TO CATCH A WOLF By Susan Krinard

Athena smiled up at him. “All these interesting terms. I believe you could hold entire conversations amongst yourselves, and no one outside the circus would understand a word!”

Harry chuckled. “That is the idea.” He drew himself up in sham pomposity. “You are greatly favored, my lady, to be privy to our secret language.”

“Indeed” Athena said, surprising herself. “I feel most privileged.”

Harry flushed, cleared his throat, and guided her into the tent. Immediately Athena felt the space all around her, smelled the sawdust and horses, heard the clipped words of performers calling to each other from high above. She followed the sounds to the tops of the platforms near the roof of the tent, where a man in tights executed a graceful somersault in midair and was caught by a second man.

“Two of our aerialists,” Harry said. “They are nearly finished, but the clown and Caitlin’s act come next. I have a place for you where you’ll be able to observe everything closely.”

He guided the chair down an aisle between rows of wooden risers that framed the front door, beneath a rope barrier, and to the very edge of the low-walled ring that encircled the inside of the tent. He pulled up a chair beside her.

“The Giovanni Brothers are newcomers to our little group,” he told her, pointing his chin at the men high above. “They joined our wire-walker, Regina. We were able to add their act when our fortunes took a turn for the better a few months ago. Thanks to you and your brother, Miss Athena, we will be able to keep them.”

Athena pulled her gaze from the aerialists and glanced at the old gentleman. “Forgive me if I am too forward, but my brother did mention a fire that destroyed your original tent. Had you suffered many misfortunes?”

“Alas, such adversities can plague a small show like ours. So much depends on elements like the weather, other troupes in the vicinity, the prosperity of the towns we visit, and the health of our animals.” He shrugged. “The large shows have begun to use locomotives to move from city to city, and think the less of wagon shows like ours. Perhaps we are not as competitive as we might be. But I would not have it any other way.”

“Because you are like a family,” Athena murmured.

He looked at her in surprise. “Just so, my dear. A family. And like any family, we will do everything within our power to help each other and stay together.”

Athena felt a twinge of envy and quickly smothered it. All that was left of her own family was her brother, and he had so little time to spare for anything but business. Yet he had brought the circus.

“That is why we are here on this earth—to help each other,” she said.

“And it was our good fortune that your brother came when he did.” He smiled, as if at a private memory. “Just as fortunate as Morgan’s coming.”

“Morgan Holt?” She spoke before she realized how quickly the name had come to her lips. “He has… he has not been with you long?”

“Only a bit longer than our flying friends. It was because of him that we were able to hold our band together through the summer.”

Harry spoke with such warmth that Athena wondered what Morgan had done to earn it. Harry was one of those rare men who liked and trusted everyone, yet Athena recognized a deeper affection, almost fatherly. She had not forgotten a father’s love.

“I don’t believe that you ever told us what he does, Mr. French.”

“What he does? Why…”

He hesitated, floundering for words. “He is currently—ah—creating a new act.”

“I see.” She glanced at him, wondering why he had been so ready to speak of Morgan a moment ago and then became so evasive. “Perhaps his act involves some special trade secrets?”

“Ah. Yes, exactly so.” He patted her hand. “You are very kind in indulging an old man. We must keep our unique attractions from… from those who might try to duplicate them.”

“I quite understand. I can see that whatever you choose to present, it will be wonderful.”

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