Echoes in the Bayou by Ursula Dukes Read Free Book Online

attractive indeed, but she couldn’t help but notice that he looked
more like a rock star than a best-selling author.
    Ava
managed a polite smile, she had to try and be as professional as she could,
especially under the circumstances.  
"It’s nice to meet you too," she winced. The pain in her leg was
growing intense.  Magnus looked down at her bleeding leg. "You better
let me take a look at that," he said and offered her his arm. "Thank
you I'm sure it’s nothing, but if you’ve got some alcohol or peroxide, I’d
appreciate it," she said trying not to sound too difficult. The last thing
she needed was for him to think she was helpless.
    "I'm
sure I’ve got one of those, have a seat and I’ll be right back," he said
and pulled out a chair at the kitchen table. While Magnus went in search of
antiseptic, Ava took a glance around. From all appearances the kitchen seemed
to be updated. Except for the keurig coffee maker and half empty stand, the
large country style kitchen looked as if it hardly got any use. The kitchen
table with its cottage look was antique and seemed to go well with the décor
and overall theme of the kitchen.  Ava immediately got the sense that her
new employer spent a lot of time in the kitchen .
Perhaps this is where he gets most of his writing done, she thought to herself as she glanced at the closed
laptop sitting on the table.
    "Sorry
I took so long, this bottle is kind of old but it should get the job done and I
found some bandages too," he said holding a bottle of rubbing alcohol and
white bandages.  While the two made small talk, Magnus cleaned the cut on
her leg. In an awkward moment, she was forced to rest her leg in his lap. She
was thankful that she had taken the time to shave her legs this morning and
that she was wearing a skirt. She would not have wanted to pull down her pants
in front of a stranger.
    Magnus wanted to make her feel as comfortable as he
could. The moment he touched her he thought he’d combust, he only hoped that
she hadn’t noticed. Ava Montgomery was one beautiful woman and her eyes were
the most intense color of green, there was nothing to compare to the beauty of
her green eyes because her eyes bore the perfection of the color
green.  They offset raven colored hair that fell in spiral curls down
to her waist. Immediately he felt haunted, he got the feeling that they had met
somewhere before, long ago. And that whenever or wherever they had met, she had
bewitched him. Though it may have been very inappropriate to think so, he was
glad that she’d injured herself and needed his help. It had been a long time
since anyone needed his help.

 
    Chapter
Five

 
    When the
bloodied napkin appeared at the base of the oak tree that shown the initials
C.M. The old tree looked as if it had sprouted wings; its low lying; bent and
heavy branches sprang to life and slowly reached up towards the sky.  It
was as if the old tree had been curled up asleep and something had awoken it,
causing it to stretch its tired limbs, limbs that had been sullen for hundreds
of years.  All the surrounding oaks that were set in the heart of the
bayou had begun to stir as well. The bayou that surrounded the Montieu
plantation was coming alive.
    "I'm
so sorry that you hurt yourself Miss Montgomery," Magnus said as he gently
rubbed his hands along her leg. He had just finished placing the last of the
bandages on her and found himself unintentionally running his hand along her
leg trying to smooth out the bandage. "It’s quite alright, and please call
me Ava," she smiled at him. "And thank you for helping me out,"
she said and reluctantly removed her leg from his lap.
    That
brought him out of his haze; he had been staring at her so intently that he
felt like he was hypnotized.
    " Here, let me show you around," he said and once
again offered her his arm. While he was showing her around, Ava began to get
the distinct feeling of déjà vu. She couldn’t help but feel as if she’d been
there