Loudly, I swallowed. I didn’t like her words or the meaning behind them. I wanted to believe this woman was unhinged. That she said this to every person who walked through her tent, but her composure showed she had nothing to gain by telling a lie.
“Rainey,” I said faintly, “let’s go.”
My best friend shook her head. “But I want to know more.” She dropped her hand back onto the table. “Tell me who my sweetheart will be.”
“Let’s go.”
The urgency in my voice made Rainey pull her hand back. As she stood, she thanked Freya, while I silently began to inch my way backward. Rainey made her way toward me and we were almost free, when Freya said, “May I leave you two with final words?”
Rainey and I stopped, looked at one another, then turned back to Freya.
“Yes,” I replied, albeit reluctantly.
Freya pointed to Rainey. “You will do well with your courage. Never lose it.” She pointed to me. “You are far more powerful than you understand. You have a silent strength that most people wouldn’t dare contain.”
While I absorbed her words, Rainey leaned in front of me, blocking my view of Freya. “Wow. Can we venture back to my courage? I would like to know more about that.”
Freya shook her head and motioned for us to leave. “Thank you, girls.”
At once, the two of us fled the tent. With our arms linked together, we silently wove in and out of the crowds. It was only until the carnival was behind us, and we stepped onto King Street, that I breathed a sigh of relief. We broke apart and slowed our steps.
Perhaps when we made it back to where Warren was waiting with the car, the feeling of being watched would leave. The hairs on my arms continued to stay raised as we walked. I told myself I was simply paranoid by Freya’s words and there was nothing to worry about. Nonetheless, I looked over my shoulder.
There was nothing there.
I turned forward, crossed my arms over my chest, and kept my eyes on the ground. “What did she mean?” I whispered to Rainey.
“She meant nothin’. It’s a bunch of tomfoolery.”
“Tomfoolery we paid ten cents each for thanks to you.”
Rainey stopped walking and looked at me. “You’re not considerin’ her words to be true, are you?”
I rubbed my hands up and down my arms as I thought of my reply. I saw the scrutiny in Freya’s eyes as she stared at my palm. That was real. Were the words that followed real too? To say yes seemed foolish, so I simply shrugged.
Rainey groaned and placed an arm around me. “Stop, Nat. This”— she flung her hand in the direction of the carnival— “is meant in jest.”
“But, but—” I started and stopped my words several times. “She spoke of death,” I reminded.
“She mentioned death because everyone has had someone and will have someone die in their life. And before you ask, the remark about love? I’m positive she tells that to nearly everyone that walks through her tent.”
I bit down on my lower lip as I mulled over Rainey’s words. She made a valid point. “Do you think so?”
“I’m positive,” Rainey confidently stated.
“What about her sayin’ pain and the hands of fate.”
Rainey blinked at me several times, appearing almost confused by my worry.
“What if my pain truly can withstand fate?” I nervously asked.
“Whatever dares to stand in your way will have to deal with my bow and arrow. Now can we leave?”
A touch of a smile caused the corners of my mouth to lift. Leave it to Rainey to boost my spirits. “Yes, we can go.”
Rainey looped her arm through mine, and together, we began to walk down the sidewalk. “Excellent because we have no time left to spare. If we’re gone much longer, your brother will notice we’re missin’.”
“Oh, I think it’s too late for that.”
In unison, Rainey and I gasped and looked in the direction of the voice. The figure that walked out of the shadows was Asa Calhoun. I didn’t know whether to be relieved or terrified. Relieved that it wasn’t a stranger who followed us from the circus.
No, there was no question. I was terrified because Asa would tell Étienne and Mrs. Pleasonton. Our night of fun had ended abruptly. What life I had before this night was over.
“If Freya was at all skilled in the craft of fortune tellin’, shouldn’t she have told us that Asa would be followin’ us?” Rainey dryly asked me.
I gave her a nudge and tried to think this through. There was nothing that would explain why Rainey and I were alone in Charleston, late at night.
Asa crossed his arms and looked between the two of us with disappointment in his eyes. “I was workin’ with Étienne in his office when I thought I heard the front door close. He told me it was likely a servant, but when I went to check, I realized I didn’t hear the two of you gigglin’ like hyenas, and then I discovered that Warren made an impromptu trip to town. That’s very unusual for him. I found him waitin’ beside his car and he told me everythin’.”
At once, Rainey and I moved toward each other, our shoulders touching.
“What were you thinkin’?” Asa asked.
Rainey and I looked at one another, waiting for the other to explain. When it was clear Rainey wouldn’t be speaking for us, I decided to try. “We merely wanted to enjoy the carnival,” I quietly confessed.
“And risk your safety in the process?” Asa continued talking before either of us could answer. “My God, you’re two young girls. Anythin’ could happen to you. Warren was becomin’ half-worried out of his mind when I sent him back to Belgrave.”
“We’re sorry,” I insisted.
“Yes. Very sorry,” Rainey confirmed.
Asa was unmoved by our words. “Don’t say sorry to me. Apologize to Warren. And then you can apologize to Étienne and Mrs. Pleasonton after I tell them where I found you two.”
My heart sank to my gut. Beside me, Rainey made a weak protest, but Asa stood firm.
“If only I had my bow and arrow…” Rainey said beneath her breath.
Wide-eyed, I stared at her. “Surely, you wouldn’t take aim at Asa?”
“Well, as a rule, I prefer to only strike limp Livingston, but since he’s not here and Asa is, I’m left with no choice,” she said dryly and rolled her eyes. “Of course, I’d take aim!”
“My word, Rainey!”
“Do not disparage the power of the bow and arrow. My aim is superb. I would not miss.”
“Excuse me, girls,” Asa said loudly and snapped his fingers, bringing our attention back to him.
“As terrifyin’ as that conversation was to hear, I think we need to concentrate on the matter at hand: that the two of you left Belgrave without tellin’ anyone.”
“Who us?” Rainey widened her eyes and blinked slowly, looking like a baby fawn lost in the woods. She nudged me in the side. I took that as my cue to do the same. “We’re just two girls who took a stroll on Belgrave property, became lost, and somehow found themselves in Charleston.”
“Oh, Rainey, the charade is finished!” Asa snapped. “Now let’s start walkin’ to my car because I would like to get some sleep tonight.”