Something…

“I wanted to talk to you for a minute.” Even Alyssa’s voice came out softer. She leaned her hip against the table.

Tara knew in that moment what was different about her sister.

Smiling, she hugged Alyssa.

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