Free Circus Wolf by Lynde Lakes

Tigers couldn’t stop her assistant from getting mauled and chewed up like
raw steak?” She leaned in closer, giving him the feeling she was on the verge
of adding something else then cut herself off.
    Did she know something? The switch of tigers in last
night’s act could have ended in disaster. He could have been eaten too. How
much control did Tigra have on how the act played out? I’m thinking crazy, letting a jealous woman stir me up .
    ****
    Tigra dialed Coleman, her hands steady now. “Boss, I
wanted to assure you, I’ll be fine for tonight’s performance.”
    “That’s my girl, always the show woman. Knew I could
count on you. We’re short a clown for the entrance parade. Billy Cornwell
didn’t show up for the clown meeting and didn’t return after his trip to town
last night, so I asked Hugh to fill in.”
    She wasn’t surprised. Every few months Billy got
mixed up with a woman and went off on a drunken romp. Why the boss put up with
him was a mystery. “What about my act?”
    “Hugh can do both. But he may have to wear a clown
costume into the cage tonight.”
    “He’ll have to change. I don’t want a clown
upsetting the tigers. They’re still upset about Rolo and Candy.”
    “Come on. You can handle it. It might even add spice
to the act.”
    “It’s spicy enough. I want to talk to Hugh. Now.”
    “I saw him leave Bubbles caravan just a few minutes
ago.”
    Her eyes widened and her stomach flip-flopped.
    Coleman was quiet for a moment. “It’s not what you
think. I sent him to her for make-up.
    When I last saw him, he was wearing a ruffled clown
costume, white-face make-up, and his trademark moccasins were heading toward
the canteen.
    ****
    Slamming closed her cell, Tigra felt hot annoyance
rising in her gut. She rushed outside to look for Hugh. She didn’t know which
made her angrier; Coleman changing her act, or the fact he’d sent Hugh to that
hussy Bubbles. With the costume in the mix, it was more important than ever to
get in at least half an hour of practice with Hugh and the tigers. She frowned,
mulling over her conversation with the boss. Coleman had done nothing to
directly arouse her suspicions, but his attitude about Rolo dying seemed
callous and revenue centric.
    She spied Hugh sitting on a bench with a little
toe-headed barefoot boy of about seven. He wiped away the child’s tears with a
long length of rainbow scarves tied together. The freckle-faced child with the
tear-stained face had the saddest expression she’d ever seen. Hugh made funny
faces and when the child stopped crying and laughed, Hugh hoisted him up on his
shoulders and headed into the crowd. Rather than catch up to Hugh, she followed
behind, enthralled with his ability to comfort the child so quickly. Hugh had a
number of sides to him and she found them all intriguing. He caught up with a
frantic-looking couple, who apparently was the boy’s parents, and talked with
them a moment, shook their hands, and then headed back toward his caravan alone.
    Again, she couldn’t help but wonder who this man was
and what made him tick.
    ****
    Tigra caught up with Hugh.
    “How did you know it was me?”
    “The moccasins,” she said. “And Coleman told me
about your new getup and makeup job.”
    “You don’t like the clown outfit, right?”
    “What I like isn’t the point. Just don’t spook my
tigers. Now let’s get to work. We’re short of time, but we must practice the
highlights of tonight’s performance a minimum of three times to keep us safe
and the tigers protected.”
    She worked Hugh hard and admired him even more when
he didn’t complain.
    Finally, time ran out and they had to stop. Tigra
looked at her watch and said, “Up for a cup of juice or water before the parade
starts?” She could use some water, but no sugary stimulants. Maybe a lemony
magnesium drink would be best, if the snack shack had some. She needed to stay
calm and in control. Her goal was merely to engage Hugh in conversation for