Chapter Thirty-Seven

They were relieved when they received word Governor Phips declared the witch trials ended. No longer could anyone be jailed on suspicion of witchcraft or persecuted as a witch. Yet Arianna sensed Charles Mendenhall wouldn’t comply, for he was often in her dreams, which had become increasingly disturbing. Alcott and the beast also continued to plague her nights.

She was deep in thought regarding the dreams when Darius nudged her.

“Arianna, you’ve not heard a word.”

“Forgive me. I was distracted.”

“It feels like you’re not even here most of the time.”

“Am I not fulfilling the wifely duties you listed back in Wyndham Village?” She bristled. “Is your cabin not clean?”

“Aye.”

“Are your meals not adequate?”

“Delicious, as always.”

“I did muck out the stables yesterday.”

“When you seldom sleep, I suppose you have endless time,” Darius said.

“Are your desires not met?” She stared at him.

“You don’t deny me, but even when we’re intimately joined…it’s like you’re miles away.”

She sensed his discontent.

“I just want you back, Arianna. You sit silent through our meals, sleep on the edge of the bed, if you come to our bed at all. Sometimes it feels no different than bein’ married to Liza. I suppose I should be grateful durin’ the beddin’ you don’t tell me to see it done, you’ll endure the ordeal.”

Arianna glared at him. “I suppose I should be grateful I have no sister for you to turn to.”

He stood up so quickly his chair toppled and he looked at her with unmistakable anger she never expected to see.

“I’m goin’ to the stag gatherin’ tonight,” he said retrieving his overcoat. “Don’t wait up, though you might not notice or be bothered if I never returned.”

He left without a farewell kiss for the first time.

Trying not to dwell on their hurtful words, Arianna went outside, watched the sunset, then called for Wolf. The ice had mostly broken up; the water rushed wildly beside her as they walked when Arianna was overcome with a vision of Olathe surrounded by soldiers.

That happened in her dreams with many terrible outcomes. In one dream, Olathe was raped, in another Arianna was knocked out, tied up and raped herself while trying to help Olathe. In yet another, Wolf was killed and Kyle Murphy tried to stop them, shot one of the soldiers with an arrow, bringing Alcott to the settlement. That caused further devastation, for she’d been taken to the fort, forced to go to his bed to save Darius from being hanged. In her fury she’d burned the fort to the ground, killing everyone there. Tristan, the man from the future, had warned her of that.

Arianna couldn’t risk any of those possibilities. She walked into the woods to find Olathe surrounded by four soldiers; she heard their crude comments. Arianna snapped her fingers capably stilling time. They were all frozen, but Arianna touched Olathe to awaken her. Arianna saw Kyle Murphy still as a statue with his bow already drawn.

“It’s the night of round moon,” Olathe said. “The wendigo or those with darkness may be near.”

“I couldn’t permit you to be hurt, nor see Kyle shoot someone and have your people blamed because it was an arrow that killed a soldier.”

Olathe looked at her respectfully and nodded. “But your powerful magic will bring the darkness. What will you do with these men?”

“What should be done with men who would rape and likely kill women?”

Olathe looked at Arianna, uncertain.

“They could be thrown in the river. No one would know they didn’t attempt to cross the river and tragically drown,” Arianna suggested.

“It would be more satisfying to slit their throats,” Olathe said pulling out her knife and angrily stalking the four statue-like men.

“It would be difficult to make that look unintentional.”

“I suppose,” Olathe agreed.

“I could simply ensure they don’t come here tonight,” Arianna said.

Olathe seemed confused but Arianna concentrated. After the dizziness settled, they were standing outside the forest and the four soldiers remained across the river. Arianna raised her hand, magically making the water flow higher and faster, disallowing the soldiers to cross.

“No rape, no bloodshed, no need to answer questions about missing soldiers, no burned fort or lost lives…and I still have my wolf.”

“You altered time?” Olathe said in disbelief. “Your powerful magic will be sensed by others.”

“Perhaps, but you’re safe and Kyle isn’t involved.”

“Your heart is bigger than your mind, Hair of Blood-fire,” Olathe said.

“Probably,” Arianna said as Olathe went into the forest.

Knowing how close they’d come to tragedy, Arianna couldn’t stop trembling. She started toward the cabin, longing for Darius to hold and comfort her. She wanted to make amends for her unkind words, but she couldn’t show up at the gathering if people already believed she domineered him.

Under the full moon she walked with Wolf, knowing she must go home and attempt to sleep, when she heard fiddle music and voices. She hadn’t consciously walked to the stag gathering. She’d been certain she’d walked in the opposite direction, but it was as though she’d been magically guided here. Arianna saw several men outside the barn. She jumped, nearly treading on young Patrick. He moaned. By moonlight, she saw his disconcerted face.

“Arianna, you can’t be here; women aren’t allowed!” he said, clearly drunk.

“I don’t plan to attend, Wee Patrick,” she replied, her hackles rising at being told she couldn’t.

“Most men are filled with drink; there’s been fights already.”

“Isn’t that typical of a stag gathering?”

“Aye.” He sounded dejected.

“Why are you so glum?”

“It’s Elizabeth.”

“You’re still smitten with her?”

“Aye. She doesn’t want me, but now prefers to be with many men.”

“Isn’t it the hope of most men to be with many women?”

“You’d not be cheeky if you knew her true hope.”

“In being with my husband.”

“You know?”

“It isn’t as though she hides it.”

“She’s had a lot to drink.”

“Elizabeth is here?” Arianna asked.

“Thankfully Da left before she showed up saying she’d be happy to entertain the men.”

Arianna heard rowdy hoots coming from the barn.

“Will you convince her to leave, Arianna?” Young Patrick pleaded.

“I’d be the last person she’d listen to, Patrick.”

“Aye,” he morosely said.

Arianna saw Michael and Samuel near the barn. She approached as Michael placed a cloth to Samuel’s eye.

“Samuel, what’s happened?”

“A wee fight,” Samuel slurred.

“You shouldn’t be here, Arianna,” Michael warned. “Men from another settlement and cousins of the Ackees are visiting. They’re all drunk.”

Samuel squinted like he couldn’t focus. “Even Darius is mad drunk and in a disagreeable mood.”

The raucous commotion grew louder and a woman squealed.

“I thought women weren’t permitted at these gatherings,” Arianna said.

“It’s strongly discouraged!” Samuel drunkenly clarified.

Another squeal and a lot of loud whoops reverberated from the barn.

“I heard Elizabeth was here,” Arianna said.

“We tried to make her leave,” Michael stated. “Darius attempted to physically remove her and got severely razzed. Even some of the men from this settlement encouraged her to stay.”

“Darius and Ethan got into it and I stepped in the middle,” Samuel said.

“The McKee cousins and the Murphy boys got involved,” Michael explained. “It was easier to let Elizabeth stay.”

“What’s she doing in there?” Arianna asked.

“Dancing half naked,” Michael said.

“Tryin’ her best to have your husband,” a bruised-faced Kevin Murphy added as he approached.

“Why in hell is he still in there then?” Arianna asked, now fuming.

“Because he’s damned if he leaves now when the men have already been givin’ it to him about bein’ led around by your lady bits.”

Arianna glowered at him.

“That’s not the term they used but best you not hear that,” Samuel said.

“Darius was furious and commendably punched the men who said it. But they do think you henpeck him,” Kevin said.

“Who cares what the men think?” Arianna said.

“That’s easy for you to say,” Kevin replied.

“Aye, people here only believe I’m a barren witch and a whore. It’s so easy for me!” she sarcastically said, her fury heightening.

Arianna walked toward the barn.

“Don’t go in,” Michael warned.

“You’ll humiliate him,” Kevin agreed.

“Arianna, you mightn’t be safe,” Samuel said. “There’s a lot of drunk men not thinkin’ straight.”

Arianna knew they were correct. She begrudgingly stepped away when two men she didn’t recognize came from the barn. Staring, they whistled.

“Aren’t you a beauty!”

“Have you come to dance, too?” One roughly pulled her to him. “You’d need to rid yourself of a few garments.”

“I’d like to rid you of your tongue,” Arianna caustically said.

“She’s feisty,” the other man said, pinching her arse. Samuel staggered and Kevin and Michael stepped forward.

“I can defend myself,” she said, kneeing one man in the bollocks and elbowing the other in the nose. Now furiously invigorated, she walked amid the jeering, drunken men in the barn that smelled strongly of hay, animal dung and ale.

Arianna spotted Elizabeth, only in her shift, which was pulled down, breasts bared. Elizabeth’s eyes were fixed on Darius while her hands moved up his muscular thighs and the men loudly urged her on. When Elizabeth reached for the front of his breeches, Darius stepped away. Arianna pushed through the crowd.

Elizabeth eyes filled with resentment upon seeing her. When Darius noticed Arianna, he didn’t appear much happier. His eye was bruised and swollen, his lip split.

“We need to speak,” Arianna said, finally finding her voice. Several men booed and made disagreeable comments.

“Let him have a little fun,” a few said.

“I don’t consider another woman’s hands on my husband to be fun, though he’d possibly disagree.”

“You’ve come to check on me?” Darius asked.

“With your promise once made to me, I truly didn’t believe I’d ever need to check on you.” She fought tears.

“Is this the woman everyone’s been on about?” a man who looked like a McKee asked.

“I’ll walk you home, Arianna.” Michael must have followed her in.

“I’ll go with you, too,” Samuel added.

“She’s the witch?” the McKee man asked. “Beautiful for a witch.”

“You’ve seen a lot of witches?” Arianna said, knowing she should ignore him.

“Are you a witch or a whore?” another man asked.

“Is there a reason one couldn’t be both?” Arianna said staring hard at Darius. He glared at the men, but then at her. Many men guffawed.

“That would ensure magical diddling!” another drunk man said.

“Does she keep you spellbound, Wyndham…or just housebound?”

Arianna could see Darius’s temper rising and the tension was palpable.

“I’d actually rather know if the hair on her head matches down below.” The man looked like he intended to find out.

Darius stiffened at that and tried to stand.

“You could tell us, Wyndham, but that’d take away our fun!”

“That’s my wife,” Darius blared.

“You can’t stand for me to have any attention, can you?” Elizabeth angrily interrupted.

Arianna glanced at Elizabeth. “Is this the attention you wish for?”

“That said by a whore,” Elizabeth drunkenly replied.

Arianna looked at the young woman, once her friend, and gently clasped her arm.

“You don’t need to behave like this, Elizabeth. You’re intelligent and beautiful; you have people who care about you. Come back to the cabin. We’ll have tea.”

“Tea?” Elizabeth snorted. “Why would I leave? I’m very happy here!” Elizabeth sensually looked at Darius and pulled her arm from Arianna.

“You shouldn’t feel special in drunken males desiring you, Elizabeth. Men have been known to diddle sheep when desperate enough.”

Arianna stared at Elizabeth then threw a crestfallen look at Darius. She turned to walk away, but a man blocked her path. Darius moved unsteadily. With the amount of drink he’d consumed, he wouldn’t fare well in another fight.

Arianna was now enveloped in a shimmering purple glow and knew she must leave straightaway.

“Give us a wee look at those beauties!” one of the Ackees said reaching for her gown’s laces. In her fury, she punched him hard in the nose, then waved her hands silencing them all. She walked outside; Darius wobbled as he followed.

“You’ve stilled time?” Darius asked.

“You can see that even in your drunkenness?” she sarcastically said.

“I’m weary, Arianna. You constantly distance yourself from me…except for tonight. One night away was all I wanted.”

“Clearly, that wasn’t all you wanted.”

“I admit I was tempted. She looks at me like you once did.”

“She looks at you as a hopeful conquest. I have no doubt she finds you appealing, but she also sees your opulence. Elizabeth proclaimed from the day we met, she’d marry a wealthy man. I’m aware she’s jealous and envious of me, therefore to see me hurt would only be added bounty.

“I’m also weary…weary of attempting to be the wife I can never be. Do what you will. I release you of your obligations as guardian…and my husband.”

“I’m not thinkin’ straight enough to have this conversation, much less make rash decisions.”

“Does that include deciding whether to diddle Elizabeth?”

He narrowed his eyes.

“I’ll leave now or she might be turned to ash.”

Darius leaned against the barn, shook his head and pulled his hand through his hair.

“If having her seems worth it, so be it.”

“Arianna, that isn’t what I want. She isn’t what I want.”

“Can you tell me if I hadn’t walked in when I did, you wouldn’t have been with her?”

He shrugged but wouldn’t meet her eyes.

“Men filled with drink often urge each other on with no more conscience than feral dogs. Thank you for trying to see her leave earlier. I understand the men pressured you, but you could have left. I’m sorry you bowed to their badgering and belittled her like the others. I’m disappointed, for the man I met in Wyndham Village would have walked away,” Arianna said.

“I doubt I’d ever measure up to the man you once believed me to be.”

“I’ll stay till tomorrow if you wish to speak. If not, I’ll go to Boston.”

“I’m certain that’s been your intention for some time anyway. Maybe your friend will prove less of a disappointment!” Darius said before going back inside.

Determined not to weep, Arianna snapped her fingers, releasing the time-stilling magic, and disappeared.