2. A TRICK

The next morning Sarah went off to work at the factory and Abby made breakfast for the twins, Jane and Alec. It was Alec's job to get the eggs out of the henhouse and it was Jane's job to clean up after breakfast. The children were very polite to Abby and asked her lots of questions all morning long.

"How long are you staying with us?" Alec asked his aunt.

"I'm not sure… As long as your mom needs me, I suppose." Abby answered.

"How do you get your hair so curly?" asked Jane, "Can you make mine curly too?"

Abby laughed. "No sweetie, I'm sorry. You have beautiful hair though, just like your mother."

Jane's hair was long and straight and just a shade lighter than Sarah's. Alec's hair was a shade darker. The two looked very much alike with their angelic faces.

Abby walked the children to school and then went to the market place. Sarah had given her some money to buy milk and other things. Abby did her shopping and was about to head back home when she saw the big factory at the end of Main Street. This must be where Sarah worked. She decided to stop in and offer her one of the apples she had just purchased.

The factory was a busy place with people running around. Abby made her way through countless sewing machines until she found Sarah sitting at one in the back.

"Sarah!" Abby called out. "I brought you an apple."

Sarah smiled and gladly took a break. She took the apple that Abby offered and began chewing and talking at the same time. "Were the kids good for you?"

"Oh yes. They are very well behaved." Abby said.

"Good. We had a talk before you came." Sarah kept chewing away.

Then a large man, who looked to be in his 40's, approached. He had a full beard and dark curly hair. "Sarah, who is your friend here?" He seemed pleasant.

Sarah shifted in her seat. "This is my sister, Abby. She's come to live with us and help me out with the children."

He smiled at Abby and shook her hand. "Well, pleased to meet you! My name is Cotton Bishop. This is my factory." He paused for a moment then continued, "My, are all the girls from your family as beautiful as the two of you?"

Abby blushed. She felt somewhat uncomfortable.

"Nope, just us!" Sarah joked.

"Well Abby, if you ever need a job feel free to come and talk to me." He offered.

Abby just smiled and nodded and Cotton went back to walking around the factory, supervising everyone. After he left, Sarah just shook her head.

"What?" Abby asked.

"Oh, he's just a funny man." Sarah tried to be polite. "It's just that after Patrick died in one of Cotton's mine's, he's really tried to look after me and the kids. He gave me this job which is great, but he often tries to give me other things that I don't earn. I turn him down because that wouldn't be appropriate. Never mind." Sarah didn't really want to get into it. "Abby, could you do me a favor? Cotton is letting me take some fabric scraps home and I want to make a new dress for Jane. Could you stop by the general store and pick up five matching buttons?" Sarah handed Abby a few coins from her purse.

"Yes, I'd be happy to." Abby accepted. The sisters said their goodbyes and Abby went down the street into the general store. She was looking at the jars of buttons and tried to find some matching ones out of the cheapest jar. As she did this, she noticed a boy about her age sweeping the floors. He had red hair and greenish eyes. He was tall and skinny and sort of attractive.

When Abby walked up to the counter to pay for the five buttons he put down the broom and went to take her money. The encounter wasn't much of anything really, but Abby was lonely and toyed with the idea of him being a romantic interest, even though she really knew nothing about him. He, however, did not seem too interested in her. After the transaction, he went back to sweeping.

Abby went home to drop off the groceries and soon it was again time to pick up the kids from school. When she did, they were so pleased to see her and told her all about their day, what they had learned, and who had gotten in trouble and had to be spanked in front of the whole class. Jane seemed to think it was rather funny.

That evening when Sarah came home they all had dinner together. Sarah was so happy to be with her children and they retold her everything that had happened at school. Then Sarah asked about Abby's day.

"It was fine. After I saw you I went and got, um, the supplies." Abby was careful not to give Jane any hints.

Sarah smiled. "Good. Did you happen to meet Jeffrey, the shopkeeper's son?"

Abby blushed. "Yes, I think so."

Sarah's smile grew wider. "And? What did you think?"

Abby laughed nervously. "He was handsome to look at. But I don't think he noticed me."

"Ahh…" Sarah nodded. She focused her attention on the twins. "Well kids, it's time for bed."

Alec and Jane did as they were told and kissed their mother and aunt good night. Sarah got up from the table and pulled a few jars off of the shelf. She also got a wooden bowl, a small piece of parchment paper and a quill with some ink. She brought all the supplies back to the table and sat down next to Abby.

"What's this?" Abby asked.

Sarah grinned. "We're just going to try a little trick." She handed the paper, quill, and ink to Abby. "I want you to write Jeffery's name on the piece of paper with a circle around it."

Abby was a little suspicious but did as she was told. In her best penmanship, she scrawled out his name in the black ink, and then drew the circle around it. While she did this, Sarah pulled pink rose petals out of one jar and put them into the bowl. She also added lavender and two lamb's ear leaves.

"Are you finished?" Sarah asked Abby. Abby nodded and handed the paper back to her. Then Sarah pulled a pin from her skirt where she kept them handy for work. She took the pin and pierced the paper, above the name but within the circle. She pushed the pin back through so that the top and bottom of it were showing through on the same side. Then she laid the paper into the bowl on top of the flowers and leaves. She handed the bowl to Abby and said "Go put this by the door."

Abby was obedient and did as she was told. Then she turned around and asked "Are you going to tell me what this is all about?"

Sarah smiled. "It's a little thing that will make Jeffrey call on you tomorrow."

Abby's eyes widened. "Witchcraft? You had me do witchcraft?"

Sarah's smile faded. "Don't say it like that. My mother passed these things down to me and I wanted to share them with you. There is no evil in it. We have just learned laws of nature that help to push things in our favor. Is that so bad?"

Abby was unsure. Her mother had always taught her that any kind of witchcraft was of the devil. She said 'witches were the wives of Satan'. Sarah didn't look evil and she never showed any kind of evilness. Perhaps her mother had been wrong. Abby now realized that this was probably the underlying reason that her mother hated Sarah so much. "I'm sorry Sarah, I'm just not used to this sort of thing."

Sarah smiled again. "Don't worry. I promise, I would never have you do anything evil. The craft can be used in so many good ways. Now this isn't a love spell, we are not forcing Jeffrey to fall in love with you. We are just helping the universe to put the thought into his mind and make him think of you. Fair enough?"

Abby smiled and nodded. Sarah told Abby to go ahead and go to bed and that she was going to stay up late to work on Jane's new dress. Abby awoke the next morning and the day seemed to follow the same schedule as before. However, after everyone had come home and they had just had dinner together, there was a knock at the door.

"Wonder who that could be?" Sarah smiled mischievously.

Abby rolled her eyes and went to answer the door. To her surprise, it was Jeffrey.

"Hi Abby." He greeted nervously.

Abby was surprised. "Hi, how do you know my name?"

He scratched the back of his head. "Well, it's a small town. People talk."

Abby nodded. "Is there something that you needed?"

Jeffrey seemed to look even more nervous. "Well, I was wondering if you'd be free to go on a walk?"

Abby was surprised. "Well, it's already dark out."

His face flushed red again. "Ya, um… Maybe tomorrow?" He seemed so awkward.

"Sure." Abby complied. "I'm free after I take Jane and Alec to school."

"Great! I'll come by around eleven if that's alright?" He looked at her with his green eyes. They were his most attractive feature.

"Okay." Abby smiled. "Goodnight."

"Goodnight." He responded. Then Abby shut the door, and leaned against it. She couldn't believe the spell had worked!

"Yay!" Sarah cheered. "I told you!"

Abby blushed and hushed her. "He could still be outside!" She whispered. They waited a few minutes giggling quietly and then continued their conversation.

"So, are you excited?" Sarah asked.

"I guess so. I don't really know him very well. Is it okay to go off alone with him?" Abby asked.

"Yes, he's harmless. Jeffrey is one of the most mild-mannered boys in town. So what will you wear?" Sarah was beaming with excitement.

Abby looked down at her dress. "This?"

"No! He's already seen you in that. Hold on." Sarah went into her bedroom and pulled out a dress from her closet. It was the nicest dress that Sarah owned. "Try this on."

"Can I wear that dress Mommy?" Jane interrupted.

Sarah smiled down at her daughter and kneeled to be on her level. "Maybe when you're older, you haven't got what it takes to fill it quite yet." Sarah lovingly teased. Jane looked down at her flat chest and knew what she meant.

Abby changed into the dress. It had a red corset top that laced up in the front with a long flowing skirt. She came out of the bedroom and Sarah clapped her hands.

"You look beautiful!" She cheered. "Wait, there's something missing." Sarah went back into her room and came out with a piece of jewelry. She fixed it into Abby's hair so that it hung across her forehead. The center of the chain held a beautiful black jewel. "There, you look perfect." Sarah smiled.

Abby was excited. She changed to get ready for bed and gave the piece of jewelry back to Sarah.

"No, I want you to keep it. I insist." Sarah said and then closed Abby's hand around the chain.

"Thank you." Abby said graciously. "You are being so nice to me Sarah. I just want you to know that I really appreciate how comfortable you've made me feel."

Sarah was happy to hear it and hugged her little sister. Again, Abby went to bed with the twins while Sarah stayed up late to work on Jane's dress.