Forbidden Magic

Chapter 3

Prudence sat on the porch steps, staring into the darkened landscape. She felt numb and panicked all at the same time. Her heart hurt, and her brain was running wild. So much had happened today that she was not sure how to sort through it all and think straight. A few tears fell silently along her cheeks, as her emotions churned and roiled within her. Yesterday she was a normal person, today she did not know who or what she was.

She heard the door squeak open, and the thuds of her father’s boots as he stepped onto the porch with her.

“Mind if I join you?” Owen asked indicating towards the step she was sitting on. Prudence shrugged and slid over to allow him room. They sat in silence for what seemed like an hour, but in reality was only a few moments.

“You know, Minnie and I thought you were a blessing sent from the Gods for us.” Owen kept his eyes on the yard before him as if reliving the memory in his mind. Prudence turned to watch him.

“The night we found you right here,” he pointed to the landing of the porch, “we were ready to give up hope of ever having a family of our own. We tried for so long to have a child, that the physician thought Minnie was barren. We prayed and prayed that one of the Gods would show mercy on us… Then you showed up.”

There was a slight pause as if he thought she would say something.

“You renewed our hope and our faith. And you had us wrapped around your little finger in no time.” Owen glanced at Prudence with a small smile. “We wouldn’t change how you came into our lives for the world.”

“Is that why Peter is so much younger than me?” Prudence asked, doing the math in her head.

Owen nodded, “We decided to try again... It took a long time to come true, but even if Peter hadn’t come along we would have been thrilled to have you in our lives.”

Prudence glanced away, staring at the steps below them.

“Prue, little dove, we might not be blood but you are my daughter. You and Peter are the light of our lives.”

Again they fell into silence. Prudence worked on putting all the pieces of her life into place, trying to organize it in a way where she could move forward. From the way Owen and Minnie had spoken to her, she knew they meant every word. That they loved her unconditionally no matter who, or what she was. In their eyes, she was just as much their daughter as Peter was their son. Her heart ached from the feeling, and a few more tears welled up in her eyes.

“Thank you, Papa,” she finally answered in a choked whisper as she tried to hold the emotions in check. Owen smiled and pulled her into a hug.

“I don’t know what the future holds for you now, and I worry what Lyle will do with what he saw today,” Owen admitted. “We need to have a plan in place for any situation that could come up from this. We could send you to your Aunt Claudia, a few towns over. Or we could move everyone to a different city. A good wagon maker can find a job anywhere.”

Prudence pulled back and looked at her father with a stunned face.

“No, this is our home. You should not have to give up everything you and Momma have built because of me.” she insisted.

“My dear, we are where we are because of you and Peter. We wanted a good and safe place for you two. If it is no longer safe for you, then it is no longer safe for us.”

Prudence shook her head. This was her home too, and she did not want to have to leave it behind.

“We can talk to Momma and Peter about it too, and go from there. Make this decision as a family.” Owen offered, and Prudence nodded in agreement.

“Come on, it’s late,” He stood up and held his hand out to her, “you’ve had an exciting day and should get some rest.”

Prudence took her father’s hand and stood from the step. He wrapped an arm around her shoulders gave a reassuring squeeze and led her into the house.

Prudence barely got any sleep, she tossed and turned as her mind ran rampant. The moment the sun’s rays began to crawl across the sky she was up and going about her morning chores.

The cows needed milking, and the rest of the small farm fed their breakfast. She had just finished throwing slop to the hogs when Peter came rushing out of the back door. Owen followed more slowly behind, stretching as he glanced over the yard.

“Mornin’ Prue,” Peter called as he made his way towards the woodshed. Prudence assumed that they were going to start the day off chopping wood.

“Good morning Pete,” she answered back as she walked to place the wooden food pail into the barn.

“You’re up early,” Owen observed.

“I-uh… couldn’t sleep,” Prudence answered sheepishly. Which Owen nodded in understanding.

“Momma asked for your help with the baking if you’re done,” Owen called to her before disappearing around the side of the shed.

Prudence took the suggestion and headed off towards the house.

***

It was late in the afternoon by now. Prudence and her mother had dough of all sorts rising or baking. Owen and Peter had gone to work in Owen’s shop after chopping wood. It felt like a normal day, and Prudence was glad for it.

They were seated around the table enjoying lunch and discussing what they were going to plant in the garden for the fall. But then the sound of multiple hooves clattering against the stone roadway caught their attention.

Peter sprung to his feet and raced to glance out the window. They thought maybe it was another merchant to deliver something. But when Peter just stared out the window and did not call out who it was the air became dense.

“Pete, who is it?” Owen asked as he too stood from the table. His face quickly twisted into worry as his lips were drawn into a flat line.

Outside, a rather large unit of men were approaching the house. They were dressed in the crimson and gold colors of the Lord of their town, and a couple carried banners showing the castle’s coat of arms.

“Prue,” Owen called out to her, not daring to look away, “I need to you sneak as quietly as you can out the back door. Find a safe place to hide, and don’t come out till I call for you.”