BEWITCHING KISSES
BY
RAINY KIRKLAND
To Bob, Nancy, Jerry, and Lois who
Produced Mike, Chrissie,
Jimmy, Lindsay, and Ashley.
Now That’s Creativity
Special thanks to Maryjane Nauss of Venice, Florida, for research and to Bev, Bernadette, Bernice and Lee of Rhapps for their support.
Copyright ©1991 by Rainy Kirkland
All rights reserved.No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any means without the prior written consent of the Publisher, excepting brief quotes used in reviews.
First printing:June, 1991 Second Edition 2012
Table of Contents:
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven
Chapter Twelve
Chapter Thirteen
Chapter Fourteen
Chapter Fifteen
Chapter Sixteen
Chapter Seventeen
Chapter Eighteen
Chapter Nineteen
Chapter Twenty
Chapter Twenty-One
Chapter Twenty-Two
Chapter Twenty-Three
Chapter Twenty-Four
Chapter Twenty-Five
Chapter One
Salem, Massachusetts
The last rays of the full moon danced in eerie splendor on the snow-covered Massachusetts countryside. Snowcapped pines and ancient oaks with their stark gray branches encased in ice stood at attention as the cock crowed. The bitter wind answered in kind.But as it raced through the tiny village of Salem touching every household with its frigid bite it left fear and apprehension in its wake.
Samuel Wittfield hung the milking stool away, and then turned to face the sleek black cat that sat silently watching him. The cat had arrived at the barn two days ago, and with had come the idea; just a vague notion at first, without form or substance. But this morning, as he milked during the cold gray hour before dawn, Samuel felt the idea germinate and begin to grow. Before him sat the devil’s familiar and the answer to his prayers.
Carefully, he poured some treasured cream into a cracked dish and gently nudged it toward the cat with the toe of his boot. He’d have to be very careful that no one saw the beast until his scheme could be put into motion. Mesmerized, he watched the pink tongue reach out again and again until the dish was empty. The cat sat back and looked up at Samuel expectantly.
“You keep yourself hidden for the next few days and don’t go wandering off,” he ordered. The cat’s ear twitched. “You do this for me and there’ll be more cream than you can drink.”
The cat stretched lazily and then picked out a patch of ground where the sun’s first rays poured in between two cracked boards. It circled twice then curled into a tight black ball to sleep.
“Just see that you stay there.” Turning, Samuel stumbled over the milk pails and hit the ground hard. “Damnation,” he swore, watching the milk spread over the frozen earth. But as he rubbed the sting from his knee and thigh, a slow smile covered his weathered face. He would use this, too, for his advantage. Giving up cream for his morning porridge would be a small enough price to pay for five hundred of the best acres in Salem Village. Gingerly he stood and brushed off his clothing. Then with the side of his boot, he pushed straw and dirt over the puddled milk.
Samuel walked softly to the barn door with an empty milk pail in his hand. These were dangerous times in Salem, and they would suit his purpose well. Massachusetts was without a charter, a colony adrift without direction. Old feuds had begun to surface and three townsfolk had already been arrested as witches. Samuel smiled at the sight of the sleeping cat.
“You just stay there where it’s warm,” he whispered, “and when the hour is at hand, you’ll travel with me to visit little Sarah.” Taking no chances, Samuel carefully latched the barn door behind him then stomped over the snow-covered path to the house.
“Elizabeth,” Samuel bellowed, allowing the door to snap with the wind.
“There is no need to shout, Samuel, and do close the door.” Elizabeth Wittfield bent near the fireplace and lifted the porridge pot from its cradle in the coals. “Come, your breakfast is ready.”
Samuel pulled off his coat and hung it on the wooden peg behind the door. “Sarah was here yesterday, wasn’t she?”
Elizabeth brought the heavy cast iron pot to the table and gave her husband a puzzled look.“You know she was, Samuel, you sat and argued with her at this very table.”
Samuel reached down for the milk bucket, held it over the table, and deliberately turned it upside down. Elizabeth gasped as only two large drops ran out to splash on her plate.
“The cow’s gone dry.”
Elizabeth’s eyes grew wide. “Samuel, what are you saying?”
“Witchcraft.”
Elizabeth pressed her hand against her heart, “Samuel, no.”
Silently, he nodded. “And there be two in Salem jail that carry her name.”
“Sarah Good and Sarah Osborne,” Elizabeth whispered, as if saying the names aloud might call forth evil. “Oh, Samuel, no. This can’t be happening to us.”
Samuel sat down at the table, and propped his head in his hands. “I don’t know what to think, Elizabeth. But what I know is that my sister comes to our house and the next day our cows are dry.”
Elizabeth took her place at the table and reached for her husband’s hand. “Sarah is your sister by marriage only husband. Forget not that you carry none of the same blood. Besides, you are a good man, Samuel Wittfield. Surely God would not cast another burden upon your shoulders. You’ve lost your parents and half our land in the same month. So if the cows be dry, then ‘tis witchcraft to be sure.”
“I fear the Lord is testing me, Elizabeth.” Samuel struggled to keep his voice tone weary. “Mayhap Sarah is not the guilty party.”
“But she must be.” Elizabeth’s eyes narrowed with thought. “Sarah is headstrong and willful just like her father. How your mother, God rest her soul, could have fallen in love with that penniless dreamer is beyond me.”
A dark scowl covered Samuel’s face. “Jon Townsend may have acted the dreamer, but he succeeded in getting half of our family’s land to be left to his daughter as a dowry.” Samuel reached for the porridge. “Lord forgive me, but I never liked that man.”
“Little Sarah.” Elizabeth glanced toward the empty bucket then back to her husband. “Samuel, the others accused are old and feeble. Sarah’s just a child.”
“Now listen, wife.” Samuel’s voice went soft and menacing. “For the last time, Sarah’s no child. With that midnight hair and those flashing eyes, ‘tis no wonder the devil took a fancy to her. She’s the most comely female in all of Massachusetts and I’d challenge any man to say different. But facts are facts and now is not the time to ignore them.”
Elizabeth dropped her gaze, her hands clasped tightly in her lap. “What shall we do, husband? I cringe at the thought that one in our very family would consort with the devil.”
Samuel laid a comforting hand on his wife’s shoulder as his plot became clearer. “Mayhap it would do you good to go over to the Widow Tate’s and ask her to pray with you for Sarah. I have business that will take me into Salem Port this morning and I shall not be home till evening.” Samuel placed a fleeting kiss on the top of his wife’s head. “I would not have you be alone this day.”
Elizabeth looked up at her husb
and with troubled eyes. “Do you really think that Ann Tate can be trusted? You know how she likes to carry tales, and well . . .”
Samuel sat back in his chair and hastily began to eat. “I am sure that you can press her into your confidence, my dear. If you stress how important it is for none to know the circumstances that prevail, I believe she will truly help us to do the right thing.” Samuel offered the porridge, but Elizabeth just shook her head.
“I shall spend every hour in prayer.” she stated quietly.
Samuel rose from the table and reached for his coat. “You just finish your chores and then spend the day with Ann. And Elizabeth . . .” His voice grew hard. “On no account are you to go into the barn today. We know not what other madness might be afflicting those animals, and I’ll not have you placed in danger while I am away. I want your word that you’ll not open the barn door for any reason.”
Elizabeth looked up. How like Samuel to think of her safety at a time such as this. “Have a safe trip, husband.” She smiled weakly. “You have my word.”