Free Long Black Curl by Alex Bledsoe Page B

Bronwyn also knew the source of Aiden’s sulkiness. “Are you sure it’s her? Did you see her?”
    â€œI haven’t seen her myself,” Bliss said. “But Peggy has.”
    â€œIt’s been a long time,” Chloe said. “She might’ve changed a lot. Maybe Peggy made a mistake.”
    â€œCould you mistake anybody else for Bo-Kate Wisby?” Bliss asked.
    â€œMaybe one of them barracuda fish,” Chloe said.
    â€œI’ve been hearing about her all my life,” Bronwyn said, shifting to find a better position, “but I thought she couldn’t come back.”
    â€œShe shouldn’t be able to,” Bliss said. “She was sung all the way out. It’s the only time that’s ever happened since we came here. She shouldn’t even be able to find Needsville anymore.”
    â€œSo how did it happen?” Bronwyn pressed.
    â€œThat’s just one of the questions we have to find the answer to.” Bliss’s cell phone rang, and she looked at the number. “Well, shit.”
    â€œWhat?” said Chloe.
    â€œIt’s Junior Damo.”
    â€œYou going to answer it?” Chloe asked.
    Bliss shrugged and put the phone to her ear. “Hello? Yes, Junior, I remember you. What can I do for you?” She paused to listen. “Is that a fact? I hadn’t heard about that. What do you think she wants?” Again she listened, and her face hardened. “Well, that just ain’t going to happen. So why are you calling to tell me this?”
    This time she listened for a long moment. “I see. I’ll pass it on, then. It ain’t my decision. Yeah, I got your number. Good-bye.” She turned off her phone and said, “Junior wants to meet with Mandalay.”
    â€œWhat about?”
    â€œHe figures we may all have to get together to get rid of Bo-Kate.”
    â€œShe’s just one woman,” Bronwyn said. “If y’all want, I can—”
    â€œNo,” Bliss and Chloe said together.
    â€œWhat, you think we should just talk to her? Get all touchy-feely with her?”
    â€œI think that may be a better first step,” Chloe said.
    â€œYeah, well, I don’t do touchy-feely. I do punchy-bleedy.”
    â€œI know,” Bliss said. “That’s why you’re not the right person for this.”
    Bronwyn glared at them both. “It’s because I’m pregnant, isn’t it?”
    â€œIt’s because it ain’t your place,” Bliss said.
    â€œShe’s causing trouble. I’m the one who usually stops it when people do that.”
    â€œThis is bigger than what you handle,” Bliss said. “Junior confirmed what Peggy told me: Bo-Kate cut off Rockhouse’s extra fingers. Now I have to go find Mandalay. Get the word out to the other First Daughters, if they don’t already know. Which reminds me … either of you had any dreams about airplanes?”
    Chloe and Bronwyn shook their heads.
    â€œNothing about flying around outside one of them old single-engine planes? Okay, guess it was just me. I’ll be in touch. If I don’t find her before midnight, we’ll have to put the word out to everyone.” She left and descended the hill to her truck. The snow had begun to fall again.
    *   *   *
    Nigel’s voice vibrated along with the shuddering SUV as he said, “Your people’s definition of ‘road’ is very fluid, isn’t it?”
    â€œThis isn’t a road,” Bo-Kate said through clenched teeth. “It’s a driveway.”
    â€œDoes anyone ever use it to leave?”
    â€œNot if they can help it.”
    It was early evening, and the mountain shadows made it dark for all practical purposes. The trees and terrain kept the house hidden until the very last minute, when the SUV rounded a bend and emerged into a clearing. The headlights raked dramatically across the front porch, illuminating