Gypsy in Black: The Romance of Gypsy Travelers Read Online Free PDF Page A

Unl ess they chained her , Sahara would never stay with these people.  “ I belong to no man!  Especially some scraggly old gypsy! ”   She started to walk away, but she stopped, her heart pounding . The women stared at her, watching her every move.  To them, she was the outsider and they were studying her reaction.  Sahara had to get away, even if for just a moment to collect her thoughts.  Her mind reeled at the surreal situation that she faced her.  S he stared at the tents and wagons.  They all looked the sa me and Sahara realized that she had no idea where the tent was that she had slept in. She couldn't even escape from the gy psies' curious gazes. 
    Sah ara felt the tears stinging at her eye.  She blinked, trying to fight them back but, before she coul d help herself, she began to sob softly. Lowering her head into her hands, s he felt lost and alone, torn from the only home she had ever known, the only life she had ever lived.  She couldn’t go back.  That was true.  Nor would she stay here amongst strangers of mind, body, and culture.  If she could leave, she had no money, no skills, and no home.  The man had, indeed, spoken correctly: she had nowhere to go.
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                  The wind blew through her hair as she stood on the deck of the ship.  She held the small infant in her arms, protecting her from the wind by holding her close to her chest. The air smelled of salt and of freedom.  She shut her eyes and felt the sway of the boat beneath her feet.  The boat rolled gently in the waves, each roll followed by a loud slap of water against the hull.  The only other noise was the occasional flutter of the canvas sail, snapping in the wind.  The sun shone overhead but the woman was in the shadows of the sail, protected from the harsh rays of the noonday radiance. 
                  The other passengers were downstairs, below deck.  Many were tired of the journey.  Most of them slept as much as possible, especially during the heat of the day.  It made time go faster. But the woman would not be confined beneath the deck and away from the fresh air.  The small infant needed air and she needed to get away from the angry stares of the others on the ship.  It was a time of great stress and tension and the woman could only escape by slipping away and hiding in the shadows of the sail.
                  The sailors left her along, respectful of the new mother.  She had only given birth a few weeks ago, during the mid-point of the journey.  The birth had been easy and her recovery fast.  That was attributed to her youth and vigor.  But the fact that she gave birth at all was frowned upon, a stain on her family and her future.  She didn’t care.  She wouldn’t have traded any of it if it meant the loss of those few days of passion and love.  Forbidden love, true.  But it was so powerful and so honest.  She found herself smiling as she remembered his arms, his words, his powerful lovemaking.  He had never made her any promises and that was fine with her.  He had given her something even better than memories.  He had given her the child in her arms. 
     

Chapter Three
    The days were long and it was getting hotter each day.  The sun rose early in the morning and often did not set until well into the evening.  During the first few days, the gypsies left her alone.  She would often wander on the edge of the camp, searching the horizon as if the answer was there.  In the distance, she could see hills and forests.  The road did not look familiar and she did not see signs of other towns.  She had no idea where they were and no one spent any time paying attention to the distraught stranger in their midst.  It was lonely and she was frightened.  In the morning and at night, the man called Nicolae delivered her meals, us ually without so much as a word and always under the watchful gaze of the older woman.   He wasn’t unkind