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

ahead , unwavering in her composure.  She didn’t show any emotion as her father let her toward the people.  Her father had not spoken to her again since that night on the ship. He did not speak to her now.  Instead, he spoke to the man who would become her new “father”.  He was younger than her own father and his two sons stood behind him, their expressions strong and stoic.  The smaller of the two boys looked at her, curiosity getting the best of him.  The larger of the boys looked bored. She didn’t try to listen to the words.  She was too focused on masking her own feelings as she was given away, no longer welcome in her father’s family and not certain how welcome she was in by the new family standing before her.
     
     
     
     
     

Chapter F ive
    The old women grabbed at Sa hara's arms, then desp e ra tely at her hair.  Sahara escaped out the wagon door, ignoring their screeching voices as she bounded down the wooden steps.  Raising a trembli ng hand to her head, she felt a throbbing headache developing.  Momentarily, she shut her eyes, wondering how much she had drunk the night before. She remembered the music, the dancing, and the reaction from the people.  She felt her cheeks grow flush and she quickened her steps, as if the speed of her walk could suppress the feelings of embarrassment.
    She noticed the empty bottles scattered near the b lack, smoldering circles in the grass.  Around the blackened but still smoldering fires, dirt showed through the beaten down grass. Several small boys were a lready up, taking the horses to pasture. One of them notic ed her and smiled.  For a brief second, Sahara almost smiled back.   Instead, she waved for him to come to her.  Cautiously, the boy walked over Sahara.  Behind his dirty face and greasy hair, Sah ara recognized the unmistakable resemblance the boy had to t he other gypsies.  A faded blue kerchief was tied around his nec k.  His bare young chest showed through the button - less, dirty white blouse he wore.  As he spoke, his dark eyes glowed.  “ You wish to speak to me, bori? ”  
    Sahara frowned at the foreig n word he called her.  Ignoring her ignorance of the gypsy languag e, Sahara asked, “ Where are the men, boy? ”   She guessed him to be no mo re than nine or ten and already he was doing men's work.
    He shuffled his bare feet in the dust, glancing over his shoulder at the other boys, by now a good distance away.  His black eyes looked around, hopin g no one was coming.  If one of the adults saw him speaking with the woman, he would get scolded for certain.  Quickly, he pointed in the direction the horses had come from.  “ Some men are there, b ori. ”   Quickly, he darted away, racing toward th e other boys herding the horses away from the camp. 
    Sahara watched the boy run un til he caught up with the other s .  A taller boy slapped the si de of the boy's head, shaking a finger at him.  They were too f ar away for Sahara to hear what was being said but she could ima gined the boy was being berated for abandoning his chores to talk to her.  Shrugging her shoulders, Sahara started walki ng toward the place the boy had pointed.  As she neared, she could hear deep voices talking
quietly.  She wondered if the Rom Baro was there.  She walked around the wagon, the small grou p of men looked up, startled by Sahara's unexpected presence.  
    Silencing the others, one man stared at Sahara with his mou th gaping.  His dark, wide lips moved silently.  Motioning tow ard Sahara's uncovered head, he whispered, “ Mahrime. ”  
    “ Wh ere is the Rom Baro ?  Wh ere is Nicolae ?  I want to see them immediately! ”   Her clenched fist r ested on her hips as she stared at the shocked men.  Silently, they nodded their heads to one another as if confirming what they already thought about the gadjo girl.  The men turne d their backs, whispering among themselves about “ mahrime ” .   An older man glanced over his