Free Ebony Fight (The Guard Duet Book 2) by Natalie Herzer Page A

Stone. “And you too, Stone.”
    Could it be?
    Either Becca had announced their visit or this guy was an oracle. Caught off guard once more, Stone tried for a quick recovery. “Morning, sir.”
    Arthur’s eyebrows shot up, disappearing under the rim of his hat. “Quite polite this one, huh?”
    “He even made me breakfast and did the dishes afterwards,” Becca added in a whisper.
    “Oh my.” Arthur’s laugh was deep and throaty. “Now, sit down you two before I get a cramp in my neck.”
    Stone looked around. Even though they were deep in the bayou, he felt like a sitting duck on the jetty. The lush greenery provided plenty hiding places but the glittering sun on the water would make it harder for him to spot any attackers. He didn’t like this place. It was in the open without being in the open, and that had his senses on alert. However, Stone sat down without a word, choosing the chair on Arthur’s left.
    Caught by surprise, he almost ended up falling through the bottom of the chair. The worn material was torn in the middle and the rip made Stone more than slightly uncomfortable as he tried to find an acceptable position.
    Becca seemed content right where she was, lifting her head to the sun. “How long you’ve been at it, Arthur?”
    “Watched the sunrise. You know how much I love watching the sunrise here.”
    Thinking that if he could get the man to like him, his chances of gaining Becca’s trust would increase, Stone decided to try and make some nice conversation. “How many did you catch so far?”
    The witch’s mouth widened in a smile and Stone took it as a good sign.
    “None,” Arthur replied. “It’s not about the catch, son.”
    Stone frowned at that. Why would the old man sit out here all day if he didn’t catch anything? What was the sense of it all?
    He tried a different approach, wanting to satisfy his curiosity at the same time. “How did you escape Hell?”
    “Same as you, I assume. On my feet.”
    Beyond Arthur’s shoulder, Stone noticed Becca softly shaking her head at him. Touchy subject. He got it. He guessed that torturing the answers out of the guy would probably not work in his favor and so he simply let the matter go.
    Arthur turned to Becca. “So, girl, now tell me what that Ivory Lillian is up to. I know she pulled you in, and I know why you agreed, of course.”
    “She wants to change the rules. To give all a fair chance at Heaven. We just need Satan to agree to that.”
    Arthur’s hand went to his left breast pocket and pulled out a packet of smokes. Lighting one, he tried to turn around as much as possible in his chair to grin at her. “As simple as that, hey?”
    Becca burst out laughing and shrugged. “It’s a chance, Arthur. It’s better than nothing.”
    “True.”
    Stone’s senses perked up at the sound of an engine. Listening in to the witches’ conversation with only one ear, his gaze searched the bayou in the direction from where the hum was coming from. Soon enough a flat boat peeked through the maze of trees rooted in the water. A man and a boy occupied it. Stone tensed as the man’s arm moved, but then realized the guy was only waving in greeting. Just a man and his son enjoying a nice autumn day on the water.
    Stone tried to relax and shifted in his chair.
    “I’m proud of you, girl.  Escaping Hell, going after your own hopes and dreams. Looking after your brother like that.” Arthur coughed and then went on. “You’re fighting for what you want and for the ones you love.” He brought his smoke close to his face, stopped and then moved the cigarette to emphasize his words. “ That takes more courage and will power than just swimming with the flow where you can use the swarm of other fish around you as an excuse.”
    “Thank you, Arthur.”
    The old man put his smoke between his lips and stood with a grunt. “Everyone should decide their own life.” After reeling his line in, he caught the hook in his right hand and sat back down. “We