All eyes went to Millicent, who said, “Perhaps you’d like to join us this evening, just past sunset.”
More looks were exchanged, but also grins.
Maris’s brows knit together but she smiled. “Um, I’d be delighted. Here?”
Millicent nodded. “Yes, here, just after sunset. Make sure to dress warm.” She and the other ladies returned to their crocheting. Then the club president added, “And bring something from the B&B.” She gave Maris a little wink. “Something you wouldn’t mind losing.”
31
Just after sunset, Maris returned to Millicent’s home, only to find the group assembled in front. After the hectic days of the festival, the plaza seemed particularly empty but also quite peaceful. The ladies were all wearing sweaters, as was Maris. She’d also made sure to bring the tiny potted plant with her. Although Cookie had no more idea what the crochet club had planned, they both felt that the little bunch of sage from the herb garden would not only be fragrant, but encompass the soothing and calming effect that they hoped their hospitality had on their guests.
As Maris joined them on the sidewalk, they looked at what she’d brought.
“Perfect,” Millicent declared. “Shall we go?”
Maris glanced around at them. “Go where?”
Zarina took her by the elbow. “Not far. You’ll see.”
The six of them piled into two cars, Zarina and Vera driving. Maris decided to simply wait and see what was happening and where they were going. But when they exited Pixie Point Bay and headed east, she hazarded a guess. They were headed toward the redwoods. Millicent had told her to dress warmly, and now she was glad she’d done exactly that. In just thirty minutes, they were at the entrance to a trailhead.
As Zarina parked the car, she said, “It’s just a twenty minute walk from here.” She reached into the glove compartment and took out two small flashlights. “You’ll need this later,” she said, handing one to Maris.
“Thanks,” Maris said, and the two of them got out and joined the others.
As on the drive over, there was no chit chat. Though the mood wasn’t somber or strained in the least, Maris sensed some underlying reason for the quiet. But as they made their way along the path in the growing darkness, the group finally seemed to have arrived somewhere. One by one they stepped over the low stones that lined the dirt path, and went into the trees. Zarina motioned for Maris to precede her.
Only a few dozen yards from the path, they entered a clearing. Looking back, Maris could no longer see the official trail, let alone the parking lot. One by one the ladies all gathered around what looked like a small teepee of wood logs. Maris realized with a start, that it was the makings of a fire, and recalled her precognitive vision.
Millicent pointed at the wood. “You can put your plant in there.”
When Maris stepped forward with it, she got a whiff of gasoline and then saw some familiar objects among the logs. The crystal ball was there, along with Bear’s jar of honey, and a menu from the smokehouse. In fact, there had to be dozens of objects, most of them small. The club had to have been collecting them for some time. She wedged the small pot in between a couple of the logs.
As she returned to her place in the circle, she recalled the tarot card, the five of pentacles, and gazed at the five other women. Mojo had been right again.
“Good,” Millicent said. “You’ll want to keep back.” She turned to Eunice. “Would you do the honors?”
The thin older lady stepped forward, bent over the pile of wood, and reached her hand to it. Tiny, multi-colored flames leapt from her fingers and landed on the gasoline soaked wood. The fire began immediately.
Eunice stepped back and Maris worried for a moment that these ladies might not know what they were doing, lighting a fire among the trees. Yet everything about the moment seemed, not only natural, but something well rehearsed—or at least done many times.
“This is the Five-Fold Blessing,” Millicent said to her. “We’ll call upon all the elements, and offer up our many gathered prizes, as we entreat them to bless Pixie Point Bay for another year.”
“Five-fold,” Maris repeated, thinking back to the Ouija board.
Without prompting, Eunice turned to the east and raised her hands.
“Element of fire, accept our offerings,
Gathered with love for your safekeeping,
Keep our community safe and well,
And we shall not forget to count our blessings.”
Helen was next, as she turned to the south. “Element of earth, accept our offerings, Gathered with love for your safekeeping, Keep our community safe and well, And we shall not forget to count our blessings.”
Zarina made the same entreaty to gravity, facing west, and Vera entreated air to the north.
Maris listened to each one in turn as the flickering flames lit their faces. The gentle light smoothed out the deep wrinkles and melted away the years. As the scent of woodsmoke wafted around them, the fire quietly crackled.
Finally Millicent raised her hands to the sky. “Element of aether, accept our offerings, Gathered with love for your safekeeping, Keep our community safe and well, And we shall not forget to count our blessings.”
As the last of her words faded, and the embers of the fire slowly rose, silence descended on the group. A deep feeling of peace settled over Maris, and for a moment she thought she could smell the sage. The centuries old trees that soared all around them, seemed to be keeping a silent watch. Above them, barely visible through the canopy, a few stars had managed to peek through.
She thought of the town, all the businesses, and all her friends. How lucky she was to have found her home here. As she gazed around at the smiling faces, she couldn’t help but nod to herself. She too would remember to count her blessings, and not just once a year.
Sneak Peek
The Witch Who Saw
