The next day Luke surveyed Mark with displeasure. The boy had a black eye and a torn shirt and his father said, "I told you about fighting, son. Shirts don't grow on fence posts."

"I will sew." Anyata held out an imperious hand.

Mark looked at his father and Luke sighed. "Might as well give it to her."

The boy stripped off the shirt and handed it over, protesting, "I wasn't looking to get in a fight, Pa, but if you heard what the kids at school are saying!"

His father looked apprehensively at Anyata and the woman scoffed, "I can guess. They call you a fool for turning your home to a den of thieves."

Mark's eyes popped. "How did you know?"

"Is the same everywhere. Gypsies do not want trouble. We keep our eyes down. We do not speak unless business. It does not matter. Whether we buy or sell, tell fortunes or dance or sing, the gajo hate us. They hate that we are free."

"Do you ever think of settling down?" asked Luke. "Staying in one place and building a real home? You might be better off."

"We have a saying. Capture the wind between walls and it grows stale. Is better we live our own way." Anyata looked sly. "Do you ever think of having a woman in this house? Someone to cook and clean and care for you and your boy? Would not that be better off for you?" There was a long moment of silence.

"You're right," Luke said finally. "Is better we live our own way."

Anyata started mending Mark's shirt. "We should go. There will be more trouble if we stay."

"Your father can't travel yet." Luke shook his head. "And even if he could, how would you go anywhere without your wagon? I can't put the wheel back on by myself."

Mark buttoned up a fresh shirt. "I'll help you, Pa." Anyata looked at him and the boy said hastily, "That don't mean I want you to leave. I always help Pa with a big job."

"This is too big a job for the two of us, son. It's not like the buckboard. We're going to need at least one more man to get the wheel back on."

"What about Micah?"

Anyata tossed her head. "Lawman does not help gypsy!"

"He will if my pa asks him!" Mark said indignantly. "They always help each other!"

"Well, let's not think about it right now," said Luke. "Even if the wagon was fixed, Yule can't go anywhere yet."

"Is not safe for us to stay." Anyata was stabbing with the needle as if Mark's shirt embodied all the enemies of the gypsies. "You will see."

"I will see nothing of the sort," said Luke angrily. "You're not going anywhere until Doc Burrage says so."

"Gajo!"