The next morning, after breakfast, I asked Mother what chores I should complete today.
"No chores for you," She said. I could feel her excitement. "Josiah is going to be taking you on a walk. Your father gave his permission, and Josiah wanted to start right away. Once you get back you can help out. I do think this boy adores you."
I couldn't help but feel giddy, but I knew I should be annoyed. This is the last thing I need to be doing right now. I should be helping make plans for the future of Salem. Mother could read the conflicting emotions on my face, and she jumped in before I could tell her no.
"Don't worry today. There is nothing you can do right now until Mabel comes back with word from the council members. Go and have fun. That's a direct order from a parent. Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. Honor your father and mother, so that it may be well with you, and that you may live long on the earth," she chastised me.
"Well, you didn't have to bring the bible into it," I said grumpily. "When is he going to be here?"
A knock at the door answered my question. 'I guess now,' I thought. I grabbed my coat and headed to the door.
"Hello, Josiah," I said, opening the door.
"Hello, Soline," He replied with a slight, half smile on his face. He had light brown sandy hair, blue eyes, and freckles dotted the tops of his cheeks. He was, relatively speaking, handsome beyond belief.
We walked around the small town of Salem, talking about this and that, how our families are and people we knew from primary school. It wasn't until we decided to take a stroll at the edge of the woods surrounding Salem that we talked more freely, away from prying eyes and curious ears.
"So what do you think about everything that was going on? I mean, with the witch and the hanging." Josiah asked.
"Honestly," I said, eyeing him up to see if I could trust him. I decided I could. "I think, no matter which way you try to spin it, I think that this isn't over. I think those girls aren't actually under any spell, and I think that they're poking fun at the small minds in this town. I think there will be more murders and I think that this witch hunt is far from over."