Imperfect Magic (Dancing Moon Ranch Book 11)

by Patricia Watters

  When she offered the cards, Dimitri took the stack, together with her hand, and raised her arm with his, while saying to the audience, "This is my beautiful assistant, Madeleine, who brings to the show her own kind of magic." That brought another round of applause.

  To Maddy's relief, when she returned to the sidelines, the spotlight remained on Dimitri, who was calling several volunteers from the audience, after which he proceeded to give them a tutorial on how to do some 'basic' card flourishes—one-hand cuts, spreads, fanning, aerials, and springs—while Maddy stood in stunned disbelief, again, because the flourishes were anything but basic, the aerial card acrobatics ending with cards flying in a steady flow between Dimitri's outstretched hands then splitting and forming circular fans in each hand, before snapping back into a tidy deck.

  While Dimitri finished his card flourishes and was thanking the audience members for their participation, Maddy spotted Adam, Marc and Tyler, but they were sitting at separate tables, no doubt because they'd decided it would look suspicious if they were together. She also noticed Rose was the only one of the wives to come, mainly because she was due at any time to give birth to a daughter they'd named Mary Claire, and Tyler never left her alone at this point.

  Continuing to scan the audience, she saw no sign of her parents, which explained why Adam and Marc came without Emily and Kit—they had no babysitter because they wouldn't have left them with Grandma and Grandpa, knowing they were totally pissed with what Maddy was doing.

  Before continuing, Dimitri stripped off his top hat, jacket, and gloves and tossed them in a bundle aside, which was Maddy's cue that the rope trick would be next, so she moved to stand at the top of a short bank of steps descending from the stage and waited, as Dimitri said, "Okay, ladies and gentlemen, I'll need three volunteers from the audience, preferably the biggest, strongest guys here, to tie me to a post, and I'll attempt to get free. This is cowboy country, so how about you cowboys out there stand up so Madeleine can see you."

  On cue, Maddy made her way down the steps and strolled into the audience, or more appropriately, wobbled on spiked heels, while trying to appear as if looking over the men who were standing at their tables.

  "Madeleine," Dimitri called out, "I want a challenge, so be sure to pick out some big strapping guys."

  "Okay," Maddy called back, the interaction giving her a little buzz of excitement at being part of the act, like she and Dimitri were a team. Motioning to Tyler, she said, "Come on up," then she walked between the tables to where Adam was standing, and gesturing to him, she said, "You're a big guy, so come on up," then making her way around several tables to where Marc was standing, she signaled to him, and said, "You look pretty muscular."

  Once on stage, Dimitri offered the rope to the three of them so they could inspect it to make sure it was a standard rope, which they did, slowly and carefully. After they nodded their approval, Dimitri handed the ends of the rope to Adam and Marc, and the center to Tyler, then moved to stand with his back against one of the upright columns supporting a mezzanine.

  Elbows bent at his sides, his wrists in front of him, Dimitri said to the three, as well as the audience, "Bind me as tight as you want, any way you want, except around my neck, and Madeleine will start the timer to see how long it takes you to tie me up. When you're done, she'll stop the timer and that's how long I'll have to get loose. If I beat your time, I'm home free. If I go over, the three of you will split the check for ten-thousand dollars Madeleine's holding up."

  A spot light panned to Maddy, who held up an oversized check and gave it a flutter.

  "Okay Madeleine, start the clock," Dimitri said. "And you men start tying."

  Immediately, Adam began binding Dimitri's wrists with an off-center section of rope before dragging the rope around Dimitri's chest and wrapping it around the column, while Marc wrapped the rope several times around Dimitri's feet and cinched it tight. And Tyler took his center section and wrapped it around Dimitri's stomach and thighs and tucked it under and around the rope sections Adam and Marc were binding and pulling tight, all the while the three were mumbling to each other to go faster, and pull harder, and not leave any slack, while scrambling around and stumbling, and bumping into each other. But in less than a minute, Adam raised his arms, as if he'd finished a calf-tying competition, and announced, "We're done!"

  "Fifty-four seconds," Maddy called out to the audience.

  Dimitri appeared to be bound tight, as he said to the crowd, "I feel like I've been hog tied. There's no question, these cowboys know how to tie a rope. So now I have fifty-three seconds to get loose since I have to beat their time, so if you'll start the clock, Madeleine, I'll see if I've finally met my match."

  Maddy started the clock, and immediately Dimitri began struggling against the ropes, which seemed to be holding firmly. She could also hear him grunting and letting out labored noises, like he was straining hard. The ropes moved around some, but the timer was also moving around. And then someone in the audience started counting with the timer, and another joined in, and another, until there was a collective chant, forty-one… forty-two… forty-three… as the timer ticked its way toward the final count of fifty-three seconds.

  About the time Maddy was certain Dimitri had lost the challenge, and her brothers had won ten thousand dollars, the ropes started slipping down Dimitri's body and dropped around his feet. A few seconds later he freed his wrists, then his ankles, and at the count of fifty-one, he stepped from inside the tangle of ropes and raised his hands to the cacophony of cheers and enthusiastic applause. Turning toward Adam, Marc and Tyler, he shook their hands, while saying, "You guys gave me a run for my money. I imagine those calves you tie up don't get loose quite so easily, but thanks for the challenge."

  The audience clapped as the three returned to their seats. But after they'd settled in their places, Maddy caught the dark looks on all three faces and knew her brothers were steamed. But if there was any doubt in their minds that Dimitri was a city wimp, his water torture escape coming next would put an end to it. She'd also get to see him in his tiny black suit again.

  With that thought, her heart started fluttering, her face felt hot, and all she was doing was thinking about Dimitri stripped to near-nothing and standing on stage. The problem was, her three brothers would also see him that way, and they would not be happy because they'd realize the wussy magician, who didn't even know how to ride a horse, might actually turn their little sister's head. It bothered Maddy that maybe he already had.

  ***

  By the time the show was over and they were once again in the limo on the way back to the ranch, Maddy was both exhausted and exhilarated—exhausted from the constant surges of adrenaline from being in and out of the spotlight, along with the anxiety of holding an ax while watching a timer ticking off the minutes until Dimitri burst between the curtains, and exhilarated because Dimitri had performed illusions and feats of magic that defied natural laws.

  Objects couldn't float through the air on command, and cards couldn't flow like water between hands and right themselves into a deck again. Dimitri also managed to get out of a tank of water with the lid still padlocked securely, and the enclosure surrounding the tank was made of solid wood, which had been checked by audience members, so no one could have entered the enclosure to open the locks to let Dimitri out. It even seemed impossible that Adam, Marc and Tyler could not tie Dimitri to a column with a hundred feet of rope.

  Looking askance at Dimitri, who was settled against the seat while appearing pleasantly satisfied with the way the show had gone, she said, "My brothers are very strong, and I saw how securely they wrapped and tied the ropes around you, and you still got out."

  "Your brothers presented a challenge," Dimitri replied.

  "But you still got out," Maddy insisted. "I signed your nondisclosure agreement, and I give you my word I'll never tell anyone, not even my family, so at least tell me this one trick, unless it's another closely guarded secret."

  "It isn't. Almost
any amateur escapologist knows it," Dimitri replied, "but since I'll be offering the challenge every performance, I can't chance the secret getting out, and if I tell no one, it won't."

  "You told me there was no secret to it, that however my brothers tied you, you'd still get loose," Maddy said.

  "True, but there's some strategy involved, along with a lot of pure physical strength, which is why I lift weights and do pushups daily."

  "I don't see how it takes any physical strength to be tied to a column," Maddy grumbled. "There still must be some trick involved. Maybe it's a stretchy rope."

  "Your brothers checked to make sure it's a standard rope, and it is," Dimitri said.

  When Dimitri offered nothing more, Maddy sat back and folded her arms. "Fine, have it your way. I suppose it's understandable that a man who lies routinely would not trust anyone, even a person who's been brought up to believe that breaking a promise is a serious offense because it can affect your relationship with people, whose trust you'd lose, and it takes a very long time to regain that trust."

  "Okay, you made a valid point," Dimitri said.

  "I know, but you still won't tell me how you did the trick," Maddy groused.

  "Actually, I'm going to tell you," Dimitri said.

  Which had Maddy uncrossing her arms and looking at him in surprise. "Are you serious?"

  "Sure. You convinced me you'll keep the secret. The trick starts with a too-many-cooks-in-the-kitchen strategy. When as many as three people tie a person to a post with one long rope, they do a lousy job. So, while they're wrapping the rope around me I square my shoulders, and breathe deeply to expand my chest, and flex my muscles and hold my elbows out from my body to gain some slack, so by the time they're finished tying, the ropes are only tight at the ends, usually around my hands and feet, but the rest just drops off. To make it look like it's a big accomplishment for me to get loose, I pretend to be struggling, while I'm actually pressing outward with my arms to keep the rope from falling off."

  "That's it?" Maddy said.

  "Basically, yes. It's pretty much the same strategy Houdini used when being strapped into a straitjacket." Dimitri reached out and took Maddy's hand, and turning it palm up, toyed with her fingers. "You have strong hands. I could teach you how to do card flourishes." He turned her hand over and studied its back.

  Maddy looked at the contrast between their hands—hers smooth and slender, his muscular and corded with veins, like he did exercises to strengthen them. "I'd rather you teach me the secret to Metamorphosis."

  "In time. You did well tonight, but I'm thinking you've never worn heels before," Dimitri said, while continuing to hold her hand.

  "I wear heels all the time," Maddy replied. "They're called western boots."

  "Then maybe we should change your stage image to western and put your hair back in a braid," Dimitri said. "I like the western look."

  "But I like wearing the black gown and putting my hair up," Maddy replied. "I'll practice walking. Besides, stepping out of a limo in jeans and western boots wouldn't have the same effect as wearing a long black gown, elbow length gloves, and stiletto heels."

  Dimitri lifted her hand to his mouth and kissed it. "You're an interesting woman," he said, then pulled her hand over to rest on his knee and remained holding it.

  Maddy didn't protest. Instead, she reached out with her other hand and pushed the toggle switch that opened the moon roof, then sank back against the plush leather seat, rested her head against Dimitri's shoulder and stared up at the night sky through the glass above, while thinking she could get used to riding around in luxury while enjoying the glitz and glamor that accompanied the life of an illusionist.

  A little voice inside reminded her there was an arena waiting to be built, and children who needed the joy and special care her riding program would provide, but she didn't want to think about that now. Tomorrow she'd be back to mucking out stalls and scraping down sweaty horses, but for tonight, she wanted the magic of the evening to last a little longer.

  CHAPTER 5

  The following morning the magic was gone, and Maddy was back to life as she knew it, with her hair in a braid down her back, and wearing an old worn shirt and equally worn jeans, while saddling her gelding, Blackjack. The last thing Dimitri said when they parted the night before was that he was ready to ride a horse, so she was waiting for him to arrive for his first lesson. But right after she'd tied Tut for Dimitri to groom and saddle, she was distracted by the sound of children laughing and squealing.

  Stepping out of the stable, she saw Dimitri surrounded by a pack of enthusiastic kids that included most of her nieces and nephews, so she assumed he was showing them some magic. But he was showing her a little magic too. Dressed in a faded denim shirt that stretched tight across his broad chest, and wearing worn jeans that emphasized his male anatomy, the transformation from city dude to a man who looked more like a cowboy than half the guys she knew had definitely caught her notice. It also elicited reactions much the same as when he stood on stage before the water torture cell escape, and she wondered if her strong reaction was because the tight jeans were a vivid reminder of how impressive he looked when stripped down to little more than a patch of black spandex.

  While holding that image, Dimitri glanced over, and seeing her, smiled and motioned with a sweep of his arm, for her to join him. As she walked toward him he crouched in front of five-year-old Lizzy, Marc and Kit's daughter, and pulled a flower from behind her ear and handed it to her. The kids immediately started jumping up and down while asking him to show them another magic trick, so he stepped over to where ten-year-old Jesse was standing, and said, "Watch the ball. I'm going to put it through the top of my head and pull it out my mouth." In a few deft moves, he put his hand with the ball on top of his head and pushed, then raised his empty hand and took the ball out his mouth.

  Jesse stared in bafflement until the other kids started jumping up and down again while begging for more, so Dimitri said, "Okay, everyone stand still and I'll read your minds." Digging into the pocket of his jeans, he fished out some change and said, "I'm going to give each of you a coin. When I turn my back, put your coin in whichever hand you want and close your fist so I can't see the coin, then hold both hands out in front of you. Think about which hand the coin is in and I'll read your minds and pick the hand with the coin. Maddy can help you get ready."

  Dimitri gave the coins to Maddy then turned his back to the kids and waited while she put a coin in each child's hand. When the children were all standing with both closed fists in front of them, Maddy said to him, "Okay, we're ready."

  Dimitri turned around and walked up to Lizzy, and after looking at her outstretched fists for a moment, he tapped her hand, and said, "This one."

  Lizzy opened her hand to reveal a dime.

  Dimitri moved to Jesse's little sister, Gracie, and said, "This one."

  Gracie opened her hand to reveal a nickel.

  Dimitri continued down the lineup of children that included Rick and Sophie's seven-year-old triplets, Rena, Marc and Tina, their five-year-old twins, Sophie and Sam, a few kids of the guests, and Jesse, until each child's open hand revealed a coin.

  Maddy stared in bewilderment. With twelve children, each holding coins that were placed in their hands while Dimitri's back was turned, the odds of him making a correct guess a hundred percent of the time would be staggering.

  "Okay, guys, that's it," Dimitri said. "Time for my riding lesson, but tomorrow I'll show you more magic."

  The kids moaned their protests, but when Dimitri stood firm, they conceded and went on their way. As the kids walked off, Maddy said to Dimitri, "You do realize you're creating a monster, that before long, every kid on the ranch will be following you everywhere like the Pied Piper of Hamelin, except the kids in the Pied Piper didn't have a very happy ending."

  "But these kids will," Dimitri said. "It's fun to believe in magic. I did once. When I'd watch my dad I never questioned because I wanted to believe his magic was real,
but when he started revealing secrets something was lost, like learning Santa doesn't exist. Then it came to me that because magic's nothing but illusions coupled with sleight of hand, the more I practiced the more skilled I'd become in delivering what people wanted to believe. It worked until I saw an illusionist at the World Congress of Magicians, who was so skilled that while I was watching every move he made and using all the knowledge I had about misdirection and sleight of hand, when he was done, I had to ask myself, does magic exist?"

  Maddy knew the feeling. "During last night's performance you did things that go against the laws of nature."

  "Then you must preserve the wonder of it and not ask questions," Dimitri said.

  "Except one. How did you guess which hands had the coins? You didn't miss once, and I know you didn't watch when I helped the kids get ready."

  Dimitri looked at her steadily. "Do you still believe in Santa Claus?"

  Maddy held his solemn gaze. "Is this a trick question? If I say yes, you won't tell me the trick because you know I'll be disappointed to learn magic isn't real, and if I say no, you won't tell me because you'll think my life would be richer if I could believe again."

  "Okay, you convinced me I can't win," Dimitri said. "The way it works, when a child holds a coin and concentrates on which hand it's in, the child's nose automatically points toward the hand with the coin. It can be subtle but it never fails, and the more you do the trick, the easier it gets."

  "You're right about learning the secrets," Maddy said. "Something was lost. I was beginning to think you could read minds, and now I know you're just an ordinary man who happens to be able to levitate objects and send them floating around the room, and who's able to materialize on stage, and who can… well, I guess the Metamorphosis escape is simply dematerializing and materializing again. I just hope I can learn the physics by show time."