Changing Hearts by Marilu Mann Page B

couldn’t remember when, and she’d thanked him.
    Slade left the small building, scenting the air. Joie and the old woman, Kay, were in the cabin. Joie probably telling her godmother she’d brought a lunatic home. He turned away from the cabin to take a walk. No time like the present to scope his surroundings out a bit more. He’d been pretty out of it when he’d landed here, so he needed to get more familiar with the area.
    Slade jogged and walked until he felt satisfied that he knew what lay around the cabin for at least a mile in all directions. He stared up at the sky. Though it was still day, he could feel the moon rising. It sent a prickle down his spine, like someone touching him on the inside of his skin, calling to the animal inside him. He knew it would be full in a few days.
    Maybe he could hide out here with these two women. No one in New Orleans would ever expect to find him taking shelter with humans.
    By the time he returned to the cabin both women were sitting on the porch. He wondered how they made their living. Surely they couldn’t survive on being “faith healers”. He stepped up on the porch and stood directly in front of the old woman.
    “I appreciate lunch and the offer of a place to stay. I’d like to pay you for the bed.”
    “We don’t need charity, boy. You just help pay for the groceries you eat and we’ll be square. ‘Sides, you did save me from them punks, consider the bed your reward.”
    Slade stared at Kay for a long moment, then turned his attention to Joie. “How much do you need for groceries?”
    “Well, I’m not sure. I don’t really think we need that much.”
    Slade reached into his back pocket. He peeled two hundreds off the fold of money from his pocket, handing them to Joie. Her mouth fell open and Slade grinned at her.
    “I have a very healthy appetite.”
    The old woman just cackled, and after a moment or two, Slade laughed as well. Joie shook her head, then went inside to put the money away in the kitchen. He looked at the old woman, who winked at him.
    She let her eyes close to nap in the afternoon sun. For a moment he watched her, wondering what had caused her to trust him to that extent. Then he realized that he wanted a nap as well. Funny thing, though, he didn’t feel in danger from her. Stretching out on his back, he soaked up the comforting warmth of the rough wood under him. He laced his hands behind his head and closed his eyes.
    It seemed only a few moments before he heard footsteps. Although he became instantly aware, he kept his eyes closed. The sounds came from the cabin, not toward the cabin. Soft snores told him that the old woman still dozed next to him. He waited until he felt the person standing over him. Opening both eyes like a lazy dog, he winked up at Joie.
    “Oh!” Her exclamation came peppered with half disgust and half dismay. “You knew I was there!”
    “Of course I did. You weren’t exactly quiet and I’m lying on the boards you’re walking on.” His grin seemed to annoy her even further, since she whirled back toward the kitchen.
    “Well, if you want to eat, you can get yourself up off that porch and get cleaned up. Wake Tante Kay up too.”
     
     
    Joie felt her temper rise. Grin at her? Mock her? He’d wear the cornbread she’d just pulled out of the oven. First he came on to her like she was some bar tramp, like one of the Tarbeaux girls, just blurting out that he’d like to take her to bed. Then he tried to make her feel a fool for looking at him.
    Was it her fault the man looked so fine? She’d only wanted to see if that power he exuded dimmed when he slept. She shook her head. Her ire faded as she laughed at herself. Who are you trying to fool, girl? Your hormones were shouting loud and long at you about that man, and if you weren’t so skittish, you’d have taken him up on his offer!
    Malcolm and Tante entered the kitchen to hear Joie laughing softly. She saw them exchange a glance, watched as Tante Kay