Free We Hear the Dead by Dianne K. Salerni Page B

will send Mr. Redfield around dusk.”
    â€œBetsy’s nervous condition indeed,” muttered Kate as we continued on our way. “She looked pretty sprightly last night when she was watching Leah sharpen her tongue on us.”
    â€œShe’d boot us all out of the house if David would let her,” I agreed. “Shall we go to Mrs. Redfield’s house tonight, then?”
    â€œIf Mother will allow it,” replied Kate. “I’m a little fearful about what Leah will say in front of the ladies, though.”
    At Mrs. Redfield’s house, Leah could not have been more pleasant or polite. The ladies were quite taken with her personable manner and forthright friendliness. Mrs. Hyde asked her, “Where is your husband, dear?”
    Leah cast her eyes down sadly and said, “He’s dead,” which was news to me. But then I saw Lizzie cringe in embarrassment, and I realized that her father was just as alive as ever and probably still living out west with his rich widow.
    During our sitting, Leah sat demurely with her hands folded in her lap and listened attentively to the spirits. If she smiled now and again, it seemed only to indicate her pleasure in hearing the uplifting messages from those who had gone before us to heaven. Once she caught me watching her and winked.
    It wasn’t until the third day of Leah’s visit that the blow finally fell. Lulled by a false sense of security, Kate and I had been unwise enough to let her find us alone. Leah caught us in the parlor and shut the door.
    â€œI know you are doing it,” she said, without preamble. “I don’t quite know how, but I know it is you.”
    Kate began hesitantly: “It is true that we are the medium through which the spirits…”
    â€œForget that hogwash, Catherine!” Leah snapped. “I know you are making the noises with your person somehow. There are no spirits at work here.”
    â€œI have the gift!” Kate said indignantly.
    â€œThe gift of mischief making! But you haven’t any sense! Do you have any idea what would happen if you were found out? Stop fidgeting and look at me, Margaretta! Mrs. Redfield thinks you are both the most darling girls. Can you imagine how that would change if she discovered you were making a fool of her? And what about your rich Mrs. Hyde? She’s the biggest toad in the puddle here, and if her husband found out how you’ve tricked them both, he would ride you out of town on a rail!”
    I sniffed doubtfully, and Leah turned on me. “Do you think they don’t do that anymore, Margaretta? I am here to tell you they most certainly do.”
    She turned back to Kate. “What about Betsy and David? Have you thought about them? If you are discovered a fraud, their reputation is ruined. They’ll have to leave town. Everyone would think they were in on it, especially with David giving people peeks at that box like it was a carnival sideshow! What about Lizzie? She’ll be riding that rail right beside you, because no one’s going to believe that one out of the three girls was innocent.”
    It was true. I had not thought about any of those things. I couldn’t help flashing a look of alarm and despair at Kate, whose eyes were welling with tears.
    â€œYou’ve gotten yourselves in a fix, girls,” Leah said. “It’s a lucky thing for you that I came when I did.”
    ***
    Leah sat Mother down for a long talk. Kate and I stood together quietly in the corner of the room and did just what Leah had told us to do.
    â€œThe strain of this gift is too much for such young girls,” Leah explained to our mother. “Kate has already had one fit and fainted dead away on another occasion.”
    â€œBut the spirits just come, every evening,” said Mother. “What can we do but listen to them?”
    â€œI propose that we try splitting up the girls.” Leah glanced back at us, and we nodded as we