Free The Witch of Roan Mountain by Blaire Edens

Jenks.”
    Maeve’s mouth flew open. Nothing could’ve shocked her more. “There’s no mention of them having a child. Not that I’ve found.”
    “Did you read the jail records?”
    She shook her head. “I only had time to read the newspaper articles.” She hoped to get back to the museum later today after she talked with Virgil and checked on Granny. “What’s in them?” She couldn’t read Campbell’s expression behind his dark sunglasses.
    “Delphine was taken into custody and convicted in less than two months. They waited more than seven months after that to hang her.”
    Maeve flipped to the timeline she’d drawn. He was right. That was a long time, especially in the nineteenth century. “She was pregnant when they arrested her?”
    Campbell nodded.
    “What happened to the baby?”
    “The records never mention it but my granddaddy always said she gave the baby to our family to raise. She would be my one of my great grandmothers.”
    The dream came back to her, clear as a movie. Now she understood why Campbell’s wrist had been tied to Maeve’s but why was she tied to Campbell? She decided not to tell him about the dream. Not yet. Not until she got the truth.
    “Why didn’t you tell me sooner?”
    “I don’t like being connected to her. No one wants to be the great grandson of a witch.”

CHAPTER SIX
     
     
    Bessie had the ear of Preacher Veneable soon after the sickness started. All it took was a story about how she’d seen me out in the woods, surrounded by candles, chanting the names of the folks who had the French Pox over and over until sweat was pouring off me and I was cackling like some half-crazed banshee. According to her, the reason I wasn’t sick was because I was a witch who called upon the devil to sicken others. She’d seen it. Witnessed it.
    A complete and total lie but one the preacher wanted to believe.
    It helped her case that I never had been one to go to church so there was no one to stop her.
    By the next Sunday, the word “witch” was floating in the air like ash from a bonfire.
    When Bessie got a sore on her mouth, I knew my fate was sealed. The next time Jenks came to the cabin, I told him I was scared, worried. I was afraid things would get out of hand and I’d be on the losing end.
    He held me in his arms and convinced me that it would blow over. With winter coming, few people would be able to get to church regularly and the rumors would die. I wanted to believe him.
    I didn’t go to town often but when I did, no one would meet my eye when they passed me on the street. I was used to being alone so that didn’t bother me as much as it would’ve bothered some people. I kept my head down, bought only the things I needed and retreated to my cabin.
    Jenks was the only thing I needed.
    I thought love would be enough to save both of us.
     
    *****
     
    Maeve parked the Explorer on the street and walked into Bertie’s. She’d called Virgil and arranged to meet with him. He sat at a back booth.
    “Morning, Virgil,” she said, sliding into the booth across from him.
    He grunted in response.
    “I have some questions.” She opened her notebook to the page in the back where she’d scribbled a list of things she couldn’t figure out.
    “Did you go to the grave?”
    She nodded. “I also went to the county museum.”
    “When I finish my breakfast, I’ll talk to you about it. Can’t tell a story on an empty stomach.”
    Hazel came by and took her order and filled her coffee cup. Virgil ate with the speed of a slug. By the time he popped the last bite of sausage in his mouth, she was ready to scream.
    “Ask away,” he said, wiping the corner of his mouth with a paper napkin.
    “Did the syphilis come back with the war veterans?”
    The old man shrugged. “I expect it did. It was highly contagious and spread through a lot of the regiments.”
    “Did she have a child with Jenks?”
    Virgil took a sip of his coffee and looked out the window onto the street.