A Curse on the Wind by Joni Sensel

Author:Joni Sensel [Sensel, Joni]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: YA; young adult; fantasy; historical; paranormal; supernatural; curse; actress; demon; coming of age; rebellious heroine
Publisher: The Wild Rose Press
Published: 2022-05-22T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Twenty-Six

Geth arrived home out of breath. Her stepmother awaited on the parlor sofa, passing time with her darning, but she set it aside when Geth walked in. She glared up through her brows, disapproving without saying a word.

Geth handed Mamie the medicine parcel. “Why are you frowning? The druggist was busy. And I chatted a while with one of the clerks at the station. He assured me they’re fine a few days without Poppa.”

“That’s not what I’m troubled about. You had a visitor while you were out.”

Her manner sent Geth’s heart to her throat. Had the Wind made demands of her stepmother, too? “Who?”

Mamie patted the sofa beside her and refused to proceed until Geth perched there.

“Eliza Ableman knocked on my door and claimed you owe her a debt. She refused to say exactly for what. I asked her to wait, but she wouldn’t.”

Geth gritted her teeth and tried to keep her face straight. She’d tucked a note with the bread she baked yesterday, calling it a token of faith for real payment to come. But of course, that loaf had remained in the graveyard. At least Geth had found the bone pin that morning, still lying under Old Freedom, before arriving at Aaron’s workshop. She planned to return it to Granny Ableman, but it was already late. The old woman must’ve thought her a debt-dodger.

“I can’t imagine what business you might have with that woman, considering the rumors that fly,” Mamie added. “Please tell me you’re not in any condition to bring shame on this family and kill your poor poppa.”

“Never.” Quickly Geth considered her options. Deny the whole thing? Lie about why she’d spoken to Granny Ableman? Claim privacy as a nearly grown woman? Mamie waited, her lips pinching tighter.

“I do owe her something,” Geth admitted. “I didn’t expect her to come here to collect.” A thought struck. “But Mamie, haven’t you ever noticed her at church? She’s not a bad person. Just odd.”

“Mmm-hmm. And?”

Geth opened her mouth but managed a partial truth only. “I heard she made tonics for female complaints.” The rest was too hard to believe—but cursing a beau qualified as a female complaint, didn’t it? “And I’m glad I went. She told me my mother once consulted her, too. If Mother could, why shouldn’t I?”

“So that explains yesterday’s stink?” As Geth nodded, Mamie added, “How big a complaint? You’re not—?”

“Of course not,” she said quickly. “It’s been a difficult month is all.”

Her stepmother took a deep breath. “I will not tell your father about this, not with him laid up in bed. But I ask two things in return.”

Geth desperately hoped she could comply. “Yes?”

“One, we speak to Doctor Hillis next time. A real doctor. And two, you pay her immediately. By post, not in person. She wouldn’t tell me how much you owed, or I would’ve paid it to be certain she didn’t come back.”

Geth agreed, though she only had part of what she needed. She’d hoped to buy time with a job and put Granny off until her first pay.

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