Carnal Innocence

quick enough.”
    “You will stay available,” Burns put in. “You and your brother. I’ll need to question you shortly.”
    Saying nothing, Tucker turned away to walk with Caroline and Cy back to the house.
    Caroline wasn’t much of a cook, but she heated up some soup to go with the roast beef Della had sliced. Soup, it seemed to her, was one of those nerve-soothing foods. By the way Cy plowed through his, she decided it worked.
    Dwayne scraped his bowl clean, then seemed embarrassed by his appetite. “That was mighty tasty, Caroline. I appreciate you putting a meal together.”
    “Della did most of it before she left for the Fullers’.”
    “We do appreciate it,” Josie put in. “Though I don’t know how Dwayne can eat with that fat lip. Run into a door, honey?”
    “Tucker and I had a tussle.” He reached for his iced tea. He didn’t feel much like getting drunk tonight after all.
    “Tucker hit you?” Smiling a little, Josie rested her chin on her hand. “That man’s been using his fists more these past few weeks than he has his whole life. Now, what could Y’all be fighting about? Don’t tell me you’ve taken a shine to Caroline here?”
    Josie winked at Caroline to include her in the joke.
    “Nothing like that.” Uncomfortable, Dwayne shifted in his chair. “We just had a disagreement, that’s all. That’s how it happened. We started wrestling and ended up in the pond. Guess we stirred up the water quite a bit between that and racing to the far bank and back. Then Tucker … he practically bumped right into her.”
    “Don’t think about it.” Josie rose to put her arms around his neck. “It was just bad luck. Bad luck all around.”
    “That’s a mighty cold way of putting it,” Tucker said as he stepped into the kitchen.
    Josie kept her cheek against Dwayne’s hair. “It’s the truth. Sometimes the truth’s cold. If you hadn’t been wrestling around in the pond, you wouldn’t have found her. She’d still be dead, but she might’ve stayed down. Then the two of you wouldn’t be looking so peaked.”
    Tucker dropped into a chair. He knew his temper was on edge, but Josie’s carelessness pushed a dangerous button. “We won’t look ‘peaked’ for long. Darleen’s going to be dead forever.”
    “That’s just my point. Finding her like that only made things hard on you.”
    “Christ, Josie, you’ve got the sensitivity of a codfish.”
    She straightened at that, eyes hot, cheeks pale. “I’ve got plenty of sensitivity when it comes to my family. Maybe I don’t give two hoots about what happened to that little slut—”
    “Josie.” Wincing, Dwayne reached for her hand, but she shook him off.
    “That’s just what she was, and her being dead doesn’t change it. I’m sorry for Happy and the rest, but I’m just sick about how you and Dwayne came to be involved. If you think that makes me cold, Tucker Longstreet, that’s fine. I’ll just save my sensitivity for someone who appreciates it.”
    She slammed out, leaving the smoke of her temper lingering in the air.
    “Maybe I’ll go after her.” Dwayne rose awkwardly. “Smooth her feathers.”
    “Tell her I’m sorry, if you think it’ll help.” Resigned, Tucker rubbed his hands over his face. “No use slicing at her for being what she is.”
    “Mr. Tucker, you want a beer?”
    Tucker lowered his hands and gave Cy a wan smile. “About as much as I want to breathe right now. But I think I’d do better with coffee.”
    “I’ll get it.” Caroline opened a cupboard for a cup. “We’re all on edge, Tucker. She’s just worried about you.”
    “I know. Did Della go over to the Fullers’?”
    “Yes. She and Birdie were going to stay the night with Happy. Help take care of the baby. Cousin Lulu’s upstairs watching a movie.”
    She didn’t add that the lady had commented that murders were much more interesting on TV than in real life, and had settled back with a bowl of popcorn and a bottle of Dixie beer.
    “Why don’t you go on up with her, Cy?” Tucker suggested. “She likes company.”
    “Can I take the pup with me?” He hauled Useless out from the dog’s spot beneath the table.
    “Sure.” Caroline smiled. “Don’t let Cousin Lulu give him too much beer.”
    “No, ma’am. ‘Night, Mr. Tucker.”
    “’Night, Cy.” He touched the boy’s arm. “Thanks for helping out.”
    “I’d do anything for you, Mr. Tucker.” The words came out in a rush. Then Cy colored deep and hurried from