Excerpt of Bayou Bound by Linda Joyce

Under the shroud of darkness, minutes clicked away slowly.
When the driver’s door opened, the overhead light clicked on
and startled her. The stranger climbed into the driver’s
seat. He yanked on a sleeve and began removing his large
coat. Biloxi strained to get a better look at his face.
Just in case she ever needed to identify him.

Like in a line-up.

“Take it off.” He motioned to the blanket.

Her mouth gaped open. He sounded like a man used to giving
orders—and having others follow them, doing exactly as he
said. Well, he could wait forever. She didn’t take orders
from anyone. That’s why she worked for herself. Besides,
she’d freeze without the blanket.
“No,” she snapped.

“C’mon now, you’re cold and wet.”

He must have read shock on her face. He sighed, but the sigh
was tinged with disgust.

“Okay, here goes.”

She froze. The man straddled the console, a knee in each
front seat, then he faced her. He reached and yanked on the
blanket.

Clearly, he was the stronger one. Their tug-o-war lasted
less than a minute. He pulled the damp blanket away. Waded
it up and tossed it on the floor.

Biloxi pulled her legs tight to her body, tensed and
prepared to fight, kick, even claw.

Instead of battling further, the man gently draped his long
coat over her. The lingering heat from his body covered her
shiver. The coat would protect her, if from nothing else,
from him.