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lip as her eyes traced over the small shape in her arms. “Not tonight, Beatrice,” she said, lifting her head. “The preacher’s offered me good wages to feed his baby. You’d better go read the fortunes yourself.”
    â€œWhat?” The woman’s dark eyes hardened. “Are you running out on me, Lily? After all I’ve done for you?”
    â€œI’m not deserting you, Bea,” Lily said. “You know I would never do that. We’ll stay here a few days and save up my earnings. While I look out for the preacher’s baby, you can boil a new batch of potion. It’ll be a chance for us to figure out how we’re going to manage the show without Ted and Jakov.”
    â€œI know how to manage the show. All Jakov ever did was per form the opening act. I created the entertainment. I planned the programs and counted the money. Oh, Lily, I told you I’d take care of you, didn’t I? We’re partners, the two of us. We’ll make it. We’ll be fine.”
    Elijah had the awfulest feeling that Madame Zahara was about to cry, and he didn’t think it would be a pretty sight. The woman herself was attractive in a mysterious, exotic sort of way. She had almond-shaped brown eyes, full red lips, and glowing olive skin. Her crimson silk gown was cut too low for any decent man to approve of, and her black hair draped around her shoulders like a luxurious cloak.
    But every time she looked at Elijah, a prickle ran right up his spine. He felt pretty sure he recognized that prickle. It warned him of the presence of evil.
    â€œLily, let’s head west like we planned,” Madame Zahara said, her painted eyes persuasive. “We’ll go on to Manhattan and set up camp. You can recite Ophelia’s soliloquy there if you want. I know you’ve been under such a strain losing little Abby, and this preacher is preying on your kindness. Look at him, Lily. He’s no different from the sort of man you’ve always despised. He’s selfish and pious and unloving, and he’s out to make all the money he can—and doing it in the name of God.”
    Lily’s blue eyes focused on Elijah, and it was all he could do not to take off running. Truth to tell, he was selfish. Always had been. But God was working on him, breaking down the walls he’d built as a boy. And he sometimes was pious. Sure enough, not two minutes ago he had stood there mentally running Mrs. Lily Nolan into the ground for being an actress. What made him so perfect? Nothing but the forgiving grace of God the Father. And unloving … well, he never had been too warm around people. He wasn’t much for hugging and kissing and all that. Made his back itch.
    â€œI can read your spirit, Preacher,” Madame Zahara said, turning her painted eyes on him. “I know what lies within your heart. If I looked into your palm, I could see the roads on which you’ve traveled. Paths of arrogance and self-importance. You believe you’ve found the one truth—the single answer to life. But you’re wrong. All paths lead to God. Every person has the spark of divine truth within himself, and all we need to do is trust our own heart to touch the holiness inside us.”
    Elijah listened to her words. They had a ring of truth to them— but they weren’t right. He knew there was only one path to God, and that was through Jesus Christ. On that path, he had found peace and comfort and hope. He had found forgiveness and a reason to live. Why was this woman trying to distort the truth?
    â€œLet Lily go,” she said, laying a hand on his arm. “Set her free to follow her own destiny. Don’t try to control others with your words, Preacher. Let them seek truth and find that spirit in the place where it has always dwelled. In their hearts.”
    Elijah took off his hat and tapped it on his thigh a couple of times. “Well, ma’am, I appreciate your concern for