"Who's going to stay here?" Robert asked when it drew time for the Christmas Eve service.

"Everybody's going," James answered. "Ain't going to let them keep us from worshiping the Lord. And if any one of us stayed home, it'd add fodder to their gossip, saying we were becoming godless."

Mary nodded in complete agreement.

They all got their wraps and coats and blankets to make the cold ride bearable.

Kid lagged behind though, wondering if he shouldn't stay anyway to keep an eye out.

"Come on you're a part of this family," Mary ordered. Though she said it sternly her eyes glowed with warmth and he happily followed her outside. Pleased he hadn't imagined that his mother-in-law was softening toward him.

Clyde had gone to get the wagon and their grandmother and was waiting at the bottom of the hill. They'd also brought Mrs. McKenzie's dog, which James went down and got and brought back up.

He tied the dog in the front yard. "Anybody comes creeping around here, they'll think twice about hanging around." The large, rusty-colored dog seemed friendly with so many familiar people around, wagging his tail furiously and trying to plaster anyone near with dog kisses, but that would probably change without them there and his sharp teeth would be a deterrent.

The church was already packed full when they got there and they had to spread out to find seats. From some of the looks thrown his and Ruth's way and the way the folks on either side of them scooted down from them as much as was possible like they were leprous, the hatred and suspicion had only grown since Sunday.

As soon as the preacher took his place at the front of the church, Michael stood up. "Pastor, before this gets underway, we'll have you know that we won't stand for a mistress of Satan worshiping alongside good and godly people."

He could hear Ruth gasp beside him. It was bad enough calling her a witch but to call her a mistress of Satan. He took her hand, wanting to pummel the man but knowing it wouldn't solve the problem.

Michael wasn't done yet though. "That fire that burned down the McKenzie barn is God's judgment on her family for allowing her to remain in their midst. Isn't He just as likely to reign down hellfire on us next for allowing her to remain in our midst? She needs to be run out of our valley."

"Sit down," the pastor said fury in his eyes. "This is a house of God, not a den of vipers. Our thoughts should be focused on the Christ, not seeking the blood of the righteous."

There was no doubt now that the preacher was in Ruth's corner. Kid repented of any negative thoughts he'd had about the man. The words he'd spoken just now were as beautiful as silver and gold and maybe just as costly as the murmurs grew louder, some of them angry.

But it didn't kowtow the man behind the pulpit "If you can't worship in peace on this most holy of nights with all your brothers and sisters, it's best you leave now."

Roughly half of the congregation got up and left. As clear a picture as any of how divided the community had become over this matter, but the pastor acted as if he didn't even notice that the pews had become half empty. "Let's stand and open this service with the hymn 'Come Thou Long Expected Jesus'."

"Come Thou long expected Jesus
Born to set Thy people free
From our fears and sins release us
Let us find our rest in Thee."

A more apt Christmas carol for the moment couldn't be found and Ruth speculated on whether the pastor had chosen it for that purpose or if it had been divine inspiration and God had known how the words would comfort her.

"Born Thy people to deliver
Born a child and yet a King
Born to reign in us forever
Now Thy gracious kingdom bring."

Even as the song played and her voice joined with the others, she was warring on whether or not to leave. She didn't want to be the source of all this contention and division.

"By Thine own eternal spirit
Rule in all our hearts alone
By Thine all sufficient merit
Raise us to Thy glorious throne."

Ruth felt peace and calm as the notes faded despite the tempest that was brewing around her. Like a quiet whisper, she got the feeling that she wasn't supposed to leave. Not with folks wondering if her parents had harbored evil and more importantly leaving the people of the valley wondering about the character of God. He wasn't ruling in enough hearts around here if so many could fall victim to the lies.

"Deliver us all," she whispered before settling in to hear the pastor speak of the first Christmas.

Back at the house, after they'd all taken off their winter trappings and had all had some hot coffee to warm them up, James asked, "You want to open a present now, Ruthie?"

It was an effort to recapture some of the Christmas cheer that had been present before so many of their old friends and neighbors had up and refused to stay for the service.

She smiled. "Nah, better wait on the rest of the family. Morning ain't that far away as late as it is, but I can't wait until Danny sees what I got him in Norfolk."

Robert feigned shock. "What's this? My impatient little sister can actually wait for Christmas morning for once in her life?"

Her smile grew wider. "Don't pretend you weren't just as impatient. Opening presents on Christmas Eve was a tradition long before I came along."

"All you children were impatient monkeys," Mary said, settling the argument for them. "It was the only way to get a good night's sleep to keep the pestering to open presents confined to the daytime."

"I'll see ya'll in the morning," Ruth said with a laugh as she kissed her mother's cheek.

There were echoes of good nights and Kid's own distracted good night as he followed her.

"Mistress of the devil," she muttered when they were alone and getting ready for bed. "I guess they must think you're the devil in the flesh then."

"No doubt that's what your dad thinks," he answered lightly.

She chuckled. "Well, I shouldn't hold onto such bitter, hate-filled words, I guess. Don't do a body a bit of good and the person that said them is to be pitied and prayed for. He always was a hard man but since losing his wife, it's made him harder."

"You think he burnt the barn down?"

"I don't know. As you saw for yourself tonight and Sunday, he don't try to hide his opinions. The person that burned the barn down was sneakier than that and don't want to own up to their actions. Course he could be using it to have a rallying effect calling it God's judgment, but although the man's many things, liar isn't usually one of them."

"That's kind of the impression I got when I went over there. You know the people around here well. Who's at the top of your list of suspects?"

"I really couldn't say. If you'd told me that half the folks around here would turn against me and brand me a witch before we got here, I would've thought you plumb crazy. I just couldn't begin to imagine." She yawned, ending the conversation. "I'm so busted down, I can barely wiggle."

She kissed him good night and then lay down. He felt too antsy and on edge to lay down and paced around the room like a caged animal instead. He couldn't even think of resting as he peered out the window.

"Come to bed," Ruth called at last, her voice thick with drowsiness. He turned to look and saw she had lifted up the corner of the quilt with her eyes still shut, not doubting he would make his way over.

He didn't know how she could sleep and said as much as he climbed into bed and wrapped his arms around her. "How can you sleep at a time like this? You saw how angry and fearful of you half the community is. Angry, scared people in numbers is about the most dangerous force I know of."

"Our fight isn't against flesh and blood but against spiritual darkness. I'm not worried though cause Daddy's on patrol and even if he wasn't, the heavenly Father is watching over us. No sense in losing sleep over what you can't do anything about."

Her serenity and insight must have rubbed off on him because the next thing he knew the light of dawn was streaming in through the window. He gently eased out of bed and crept over to the window, being careful not to wake her. He didn't know why he had such a desire to look out the window, but he felt a sense of dread even before he looked through the glass.

Despite his care, Ruth had woken up and was coming over to see what had caused the look of horror now etched on his face. He thought about blocking her view and somehow distracting her, but there was no way to keep her from finding out in the long run, better she knew now what they were up against.

If there had been any doubt that the fire had not been an accident, it was dispelled by the word 'witch' that had been written out in giant, bloody letters in the snow. They both stood staring at the gruesome sight, praying that it was only animal blood and not human blood.