Yasmine was different from most Gypsy women she had an inner light that anyone could see, well-loved by all she was a strong-minded woman yet by her late twenties her body had started to weaken, and sickness had taken over her life. Having been summoned she found herself nervous as she walked toward her mother’s tent. Yemma was blessed with the sight and had been the head of her familia her family since her husband had died, the mother of seven sons and one daughter and all-wise Yemma was sought out by the other Gypsies in her Tribe, her counsel was respected and her judgment never questioned or denied. Seeing her only daughter dwindle away was a painful sight to see.

Yasmine was a beautiful woman, a true Gypsy yet different from any of the other Gypsies, born a green-eyed blonde she stood out among the others and always had. Isaac her husband had loved her since they were children and fought to make her his own, their love was unending and with that love came a daughter Scarlet. A green-eyed blonde beauty like her mother, she too stood out among the others. When Yasmine entered her mother’s tent Yemma smiled at her and poured her a cup of tea.

“Yasmine honey come and sit we have much to discuss.”

Yasmine gave a weak smile as she sat and took a sip of her tea “Has my future been seen, momma?”

Yemma nodded as she lit a candle between them “My darling girl I have seen where your path will take you and I’m here to give you counsel. Sickness follows you and has for over a year now, it may be time to change your course and go in a different direction, try to confuse death, hide from his grasp and give your body a chance to rest, prolong what life you have left within you.”

Yasmine looked shocked by her mother’s suggestion. “You think I should go away and leave you and all my family behind?”

Yemma wiped away her tears, Yasmine paused then shook her head “I cannot leave Isaac and Scarlet my heart will break momma, I’d rather die today with them then die tomorrow without them.”

Yemma sweetly smiled at her daughter “Take them with you, Yasmine, the three of you leave the Tribe together. We will always be here for you, no matter where you move onto your heart will always lead you back to your Tribe. It’s time for you to change your course Yasmine give yourself the chance to have a longer life than you will have here.”

Yasmine remained quiet as she thought it over “But Yemma the Tribe will never forgive my betrayal, do you really believe I will live longer if Isaac, Scarlet and I keep to one spot and let ourselves take root?”

Yemma looked down then looked up with emotion-filled eyes. “I wish I could promise you that, but I can’t, you can’t be saved my baby girl we can only hope that taking root will prolong your life and give you more time with Isaac and Scarlet. Death has been following you for so long it’s about time you try to cheat him out of more time.”

Yasmine wiped away her tears knowing the truth of her mother’s words “Scarlet has so much more to learn and what will Isaac do when I’m not around?”

Yemma paused as she tried to control her emotions not wanting to make it any harder on Yasmine. “You’ll have the time you need Yasmine, Scarlet’s special just like you. Out of all your brothers, you’re the lightest, blonde haired green-eyed, both you and Scarlet stand out around here, you’re both like a breath of fresh air.”

Yasmine nodded “I’ll talk about it with Isaac, I’ll miss seeing you and the Tribe but just the thought of settling down in one place makes me feel better.”

Yemma nodded “I hate to see my little girl go but I see you living a hell of a lot longer on your own.”

That night Yasmine watched Scarlet as she played with the other children her long blonde hair standing out from the others as she ran through camp laughing as she was chased through the maze of wagons and people. When Isaac returned with the hunting party, he searched out Yasmine then approached her wearing a sexy smile.

“Look at what your man has brought back for dinner.”

Yasmine smiled as she leaned in to kiss him enjoying his manly scent of sweat and leather. “Luck must be on our side, let’s just hope it lasts.”

Isaac called his brother over and handed him their kill then turned back toward Yasmine grabbing her by her waist he pulled her into his arms, making her giggle as he kissed on her neck. “Where’s that girl of mine?”

Yasmine found Scarlet and pointed her out. When Scarlet saw her father, she squealed in delight as she ran into his outstretched arms. Yasmine smiled as she watched father and daughter embrace, after sitting her back down onto the ground he kissed her before sending her back out to play. Isaac was wearing an amused smile when he turned back around and faced Yasmine, his smile faded fast when he saw the look on her face.

“What’s wrong, what’s happened?”

Yasmine gave him a weak smile “Can we go talk?”

Isaac looked worried as he followed Yasmine away from the camp. “I thought you were feeling better lately.”

Yasmine smiled “I have been feeling a little better, but it won’t last.”

Isaac frowned “What are you trying to say?”

Yasmine looked up at the night’s sky taking in a deep breath “What I’m saying is even if I do have good days that doesn’t mean my bad ones are going away. I’m sick Isaac and I don’t think I’m going to be around all that much longer.”

Isaac wiped his eyes on his sleeve “What does Yemma say about this?”

Yasmine nodded “She thinks, you, Scarlet and I should leave the Tribe and settle in one place, there’s so much Scarlet needs to learn and Yemma feels I will live a lot longer away from all of this.”

Isaac was silent as he turned back and looked at the camp “I’ve always been a part of all of this, the life of a Gypsy is the only life I know.”

Yasmine nodded “The same goes for me Isaac and I know it won’t be easy hell it scares the shit out of me. All I know is if leaving the Tribe will give me more time with you and Scarlet then I’m willing to give it all up.”

Isaac walked over and sat on a fallen log Yasmine followed, Isaac almost choked on his words “How long do you have?”

Yasmine shrugged “A year maybe more I’d like to extend that but that can’t happen living the life of a Gypsy. I will always be a Gypsy nothing can change that, we are a part of a Tribe, a family. Living apart from it won’t change who we are, just where we are.”

Isaac lifted Yasmine up into his lap and kissed her. “I’ll do whatever I can to keep you alive and with Scarlet and me, I’ll go to Yemma and get her counsel then we can tell the Tribe.”

Yasmine broke down and sobbed as he held her in his arms when they returned to camp Yasmine sat by the fire and watched as Isaac went into Yemma’s tent. When he entered the tent Isaac could see that Yemma had been crying. “What should I do Yemma; I’ll do anything to keep Yasmine with me.”

Yemma sighed as she asked him to sit. “Never in my life did I foretell I would send my only daughter away so that she may live out her last days in peace. Yasmine has always been special and different. After having seven boys with dark Gypsy features Yasmine arrived, my own bright star blonde haired green-eyed and unique and if she hadn’t been born by me, I would never believe she was one of us.”

Isaac used his sleeve to wipe away his tears “When will we tell the Tribe?”

Yemma smiled “I’ll call everyone together in the morning, afterward you can find a cottage or cabin for the three of you, something pleasant and out of the way. When you return for Yasmine and Scarlet, we can all have our last goodbyes.”

At the age of nine Scarlet knew who her future husband would be, and not once did she question it or their betrothal. Nickalo was eleven and he and Scarlet spent every minute together and had since they both were toddlers, Nickalo’s father and Scarlet’s father were best friends, and as was their custom Nickalo and Scarlet were to marry on Scarlet’s fifteenth birthday and as it was their way Nickalo called her wife and she called him husband. That night both Yasmine and Isaac lied awake in bed both unsure how to feel or what to think.

“Are you awake Isaac?”

Isaac felt vacant as he stared off into the darkness “Yes”

Yasmine scooted closer and laid her head on his chest “What will the family think what will the Tribe do?”

Isaac kissed the top of her head tightening his grip on her. “I don’t know really, what we are doing is not a betrayal or out of spite, they will see that for themselves and those who don’t can live with it and die with it. Yemma will explain it to them so they will understand, don’t worry we will see them all again.”

When morning came, they sat Scarlet down and tried to explain what was going to happen trying to not mention the fact that at some point her momma would die. But Scarlet being a smart girl already knew “I heard you and momma last night, is there no chance you will get better?”

Yasmine looked at Isaac and shrugged “Scarlet Baby there is no chance of me getting better sorry if I could change that I would. That’s why we’re leaving so that I might have more time with you and your father.” Scarlet was quiet but nodded. Yemma called the Tribe together raising her hands until they quieted down. “I have some bad news to convey and expect all of you to support the decision that has been made.”

The men and woman looked around at each other in confusion waiting for Yemma to explain. “As you all well know Yasmine has been ill for over two years now and I can’t see her lasting much longer living the Gypsy life, she needs to stay put and to try to live out the rest of her days in peace, her sickness will not go away or heal over time.”

Yemma looked around at all the concerned faces “I have asked that she, Isaac and Scarlet leave the Tribe and their family. To give Yasmine a chance to maybe live longer than she will be able to here with the Gypsy’s giving my baby girl a chance to slowly die in peace.”

The crowd reacted with sympathy Yasmine oldest brother Moses stepped forward “What are you saying mother, you’re sending Yasmine away to die slowly?”

Yemma shook her head and sighed “If you knew the end was coming wouldn’t you do anything to prolong it? The three of them won’t be leaving the Tribe or forget that they are Gypsies; they’re just trying to steal a few more moments together. They have spent a lifetime with the Gypsies; let my Yasmine’s last days on this earth be with Isaac and Scarlet treasuring every moment they can get.”

Isaac stood up “My Family, my brothers, my Tribe, I will see you all again. The same blood that pumps through my veins pumps through yours and I hold a place in my heart for each and every one of you.”

The announcement affected everyone, but no one argued or held a grudge. Yasmine sat down and Scarlet jumped up into her lap “Why is everyone so upset, where are we going?”

Yasmine caressed her hair and smiled faintly “I’m just too sick to keep going on like this. Moving every few months is just too much for me and moving away from the Tribe will help me get better, or at least give me more time with you and your father. No worries honey it will be an adventure, just the three of us against the world.”

Scarlet looked shocked “Three of us, never been around only three people, how will everything get done?”

Yasmine gave a half-hearted laugh “There’s a lot less to do when there aren’t so many people, you’ll get used to it in no time at all I’m sure.”

Yasmine paused “We all will” then whispered, “I hope.”

Isaac left early the next morning in search of a place they could call home. Using most of their savings Isaac found and bought a cottage twenty minutes from Black Burn, very isolated yet not so far from town that Isaac would struggle to find work. The cottage itself was rather shabby but Isaac knew Yasmine would enjoy fixing it up and turning it into a home for the three of them. Isaac was in no way happy about leaving the Tribe, but after a few days the idea started to grow on him, he and Yasmine had never been on their own.

When Isaac returned to the Tribe, they were getting ready to move on to their next stop. Yemma took Scarlet aside and gave her their family medallion “This is a Gypsy medallion every person in this Tribe has it and it’s about time you get yours.”

Scarlet looked at the medallion and held it close to her chest “But I’m not ten yet grandma.”

“Well since you’re leaving us, I think now is as good of a time as any,” Yemma said as she gave Scarlet’s hand a comforting squeeze. Scarlet stared down at the medallion as she ran her thumb over it “It’s just like yours.”

Yemma nodded holding back her tears “We all wear the same medallion, it’s supposed to be on you at all times, wear it with pride, my baby girl.”

On the night before Scarlet and her parents left the Tribe Nickalo took Scarlet to the fort he and she had made in the nearby forest. “Nickalo why are you so upset?” Nickalo frowned “You’re leaving the Tribe Scarlet, you're leaving me.”

Scarlet looked down at the ground as she spoke: “Does that mean you’re not going to be my husband?”

Nickalo started to cry “I don’t know, I’m confused, my papa says our fates are not yet known.”

Scarlet started to cry and Nickalo pulled her into his arms “I’ll wait for you.” Scarlet hugged him tight “I’m scared Nickalo, momma is going to die and we're leaving the family and Yemma.”

Unsure what would come next and scared he would never see his best friend and wife again Nickalo begged Scarlet to stay with him a little while longer. “Just a few more minutes this may be the last time I ever see you.”

Scarlet nodded “I’ll miss you.”

Standing on her tiptoes she softly kissed him then wiped away her tears. “What happens now, Yemma says only God knows.”

Taking her hand Nickalo walked Scarlet back to the camp giving her hand a light squeeze before leaving her with her parents. Both Isaac and Yasmine could see the tears in both of their eyes. Scarlet looked confused and scared as she stood before them. “Momma, papa does all this mean Nickalo and I are not destined to be married, will us leaving the Tribe change my fate?”

Yasmine shrugged “I don’t know baby; the future is a mystery and were just along for the ride. Don’t fret baby, like Yemma always says if it’s meant to be, it’s meant to be. No use getting on fates bad side with too many questions and requests because destiny can be brutal when not handled with care.”

Scarlet looked around at her Tribe “Who will I play with?”

Isaac looked amused as he pulled her up onto his lap and kissed her “Sometimes the best of friends are the ones you make up in your own head.”

Scarlet looked up with concern “And I will still have you and momma, right?”

Isaac looked over at Yasmine with emotion-filled eyes “Yes Scarlet no matter what we will be in your heart and Gypsy blood will always flow through your veins.”

Scarlet looked around at her Tribe as her momma braided her hair “Is, our new home nice?” Isaac gave a reassuring smile “It will be after your momma gets a hold of it, home is what you make of it, where it is doesn’t matter or how long you plan to stay.”

After a large celebration and many sad goodbyes, Isaac took Yasmine and Scarlet to their new home. As the days turned to months Isaac did the occasional odd job and worked the local taverns stealing and cheating to make a living. Yasmine, on the other hand, continued Scarlet’s training, teaching her how to pickpockets with ease and teaching her how to not only be an excellent thief but also the teaching her the skills needed to read people by what they did and how they acted. Scarlet like her mother excelled as a Gypsy her ability and speed left no room for failure or her getting caught.

Both Yasmine and Isaac tried to instill Scarlet with as much of the Gypsy life as possible. Yasmine grew weaker and sicker as time passed and Isaac started to take Scarlet with him when he went to the taverns and gambling halls, with Scarlet bringing in more money than himself he couldn’t afford not to. Almost sunset Isaac, Yasmine, and Scarlet finished dinner and Isaac lit a cigar smiling as Scarlet rushed from the table to get dressed for the night.

“That girl is getting to be more and more like you every day.”

Yasmine laughed as Scarlet returned in a frilly pink dress and sat down in front of her mother to get her hair braided.

“Stay close to your father if anything happens run straight home and make sure you’re not followed. Stick to what you know we still need more time for you to perfect the harder tricks.”

Scarlet nodded “Yes momma.”

Yasmine stood up and walked them both out to their horses “Watch your daddies back if you think either of you has been found out tell your father right away so he can make sure you both get out safe.”

Scarlet nodded then kissed her mother; Isaac gave Yasmine a sexy smile then pulled her in close and kissed her before jumping up onto his horse. When they arrived at the gambling hall Scarlet giggled in excitement as her father helped her down from her horse. Getting down on one knee Isaac got a serious look on his face as he straightened her dress. “What are the rules?”

Scarlet gave a wicked grin “Take what I can leave nothing behind.”

Isaac shook his head “Come on baby girl I want to hear you say them.”

Scarlet sighed placing one hand on her hip “If possible, give the owner a small cut so that they won’t mind it if I come back. Keep clear of the perverts and don’t get greedy and always be aware of my surroundings and have as much fun as I can.”

Isaac laughed “Damn baby girl you’re just like your mother.”

As they neared the gambling hall Scarlet’s anticipation grew yet her hands remained as steady as ever. All eyes were on her as they walked in, the owner Fiona squealed with delight when she saw her, Scarlet giggled as Fiona lifted her up into the air. “Scarlet baby I haven’t seen you in a while, how’s your mother doing?”

Scarlet shrugged “Momma says she’s alright just really weak and daddy says she’ll be back to making trouble anytime now.”

Fiona cautiously looked around as she leaned in and whispered: “Careful tonight rough bunch around here, the whole lot of them are looking for any action they can get.”

Scarlet nodded then looked around “I’ll let my father know.”

After warning her father Scarlet headed back to the bar smiling, laughing and singing as she robbed them all blind. Knowing her father planned on being there all-night Scarlet took only jewelry, wouldn’t want any of the men to dig into their pockets for their money and not find any. That could definitely make trouble for them not to mention cutting their night short.

Only two short months later Yasmine lied on her death bed, Isaac and Scarlet stayed by her side, she spoke of her Tribe and of the Gypsy life she had loved for so long. Scarlet had no idea what life would be like without her mother and her father had loved her so much for so long Scarlet didn’t know what to expect, would they return to the Tribe and the Gypsy way of life or remain in the outside world. The night Yasmine closed her eyes forever was the hardest and worst day of both Isaac and Scarlet’s lives, and nothing could change that. That night Isaac decided he could never return to the Tribe without Yasmine, and the thought of telling Yemma and the Family of Yasmine’s death was too much for him to bear. For Scarlet’s sake, he decided then and there that he would continue teaching Scarlet the ways of the Gypsies but would remain separate from the Tribe.

It was a cold night and the air held a crisp chill as young Scarlet walked out of the gambling hall, the smell of cigars and alcohol still clinging to her as she rushed to get their horses. Scarlet shook her head in anger as some dirty pig of a man stood and watched as she unhitched the horses from their coach, wearing a sly grin he laughed as he sent his men to retrieve it. She hated to see their coach go but it wasn’t the first time since her mother’s death that her father had lost big and she doubted it would be the last. The night had started out smoothly enough except for the fact that her father’s luck stunk, and he was a bad cheat when drunk and trying to keep his head above water or at least his money in his pocket. Scarlet hurried to ready their horses as she waited for him, sneaking out the back door he looked around before rushing out and swinging up into his saddle. “Come on Scarlet Baby we need to get out of here before anyone comes looking for us.”

Her father nervously looked back at the gambling hall “And trust me, honey, they will.”

Scarlet could tell her father wasn’t telling her everything, she knew he had lost to one man and had cheated more than a few others, taking their money to make up for the loss of his coach but she didn’t know who, but after watching her father she figured it was someone to take very seriously. As they rushed home, she tried to keep up with him, as they slowed near their cottage, she could see his jaw flex and his hands shake as he looked back over his shoulder for the hundredth time. Scarlet had done her part she had tapped every pocket in the joint, no one ever suspected that a sweet little girl in a pink frilly dress would rob them, her father thought pink was an innocent color and it had proved to do the trick time and time again. But while she did her part her father had failed to do his. Since her mother’s death, her father had started drinking more and didn’t seem to care as much like a piece of him had died with her. As they slowed to a stop in front of their cottage Scarlet watched and waited until her father had jumped down off his horse.

“I cleaned out every man in that hall, we should have left a lot sooner than we did, a little while longer and we would have been found out.”

Her father ripped the fake mustache off his face and shook his head. “And these disguises won’t work for much longer, we need to move on, and we need to move on tonight. Pack our things; I’m off to get another coach.”

Scarlet watched as her father rode away then hurried inside to pack in haste, having sold most of their belonging to pay off her father’s debts due to his drunken bouts of gambling and a losing streak that seemed to last a winter it wasn’t all that hard. When her father returned, he had a new coach and carried a bundle of clothes which he threw down to Scarlet.

“Change into those and hurry, no questions.”

Scarlet looked down at the smelly clothes in confusion then ran inside and changed out of her dress to put on the soiled britches, and oversized brown tunic. When she walked out her father was disguising the stolen coach and ripping the emblem off the door, when he saw her he stopped and looked at her then walked over to her and without a second thought pulled out his knife and cut off all her long blonde hair at the neck then threw her the braid.

Shocked she began to cry but her father would have nothing of it. “Dry those tears, it’s done, suck it up, be strong.” Pulling out a worn-out patchwork hat he placed it on her head and patted her on the back.

“This is the life we lead Scarlet it’s this or be captured, so learn your part and play it well our lives depend on it if anybody asks, say your name is Brodey.”