The Gypsy Moon Read Free Page A

earrings hung from his earlobes, and his white teeth flashed against his dark skin.
    “We didn’t mean to interrupt, but we saw your fire and heard your singing. It was very beautiful.”
    “We are pleased to have you. I am Duke Zanko. You like music? You will hear plenty of music. And if you want your fortune told, my wife can do that. And we have some beautiful jewelry for a beautiful young lady.”
    As Gabby and Greg moved closer to the fire, Gabby felt a surge of excitement. She had seen bands of gypsies before in her travels with her parents and had always been curious about their mysterious ways. She looked around the gathering and noted at least a dozen adults and considerably more children. Several of the women held small babies, and their eyes seemed to flash as the two visitors came closer.
    “This is my wife, Marissa,” Duke Zanko said, gesturing at a young woman with dark eyes and large gold earrings dangling from her ears. He shrugged his shoulders sadly and said, “I have not had much luck with wives. I’ve worn out two. I got this one young so I could bring her up myself—and teach her to do nothing but please me.”
    Marissa laughed, displaying her very white teeth.
    “Perhaps you came to visit our camp because of the full moon,” Duke said, looking up through the branches. “Gypsy men and women always fall in love when there’s a full moon, a gypsy moon.” He winked at Greg. “Maybe it’ll work the same for you!”
    Greg laughed and Gabby was glad the darkness would cover the red she felt creeping up her face.
    Marissa stood up and came closer to Gabby as the rest of the group started talking among themselves and lining up to get a bowlful of something cooking in a large iron pot over the fire. “I married him because he is old and rich,” Marissa told Gabby. “When he dies I will take all his money and find me a strong young man.”
    Duke laughed. “You will not find another man like me. Someday you’ll appreciate what you have in me.”
    Marissa grinned and took hold of Gabby’s arm. “Come. You will eat with us,” she invited.
    “Oh, we couldn’t do that,” Gabby protested, although her mouth was watering as she inhaled the delicious aroma coming from the cooking pot.
    “Yes, you will be our guests. Please . . .” Before Gabbycould say more, a young woman came over and handed both of them bowls filled with stew.
    “Why, thank you,” Gabby said as she and Greg sat down and joined them. They found the stew delicious, and as the rest of the group ate, Duke pulled out his fiddle and began to play. Two other men joined him as they finished eating, one of them on a zither and another on a stringed instrument that neither Greg nor Gabby had seen before.
    Several young women began to dance, and they were soon joined by young men. Their shadows cast by the flickering fire flitted across the ground, and the air was filled with laughter and music.
    A rather short but well built young man came over to Gabby with his hand extended. His hair was as black as a raven, and his eyes seemed almost as dark. “Come, you dance with me. My name is Pavko.”
    “Oh, I can’t dance!”
    “Go on,” Greg urged. “You want to be a gypsy? Here’s your chance. Maybe that gypsy moon will bring you happiness.”
    Gabby allowed Pavko to pull her up to her feet. She felt self-conscious at first, but soon she found herself relaxing as she learned the simple steps of the dance. All the people watching were clapping their hands, and the music filled the night air. Finally, she pulled away and said, “Thank you. I’m afraid I’m not as good a dancer as you are.”
    Pavko laughed. “You are a wonderful dancer for a gaji. ”
    “What is a gaji?”
    “That is what we call girls who are not gypsies.”
    Gabby sat back down beside Greg, and the two visitors listened as the lilting music danced on the warm summer air deep in the grove of tall, ancient trees. During a break in the music, Marissa took Gabby’s