Page 56 of Crazy Rich Cajuns

Kennedy frowned.“But those people don’t really know what they’re talking about.Obviously.”

“No?”

“No.Tourism on the coast is incredibly important.”

“Some people think that having boatloads of people in and out of the bayou all day long just stirs things up a little, antagonizes some of the animals, tames some of the others—like the gators.They think it’s unbalancing the system out there.”

She thought she saw a little mischief around the edges of Charles’ supposed nonchalant look.Maybe he was baiting her, but she couldn’t help but reply.

“Yeah, well, I’m guessing you’re talking about the politicians who are paid to look the other way when the gas and oil industries go in there and ‘stir things up a little,’” she said, lifting her fingers in air quotes.“I’d say oil spills kind of antagonize the animals, wouldn’t you?And, of course, there’s all the people—engineers and scientists for the government, right?—who have been messing with the Mississippi up north.If anything, tourism, especially companies like ours, canhelpthe coast.”

“How so?”Charles asked.

She didn’t really care at that point if he was being a smart-ass.She swung her feet to the ground and leaned in, bracing her hands on the edge of the lounge chair.“Whenwetake people out hunting and fishing and camping, we teach them to respect the land and the ecosystem.We teach them about the animals and birds.We help them see the Cajun culture up close and personal.They meet the hardworking fishermen.They get to spend some time in our town and see how we live with the bayou.I promise you that they leave with a better understanding and a love for the place they didn’t have before.”

Charles was looking at her with a thoughtful look now.“And how does that help the environmental problems?”

“Well, for one thing, it keeps people coming back and telling their family and friends to come.That helps contribute to the nearly nineteenbilliondollars that tourists and visitors spend in Louisiana each year,” she said.

He looked surprised.

“Oh, you didn’t know that?Yeah, besides coming to appreciate the state and things we’ve got that they can’t get anywhere else, those fifty-twomillionvisitors to our great state every year help generate almost two billion dollars in tax revenue.And they help employ two hundred and thirty-seven thousand people.”

“I, um…” Charles cleared his throat.“Yes, I did know all of that, actually.”

Teddy coughed.It almost sounded like he was covering a laugh.But Kennedy didn’t look away from Charles.

“And, I can promise you thatourvisitors in Autre leave feeling connected to the place in a way that I think would make them agree that the coast needs to be saved and the bayou preserved.”

Kennedy took a deep breath, frowning.She’d never gone on about that before.But it was all true.People had to care about a place before they would defend it.Maybe not every person from Wyoming or Kansas or Pennsylvania that had visited Boys of the Bayou would write a letter to the state government or the White House for them, but…some might.

Bennett didn’t, apparently, need money to actually build the island, but it sure wouldn’t hurt him to have more people supporting the idea and telling lawmakers to get behind it.

“You think that you could actually make a grassroots advocacy effort out of the Boys of the Bayou mailing list?”Charles asked.He didn’t sound like he was being sarcastic.

Kennedy nodded.“I do.I mean, it can’t hurt, right?If we make enough noise, we can get local people caring.Louisianans are proud people.If some guy in North Dakota can care about the bayou, then people in Baton Rouge sure can.And hell, at least we could flood the governor’s office with letters that say ‘Free Bennett’ if he ends up in jail, right?”

Teddy cough-laughed again.

Kennedy nodded.“One thing I do have a lot of experience in is making noise.”

Teddy grinned.“You’re a Cajun.I wouldn’t expect anything less.”

“So you really think you can make people care about the bayou?”Charles asked.

“Hell yes, I’ve been doing that all my life,” she said.

“It will take people with a lot of passion.”

She nodded.“The Landrys are perfect for that.”

Charles laughed.“Glad to hear it.”

“So, what do you do, Charles?”Kennedy finally asked, realizing she didn’t know much about the man.

“Oh, I’m—” He glanced at Teddy.“I’m in politics,” he finally said.

Kennedy rolled her eyes.“Of course you are.”

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