This one though is about a character I had liked in Tucson Moon. The short story was a chance to do more with her character. I might not have seen the last of her or her husband as I do like keeping secondary characters around.
In this historical romance, set in 1889, Connie has followed her gambler husband, Del from boom town to boom town as he looks for places he can have enough players at his tables to support them. Finding herself in a small, mining town in California's high Sierras, because of the fear some have that she is a witch, she faces a threat to her life and more importantly to that of her beloved husband.
When someone has psychic powers, powers to heal, is it a curse or gift; and how should they use such special abilities? Those are the questions probed in this short story. It also asks the questions might such gifts come and go?
Excerpt:
A rock crashed through the parlor window, shattering glass over the frayed Oriental rug. The yell followed right behind it. “Get out of here, witch.”
Although it wasn’t
winter and the high Sierra air wasn’t that cold, Connie Sicilla shivered. She
moved to the wall where she’d not be seen as the shouts continued for long
moments.
“We know what to
do with your kind!”
“Get out of
town!” Was that voice a child’s. Somehow that seemed even more frightening. She
was unsure how long it went on as she tried to find peace through meditating
and not hearing the hateful words, some with curses accompanying. After what
seemed long moments, she realized the voices had stopped.
She gritted her
teeth against the temptation to cry, got her dustpan, went down on her knees,
and carefully retrieved all visible shards of glass. How would their landlord
regard the damage? Would he expect Del
and her to pay for it?
