Gypsy Gold Read Online Free PDF

had Jen suddenly changed the plan?
    Was it because their families thought they werecamping up the hill, instead of down in this grove with a stranger? But they’d just seen him ignore the crash of his prized violin to save an orphan foal from being burned. Didn’t that mean he was a good guy?
    Nicolas shifted his position across the fire. He’d been leaning back on two hands, staring into the flames as the girls talked.
    Now he leaned forward. The angle of firelight changed, making a mask of shadows from his brows down to his cheekbones.
    â€œTell me honestly, Samantha and Jennifer,” he said. “Do you feel you must move on because I’m a gypsy?”

Chapter Four
    â€œY ou’re a gypsy?” Both girls spoke at once.
    Sam looked down. She picked at a thread fraying from the stitchings on her jeans. Why had her voice squeaked like she was thrilled? And Jen had sounded startled.
    No wonder Nicolas looked confused.
    â€œWhat did you think?” he asked.
    â€œNothing,” Sam said, but why hadn’t her brain picked up the clue from the song? The words had said horses were a gypsy’s gold.
    Still, she’d sung lots of songs that had nothing to do with her life. Take “Puff, the Magic Dragon,” forinstance. But Nicolas looked truly interested and a little concerned over why they hadn’t known he was a gypsy.
    â€œI probably would have guessed you were Italian,” Jen said. “Or Basque. There are lots of Basque families around here.”
    Sam stared at Nicolas, but she didn’t notice anything exotic. In fact, the only thing exceptional about him was that on his otherwise smooth face, there was a wrinkle above his left eyebrow, as if he constantly raised it. What did that mean? That he was skeptical like Jen?
    â€œMy ancestors were Greek,” Nicolas said, “and my family’s been in England for generations. Even though we picked up a Bulgarian last name, we’re still gypsies.”
    â€œI’ve never met a gypsy,” Sam said, and when Nicolas spread his arms as if he were on display, she blurted, “But you’re not from Egypt?”
    â€œSam!” Jen gave an appalled gasp.
    â€œWhat?” Sam said, turning toward Jen. “I read somewhere that—well, it kind of makes sense, doesn’t it? I mean the words are alike—Egypt and gypsy.” When Jen shook her head, Sam looked back at Nicolas. “That’s not right?”
    â€œNo, and I’m afraid I can’t read your palm, either,” Nicolas said, snapping his fingers in pretend disappointment. “And if you left any tea leaves inyour cup…? I can’t tell your future.”
    Sam’s face went hot with embarrassment. Was he mad because she was ignorant?
    â€œMaybe you heard gypsies were pickpockets and con men, too.”
    Nicolas’s grin reminded Sam of some of the cowboys’ when she’d first moved back to River Bend Ranch. But she’d kind of understood those superior smiles. They’d known she’d lived in San Francisco, and they’d assumed the boss’s citified daughter didn’t know anything about ranch life and wouldn’t want to learn.
    Well, they’d been wrong, and whatever Nicolas was thinking was wrong, too.
    â€œI don’t even know what a con man is,” Sam said. Her face stung from the deepening blush, but she wasn’t about to shut up. “I just thought it was kind of cool, because I’ve heard gypsies are wizards with horses. That’s all.”
    She couldn’t go on with her voice shaking, so she stopped.
    â€œWizards?” Nicolas asked.
    Embarrassment was a black hole. A bottomless black hole, and just when she thought she’d crashed into its floor, another level opened up and down she fell.
    Sam looked away from Nicolas and stared into the fire. The leafy twig Jen had fed the flames had charred into a bare stem.
    Sam turned toward the grove where