Chapter 38
A month after opening, traffic into The Healing Witch settled into a more normal volume. Business was still heavy, but had slowed enough to be manageable.
They excused Frank from duty to spend time at home working on his own business. Mary, Gail, and Marjorie were a team, and all seemed to know what the other was thinking before a word was spoken. Gail still served as the driver when an herb, root, or plant was running low, and she had developed a unique rapport with the farms in the area.
“Tourist season is about over,” Marjorie said. “We’ll see how we fare in winter.”
“I expect it to be slow,” Mary said. “But I’ve been wrong about this store from the beginning. We’re still, how did Frank put it, blowing the doors off the other herb shops in town.”
“Which surprises me,” Marjorie said. “We aren’t in the heart of downtown. They have to walk two or three blocks to find us.”
“We’ve had many travelers,” Mary pointed out.
“Yes, we have, but not enough to account for the sales figures.”
“You must sense something.” Gail looked at Mary.
She shook her head. “No, not a thing. I’ve said, if I could give everyone in town the secret, I would. But I don’t know how this happened.”
“Someone bigger than all of us is lending a hand,” Gail said. She looked around as if expecting to see the mysterious person.
“Whoever it is,” Marjorie said, “I hope they keep helping.”
“It’s almost seven,” Mary said. “Let’s lock up a few minutes early.”
“I’ll run the register,” Marjorie said. “We had another good day.”
Gail went to the door and was about to throw the lock when two women appeared. She let them in. They browsed the shop for a several minutes before buying ounces each of several different herbs. Mary thanked them. They smiled and nodded, but made no move to leave.
“You have a fine new shop, Mary Bradbury,” said the taller of the two women.
Mary thanked her and looked hard at the woman.
“Goody Avery,” she blurted, and they hugged. “I did not recognize you.”
“I think it is the modern clothing.”
Mary spun and motioned for Marjorie and Gail to join them.
“This is Mercy Avery. You’ve heard her name from my story,” she said, introducing them. “How did you know of the path?”
Mercy laughed. “You never knew? I am like you.”
Mary stared, surprised that she had not sensed Mercy being a witch. The woman had been very careful to not reveal herself, which was not surprising given the climate of the time.
Mercy Avery laughed again. “You did not know. I hid myself well. Harold was aware, of course, but never gave me away and no one ever suspected.”
“I did not,” Mary admitted.
They spoke for another minute, and Mercy turned to Marjorie and Gail. “You both have the gift.”
“We do,” Marjorie said. “I came from Salem Village.”
“I’m new,” Gail said, pleased that another recognized her.
“You are new, but your soul and the power you possess are ancient.”
Gail’s eyes showed the surprise she felt. She was an old soul with a talent and a gift just as old.
“Where are you living now?” Mary asked.
“In Maine,” Mercy replied. “We are here seeing the sights. I saw your store and we thought we would have a look. I was so pleased to walk in and see you. This store is genuine. Can we order by mail?”
Mary turned to Marjorie.
“We can ship all over the country,” Marjorie said.
“Wonderful,” Mercy said. “Mary, you cannot know how delighted I am to see you well, happy, and successful.”
Mercy introduced the second woman, who was also a traveler, and came from Salem Town. They spoke for almost an hour before the two women left for their motel, promising to return in the morning and further catch up on each other’s past and current history.
When they were out the door, Gail put the closed sign in the window and locked the door. “They drove here from Maine?”
“So it seems,” Mary said. “I am still in shock. I will have to ask about Harold when she comes by tomorrow. Were it not for them, I would not have had my shop in Danielsford.”
Marjorie nodded. “He was not one of us, thus could not take the path.”
“Let’s get things ready for tomorrow, and then go home and see what trouble Frank has gotten into,” Mary said.
The next day, Frank was at work on the register when Mercy and her friend arrived. Mary greeted them with a hug. She introduced Frank and gave them a short version of how he found Danielsford and they met.
“And you are happy together,” Mercy said.
“We are,” Frank replied.
“Yes,” Mary added, looking past Mercy at two customers entering the shop.
“If you’re busy, we can meet later,” Mercy said.
“No, come back with me. Frank and the others can manage for a while.”
She led the women to the back of the store.
“We can answer most of the questions,” Marjorie said. “Let them have a visit. They have 300 years of catching up to do.”
“That’s the second person she knew who’s come in,” Gail said.
“And the first one she was close to,” Marjorie said. “Remember, Mercy and her husband owned the building. Mary bought it from them.”
“They were there when she hanged, and Harold put her in the church,” Gail said.
“We should make her take them home and spend the day visiting,” Marjorie said.
“She won’t leave the shop.”
“Let me try.” Marjorie smiled and went to the back. She spoke for a moment. Mercy nodded her head vigorously and spoke to Mary.
A moment later, they began walking in a group toward the front.
“We’re going out for a few hours,” Mary said. “We’ll be at the house if I’m needed.”
“It’ll be fine,” Marjorie said, shooing them toward the door. “Go.”