by Stephy Smith
“We just got here.” Sierra glanced at her. “You’re right. We should go back. I’m sure you probably need to rest from the long ordeal you have endured.”
****
The days seemed to take forever. The nights were filled with horrible dreams. The campfire and music beckoned Aisley to join in the nightly activities, but her heart refused to participate. It was too soon to respond to the fire. Aisley would stare, but all she saw was the burning vardo and her parents’ burning bodies. The fire would pop occasionally, she would hear the sound of her mother’s screams, and then the gunfire would reestablish its home in her mind.
Sam was always in close range of Aisley. She hadn’t talked to him since the celebration of their return. She was with Sierra most of the time. One day as she sat nearby weaving a basket, Sam approached his mother. Aisley’s heart picked up a beat. She fumbled around with the reeds she worked with. His dark brown hair fell across his brow. Her body tingled at the memory of him pulling her into his broad chest to keep her from sliding from the horse. His arm muscles had flexed each time she slid one way or the other.
“Mom, I’m worried about Aisley. I thought she would get better when we got here.” The mention of her name drew her attention, although she didn’t look up. She wondered how many conversations about her floated around the camp.
“She needs time, Sam. She just lost her family. When she needs you, she will come to you.” Aisley glanced up to see Abagail lay a caring hand on Sam’s shoulder. Off in the distance, Doriya was calling the children in for story time.
“I hope you’re right.” Sam’s brows furrowed. “Mom, do you think she will ever dance again? She acts like she is afraid to get too close to the fire.” Sam’s deep, sultry voice sent goose bumps racing across her skin. Aisley sucked in a breath.
“That we won’t know. She is trying to deal with the death; the fire reminds her it can eat you up. You’ll have to be patient with her. You should go to her and let her know you’ll be here when she needs you.” Abagail nudged her son in Aisley’s direction. “Your father would know more how to handle the situation than I. He stayed by my side when the gaje killed my parents. I don’t remember much except he was there for me then and he still is.”
Aisley gasped. She didn’t know Mrs. Grey’s parents died at the hands of the gaje. The bridge between Sam and Aisley had widened but it was also shorter. Aisley couldn’t see it for looking at the rising water below. Her mind whirled with confusion. How could she close the gap between them? She tried to get up the courage to talk to him but her inner self told her to stay away. He was very mad when they made the final night of the journey. Could he still be angry?
She thought back on Abagail’s words when she said Sam loved her. He had said he loved her. Then again, it could have been a dream. If Sam loved her, why didn’t he kiss her on the trail to the caravan? There were no lip tingling, lingering kisses to show any kind of deep affection. Only light kisses he had placed on her forehead.
****
Sam heard the footsteps following him into the woods.
“Sam,” Sierra called after him.
“Yeah, what do you want?” His voice was harsh.
When he turned to face Sierra, he saw the hurt in her eyes. He didn’t mean to be so crass. “I just wanted to tell you, Aisley really does care for you. She has since the first time you met.”
“You mean, when we were children or down by the lake?” His stunned disbelief rushed his head like a herd of wild buffalo. Shaking his head, he didn’t know Aisley had even noticed him.
“Yes, we thought you were a gaje. She was so happy and carefree before... her spirit was so alive. I hope she can find her way back. I know it will take time. I don’t know how to help her.” Sierra smiled half-heartedly.
Sam saw the helpless feeling on Sierra’s face. He could feel her pain as she spoke. Laying his hands on her shoulders, he pulled her to him to comfort her and let her know he understood. He lightly kissed her forehead and whispered, “You’re a good friend to Aisley, Sierra.”
****
Aisley’s heart pummeled her rib cage. Tears stung her eyes as she glared at Sierra and Sam. How could they betray her that way? Hiding in the woods, sneaking around kissing behind her back. She crept back through the woods as quietly as she could.
The camp was still when Aisley rose to her feet. Careful not to make a noise, she ventured farther into the woods. Walking softly until she knew she wouldn’t wake anyone. She wandered aimlessly, letting the sobs take over her body. She made her own path as she went.
When her eyes dried, she scanned the area. Panic filled Aisley as she realized she didn’t know where she was or how she’d gotten there. The lake was no longer within sight. The sun peeked through the tops of the trees. The silence sent a shiver of fear down her spine. Aisley trembled and her knees grew weak. She glanced around, looking for the eyes she felt were watching her.
“Where am I?” she whispered to herself. “How did I get here and how do I get back?”
Something in the woods moved and Aisley froze for a moment. Ducking behind a fallen log, she searched the area to find the noise. “Aisley, I’m here,” a familiar voice called softly to her. “Papa and I are here.”
Her heart pounded rapidly. She tightened her clenched fist in her skirt. How did she conjure up the undead?
“Mama? How can it be? I saw your body. It was burned. We buried you and placed a marker for you.” Aisley’s voice quivered.
“Your papa and I are here with you. Do not be afraid. You did not conjure us.”
Aisley was stunned at the calmness that passed over her. Confused as to why they were there and how her mother knew she feared the possibility of unexpectedly conjuring them up. Somehow, she felt safe and secure. “How did I get here?”
Her mother’s soft laughter penetrated her ears. “You let your grief guide you to this place.”
“What is bothering you, Aisley?” Her father’s voice was low and comforting.
“I saw Sam and Sierra together. They betrayed my trust and friendship. I saw him kiss her,” Aisley said, feeling the tightness in her chest squeezing the breath from her body. The sobbing returned to her swollen eyes and aching heart.
“They are both worried about you. They want to help you, but you keep pushing them away,” her mother’s spirit said. “You must not be afraid to care deeply for your friends, Aisley. You have to love others or the pain will steal your soul from you.”
Sitting on a fallen log, Aisley searched the woods for the owners of the voices. “I don’t know if I can. I don’t want to hurt like—I miss you both and love you so much. I don’t want to hurt anyone like this when I die. I’m so lonely and no one is there I can share my heart with like I could with both of you.”
The laughter from her father now reached Aisley’s ears. “Aisley, sometimes pain is what will make you love all the more. You know we love you. However, you must let us go so you can love again. You will be all right.”
“But, what about Sam and Sierra? I won’t hurt them the way they have me.”
“What about them? Aisley, we saw what you saw. Sam was comforting Sierra. He knows she is grieving for you and wants her friend to return. You’re not alone in your grief. You have touched the hearts of all Gypsies. They want to help you. You must accept their help or you’ll always be alone even when you’re around the others.” Her mother’s soft voice touched her deeply.
“You cannot cut yourself off from your world. We will always be close to you. We will always watch over you. We feel no pain, no hate, and no hunger. We are free, and you must let go so you can be free. Follow your heart, Aisley.” A cold, gentle hand slightly touched her cheek.
“Now, I’m lost and I don’t know how to get back,” Aisley said. “Mama? Papa?” she knew their presence had left. A new kind of fear washed over her.
The fear of dying in these woods alone, lost in the tangled web forever. Her breathing labored. Tightness squeezed her chest. Panic washe
d over her. Deep in her heart, she knew if she was going to get out of here, she had to calm down and think. She had to escape this terrible maze and find Sam. Her whole life depended on it. Without Sam, she had nothing, but with him, she could now see her future held happiness.
There was nothing familiar to indicate which way she should go. The sun was sinking low and the camp would be eating soon. “I have to get back to them.” Afraid to call out in case the gaje was in hearing range, Aisley focused on every detail surrounding her.
Maybe she was trying too hard to remember. She needed to find her trail. She couldn’t tell what direction was which way, not that it would make much of a difference since she didn’t know which way she needed to be headed to find the camp. Breaking tiny branches, she began to walk, hoping and praying she wasn’t walking in circles. She searched for a clearing of any kind so she could be free of the eerie feeling she was getting from the moss-covered branches of the cypress trees. If she could only find the lake, she would have an idea of which direction to go.
Chapter Seven
Sam sought out Sierra, “Have you seen Aisley?” The intense fear dug down deep inside his heart as he scanned the area. Sam couldn’t voice his thoughts. If the gaje found her, there was no telling what they would do to her. After seeing what they had done to Aleandro and Rosanna he knew what they were capable of doing. He didn’t want to think about it.
“No, I thought she was with you.” Sierra glanced toward the tree line.
“I have asked everyone in camp and no one has seen her all day. I tried to track her and I didn’t find any leads. I have searched the area. It’s like she just vanished off the face of the earth.” The hurried words flew out of Sam’s mouth. His pulse pounded in his neck. A tight knot wrenched his stomach. He had no idea where she could be as he hurried to all of the places where she usually spent her day.
Sam called the clan together and told them she was missing.
“We’re going to spread out, but stay close to your neighbor…within hearing range.” Sam glanced at the faces of the men standing before him.
“This is all my fault. I should have stayed close to her.” Abagail swiped the moisture from her eyes.
“Now Mother, you cannot blame yourself.” Sam laid his hand on her shoulder.
“He’s right, this is not the time for any of us to feel guilt. We are all guilty for thinking she would come to us,” Oscar called out above the mumbles.
“We are wasting precious time. We should be scouring the woods instead of having this discussion. I hope the gaje didn’t find her again,” Sierra murmured as she scanned the tree line.
Alarm rang throughout the camp. Sam had already had the same thought. Until Sierra voiced her fears, he had tried to deny the fact she could have been located by them. He was aware of the possibilities the gaje would be looking for Aisley. From what he had seen of these men, they would like nothing more than to charge her with the murder of the cruel, evil trapper that attacked her.
Sam’s fears rose to a near panic state. “We need to pair up and search for her. We need to find her as quickly as possible. The longer she is gone, the more danger she will be in.” The idea of her in the woods alone in the dark was more than he could bear. He had to be strong until they found her. But for now, he felt as weak as a day-old-baby unable to hold his own head steady.
“I agree with you son,” Oscar said, grabbing a torch the women were constructing. The rest of the men reached out their hands to take theirs and then moved away from the line.
“I’m going with you,” Sierra said.
“You need to stay here with the other women. We may need more torches. If Aisley shows up, send someone out to tell us.” Sam took charge of the situation, after he calmed his panic. With his father standing beside him, he gathered his courage to lead the party. “Is everyone ready to move? Spread out and stay close. Let’s get a move on.”
Before Sam finished, the others had already lit their torches and was leaving camp. The woods were eerily quiet. An occasional call ran up and down the line of the searchers. Thudding in Sam’s ears, his pulse picked up a beat. A tight knot formed in his stomach. He squinted his eyes around the torchlight. Shadows played across the tree trunks, making it hard to determine if he were missing any movement. Yet he pressed on, calling her name softly.
“Where are you, Aisley?” He whispered into the cool, darkness of the forest.
****
The moon was a sliver suspended in the sky. Aisley stood staring, trying to figure out which direction she needed to go. She yawned, her heartbeat elevated as the moon faded in and out of the tree tops. Sam needed to know he was everything to her. Working her way around in the dark slowly, not knowing if she was walking in circles, she clutched at whatever she could find, and hoped it was a tree and nothing breathing. Then she noticed lights flickering through the dense branches of the trees.
Was it a town or a gaje camp?
Frightened, she crept through the woods, hiding behind the tree trunks. She kept them between her and the lights. Slowly and as quietly as she could, she continued onward with her head down and hidden amongst the low-hanging branches. Quite often she paused to ensure there was no one following her. Praying it wasn’t the gaje or Indians, she got to her hands and knees and crawled in the underbrush.
She held her breath as she waited to see the source behind the lights. It was better she let them come to her. The only thing she could hear was the pounding of her heart. She was so still, she thought she would never be able to move again. Wanting to cry out for help, but more afraid she would be discovered by the rapturous hands of the non-Gypsy weighed heavy on her mind as she sucked in some air.
Aisley conjured up enough courage to peer out from her hiding place. Her heart skipped a beat as she recognized the face. Jumping from the brush, she ran toward the man. “Oscar. Oscar,” she cried.
Oscar took a few steps back and then he called out, “I’ve found her.” He walked toward her and pulled her to him. All down the line, she heard the calls of the others as they notified one another. The low mumbles of relieved voices kept to a low roar, they celebrated the safe return of their own. The other searches joined them. They made their way to the edge of the woods.
Sam ran to Aisley and hugged her. “I will never let you out of my sight again, young lady.” His voice was firm and serious, but happy all the same. “I’m so glad we found you, but I’m still mad at you for making me worry like that.”
He wrapped his strong arms around her and pulled her into his embrace. Her skin tingled despite the clothing between them. Aisley raised her arms around Sam’s neck and leaned into his body. Her heart raced. The warmth of his breath caressed her cheek. Aisley sucked in a breath through her parted lips. He lowered his lips to hers.
Their tongues met in a heated, passionate dance. Her knees grew weak. Desire burned within her. She never wanted the kiss to end, but she had to let him know of her love for him. Gently, she broke the kiss. “I didn’t mean to wander so far off. When I saw you and Sierra together, it hurt me deeply.” Aisley stared into the warmth of his dark brown eyes. He took her hand in his and they strolled toward the camp. She drew in a deep breath before she confessed her fears. “I was hurt because I thought you liked Sierra instead of me. I love you both and couldn’t stand between the two of you.”
“I was only comforting Sierra. She was concerned about you and she said I was the only one who could fix you. We all have been, Aisley. I have been worried sick about you. Please don’t ever do that to me again. I love you. Can’t you see that? I told you when you were in the shelter on the way to the camp.”
“I thought I was dreaming, Sam. Things that seemed real were not. I couldn’t tell them apart at times. I thought my mind was playing tricks on me. I don’t understand how you can love me after all the torment I’ve put you through.” Aisley took hold of Sam’s hand possessively and leaned on his shoulder.
“Well, your mind wasn’t playing tricks on you,”
he said and then placed a light kiss on her cheek. “Let’s get back to camp. We aren’t far from it.”
“Sam,” Aisley said softly, “I talked to Mama and Papa today.”
“How can that be?”
“They came to me. They told me I should let go of them so I can live again. They said you and Sierra were both hurt by the way I was acting. I’m sorry I made the two of you worry, I’m so ashamed to have distressed the clan.” Holding onto Sam’s arm, she ducked her head and then stopped.
Sam turned to her and gazed into her eyes. She stood on her toes and pressed her lips to his. He pulled her tight against his lean, hard body. His invading tongue tempted her mouth to open. She swallowed the moan erupting from his throat. The minty taste of him pulled her deeper into the kiss. Every inch of passion in her body poured out of her, and all of her emotions flowed into his receiving body.
“I think we should continue this back at camp. It’s not safe to be in the woods alone with you, we could get lost forever.” A mischievous smile danced across his handsome face. The creases on his face smoothed, the fear and panic now replaced with happiness and relief.
Aisley watched Oscar greet his son. He had embraced him and whispered something in Sam’s ear and then they both glanced her way. The bond between the two men made her miss her parents. A smile crossed both their faces and Sam nodded his head. His brown eyes danced with desire. She held her breath.
Seeking out Abagail, Aisley ran to her and threw her arms around her neck. Choking on the sobs escaping her throat she said, “I’m so sorry. Once again you reached out to me and I ignored every word you said. I don’t know if I didn’t want Sam to care for me or if I was running from caring for him. I know now I was wrong on both accounts and I promise to listen to your wise words from here on out. I hope you don’t mind if I come to you often. You’re the closest thing I have to a mother.”