Free 4 Big Easy Hunter by Maddie Cochere Page B

me.
    I tolerated the cold water for a few seconds before adding the hot, and it didn’t take long to feel alive again. I gave my hair a partial blow dry and worked the still-damp hair into a loose, sideswept braid coming over my right shoulder. It would still be down for the day, but off of my neck and much cooler. I rummaged in my purse for a concealer. A little bit under my eyes would help to hide the slight puffiness and darkness from lack of sleep. Mascara and a swipe of lip gloss, and I was ready to find some clothes. I expected everything would be casual for this first day, so I grabbed a breezy pair of shorts with a wrap tie at the waist. They had an abstract print of bold colors in deep blue, dusky greens, and bright red. I tucked in a loose-fitting, sleeveless, button-down, white shirt with pockets on the front.
    At 9:40, there was a knock at the door, and I opened it to both guys smiling at me with gifts of coffee and a muffin. I threw on white strappy sandals, grabbed my purse, and we were out the door.
    Dell and Lisa had greeted us warmly at the plantation, but Dell couldn’t contain uproarious laughter when he heard the story of Nate’s broken nose. Hopefully, by Saturday, he could remove the small bandage giving support across the bridge. The swelling and bruising would surely be diminished by then, too.
    This was going to be a big wedding, and there were easily over 100 people on the grounds already this morning. Everyone was automatically scheduled today for a tour of LeBlond Plantation followed by lunch at Brennan’s, but we needed to choose the rest of our activities.
    “Let’s start with tonight,” said Darby. He proceeded to read the choices to us, “Pat O’Brien’s, an evening jazz cruise on a steamboat, or a nighttime Cajun bayou tour?”
    “Listen you guys,” I said. “I know we’re supposed to stay together, but I don’t want to say what I want to do, and then you both feel like you have to follow me. If you want to take the bayou tour, which I’m positive I don’t want to do, then we’re simply going to have to agree to do what we want, even if we aren’t together. Ok?”
    “Well, let’s vote,” said Darby. “Nate, you pick first.”
    “Pat O’Brien’s,” he said. I’m good for just sitting, drinking Hurricanes, and listening to music.”
    “Susan?” he asked me.
    “Pat O’Brien’s was my choice, too,” I said smiling. “Sitting, drinking, music – perfect.”
    Darby laughed and said, “It was my choice, too. And it’s only three blocks from the hotel, so if anyone gets tired, they can walk back.” He wrote all of our names under Pat O’Brien’s.
    Wednesday afternoon offered numerous selections to include a shopping package, a French Quarter walking tour, a Garden District tour, and a mystery tour. We all chose the mystery tour. When I was a kid, my mom and dad hauled me around on one-day bus tours. We went on the mystery tours when they were offered, and they were always unusual and fun.
    Wednesday night was an open evening so everyone could explore the city on their own. We agreed we would find somewhere fabulous to eat and then probably do more drinking and listening to good music.
    My parents would be flying in early on Thursday morning. We penciled in all five of us for brunch at Commander’s Palace, and then I nearly squealed when I saw the afternoon activities. Darby started laughing, and Nate just shook his head. We could sign up for a cooking class! We would be taught the secrets of New Orleans cuisine, and then we would cook a complete dinner.
    “Put the three of us down and Mom, too,” I told Darby. “Add Dad’s name under the Harrah’s Casino jaunt. He’ll be happy there while we’re cooking.”
    We signed all of us up to participate in the Bourbon Street night walking tour for Thursday evening. Darby wrote the four of us down for the bridal tea on Friday morning and an afternoon of shopping in the French Market. He slotted Dad in for golf on