In Shining Whatever (Three Magic Words Trilogy #2)(42)

"I'll be looking forward to a plateful," Hart said seriously.

"Who's making gumbo?" Kate asked.

"Wouldn't let nobody else do that, not while I'm alive," Maw Maw said. "But that's enough talk about food and the cochon de lait. You two get on out of here and let an old woman fix up the gumbo. I'll see you by five o'clock this evening. Everyone is coming round after six."

Kate finished the last sip of her coffee and stood up. "How long will it take you to be ready?"

Hart polished off the last bite of his donut. "Five minutes to put on my shoes"

They met in the living room in less than that. Kate had changed into jeans and a light brown knit shirt that hugged every curve of her body. Beignets and gumbo hadn't put a pound on her in the weeks she'd been in Louisiana.

"You got any preferences today?" she asked.

"I'd be happy sitting on the bayou watching you fish," he said.

She shook her finger under his nose. "Flattery will get you zilch."

"That was fact, chere, not flattery," he teased.

"I'll be the tour guide. We'll drive to New Iberia and start with the courthouse and maybe do the Dave Robicheaux walk," she said.

"I'd like that. Old Dave is a man after my own heart."

She drove her truck and he sat in the passenger's seat. She pulled over on the side of the street in one spot and pointed to an enormous live oak. "See that tree with the moss drooping?"

He looked. It was big, he'd give it that much, but he felt like saying, So what? It's not nearly as impressive as you are in that tightfitting shirt.

"That is the Gebert Oak. It was planted in 1834, before Texas was even a state. There was a lady who lived to be a hundred and five who told stories about sitting in the branches of that oak tree and watching the Yankees march into town."

"You do know your history," he said.

"Don't get sassy with me. One part of me is hot-blooded and brassy. The other is hotter-blooded and laid-back. They do battle with each other. Maw Maw taught me Cajun ways that summer we moved down here. She taught me to think about things," she said.

He had no idea what she was trying to say, but he didn't ask. Just listening to words coming out of her mouth in that soft Southern accent was enough. She could tell him how each leaf was formed on that live oak and how the twisted limbs meant something profound, and he'd be more than glad to listen.

Next she took him to the courthouse, parked the truck, and marched inside as if she owned the whole building. Her former boss, Captain Laysard, left his desk and gave her a hug. She made introductions and Laysard sized him up. Hart figured he'd passed the test when the man stuck out his hand.

"You going to be the one that keeps my best detective from coming back to work for me?" Laysard asked.

"I wouldn't know, sir," Hart said.

"If you are, it's possible that some gators might go against their natural distaste for Texans and do me a favor and chew on your carcass," Laysard said, without ahint of a smile.

"She's pretty good, is she?" Hart asked.

"Don't know why you'd be asking me such a nonsense question. I heard it took her one day to figure out what happened over there in Texas to that woman the police thought you killed," he said.

"Could have been a fluke," Hart said.

"I'm going to see Minnette about the party. You two old tomcats can circle each other while I'm gone or sit down and talk sensible," Kate said.

"Want to circle or have a cup of coffee?" Laysard asked.

"Coffee sounds better to me, but if you're going to throw me in the bayou with the gators, would you please make sure I'm real dead?" Hart asked.

"Just testing you, son," Laysard said. "Kate's daddy and me grew up together. I gave her a place on the force more as a favor to him than because I wanted a female officer. She proved me wrong time and time again. She's good at what she does. I'd be glad to take her back, but only if she wants to be here." Laysard poured two cups of coffee and handed one to Hart.

"Trust you take it black like a man and not sissified up with milk and sugar?"

"This will do just fine," Hart said.

"Now, tell me about your career in the bull riding business. I always had a hankering to do some of that, but my bones is way too old now for any such thing. Heard tell you were ranching over in central Texas since you give it up"

So Hart had been researched ... or else Kate talked about him as much as he did about her.

"That's right. Last ride was too close. Thought I'd just retire on top," Hart said.

"She watched every ride, you know. Whole time she was here, she bet on you every time," Laysard said.

Hart was stunned into silence.

"She dated some, but nothing serious. Not that the fellows around here didn't want to lasso her. Just, she wouldn't have none of it. I knew the first time I heard her mention your name why that was"

Hart wondered if all the people in Louisiana were so personal. He'd only just met the man.

"Guess I'm meddling," Laysard said, "but I thought maybe you'd want to know that before you go on back to Texas without her."

Kate poked her head in the door without knocking. "I see y'all decided to talk rather than throw Hart in the swamp."