Page 28 of Ride Me

“We deal with things in our own time and way. You’ll stop coming when you see these woods the way you’re meant to. Not as your Purgatory, but the place where you were saved.”

Saved? Allegra looked up at the trees. She supposed it was true. If those trees hadn’t been exactly there, she would have hit the ground and died on impact. Or worse, she’d be completely paralyzed.

“I still say my subconscious is sadistic. Why can’t I dream about white sandy beaches filled with naked men and margaritas? Not that I’m complaining about the company.” She patted his arm consolingly. “Just the setting.”

He chuckled. “You have a strong, bright spirit, Allegra Jarod.”

He took a puff off the pipe she hadn’t seen before. “You are what your life has made you, so you can have no regrets on that score. You seek it out with an open heart, because you try to learn from your parent’s mistakes. You chose to travel the world to pry open the narrow box you’d been born in, to expand your horizons.”

He gestured around the clearing again. “But here is where you learned to be strong. To not take life itself for granted. You made promises that night, didn’t you? So many promises. Even a wish or two. It’s all here for you to remember.”

He was right. She’d bargained and planned until she was found. If she lived long enough to be rescued, she would recover from this stronger than ever. If she survived, she would overcome all her fears.

She would be a better friend, a better daughter. She would stay in one place for a while, write a novel. Fall in love. “I’d forgotten.”

“And yet you still found yourself on the right road heading home. Funny, isn’t it, how that works?” The old man glanced over at her and winked, bumping shoulders with her as though they were old friends.

“What do you mean? I left Houston.”

“Please.” His face screwed up in disbelief. “You’ve known since you were born that wasn’t your place, don’t deny it. Some spirits have a bad sense of direction.” He huffed out a small laugh. “Or they want the challenge of the journey enough not to care where they land. You’re one of the stubborn ones. I’m guessing it was the journey you were after, then you forgot and had to put yourself in a situation that forced the issue. And now you’ve finally reached your destination.”

He was saying New Orleans was her destination? She did feel at home there, and she’d never enjoyed a city more. It was also nice to be so close to Michelle. Someone who was like a sister to her.

“Are you saying if I hadn’t been hurt, I never would have moved to New Orleans?”

He shrugged. “I’ve no doubt you would have come back eventually. But that could have taken years.”

And she might not have met Rousseau.

“Fine. I get it. Everything happens for a reason. Now that we know why I’m here, why are you?”

He used a much nicer cane than hers to pull himself up, placing a straw hat that seemed to appear from nowhere at a rakish angle on his head. “Just helping out a friend. You have another question.” He wasn’t asking.

A wave of realization washed over her. This wasn’t just a dream, and the old man was no figment. “Mambo Toussaint’s charm. I put it under my pillow before lying down after my bath. Is that why you’re here?”

“You have a million questions, I know. Sadly, I only have time for one.”

Allegra scowled. After everything she’d learned, all that she’d been through she was finally standing in front of someone who could have the answers to life itself and he only had time for one question?

He pointed his finger at her. “You know what you want to ask me. Not out of selfish desire, but because you care. Because you know what it’s like not to have control over your body or your life. I can see it, already formed in your mind.”

So could she. She was just afraid of the answer.

“Is there a way to free Rousseau from Bone Daddy?”

“There it is.” He laughed, loud and long, making Allegra smile in spite of herself. “You know there’s not many women alive that would ask that question and mean it. Never doubt how special you are. Or that your soul belongs with young Celestin’s.”

“That is not an answer.”

He took a breath, looking up to the sky and stretching his back with a groan. “As with most things, when you want something badly enough, you’ll find a way to get it. Especially if you have something the other party wants in exchange.”

The old man turned as if to go and Allegra stood up, thoroughly confused. “Wait. What do you mean? I need to exchange something?”

He looked over his shoulder, dark eyes sparkling with good humor. “That’s two questions, and you’ve reached your limit. But you’re a smart girl. You’ll figure it out.”

“That’s what they keep saying.” She sighed. “I can’t help but wish the powers that be were a little more specific.”

“Where’d the fun be in that?”

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