Chapter 7

Half way between Logansport and Collinwood

Lookout Pointe Restaurant

Hallie leaned over her Gingerale and looked at all the adults dancing on the floor, and then she looked at David and noticed he looked as miserable as she felt. "Hey lets grab a table cloth and go down to the beach and watch the tide come in." She watched him perk up and smiled with a mischievous twinkle in his eyes.

"I will go get the table cloth and meet you out back." He whispered confidentially. Tried to look innocent as he stood and sauntered to a few empty covered tables by the corner. His gaze shifted over to Barnabas and Vicki moving to the soft tunes of an old favorite of theirs, he thought it might be unchained melody and knew that was their song. Rolling his eyes he watched Eve try to move with Adam who was fighting not to step on her feet, then there was Maggie and Joe locked in each other's gazes and arms. They glided around the dance floor appearing to be only caught up in each other.

David rolled his eyes seeing his Aunt Elizabeth taking Professor Stokes hand and moving to the dance floor. It was a wonder that he coaxed her away from George Patterson. Then there was Willie and Beth were huddled with their heads close together and appeared to be talking all goofy to each other which was bringing the heat of color to both their faces as Beth giggled like a little girl. His dad had it appeared invited Willie's sister onto the dance floor, she had finally showed up in the middle of the dinner.

Quickly grabbing a tablecloth, David darted out the nearest exit to catch up with Hallie who was walking slowly towards the first dune of the beachhead. "Hey what is it with big people when they are in love. It is all so mushy and junk. I was feeling uncomfortable in there." He smiled at Hallie and looked up at the full moon. When from behind George's youngest son Andrew caught up with David and Hallie. Tapping her on the shoulder in a playful mood he winked at David.

"Hey where you guys going? Don't want to stick around and watch all the lovie dovie birds looking goo-goo eyed at each other?" He smiled and dropped a familiar arm around Hallie's shoulder. To take his hand and swipe over David's hair ruffling it. "Race you to the beach!" He dodged David's swing at him and took off to the beach. Hallie laughed watching David kick up the sand as he chased after Andy, going in low to try and tackle him to have him deftly step out of the way and watch David fall on his face.

Both boys started to laugh and then wrestle with one another. David pitched the tablecloth to Hallie so she could spread it out on the sand and not get her pretty new dress dirty. She sat and watched the boys and looked over at one of the dunes and blinked, there she saw a huge white leopard or was it a trick of the moonlight. It was there one moment and then gone the next. Shaking her head she went back to watch the boys and leaned back on her hands supporting her upper body. Crossing her ankles she sighed softly.

"Boys will be boys." The voice was soft and feminine. Hallie tilted her head and smiled at the pretty woman with white hair and really pretty blue eyes.

"Yes, they will be. Hi, my name is Hallie. Want to join me?" She liked the girl she did not appear to be much older than her and she was friendly while the boys were playing dodge tag. The girl plopped down on the tablecloth next to Hallie.

"My name is Tasha. Nice to meet you. So why are you out here and dressed like that while those boys are getting all dirty and trying to get your attention." She smiled watching David try again to tackle the larger boy. Drawing her legs up she wrapped her arms around her knees and looked up at the full moon and sighed softly. "The night was made for romance not a mock battle for the Lady Fair on the beach."

Hallie chuckled softly, "They are more like brothers to me than I think trying to get my attention. That one there, the smaller one," she pointed to David, "Is my good friend Victoria's charge and cousin. The other one is Victoria's half brother, I met him at college and that is when I discovered he was my friend's half brother it was kind of funny. He had been flirting with one of my college classmates and when his Dad drove up in his squad car." She had to chuckle "We all thought he was getting arrested."

"So his father is a policeman?" She watched Andrew dance back and away from the younger boy then put his hand on his forehead and lock his arm letting him flail at him. David anticipated the move, dropped to his knees then rolled over and wrapped his legs around Andy's ankles and toppled him to the ground giving out a resounding whop of victory.

She nodded, "Yes, he is the Sheriff of Collinsport. George Patterson." She noted the girl's shoulders tense as she tightened her hold around her legs. "That is his youngest son Andrew Paul, he has an older son, George David Junior and then he has a daughter Penelope Ann, then with Mrs. Stoddard, David's aunt he has a daughter he just recently discovered was his and that would be my friend Victoria Winters."

Tasha forced herself not to get too excited, she was that close to a member of her family. She was glad she had followed her instincts and not fed on them when she saw them earlier. That would have been horrible. Never had she ate a family member before. Sighing softly she heard another voice from behind. "Hey what is Andy doing?" Penny had come out following her brother she too had grown tired of all the loving couples in the restaurant.

Hallie looked up and smiled, "hey Penny, this is Tasha, it seems your brother is trying to teach David what it is like to be the youngest member of a family group." She nodded to the two wrestling on the beach.

Penny sat down next to Tasha and smiled, "Hey, nice to meet you I am Penny, well Penelope, but the family calls me Pen or Penny." She stuck out her hand to the pretty white haired girl with incredible blue eyes. When Penny's hand touched Tasha there was a momentary charge of static electricity that passed between them. Both girls blinked. "I would have thought out here we could not build up any static." She muttered and shook her fingertips as she looked back to her brother not thinking of it any more than a shock from static.

Tasha knew it was the touch of a Romano to a Romano. She smiled she had not experienced that kind of connection since her cousin was alive. She sighed and turned to watch the boys then she closed her eyes and concentrated, she could see her father sitting in the wagon, his eyes had gone to a milky white and she shuddered. He was dream sending and she needed to get back to protect him while he was in his trance. Rising she swiped at her bottom and smiled.

"It has been a pleasure to meet you both, I hope to see you again sometime soon." She walked away from them and the moment she got behind the dune she shifted into the white leopard and began to run across the sand covered ground heading back to Collinwood and the woods to her father.

Banquet Room at Lookout Pointe

Vicki handed the next gift to Barnabas. "This one is for you from me. I thought you might like it." She had opened the gifts that had been brought and was delighted to see that Barnabas gift to her had been plane tickets to a cruise ship and the deed to the old Du Pres Plantation on Martinique. It made her gift look small but she knew it would be something he would enjoy.

He smiled as he opened the wrapped gift and looked pleased and surprised. He held in his hands a very valuable book, an original copy of a novel by William Woodsworth. He smiled and leaned over to kiss her lightly on the lips. "How did you know I did not have this volume?" He whispered softly in her ear.

"I paid attention." She smiled feeling pleased that she had made him as happy as he had made her. The others were gathering around to look at the various gifts that had been offered tonight when Henri with Josephine at his side stood up and walked next to the happy couple.

Bowing to them he smiled brightly and then said. "Again, my offer is still standing that you and your lovely bride should share your happiness in our castle and come on your honeymoon for a visit. I shall be happy to provide you with a private jet and a limo once you arrive and shall put you up at the castle." His whole demeanor was on oozing with charm and sincerity.

Vicki looked to Barnabas, she was still uncomfortable around this man and she did not know why. It could be that his wife so strongly resembled Angelique or it could be those dreams she had earlier that involved him with her in a too intimate situation that the thought of it made her feel uneasy. Whatever it was, she was going to leave the decision up to Barnabas. But before Barnabas could refuse the offer, Henri took it a step further.

"As a matter of fact, I would like to invite all of your family and closest friends to join my lovely wife and myself at our Estate so you could see your history and how it affected our family. How your influence has been an integral part of our life in my country." He smiled charmingly for those standing around the happy couple.

Elizabeth was surprised and delighted at the offer and expressed her desire to see his manor house and to view the history that must have been started by Millicent upon her arrival in his country. George hugged her close and nodded his assent and looked at the excited faces around him at such a generous offer by a family member of the Collins family.

The only ones not thrilled were Victoria and Barnabas. Feeling trapped into a visit she turned and looked into Barnabas' eyes, "Well I leave the decision up to you my love." She had spoken softly and he had read between the lines with her. He hugged her tightly then looked at his cousin.

"I would like to consider your offer cousin Henri and would ask you not be offended by our not making a decision right away. I recently purchased the old DuPres plantation and house and was actually hoping to take Victoria there by ship and spend a month in the Caribe." He stood and offered his hand and spoke softly. "We were going to make this a trip to our past to learn about Josette and her family."

Henri smile tightened and he spoke, as softly, "Then you would enjoy once you return from the mystical isle of Martinique a nice little trip to the Mountains and the estate and see what happened with Millicent and her family." He extended his hand and waited for Barnabas to take the hand.

Barnabas looked down at the offered hand and took it and immediately felt an overwhelming surge of a power he had never experienced before. The urge to accept the offer was over powering his good sense and those eyes were now narrowed and locked to his eyes and it was as if he could feel a part of him being separated from his body. "Barnabas?" It was Victoria's touch on his arm that broke the spell that Henri was using on Barnabas.

Silently, Henri cursed his luck. Barnabas blinked smiled and shook his head. "Of course I think we would love to join you and your lovely wife after our honeymoon as long as the others wish to join in on this little family vacation." This had stunned Victoria and she looked from Barnabas to Henri and saw a sudden look of surprised delight.

"Excellent, then it is settled, I shall await your return from your honeymoon and plan to have you all come for a family visit." He smiled triumphantly and turned to kiss his wife's temple. "Is that not so my darling?"

Josephine had tensed when he kissed her forehead and then nodded. "I would love to entertain the family and friends of our American family." She smiled and it was hard for anyone seeing her sanding next to her husband to believe she was being anything but insincere with her agreement.

Vicki looked down; she did not like the idea of going to another country after they had been on their honeymoon. If anything, she wanted to jealously spend what time she could with the man that had won her heart and that did not include enriching her life with the family's history in Henri's country. Hiding her disappointment behind a polite smile she leaned into Barnabas and spoke softly. "Darling, I am getting tired and I think we need to load the gifts into our new car and perhaps head to your house where I can put them up and the perhaps spend the night there." She looked to her mother and father.

"You will give our appreciative thanks for all the wonderful gifts and thank everyone for coming? I am very tired and have not slept well for a couple of days and think I am about dead on my feet." She watched a subtle frown form on her mother's face and her father's concerned look.

"Do you need to see Eric or Julia?" Elizabeth stepped to her side, leading her away from the others to look at her, she had been so caught up with hoping all the family would get along that she had failed to notice how pale and wan Victoria was growing.

"No mother, I just need some sound sleep. I thought perhaps if Barnabas and I got the gifts home we could make our list of thank you and allow you to continue on with having a good time. I just did not want to be a wet blanket on the party." She smiled and kissed her mother's cheek. "Really, it is simply I am exhausted."

Elizabeth smiled and nodded, "Of course darling, lets get these things down to the car and you can be on your way and we will continue on with celebrating more than your wedding day, Carolyn and Greg have set their date to two months after yours. She wants you home for her wedding. Then I think I heard Maggie and Joe have announced their wedding but they are not getting married until next year. Finally, Quentin and Daphne are now officially engaged and they will be announcing their wedding date next week sometime so we have a lot of happy couples and weddings to celebrate."

Vicki chuckled, "What about you and Dad?" She looked slyly from her mother's shoulder to the glowingly happy man that was now engaged in a hearty political discussion with her Uncle Roger. Elizabeth turned adoring eyes on her fiancé and smiled.

"I think we will wait a full year before we announce our engagement but I do hope to talk George and the children to move into Collinwood with me before then. I will of course to keep Mrs. Johnson . . . " She paused to look at Sarah Johnson engaged in a conversation with Elliott Stokes and she was flushing sweetly at something he said. "Happy will hire a couple more people to help out with the house and the cooking."

Vicki chuckled, "I understand. She would have kittens if she thought she was going to have to clean up after more than she originally hired on for and I realize that we just don't need to upset her any more. Which reminds me, I am going to need to hire a cook and a housekeeper for the old house. Do you suggest I use an agency out of Boston or New York?"

Barnabas with the help of Quentin, Henri and Roger had helped carry the numerous gifts down to the new car and placed them in the trunk and backseat while Vicki discussed mundane topics of staff. "I would go through Boston's Newland Agency my dear and that is actually something I can handle and you should not have to worry about for now. You go on back to the old house and get some rest darling. Allow me to make your request and have them direct them to your attention when the find someone."

Vicki was relived, she did not wish to have to deal with that at this time, she just wanted to go home, get out of her finery and crawl into bed next to her beloved and get some well needed rest. Receiving a gentle kiss on her forehead from her mother, turned as her fiancé stepped up behind her. "Darling, we are ready when you are." Vicki turned and nodded.

Old House

Collinwood Estate

Vicki had changed her clothing and combed out her hair, she was exhausted and now all she wanted was to crawl into the arms of her fiancé and sleep. Curling into his warm body she laid her head on his pillow and closed her eyes. Smiling she felt him run his fingertips through her hair and kiss her lightly on her lips. "Sleep my love, tomorrow we will deal with thank you notes." She nodded and relaxed into his arms.

Collinwood Estate woods

Gregor watched his father shuffle over to the entrance to the vardo and enter. He knew what was about to happen and he turned frowning slightly. "Where is Tasha?" He muttered softly looking around the campsite. Going to sit on the steps to the vardo he took up vigil for protection. Pulling out the amulet the wore around his neck he closed his eyes and began to chant softly, "Protection for the vulnerable, protection for the giver, protection for the receiver, let nothing harm or disturb these tonight and allow the foretelling to begin."

Feeling the warm breath on his arm, he felt her muscled body push past him to take up position in leopard form at her father's feet. Lowering her body to the floor, she laid her head on her paws and closed those beautiful blue eyes and appeared to sleep while her father sat stiff, with no color to his eyes and his lips were moving but nothing was forthcoming.

Old House, Barnabas Bedchambers

Victoria felt herself relax and fall once again into a deep sleep. She was once again in that room as a small child while her Grandpapa walked to the side of her bed. "Please grandpapa, tell me more of Petofi and King Johnny." The old man chuckled softly and spoke with a voice filled with pride.

"Ahh little one, lay back and let me tell you how King Johnny was able to defeat the evil Count Petofi." She settled back and he covered her with the blanket. "Now, where were we?"

"He was to rest and then the next morning he would be given a blade. One that was special." Her sweet innocent voice sounded excited. She curled the blanket close to her face and watched the old man with all the rapt attention a small ten-year-old child could.

He chuckled softly, "Yes, yes that is right. So that night King Johnny sat next to the bed of his beloved Mila and around the dawn of the day he fell asleep and when he awoke laying in his lap was the most glorious looking and very sharp blade. On its hilt was one large sapphire stone circled by smaller sapphire stones. Wrapped around the blade was a note in scripted handwriting. Poor King Johnny had never learned to read but his beautiful Mila had so she read the note.

Here he cleared his throat and then he began to recite the words on the note as if by rote. "This is the heart of the Romano's from this day forward King Johnny, you shall use this to take the right hand of Count Petofi and render him helpless and unable to exert any powers over anyone. You shall take his hand and hide it from him, and this blade you will always keep within your family line. This blade holds the heart of those that will be born hereafter the first child is born. For that first child shall be given to me. " Poor Mila did not know she was with child and she looked at her lover.

"No you cannot possibly give over my first born Johnny!" Johnny so loved his Mila he had to tell her she carried the offspring of Count Petofi, which only made Mila cry more for her shame would be complete. King Johnny promised her that he would see that the child would carry the name of Romano and they would be married as soon as they got back to the encampment and their people.

But before he left he needed to make Count Petofi pay for his deeds to her. He went on to explain they could keep the child until she reached an age of sixteen and then the Prince would contact him as to where she was to be delivered. The prince had promised their child would be treated as a Princess and that she would not have to ever worry about being ill treated by any of his servants or him. This did little to calm Mila. She did realize that if they did not stop Petofi he could easily come back and kill them both and her child. So reluctantly she agreed to the deal that King Johnny made with the Prince.

The old man looked at the wide sleepy eyed girl who was fighting hard to say awake. He smiled. "Maybe we tell you more tomorrow." He had stood only to hear her call out to him to continue. He laughed softly kissed her forehead and sat back down. "All right my little precious one. So King Johnny and Mila left the Prince's castle and they traveled to the land back to his people. Once there they were married and eight months later, Mila gave birth to a beautiful baby girl she named Julianka."

The small child smiled widely, "That is my name too Grandpapa." He smiled and nodded. She settled back and waited for him to continue the story. Her eyes fixed to the beloved features of the old man. Yawning she wrinkled her nose to clear the itch and settled back to listen to how King Johnny became the hero of the gypsies.

"So, King Johnny watched his beautiful Mila hold the delicate bundle and caressed the thick tufts of black hair that curled about her head and face. Then he turned to his brothers and his friends. Tonight he said, tonight we go pay a visit to Count Petofi, dress so no part of your body can be touched, we catch him in his sleep and we take his hand. No one is to be touched by his right hand." The old man had emphasized the part about not being touched by his right hand.

In Victoria's deepest recesses of her tired filled mind she thought about Henri and how he always used his right hand to touch people and the odd affect it had over them when he did, then the dream continued. Tucking that bit of information in the back of her mind she slipped back into a deeper sleep and was once again arrested by the story being told to her.