Page 43 of Lake's Legacy

“Besides, Coyote wouldn’t have turned his back on them,” Baptiste adds with a sage nod. “No, Lake is right. Coyote trusted his attacker. The only people he trusts are us, the members of his tribe.”

“But why would anyone want to hurt Coyote?” Katherine, the youngest member of the council, asks.

“Isn’t it obvious?” Baptiste asks, his eyes on me. “It’s what Lake said about the possibility of oil in our bayou and under our homes. Once our land becomes tribal territory, no one can get that oil without going through us. Someone wants the rights to the oil and is willing to kill to get them.”

“What do you suggest we do?” Martine asks me.

“Announce that we’re close to achieving tribal status. We want everyone to know the progress Coyote has made. Then, explain how I’ll take over as interim chief. Lastly, we’ll tell them I have contacts to help us get our status sooner.”

“You mean lie to them?” Baptiste asks.

“No, not lie. I do have contacts that might be able to help us,” I tell them, thinking about Dante’s mother, Angela Westbrook, and Cleo—women with money, power, and influence. We can solicit Puma’s help, too. He’d met influential people when he was playing ball. “The important step in our plan is to ensure that whoever attacked Coyote sees me as the next target.”

“You’re setting yourself up as bait? Rather than Toff?” Katherine asks, catching on.

“Yes.”

“What do we tell the tribe?”

“Everything. Let the tribe know what’s at stake. I know Coyote wanted to keep his progress a secret, but he told someone he shouldn’t have—someone who wants to stop him from succeeding. Since we don’t know who that person is, we must tell everyone. We need the person who attacked Coyote to come after me, not Toff.”

“Is Toff okay with you setting yourself up as bait?” Baptiste asks, watching me.

“I haven’t told him that part, no, and he hasn’t worked it out yet,” I admit. “But Toff has an important part to play. He needs to focus on a critical piece. He’ll be working with the lawyer representing our tribe. I have contacts who will help, but Toff will do most of the work.”

“You consider this temporary because you expect Coyote to regain his health? What if he doesn’t? Are you willing to step down and give the position to Toff?” Baptiste asks.

“Gladly. Toff’s always been the better choice.”

“He has,” Martine says with a nod.

“Let’s go, then,” Baptiste says, standing and leading us to the packed gymnasium. While Baptiste explains the situation, I study their reactions. Baptiste doesn’t come out and say we suspect one of them attacked Coyote, but I watch their faces when he tells them Coyote was stabbed in the back. I see and hear the realization spread through the auditorium. Gasps of surprise and angry mutterings tell me the message got through. They know we have an enemy within.

“You’re saying someone attacked Coyote? One of us?” Pieter asks from his position in the center of the auditorium.

“That’s what I believe,” I answer. “I think someone wants to stop Coyote from turning our land into tribal land. That someone knows oil companies are interested in drilling on our land and bayou.”

“How do we protect ourselves?” Joseph asks.

“I’m taking over for Coyote. I have access to influential people who can help push this through. My goal is to achieve Coyote’s dream. Nothing will stop me.” I send that out as a dare. “However, we aren’t only protecting our land from oil companies. I’ve been looking into the men who trashed our clinic and who have harassed our people. We believe these men have a different goal. You all know I belong to an MC. Our Road Captain, Zip, has come up with a possible reason these men are interested in driving some of you out of your homes. Smuggling. My club is looking into this other MC. Until Coyote leaves the hospital, I’ll be your chief.”

While the crowd cheers, I watch. I don’t see anyone acting out of character or angry at my proclamation. However, I know not everyone is here. Toff, who stood behind me while I spoke, comes forward and clasps me on the back.

“Good speech. You’d make a good leader,” he says.

“No, thanks. Once this is over, you can have it. This is your job, not mine.”

“And the only reason you’re doing it now is to protect me. Don’t think I’m not aware of what you’re doing. You think whoever attacked Coyote will come after you instead of me. That’s why you’re shipping me to New Orleans to meet with the lawyer.”

I corrected him, “I’m shipping you off to New Orleans because you’re the only one who can understand the lawyer. "

“Who are these connections you have? I hope you weren’t just blowing smoke. We need all the help I can get.”

“Let me contact them first to see if they will support us. If they do, I’ll send them your way.”

I see Crow pushing through the departing crowd. He doesn’t stop until he reaches us. He’s livid.

“What’s wrong?” I ask.

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