“Thomas,” the reverend said. “Go fetch the doctor. Tell him we think Betty has come down with the pox.”
I grabbed the bucket by the door and waited for Thomas to come down and get his boots on, and then followed him out the door.
“Thomas, wait!” I called as he raced down the path.
“There is no time, Violet.”
“I know you must go in haste, but you must listen to me first! Betty’s life depends on your hearing me out—and believing me.”
He looked at me impatiently.
“It is my fault Betty is sick. I stole your father’s book. Elizabeth Prince and Tammy Younger and I went into the woods under the full moon, and we formed a coven.”
He shook his head. “What nonsense!”
“We wrote our names in the book and we spilled our blood and we asked the book to show us the names of those who wronged us.”
“You’ve gone mad!”
“If only that were true! You must believe me. Sheriff Corwin’s name appeared in the book, and he died that very night and then Mistress Putnam’s name appeared next, and now . . . Betty’s.”
He shook his head.
“We have magicked familiars!” I declared.
“Familiars?”
“The crow that visited the Corwin house—that was mine. And Elizabeth has a hen and Tammy has a rattlesnake.”
He scoffed. “You are either mad or coming down with fever yourself.”
“It was Tammy’s idea, but I went along with it. I pray God will forgive me and spare Betty. I only wished to use the magic to find my parents, but I would change places with Betty, even if it meant I would die without seeing them again. I never meant for any of this to happen, but I can show you the book and you will see Betty’s name, and then you will have to believe me.”
“Why are you telling me this?”
“I need you to distract Tammy. I have an idea how I might save Betty, but it will take a new story.”
“New story?” He stared at me incredulously.
“Please, you have to believe me. I need you to meet Tammy out in the woods.”
His brow furrowed. “I will make no promises.”
I reached out to him, tears pouring down my face. “For Betty’s sake, please believe me, or even if you do not, humor me. I swear to God, I am telling you the truth.”
“Right now I have to fetch the doctor.”
I nodded. “Later, promise me you will meet up with Tammy, after the doctor comes.”
“I can promise nothing.”
“Thomas, you must meet with Tammy, or Betty will die. I just hope it already isn’t too late.”
CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX
Thomas stared at me, and I hoped he could see on my face that my wild story was true. He shook his head, turned, and ran off toward town without another word.
I hurried to the water pump and pushed the handle up and down, filling the bucket. I rushed back to the house as my mind scrambled. What were the words I needed to save Betty? What words, what story could we write in the book?
Would they even work?
I brought the water inside and took a washcloth from the pantry. I passed Abigail on my way upstairs and her lower lip quivered as tears gathered in her own eyes. When I entered the bedroom, I was shocked to see more spots breaking out now on Betty’s face.
“Let me help,” I said, dipping the cloth in the water.
“No,” Mistress Parris said. “I don’t want you to catch this. Go downstairs and wait for the doctor.”
She held out her hand for the cloth and I nodded. I slowly made my way down the stairs and sat at the table across from Abigail.
“Violet,” Abigail said softly. “I think God is punishing us.”
I wished I could tell her the truth, but I just shook my head. “Things just happen sometimes.”
Abigail bowed her head, and all at once, her body was racked with tears. “I am sorry, Violet. I am sorry about Mama Tituba, and I am sorry it has taken me so long to apologize. I do not even know why Betty and I said the things we did. We were doing the egg casting, just the two of us, and I saw a coffin in the whites! And when other girls started making accusations and people started confessing and said they could see the things we’d made up . . . it seemed the Devil really had come to Salem. We started to believe it, but . . . even your mama joined in.”
She looked back up at me. “But your mama never cast a spell on us. No one ever did, but you have to believe me. I am truly sorry she is gone and that your father is gone. So many are gone. I now know God is punishing us for lying. I’m scared the black bird may come for me next, and I will have no one to blame but myself when it does.”
“Abigail,” I said softly.
She hung her head. “I am scared and I miss your mother and I regret every day that she was taken away. I know Betty does, too. We talk at night and wish upon the stars that we could take it all back.”
“I also have done things I would take back if I could—more than you know.”
Abigail pursed her lips. “When you came back from Gloucester, we could hardly look at you, knowing it was our fault she was sent away. We felt worse when your father was sent away as well.” She sniffed. “I know what it is like to lose your parents. And I hate how cruelly we have treated you, Violet.”
Her face crumpled. “We did not know how to say we were sorry,” she cried. “And it was just easier to keep being mean. Being mean is easy. Being sorry and admitting we did a terrible thing and asking for forgiveness—I never knew it could be so hard. I don’t expect you to forgive me and I know I do not deserve to be forgiven, but I am truly sorry, and Betty is, too.”
Could I forgive them for what they did to my family, and the blows they dealt me every day with words that stung worse than a hornets’ nest?
Could I forgive myself for the wounds I had left on two other families?
Has Abigail spent the last years wishing she could turn back the days and do them all over like I have these last few? Do either of us deserve forgiveness? I wasn’t sure.
“We can try and start over,” I said.
Abigail reached out and placed her hand over mine. “We will be sisters again.”
I could not look her in the eye and instead focused on the hearth. “Or friends. Friends who do things they wish they could take back, but who can maybe learn to trust each other again over time.”
Her cold hand squeezed mine. “I will do everything I can to earn your trust—Betty, too. If she gets well.”
“I will do everything in my power to make sure she does!”
I looked up the stairs. How much time did she have?
There was a knock and I rushed to open the door, thinking it was the doctor, but it was Elizabeth. I turned to Abigail, a finger up to my lips, begging for her silence as I slipped out and closed the door behind me.
Once outside, I turned to Elizabeth.
“I’m afraid to ask, but how is Betty?”
“She has the pox.”
Her face fell. “Violet, I swear I tried everything I could to destroy the book, but the magic was too strong—fire did not even singe its cover or pages!”
I hooked an arm around hers and led her away from the house. “Where is Tammy?”
“I know not. After I confronted her in the barn, I told her I was finally ready to accept revenge on those who jailed my mother and that I was certain you would come around. She was not happy you had sent your bird to look for the book. I think she doubted my sincerity, but then I wondered aloud if Mercy Lewis’s name might appear in the book and how that would be a good thing, as she was sweet for Thomas. I told her Mercy had warned me that Tammy might end up in the stocks if she kept rouging her lips. And that Mercy had used spell casting to attempt to win Thomas’s affections when we were young girls. Tammy’s face reddened all over, and she told me she hoped you would embrace our power, too. Then she left.”
“She left you with the book?”
“Yes, that is how I saw
Betty’s name. I stoked the hearth and tossed in the book, but like I said, it had no effect.”
“Where is the book now?”
“In the barn, where Tammy had hidden it.”
“We need to get it. I have a plan to break our coven.”
“Violet! Elizabeth!” I turned to see Thomas running down the road ahead of Dr. William Griggs.
“Have you seen Tammy?” he whispered, out of breath.
We shook our heads as the doctor brushed past us.
“Is what Violet said true?” he asked Elizabeth. “Have you made a coven? Is there really a book of names?”
Elizabeth’s mouth dropped open. “How could you dare tell him?”
“Elizabeth!” Thomas yelled. “Can Tammy really command a snake?”
She nodded and bit hard on her lip. “Please don’t tell your father or we shall be sent to prison or worse!”
“I have no desire to turn you in, but I was just in town. Mercy was bitten by a rattlesnake.”
“Oh!” Elizabeth wailed. “I did not think for even a second that Tammy was capable of doing something like that. More blood on our hands, Violet!”
“She sent her snake after Mercy because she thought you might be sweet on her.”
Thomas frowned. “They cut the wound out, but she is gravely ill. It is too soon to say if she will recover.” He paused and rubbed his palm across his forehead. “Is my sister’s name really in this book of yours?”
I nodded. “I am sorry to say that it is.”
He looked to the house. “What is your plan, Violet?”
I reached out to him. “We must get the book and break the covenant. We will write our names again and shed our blood and I pray we can stop the madness.”
“Tammy will never agree to sign her name to break our coven!” Elizabeth stated. “Never.”
I looked to Thomas and Elizabeth. “She doesn’t have to agree. Tammy Younger cannot read. She will not know what she is signing.”
“But what will we say we are writing in the book?”
“A love spell.” I looked at Thomas. “Can you lure her to the woods?”
He nodded. “I hope I can maintain the pretense, though how could I possibly kiss her now, knowing she set that creature after Mercy? But I will do anything to save Betty.”
“You misunderstand, Thomas. You will not be romancing Tammy. You will be casting her aside. You are tasked with breaking her heart.”
Thomas drew back. “What should I say to her?”
“You will tell that when you heard Mercy was bitten, you realized how close you were to losing her—that you had always thought you would court Mercy when you got older. You must tell her you have renewed your commitment to living in a Godly fashion and you will no longer be sneaking off into the woods with her. Tell her you have asked God to forgive you for being with her. If you do this, I am certain we can get Tammy to sign the book again.”
He furrowed his brow. “What if my words encourage her to send the beast after Mercy again? Or even me?”
“After you break her heart, she may very well think to do that, so you must be ready, Elizabeth. You must plant the seed that the only way to win Thomas back is with a spell. When she is convinced, send your hen back here to the house so I will know she is committed to the plan. We will return to the clearing tonight and hope the waning moon will still let us work our magic.”
Elizabeth swallowed. “I will do my best.”
“Thomas, make haste. We do not know how long Betty has before it’s too late.”
CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN
I slipped back into the house. “Any word, Abigail?”
She shook her head. “None yet. Dr. Griggs has not come down, but I have been praying.”
“I as well. Let me fix us something to eat.”
She rose. “I’m not sure I can manage but a few small bites, but I’ll help you get things ready.”
Side by side, we set the table and cut into a loaf of bread. Between bites our eyes were drawn to the stairs.
Finally, the doctor came down, followed by Reverend Parris. “She may well pull through, more do than don’t. If she does, she will likely bear scars for the rest of her life.”
The reverend nodded. “That is a small price to pay for her recovery.”
“I will check in on her tomorrow. Keep her hydrated and cool, and I will keep her in my prayers.”
He left, and Abigail brought her hand to her heart. “More people make it than not? That is blessed news; perhaps our prayers will be answered after all.”
“Perhaps,” I said, though I knew it would take more than prayers to save Betty’s life.
“Where is Thomas?” Reverend Parris asked.
“I am not sure,” I answered. “He told me Mercy Lewis had been bitten by a rattlesnake, so perhaps he is getting word on her condition.”
Abigail gasped as the reverend picked up his Bible.
“He would be better off at home, praying for his sister.” He turned his back to us and headed upstairs, muttering, “Ravens and snakes—these are troubling omens.”
“Troubling omens, indeed,” Abigail whispered after her uncle was no longer in sight. She swallowed a bite of bread and her worried eyes met mine.
“It will be all right,” I assured her.
“I’m not sure I believe that is true. These are signs that the Devil may actually be here in Salem—here to punish us for lying.”
I could not sit still another second. I had to find out if Thomas had succeeded.
“I will go look for Thomas and tell him he is needed at home.”
“Should I go with you?”
“No, stay. I shan’t be long. Mistress Parris might need you to fetch things for Betty.”
“Hurry back, Violet. I do not think I can bear it alone down here for long.”
I rushed to the door and then turned. “Abigail?”
“Yes?”
“I forgive you and Betty.”
She bowed her head. “I know not that I deserve it, but thank you.”
I nodded and headed out the door. I raced down the road and found Thomas looking ashen at the edge of the wood.
“It is done?” I asked.
“It is done.”
I noticed a welt across his cheek. “Did she strike you?”
He touched the spot and shook his head. “No, she simply reached out to touch me and it was like she had fire in her fingertips. I think you should go to them; I am not sure Elizabeth will be able to contain her.”
“I will go at once!”
“Wait! What’s the word on Betty?”
“Dr. Griggs said there’s a good chance she would recover.”
Thomas looked grim. “The doctor knows not of your book.”
I peered up at the afternoon sun. “Evening cannot come fast enough.”
“Good luck, Violet.”
“I will need it!”
The long road to Elizabeth’s flew by in a blur as I ran, ignoring the stitch forming in my side. As I approached the farm, I could hear heated words coming from the barn. I slowed my approach and caught wind of Tammy in a rage.
“I will send Bone-Shaker to her room tonight when all are asleep and none can intervene to save her this time.”
“What is going on?” I asked, feigning ignorance.
“You have to reason with her,” Elizabeth pleaded, picking up her hen.
“What has happened?”
Tammy threw her arms in the air. “Mercy Lewis has happened! I sent Bone-Shaker to teach her a lesson for mocking me and what happens? Thomas Parris has decided he is in love with her!”
My eyes darted to Elizabeth’s. “Well, they have always been very fond of each other. We had always assumed they would wed—until you came along.”
Tammy balled her fists. “Well, that is the plan once again!” She stamped her foot and dust rained down from the rafters. “She will take her last breath tonight!”
“Whoa!” I said. “Tammy, wait. If something happe
ns to Mercy, do you really think Thomas will come back to you? Or will he mourn her and harden his heart? He could even be so despondent that he leaves Salem to stay in his new mentor’s house, and you might never see him again.”
Tammy started to pace, sparks flying from her fingertips.
“I told her we could cast a spell!” Elizabeth said meekly. “A love spell.”
“I do not want to win his love through a spell,” she spat. “He needs to want me above all others without magic. I know he can again—if Mercy Lewis dies.”
Elizabeth and I exchanged glances.
I reached out to Tammy. “What if we cast not a love spell, but something opposite? Instead of making him fall in love with you, we make him fall out of love with Mercy.”
Tammy scoffed. “I do not want to win him through magic! He has kissed me and held me and I already know I have his heart. I just need Mercy out of the way, and then he will meet me in the woods again. He will smile at me at services so everyone knows he is mine.”
“Tammy,” I said. “Thomas Parris cannot smile at you at services. It is not proper and you are years away from courting. But we—”
She turned to me. “But what?”
“But we can harden Mercy’s heart toward Thomas, right? We can make her fall out of love with him and then he will be—”
“Free to come back to me!” Tammy began to pace. “He would think only of my kisses and surely forget about Mercy. Violet, you’re a true folk woman!”
I exhaled. “I am feeling more and more like a true witch—I am feeling more and more that the world will be ours to mold, one spell at a time.”
Tammy smiled. “I am sorry I doubted you, Violet. And I am sorry I sent Bone-Shaker after your bird. I thought you aimed to destroy the book. It is a good thing your bird has quick reflexes.”
“Praise be,” Elizabeth whispered.
“I merely wished to see if another was to be named,” I explained. “I am pleased Betty Parris will finally get her comeuppance for destroying my family.”
“She breathes still?” Tammy asked.
Only the Stars Know Her Name Page 12
