Past Truths

by Em Pitts

  "Is Willoughby needed elsewhere?" He questioned.

  "No, nothing like that." I lowered my voice for the next part. "I heard about Eliza and Granny is going to help me make a doll for her. We can't do much else, but this is something we can do."

  I glanced at the stranger, knowing he heard me with how close everyone was standing. He had a blank expression on his face, but he was staring at me intently. I looked away not comfortable under his watch.

  Hector appeared more sympathetic when I looked at him. He nodded before agreeing to get her. I walked away from the strange man not wanting to find out what his deal was.

  Granny was in the kitchen again and I decided to go tell Margrete myself. I could retrieve Eliza's doll from the chandler as well. I hoped he had it still because the thought of trying to replicate Cindy perfectly was terrifying. I can't imagine how hard it must be for parents when they lose their kids’ stuff and decide not to tell them but replace it instead.

  Margrete was easy to find in the meetinghouse. Her husband and the judge were having a loud conversation in the office that was bleeding through the door. It sounded like there was someone else in there as well, but I couldn't tell who. She looked nervous as she was tidying up. She would stop and look around lost for a minute wringing her hands before doing something else.

  I called out to her and she stopped. It was har to tell if she looked relieved or nervous. I felt guilty for what I was about to do, but it needed to be done. "I won't be helping you today, not for a few hours at least." The expression changed slightly but not enough for me to tell what she was feeling. That guilt pulled in me though. I hated the thought of her being alone out here listening to the men arguing. "I need to make a doll for Eliza, it's the only way I can quiet my mind and do something for her." I thought about it a moment before asking her, "Would you like to help?" She quickly shook her head and nervously looked towards the door with the raised voices.

  "I need to be here for now. I’ll go home soon." She muttered her mind clearly drifting to something else.

  "I'll be at the tavern if you need me." She nodded distractedly before going about nervously fixing and touching things.

  I walked to the chandler’s next. "Chandler." I greeted with no more energy to smile at people.

  "Walter." He corrected clearly not in a happy mood either. I saw Cindy on the table in front of him.

  "I need to ask a favor." He hummed in response and kept his hands busy crushing up something. Petals? "May I have Cindy?" I indicated the doll.

  That got his attention as his head snapped up. He gave me an incredulous look and started sputtering out trying to form words unsuccessfully. I held up my hand to halt his ramblings.

  "I heard about Eliza." He gulped and looked down into the bowl. "I just wanted to do something for her. If they find her—"

  "When." He cut me off. "When they find her." I nodded showing my agreement even as a pang went through my chest. Why couldn't Walter have been Eliza's father?

  "When they find her, I would like to have Cindy fixed up. You said Granny can make the dolls look like princesses. I just want to be able to do that for her." I coaxed. I really hoped he gave me the doll. If not, I was going to need to figure out how the guys were sneaking in to take children and use those powers to sneak in and steal the doll.

  Walter's throat bobbed as he swallowed tightly. It took him several moments before he finally nodded that it was okay. Even then he watched me grab the doll as if making sure I wouldn't do anything to hurt her.

  "You will bring her back?" He asked confusing me. I realized he was talking about the doll and not Eliza. I nodded with a fake smile. How the fuck was I going to pull that off?

  "Thank you, Walter." I addressed him by name this time hoping he would know how much this meant to me. I could see how much it meant to him. Before I got to the door, he spoke up again with suspicion in his voice.

  "How did you know her name?"

  "What?" I asked turning around wondering where I slipped up.

  "The doll. How did you know she named it Cindy?" His brows were puckered, and I had his full attention.

  "She called the doll by name when I came in the other day. I wasn't sure if I got it right, but when you didn't correct me, I assumed I did." Please believe me. Less than a day into this kidnapping business and I was going to get caught. "Did I get it wrong?" I asked trying to sound innocent. He shook his head and seemed to dismiss his thoughts as he went back to the bowl.

  I sighed in relief and got out of the shop quickly before he came to his senses. I was a terrible kidnapping accomplice. I'm going to have to not be a part of the vigilante missions in the future. After I saw that the kids were okay, of course.

  21

  Granny was sitting at the back entrance waiting on me. There was a pot of water with something inside it laying on the ground next to her. I held up the doll when she looked my way. I smiled at her confusion. "I already have something to start with, just need to make it better," I admitted.

  She understood and patted the space in front of her. I gave over the doll when she held her hands out for it. "What do you mean, make it better?"

  "Walter told me that you make princess dolls. I wanted to give her a princess." I shrugged.

  Granny looked the doll over for a bit in silent contemplation. After a while, she nodded her head decisively and set the doll down reaching for the pot.

  She got out three strips of corn husks and patted them dry with her skirts. The strips were torn into slimmer pieces before being added to the doll, overlapping and crossing each before tying a string around the waist. Some of the strips that went over the arms were pushed up and tied as well. The strips fanned out like a heavy dress. Granny then curled the ends around her finger before gently removing her finger and leaving a wave in the dress.

  "There's not much more I can do without changing the doll. Something tells me we are keeping the doll the way it is." She arched her brow in question. I nodded in affirmation. She set the doll upright against the building. "Now, if we are taking time away from everyone else, we might as well teach you to make a proper doll of your own. Every girl has one at some point." I snorted at her.

  "I don't know whether to feel insulted that you are calling me a girl or grateful that you are willing to teach me something still. After the whole cooking disaster..." I trailed off.

  Reaching into the pot I grabbed one of the corn husk strips and placed it on my dress drying it with my skirts just as I watched Granny do. She handed me over three more. I repeated the process and dried all three.

  "I'm just grateful that you haven't burnt my kitchen down while I've been sleeping." She chuckled out a laugh. "Your mother never made you a doll, girl?" I went still at her innocent question. We joked with each other, but have not crossed the line into personal questions yet. I'm not even sure where Granny and the rest of the town believe I am from.

  "No, she never made me a doll," I answered simply. By Granny's hum, I assumed the questioning was done. She surprised me with more though.

  "Any siblings?" My heart hurt at the thought.

  "One sister." I choked out. "She's far away right now though. I've got to get back to her." I looked off into the trees surrounding the square. Granny's urging had me looking back.

  "You can start by tying it close to the end for the head." She then lined all four strips together and made a knot about an inch down from the wide end of the strips. I copied waiting on the next instruction. The doll was flipped so the knot was on the bottom and the strips were folded down before tying another string creating a circle for the head. "You can braid the arms, but most people just roll them." She then handed me another strip that was already dried, and I watched her roll hers before placing it between the hanging flaps falling below the head.

  "Why are we not braiding them?" I questioned as I followed along.

  "Because you would probably wind up braiding your hair to the doll and then pulling it all out. Isaake might not marry you if y
ou were bald." Her tone gave nothing away, but her humor was clear in her smirk. I watched her tie another string beneath the arms creating the waist. "And there you have it. A normal girl corn husk doll." She then held the bottom of the dress into two sections. "If you want a boy then tie off the two parts to make legs."

  "That's it?" I asked in disbelief at how simple it was. "That is the great Granny doll that is gossiped about?" I held up the doll. It was kind of cute in a weird no face or hair way.

  "No, that's the Tessa safe version. Something you can do for your kids one day. No point teaching you to cut and braid if you're just going to hurt yourself." She stood and dumped the water out.

  I laughed with her accepting this as truth. There really was the possibility of hurting myself or messing up the doll if I tried to get fancy. Maybe one day though.

  "I thought we would be doing this for hours. I may have already told Margrete I wouldn't be back for that long." I admitted. Then another thought hit me. "Why did I need to ask Hector to get Ellyne if we weren't going to be busy for long?"

  "Honestly, I'm overworked. I can't just ask Ellyne to come over and help when she has things she needs to be doing already and I've taken Willoughby from her. This was an opportunity to get extra hands. I might even be able to talk her into staying for the rest of the day."

  "Or," I tried a different tactic. "You could send Willoughby home instead and keep Ellyne here." I smiled a big smile to which Granny rolled her eyes.

  "Get to work already." She started toward the door. "Ellyne should be here soon." She called over her shoulder.

  "Bridget, wait." She turned towards me. "Do you have any more of those strips?" I gestured towards the bucket. She nodded and looked curious. "Mind if I make one more doll?"

  She placed the bucket down and gestured towards me. "Get the husks from the kitchen. Soak them first so they bend easier."

  "How long do I soak them?"

  "Until they are softer." That was all the direction I got from her as she disappeared back inside.

  I picked up Eliza's doll from the wall. It looked like it had a princess dress on with puffy sleeves and a gown that was flowing with the wind. Simple, but beautiful.

  The only true difference between her doll and my new one was the color of the husks and head size. Maybe I could pull off making another doll and pass it off as Eliza's when I gave it to Walter. I could only hope the doll dried into a similar color.

  I got to work making a replica and to hide in my room. When I finished, I could go help Margrete and hope the yelling had stopped on her end. It won’t hurt to take my time on the doll.

  Fortunately, the yelling had ceased inside the meetinghouse. Margrete's nervous energy, however, had not. The judge was standing next to the strange man who was speaking with Hector this morning. The minister was off to the side with his son and wife who were both listening to him as he gestured to the raised platform. The mysterious man was paying attention to me again. Judge looked my way when he noticed his companion’s gaze and I shot towards Margrete to get out from under their scrutiny.

  "...need this issue addressed, but not until after the trials. I don't want to create a panic that could affect the results. Afterward, we need to seek help. I'm sorry my son. You shouldn't have learned about this yet." He placed a hand on his son's shoulder as if in comfort. I could see the uncomfortable look on Benjamin's face as he nodded at his father. Pastor Winters noticed my presence then. "Yes, well." He cleared his throat. "It's time to prepare. I'll be in my office if you need me." I turned a questioning look towards the two people left.

  "We need to check in with the baker." Margrete blurted out and turned towards the door.

  "Is she always this nervous for the trials?" I questioned.

  Benjamin shook his head no and walked out of the door after his mother. I had no desire to stay any longer in the room with the judge and immediately went to follow outside. A hand grabbed my arm stopping my progress. I looked back to see the judge sneering at me.

  "The talk around town makes me believe you were missing last night."

  I panicked but focused on staying calm. I couldn't show him he was right. Granny seemed to think Raynor covered for me. How would he know I was missing?

  "I'm not sure who told you that. I was where I am every night." I yanked my arm away from him despite any consequences that could come from my actions. I was sure he bruised me by the tight grip he was holding. He cocked his head at me.

  "Alexander was searching the tavern." He gestured behind him to the mystery man. "I find it strange that you would be missing on the night a child disappeared."

  Deny, deny, deny. "I'm not missing, nor was I at any time. I'm not sure what you are implying." I tried my damndest to sound innocent.

  "Either you had a hand in what happened to Eliza," he raised his eyebrow getting a gleam to his eye. "Or maybe you were out with your soon to be husband? Raynor told Alexander he saw you. Was he lying for you? I wonder what the minister would think of such behavior?" He looked me up and down while licking his lips. I shuddered in revulsion.

  "I need to help Margrete." I backed away from him.

  "You should think about what it is you are looking for Tessa Woods." He sneered clearly pissed off at me retreating. "Because after the trials you might need to have a change of heart." I stumbled and stopped my retreat.

  "Are you threatening me?" My words came out shakier than I would have liked.

  "Nearly reminding you of your options. Stay on the path you are heading down, and someone might just find out the truth about last night. There's always another option you should consider. One that would keep you safe." He tried to adopt a softer look. "You could always choose to rethink my proposal. I could keep you safe from such accusations. My gifts are strong, Tessa." His eyes were still calculating despite the deceiving facade.

  He held his palm out and a bright green light burst to life. The light was arcing and sparking off his hand as if it was a condensed ball of lightening ready to shoot from him and attack. This was his gift? Was he planning on burning me to a crisp?

  “What are you going to do with that?” I asked eyeballing the jumping sparks. They light immediately went out and that fake soft expression came over his face again.

  “I won’t hurt you, Tessa. I want to protect you, keep you safe.” He stepped closer to me and I stepped farther from him.

  “You want to protect me?” I scoffed in disbelief. “You’re trying to strongarm me into what you want! You can’t just use your lightening, energy, whatever kind of witch powers on me and…” I trailed off at the morphing anger on his face.

  He was blackmailing me. To leave Isaake and choose him or be blamed for Eliza. Even if the town somehow was smart enough to realize that I just came to town and the kidnappings had been taking place long before me, he had extra ammo by using Isaake against me. Ironic that in reality, I was both with Isaake and involved in the kidnapping last night.

  But I couldn’t have this fight right now. Making the man angry was not smart when there was no one around to help me.

  "I…I need to think..." I tried to stall. I can't piss him off right now. I needed help. I need to get to my guys. He nodded with a firm look.

  "After the trials. You will answer me then." I nodded and forced my weak legs to take me out of the building. "Tessa." He called out. "If you try to leave, I will find you." He warned. I ran away not stopping until I was gasping for breath.

  I put my hands on my knees trying to breathe and finding it more difficult. I had black spots dancing around my vision when I dropped to the ground. My arms sprawled out and I continued trying to catch my breath until eventually, the sky was clear in my vision and my lungs were filling deeper. Fuck. I didn't have time.

  The guys wanted to check every home on a hunch that maybe the clock could be found and maybe I could go home. It wasn't a guarantee. Now the judge gave me a deadline that was days away. Days. I couldn't leave. I was stuck. I was being blackmailed into marriage. />
  There had to be another way. This couldn't be the way my story ended. I couldn't have been born just to live a half-life full of 'it'll be better someday' comments and a forced marriage full of disappointment and bitterness.

  The guys. Where were they? Nick and Ollie were searching for the clock today so they wouldn't be any help. Isaake and Raynor might still be sleeping. I had to see if I could get ahold of them.

  I sat up and looked around seeing the grass, hills, and trees surrounding me. I didn’t pay any attention to where I was running and now I’m lost. There. To the left of me was water.

  Getting up I started walking to the water to determine where I was. It was a brook. Where the hell was a brook located at. I looked all around me again not recognizing anything. Maybe I could get lucky and just be lost forever. I started laughing hysterically. Shit, I was losing it.

  Think, Tessa. Brook. It leads to water one way or the other. If I followed it, I would eventually find something. Wasn't there a brook going through Raynor's backyard? The thought reinforced my mind and I decided to follow the water upstream. I could always turn around if I ran out of water to follow and didn't find anything familiar.

  I didn't end up at Raynor’s, but I did end up around a familiar lake near the hill I arrived on. I jumped for joy when I finally figured out where I was. It had been a while since I had gotten lost, thanks to GPS. It was much scarier being lost on foot somewhere completely unfamiliar.

  I was able to find my way to Raynor's door easily enough. The banging and hollering I did to that door were probably unwarranted, but the door could get upset later. Right now, I just need my guys.

  Raynor opened the door looking pissed. I didn't care. I was flooded with worry and exhaustion and he was the most beautiful thing I needed right then. I jumped into his arms and started crying. I sobbed harder when he wrapped his arms around me without question.