The Time Witch - Part 13

Recap: Mabel is more cagey than Bad Samuel, but Evangeline learned Samuel left town suddenly and never returned. Unfortunately, that only complicates the past, making it look like the skeleton is a sign that Samuel met an untimely death.

Short on time? Scan the story and just read the Bold parts to get the gist of the story. Then come back later and read the whole thing!

LINKS: The Beginning, Last Part (#12), Time Witch page

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“Day drinking isn’t my thing, but I’ll make an exception today.”

Evangeline muttered the words to herself, having gotten a message from Danna that the “old guys” wanted to meet her ASAP.

All she wanted to do was storm back to the library and shake off Mabel’s negativity, but she headed to the Creek Pub. It was only a short walk from the Covington-York mansion, so it would do nothing to calm her down. Even the magnificence of the arched oaks over her head had no effect.

“That woman… “Evangeline grumbled. She was still steaming when she spotted the thatched-roofed pub.

Inside, the dimly lit atmosphere did more to settle her ruffled feathers than any drink could. It practically wrapped a guest in a warm, welcoming embrace. From the muted earth tones to the low ceiling, the booths and tables spoke of a private, comfy spot to unwind. It did an excellent job of blocking out the world, too, so any time of the day or night felt like midnight.

Letting her eyes adjust from the sun outside, Evangeline entered to find Danna at a table smack dab in the center of the establishment. One chair was empty, and the other three were occupied by Danna and two older gentlemen. They all waved.

So much for keeping this down low, Evangeline thought, hoping she could continue to spin her questions as research.

Danna winked at her, a slight tilt of her head suggesting she was fishing for the results of visiting Mabel. Evangeline gave her a quick negative snarl.

“Oh,” Danna silently mouthed the word.

 Taking a seat, Evangeline looked into the men’s faces and saw wisdom and humor. They also reminded her of those cute dogs with all the wrinkles, but the old-timers had more. She guessed they were in their seventies, which probably knocked one generation off the time gap between her and Samuel. They might actually remember some valuable town history.

“You can call me Champ,” said the one with a head full of white hair.

The bald one smiled. “Call me Bear.”

“It’s so nice to meet you,” Evangeline said. “Can I buy the first round?”

Their smiles grew larger, and hands went up to call the waitress. It didn’t take long until they were all old friends. Stories started to flow, and no topic appeared to be off-limits.

Evangeline even felt comfortable enough to ask, “Can we gossip?”

Champ and Bear leaned into the table. They were game. “What ya got?” Bear asked as if he was going to deal tit for tat.

Concerned about the shift, Danna tried to back it up. “We don’t really have current gossip.”

The fact didn’t change their enthusiasm. “All gossip is good,” Champ said, clearly not realizing how far back the girls planned to go.

“Well,” Evangeline said, “we think the town’s history is hiding a mystery.”

“It’s probably hiding several!” Bear exclaimed knowingly. “But your gossip sounds promising. What kind of mystery?”

“I think something happened during the library’s construction when Samuel Covington-York was alive,” Evangeline said. She couldn’t help but glance over her shoulder, wondering if Samuel was eavesdropping. She expected to see a faint glimmer of his presence, but none appeared.

Bear choked out a laugh. “Them Covingtons were a tough breed, and as far as those Yorks! Don’t get me started.”

Evangeline smiled in encouragement. She wanted to get him started!

“Good genes. Handsome faces, the women always point out,” Champ added. “Several were mayors, and their portraits hang in City Hall.” His head nodded until he turned to his friend. “Do you recall anything happening at the library?”

“I heard that Samuel left town and never returned,” Evangeline prompted.

Danna concealed her interest but seemed impressed by the intel.

Bear thought it over. “Samuel did leave town. It was strange. But no mystery to it, not that I recall hearing. The family might have had a falling out. Pretty secretive lot. Never let any outsiders into their business.”

Champ slapped the table with his palm. “You think he’s the skeleton?”

Bear almost squealed with delight. It sounded more animal than human, like a kind of growl, making Evangeline wonder if his nickname had anything to do with the sounds he made.

“Oooh, now that makes some sense. No one would want to go talking about a family murder, now would they?” Bear smacked his lips together, pretending to eat up the juicy twist. “Could we be talking about a family cover-up?”

“That’s a bit of a jump,” Evangeline said, kicking herself for not expecting their conclusion. That dang skeleton is complicating things.

“Who would kill a man so beloved?” Bear shook his head.

Champ agreed. “Not a harsh story has been passed down. Or much of any story. It’s like he just went on a trip and never returned.”

“Makes it even more curious now,” Bear said, “that the family didn’t make a fuss. Didn’t raise an alarm. They just walked away from the library, letting all the responsibility fall to the town, and that was that. The end of Samuel Covington-York.”

Danna bit her lip. “That’s sad. He was erased.”

“He became a skeleton.” Champ used his creepy voice.

Geez, Evangeline thought, maybe something did happen to Samuel. Not what they’re thinking, but perhaps I found—er, find—a way to bring him through the tunnel? She brightened at the idea.

 Whatever happened to Samuel, no one living knew the story. Evangeline didn’t understand why his family would act like he’d left town, possibly covering up what she needed to know. Maybe they really thought he’d left, she wondered. What could he have told them? Was leaving just a cover, or had Samuel made some excuse? She didn’t believe he’d left Baxter Creek in any traditional way.

Evangeline sighed, hating that she had more questions and no answers. She wanted to read Charles’s journal more than ever!

With a little nod and a quick scrunch of her nose, Danna tried to send a silent message of encouragement to Evangeline. Aloud, she said, “That’s it? Nothing before he disappeared? Not even an old rivalry?”

Bear turned to Champ. They locked eyes, thinking about it. Or using telepathy? Evangeline mused, telling herself that anything was possible in Baxter Creek. 

“What about the wedding pact?” Bear asked.

Champ’s lip twitched. “Maybe, maybe.”

“Those founding families had this thing—a pact. A promise.” Bear kept his eyes on his friend. “It was weird.”

“Some kind of pure blood nonsense,” Champ said.

Bear made a face like he’d chomped on a lemon. “What pure blood? The Founding Fathers were from all over. Came here by chance. Nothing bound them. They came from different countries, different cultures, different religions. And you got the pact thing all wrong. It was more like the Freemasons. You know, keeping knowledge within the founding bloodlines.”

“What knowledge?’ Champ reverted to a pout.

Bear rolled his eyes. “It’s a secret, dummy.”

Raising her hand to interrupt, Danna tried to get their attention. “What’s this about a wedding pact? That’s news to me.”

A bit of hemming and hawing went on between the men.

“There was a time when the founding families stuck together,” Champ said.

“And a time when they turned on each other.” Bear finished off his drink. “Lots of stories about a break or a feud, but never why. It wasn’t juicy enough, I guess. Boring stories fade, even after one generation.”

He looked to his friend to back him up.

“Yup,” Champ agreed. “People get caught up in their own lives.” 

The men fell silent. Thoughtful.

Holding her breath, Evangeline prayed they’d keep talking, but the sounds of the pub took over. Friends played darts, a family bickered at a nearby table, and a woman ordered a glass of wine at the bar. Life kept moving forward all around them, yet it seemed like it was going backward for their little group. At least, all the answers seemed to be in the past. They were coming up empty in the present.

“So, the Covington and the Yorks clearly had a pact,” Evangeline said. “They were the insiders; who else?”

 Champ toasted the air and swallowed the last of his beer. “The Big Four: the Covingtons, Yorks, Livingstons and the Melville Thomas’s.”

“The Big Four,” Danna murmured, “never heard them called that before.”

“Yup,” Bear agreed. “Don’t get more Founding Family than that lot.”

Evangeline caught her breath. “Gordy and Lenora!”

Both men turned in their chairs. “You have been doing your research!” Champ exclaimed.

“Lenora Livingston!” Bear huffed. “One of many women this town could have done better without.”

“Is that so?” Danna squinted at the big man with an intensity that made him hiccup.

Champ leaned back in his chair, taking up the argument. “It is so.”

The obstinance riled Danna. She poked a finger at both men. “Maybe the women protected things that most of us wouldn’t know how to protect, if you know what I mean, and I think you do.”

Champ crossed his arms over his chest, not giving in, but Bear raised his hands, giving up. “Let’s agree to disagree.”

Danna’s stormy expression didn’t ease.

“Sure,” Champ said, “she ain’t gonna prove me wrong. Can’t. Gotta jump through too many hoops to publicly back up what she believes.”

They were fighting words. “Neither can you,” Danna countered. “All you can do is cry about it and whine loud enough so outsiders take notice, and then we’re truly screwed.”

Bear patted his friend’s arm. “Oh, Champ, you have to forgive the child. Our generation wasn’t worried about exposure. Their generation obsesses over it.”

Danna smirked. “Your generation is reckless.”

“What are you talking about?” Evangeline interrupted. “Exposure?”

The three Baxter Creek natives turned to the town’s newest resident, surprised. They’d clearly forgotten she was at the table.

“Oh, nothing,” Champ muttered.

Danna raised her chin, defiant. “It’s a generational thing, Evangeline.”

“Pay us no mind,” Bear oddly agreed.

“You mean the coven?” Evangeline whispered.

Bear almost bit his lip. “Shhh,” he lowered his voice. “Lot of people in town don’t know.”

“Don’t want to know,” Champ added.

Looking Evangeline up and down, Bear assessed her again as if he’d missed something the first time. “What do you know about it?”

“Nothing,” Danna interrupted. “She knows nothing. Let it go.”

Raising a finger, Evangeline felt she knew a little more than nothing, but nothing she wanted to share. The old men clammed up. They clearly had nothing more to say on the subject. Any subject. Danna grumbled something rude under her breath, which the men purposely ignored.

“Who were the town outsiders? The ones the Big Four closed out?” Evangeline asked, desperately trying to get them talking again.

No one took the bait. Danna suddenly found the bottom of her beer mug mesmerizing, and the men mirrored each other with raised eyebrows and grimaces. A quick escape had to be on all their minds.

With a little whistle, Evangeline shifted their attention. She had no intention of letting them slip out when they clearly had more to divulge. “If you ever wanted to do anything to make a difference, I’m begging you to do it now.”

Champ turned to his friend, taken back. “She’s a bit dramatic, don’t ya think?”

Nodding, Bear had to agree, but he was too much of a gentleman to say so out loud.

“Well, at least tell me what caused the Big Four families to fight?” Evangeline was grabbing at straws, trying anything to get them to keep talking.

“A divorce.” Champ offered.

Bear hemmed and hawed. “Not a divorce, exactly. A failed marriage proposal or something of the ilk.”

“I need more. A name,” Evangeline demanded. “Name a person or a family, but name someone.”

Danna noticed Evangeline’s death grip on her beer bottle mug. She tapped her boss’s hand until she let go. “Sorry, she’s really into her research,” Danna tried to cover.

The men downplayed it as enthusiasm. They mumbled that seeing someone so new to town jump into the history was a good thing. “Even if you make it weird,” Bear said with a self-conscious laugh.

Evangeline regretted her burst of desperation. A solid clue seemed so close; she couldn’t help it. “Sorry,” she said. “Maybe I’m looking for someone the wedding pact hurt? An outsider. Someone who’d want revenge.”

Champ winked at Bear. “All girls are dramatic. Kinda spices things up, don’t ya think?”

Bear grinned.

“One name,” Champ said, thinking. “There was one outsider. Someone who ran for mayor but lost. Built a business, but it burned down. Lost everything. They kept him out.”

“That’s exactly the kind of person,” Evangeline prompted.

Bear growled again. “I know who you mean, but he didn’t have anything to do with the Wedding Pact.”

More than a little putout, Champ shook his head at his friend. “Oh, there were so many stories about him and the Founding Families. He was all up in their business.”

Bear squinted an eye and stuck out his tongue as if tasting the air for the truth. “Didn’t they call him Smokey?”

Champ snapped his fingers. “Yeah, that’s what they called him. He disappeared, too, after his business burned down.”

“Is that why they called him Smokey?” Danna wondered.

Leaning back in her chair, more spent than if she’d run a marathon, Evangeline was out of ideas to trigger their memories. She couldn’t believe she’d have to return to 1910 with so few facts. “Thank you,” she said in a depressed monotone. “Appreciate your help.”

Danna kicked the leg of her chair.

Evangeline sat up, making her lips curl upward in a fake smile. “Sorry, it’s been a long day, and it’s only lunch.”

Nodding like he understood, Bear threw some money on the table for a tip. “I do recall that his business was a weird one.”

Champ added a couple of dollars, too. “An apothecary.”

“What?” Evangeline choked out. “You mean Abernathy’s Apothecary?”

“That’s it!” Bear shouted like he was buzzing in to win a quiz show.

“One name.” Champ smiled at the women as if he always delivered what was promised.

Evangeline shuddered. “Adas Abernathy.”

“Well, that’s right,” Champ said. “That’s his name, and you knew it. Guess you’ve crossed paths.”

“Huh?” Evangeline wasn’t sure she heard him correctly.

“You crossed paths in your research,” Champ repeated.

Evangeline nodded. “Yes, yes, I did.” A sour feeling settled in her stomach. The last thing she wanted to do was follow up on a lead that led to that awful man. The choice, however, might not be hers.

The men made their excuses to depart. They took a moment to welcome Evangeline to town and hoped to see her again, but they pointedly left Danna out. Their little “woman in charge” debate was still too fresh.

Once they’d left, Danna felt the need to apologize. “Sorry,” she said. “Guess I made it awkward, but they have some really outdated views, but you got a name.”

Evangeline didn’t know how to tell her it was a name she already had. One that could be full of trouble. Luckily, a cell phone buzz interrupted their worries, making them both jump. They checked their phones. 

“It’s mine,” Evangeline said, tipping the screen so Danna could see the text message. It read: Founder’s Square. Midnight. Alone.

Danna blinked, rereading it. “Do you recognize the number?”

Shrugging, Evangeline texted back: Who is this?

But the message didn’t send. A little twirling symbol appeared below the message box. She pressed the screen to hurry it along, but a red exclamation point appeared, marking it unsent.

“How is that possible?” Evangeline asked.

Danna reached over and took the phone. “Maybe put it on Wi-Fi?” She opened the settings, switched on the Wi-Fi, and added the password.

“You know the pub’s Wi-Fi password?” Evangeline asked.

“Doesn’t everyone?” The phone instantly buzzed with another message. “Shit!” Danna said. “You’re in it now.” She handed the phone back.

Evangeline cocked her head to the side, afraid to look, but she peeked at the screen. It was filled with a black-and-white drawing of a witch’s hat.

The next installment of The Time Witch arrives next Tuesday!