Imperfect Magic (Dancing Moon Ranch Book 11)

by Patricia Watters

  CHAPTER 3

  Maddy had not intended on her brothers being present when the ten o'clock news would come on, but when she told Adam, Marc and Tyler about Dimitri's ten-thousand dollar challenge, all three laughed it off, but planned to be at the Coyote to take Dimitri on, seeming to think winning the bet was a slam dunk. Maddy secretly hoped they'd lose, if only to prove to the three of them that Dimitri wasn't the wussy they'd pegged him to be.

  She hadn't yet told them she'd be working at the Coyote as Dimitri's assistant, and it seemed her parents hadn't said anything to them either, but she knew that was because her folks had been involved with other things and hadn't had a chance to get into it with them. But they would.

  Emily and Kit stayed home with the kids and planned to watch Dimitri's stunt on their own TVs, but since Tyler and Rose—who was nine months pregnant and counting—didn't have a TV in their newly-built cedar yurt, they were both there, sitting on the couch nibbling on each other, like they did most of the time. Adam and Marc stood behind the couch, in clear view of the TV, looking amused, but also curious.

  Maddy's parents were sitting together in their double recliners, both of them reading, but she knew they weren't absorbing what they were reading because she saw them glancing over at the TV, like they didn't want to miss what was coming.

  When the news was announced, Maddy tried to act detached when a female reporter looked toward a nationwide audience, and said, "We're here at Council Point with Dimitri Matthias, who's been successfully performing the most difficult escapes of the world's greatest escape artist, Harry Houdini, and tonight he'll attempt to unshackle and free himself from inside a burning crate before the crate breaks loose and plunges into the Willamette River, far below." Holding a microphone up to Dimitri, the woman said, "As I understand it, this is the first time you'll be attempting this escape. What will it be like for you inside the crate?"

  "Hot," Dimitri replied, "but I won't notice because I'll be concentrating on getting out of chains and several pairs of cuffs. The crate will also be nailed shut."

  "That crate over there?" the reporter pointed to a large packing crate being lowered off the bed of a small wrecker.

  Dimitri nodded. "It will be doused with fuel oil. As soon as the wick below is lit, the crate will be swung out over the river. My job is to be free before the wick burns up and the crate bursts into flames and plunges to the water, in which case, I'll either roast or drown."

  "And you've really never done this before?" the reporter repeated the question.

  "Correct, but it's a slow-burning wick. I'll have at least two minutes to get free before the crate ignites and the ropes holding it burn through and drop it to the water."

  "Aren't you worried about what would happen if you're still inside?" the reporter asked.

  "Yes," Dimitri replied. "I heard there have been sightings of three-eyed fish in the Willamette as a result of pollution and I don't want to ingest any water."

  The reporter laughed and looked toward the viewers again, and said, "After a commercial break we'll be back with Dimitri Matthias and see if he does, in fact, free himself in time to avoid a very uncomfortable ending."

  "The guy's crazy," Tyler said. "It's either a big phony setup, or he'll fry on the way down."

  "Honey, it's just a TV stunt," Rose commented. "They can do anything with cameras."

  "Not on the news," Adam said. "There's a crowd, so he can't get away with trick photography, but I'm with Tyler. It's some kind of phony setup." The three brothers continued tossing out possible explanations for the escape, none of which sounded reasonable to Maddy.

  At the end of the commercial, the news reporter came on again, saying, "We're back with Dimitri Matthias who, as you can see, is being bound in cuffs and chains while the crate is being doused with fuel oil. I must say, folks, this man is either extremely brave, or extremely stupid, and I guess we'll find out which in a few minutes."

  The camera panned to where Dimitri, now wrapped in chains with padlocks, shuffled along as he was being helped into the crate, and once inside, the crate was nailed shut. With the hook on the arm of the wrecker attached to a tent of ropes that cradled the crate, the crate was lifted, along with a wick, now burning beneath it, and swung out over the river.

  "No way," Marc said, as he edged around the couch to get a closer look. "When that flame hits the crate, the thing will burst into flames."

  "He must have gotten out before they lifted it," Adam said. "Probably out the back."

  Tyler removed his arm from around Rose and leaned forward. "The crowd's standing all around it and there's a camera back there, and the thing's nailed shut."

  Maddy glanced over and saw that her parents had lowered the foot rests on their double recliners and were staring at the TV.

  As the flame on the wick crept upward, Maddy sat, eyes fixed on the TV, her breath caught in her throat. Then the crate and the ropes caught fire and began to burn. And all Maddy could think was that Dimitri was still inside, possibly being roasted alive because of some perverse need to prove to the world—she had no idea what—maybe that he was superhuman.

  That thought had barely formed when the crate seemed to literally explode into flames and break free. A large spotlight followed the flaming container all the way down as it plunged into the river, where it bobbed on the surface for a few seconds, still aglow in flames, yet there was no sign of Dimitri flailing around in the water, or struggling to be free of chains and ropes.

  "He's gone," Marc said. "I can't believe we watched this."

  "The guy must have been suicidal," Adam said, "but that's a pretty gruesome way to go."

  Cheers from spectators brought everyone's eyes back to the TV as a spotlight moved up the high riverbank to focus on Dimitri, who was hanging onto a rope that dangled off the end of the hook, which was hoisting him away from the riverbank, where he was lowered to the ground.

  It wasn't until then Maddy realized she had tears in her eyes, and she had no idea why, except she'd watched a near tragedy and it wasn't something she wanted to do on a regular basis. Maybe that was the real reason Dimitri's assistant walked out—one too many daredevil stunts, and the Chinese Water Torture Cell Escape was the straw that broke the proverbial camel's back. She could understand it now. It would never be an issue though, because Dimitri was not the kind of man who'd hold her attention beyond a normal fascination for the escapes and illusions he performed, along with a sizeable dose of female appreciation for the way he looked when stripped to almost nothing, because his daredevil stunts were foolish and narcissistic, the 'look-at-me-and-see-how-great-I-am, mentality. Not the kind of man she'd ever want for the long haul.

  ***

  The following morning, when Dimitri saw Maddy walking between her folks' house and the stable, he caught up with her, and said, "Did you watch my burning box stunt last night?"

  "Yes. It was sensational. Stomach twisting. Insane," Maddy clipped.

  "You act mad," Dimitri said, wondering what happened. The last time they were together things seemed fine.

  "I'm not mad," Maddy replied. "You have a perfect right to tempt fate on a regular basis if that's what gives you your highs."

  "I wasn't tempting fate last night. I knew I could get out."

  "You hoped you could get out. Any number of things could have gone wrong. You could have passed out from lack of oxygen. The ropes could have broken and dropped the crate and trapped you inside. The hook on the wrecker arm could have fallen off. Do I need to go on?"

  "No, you need to be a little realistic," Dimitri said. "You ride horses that could buck you off and break your neck, or rear up and stomp you into the ground, or fall down the mountain with you. And every time you get in your car, or anyone else's car, you could crash and burn in an instant for a thousand different reasons. Do I need to go on?"

  "No, because it's not the same," Maddy said. "Meanwhile, if you want to ride Tut you need to wear boots. You can still ride in your slacks, but you'll look prett
y silly around here when even our ranch guests dress western."

  "I bought jeans and boots this morning," Dimitri said.

  "Fine then, go change and I'll have Tut tied for you to groom when you're ready." Maddy marched off, leaving Dimitri staring after her, baffled at her reaction. True, things could go wrong with some of his escapes, but life was filled with things going wrong. They were called acts of fate and no one had any control over them.

  On returning to the cabin, he changed into one of several pairs of used jeans he'd picked up at Goodwill. He'd initially gone to a farm and ranch store where they sold western wear, but after trying on a pair of new jeans that were so stiff he could barely move, he had Chris drive him to the local Goodwill, where he bought a few pairs of jeans and several western shirts with pearl snaps instead of buttons. What struck him when he tried on a shirt was how easily it could come off. One yank and the thing was open, which would be ideal for quick change illusions. He'd also managed to find a pair of western boots his size, and unlike the stiff new ones at the farm and ranch store, he didn't feel like he was walking with casts on his feet.

  After changing into his western garb, he headed for the stable. As he approached, all the while feeling like an overgrown kid playing cowboy, Maddy had her back to him while tying a horse. "Okay, I'm ready," he called ahead.

  Maddy turned, and with the sweep if her gaze, scanned the length of him. Then her mouth curved in a smile. "Wait, let me guess. You managed to switch bodies with an unsuspecting cowboy in town, leaving him scratching his head while suddenly finding himself in khakis and patent leather shoes."

  Dimitri laughed. "Actually, he's chained inside a trunk." He glanced down at the oval saw-tooth, rubber tool Maddy was offering him. "What am I supposed to do with that?" he asked.

  "It's a curry comb," Maddy replied. "It's for scraping away dirt and other debris in the horse's coat. Just go easy when you get to boney sections like Tut's legs, shoulders and withers."

  "What are withers?" Dimitri asked.

  Maddy looked at him in disbelief, then seeming to adjust to his lack of knowledge about horses, she placed her hand on a hump where the horse's mane met his back, and said, "This part. When you curry a horse, start on the left side and move your hand in a circular motion. Here, I'll show you." She slipped her hand beneath a leather strap that crossed over the top of the curry comb and started moving it in small circles, while making her way over the side of the horse.

  As she demonstrated, Dimitri found himself concentrating on the way Maddy's hips and upper body moved with the motion, especially her upper body. He already knew what lay beneath her snug western shirt. He'd had an unobstructed view when she rushed up to grab his arm at the end of the water torture stunt when she was in Las Vegas. The gown she'd worn that night gaped open, leaving nothing to his imagination, and everything to his fantasies.

  All too soon, Maddy handed him the curry comb, and said, "Here you go."

  As he took the comb, Dimitri caught sight of her two older brothers walking toward them. He hadn't talked to them since he arrived at the ranch because he'd been in Portland the day before getting ready for the burning box escape, but he hadn't been oblivious to them the day he arrived either, when they were obviously making jokes about him, no doubt because they'd never had a guest arrive in a limo, and he wasn't inclined to offer an explanation, but at some point during his stay he intended to have some fun with them at their expense.

  As they approached, the taller of the two offered his hand, and said, "I'm Adam. Welcome to the Dancing Moon Ranch. And this is Marc. At Josh and Genie's wedding you took off before we could meet you."

  Dimitri gave Adam's hand a firm shake, then took Marc's outstretched hand, and said, "My dad and I had to get to a show, but I've heard a lot about you two from Genie. Well, about everyone here. I hope you'll make it to the Coyote the night I open. I assume Maddy told you about my rope challenge."

  "She did, and we'll be there," Adam said. "As I understand it, you'll let the three of us tie you to a post any way we want, using a hundred feet of rope, and if you can't get loose in the time it takes us to tie you up, you'll pay us ten-thousand dollars."

  "That's right," Dimitri said. "All you have to do is be in the audience that night. When I call for volunteers, stand up, and Maddy will select the three of you and there are no other requirements. You can tie me to the post any way you want, and as tight as you want, as long as the rope's not around my neck or head."

  Adam's brows drawn, he said, "What do you mean, Maddy will select the three of us?"

  "She'll be my assistant during my run at the Coyote," Dimitri said. "I assumed you knew."

  Adam looked at Maddy, who shrugged, and said, "I figured you guys would go ballistic if I told you so I didn't mention it. And don't start lecturing me. I will be assisting Dimitri, and by the end of the month I'll have a nice fat paycheck, so you can help me build my arena."

  Adam looked at Dimitri, long and hard, and said, "Just don't get any ideas about getting something going with my sister. She's off limits to you."

  Dimitri raised his hands, palms out, and said, "Relax. Any assistant of mine will always be off limits, unless she's my wife."

  "That's not an option either," Adam said.

  "Stop right there!" Maddy cut in. "When and who I marry will be entirely my decision. Now if you two will leave, I'm hired to do a job and I need to get on with it."

  Adam pinned Dimitri with a hard-eyed look, to which Dimitri responded by saying, "Relax, Adam. My intentions are professional and completely honorable. Your sister is safe with me."

  "Just see that things stay that way." Adam turned and left.

  Marc stayed behind long enough to say to Dimitri, "Adam's always been protective of Maddy, but he has a valid point. You might want to keep that in mind."

  Dimitri held Marc's gaze, as he replied, "I'm sure I'll be reminded if I forget."

  After they'd gone, Dimitri said to Maddy, "Do your brothers always try to run your life?"

  "Basically, yes," Maddy replied. "So back to grooming. Tut doesn't like his belly brushed so go easy there, and if he lays his ears back, he's pissed, and you might want to stop."

  "I've got the picture." Dimitri slipped the curry comb onto his hand and started moving it in circular motions along Tut's back, while saying, "Is there a place around here where I can buy some lumber and tools—a skill saw, a drill, a hammer and nails?"

  "If you plan to enlarge the cabin, forget it. My dad won't approve," Maddy replied.

  "No, I plan to build a donkey stable." When Dimitri saw Maddy smiling, he knew her joke about the cabin was her way of messing with his head. "You do that a lot," he said.

  "What?"

  "Mess with my head."

  "It happens when you have six big brothers," Maddy said. "So then, you plan to build a stable with a couple of power tools and a hammer?"

  "That's the idea," Dimitri replied. "It will be a donkey stable, or more accurately a big box with some kind of mechanism in it that allows the donkey to disappear. I haven't figured out what that is yet, but it starts with a box."

  Maddy looked at him in curiosity. "If you're thinking about taking Homer back with you and trying to pass him off as a small horse, even people in Las Vegas will know the difference."

  "I'm an illusionist," Dimitri said. "I can make the audience believe he's a horse."

  "You can really do that?" Maddy asked.

  Dimitri looked over Tut's back and saw Maddy staring at him, wide-eyed. "Ha! I got you!" He found himself grinning. He actually found himself doing that a lot when he was around Maddy. He found other things going on too, which he tried unsuccessfully to ignore, but her big brothers managed to keep a damper on those things.

  "No, seriously," Maddy said, "could you do something like maybe hypnotize the audience?"

  "That would be cheating," Dimitri replied, "but if I can get ahold of some power tools to build my donkey stable, I think I can make Homer disappear in time to tr
y it out at the Coyote, and if it works, I'll know how to make a horse disappear."

  "Speaking of the Coyote," Maddy said, "what am I supposed to wear while I'm your assistant? No way will I wear the gown I wore before. The seamstress forgot to sew up the skirt then ran out of material when she got to the top."

  Dimitri laughed. "You can get whatever kind of gown you want." He slipped the curry comb off his hand and set it aside, then walked around Tut to where Maddy was standing. Reaching into his back pocket, he pulled out his billfold and peeled off a couple of one-hundred dollar bills. "Can you find something around here for this?"

  Maddy stared at the bills. "I don't know. Maybe at the resale shop."

  Dimitri peeled off a couple more hundred dollar bills. "This ought to get you something."

  "Well, yes, I imagine it can ," Maddy said, "but I'll still have to go to the resale shop because it's the only place around here that sells gowns, and since some of my family will be at the Coyote opening night, that limits what I can wear, but I'll find something." She folded the bills and stuffed them into the pocket of her jeans.

  Dimitri picked up the curry comb and started in again, while saying, "What about a place where I can buy power tools?"

  "We have a shop here at the ranch, but I doubt if my dad would let you use the tools because he'd be afraid you'd cut off a finger," Maddy said. "Have you ever used power tools before?"

  "Sure," Dimitri replied. "I build all my stage devices, including the water torture cell and the Metamorphosis trunk."

  Maddy looked at him, wide-eyed, then smiled and said, "Now you're messing with my head, and Tut's done on that side so you can come around here."

  Dimitri moved around the horse, and while he was making a wide pass to be out of kicking range, Maddy said, "If you put your hand on Tut's rump and walk close behind him he can't kick you, but out where you are he could send you flying, which wouldn't look very good if your horse did it on stage before you had a chance to make him disappear."