A/N Edited as of 8/16/2014. I can't leave my own work alone. I'm weird that way.

I woke to the tread of heavy footsteps down the hall and knock on my door.

"Come in." I called.

Tee-bo came in, looking huge, happy and healthy as a gator. He sported a trimmed beard and goatee, and had put on at least twenty pounds of pure muscle. His boots were dusty but looked to be in fair shape, his jeans and dark blue tee shirt not frayed or missing seams. There was a patch on one thigh but he looked well, extremely well.

"Jack Daniels! When I heard you were here I couldn't hardly believe it! How are you podna?" Well wasn't it a relief to talk Cajun French again with an old friend. Now this made me feel at home.

I got up to give my friend a strong grasp of my hand and clasp around the shoulder. "Tee-bo! Great to see you! I'm well. Just taking a rest. It was a long couple of days drivin' here."

When we separated Tee-bo fingered my shirtsleeve with a grin. "Nice shirt."

"Ouais. The clothes were in my room when I got here, along with a hot bath. Y'all sure are hospitable round here."

"Well, we are to some folk, but you'd be welcome no matter what, Jack. You should know that. Any idea who sent the clothes?"

"Not really. Maybe one of the Greenes or your mere. Why? Does it matter?"

"Naw. Not really. The shirt looks strangely familiar is all." He said this with an odd sort of smile on his face, as though the shirt might provoke a pleasant memory or an inside joke. It nagged at my memory in the most annoying way.

"You know, I thought so too. Couldn't place it though."

"Heh. Damn, it's good to see you Jack. Wish you'd come back sooner, but I'm glad you're here now."

"Looks like farm life agrees with you. How are things at Haven? Your mere said you live here now? For how long?"

"Since three days after the flash." We settled in on the bed to chat, leaning against the head and footboards. "We walked all the way here. I told Evie you told us to come here after, that they'd need help growing and harvesting crops and we'd like to help work them. Earn our keep."

I winced when Tee-bo got to the "Jack said" part, figuring that hadn't gone over well. "How did that go?"

"They took us right in. Treated us like family. Gave us our own rooms and we've been here ever since."

"You moved in that day?" I hadn't heard this news.

"That very day. We hadn't expected so warm a welcome, that's for sure, but Evie and Karen, they said Haven had been empty for far too long and it was high time it was filled up again. Wouldn't hear of us sharing rooms, gave everyone our own room."

I made a noise of appreciation. That was going pretty far. Having grown up sleeping on the couch and knowing the Jandins also kept tight quarters, everyone in their own room at Haven would've been the lap of luxury.

"Then I brought over Lionel to help out around Haven."

Again I winced. Evangeline had thought he was a criminal. She wasn't wrong, strictly speaking. I couldn't imagine she'd have wanted him around. "And Evangeline just went along with that?"

"She may not have been real comfortable with him, but she didn't say one word against him. He helped me fix up a second cart for the horses. Four of them survived, all thanks to you I hear."

"She told you about that?" After the way we'd left things, I wouldn't have expected that of her.

"She told all of us about that. If there's one thing you did I doubt she left it out podna."

Heh. Strange. I wondered what made her change her mind so quick?

"Anyway, when suppertime came around she invited Lionel to say and eat and then offered him his pick from that day's haul." When I raised my brows in question Tee-bo clarified, "What the other's had found looting houses of the deceased around town. She took him down to the cellar and let him have his choice of whatever he wanted."

I rubbed the short beard growing in on my chin. Hasty drives and sleepless nights didn't allow much time for shaving. The more things changed, the more they stayed the same. Evangeline Greene was still as much a puzzle as ever. Only this time, my friends were hers too, giving me an inside source. Mais, I hadn't expected her to go so far when I'd sent them, not in a hundred years. "His pick? She just let him choose anything he wanted?"

"That she did. I went down with him, helped him settle on a hunting rifle, woulda been worth over a thousand bucks before the flash. Then we looked at her to see if she thought that was alright and she just asked if he'd found what he wanted. When he said that he had, she just said she was happy he found something he liked! Even gave him a couple boxes of shells and tried to throw in a bottle of liquor on top of that!" Tee-bo laughed.

"Why would she do all that?"

"I still doan know, me. She's always been generous, that girl."

"She was rather welcoming. Much more than I would have expected to be honest. Evangeline and I didn't exactly part on the best of terms. Mais, when I came in, she offered food, drink, and a place to stay for as long as I wanted. She didn't barter or haggle, just offered it all, straight up. Strangest thing I ever heard."

"Why would Evie haggle with you Jack?"

"Mais, we didn't exactly part on the best of terms, podna."

"Ouais, she told us you tangled a bit the night of the flash."

My temper flared and I scowled. Only reason I could think of for her to do that was to try and blacken my name. "What did she say exactly?"

"Mais, I don't remember exactly. She wouldn't give specifics, and it took her a while to stop crying before she could talk to us."

"Crying?" I'd figured she would've been angry at me and tried to poison them against me. "Why was Evangeline crying?"

"Man, seriously? She was worried! She'd asked after you and Clotile when we'd been to the Basin and back. When we said we didn't see you at your home, mais Jack, the fille broke down sobbing in my arms, saddest thing I ever saw. The only thing I could do was hold her. She totally went to pieces. When she managed to get a hold of herself she told us that she'd had a fight with you the night before the flash and she'd said things to you, wouldn't say what exactly, but she told us she was sure she was the reason why you were gone. She was worried sick about you, you and Clotile both, being out there in the world, in danger and it bein' her fault."

All he could do was hold her when she cried.

I'd never been able to handle a woman's tears. When my mother cried, there was nothing I could do to fix her problems. Couldn't fix her wanting a man she couldn't have, couldn't fix her needing money we didn't have. All I could do was walk away, try and make things better in my own way. Catch supper, find something I could use to improvise with, improve our situation on my own, with my own two hands. Sometimes she noticed and sometimes she didn't. Mais, I had always, but always, hated her tears.

Holding her...while she cried? This was something strange and never before considered. I hadn't cried since I was little. I didn't remember how old I was, just that Maman's husband, now ex-husband, had put me in the hospital on one of his drunken rages. Had she held me when I'd cried? I don't remember. I remember her tryin to protect me from him while I cried, getting me into the car, while I favored my side and arm, where he'd broken bones. Then she'd gotten in, her face purple and swollen from where he'd hit her, tears falling.

Tee-bo studied me real close now. I realized he was waiting for a response. "Ouais, we did get into it that night." I cleared my throat. We'd both said things. And there'd been a lot more to mess with my head that just what she'd said. A hell of a lot more.

"But there was more to it that just our fight. Lots more. After the Flash, I came back home. And after what happened there..." I looked away and out the window. "I needed to clear off for a while. What happened was...a nightmare." I said quietly. I didn't want to talk about it.

"I hear you Jack. We, Pere, Lionel and me, we went to your house. So we know." I looked at him and saw that he understood exactlywhat had happened that night. "We didn't tell anyone else, but we tried to tell Evie that it wasn't her fault. Doan know how much she believed us, but she didn't say nothin' else about it after that."

I nodded.

"Sorry that happened podna. Shouldn't have gone down the way it did, an you shouldn't have had to deal with it on your own."

"Ouais. Merci." I looked out the window, ready to be done with this topic.

"Mais, anyway, you'll always find a welcome wherever Evangeline is Jack. No two ways about it. The fille cares about you.

I laughed at him. "Back to your story."

"Right. Anyway. It was getting dark so we rode out to take Lionel home."

After dark? Uh oh... "I'm bettin' you found trouble."

"Oh we did. Or trouble found us. Lionel broke in his shotgun and Pere and I got some target practice with our pistols. Took us a few shots to figure out it took a bullet to the head to kill 'em. Then we headed back to Haven as fast as the horses could run. Man did those suckers stink." Tee-bo laughed. "Evie'd shown me drawings, but seein' those things in real life? Disgusting man!"

"Mais, yeah. I'd take a team of ten men in the militia. We'd go out hunting bag men armed to the teeth. Disgusting chore, but it needed doing."

"Is that what you've been doing all this time?"

"Pretty much. Clotile wanted to be doing the shooting too, but they stuck her in the kitchens. Shame too. She's a great shot."

"That she is." We've all been hunting together on occasion. "So when we get back, Lionell thanks Evie for the gun and tells her he's reconsidered her offer to stay the night and he'd be happy to sleep in the barn."

I snort a laugh. "He probably figured she wouldn't trust a thief like him in her big house."

"Probably. But Evie, she didn't even blink. She told him he wasn't welcome in the barn. Not when they had over a dozen empty beds in the manor. And he's been here ever since."

Now that was a surprise. "For true?"

"For true."

"That wasn't even the biggest of the changes. Not even a couple days later Evie'd convinced her mere to put pere and mere in charge of finding more Cajun families to bring to Haven to help work. That snowballed into making pere the acting Governor of Haven. What he says goes. All the men report to him, abide by his rule, and are subject to his say so."

I couldn't quite wrap my head around that notion. "Just how did that come about? I would've thought the Greene's would've kept the power. It's their house and land still ain't it.?"

"Oh, it is. Karen runs the farm. She and ma mere handle the women folk and any discipline that needs handled among them. We still defer to them on some matters, but she and Evie made it clear they wanted pere to be the figurehead, to take the lead. Insisted on it as a matter of fact."

I scratched my head. This was nuts. The Cajuns were in charge of Sterling? They'd always had us as their servants and enjoyed it that way. How had things reversed so dramatically?

"Why-?" I was still shaking my head in confusion.

"Yeah, I asked Evie about that, right from the first. After she complained that we Cajuns are too perceptive by half, apparently, you and I are both annoying as hell that way podna," I barked a laugh at that before he continued, "she told me the story of how you convinced her to tell you about her visions and dreams, helped her figure out what they meant, and convinced her to tell Mel. Because of this she and Mel made the fliers, again with your help. She's convinced that without you, we'd all be dead."

It was...strangely gratifying to hear that she'd honored me in such a way, playing up my part in the whole thing to my friends after I'd left, but it didn't answer my question. "That's good of her to say all that about me, but what does it have to do with-"

"Ouais, that's what I said. After pulling a bit more she told me that she trusted us because you'd sent us , that she and her mere didn't know how to do what needed doing and we did, that they weren't about to take credit for what they hadn't done and finally that we, my pere, me and Lionel, should be seen by everyone as the leaders we are!"

I just stared at him in amazement. My Evangeline had said all that?

"I know!" He said pointing at me as I sat with my mouth slightly open. "That's exactly how we all felt, and acted. But that's the way she and her mere wanted it. So we let them have their way. We still defer to them as much as we can, but we do that too much, they stop answering questions and just tell us to shove off and do our jobs cause we know what we're about better than they do."

"What jobs do you and Lionel have?"

"I'm in charge of the hunting parties, deciding where we're goin' an' what we're catchin' that day. Your ole podna Lionel? Evie put him in charge of raiding an' sourcin'. He finds the hard to get things. Popular guy around here that's for sure. You remember Evie's girl Mel?" I nodded. She'd been full of flare and attitude, not one any man could forget. "Two of them hit it off right quick. Been married for months now an' are expectin'."

I nearly choaked. Then I chuckled. Then I laughed, hard. Tee-bo joined in. "For true? My ole thievin' podna an that high class society fille are hitched and expectin? This is an alternate universe I've stepped into."

Tee-bo's chuckles died down and he looked uncomfortable. "What?" I asked.

"Mais, he ain't the only one that's been hitched around here. Most young folk are wed now podna."

My throat dried up. No. I hadn't noticed a ring...

"Did...did Evie-?"

"Evie? Is that what has you all in a knot? No podna. She's been a lonesome dove this whole time. She ain't looked at another man since the flash. Not even so much as holding hands."

"Heh. That's interesting. She had any that were interested in trying?"

"Any? Try dozens. She'll dance with some folks at the fais do dos, but she mostly sticks with the fellas she calls "safe."

"'Safe?' Who's not safe?" I felt my temper flare.

"Easy, Jack. It's not like you're thinking. She means the guys who aren't interested and wouldn't be interested. The ones that are too young, too old, just friends, or already taken, like me and Lionel. The men who are single and would be interested and willing to date her, she doesn't dance with. And they know that. If they can't take a hint, Lionel, pere or me, we have a word with them. Evie's too nice to be firm. We ain't."

Well, at least she had my podna's to look out for her.

"Why do you think she does that? Kinda strange ain't it?"

"Seems to me that there's someone she's pining over. Never said it straight out, but she gets this lovelorn look in her eyes now and again."

Heh. Who would she be pining for? Did I dare hope I still meant something to her? We'd only been together a few days months and months ago. It had been a hell of a few days, but still...

"How does she get out of it when they ask?"

"Evie's say she's tired and point out a single girl who's not dancing and who'd be interested and send them off to try their luck else where. Maybe suggest a flower from the courting garden if they need a little luck or courage before asking the girl. Things like that. Sometimes she'll say she's hungry or thirsty. She really has no end of excuses."

"Fais do-do? You got parties on Saturdays? Regular?"

"We shore do podna. Every Saturday things get real excitin' round here. Good music, great food, dancin, sometimes even drinks."

"Drinks?"

"Thought that would catch your interest. We make our own here. Bet you could figure out which kind."

If I had enough information. If the rules didn't apply and they could grow anything...this used to be a big ole sugar cane farm. I didn't see any green sugar cane growing right now, but all the sun scorched cane stalks had been cleared away after that briar hedge... "You still grow sugar cane here?"

He touched his nose and pointed at me. I was right. "Rum. You got rum in the cellar Tee-bo?"

He laughed. "That we do. Though if it were up to Mel and Lionel we'd guzzle it as soon as it was made watching Pirates of the Caribean. That movie's a lot funnier when you're taking a shot every time the word is mentioned. Not to mention the whole crown shouting Rum! Every time the word is said. It's a real hoot!"

I grinned, imagining. They'd been living it up here. Made me wish I hadn't left.

"Courting garden?"

"The only place where flowers grow. It's Evie's pet project. She wanted someplace where the girls that are being romanced could get flowers. Not like you can go to a florist anymore. So there's one garden where all the flowers are. Beaux can go pick a flower there for a fille they fancy. Makes a good place to stroll through with ma belle too."

"Ma belle? You got a girl?"

"Sure do. Been married a while now. She's expecting too. Name's Skylar."

"Coo-wee. Well, that's good news! Congratulations!" I slapped his knee.

"Thanks! You'll meet her at supper."

"Tee-bo Jandin. Married man. And almost a father."

He puffed out his chest and I laughed. "Looks good on you."

Tee-bo was staring at me with a calculating look. "What?"

"You seein' anyone?"

I gave a harsh laugh. "Who is there to see? Besides Clotile, men out numbered the women in my outfit fifteen to one! I was too busy killing baggers and off on scouting missions to bother with any of them. Didn't any of them peak my interest anyway. It was hell out there, not exactly the setting for a romance."

He laughed. "Maybe you'll take some advice from an old married man then."

I laughed at that. "I might."

"Go pick a flower from the courting garden, and ask Evie to dance tonight."

I raised my brows. Not that I wouldn't have tried anyway, but him pushing was interesting. "Now what makes you think I've got a shot when all the other's don't? I thought you said she avoided all the single, available men?"

"She has, ever since you." He raised his brows.

"I'll remind you, we didn't part on the best of terms. You really think she'd give me a shot?"

He eyed my shirt again, then looked at me. "Let's just say, I have a feeling. She keeps her cards close to the vest. The only way to know for sure what's in her hand, is to play a few rounds, see how things go. But I've seen a few hints and tells that give me a good feeling where you and she are concerned."

I grinned. "Being married has turned you into Mr. Vague and Mysterious.

He looked sheepish and scratched his beard. "Mais, maybe it's something about talking with women more."

"Let's say I did get her to dance with me. Then what. I doan know nothin' bout courtin'. Someone like Evangeline, she'd deserve to be courted right, to be given fine things." I'd never felt so inadequate as I did around her, and I did not like that feeling.

He smiled and gave me a nod. "Ain't that hard podna. Fille's around here, they've gotten used to keepin' things simple."

"But someone like Evangeline-"

"Podna, even when Lionel was courtin' Evie's girl Mel, he kept it simple. Gave her his time, brought her a gift he found, went hunting, and gave her passion. Talked to her sweet, listened to her when she spoke. That's all they need and all they want. Doan make it harder than it is."

"For true?"

"For true. Now round here, we start off the courtin by bringin' 'em somethin' from the courtin' garden, take 'em for a walk, show 'em a good time at the Fais do-do on Saturdays. Other than that, we keep 'em protected, maybe escort 'em home if they doan live on Haven, bring 'em treats they like we may have found raiding, we know they're partial to. All goes well, we propose, announce, and have the weddin' on Saturday at the Fais do do. Ain't all that complicated podna."

"That's all there is to it huh?" Didn't sound that hard come to think of it. I'd done some of that for my mere and for Clotile.

"Mais, yeah. The fille's, they'll give it back to. Cook you somethin they got the fixin's for or fix your clothes, put a patch or fix a hem. Where ever their talents lie. Some of them are still learnin' but they'll get there. Lot of 'em would like a ring but we all know how it is. Ain't always possible. Sometimes just saying I do in front of witnesses is good enough for the girl."

I had no doubt that a girl like Evie'd want a ring, one with a rock. Never mind it wouldn't be safe to wear it anywhere but here. That made my thoughts turn dark. I looked away.

"I'm glad you're back Jack, but I heard you came bringing some news."

"Ouais. Army of the NorthEast is headed your way. Three Thousand men strong. They're bad news and you can't stop them. Army that size, only thing you can do is run." I looked back at my old friend. "Sorry to be the bearer of bad news."

"We knew it was coming someday, just glad you found us before we had to leave." He paused. "Will you stay with us, when we go?"

"Sounds as if we're headed in the same direction for the time being. Evangeline asked for my outfit to escort the Haven folk West. I tol' her I'd put a word in. Shouldn't be a problem though, so long as you've got the food an' gas to spare. Our militia usually has to source those on the road which slows the pace of travel. If you have enough to share, that's a powerful incentive."

Tee-bo gave a firm nod. "That woan be a problem. You left us in good condition, and things have only improved since then. Lionel's been a wiz at findin' extra gas. We figure we have plenty for the trip and enough to spare."

"Mind if I look at your figures? Travel's changed since the flash. Road conditions and wind storms an such decrease speed. You'll be able to travel through some areas you might not dare otherwise since you'll have safety in numbers, but I'd feel better knowing you're set before offering your resources if you can't really spare 'em."

"Sure. Though, we planned not to travel during the winds. Might as well not waste the gas. I'll get the books now. You can have a look before supper if you like. "

"I'll have a quick shave and do that."

Tee-bo clasped my hand again and slapped my back a few times and walked out, letting me know when and where dinner would be served.

I moved to the bathroom before I started shaving, I pulled out my phone, pulling up one of the pics Brandon had of Evie's face, proping it up on the counter to look at while I worked. She hadn't forgotten me. What's more, she'd regretted telling me not to come back. I could work with that.

When I'd carried her to her room this morning, she'd lain quiet and content in my arms the whole way, her arms draped around my neck, her breath on my throat. I'd felt her fingers in my hair, feather light. It sent frissons of pleasure through my body, though I'd tried to ignore it with Karen right next to me. She'd seemed practically dead to the world as I laid her on her bed.

Seemed like my goal of her looking up to me had been at least somewhat achieved if she credited me with getting Haven on the road to success. Considering the huge success it seemed to be, that was saying something. I just needed an opening to get back in with her. I lay there plotting how to bring that about. Fortunately, I had time. The road to Texas was long. I had plenty of time to make her mine again.

I flipped to a bikini pic. I wanted so desperately to see her alive and writhing with passion as I had that night in the fields. Patience...

I headed down to look over the books. Tee-bo directed me to an office where Lionel was waiting with a computer of all things. It looked like one of our old school issue laptops. After we exchanged greetings and Lionel got on to me for staying away so long, they explained the Greene's had the foresight to store a lot of their electronics in the cellar the night before the flash. They didn't use them often afterwards, trying to preserve them for as long as possible.

I flipped through the spreadsheets of their figures. The types of transportation they'd acquired, how many people they were putting on which transports. What the... "Do you seriously have one, no, two double decker buses? Where the hell did you find those?"

"Greyhound station, podna. Ain't like we been planning this thing last minute. Evie told us to plan this about two weeks after the flash. Maybe sooner."

"Right." I shook my head. I kept scrolling. "Two eighteen wheelers. An industrial kitchen on wheels. Well, those are all gas hogs, but as long as you got the gas..."

Lionel took the mouse and flipped to the next page. "Holy..." I just stared and breathed. "You doan breath a word about how much you really got. You keep those gas rations hidden behind some other stores." I told them, turning to point a finger at them both. "Folks have killed for these kind of stockpiles. Hell, wars have probably been started over less." Seeing they took me serious I turned back to the spreadsheet. "You got two separate sets of gas figures. Diesel and unleaded? Where're you findin' all the diesel?"

"We make it. One of the folks pranked and saved was a chemistry teacher." Lionel said, leaning back on the desk. He grinned, crossing his arms. "Apparently he was young enough and hot enough that a senior at Evangeline's party called him all Sunday long." I laughed at that. I hadn't had chemistry but I could imagine. "They got hitched a couple months back."

"Go to bed!"

"For true." Tee-bo confirmed. "Her parents were a little leery at first, but he's a good sort, just twenty-five and she was over eighteen and doin' a woman's work at Haven, and doin' most of the chasin'. He couldn't resist and frankly, I wouldn't have done either in his place, they were well suited. The rents didn't have much cause to object anymore. We've done away with a lot of the conventions around here. Things got a lot simpler, but over all, we're better for it."

Lionel got back to his gas explanation. "Anyway, he had the idea to start converting used oil and the lye the women make into bio-diesel. He and a couple guys worked in a garage together converted the engines to run off the gas we started making."

I was flat out stunned. No other word for it. That was brillant. "That was brillant, Lionel. The man should get an award for that."

"He got hitched to a young beauty who's hot for him and rights to appropriate condoms and lingerie or other items from the stores we raid. I'd say the man's happy enough."

I grinned and rubbed my jaw. Ouais, that'd make for wedded bliss alright.

Speaking of sharing stores, that reminded me. "By the way, what's your plan about sharin' food? Evie told me you planned to offer food and fuel, but if you let them know you've got fresh food when no one else in the world does, mais, that might be a problem too."

Now their eyes held the concern I thought they should. Lionel stood beside me and crossed his big arms. He'd gained muscle over the last months too. We all had. "You sayin' your militia might get it into their heads to take what's ours? By force?"

"I'm saying you've got somethin' no one else does, not anywhere. Something, as far as I can tell, no one else ever will." I stood up and walked to the window, pointing outside. "You know you've got a miriacle happening out there every day. But do you know that nothing grows, not anywhere, except for here?"

"Nothing grows? Not anything?" Tee-bo asked.

"That's right." I told him. "Not one stalk of grass. Not a single weed. I've not seen one green living thing in all my months of traveling since the flash except for here."

They looked at each other, and something passed between them, something important.

Then Lionel asked me, "If nothing grows, what are people eating?"

"Not much, that's for sure. First people raided the stores. Those are all gone now. I've gotten pretty good at sourcing food that's still left in out of the way places. Those spots most folks don't think to look. There's a new food chain out there. Most folks have lost their minds. They've started turning against their neighbors, against their friends, against their own families. Some, even turned canibal when the food was gone. It's the strong against the weak. This place you've built, it's a paradise, but it's the only one left."

"Now, if you're planning to share food with the militia, sooner or later, they'll know you've got fresh food. And they're goan to want to know how you got fresh when no one else in the world does." "The way I see it, you got three options. You ain't told them anything yet. You can keep two separate camps on the way down, trade canned goods only, and try and separate once you get where you want to settle. Or you can let them in on your secret, increase your numbers and the number of armed men willing to defend your settlement once you get where you're going. Or third, you can stick with your first option until someone slips up, which is likely, but then you don't control the negotiation, which leaves you on the road with a potentially hostile guard, who are upset that you haven't been sharing all you've had to share, and now you may not have the option to allow them to settle with you, but may be forced in to it, while your women and children are in the middle of the negotiations. All less than ideal."

"If you have enough to share without doing without, option one would be best. If not, might be best to trade canned goods and fuel for ammo, keep two separate camps, and follow them to Texas."

Tee-bo nodded. "I'll speak with Pere and Karen about it. We'll get back to you."

"But not Evie?"

"No. She'll want to know what we decide, but Pere and Karen will make the final call."

I heard a metal bell clang. "That'll be the dinner bell. Best get outside." Tee-bo rubbed his hands together in anticipation.

"What're we havin'?" I asked.

"Crawfish. Caught a bunch from the wildlife refuge up north. Had to shoot a few baggers to get-em, but we'll be eatin' well tonight."

I raised my brows, impressed. "Nice, Tee-bo."

"Well, wasn't much." He shrugged. "We killed off most of the bagmen around these parts after the first few months. Now it's just stragglers that wander through." He ran his hand through his hair. "Damn shame to leave."

Ouais, it sure was. We headed out, and my friends introduced me to their wives. Wives. Man, I could not get used to that. And one of them pregnant! Shoot. We shook hands, Skylar giving me a shy smile with one hand on her belly. She wasn't quite showing yet, only a couple months along. Mel giving me a shake that nearly made me wince. I grinned instead. She'd always had fire. Suited Lionel to a T. The seat across from me stayed empty, even after grace was said and the food was served, the crawfish boil dumped in a long line across the table, steaming and smelling so good I was hard pressed to keep my tongue in my mouth.

The crawfish were impressive, but the fruits and veggies even more so. Fresh oranges and lemons lined the table, cut in half to squeeze over your dinner or to eat raw if you wanted. Steamed vegetables were mixed in with the crawfish and even though I loved meat, I hadn't had good veg in months so I went for those first: asparagus, broccoli, carrots, artichokes, green beans and red potatoes with onions and garlic mixed in. It felt like I hadn't eaten real food before I'd sat down to this mean. I looked across the table to Clotile and I could see she felt the same. We were both trying to stuff our faces while trying not to look like we were stuffing our faces. We moaned and exclaimed over how very bon the food was.

After a few minutes Mel excused herself and said she was going to go see what was keeping Eves. Lionel and Tee-bo asked me about what I'd been up to while I was away, so I told them about my duties in the Militia and being promoted to Sergeant in less than four months.

I heard steps behind me on the porch, so I turned, and what I saw made me take a good long look. Mel and Evangeline had finally arrived. Mel breezed past her to the table but Evie stood there frozen, all decked out in finery. She wore a jolie blue dress that fell halfway down her thighs that swished with the breeze as she walked, the small sleeves fluttering over her shoulders, with a belt that hugged her slim waist, and sandals that wrapped around slim ankles. A long blue ribbon banded over her head, keeping her hair back, reminding me of the red silk ribbon I always kept in my pocket, a reminder of a September night so long ago. At her ears, neck and one slim finger, jewels glistened, sapphires and diamonds. I craved that blue ribbon, wanting that token to join my red one with a craving that made my mouth water, but those gems were a reminder that she was firmly out of my reach, and likely always would be, no matter what Tee-bo hinted at. I stuck one hand in my pocket, feeling the silky ribbon twining around my fingers as I looked her up and down with appreciation.

As Mel rounded the table she told us that Eves was just getting cleaned up after working in the garden. Apparently, digging up potatoes could be dirty work. That was interesting information. So she didn't spend all her time just sitting in the chair, but actually helped in the fields too? I liked that.

Finally Evie got a move on and headed our way. She was hypnotique. Her long blonde hair had a slight curl to it, bouncing and waving with every step she took, reminding me of the song Jolie Blon. -Pretty Blonde. Mais, I was determined not to let her slip away like the girl in the song.

She looked to my left, and to my right, before finally looking at me. When she did, her breath caught and a blush heated her cheeks. Mais, unlike our last encounters when we were in school, she only briefly held my gaze, before her lashes lowered over her eyes and she looked down. When she took her seat across from me, I thought she'd have to look at me then, but she kept her gaze shyly lowered, only lifting her eyes to look at Clotile or Mel on either side of her.

What was this about? She wouldn't even look at me now? I kept talking with Lionel and Tee-bo, Clotile, Mel, Ronan and the rest, mostly in Cajun, but sometimes in English as Mel hadn't learned Cajun completely yet, though she said she enjoyed the practice with a heated look at Lionel that he returned. My annoyance with Evangeline began to rise to anger as her avoidance of me became more obvious. When she offered to take Clotile to pick up anything she needed after supper, and me too, the rage boiled over.

"Just like that? Whatever we need? It's that easy?" Didn't she understand that nothing in this world came without strings? I had no desire to be indebted to her. I wanted to be on equal footing for once, not to owe anything to this rich fille who seemed to think everything in life was so easy, when I'd had to work and scrap and earn everything I had.

Lionel answered. "Sure is podna. What's ours is yours." I looked at him to find he was grinning. But I wasn't in the mood for joking and I didn't want to hear it from him. I wanted to hear it from her. I wanted her to stop ignoring me and pay attention. And I didn't want a hand out. I'd been given more than enough.

"A trade is one thing." I told them both, making it clear I was including both of them in the conversation. "Doan need charity."

Tee-bo snorted a laugh. Did he think this was funny? I was in no mood for it. I scowled at him. But he wasn't looking at me, he was looking across the table at Evangeline. "You wanna take this one Evie? I think you've given this speech a few times, just not to the man himself."

What was he on about now? I looked across the table at her, to find a half smile on her face. She dusted off her hands and took a drink, and then her eyes focused on me, and I was a bit surprised because for the last half hour she'd spent the whole time shyly avoiding my gaze. There was nothing shy about her now.

"Jack? How much is a horse worth after the flash?"

Why were women always changing the subject on you? Did she want to trade one with the militia? "Pretty near priceless in terms of the amount of meat you could get from 'em. Though feeding 'em would be near impossible unless you're anywhere but here."

"Fine. How about fifty gallons of fuel?"

I narrowed my eyes from across the table. "That'd be worth quite a lot. You could trade that for pretty much anything you wanted." Where was she going with this? I knew they had a lot more than that. I didn't though. My tank didn't hold that much and they'd already given me some without asking. Did she want it back?

"How much are four dozen chickens, or two cows, or four goats worth?" I sat back, remembering telling my podnas to round up animals before the flash happened. Helping round up three of those stubborn goats and a couple dozen of those damn chickens that were too coo-yon to know what was good for them. Then I'd had to go home to check on my mere. My eyes widened with realization.

She nodded, seeing that I was getting what she was saying. "How much are over three hundred lives worth to you Jack?" She asked softly, her deep blue eyes. "Surely they're worth a few pieces of clothes and supplies. I don't think a single person here would object. But you're welcome to ask if they mind." She jerked her thumb over her shoulder, then dropped it again. "I can guarantee you they won't give a care what you take."

She picked up a crawfish and started peeling it. Now why did seeing that belle fille, all dolled up with her hair in that blue ribbon gettin' her hands dirty like she didn't care start to turn me on?

"Evangeline, I didn't save three hundred people. Was your visions that did that." I told her firmly. I was no hero.

Tee-bo snickered beside me. "Ain't gonna win that argument podna. She's got stubborn mastered."

She didn't bother looking up, just continued arguing. "Wasn't for you, I wouldn't have known the full moon was only a few days away. I would've thought it was just another delusion and tried to forget about it." Now she looked and pointed her dirty finger at me. "You're the one who convinced me to show you the picture of what I saw."

"You could've figured that out on your own. Anyone can google something."

She stopped peeling the prawn and looked me dead in the eyes, shaking her head. "I wouldn't have." She told me with firm conviction. "You made me realize I didn't have time to waste. That I had to pay attention right then. You're the one who convinced me to tell Mel. If I hadn't, she wouldn't have thought of the prank. If she hadn't thought of the prank, and you hadn't altered it and convinced us to make fliers, there might only be ten or less people sitting here instead of four hundred."

She pointed a finger at me, the fire in her voice sending freesons up my arms and my spine. "You did that Jack." Her voice cracked. She paused then continued,"Don't sell yourself short."

Clotile said dramatically beside Evie, "She told you!" Then nudged Evie with her shoulder and cracked up, Mel, Skylar all hooting with laughter. Tee-bo and Lionel jostled me with their meaty arms chuckling. Any other time this would have called for hearty slaps on the back, but crawfish boil was a delicious and messy meal.

I wanted to see Evangeline's eyes again but those blue eyes were firmly locked on her food the rest of dinner unless she was talking to one of the women beside her. Shy tonight. What would it take to get her attention? Maybe I needed to get her alone...

Then Ronan stood up and all at the head table pounded their fists on the table a few times, then stopped, when Ronan raised his hands.

"Friends, Family. We have honored guests tonight. You've all heard the story of a young man who helped spread the word on that night long ago. Our Evie and Mel passed our prank fliers with life saving phrase.

Everyone echoed, "Don't look at the lights!"

"But they had some help, as you may recall from several young men. Our Brandon threw a rather large and loud party where the fliers were distributed across at least three counties." Where Brandon was he stood and those around him cheered and slapped his backs. "Which drew some notice from the police as I recall."
"Worth it!" He shouted to laughter from the crowd.

"And we also had help from several young men you know from our Cajun crowd. Tee-bo, Lionel and Gaston helped distribute fliers through the Basin Parish, announcing a potluck and petting zoo and emergency food and supply drive for the needy. Little did we know, the needy would be us."

Laughter. I laughed too. It was pretty funny that the joke was on them.

"They were very busy that night, disabling and damaging cars, stealing animals..."

More laughter from the crowd.

"It was all for a good cause!" Lionel yelled.

"Indeed it was." Ronan answered. "In fact, it was a grand beginning for the leader of our Raiding team, wouldn't you all say?"

More cheers and table banging. I slapped him on the back. "Popular guy around here aren't you podna?"

"That I am." He grinned, his chest wide and proud.

"But there's someone I've left out of our tale so far tonight."

"Jackson! Jack!" Came from shouts all around the lawn, even from the table. What in the Hell?

"That's right! What did Jack do?"

"Helped Evie figure out the clues, cause he's good at puzzles!" Ronain shouted, grinning large at me from across the table.

"That's right!" Ronan thundered. "And after they solved the puzzle then what?"

"Convinced her to talk to MEL!" One of the little girls yelled off to the side.

Seriously? What? Was this a bedtime story for these kids? This was unreal. I looked at Clotile. Her eyes were dancing with mirth.

"That's right! And after that?" Ronan called.

"Jack told Evangeline and Mel to make Fliers to pass out!" One of the teen boys on the middle tables yelled.

"Right! What else?" Ronan asked, then pointed out people who called out answers.

"He saved the Greene's horses!"

"He organized the church potluck."

"He called on his podnas to spread the word."

"He helped saved the Basin folk and their animals!"

I was dumbstruck. They'd remembered me. They'd remembered what I'd done.

"There are other things he's done but those are the things we want you to remember. Now the reason we changed the story tonight is because our special guests are Clotile, Jack's sister. Stand up Clotile!"

She stood and waved. The roar of greeting was pure thunder. Then she sat.

"And our other guest is a member of the Louisiana Militia. He's been ridding the state of Bagmen since the flash. Our very own Jackson Deveaux! Stand up Jack."

Tee-bo and Lionel shoved at me and I stood to thunder and screams and clapping. I waved and smiled but it was surreal. Was this what a celebrity felt like? They'd made me into some sort of hero. I'd just done what needed doing.

I sat down as quick as I felt like I could and Ronan raised his arms for quiet. When they quieted he thanked them for their warm welcome and told them he had some news.

"You've all known that some day the time would come that we would have to leave Haven. Just like we had a warning of the flash that saved all our lives, we've had another warning that some day there would come a time when a large force would march our way. You've all been told to be ready to leave at a moment's notice. Fortunately, thanks to our Jack, we have more than a moment. He's brought word that this army, the one headed by the evil ones our Evie has had visions of, is headed our way. And so, it's time to go."

Worried murmers rose and he raised his hands again. They quieted and he continued. "Tonight I want you to go home and pack your things. One bug out bag and one suitcase each. In the morning you are to arrive at Haven with your belongings and report to the motor pool where you will receive your travel arrangements. Family units are together which can be both a blessing and a curse."

Scattered laughter.

"After your suitcases are loaded you will receive your work assignments for the day. Depending on those assignments you may or may not wish to keep your pack with you or loaded in the transport. All three meals will be as they are now, at these tables. We will be roughing it that night and pulling out early in the morning at first light, before the winds get started."

"I want you all to be assured, we've known this was coming since the very first days. We have prepared for this. We are ready for this. We have the food, fuel and arms to see us safely through this. We'll give you more details tomorrow. For now, have a good evening. Enjoy the food."

He sat down and the chatter resumed.

I watched Evie easily, between chatting with Tee-bo and Lionel. Dieu, it was good to be home, chatting in Cajun with his podnas again. Starin' at pretty girls, eatin' good food. Enough to make a man never want to leave. I smiled easy and often, noticin' when Evangeline stole glimpses at me from under her lashes.

I was a still reeling a bit, but those shy glances sent me back into hunting mode. No longer was she out of reach. By turning me into the Hero of Haven, and giving me that kind of a welcome home, she'd put me on equal footing, or at least, nearly equal. Good enough. They'd been saying what was theirs was mine and that I should have been here all along. If that was true, then I should consider myself as rich as anyone else here. I was her equal tonight. I stared intently at her from across the table.

She might be shy tonight, but that didn't mean she wasn't still interested. After all, according to Tee-bo, the last lips she'd felt on hers were mine. And she'd been upset, fallen to pieces, when she'd realized I wasn't coming back after the flash. That likely meant she still wanted me like I wanted her. And that gave me enough motivation to make a play.

My foot found hers under the table. She stilled. Didn't look at me, but didn't move away either. I caged her foot between my own, wishing I wasn't wearing heavy boots, so I could feel her soft skin. I didn't dare rub in case that was too rough on her, but I held her captive, and she stayed there, her leg pinned between mine. A blush rose in her cheeks and then she went back to eating. So did I, but I kept my eyes trained on her. Her upper leg eventually relaxed, coming down to rest on mine, so that she was nearly hugging my calf with her dainty foot. I wondered if she noticed what she was doing? The fille liked my touch, accepted nearly every one as though I had a right to her.

A few minutes later she gave a jolt, at nothing I could see, then she stared right at me, horrified. Something was wrong, but what? The hairs on the back of my neck stood up as she hastily pulled her leg away, losing her sandal. She grabbed her water cup and turned from the table, dumping it over each of her hands in turn to give them a hasty rinse, then nearly throwing her cup back on the table and grabbing her handkerchief from her pocket and wiping off her hands.

Then she was up and running around the table and inside the house like something was on fire.

There you go! Second Jack Chapter. I can't tell if anyone if reading this. Are you liking it at all?

I went back and cleaned up the previous chapters. Noticed some of them had some strange problems.