Page 2 of Landry (Bayou Brotherhood Protectors #7)

Camille left the Crawdad Hole, climbed into her car and texted Chrissy, Shelby’s older sister, who lived with her husband, five little boys and one baby girl in the house behind Broussard’s Country Store. She’d offered to watch Ava while Camille went out with Gisele and her husband’s teammates.

Ava loved visiting Chrissy and Alan Broussard’s house, filled with children, laughter and love. Camille’s little girl had always wanted a brother or sister, or both. Being with Chrissy was her way of getting her fix of siblings, since her mother clearly wasn’t going to give her some of her own.

Chrissy met Camille at the door, holding Ava in her arms.

As soon as Ava saw her mother, she leaned her sleepy body toward Camille and fell into her mother’s arms.

Camille happily hefted the child up onto her hip and hugged her close. “Hey, baby, did you have a good time?”

Ava’s eyes drooped. “Yes, ma’am.” She lifted her head to stare at her mother’s face. “Can we go home now?” Camille’s daughter yawned and rubbed her knuckles across her eyes. “I want to say goodnight to Billy Ray.”

Chrissy gave Camille a lopsided grin. “She talked a lot about her friend Billy Ray. Is he someone she met at Mother’s Day Out?”

Ava tucked her head against Camille’s neck and closed her eyes.

Camille shrugged. “I asked Ms. Shanna about Billy Ray. She said they don’t have any kids by that name in the program.

No little boy has been by the shop by that name.

” In a little more than a whisper, she added, “I’ve heard her talking in her bedroom and out on the porch.

When I check to see who she’s talking to, there’s nobody there.

I think Billy Ray is her imaginary friend.

Should I be worried that she makes up a friend to talk with? ”

Chrissy shook her head. “Not at all. She might be lonely. As parents, we have other responsibilities that eat up our time. You should drop her off with me more often.”

“Oh, sweetie, that’s so nice of you to offer, but your hands are more than full with six children and a business to run.”

Chrissy snorted softly. “One more child among my horde won’t be any more of a burden.

She helps keep my boys entertained with tea parties and makeovers, much to Alan’s dismay.

The boys are teaching her how to cast a fishing line.

Alan promised to take her fishing when he gets a break from the store. ”

Camille smiled. “That’s sweet of him. I’m not sure how she’ll feel about stringing a worm on a hook.”

“Actually, she’s better at it than any of my boys. She has more patience. Oh, wait.” Chrissy reached behind her and snatched Ava’s teddy bear from a table in her foyer. “Don’t forget Fuzzy.”

Camille took the bear with her free hand. “Can’t forget Fuzzy,” she said with a grin.

“You know, I have some bears that are in better shape that my boys never play with. I’d love to give them to Ava.”

Camille smiled down at the threadbare stuffed toy.

“Thanks, but Ava and I are a one-bear family. This little guy is the only toy we took with us when we left New Orleans. It’s all I have left from my mother.

She gave it to me when I was Ava’s age. Besides me and Ava, it’s the only thing that has survived all the change that’s happened in the last twenty-five years of my life. I think we’d be lost without it.”

“I have a blanket I carried as a child. I keep it in my nightstand. Whenever I’m feeling overwhelmed by responsibility, I bring it out. It’s a reminder of the carefree part of my life when someone took care of me. It’s like getting a warm hug from my mother.”

“Exactly.” Camille hugged her daughter and Fuzzy. “I’d better get going. It’s getting late, and I’m sure your day starts early.”

Chrisy’s lips pressed together. “Too early.” Her mouth curved into a tired smile. “But I wouldn’t have it any other way. I love my little terrors.”

Camille carried Ava out to her car and buckled her petite form into the backseat booster chair. Camille tucked Fuzzy against Ava’s cheek, pressed a kiss to her forehead and climbed into the driver’s seat.

It had been fun to get out with adults that night. The dancing had been a bonus. But she loved her little life in the cottage next to the bayou and managing her store on Main Street. Making candy made her happy. The candy also made the people who bought it happy. What more could she ask for?

A man to hold her, kiss her and make love to her.

Camille pressed her lips together firmly. She didn’t need a man in her life. Friends...yes.

She drove out onto Main Street. The Broussards lived on one end of town. Camille’s place was on the opposite side. Her cottage wasn’t far outside of Bayou Mambaloa. Most days, she walked to the candy store.

Headlights flashed in her rearview mirror, temporarily blinding her. The driver must have had his brights on.

Camille reached up, adjusted the position of the mirror and relaxed.

The vehicle behind her drove a little too close for Camille’s comfort. At least she didn’t have far to go to turn off onto the road running along the edge of the bayou.

Camille slowed and made a right-hand turn, sure that whoever had been behind her would keep going straight.

A moment later, the headlights flashed in her rearview mirror again, the vehicle quickly closing the space between them.

With a frown, Camille increased her speed, trying to put distance between her and the vehicle behind her.

Soon, she was exceeding the speed limit.

As she approached the turn-off to her cottage, she quickly debated whether to make the turn or pass by.

Her gut told her to keep going. The road eventually looped back to the main highway, which led further away from town in one direction and back into Bayou Mambaloa in the other.

As she slowed at the turn, the vehicle behind her got so close Camille braced for impact at the same time as she goosed the accelerator, spun the steering wheel and shot out onto the highway heading back into town.

If the vehicle on her bumper continued to follow, she’d lead him to the sheriff’s office.

She held her breath, her gaze alternating between the road ahead and her rearview mirror.

Damn.

The vehicle fell in behind her.

What the hell was this guy’s problem? He must be drunk. All the more reason to go somewhere she’d find help. She prayed the asshat behind her didn’t get more aggressive. Her little girl was in the back seat. If anything happened to Ava...

Camille’s fingers tightened on the steering wheel. As she neared the edge of town, the vehicle behind her closed the space between them and hit her bumper with just enough force to make her fishtail.

Her heart thumping against her ribs, Camille held on tight until the wheels regained traction and her car straightened on the road. She increased her speed, anxious to enter the city limits.

Lights shone from the porches of the houses lining the road into town, giving Camille a slight sense of relief. The headlights behind her slipped further and further behind. The vehicle spun on the road and headed in the opposite direction, red taillights disappearing into the darkness.

Camille kept driving until she pulled into the parking lot of the sheriff’s office and shifted into park. Not wanting to wake Ava, she pulled out her cell phone and called 911.

“You’ve reached 911, state your emergency,” a woman’s voice sounded in Camille’s ear.

“Minnie, is that you?” she said, surprised at how breathy her voice sounded.

“This is Minnie Hayes,” the dispatcher answered. “Who’s this?”

“Minnie, it’s Camille Catoire. I’m sitting in the parking lot of the sheriff’s office.”

“What’s wrong, honey?” Minnie asked.

“I was on my way home when someone followed me all the way along Bayou Road and back into town. He waited until we were nearly back and then bumped into my rear end.”

“I’d come out, but I’m on duty. Why don’t you come inside?”

Camille shook her head. “My daughter’s asleep in the back seat. I don’t want to wake her.”

“Gotcha,” Minnie said. “I’ve got a deputy on his way. Stay in the car.”

“I’m not getting out,” Camille said.

“Did you get a look at the vehicle following you? Make and model? License plate?”

Camille breathed in and out, trying to get her pulse to return to normal. “No. He was behind me with his headlights on bright. He slowed down as I got near town. Then he turned around and headed back out. By then, he was too far behind me for me to make out anything but the red taillights.”

“Deputy Clyburn is on his way. He’ll take your statement. He can also escort you home to make sure no one else follows you.”

“Thank you, Minnie,” Camille said softly. “That was just too weird. Why would someone do that?”

Minnie sighed. “Who knows? Could be some drunk, looking for a joy ride with a dash of trouble.”

“I just wanted to go home with my daughter.”

“And you will, sweetie,” Minnie assured her. “Stewie will make sure you get there safely.”

Moments later, a sheriff’s vehicle pulled into the parking lot beside Camille’s.

Deputy Stewart Clyburn unfolded his long length from the driver’s seat and approached Camille’s door. She knew him from the few times he’d been in her shop, Sweet Temptations. He’d come by on Valentine’s Day to purchase a box of chocolates for Ruth, his wife.

Camille quietly stepped out of her car, closing the door to keep Ava from overhearing her conversation with the deputy.

She repeated what she’d told dispatch. The tall, thin Deputy Clyburn made notes on his electronic pad and took a picture of her rear bumper.

“I’ll keep an eye out for drunks on the road. In the meantime, I can escort you home and check the premises to make sure you’re safe,” he offered.

“Thank you,” she said. “I’d like that.”

He waited for her to get back into her car before he returned to his service vehicle.