Free You're Busting My Nuptials (Tizzy/Ridge Trilogy Book 2) by Ann Everett Page A

closed her eyes and began to sway.
    Outside, Tizzy heard the wind pick up and a low, moaning, rumble of thunder in the distance. Her heart twisted like the trees in the head-winds of the approaching storm.
    Unconsciously, Tizzy began to sway with the same rhythm as Eldora and quickly the cadence spread to the others. A smooth, quiet hum started deep in the old woman’s throat. Tizzy recognized the tune. Amazing Grace.
    She thought of Gracie and how good Ridge treated her. She wanted to cry, but wouldn ’t allow any tears, at least not yet.
    Eldora stiffened, stopped humming, and her e yes popped open. Tizzy’s heart hammered in her chest, slamming against her ribs. “What? Did you get something?”
    Eldora pointed at Jinx and Synola. “You two be sucking all the energy out of this room. Rayann, trade places with Jinx.”
    They made the switch, joined hands again, and the old woman resumed. The thunder moved closer. Lightning split the sky. Flashes pierced the room. Tizzy’s heart pounded harder. The rings heated against her skin.
    The candles flamed up and hissed. Tizzy focused on the woman’s face, her black skin shining like patent leather shoes on Sunday morning.
    Eldora’s voice swelled and changed to a tune Tizzy didn’t recognize. The old woman became rigid, her hand tightened around Tizzy’s, pinching off the flow of blood. She rocked back and forth, her hum getting louder, her movements more pronounced until she screamed out a series of jumbled words.
    The bulky woman relaxed back in the chair and loosened her hands. Beads of sweat rolled down from her head onto her cheeks. She pulled a handkerchief from between her bosom and mopped her face.
    Tizzy gasped. “Did you see something?”
    “A name come to me, Tizzy. Edward . . . Edmond . . . Eddy . . . any of them mean summin’ to you?”
    Tizzy shook her head. “Ridge’s father. His middle name was Edward, but he’s been dead a long time. What could he have to do with Ridge’s disappearance?”
    “I don’t know, child, but that’s what I got and there was one more thang. You ain’t gonna like it.”
    “What?”
    “I’m sorry, child. But I seen death. Cold death.”

Chapter Eleven
     
    Once they gave Ridge’s cell phone to Bubba, it didn’t take him long to check the calls. Within an hour, he’d gotten back to her with the results. Nothing suspicious. All the calls and text messages, both sent and received, were concerning business, friends or Tizzy.
    She wasn’t sure if that was good or bad news. A random call would have least given them a clue.
    She wanted her life back. She wanted to bake and tend bar. The simple movement of taking a glass off the shelf and pouring a drink, or measuring a cup of sugar and creaming it with butter, would take her mind off Eldora’s words. She didn’t want her brain spinning out of control trying to decide which way to go or what to believe. She didn’t want to think about death. Cold death. Certainly not Ridge’s death, but if this Edward or Edmond or Eddy died, so be it.
    Eldora could be wrong, she told herself. The old soothsayer’s track record for removing warts was unparalleled and her talent for making a cheating man impotent put fear into many a local man’s heart. But as far as Tizzy knew, the old woman’s history with death predictions hadn’t been reviewed or rated.
    Tizzy closed her eyes and thought about Ridge. The warmth of him. His arms wrapped firmly around her, his hands sliding over her body leaving lust and desire in their path.
    Her breath caught. She needed rest. She needed comfort. She needed to be with someone who loved him as much as she did. She needed Gracie.
    Once her mind cleared, she found herself sitting in her car, motor running, still in her driveway.
    She didn’t remember telling Rayann, Synola, or Jinx goodbye, but they were gone, so she must have. She put the car in reverse and slowly backed out to the street.
    Fifteen minutes later, she turned down the long road