Bayou Legend

By Janet Breakfield

Passion, Voodoo and Curses abound in this thrilling,
supernatural story of life in the swamps and bayous of South Louisiana.

The responsibility of being the newest "Treater" rest soley on Emily's shoulders. She has never loved a man until she reunites with her childhood friend, Tanner Guidry. Little does she know that she is his salvation made flesh.

The curse of "Loup Garou" is like a second skin attached to Tanner thanks to Ursulla, the wicked VooDoo witch that cursed his family when she couldn't have his Grandfather years earlier. Now all of the men in Tanner's family carry the curse.

Will Emily's love and magic be enough to save Tanner from the curse and the Witch that wants to destroy him? Will Ursulla's secret be revealed as she tries to destroy Tanner and Emily?

Or will her love spell using Tristan to seduce Emily be enough
temptation to tear them apart?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Brutal Image
• Release date: Apr 16, 2012
• ISBN: 9781476235240

Book preview

Bayou Legend

By Janet Breakfield

Published by Goodwin Imaging at Smashwords

Copyright 2012 Janet Breakfield

Smashwords Edition, License Notes

This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return to Smashwords.com and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

Loup Garou

Some nights a shadow bends the sugar cane

...........towards the back porch, and what wind there is

.....................carries a scent that starts the dog to grumbling.

It doesn’t matter that all the locks are latched

...........and all the knives are put away. The moon

.....................has risen over the fields, and coons and treefrogs

press their bellies against cypress and keep quiet.

...........These are nights mothers warn their children

.....................to keep hands and feet over the mattress;

the Loup Garou is coming for their fingers and toes.

............It doesn’t have to come as the wolf, or fog.

.....................It could easily be the blue heron creeping

just behind the children’s cane, or the nighthawk

............razing each row for field mice. Any light-footed shape

.....................can bring it close enough to make frissons.

And nothing, not even an infant’s calm breath,

............can keep it back, until the sun climbs

.....................over the cane and burns its eyes away.

Poem by

Dr. Jack Bedell

Chapter 1

Emily

I’ve had the same dream over and over again ever since I can remember. I was standing in a dense forest, picking my way through the brush with bare feet in the total blackness of the night. The ground is soft and smells of fresh rain and decayed vegetation. My body is trembling, my heart beats loudly. An owl makes a screech sound on my left and low growls and slow movements wait on my right. The fear is beyond control. My body shakes and sweat beads my forehead. My breathing is heavy and labored. Something waits for me. I can feel its stare all over my body. I push forward through my fear and come to a small clearing where a large grey wolf stands staring at me. His eyes are bright green, his mouth slightly ajar. He tastes the air with his tongue and skulks toward me with his shaggy long hair standing on end. I open my mouth to scream in panic as everything suddenly goes black. I spring up with a start, open my eyes and realize I’m back at Gran’s house where I’m safe. I draw in a ragged breath and remind myself it’s a nightmare. Only a nightmare. I’m not really there. I have my clear crystal quartz in my pocket as always. A gift from Gran. I place it in my hand and hold it over my heart to help cleanse my body of the anxiety and negative energy. After a few moments I can get my bearings again, my breathing returns to normal. For the hundred time, I recover from the dream.

The smells of grilling sausage drifted through the doorway to my bedroom. It was a familiar scent as I got out of the bed, draped my robe around me, and headed for the kitchen. Gran’s house was always a wonderful place to wake up even after the dreams. I spent all my summer vacations here because it felt more like home to me. I think she just always knew what I was thinking and she understood me. My parents loved me, but there was only one Gran. I guess in my own way I idolized her. She seemed to know so much about everything; well, anything that mattered. She knew about my nightmares and smiled with understanding. I always thought she knew more than she was telling me, but I didn’t press the issue. Gran always knew things most folks would never have even guessed. She was psychic. Or at least that’s what she told me. Most folks just thought she was a Treater. That’s what all Cajun people called old fashioned healers. They worked with herbs, prayer, crystals and maybe a little earth magic. Anyway Gran was a respected woman in these parts, and people came to her many times for remedies for everything from chicken pox to high fever. She always knew what to do. She told me that her mother taught her, like she was teaching me. She didn’t have a daughter, since my father was her only son, so I was the fortunate one to receive her lessons.

Gran was sitting at the kitchen table, like always, her white, thick, long hair was braided and twirled in a bun on the back of her head. Also, as usual my plate was sitting opposite hers, loaded with eggs, sausage and toast. My stomach growled loudly. Gran looked up and smiled at me. Eat child she said. Your stomach is telling you it’s time. As I went to the sink and gently washed the negativity from my clear crystal under the cool water I smiled at Gran. I loved to hear Gran tease me and the wonderful way she laughed. She was the kindest and happiest person I’d ever met. I stepped out the screen door and placed my crystal in the sun. What are we doing today Gran? I asked as I came back in the kitchen. Oh we are going to collect some natural herbs from the garden and then I want to show you something I found near the water of the Bayou. That excited me of course since I was only about twelve at the time, but after I ate she and I dressed and headed for the water front. I scooped up my now cleansed crystal and put it back in my pocket. Gran had always taught me how to use the crystals and I saw her notice I had cleansed it this morning but she didn’t say anything and for that I was grateful. I sure didn’t want to relive the dream over again today, I wanted to enjoy the sunshine with Gran.

I loved to go on adventures with Gran. She showed me a new world here in the old tired low country of the Bayous. She was a Cajun woman through and through and I think she tried to pour all her knowledge into me. She was so afraid the old ways would die with the older generation. I assured her even at a young age that I wanted to learn and live the way of the true Bayou folks. Bayou Lafourche is my beautiful Bayou, Cher Gran would tell me. It ran along highway one, which is also referred to as The Longest Street. Gran had been born and raised there all her life and she wanted the same for my Father. Instead he married my Mom and moved away. She was from Shreveport and wanted to live there. I need civilization she told my Dad. So, he did what she asked. Me, I was miserable anywhere but here. I always knew that Bayou living was going to be my way of life.

Gran and I made it to the water’s edge and I followed her out on the warf. I watched carefully as Gran grabbed hold of a black rope that was attached to something under the water. When she pulled it up I gasped. It was a trap full of blue lake crabs. I loved crabs and Gran knew it. As we gathered the other two traps that were also heavy with crabs, I asked Gran will you cook them for me tonight? No, Cher, you will cook them tonight she replied. A large grin spread across my face, I had been begging Gran for two whole summers to teach me to boil crabs or shrimp. They were my favorite. Woowee I yipped, but Gran just turned to me and laughed. Come on Cher, we still got chores to do first. I took one trap and she carried the other two back through the swamp to the house. I was careful not to trip over the knotty cypress knees that were scattered all over the place coming off the base of the large cypress trees. Gran had taught me to watch for water moccasins and copperhead snakes too. They let you just walked up on them before they bite she said. I sure didn’t want any of that. Frankly, snakes scared the heck out of me.

When we got back to the house, we put the crabs in ice and took to the garden to gather fresh herbs. Gran had them hanging upside down all over her kitchen. I used to ask her why they were upside down but she would just smile and say that’s just the way it’s done Cher. We gathered lavender, dill, oregano, lemon grass and another one I couldn’t pronounce, but they sure smelled good. As we were tying the strings around them to hang them, Gran said take some play time Cher before we cook your crabs, but first will you trot on over to the store and get me some white beans?. Gran never had to ask me twice to go out and play, and I didn’t even mind going to the store for her. There was so much to get into here. For a twelve year old tomboy, this was heaven, even if I had to wait a while for old Mrs. Gautreaux to tell me all the town gossip before I could get Gran’s beans and get out of there. The store was in walking distance from the house. It was an old wood building with a front porch positioned on the edge of the bayou. There was even a warf behind it that hung out over the water. There were always crab traps set there for Mrs. Gautreaux to sell fresh seafood in the store along with vegetables, fruit, beans and other naturally grown items. The little bell rang as I went in the door. Fortunately Mrs. Guidry, was already in the store taking most of old Mrs. Gautreaux’s attention. I gathered the beans that were in a clear plastic bag with a bread tie around the top and laid them up on the counter. She hesitated in her conversation and smiled at me. I’ll just put these on your Gran’s bill Emily. I nodded and grabbed the beans she had already put in a small paper bag off the counter and got out before she tried to strike up that familiar conversation she did every time I had to go in there. Gossip, all gossip. I didn’t care about gossip, I’d sure rather been fishing.

Walking back to the old house I held my face to the sun and closed my eyes. The warm rays felt so good on my face. Gran was waiting on the front porch waiting for me when I got there. She took the beans and said ok Cher, play time. I couldn’t help the smile that always crossed my face when I knew I could go fishing.

I loved to go fishing, so I grabbed my pole, an old english pea tin can and turned over some rocks where I found a few crickets and three earthworms. I used to just shove them in the front pocket of my overalls, but Gran would get upset at me about that. So, I started using a can, and it worked pretty good. On my way out of the yard I grabbed a hand full of chocolate mint that grows out by the oldest live oak in the yard and squish it between my fingers. It smells like York peppermint patties and I just loved them.

At the edge of the yard I turned to look back at Gran’s old house. It’s just a big white wood frame house, built around 1753 with chipping paint and a massive front porch. The windows were long, wooden, and the glass panes were hand made by the slaves that used to work the surrounding land. It was all used as a sugar plantation for years. The huge storage buildings that held the sugar were still on the property, though now vacated to just cobwebs and gathering dust. Gran owned 100 orpets now or about 80 acres. When her Father owned it there was a lot more land. Some was sold to sugar cane farmers to help maintain it and pay the taxes. Some more land was lost during the great depression. The civil war as Gran told me, devastated the South, and it never really got back on it’s feet. I told Gran that I think one day it will. Gran says she hopes so too. My great Grandfather, Willford Bougouis III owned slaves but Gran never did like the idea of one human owning another. I agree with her there. Bougouis is my family name, by the way my name is Emily. Emily Elizabeth Bougouis same as my Gran.

I left the yard and headed back down the trail to my favorite fishing hole on the bayou. I hadn’t even sat down five minutes when that no good for nothing Guidry boy showed up on the other side of the bank from me. He was trying to take my spot as usual. Nicholas Tanner Guidry. The most annoying boy I had ever met. Most folks just called him T-Tan. Or, little Tanner after his Father Mr. Tanner. I didn’t care what they called him at the time, he was trying to steal my fishing hole and that just wouldn’t do. Go away Tan. This is my spot and you know it I hissed. Don’t see your name on it he replied. Good God almighty I despised that boy. He could get under my skin in the worst way. You don’t even live here. Your just visiting your Gran. When you go back home, I fish in your spot on the other side…right where your sitting he said while laughing hysterically. I wouldn’t let him lick me though, I stood my ground and fished in front of him like he wasn’t even there. How’d you even know I was here Tan? I asked. My grandmother said you were buying beans in Mrs. Gautreaux’s store earlier. I figured you’d be down here by now. He laughed but eventually gave up on his mischief and left me in peace although he stayed right across from me with his fishing pole smiling like a complete idiot.

Time passed quickly and soon it was getting dark. Gran didn’t like me to be out after dark. She always told me there were things on the Bayou I didn’t understand and really didn’t want to meet in the dark. I wasn’t a scared child, but I heeded her warnings. I had caught a couple catfish and one brim. I picked my stringer up out of the water, grinned impishly at Tan since he hadn’t caught anything and flitted back toward the trail to Gran’s house. Show off he called after me.

When I walked in the door I was grunting something about darn Guidry’s when Gran said Oh I see..T- Tan Guidry was in your fishing hole again. Yep, but didn’t do him any good I said as I held up the stringer to show Gran. He didn’t catch a thing.

She grinned and said Cher her endearment to me, one day you might not look at Tan Guidry the way you do now. There was a smile in her voice. I was furious. I can’t stand him Gran. He really, really annoys me. She laughed and tucked me under her arm. Lets go boil your crabs. I smiled in spite of myself and let her lead me into the kitchen.

The rest of my summer was the same. Trapping with Gran, fishing in my spot with Tan always aggravating me, and boiled seafood. Life was grand in the old south.

The summers seemed to pass so fast. Then it was back to Shreveport, school and longing for the month of May when I got to come back to Gran’s. The good thing though is that the last couple of summers Tan hadn’t been aggravating me in my fishing hole. He was two years older than me, so he graduated high school when I was still a sophomore. He was taking some time off before he decided what he wanted to do, so he spent his summers out on the boats fishing with his father. Mr. Tanner was a shrimper and fisherman. At least if T Tan was out on the boat shrimping or fishing, he wasn’t bothering me. Good riddance if you ask me.

By the time I was seventeen Gran was seventy five. I hadn’t even noticed all that grey hair had gotten thin and her face was so much more covered with fine wrinkles. She was still beautiful to me. I saw who she really was. She was me in an older body. That’s how close I felt to her. Two kindred spirits we were. She had taught me so many things, did those things with me and prepared me for life in a way no other could have. I had learned the old ways and

Reviews for Bayou Legend

[literaladdiction · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Our Review, by LITERAL ADDICTION's Guest Reviewer - Marta C:Let me start this review by saying I usually read a mix of paranormal romance and urban fantasy so was very pleased to be asked to review this book as it is by a new author for me, and who wouldn't want to be gifted with such an opportunity? This story is about a girl called Emily who has spent much of her life growing up in the Bayou and learning from her Gran how to be a treater [healer] and upon her eighteenth birthday comes into her powers.These powers include hearing thoughts and having the ability to heal those who need it.Her Gran also tells her the story of Loup Garou [the werewolf legend] and how it affects a local family which includes Tanner, who unbeknownst to Emily, has always loved her.The curse that effects him has been passed down on the male side of his family by a witch who felt shunned by his grandfather.Emily feels his pain one night and goes to him. They spend a night of passion which is sensed by Ursula- the witch who cursed Tanner's family. The witch vows to separate the young lovers, and sets events in motion that could prove fatal.So what did I think? It is a unique approach , as the author swaps from Emily's point of view to Tanner's occasionally, which enables the reader to actually get both of their thoughts and viewpoints. This might irritate some readers, but I found that it added to the story. Bayou Legend does contain scenes of a sexual nature, but I thought it was a sensual romance between two passionate young people and not hard core erotica. It was romantic without being overly graphic, and I didn't feel as if the author was describing a gynecological procedure, nor any crude terms or childish names.LITERAL ADDICTION's Guest Reviewer gives the tale a solid 4 skulls and would definitely read more from Ms. Breakfield..Magic, Werewolves and passion definitely worth a read. Recommended!