Page 17 of The Witch

I stride to the closet to retrieve my cloak. I pull it over my shoulders and fasten the silver buttons.

“Where are you going then?” Molly inquires.

“To the market,” I inform her. “I will speak to Hitty Atkins. She will know what to do.”

“Hitty Atkins!” she gasps. “Surely you do not believe that she can help Judith Hatch! Hitty is nothing but a mad old crone.”

“She is not mad,” I argue, affronted. “She bestowed upon me a tonic for Archie when he was ill, and it mended him to good health again.”

Molly mumbles something under her breath that I can’t quite make out. It is of no matter though. I don’t have much time if I hope to get to Hitty before the market closes.

“Lucky and I will return forthwith,” I tell Molly. “Please heat up some broth for Judith and bring it to their house.”

“Yes, Mistress Caroline,” she says, but there is something sullen in her expression that makes me uneasy.

I yank open the front door, where Gideon perches on one of the cobblestones leading to the entrance. I turn my head in time to catch Molly scowling at me, but I do not give another thought as I hurry off to market before Hitty is gone.

12

The ride to Town Square seems to take even longer than usual.

I am not dressed properly for a ride, and my petticoat feels uncomfortable as I bounce on Lucky’s back. But there was no time for a change of clothes. If I delayed leaving, I would have risked missing Hitty. I have been to her cottage and know the way, but it is a long journey, and time is of the essence when dealing with a fever.

Upon my arrival at Town Square, a great relief washes over me when I discover most of the tables are still there. I shall find Hitty and bring her to Judith Hatch’s bedside. I search the courtyard for her table, and my heart sinks when I do not lay eyes upon my dear friend. I have frequented this market for many years now, and it is strange for her to miss it.

I find Elias Fenn, selling his game meat. I feel a surge of desperation as I march up to his table.

“Elias,” I say.

He nods at me. “Mistress Eldridge.”

“Do you…?” I clear my dry throat. “Do you know where I can find Hitty Atkins?”

“Hitty Atkins?” he repeats thoughtfully. “I believe she’s…gone away.”

“Gone away where?”

He glares at me, as if annoyed by my queries. “Do you wish to purchase meat or not?”

I do not bother to answer him. Instead, I turn around and head back to my house, my mind racing. I do not know what to do now. Hiram asked me to fetch Dr. Shaylor, but I refuse to allow that man to kill another person important to me through his spurious practices. Certainly, Judith would be better off leaving her fate in the hands of the Lord than that man.

After leaving Lucky at Pemberton, I travel on foot to the Hatches' cottage. I am uncertain what I will tell Hiram Hatch, but I believe wholeheartedly that Dr. Shaylor can do nothing to save Judith. Besides the tonic, Hitty gave me other advice when Archie was ill, and that is the advice we will follow. I will help Judith mend on my own.

When Hiram opens the door for me, his face is filled with such hope and expectation, I feel a twinge of regret that I did not fetch the doctor after all. He would not have been able to help, but it would have been a comfort to Hiram, at least.

“You brought him!” Hiram cries.

“Listen,” I say quietly. “Hiram, please understand that…”

But Hiram is not paying any mind to my words. His gaze is focused over my shoulder, at something in the distance. I turn to look in the direction of his sight, and that’s when I see Dr. Shaylor riding toward us on his horse, with Molly riding not far behind.

It is only then that I realize what happened. Molly did not bring Judith Hatch a bowl of broth. She disobeyed my wishes and instead went to the doctor’s house to bring him back to us.

I cannot say any of this, however. How can I argue when Molly has fetched the very person whom Hiram was most hoping to see?

But I have a terrible feeling about what is going to happen next.

13