I have an excerpt for you today, from Meredith Allard's book, Down Salem Way!
Down Salem Way
The Loving Husband Series
By Meredith Allard
How would you deal with the madness of the Salem witch hunts?
In 1690, James Wentworth arrives in Salem in the Massachusetts Bay Colony with his father, John, hoping to continue the success of John’s mercantile business. While in Salem, James falls in love with Elizabeth Jones, a farmer’s daughter. Though they are virtually strangers when they marry, the love between James and Elizabeth grows quickly into a passion that will transcend time.
But something evil lurks down Salem way. Soon many in Salem, town and village, are accused of practicing witchcraft and sending their shapes to harm others. Despite the madness surrounding them, James and Elizabeth are determined to continue the peaceful, loving life they have created together. Will their love for one another carry them through the most difficult challenge of all?
Suddenly, heavy irons scraped the floor, the crunching rever‐ berating round the room, and everyone turned. Rebecca Nurse, elderly, sickly, frail, was bound like a common criminal, chained and dragged forward by the pock-faced Constable like a murderer bound for Newgate. Everyone silenced as Rebecca stopped near the magistrates to hear the charges against her. Her illness showed in the deepened creases in her face and neck, and she tilted her head since her hearing still fails her and she could not understand what was said.
The afflicted poked each other when Rebecca appeared. In the blink of an eye, Hell unleashed its fury. Such shrieks, such howls, such wails I have never heard before. Twas as if the Devil himself held the afflicted in his hands, slapped them, scratched them, and dragged them away. The afflicted grimaced at Rebecca and screamed. The spectators leaned forward as though waiting on every sound or movement and expectation sparked the air. Twas as though a lightning bolt struck the place. Even Father held his breath as he waited to see what would happen. Hathorne glared across the room, a King scanning his loyal subjects.
“Just this morning she accosted me,” Abigail said. “She’s tormenting me.”
“Who is tormenting you, Abigail?” Hathorne asked.
Abigail pointed at Rebecca. Observers turned disgusted looks in the old woman’s direction. Hathorne called the room to order, and then several men from the Village came forward as witnesses. Each claimed to have seen Rebecca engaged in some form of Witchery.
“I saw her Specter try to strangle someone,” said one farmer. Onlookers nodded in agreement.
Another man said, “I know her Specter bedded several men from the Village.” Father laughed aloud at the thought of elderly, sickly Goody Nurse giving herself to men. Father received some disgruntled looks from those nearest us.
Next, an old farmer said, “I saw her turn into a bird the color of the sky during a storm.”
When Hathorne asked the next man what he had witnessed concerning Rebecca, the man said, “What is that you say? Her Specter is putting her fingers into my ears and I cannot hear you.”
I wished some Specter would put fingers into my ears. I could not stand hearing how Hathorne pummeled Rebecca with his words, browbeating her into a confession that she had been consorting with the Devil. And poor Rebecca, ailing and unable to hear hardly a word of anything said to her, did her best to defend herself. But Hathorne would not let her. Rebecca is an easy victim, after all.
Others called as witnesses claimed that Rebecca had accosted them too. Spectral evidence was all they had against her. The Chief Justice, William Stoughton, found ways to justify Spectral evidence. If you look for something hard enough, you shall find it.
Here are the links to buy all the books in the series!
Meredith Allard
Meredith Allard is the author of the bestselling paranormal historical Loving Husband Trilogy. Her sweet Victorian romance, When It Rained at Hembry Castle, was named a best historical novel by IndieReader. Her nonfiction book, Painting the Past: A Guide for Writing Historical Fiction, was named a #1 New Release in Authorship and Creativity Self-Help by Amazon. When she isn’t writing she’s teaching writing, and she has taught writing to students ages five to 75. She loves books, cats, and coffee, though not always in that order. She lives in Las Vegas, Nevada. Visit Meredith online at www.meredithallard.com.
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