Chapter One

I was in the center of town when I heard the news that someone else was on trial as a witch. I could not listen.

I hurried home to escape the lies of fear and greed.

As I entered I heard my mother's husband talking to voices I did not know.

"Mr. Ackerman?" I called out, curious to know who could be in our house that I would not know.

"Oh, Susannah you are home so soon?" he questioned back.

"Yes," I answered. "There was news in town of another witch accusation and I could not bear to listen so I hurried home away from it."

"Ah yes, these witches have really upset you, have they not?" Andrew, as I call him when alone, asked.

I grew indignant. "There are NO witches here in Salem, Mr. Ackerman," I yelled at him in protest.

"Enough Susannah, no more talk about these trials. Come in here and meet our guest."

I walked into the room Andrew was seated in with two others whom I had never met. One seemed to be, what looked like a Catholic priest. I wonder what he was doing in a puritan village like Salem.

The other was a tall young gentleman of about twenty, with a dark complexion and the look of someone who has worked on a farm all his life. I have seen the farmers and their sons have darker complexions than the others of the community from their time in the sun, but this man's complexion seemed even darker than most.

"Susannah," Andrew addressed me. "I would like you to meet Father Dominic and Hector de Silva. Father, Mr. de Silva this is my wife's daughter from her first marriage, Susannah Simon."

I shook both their hands as I said, "It is nice to meet you Father, Mr. de Silva."

As I shook Mr. de Silva's hand I said, "Mr. de Silva I hope you do not mind me saying but I find that you have a very strange surname."

Mr. de Silva laughed and said, "I am well aware of that Ms. Simon. My family was from Spain you see. And please call me Jesse."

I tilted my head as I looked at him.

"You confuse me, sir," I said. "I believe Mr. Ackerman said your Christian name was Hector. Why do you wish me to call you by another name?"

Mr. de Silva graced me with a brilliant smile as he replied. "Yes Ms. Simon, my Christian name is Hector. However my mother and sisters and, on occasion, my father, use to call me Jesse. It is my wish that you also call me by this name. And forgive me if I am too forward but I would like to request permission to use your Christian name."

I smiled at him. I do not know what it was but something about this 'Jesse' drew me to him.

"Of course you may. I would like to say Jesse that it surprises me that you and the good father have come here to Salem. We have never received many Catholics or Spanish here and as of late we have not received many people of any culture with the havoc caused by the witch trials."

"Susannah!" Andrew yelled at me. "Stop this impertinence."

I bowed my head in shame as I answered, "Yes, Mr. Ackerman."

I heard at the same time Jesse replied, "No, Mr. Ackerman. I am sure Susannah is right. Any town, whither the existence of witches was true or not, would be in a state of havoc."

I looked up at Jesse in awe and gratitude. No one had ever stood up to Andrew who, while he was a gentle soul, was an intimidating man and a respected member of the community.

To my surprise Andrew replied to Jesse by saying, "You are quite right Mr. de Silva."

My surprise grew when Andrew said to me, "I apologize, Susannah. I understand that you, like the rest of the community, is fearful for your friends and possibly yourself."

When Andrew mentioned the possibility of me being fearful for myself with the witch trials something in Jesse's face darkened.

I was curious to why this was. I wanted to ask him so much and also thank him for what he said to Andrew that I asked something I would have never dreamed of before meeting Jesse.

"Jesse would you mind accompanying me for a walk?"

Jesse's happiness seemed to grow at this request. However he simply said, "I would not wish to damage your reputation, Susannah, but if Mr. Ackerman agrees to it I would love to join you on a walk."

I looked at Andrew with pleading eyes. He seemed to realize how important it was to me since he said, "I suppose as long as you stay within sight of the house you will remain within the laws of propriety."

I thanked Andrew and stood. Jesse also stood. Only then did I realize how tall he really was. He was taller than any of the other men of our community.

Jesse held his arm out to me. I took hold of it and we proceeded outside. We walked in silence for a while. When we far enough into the yard and away from the house that I was sure no one would hear us I spoke out and said, "I would like to thank you, Mr. de Silva."

Jesse looked at me. "Please Susannah, you must call me Jesse. And what do you wish to thank me for?"

"I am truly sorry, Jesse. The laws of propriety that have been practically beat into me since birth make it difficult for me to call you anything other than your surname."

Jesse laughed a hardy laugh. "I understand Susannah, but you did not answer my question."

I bowed my head suddenly shy. "I would like to thank you for what you said to Mr. Ackerman. No one else would have had the courage."

"But Susannah how could I do anything else?" Jesse asked his voice sounding genuinely confused.

"I do not know. So many others do. Mr. Ackerman often talks to me like that," I answered him in a low voice.

"I am sorry, querida," Jesse replied in a sad voice.

"What did you call me?" I asked surprised.

Jesse looked shocked. It would seem he did not even realize he called me an odd name.

"Oh," he said as if he was embarrassed. "I called you, querida. It is Spanish. Perhaps one day I will tell you the meaning."

"Oh, I see," I replied. There was a short silence before I said, "Well about what we were talking about, there is no reason for you to be sorry. It is fine. Mr. Ackerman is my mother's husband, so as far as the community is concerned he is my father, even though he is not and probably could never come close. He has the right to talk to me like that though he generally he does not."

"Susannah you are wrong. I never want to hear you say anything like that again. No one, I do not care who they are, has the right to speak to you like that. Just because you are female does not mean you are not human."

I smiled, "Jesse that is a lovely idea but it is one that is likely to have me hung as a heretic."

The same dark look from earlier returned to Jesse's face.

"Why?" I wondered aloud without realizing.

"What?" Jesse asked, his face returning to normal.

I realized what I had said. I had wanted to ask him the reason when we were inside, however when we came to a place I could I lost the courage to go through with it. I decided since an opening was offered I would go ahead and ask him.

"I was wondering," I said to Jesse, "why you get a dark look on your face whenever the possibility that I could be hung is mentioned."

Jesse head hung down, "I just do not think it is right."

"Yes, but everyone has the chance of being hung with the witch trials. However I have not seen that look when we have talked about anyone else being hung or when the trials are mentioned even though you know what they entail. I only see that look when it is said that I might be hung," I countered his statement.

"Please Susannah, do not do this. Not now," Jesse pleaded with me.

I gave him a confused look. Jesse sighed.

"Susannah, I promise one day I will tell you everything. I will tell you everything about myself. About why I do what I do. But please give me time in me."

Jesse's words confused me. However he seemed so desperate that I simply nodded.

"Thank you Susannah. May I make a request of you?"

I smiled shyly. "Of course you may, Jesse."

"Susannah may I have the privilege of becoming better acquaintances with you?"

I bowed my head to head to hide the blush that formed at his request. From the way he said it, it almost sounded like he was asking permission to court me.

But would that be such a bad thing? Jesse was a handsome fellow and extremely kind, especially if you compared him to my other suitor, Paul. If I were to marry Jesse, I would not have the regrets I would if I married Paul.

"Of course you may, Jesse," I replied to him. I thought that no matter what Jesse wanted, wither to court me or just to get to know me better, I would enjoy his company.

"Thank you Susannah. You know not how much that means to me," Jesse said with a smile.

There was a brief silence before Jesse said, "I believe it is time we turned back."

As we turned to face the house I saw a flash of a copper red. I smiled knowing what it was.

When we approached the house I knew I was right when the red headed David jumped in front of us.

"Susannah," David said, "Father called Jacob, Bradley, and I from the field to come meet guests he had. When we arrived he introduced us to the priest and then told me to go outside because you were walking with our other quest."

David stopped talking just long enough to look at Jesse before saying, "I suppose this is him."

I smiled. "Yes David. This is Mr. Hector de Silva," I informed David while gesturing toward Jesse with my hand. I turned to Jesse and said, "Mr. de Silva this is Mr. Ackerman's youngest son, David."

Jesse held his hand out to David to shake hands. As David shook Jesse's hand Jesse said, "I am very pleased to meet you David."

David smiled and I knew he had taken an instant liking to Jesse just as I had.

"David, is it your brothers waiting inside to meet me?" Jesse asked starling both David and I out of our thoughts.

"Oh, yes sir," David replied.

"Well we should not keep them waiting any longer," Jesse said as he turned to return inside.

When inside Andrew introduced Jesse to Jacob and Bradley. We talked for sometime after that. Finally Father Dominic stood and said, "Thank you Mr. Ackerman for the pleasant visit but I fear it is time for us to go. Jesse, are you ready?"

Jesse stood as did the rest of us.

"Thank you Mr. Ackerman for having us," Jesse said to Andrew.

He bid his farewells to everyone the stood in front of me. He took my hand and laid a kiss on top of it. "I hope to see you again soon Ms. Susannah Simon," Jesse said.

As I watched Jesse leave I found myself wishing the same.

A/N: Hope you enjoyed it. I enjoy hearing your opinions.