Free The Secret of Isobel Key by Jen McConnel

the news of the birth of yet another bonny son. It was as Isobel was cleaning her hands and instruments outside the birthing room that she heard the other women speak the name of her sister, Margaret. The women must have forgotten the scandal surrounding the Key sisters, or perhaps they had never known of it, but they spoke freely, not caring or noticing that Isobel was drinking in their every word. She heard them praising God and the saints for the miraculous pregnancy of Mistress Nairn who, at last, had conceived of a child. Laughing, the women joked that they had all been certain she was barren, after all this time, but that now as her belly began to show, it was clear that she was not.
    Isobel did not pause in what she was doing, nor did she give any sign that she had heard the women speak, but that night when she had returned to her cottage, she sat up late, thinking about her sister. Margaret was barely a child when she wed Alexander, and Isobel was certain that it was not her sister who lured away her love, but rather his own fickle heart to blame. Long into the night, past the witching hour, Isobel sat and thought, and when the sun rose, she rose to greet it, resolved in her heart that she would seek out her sister and offer her services as a midwife, and there make amends for their falling out those years past. It was a new day dawning, and a chance to repair the damages of the past.

Chapter Twelve
    â€œYour friend was the one who was so interested in the witch stories, right?” Lou looked up to find Brian standing over her. After a round of drinks with everyone, she had been sitting by herself in a corner, quietly reading Tammy’s guidebook while her friend laughed and joked with a few of the other travelers up at the bar. She hadn’t expected Brian to seek her out, and her mouth froze when she realized he was talking to her.
    Unperturbed by her silence, Brian smoothly pulled a chair out, spun it around, and straddled it. He folded his arms across the back and looked intently at Lou. “Were you interested in any of the witch stories?”
    Lou suddenly remembered how to speak. “I think it was terribly sad.” The words flew out of her mouth before she could think, and she blushed as soon as she said them. Brian didn’t look surprised, just interested.
    â€œWhat’s so sad about ancient history?”
    His eyes were bright blue, Lou noticed, and they were staring straight at her. She felt her face getting hot, and once again her spine began to tingle and dance. Unnerved, she fumbled with her words, trying to make him understand without revealing too much of herself. “Well, it’s sad then, but it isn’t totally ancient history, is it? I mean,” she continued as he looked at her encouragingly, “I mean, people were killed for things they believed, or didn’t believe, things that other people were afraid of, and isn’t that the same as now, when people are killed for being different?” Her words rushed out of her mouth, tumbling faster now that she had an audience. “I mean, hate crimes still happen, and even though there isn’t a trial or a stake, isn’t it the same as what happened to all those witches?” She finished in a rush and held her breath.
    â€œYou know, Louisa, I never really thought of it that way before, but that’s a good point.” He paused, considering. “Do you think hate crimes wouldn’t happen if people were willing to learn more about each other?”
    She nodded at him, too surprised that he remembered her name to correct him, and stunned that he agreed with her. Brian seemed to want her to keep talking, so she swallowed nervously and took a chance. “I had thought that I might be able to clear some of their names.” He looked confused for a moment, so she rushed on. “Witches, I mean. I am sure that in our modern era most of the charges that were raised against those poor people would