'What's it look like, woman? That there's good old U.S. currency, and that pile there is for you to do with what you please, hear?'
Mama glanced at me before looking up at Daddy again. 'And where's it come from, a
'Nope. It comes from here,' Daddy said, poking his right temple with his right forefinger. 'It comes from being smart.'
'Is that so? Well, this I gotta hear,' Mama said, and sat back, her arms folded under her bosom.
Daddy went over to the cupboard, found himself some cider, and poured himself a glass first. We watched him gulp it down, his Adam's apple bobbing. He wiped his lips with the back of his hand and glared at me.
'She may know the swamp and the animals better than most around these parts,' he said, nodding at me, 'but she don't know nothin' when it comes to men.'
'Never mind Gabrielle, Jack. We're talking about you now and what you done to get this money.'
'Right. I think to myself, Jack Landry, why is it you've been the one left holding the hot potato here, huh? Why is it you got to be the one to figure out what else to do to feed another mouth, make a home, bear the brunt of insults, huh? Why is it those rich people can come in here and use us the way they want, use us like a. . a towel and then throw us away, huh? Well, they can't, is what I say!' he exclaimed, pounding the sink top with his fist.
'Most men in these here parts don't know their right from their left when it comes to going someplace other than the bayou. Once you take them out of the swamp, they're confused, stupid fools. But I ain't no swamp rat, hear? I'm Jack Landry. My great-grandpere worked the riverboats, and my mere's great-grandpere was one of the best gamblers this side of the Mississippi,' he boasted. 'It's true, he was hanged, but that was a mistake.'
'All right, Jack. I know how wonderful your ancestors were. Get on with it,' Mama demanded.
'Yeah. You know. You know everything, don'tcha, Catherine Landry? Anyways, I upped and took myself to New Orleans.'
'What?' I said with a gasp.
'That's right,' he said, his eyes blazing.
'What were you doing in New Orleans, Jack?' Mama asked.
'I found out where those Dumas men live and I paid 'em a little visit. Turns out the old man is not really unhappy with what I come to tell him either,' Daddy said, nodding.
Mama stared, astounded. She looked at me and then she leaned forward.
'What did you tell him, Jack?'
'I told him about Gabrielle here and the condition his son put her into,' he said, standing proud. 'That's what I told him, and I didn't spare no words, neither. I told him about the shack and the way he done seduced my little girl.'
'He did not!' I cried.
'Hush a moment,' Mama said, her eyes brighter, her face flushed. 'Go on, Jack. What else did you tell him?'
'I told him I was about to bring Gabrielle into New Orleans and take her to the newspaper people if I had to,' he said, nodding and smiling. 'I would let the whole city know what his fine, upstanding, well-to-do businessman son done to
'Where was Pierre?' I asked, my heart pounding.
'Hiding himself someplace, I bet,' Daddy said. 'He didn't show his face the whole time I was there. They got a palace, not a house, Catherine. You can't even imagine the rich things in the house and the size of the rooms, and there's a tennis court and a swimming pool and—'
'I don't care about any of that, Jack. Just tell us what you told Monsieur Dumas.'
'Well, I expected to get the money I needed to look after Gabrielle here. You ain't gonna find yourself a good husband now, Gabrielle,' he said, turning to me and shaking his head. 'A woman with a child and no marriage ain't got a chance and certainly ain't got the pickin's. Why, I couldn't even get you Nicolas Paxton now, and it's your own doin'.'
'Never mind all that, Jack. You haven't told us anything we don't know.'
'Right.' He straightened up. 'Well, Monsieur Dumas, he says his son already told him about what he had done. He knew the details, and what's more, he said his son's wife knew the details, so I couldn't threaten him none.'
'His wife?' I gasped.
'That's right. That's what he says, and full of arrogance, too. I was about to protest and start ragin' at him when he puts up his hand, looks away for a moment, and then says he's willing . . . no, he wants to buy the child.'
'Not again, Jack?' Mama said. 'You didn't go and make a bargain with the devil again?'
'This is different, Catherine,' Daddy protested. 'We got no way to hide Gabrielle's condition. We can't keep the community from knowing she's a fallen woman. I got to look after the future. These people are so rich, they make the Tates look like paupers. You see that pile of money there?' he said, pointing to the table. 'Well, that's just payment for me to think on it. I'm going to get us enough to take care of us forever. We don't have to worry about Gabrielle finding herself a good man, see? And you don't have to go running off at everyone's beck and call to tend to their insect bites and coughs.'
Mama was silent a moment. The tears were streaming down my cheeks. Where was Pierre? How could he have
