Free Red Deception by J.C. Murtagh

 
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
    Acknowledgements
     
    I want to thank my editor, Charity Heller, from the Mighty Pen who made this book shine with her editing expertise.
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
    Chapter 1
     
    Tears of anger ran down Judith’s grimy cheeks. She swallowed the searing pain that burned her left cheek then turned her attention to the horizon, where the sun crested the foggy mountains to the east.
    Tracing her finger over the dusty windowpane, she fell transfixed on Blacwin manor, which crowned the dark pines in the distance.
     “Judith!” called her mother-in-law, Gertrude. “Are you still up there?”
    The question made Judith seethe. Reluctantly, she turned away from the window and looked around the pitifully small loft space where she slept each night with her husband and son. A broken trunk and a hay bed were the only furnishings in the room.
    She climbed down the ladder to the room below and found Gertrude sweeping up ash from the previous night’s fire. 
    She glared at Judith from across the soot-clouded room.
     “Did you do what I told you?” she asked, wiping her hands on her apron.
    “I had planned to wash the floors when you finish sweeping.”
    Fear seized Judith’s heart as two meaty hands grasped her shoulders from behind.
    “Get out of my way!” her father-in-law Bart, bellowed, and shoved her into the nearest wall.
    The foul stench of his breath clouded Judith’s lungs and she covered her head, anticipating another strike. Her tender cheek was a burning reminder of his last assault on her that morning for letting two eggs roll off the counter while she was preparing the morning meal.
    He stalked past her like a rabid bear and grabbed the pitcher of warm ale off the counter. She refrained from grimacing as the pale liquid dribbled down his chin into his flea-infested beard.
    “Fetch some water, Judith. The floor isn’t going to wash itself,” her mother-in-law said.
    Judith walked to the front door and pushed it open, relishing the warm sunlight that greeted her. She grabbed the bucket on the doorstep and looked up to see her son running toward her with a fist full of fresh flowers.
    “Mummy!” he cried, his mess of blond hair bouncing with every step.
    “What have you got there, Sam?” she asked with a smile.
    “Wildflowers!”
    Her husband Garreth followed behind him, carrying an axe over his shoulder.
    “Go show your grand-mum, and she will put them in some water,” Judith urged, sending her rosy-cheeked son past her.
    “Where are you off to?” Garreth asked once he was toe to toe with her.
    “To fetch some water to wash the floor,” Judith answered, clinging to the bucket handle with both hands.
    “Make sure there isn’t a toad in it this time. My father nearly removed your head.”
    Judith smirked. “I told you before, that was your son’s doing.”
     “I think you did it on purpose. I know you spite my parents, but they mean well.”
    Judith looked past him, watching a swarm of flies buzz around the pigsty.
    He took her shoulder. “I know this is not the life I promised, but we have no other choice, Judith. One day I will rebuild us our own home.”
The same story, just a different day, Judith thought.
    He kissed her cheek. “I promise you.”
    She brushed past him. “I need to fetch the water.”
    Judith took the longer route through the woods.  She swung the bucket with each step and closed her eyes. The birds’ chirping combined with the whistling wind, put her mind at ease. She ignored the mud that sucked at the bottom of her thin boots and splashed her tawny wool dress.
    She found the familiar stream over-flowing due to a recent rainstorm and could not resist visiting her favorite spot near the water, a large boulder at the stream’s edge.
    She settled on the boulder and leaned over the stream.  She cupped her hands, dipped them into the cool water, and rinsed the grime from her face.