They both lay in silence, Arnaud, frowning, trying to hear whatever had spooked her. He put his mouth against her ear. “I can hear the insects.”

“Someone’s there,” she whispered back. She knew she was right. Her entire body had gone on alert. Deep inside something shifted and moved. That strange itch raced like a tidal wave just under her skin, rushing through her body in alarm.

“Bijou!”

Her heart dropped. She’d recognize that arrogant commanding voice anywhere. Remy Boudreax was up above them. Of course it had to be him that would come along when she was at her absolute worst. She moaned and covered her face with her hands, smearing mud all over her cheeks and chin.

“Bijou, answer me.” The imperious command left her in no doubt that Remy was searching above the bank for her.

Arnaud started to roll over in an effort to get to his feet.

“Shh,” Bijou cautioned, panic-stricken. She put her hand over his mouth “Don’ say a word. Seriously. I’d rather an alligator eat me than have him see me like this.”

The voice above them rose in volume. “Damn it, Blue. You’d better be alive. Answer me. Where the hell are you?”

“That’s a friend of yours I take it,” Arnaud drawled around her hand.

“He is not goin’ to get the satisfaction of seein’ and smellin’ me like this,” she hissed.

Something moved along the edge above them, clearly following the path of the SUV. There was a lot of cursing in Cajun French.

“We have to be rescued before dark,” Arnaud pointed out in his usual pragmatic way.

She was silent a moment, then she snapped her fingers, already moving, trying to curl herself into a little ball. “You get rescued, and then come back for me.”

“You really like this man, don’t you?” There was a trace of amusement in his voice.

“Don’ laugh at a desperate woman, Arnaud,” she warned. “You’ll be goin’ back in that really smelly, disgustin’ water.”

“Blue? Where the hell are you? You damn well better not be in that sunken SUV.”

Arnaud raised his voice. “We’re here, trapped below you. A little worse for wear but we’re alive.”

“Traitor,” Bijou hissed between her teeth. She covered her face again, smearing more mud. “I’ll never live this down.”

“Bijou?” Remy’s voice was directly overhead. A small amount of dirt rained down.

“The ledge is crumbling,” Arnaud cautioned. “You’ll have to stay back from it.”

“Well back,” Bijou whispered. “Like the other side of the bayou. Why do these things always happen to me?”

“Bijou.” There was a short pause. “I need to hear your voice. Are you all right?” This time the tone wasn’t so commanding and for some insane reason tugged at her heartstrings.