Page 71 of The Witch

“I am the town doctor of Woodhaven,” he says with more than a touch of pride. “I have been treating all sorts of illnesses since the town was founded.”

“So you are familiar with all types of maladies?”

He smiles broadly. “I am, Your Honor. I have learned to cure most ailments.”

I think about my father, and how Shaylor bled him until his eyes rolled up in their sockets. How can a man take pride in his work when he kills as many as he cures?

“We thank you for the good work you do in Woodhaven,” Putman says.

Dr. Shaylor nods. “I do the work of God.” He says it pointedly, looking in my direction.

“Can you please tell me your affiliation with Mistress Eldridge during the care of Goodwife Hatch?”

“Verily, I can.” He cocks his head thoughtfully. “I was summoned by Molly Howe to the bedside of Goodwife Hatch. Goodman Hatch asked the accused to bring me, but instead, she tried to summon Hitty Atkins, a known witch. Thankfully, Hitty Atkins had already been arrested by that time.”

Putman flinches, as if this information in itself is damning. “What happened when you were attending to Goodwife Hatch?”

“I noticed immediately that her humors were in imbalance,” Shaylor recalls. “So I let some blood to treat her. But this made Mistress Eldridge very unhappy. She told me she did not want me to treat Goodwife Hatch, because she was the property of the devil!”

There is a gasp in the courtroom. I expect Hiram to protest that I said no such thing, but instead, he sits, wringing his hat in his hands. I turn my head to look at Archie, and his brows are knitted together.

“What happened next?” Putman pushes on.

“Mistress Eldridge brought on a terrible fit in Goodwife Hatch,” Dr. Shaylor recalls. “’Twas terrifying to behold. Finally, with the help of Molly Howe, we banished Mistress Eldridge from the room and were able to bring down the fever on our own.” He smiles at the townsfolk. “I am happy to report that Goodwife Hatch is now in much improved health, having been rescued from the clutches of the devil.”

“You have done fine work, Dr. Shaylor,” Putman says in a grave voice.

I cannot believe what has been said in this courtroom. I was the one who saved Judith Hatch. I was the one who would not leave her bedside and brought her cool rags to bring down the fever. Dr. Shaylor ran off like a coward!

But I will have my chance. I will get to answer these ridiculous accusations, and I will make sure everyone knows the truth.

Dr. Shaylor returns to his former seat in the courtroom, but the harm has already been wrought. His testimony bore great weight, especially due to his esteemed standing in the community. But it is far from over.

“And now,” Magistrate Putman speaks up, “I would like to hear from Molly Howe.”

52

PRESENT DAY

JULIA

It’s been two days since Gram found the human pelvic bone in our backyard.

I used the shovel to fill up the hole that Gram dug, and I stuck the shovel in the garage. If Mick noticed the upturned earth during his travels through the grounds of Pemberton, he never mentioned it. And Ethel never said a word either. Even my grandmother seems to have completely forgotten the incident ever occurred when I questioned her about it, which is a blessing.

The only one who is stressed about it is me.

Actually, that’s not entirely fair. Henry seems at least as upset about the whole thing as I am. He acts like he’s covering up some sort of terrible crime, and he won’t be able to relax until we prove that the bone came from hundreds of years ago. He texted me yesterday that he dropped it off with his friend and he’d let me know when the results came back. I just hope he calls me about the results before he calls the police.

The EVP recorder is still running in our living room. Dixon is supposed to come by later to pick it up, but it will take time to interpret the results. How long does it take to interpret a ghost recorder? Beats me.

Ever since I moved to the new bedroom, I have experienced only a few more supernatural phenomena. Two nights ago, I heard what sounded like somebody groaning, followed by footsteps on the stairs. But it’s not as bad as it was when I was in Caroline’s room.

As I get ready for bed, I realize that I am almost out of clothing. I left most of my stuff in Caroline’s bedroom, and I haven’t been excited to go back in there to get it. Especially after dark.

But my nightshirt has a strange odor, and I have zero underwear left to put on in the morning. So I have to make a quick trip into my former bedroom to grab the rest of my clothes. I hope Caroline understands.

After I brush my teeth, I tiptoe back into the primary bedroom to get my things. When I get into the room, I immediately notice the coral-blue combs set up on the vanity table. I remember organizing them according to size, because I thought that was how they were when I first found them. But now, somehow, they have been moved. They’re no longer organized according to size but rather alternating smaller and larger combs.