“Maybe she just looked it up on the internet and ended up picking foxglove instead of comfrey. She might have just made it herself.”
“It’s possible. But the sheriff has a hunch somebody was helping her. Or pretending to help her.”
“But why? You really think someone wanted to kill her? She was annoying, but I don’t know if there’s anyone who had a serious grudge against her.”
“Say, someone whose house she’d tried to burn down?” he teased.
“I don’t have any experiences in poultices or anything of the sort. Do you need specialized equipment? Or is it just a matter of grinding up the leaves and making a mash?”
“I don’t know how Joelle’s poultice was applied, or what the usual method for making a boneknit poultice is. I think most poultices are boiled. Some might be fermented. Stills are used for medicinal purposes, but I think that would be more for tonics than anything you put on your skin.”
“You sound like an expert.” It was Erin’s turn to tease.
Terry rolled his eyes and shook his head. “I had a grandmother who still had the knowledge,” he said. “I used to find her work fascinating. But I imagine she took all of the secrets with her. My mother never made anything but supper.”
“That’s too bad. Funny how scientists are looking more carefully at folk remedies these days. Looking for things medicine might have missed. Remedies that they previously would just have dismissed as being backward or superstition. There are scientists who try to seek out tribes and cultures that haven’t had much contact with modern man, who might still have traditional knowledge that pharmaceutical companies could use…”
“A lot of it was superstition,” Terry admitted. “Or the placebo effect. Or just forcing the person to stay in one place and be calm and to let the body’s natural powers of healing take over. But I imagine we’ve lost a lot by letting these remedies be forgotten.”
Erin thought of the books that she had passed on to Adele. Maybe she shouldn’t have been so quick to give them all away. Maybe she should have studied them and preserved them for future generations. It hadn’t really occurred to her that they could be important.
“So if Joelle didn’t know anything about natural healing,” Erin said, “and for now we’ll just have to assume that she didn’t, who in Bald Eagle Falls would know all of that old-timey stuff? We have to assume it wasn’t somebody’s great-grandma, unless she was offended by Joelle’s yoga clothes.”
Terry chuckled. “I really don’t know. It’s going to take some research. I think we can assume that Adele does. She seems to be into all of that kind of thing. As far as anyone else goes, the police department is going to have to do the footwork to find out.”
Chapter 16
At first, Erin had been relieved to hear that the tea hadn’t been what had killed Joelle. But by the time she got home in the evening, her brain was working overtime to try to fill in the gaps in her knowledge, and she wasn’t feeling more relaxed, but instead more agitated and anxious.
It couldn’t be Adele. She knew Adele would never do anything to hurt anyone. She was gentle and attuned to nature, and that just wouldn’t fit the picture. Erin slept restlessly, her brain continuing to offer up more images of suspects and possibilities, before again forcing her into consciousness to consider what she had seen.
“Just let me sleep,” Erin moaned, trying to quiet her brain.
Orange Blossom was sleeping on the bed. He raised his head to look at Erin, but when she gave no indication that she was talking to him, he put his head back down, and cuddled up against her.
“You’re a good boy,” Erin whispered to him. “At least you’re not keeping me awake tonight.
He rolled onto his back, looking up at her with one eye. Erin snuggled down and tried to go back to sleep.
Morning came as it always did. Erin forced herself to get up and get ready, pasting a smile on her face and hoping it would help her to cheer up and not be grumpy at the bakery.
Vic was rubbing her eyes when they got to the bakery. She kept her eyes covered as Erin turned on the lights inside, then slowly removed her hands and squinted at Erin.
“You look like something the dog drug in,” she said, and yawned herself. “What’s up?”
Erin was happy to have someone she could talk to about her theories. Though in the light of day, most of them withered up and died, making no sense once she was fully awake. She told Vic all about the poultice
“So it wasn’t the tea? That’s a relief. I was really worried that Sheriff Wilmot was going to lock you up and throw away the key!”
“I’m glad he didn’t! I wondered what was going to happen after Adele finished giving him her story, but I guess I didn’t need to worry.”
“Who woulda thought you could be poisoned through your skin like that.” Vic shook her head.
“I guess if your body can be healed by a poultice, it could be poisoned by one too.”
“Yeah… but I never really thought any of that stuff worked. I thought it was kind of like garlic keeping away vampires. Just because it’s an accepted folk remedy… that doesn’t mean it will actually do anything for you. I thought it was more the power of suggestion.”
Erin nodded, understanding. She had always lumped folk remedies and witchcraft together with voodoo and religion and haunted houses. Just things that people liked to talk about and have fun with; not that really had any efficacy.
“You don’t know anyone around town who would know anything about poultices and such, do you? I know you’re not from Bald Eagle falls, but you did used to come here to help Angela out, and you’re more outgoing than I am. People talk to you.”
Vic looked for a moment like she would object to this, then shrugged. They went about getting loaves of bread into the oven and starting work on the rest of the baking they needed before opening.
“I don’t know a lot of people who believe in that anymore. Like you said, it’s not likely to be someone’s great grandma, and there really isn’t anyone really young who would know anything about it.”
Erin was looking out the front window of the bakery when she saw Mary Lou hurrying by outside. Mary Lou was usually working at the General Store by then, so Erin was surprised to see her out on the street. Even at that distance and walking by at a quick clip, Mary Lou looked worried. And Mary Lou never looked worried. She always just smiled and calmly took everything in her stride.
“Did you see Mary Lou the other day?” Erin asked Vic, when there were no customers there to overhear her. “Did you notice how… poorly she’s looking?”
Vic considered this. “She has always been one who doesn’t show when things are getting her down. She pushes everything down and continues on as if nothing is happening. It’s too bad… some people won’t accept any help, even when they need it.”
“You’re right,” Erin agreed. She rearranged cookies in the display case, moving them around to cover any gaps that had appeared and mentally preparing a list of what they would need to make in the afternoon. “When I think about all that she’s been through, and how she always keeps a smile on her face and acts like everything in her life is just fine… So you think that’s all it is? That she’s stressed out and won’t ask anyone for help?”
“What else would it be?” Vic asked, amusement in her voice. “Unless you think she’s ill…”
“Well, I thought she might be. And then I got to thinking about Joelle, and how she got so run down and pale before she died…”
“Nobody is poisoning Mary Lou,” Vic said flatly. “Don’t even go there. She can take care of herself. She’s not going to let anyone give her anything dangerous.”
Erin got a cloth and wiped fingerprints from the customer side of the glass display case. “Sure. I know. It’s just with her looking so tired and all…”
“I’m sure she’s fine. Maybe she’s got a flu bug, or maybe those boys are keeping her up late. You know how kids are, expecting their parents to pick them up from parties
…”
“Kids,” Erin repeated, smirking. Vic was barely eighteen herself. “I guess. Adele said she was going over to Mary Lou’s the other day. I thought… she must be making a remedy for her…”
Vic cut her eyes sideways to look at Erin as she returned to the till. “You think?”
“I don’t know. I don’t mean I think Adele is poisoning her… I guess I’m just a little more wary about these remedies than I was before…”
Vic leaned closer, her voice dropping lower. “I don’t believe in magic,” she said, a refrain she had repeated more than once since Adele’s arrival in Bald Eagle Falls. “But that doesn’t mean that I don’t think someone could mix up a potion that was harmful… or they could influence someone in a negative way… you know what I mean?”
Vic had always been wary of Adele’s teas and other offerings. Erin had thought it funny before. But it wasn’t funny after Joelle had died due to an herbal remedy gone wrong.
“Maybe one of us should drop in on Mary Lou later on,” Vic suggested. “See if she’s feeling okay. Make sure she’s not taking something…”
Erin nodded. “Even if it isn’t something poison, she could still be allergic to it, right? She could be having a bad reaction, and not even realize that’s what is going on.”
“So which one of us should go?”
Mary Lou had always been a bit stand offish where Vic was concerned. As pleasant as she tried to be, she just couldn’t seem to accept a transgender woman into her circle of friends. She tried to treat Vic like anyone else, but her disapproval was still obvious.
“I guess I will,” Erin said. “After the lunch rush, I’ll pop over… say that I need something…”
“The Jam Lady Strawberry Jam is going pretty fast,” Vic suggested. “That new crop of berries seems like it’s got better flavor than any other batch I can remember.”
“Okay. I’ll go over and pick up some strawberry jam or put in an order if she doesn’t have any in stock. And I’ll ask her whether… she’s feeling well… if she’s using any remedies from Adele… She wouldn’t have any way of knowing that the tea Joelle drank was from Adele, or she might think twice before taking any…”
“Be careful what you say. I wouldn’t want Adele putting the evil eye on us.”
Unfortunately, the visit to the General Store to see Mary Lou couldn’t have gone much worse. Mary Lou obviously knew from the start that Erin was there for more than just ordering more strawberry jam. She could have picked up the phone to do that, or just waited until the next time Mary Lou stopped by the bakery to pick something up for dinner or dessert.
“I don’t have time for any nonsense, Erin,” she said irritably. “If you want something, just come out with it, okay? I’m worked to the bone, and don’t have the patience for any more.”
“I was just wondering… wanted to make sure that you were okay. You seem like you’re tired or sick…”
“I told you before, I’m just fine. You should know better than to tell someone how bad they look.” Even though she denied it, Mary Lou’s hands fluttered quickly over her clothes, smoothing and straightening them, and over her hair to check that everything was in place.
“I didn’t mean that. You look great. You always do. You just seemed tired…”
“Like any woman who is working and trying to run a household.” Mary Lou’s dismissal was obvious. She went about her work at the General Store, ignoring Erin and waiting for her to leave.
“And you’re not drinking any teas that Adele prepared, are you?”
“I beg your pardon?”
“Adele made the tea that Joelle was drinking, and it had foxglove in it. I know that’s not what poisoned Joelle, and Adele said that the herbs came from my Aunt Clementine’s herbs, not ones that she had collected by herself, so that wasn’t her fault, but…”
“I’m not sure Adele would appreciate you talking about her behind her back, especially accusing her of poisoning Joelle.”
“I know. I’m not. I just wanted to check with you and make sure that you’re not… allergic or anything…”
She wouldn’t be the first one in Bald Eagle Falls to fall suddenly ill due to an allergy. It wasn’t unheard of. But Mary Lou knew very well that Erin wasn’t talking about an allergy.
“What I do or don’t take is really none of your business,” Mary Lou said bluntly. “I’ll thank you to stay out of my personal life.”
“Okay.” Erin’s throat was tight and hot, and her face was burning. “I’m sorry.”
She walked back out of the General Store, humiliated. Somewhere nearby, a crow cawed.
Chapter 17
Erin’s next idea was to ask the bakery customers if there was anyone in town who was an expert in herbal preparations and remedies. Just a few casual, well-placed questions, and she would be able to start building a list of who in town could have helped Joelle by preparing a poultice for her leg.
But people looked at her oddly and few of them had any names to offer. Erin wasn’t sure if they were suspicious of her motives, or if it was just that there really wasn’t anyone around who did that kind of thing anymore. Maybe they couldn’t think of anyone because there weren’t any folk medicine practitioners around anymore.
Erin thought the Potters would be a good bet. They were an older couple, and they always took so much time to pick out what they wanted to purchase, it would give Erin plenty of time to drop a few hints and see if she could get anything out of them.
“I was wondering,” Erin said to the Potters, “do you know anyone who has experience with natural healing? Herbal remedies?”
Mrs. Potter looked up from the display case, leaning on her cane. She had a tremor, making her head bob a little as she examined the baker.
“Why do you want to know about that?”
“I’m just curious. You know my Aunt Clementine was really into teas, what with the tea room here and all… I wonder whether she ever partnered with someone to give her advice on medicinal teas… you know, for people who had particular ailments…”
Mrs. Potter wasn’t buying it. She looked at her husband, not for help remembering, but a warning.
“No, I don’t think so, dear. Clementine didn’t sell medicinal teas. Just plain old drinking teas.”
“But she had all kinds of medicinal herbs at home, and books about what they were used for. She obviously had an interest in it.”
“Then I guess that’s your answer. She had books about it.”
“There isn’t anyone around here who practices herbal medicines? Natural healing?”
“I hear that new woman in your woods is a practitioner. Other than her, we haven’t had anyone around here lately.” Mrs. Potter brought her other hand up to her cane, leaning with both hands clasped over top. “No one was interested in it for a long time. Young people thought they knew better. Doctors told you to stay away from herbs. Prescription pills were better. Anyone who believed in that natural stuff was backward. Stupid.”
“I don’t think that,” Erin assured her. “I think there can be a lot of good to be gained from the natural world.”
“But you don’t even believe in God.”
Erin was startled by the turn in conversation. “What does that have to do with…?”
“Old timers believe that God put those things on earth for man to use. When Adam was kicked out of the Garden of Eden, God created medicinal plants for his use. That’s why they’re here. But then the witches came along and perverted them for their own uses, and doctors came along and told everyone they were useless, that we were only imagining that they worked, and everybody turned away from God.”
Erin looked for something to say. She glanced sideways at Vic, looking for help. Vic was nodding, but didn’t jump in with anything that would help Erin in her effort to find out who in the community possessed the knowledge of a natural healer.
“I don’t believe in God,” Erin admitted, “but I do think herbs and things found in the natural world can be helpf
ul to us. A lot of the pharmaceuticals are actually based on plants that were used in folk medicines. So of course the plants themselves worked as well. The pharmaceutical industry just refined the process.”
“Perverted it,” Mrs. Potter asserted. “They try to distill all of the goodness out of a plant, and they eliminate the balance. All herbs are created with good and bad qualities, with lots of different substances that can be used for different remedies. You can’t just take one chemical out of the herb and expect it to work the same way.”
“Oh.” Erin nodded. “I’m sure you’re right.” Another glance at Vic, who was looking amused by the conversation, but didn’t say anything. “That’s why I’d like to know if there is anyone around who still knows the old remedies.”
“Maybe you could look in your aunt’s old books. I’m sure you could find what you needed there,” Mrs. Potter said, her tone closing the subject. She shuffled a little closer to the display case and proceeded to place her order much more quickly than she ever had before. She and her husband both gave Erin frowns of disapproval before leaving.
Vic started giggling after they had left the shop. “I never would have thought you could get the Potters riled up,” she told Erin. “Did you see how fast they ordered today?”
“Where was my help?” Erin demanded. “You couldn’t think of anything to say?”
“No, I think you said it all,” Vic giggled. “I guess atheists just don’t ask about herbal remedies.”
Erin still held out hope that she would be able to find something out on Sunday, when the church ladies would be by for their after-service tea. Their tongues were always a little bit looser for tea time, and with them all together, she hoped to foster conversation among them that would give her more information. What else would they be talking about than Joelle’s death and anything surrounding it?
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