Page 6 of Vistaria Has Fallen
“Even I understand that,” Calli murmured. She remembered what the red-headed man had said.Count yourself lucky no matter what is returned. It was hard to give up a suitcase of clothes and personal items, though.
“You got your handbag, Calli. I’d say call it quits and let’s go,” Josh said. He took her arm again and tugged. “Come on, let’sgo home. Minnie can lend you clothes from that monstrous collection of hers. I’ll take you on a shopping trip, tomorrow.”
Calli studied the soldier, not breaking his stare, not willing to let him think he’d got the better of her. He professed to speak no English. He knew more than he admitted. She shook her head. “I wish you well of my clothes, soldier. Plus, whatever else you took out of mybag. I know you have them. I’m only dropping it because you have the home turf advantage. I will remember this, though.”
The soldier’s eyes narrowed. Otherwise, he didn’t react.
Calli let Uncle Josh pull her to the front door. They stepped into the busy, lantern-lit square. The night air refreshed her. She could smell the ocean. It was still warm. There was no need for a sweater. She no longerhad a sweater to put on, anyway.
Josh looked around, frowning. “Whereisshe? I’m so glad you came, Calli.”
“You want me to play watchdog, Uncle Josh? Is that why you flew me here?”
He pushed his hand through his hair. That was why it looked so rumpled. “I don’t know what else to do,” he confessed. “I’m worried about Minnie, in this place. The troubles with the rebels, the tension. Even righthere in the city. Beryl’s not well and I’ve got my hands full with setting up the mine. We’re starting from scratch, for god’s sake.” He swung his head from side to side, scanning the street for a sight of his daughter. “Whereisshe?”
Calli looked around for a petite brunette. Minnie would be difficult to spot among the thick swirls of people dancing and moving around the big square. On a temporarystage in the far corner, musicians with guitars, flutes and drums were playing. Their music was rhythmic and infectious. Calli tapped her foot. Her hips swayed in time to the languorous melody.
Most people in the square were swaying just as she was. Many of the women held up their arms, weaving their hands in the air with graceful motions. Their hips swung they turned, dipping and whirling. Themen spun them, danced along with them for a few steps, their hands on the women’s hips. Then the women moved on to another man to dance beguilingly in front of him. Some couples, hips locked together, spun as a pair, their attention on each other.
The men, in contrast to the glowing colors the women wore, dressed almost completely in black—tight black pants and short black jackets, with whiteshirts beneath. Some of them wore the Spanish style flat-brimmed black hat and nearly all of them wore well-heeled boots. Some had discarded their jackets while they danced.
Calli could see a pair by the horse statue in the middle of the square. They danced together in a shadowy corner created by the marble soldier and the pawing horse. The woman draped her arm around her partner’s neck whilehe tightened his arm around her waist.
Calli watched him bend his partner over his arm. As she arched back, her head dropping low, he smoothed his hand up her torso in a long, loving caress that ended at her breast. The woman smiled as he lifted her back up, his hand still at her breast. They turned slowly, looking deep into each other’s eyes. Then their mouths met and their steps slowed evenmore.
Calli licked her dry lips and looked away. She cleared her throat. “They call this afiesta?” she asked Uncle Josh. “This is more like a carnival.”
Uncle Josh shrugged, still busy scanning the square. “It’s a religious festival, although I don’t know what religion celebrates the moon except for the older pagan ones.”
“Isn’t Vistaria Catholic?”
“Nominally. There are pockets of this andthat everywhere. Vistaria’s been invaded by a dozen different cultures throughout its history. Maybe that’s where the carnival atmosphere comes from. They’re not inhibited, are they?”
“No,” Calli murmured. Then she spotted Minnie and realized why they had not seen her straight away.
Shadow lay over the wall of the police station. The light from the paper lanterns didn’t reach that far. Minnieleaned against the wall, laughing up at a soldier who stood over her, his hand propped on the wall by her head.
“There she is,” Calli said.
The soldier’s head hovered by Minnie’s. As Calli skipped down the steps, heading in her direction, his finger slid along Minnie’s cheek. He was tall, as tall as Uncle Josh, with wide shoulders and small hips. He’d pulled his dark glossy hair back into ashort ponytail, revealing the olive skin and dark features of a typical Vistarian. He was gorgeous.
Even as Calli made her way toward the pair, she marveled over Minnie’s ability to draw the sexiest man in the area to her side. Calli never had figured out the unique quality in her cousin. It could be her attitude, the way she walked, the shape of her body, her clothes. Maybe it was her beautiful,dark almond-shaped eyes and the strong brows over them. Perhaps it was all of those things. Whatever the ingredients, the effect was undeniable. Almost without exception, any warm-blooded male in Minnie’s vicinity responded to that mysterious element.
In Vistaria, duringFiesta, it would cause trouble. Minnie didn’t always know when to retreat. Calli, though, had experienced a tiny taste of thedifferent attitudes here. Her gut clenched. No wonder Uncle Josh looked harried.
She hurried over to her cousin. “Minnie. There you are.”
Minnie smiled up at the soldier before looking at Calli. “Just having a chat.” She smiled. “Dad said it might take a while to find you. I stayed outside to listen to the music. Calli, this is Eduardo, right?” She looked up at the soldier.
He straightenedfrom his lean and turned to face Calli squarely. He wasn’t one of the men in the holding cell. Good.
“Friends call me Duardo. I insist.Eduardo, I like not.” His voice was low. Rich. His eyes twinkled, as if he laughed mentally. He held out his hand to Calli.
She took the offered hand. He surprised her by turning her hand. He brought the back of it to his lips. They were hot against her skin.“My pleasure to meet you, Miss Calli.” His slow smile showed white teeth.
“...er...thank you.” Calli pulled her hand away the moment he released it. His old-fashioned courtesy had bamboozled her. She couldn’t help feeling feminine and appreciated. No wonder Minnie had succumbed.
She grabbed Minnie’s arm. “Say goodnight, Minnie.”