Page 38 of Landry

“We ran out of gas.”

“That’s what paddles are for,” the older man said.

“An alligator ate it,” Camille said. “But that’s another story for another time. Can you help us?”

“Sure can.” J.D. steered his boat toward the reeds. “I want to hear everything about that alligator.”

Landry dug the pole into the bottom of the bayou and pushed the skiff out into the open. He braced himself in case they were wrong.

As they emerged into the starlight, J.D. switched off the search light and set his engine to idle. The two boats drifted toward each other.

J.D. squinted in the starlight. “Who’s that with you, Ms. Catoire?”

“Landry Laurent,” Landry responded.

“Ah, Mr. Laurent, I’m glad to see our candy maker isn’t out here alone. The bayou can be a dangerous place at night.”

“Tell me about it,” Camille muttered.

“I’m not just talkin’ about ’gators,” J.D. said. “Four-legged critters are easy to handle compared to some two-legged nuisances.”

“Thus, the reason for taking cover in the marsh.” Landry dipped his head. “Glad you came along when you did.”

“Toss me a line,” J.D. said. “I’ll get you back to Ms. Catoire’s dock.”

Camille tossed the line to J.D. He tied it to the back of his little boat, scooped water out of the bottom and sighed. “I need to plug the hole, just haven’t taken the time. But don’t worry yourself. Once we get going, it won’t take on as much water.”

J.D. eased forward until the line stretched taut between them. Then he increased the speed until they were moving along at a marginally faster pace than Camille’s motor had maintained on the way out to the fishing hut.

Landry hadn’t shared why they’d been out in the bayou with J.D., and J.D. hadn’t asked. But then, J.D. hadn’t offered his reason for being out after dark.

What surprised Landry was that Camille hadn’t mentioned the fact they’d been out to J.D.’s fishing hut looking for a boy. Landry wondered if J.D. had been out there recently and if he knew he had a ten-year-old squatter living there.

The ride back to the dock took less than fifteen minutes from the time they’d tied off to J.D.’s boat to when they arrived, none the worse for their adventure.

“Can I pay you for towing us in, Mr. LaDue?” Camille asked.

“No way,” J.D. said. “Just being a good neighbor.”

“Then stop by the store sometime, and I’ll make up a special batch of Rocky Road Fudge with extra marshmallows and nuts.”

“Now that would be right kind of you, Ms. Camille.” He untied the line from the back of his boat. “You can tell me about the alligator then.”

Camille smiled. “You’re on. See you soon.”

“Thank you, Mr. LaDue,” Landry said.

“Call me J.D.,” the older man said.

“You know, I also work at the old boat factory,” Landry said. “Bring that boat by and we’ll see what we can do to plug the hole.”

“Might just do that. Thanks.” J.D. gave a mock salute, turned his boat around and slipped back into the bayou.

Landry tied the skiff to the dock and climbed out of the boat. He reached down and took Ava from her mother’s arms and settled her against his shoulder. Then he reached out his free hand to help Camille out of the boat.

She stepped up onto the dock and into the curve of his arm.

For a long moment, Landry held Camille and Ava against him, glad the night hadn’t ended in tragedy or stretched into morning trying to get back. “Are you all right?” he whispered against Camille’s ear.

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