Read Online Gypsy in Black: The Romance of Gypsy Travelers by Sarah Price - Free Book Online

happy.  She understood that much.  But, of the rest, she understood nothing .  Sahara glanced over her shoulder at Nicolae .  He smiled reassuringly at her.  The old est gypsy woman, the one Sahara assumed was the Rom Baro 's wife, turned around to a young girl.  Th e girl handed the woman somet hing.  The old woman lifted her hands into the air as she tur ned back.  Slowly, she placed a fancy royal blue scarf, weaved wit h golden threads, onto Sahara's head.  Silence followed as the old woma n turned Sahara around to face th e people.  With a gentle shove, the old woman said, “ Now r eturn to him. ”
    Relieved, Sahara practically raced back to Nicolae 's side.  He put his arm around her waist and spun her around.  The people cheered, the music resume d and the dancing began again.  The other gypsies no longer stared at her.  Instead, they cheered and clapped, dancing and laughing along with the night.  Nicolae l ooked down at Sahara’s face, masked by the blue cloth.  He reached out to brush his finger across her cheek.  She started to say something , startled by his touch.  But, before she could form the words, Nicolae abruptly left her side, being pulled away by several younger gypsies.  She watched as the younger men danced around Nicolae, their feet moving in time to the music, their hands clapping and their voice trilling in the air.  Nicolae was at the center of the men and could barely be seen through the sea of limbs and bodies.
    Wan dering around the fires, Sahara forced her way through the peopl e.  As the rakiya reared to her head, she noticed that the gypsies had multiplied.  This morning, she had noticed a couple gypsies here and there.  Now, they were everywhere.  At least sixty , if not more.  She touched her forehead with her hand as she stood near a fire.  The music began to grow louder, enticing her.  Ope ning her eyes, Sahara stared at the dancing women.  They mo ved gracefully around the fire, lifting their arms into the air, snapping them down , and then lifting them again.  T heir heads moved rhythmically, from one side to another in time t o raising and dropping of their arms.  They trilled their tongues in waves. 
    Drawn by the beauty of th e dance and song, Sahara slowly walked out toward the dancing women.  T he music sped up as Sahara neared.  The women continued danci ng, moving their feet faster in time with the fiddles. Carele ssly, Sahara joined the circle, dancing around the fire.  The m usic raced even faster.  Sahara pulled the scarf off her head, holding the ends as she raised it over her head then slowly droppi ng it as she followed the other gypsies ’ movements.  Her lon g hair billowed across her face each time she moved her head. She began to spin, whirling in time to the music.  Her bare feet hit t he ground, small clouds of dust rising.  The fiddlers played her game as they fiddled faster, faster, so fast Sahara could spin no more.  Exhausted, she collapsed in the beaten do wn grass.  Her arms covered her eyes, deliriously drunk from both liquor and laughter. 
    The music stopped, causing t he fervor of chatter to also cease. Sahara opened her eyes, surprised to see Nicolae standing over her.  Raising herself on one arm, s he stared up at him.  The smile faded from her face as he reached a hand down.  Taking it , Sahara let him help her to her feet.  Still staring into his eyes, she faced him, her heart pounding as her blood boiled through her veins.  Was he actually exciting her like no man had ever done?  Why did her heart pound so?  Why did her skin burn at his touch?  She had no time to ponder her question s as Nicolae lifted his chin and arm into the air.  The fiddles sang once again.  T his time, the song was soothingly slow.  Saha ra looked back at Nicolae , relaxing her arm, as she felt safe once again.
    Keeping her at arms leng th, Nicolae began to move elegantly around the fires.  His free arm f loated through the air,