Hannah’s jaw dropped. Literally.
“But how…”
The gypsy placed a finger to her lips. Now was not the time for Hannah to speak. For she was about to receive the answer she’d been looking for.
Tony was on the hot seat. He overlooked the fact she’d called him Anthony. Nobody, but nobody, called him Anthony. He hated the name. He thought it made him sound like an accountant, slaving away in a cubicle with his calculator and his Buddy Holley glasses.
Forget all that. How in heck did she know why they went in there?
Tony looked at Hannah. Hannah looked back at him. Both of them suspected the other of sneaking in to talk to the woman beforehand.
And each of them could tell by the surprise on the other’s face that they hadn’t.
The gypsy turned her attention to Hannah.
“You are a beautiful girl, Hannah. You are desired by many boys. During your life you will be desired by many men. But at this place, at this time, your heart and your soul belong to only one man.
“You’re here to find out if he feels the same way. You want to know if he will select you to be his bride. You want to know if he will father your children.
“The answer is yes. Yes to both questions. He will ask you to marry him, and he will be a good father to your children. He will be faithful and devoted to you. He will never stray.
“But…”
They had been gazing into each other’s eyes. Hannah smiled as soon as she heard the gypsy’s words. As hokey and improbable as it was, she had the confirmation she’d been looking for.
The “but…” stopped them short.
They immediately turned their attention back to the woman as she continued.
“But first, you must survive the great calamity. It will not be easy. You will be at great risk. Your loved ones and all of your friends will be in danger. Many of them will not make it.
“To earn your life together, to earn your children, you must survive the great calamity. You must help others to survive as well. Only then, as you walk away from the greatest death and destruction this country has ever seen, will you finally deserve the chance to become one.”
Hannah could find no words.
Tony’s head was swimming, trying to make sense of it all. But his tongue was still working.
“Great calamity? What great calamity? What in hell are you talking about?”
Hannah put her hand on his arm to calm him. She saw no reason for him to get ugly. No reason to curse at the woman.
But Tony wasn’t angry.
Tony was confused.
“Beneath the great park they call Yellowstone lies death and destruction. It is well hidden and mostly unknown. But it is there. And you… both of you, will have the unique opportunity to save the lives of many.
“But… you must not marry until after the calamity is done. To do so will cause you distractions. You will be with child. You will lose your path, and your role in what fate hath wrought.”
Hannah stammered, “What? What hath fate wrought?”
“The destruction of the United States of America.”
Now Tony was starting to get angry.
“What in the hell are you talking about, you crazy old woman? What are you saying?”
The woman took the attack in stride, as though she fully expected it. She continued to meet his gaze and merely smiled at him.
Hannah took control, as she frequently did when Tony lost his cool.
“I think we’d better go,” she said as she stood and pushed her chair back. Her hand was still on Tony’s arm, and she fairly pulled him out of his own seat.
She turned back to the gypsy and said, “Thank you, ma’am.”
The woman merely nodded, and continued to smile.
Hannah rushed Tony, who was now speechless, out of the tent and back onto the carnival midway.
They were fifty feet away when Hannah noticed the ten dollar bill still clutched in Tony’s hand.
“Wait. We forgot to pay her.”
“Screw her.”
But Hannah was nothing if not honest. Bad karma came to those who took advantage of others.
She dragged him back to the tent and swept aside the flap.
The old gyspy was nowhere to be found.
The Yellowstone Event, Book 1:
FIRE IN THE SKY
Is now available on Amazon.com and at
Barnes and Noble Booksellers.
No Help From Austin: Red: Book 5 Page 18