Cards & Caravans Read Online Free PDF Page A

days later.”
    “Perhaps he was simply looking for someone to blame for his son’s death?” Connor said. “I can see where losing a child might make any man go a little mad. Surely a disease like cholera is known to be caused by tainted water, not witchcraft. Were others affected?”
    “Aye. Near a dozen in the village took sick in the past week. Two younger children and one old man died. Sad business indeed. ‘Tisn’t the water. Everyone knows it’s the witch who caused it.”
    “And how does everyone know that?” Connor found it difficult to believe an educated man wouldn’t even consider the idea that the disease was based on natural causes. “If she only had a grudge against one man, why punish the whole village?”
    MacLellan shrugged. “Who knows why a witch does the devil’s work? She just does. And now she’ll die.” He puffed on his pipe, utterly complacent about the idea of burning a fellow villager at the stake.
    “Do you have the records of the trial?” Connor had finally gotten warm, but now his head was beginning to ache. Dealing with zealots could do that to a man. “I’ll need the name and direction of the officials presiding.”
    “Sheriff has all the paperwork,” MacLellan said. “He’s gone home to Dumfries.”
    “And who is the sheriff?” Connor whipped out a notebook and pencil and wrote down the name the squire provided, along with a vague address at a manor near Dumfries. “Do you have his telephone exchange?”
    “No,” MacLellan said. “Wouldn’t matter if I did. All the lines are down in this storm. Won’t have service for a few days at the least.”
    Enough dancing around . The throbbing at the base of Connor’s skull intensified. He carefully put his notepad back in his pocket. “Under the circumstances, Squire, I don’t have a choice. The Home Office requires me to take custody of the prisoner and take her to the High Court for a new trial. As this is a capital case, that supersedes any old laws regarding witchcraft that might remain on the books from an earlier era. You will turn Mrs. Danvers over to me in the morning, and I will personally escort her to Edinburgh.”
    The squire smiled a slow, oily smile. “I think not. The execution will go forward as planned. Even in the rain, with enough paraffin oil, the pyre will burn.”
    Connor blinked. The bastard was refusing to comply with the government? “You do realize this will subject you to severe penalties for refusing to comply with an officer of the government?”
    The older man shrugged again. “Government isn’t around much in these parts. I can afford to pay a fine, and by the time everything is sorted out, the witch will still be dead.” He rose. “Let me escort you to the door, young man. You’ll find a decent bed at the tavern tonight.”
    Two burly footmen had appeared, flanking the door of the library. Both had pistols on their belts. Connor probably could take them, but it would be a risk and he had no one to watch his back. Instead he strode out into the hall, accepted his coat and hat. “Good night, Squire. Rest assured, you haven’t heard the last of this.”
    The squire just smiled again and Connor found himself alone in the rain with a lame horse once more. He swore a string of blistering oaths as he waded back toward town. Now what the hell was he supposed to do?
    * * *
    Belinda sipped the last of the lukewarm tea Sir Connor had brought with her meal while her fingers traced the outline of the tiny gun that sat heavily in the pocket of her skirt. Would she have the courage to use it when they came for her? She didn’t have to ponder long. Better a bullet than the flames.
    She must have nodded off because she jerked awake as the empty flask slipped from her fingers and fell into her lap. Rain still spattered in at her from the chinks in the plaster, but between the food and the blanket, she was warmer than she had been before. Just knowing that someone had cared made almost as much