The Witch's Stone Read Online Free PDF

better.
    “I’m sorry for poor Agnes,” Bristol said. “Terrible way for her to go.”
    As if they cared how the old bird went, so long as she was gone.
    Did his parents recognize Bristol? Did they remember the blotchy-faced constable dragging their youngest up the drive by the scruff of his neck? Did they remember a younger, thinner Bristol telling them their child needed ‘to be dealt with to prevent the boy’s criminal nature from developing further’?
    “Thank you Inspector,” his mother replied, her tone cool, but then Caid rarely heard her use another.
    “This is Hillary Bennett,” Bristol said. “She found Agnes and--”
    James turned his full attention to her and puffed out his chest. “I know who she is. I’ve read some of her work. Feminist drivel.”
    Bristol’s face reddened, his previously jovial expression hardening.
    Hillary snorted. “That’s one opinion, I suppose.”
    “The only opinion.” James stepped toward her, and, to her credit, she didn’t move back. “When I learnt you had an interest in my Grandfather, I read a wee bit of what you’d written. You’d have people believing that woman-hating was the sole cause of the witch hunts.”
    A slow fury pumped through Caid. His father, the quintessential intellectual bully. James’s opinions were never wrong. And never to be questioned.
    A tall man, over six feet, with a wide athletic build, he hovered over Hillary as if to intimidate her with his mere presence. Caid jammed his hands in his pockets and moved away from Alex toward the group.    
    “Clearly you misunderstood my theories,” Hillary said, standing her ground. “I believe a combination of several events brought about the European Witch Hunts, but a leading factor was society’s need for a scapegoat. This, added to a strong sense of misogyny in a primarily patriarchal society, made women an easy target.”  
    “Dress it up as you like, but you’ll no’ ruin my grandfather’s good name by dragging him through yer fantasy-based scenarios.”
    “My work is well documented.”
    “And that you attempted to trick my aunt into allowing you to malign her own father is truly despicable,” he went on as if she hadn’t spoken, folding his arms over his chest, smug and sanctimonious. “You ought to be ashamed of yerself, miss.”
    “Tell me,” Caid interrupted. “Is it as despicable as accusing an old woman of senility in attempt to force her from her home so you could claim it for yerself?” As despicable as messing about with your students? Caid wanted to speak the words aloud, but they lodged in his throat.
    Bristol snickered, and his mother, who had appeared bored by the whole conversation, tensed and rested her hand on his father’s arm. Both his father and Hillary whirled on him, fixing him with dark, hard glares.
    Hillary turned away first. “Mr. Douglas--”
    “Doctor,” his father corrected.
    “Agnes didn’t share the same illusions about your grandfather’s sterling reputation.”
    “Anne Black was a murderess and more than one family suffered at her hands. No one in Culcraig would dare say differently.”
    “Would they actually claim she was a witch?”
    His father didn’t reply. He glanced at Caid, then took his wife’s arm and started away from the grave.
    Hillary rounded on Caid. “I’m quite capable of arguing a point myself. I don’t need you to butt in.”
    Before Caid could respond, she turned on her heel and stormed away.
    Bristol slapped him on the shoulder. “Well done, lad, I thought yer timing was spot on.” Then he too went the way Hillary had gone.
    Alex came to stand next to him. “It would seem yer damsel didnae appreciate being rescued from the fire-breathing dragon.”
    “So it would.”
    “She’s quite pretty.”
    Caid frowned, his leg hurting. He wanted to get indoors so the pain would ease. “She’s a cow. Let’s just get this business with the will done so I can get away from here.”
     
     
    “Pay that old