"Okay. I'm sorry." Ms. Jeffers let out a long sigh. "I'll watch for the transfer."
Joey ended the call and sent up a silent prayer that she could keep the lead and get the money she needed. She had never needed a purse so badly.
She turned back to Drake and asked him if he wanted to walk down to the lake. She was done for the night, and she didn't much care to watch the rest of the show. Even though she was impressed by the size of the more intimate showing, she just didn't feel much like participating.
"Sorry, I would love to, but I have to stick around here in case I'm needed. Maybe later, when this whole circus is over?"
She laughed. "I doubt Percy would want you calling his outfit a circus, although he is quite the clown."
"Can you meet me at midnight again?"
"I will if I can stay awake." She teased because she knew there was no way she'd give up a date with him.
She wandered back to her camper, but she was stopped by Vinia near the dining tent.
"I heard the crowds cheering for you. Sounds like you had a great ride."
Joey smiled. "I did. How are you? Do you need help with something?"
"No, I'm fine. Can I talk to you for a minute?"
"Of course." Joey was instantly on edge. Could Vinia know about her meeting Drake? She was more worried about what she was going to do if Vinia disapproved.
They walked along in the dark toward the campers. "I wanted to ask you about your necklace."
Joey's hand flew to her pendant that was safely tucked in her dress shirt. She pulled it out. "This one?"
Vinia stopped under a light and studied it. "Yes, that one. Do you know what it is?"
Joey shrugged. "It's just some trinket my dad gave me before he died. I have no idea where he got it; it's probably just junk jewelry. But it hasn't turned my skin green yet, and I've worn it for years, so it might be real."
"I don't mean that. Do you know what the pendant actually is?"
She frowned. "I have no idea. He was just so adamant about wanting me to have it that I put it on and never took it off. He actually made me promise, but he was sick and knew he didn't have much longer." She watched Vinia stare at it. "Why?"
"That is a pendant of an idol that has been very important to my family. One that we never really expected to see again, and yet here it is." Her voice was quiet and sad.
Joey panicked. "Is it hurtful? I can make sure to keep it hidden. I would never do anything to hurt your family, not intentionally."
Vinia chuckled softly. "No, sweetheart. You haven't hurt us in any way. Surprised us, yes, but not hurt us."
"Is that why Sarah got so weird at the luncheon yesterday? Because she saw my pendant?"
Vinia was thoughtful. "Could be. But with her pregnancy, she's been acting weird anyhow, and I know morning and afternoon and evening sickness is affecting her horribly."
"If I find anything about this pendant, I'll be sure to contact you. I have some of Dad's stuff at home, but I haven't gone through it in a really long time."
Vinia smiled and turned. "Thank you for talking to me."
Joey walked the rest of the way to the camper and laid back on her bunk. She held a photo of her parents in their younger days that she kept hanging on her mirror. "You two must have more secrets than bees have honey." She held up the pendant and flipped it around in her fingers. "Now I have to research this thing and figure out what it is."
She glanced at the clock. She had a couple hours before she had to meet Drake. "Or I could just ask him what he knows about the pendant when I see him."
She held the photo to her heart and closed her eyes. Some days she missed her parents more than others, and tonight was definitely one of the more. She could feel the bonds between Vinia and her kids, just by the way she talked, and Joey missed those bonds of her own.
She drifted off to sleep, and her subconscious poked at her to set an alarm, but her mind was too weary to listen. She fell into an easy dream of riding Journey on a huge ranch full of wildflowers and massive oak trees, full of butterflies and birds, with dragonflies zipping along as they galloped through the tall grass.
She missed her date with Drake, and it was daylight before she opened her eyes again. She bolted upright and groaned. She hadn't even stirred when Scarlet got back after the rodeo ended.
