PT.5

Sarah ran towards the breaking glass but only to see flames where the lamp was catching on to the tablecloth. Quickly she ran for a pitcher of water and opened the front door yelling for help.

Burke and Festus came running. "Miss Sarah, what's wrong?"

"Festus! Fire in my shop. And Kitty… Well, she… she was…"

Suddenly Festus rushed into the shop yelling Kitty's name. "Miz Kitty! Miz Kitty? Where are ya? It's Festus." He quickly drowned out the flames and looked around choking on the smoke. "Miz Sarah? Miz Kitty ain't no ware in there."

Tilting her head, "But, Festus, she was in the back trying on a dress. I was fitting it for her. I just turned to get coffee and… Festus… Where… I don't understand."

Patting her on her shoulder, "Miz Sarah, don'cha go worrying your own self. I'll be findin' where she be. Burke, you see to it Miz Sarah is ok here, will ya?"

"Sure, Festus. Festus? Miss Kitty… She's alright ain't she? Well ain't she?"

"Ahhhh…" Festus just threw up his hands and walked away.

Angelina Basco sat watching Kitty. Now we'll see. It took a long time, but now we'll see.

Matt and Basco, with Anderson's help, made their way back to Basco's camp. Matt wanted to check where Nickolas and his family were getting their water from. Then he wanted to take it back to town and have Doc check it out.

Marshal Basco asked, "Do you think the water was poisoned?"

"Yeah, Basco. It's possible."

"But who?"

"Basco, there are many reasons. How much of this water did your family drink?"

"Well, we had some in our barrels but when we were running low we found the pond and filled up so that we could move on."

"And your boy? Did he drink any of this water?"

Nodding, "Yes, Marshal. He even jumped in. Both boys were playing in it they were so hot. Your doctor friend and the woman came soon after. But Nicky was so sick and Momma was saying it was the woman and she was evil called upon us. She said she was a curse called upon our family and that a redhead would come and bring harm to us. Sorry, Marshal, Momma believes it was a curse from when she was a child."

"Basco, you must know…"

"Marshal, our families believe, not so much myself and Clarissa, but Momma… When she saw the woman she said she just knew the curse was alive and that it followed us all the way from New Orleans."

Kitty began to stir, feeling the pain in the back of her head. Focusing, she saw Angelina. "Wh... at? You? What is this? What are you do… ing? Where are we?" She tightened her eyes then opened them again."

Nodding, "Ah, you are awake. Now you will see and maybe you will remember."

Furrowing her brow, Kitty was confused. "REMEMBER WHAT?" She shouted. "Why we are here? Look, old woman, why don't you just tell me what is going on here and save us both a lot of time." Kitty was now struggling to get loose.

"You don't remember?"

"Remember what?" Again Kitty yelled out.

"Oh, I know it's been a long time but Angelina don't forget. When someone puts a curse on my family. Even here my family is not safe from the red haired evil one."

Looking at her puzzled. "I don't know what you are talking about. Curse? What curse? Who even believe that stuff?"

"Oh, the woman…"

Kitty was now shaking her head. "Woman? What woman? Look, obviously we're gonna be here for a while so why don't you just tell me what it is you're talking about."

"The man with the dark hair. Jacque. Fancy clothes man. He did this."

"Jacque?" Kitty repeated.

"Yes, that's his name. Lived in the big white house with big trees, pretty flowers."

Kitty sat quiet and let Angelina talk.

"When I was a young girl, this man Jacque, he send for my sister and me to come to big house. He told us he needed help, our help. He had a beautiful daughter. And he was right, she was a beautiful, beautiful young woman. But this Jacque, he did not care for her beau. He wanted us to rid her of this man and he paid us well to do that, to make him magic."

Kitty listened intently. "But you couldn't have possibly… How could you have… Wait a minute. Are you telling me this man wanted you to make something happen to his daughter's beau?"

"Yes, make him gone."

Huffing out a laugh, "Oh come on. I can't believe…" Then she stopped and was now looking at Angelina's face. "You're serious."

The whole time Kitty's mind was spinning. This was hitting home a bit too much. She remembered her Aunt Constance telling her stories about her Grandfather doing all sort's of things to keep her mother from marrying her father. "Look, ok. So what happened? I mean, what did you do?"

"Well, we tried… We mixed potions and we gave him amulets for him to place around his daughter. But it turned out she ran off and married this beau. Jacque became angry and he cursed us. Swore harm on our families."

"What's this have to do with me, besides me having red hair?"

"Well the legend is red haired babies they are witches."

Tossing back her head. "Oh, please." Kitty scowled at the old woman.

"And they are evil. He said evil would beget us and we'd never run far enough. He's see to it."

My sister was killed by a man with red hair and now you. You killed my grandson. Jacque is getting his revenge with you. You are the granddaughter of Jacque!"

TBC