Page 35 of Louisiana Protector

“Yeah, I saw you there,” Johnny replied, a definite edge of coolness in his tone.

“I was getting some minnows to fish with,” River replied.

“Minnows? Why on earth would you buy them when ordinary worms will do?” Gus asked.

There followed the three fishermen arguing about the best kind of bait to use.

The rest of the evening passed, and before long Johnny was the last man remaining. Gramps went to bed, leaving the two of them alone. Johnny moved from his chair to sit next to Mimi on the sofa.

She immediately took one of his hands in hers. “Johnny, I’m so sorry about the missing trailer,” she said with sympathy shining from her eyes.

He squeezed her hand, and then she pulled hers back. “Thanks, it’s a real pain, but what really bothers me is not knowing if it was just the work of a common thief or if it was something more personal.”

“I hate to think that it was something more personal.” She gazed at him for a long moment. “You’re wondering if it was one of my friends.”

He nodded. “I found it interesting that River was outside the bait shop when I discovered the trailer missing. Coincidence, or was he wanting to take a look at the chaos he’d created?”

This had become a nightmare. She truly believed one of her friends had grabbed her in the swamp and now this. “I’d think it would be hard to hide the trailer someplace in town.”

“It wasn’t a huge trailer. It would just take an oversize garage,” he replied. “I’m sure Beau will be checking it all out.” He released a deep sigh.

She stood. “Go home, Johnny. You’re obviously exhausted.”

“I am tired,” he admitted and rose to his feet. He gazed at her for a long moment. “Are we still on for Saturday night?”

“As far as I’m concerned, we’re still on,” she replied.

“Thank God, because the anticipation of spending some more alone time with you is all that’s going to get me through this week.”

They walked together to the door. “Get some rest, Johnny.”

He smiled at her. “I plan on doing just that, and I’ll see you tomorrow night.” He raised a hand and stroked it down a strand of her hair and then turned and left.

After he was gone, she locked up for the night and checked on Danny. Thankfully her son was a hard sleeper, and company didn’t keep him awake. She pulled up the sheet over him and fought against the impulse to pull him into her arms. Seeing that he was sleeping so peacefully, she left his room and went into her own bedroom.

As she changed into her nightclothes, her mind whirled with thoughts of the stolen trailer.

Was one of the men who came to her house each night guilty of taking it in an attempt to somehow hurt Johnny? Was River the person responsible? It broke her heart a little bit to realize she no longer trusted any of the men she had considered her closest friends for the last several years.

Maybe it was time she stop allowing them to come visit. Danny would miss his favorite “uncles,” but until she knew who the guilty party was, maybe it was better to distance herself from all of them.

The next day on lunch break, she told Renée her thoughts. “I’m surprised it has taken you this long,” Renée said. “The night that you thought one of them grabbed you in the swamp…that would have been more than enough for me. I would have kicked them all to the curb after that.”

“I just hated to believe one of them could really be responsible,” Mimi replied as she picked at the salad she’d made from the store’s salad bar.

“Who else could it be but one of them?”

Mimi released a deep sigh. “There’s nobody else in the world who would care if I was seeing Johnny again.”

“Bingo,” Renée replied.

“Isn’t it funny that the only person I really trust right now is Johnny?” Mimi said.

Renée took a bite of her ham salad sandwich as she gazed at Mimi. “I’ll be honest, Mimi, I’m really hoping you and Johnny get back together again.”

“Why?” Mimi asked in surprise.

Renée smiled winsomely. “For one reason, it would be good for Danny to grow up with the three of you all together. You know how much I love a good happily-ever-after story. Once you get yours, then you’re going to help me find mine.”