The Melungeon Witch’s Gold

  Sheriff Daniel Praeger and Cephea Collins Short Story #4

  by

  BV Lawson

  Copyright 2015 BV Lawson

  The Melungeon Witch is a work of fiction. All of the names, characters, places, organizations, and events portrayed in this novel are either products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.

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  TABLE OF CONTENTS

  The Melungeon Witch’s Gold

  To My Readers

  Other Works by BV Lawson

  About the Author

  The Melungeon Witch’s Gold

  Sheriff Daniel Praeger parked his Model T in front of the yellow and gray bungalow with the small sign “Baile’s Clinic” hanging from the portico overhead. He looked over at his companion and said, “You sure you’re up for this?”

  Cephea Collins smiled at him. “I seen the living, the dying and everything in-between. Don’t you be worrying about me. Let’s go take a gander at this mystery man of yours.”

  He’d had second thoughts on the way over, wondering if he was insane for dragging the young woman into yet another criminal case. Or at least, he guessed it was a criminal case, since most people didn’t end up with arrows in them.

  Daniel hopped out of the car and helped Cephea out of the passenger side. She’d wanted to bring along some of the herbal potions from her cabin, but he’d advised against it. Doc Baile was a competent and hardworking physician, but Daniel felt sure he’d be none too pleased to have the Melungeon healer treading in his medical sandbox.

  Daniel was getting more and more irritated at the prejudice he’d encountered since meeting Cephea. Yes, the Melungeons had almost mystical origins, so mystical no one knew exactly where they’d come from. The olive skin and dark hair with the bright blue eyes was enough to start up the whispers, but Cephea’s legendary ability to heal people just added more fodder for those whispers.

  He shook off his disgust long enough to guide Cephea through the door to the back room where the Doc kept a room for his sickest patients. He almost wanted to hold his nose at the smell, a mixture of sulphur, bleach, and vinegar. The sight that greeted them was about what Daniel had expected, but he gave Cephea a quick glance to make sure she was okay.

  Cephea had that little ridge above her brow she got when looking at someone with sympathy. She clucked her tongue and went to the unconscious patient’s side. The man was lying on his back, his exposed skin yellowish and pale. Doc Baile didn’t look up as he prepared to change the bandage on the man’s chest.

  Daniel asked, “How’s he doing?”

  Doc Baile, never a man for niceties, grumbled out, “Great, for a man who’s got one foot in the grave. I’m surprised he’s still here, quite frankly. Must be as stubborn as you are, Daniel.”

  “I’m not stubborn. I’m dogged.”

  Baile shook his head. “Well then, use some of that doggedness and hand me that jar of salve.”

  Daniel grabbed the jar the Doc had indicated and passed it over as he said, “Wouldn’t think one arrow could cause a man to be at death’s door.”

  “Not much blood, either. Even before I removed the arrow.”

  Cephea moved closer to the bed and pointed to a spot on the man’s abdomen. “That where it went in? That arrow?”

  Doc Baile seemed to notice her for the first time and frowned. “I guess the wound gave it away, hmm?”

  Cephea didn’t seem to notice the sarcasm. “Did you touch that arrow when you was taking it out of him, Doctor?”

  Baile’s frown turned to a look of surprise. “With gloves, to avoid contaminating the wound.”

  Cephea turned to Daniel, “You see that dark black scar there? I seed those on animals who got too close to Indian Plant.”

  It was Daniel’s turn to be confused. “Indian Plant?”

  She nodded. “Some folk call it Bloodroot.”

  Daniel blinked, “So . . . it’s a poisonous plant?” He stared at the black scar. “You telling me the arrow was poisoned with this Bloodroot?”

  Doc Baile butted in, excitedly. “That would explain why he’s in such a bad way. It didn’t occur to me the arrow was poisoned. I mean, who does such a thing these days? It’s 1920, for God’s sake, not Pagan times.”

  Cephea added, “I use Indian Plant in my potions. Just a teensie bit for hooping cough. Something like that arrow, now that would take a lot. Boiled down, I reckon.”

  Baile said, “Yes, yes, that would do it. Concentrate the poison, then the arrow delivers it to the bloodstream. Very effective.”

  Cephea bit her lip. “Can’t get a tonic into him while he’s out like that. I got a balm for that sore, though.”

  Baile picked up the jar of salve Daniel had handed him. “A balm, you say? I’ve been using this on his wound, and you can see the results.”

  Daniel piped up, “I must be missing something. I’m not seeing any signs of healing.”

  “Exactly. This,” Baile indicated the jar, “Works for normal skin lesions. Minor burns and rashes. But it doesn’t seem to be doing much for our poisoned friend here.” He peered at Cephea. “What’s in this potion of yours, Miss Collins?”

  “A pinch of ground pumpkin seeds, a pinch of witch hazel, a pinch of honey, and some black tea.”

  Daniel half-expected the physician to laugh, but he didn’t. He just scratched his head. “My granny used pumpkin for burns and witch hazel for insect bites. I suppose this balm of yours couldn’t do any worse than my mercurochrome.”

  Cephea said, “I’ll mix some up and bring it by later.”

  “I’d be mighty obliged. I haven’t forgotten how helpful you were during that viral outbreak last spring. I was sick as a dog, myself. You were a lifesaver.”

  Cephea beamed at the unusual praise, which made Daniel want to pump Baile’s hand in thanks. But he was here on business, and this patient wasn’t the only part of that. “Doc, you said there was something else strange about this man.”

  “Oh, I almost forgot, Daniel.” Baile reached under the bed and pulled out a cloth bag that clinked when he lifted it. “This was lying underneath him when he was found.”

  Daniel opened the bag and whistled. He’d never seen anything like that before, like something out of a fairy tale. The leprechaun and his rainbow.

  Cephea asked, “What is it, Daniel?”

  “Gold. Lots of it. Coins, and not just Double Eagles. Some of ’em look much older. I’ll have to put those in the safe back at my office, Doc. I have a feeling those little beauties may be why our mystery man was skewered like a wild boar.”

  He shifted the bag of gold from one hand to another. That thing was heavy. Must be thousands of dollars’ worth. “Who found our victim?”

  “Wade Pritchett, a farmer who happened upon the scene with his hunting dogs. Thought he saw someone running into the woods. Maybe scared him off.”

  “I know Wade. Good man, not prone to lying or fancy. But I’ll check with him later. Did you find any ID on your patient, Doc?”

  “No ID.” Baile walked over to a table and held up a rectangular metal object. “Just this pocket flask.”

  Daniel was firmly in the camp of folks who weren’t fans of Prohibition, still only a few months old. He knew he had to uphold the law, but also had to admit he inwardly cheered at these little acts of defiance.

  Just as he was trying to decide how to juggle the heavy bag and take the flask, Cephea seemed to read his mind. She took the flask from Baile and brought it to Daniel as she noted, “It got letters on it.”

  Daniel noted the “C” and “H,” and turned the flask around, but those were the only markings. “His initials, no doubt. Might help in tracking him down.”

  After making sure Doc Baile would call if there was any change in the patient—the Doc recently got a telephone installed in his clinic like the one in Daniel’s office—Daniel carried the gold to the Model T. Cephea had carefully guarded the flask, and now both items were promptly stored in the wooden trunk at the rear.

  He caught the troubled expression on her face as she touched her throat. He also noticed she wasn’t wearing the crystal necklace he’d given her. She followed his gaze and shook her head. “I didn’t forget it.”

  “Is it too heavy? Does it scratch your skin?”

  “Nothing like that. I be almost afraid to wear it.”

  “Afraid? Why?”

  “Folks have called me a witch so long, I reckon I should be used to it. And your Gramma, she knew. Knew about those things cain’t be explained so easy.”

  “Like the visions?” As if he could ever forget how that crystal seemed to have a strange “power” that induced visions for him and Cephea.

  She nodded. “I let a friend take a-holt of the necklace and she saw nothing. Felt nothing. So why do you and I see things when we be around it? What does it all mean? Even you said it were agin the laws of nature.”

  He started to tease her about taking the whole “witch” thing too seriously, but when he saw the hand at her throat start to tremble, he gently reached up to grab that hand and hold it in his own, cursing himself for scaring her. “I’m not sure what it all means, Cephea. But those visions have been good things. Well, at least things that helped other people. And that’s not anythin

g to fear, now, is it?”

  “Not as long as you’re with me,” she said with a smile.

  “Well, then, I’ll just have to make sure I’m with you more often.” And this time, he most definitely wasn’t teasing.

  * * *

  After Daniel dropped her off at her cabin, Cephea gathered together the ingredients for the balm she’d promised to take to Doc Baile’s. She’d made a fresh batch of dried pumpkin seeds just the other day, and now she was especially grateful it was pumpkin season. The wind whipped against the windows and sent swirls of colorful leaves dancing around the garden.

  She loved her cabin, up here on the mountainside. Daniel was worried she’d be lonely here all by herself, but she didn’t feel alone at all. Sometimes, she even thought she heard the voices of her parents on those winds and the spirits of the forests singing songs of life and living.

  If she were honest with herself, it wasn’t entirely true she didn’t feel lonely. Because being up here meant being without him. His words had thrilled her, to “make sure I’m with you more often.” But was he just being kind? Was she misreading the signs he cared for her as much as she did for him?

  She’d never been courted before. Maybe this was his way of courting her? She was so confused. She knew a dozen different ways to heal a cough, but when it came to divining the nature of a man’s heart, she was as helpless as a mouse in a barnful of cats.

  When Daniel returned to pick her up, he told her he’d chatted with the farmer, Wade Pritchett, but hadn’t learned anything else useful. She tried to cheer him up, “You still got that flask. With the ‘C’ and ‘H’ on it, don’cha?”

  “Yeah, there is that. If you don’t mind, I’d like to stop by my office first to check if anyone’s reported a missing person. If not, I’ll have to call around to neighboring counties, see if they know anything about Mr. CH.”

  Cephea knew Daniel was right proud of that telephone of his, almost as proud as he was of his Model T. There were only a couple dozen phones in town so far, so he considered himself lucky to have one. Said it was a lot easier to use than a telegraph.

  She didn’t like phones, herself. Too noisy and that tinny voice on the other end didn’t even sound like a real person. She still didn’t know how someone could say something and have it travel down a small wire where it came out the other end. And they called her a witch!

  She decided to come inside with him, but then wished she hadn’t. For the first sight that greeted them was Adelynn Hull, seated behind Daniel’s desk. “I wondered where you’d gone off to,” she smiled up at Daniel, ignoring Cephea altogether, as usual.

  Cephea knew she didn’t have a claim on Daniel. And Adelynn had been his girlfriend, so if anyone had a claim, it was her. Then why did the image of the two of them back together make Cephea’s stomach hurt so much?

  Daniel removed his hat and tossed it on the desk. “There’s been an attack on a man. Shot with a bow and arrow. So I don’t have time for any socializing, Adelynn.”

  Adelynn’s ruby lips formed into a pout like a shriveled rosebud. “Looks like you’re doing some right now.” Adelynn still didn’t look at Cephea, but tilted her head in Cephea’s direction.

  “Cephea’s made up a poultice for our victim to help tend his wounds. I’m getting ready to drive her over to Doc Baile’s.”

  “I’m sure Doc Baile needs the help. Maybe even a replacement. He certainly didn’t do much for my brother.”

  “Your brother was murdered, Adelynn. There’s not a doctor on this wide Earth who could’ve helped Andrew. You know that.”

  Cephea felt a little sorry for Adelynn. Beneath all that powder and paint and perfect honey hair, she was naked to the core right then. Her words were sharp, but her eyes were like those of a lost, little girl. And now, with both her brother and father gone, she was an orphan just like Cephea.

  The other woman quickly regrouped and batted her spidery eyelashes at Daniel. “You work so hard, you really should take a breather more often. And we never got to catch that moving-picture show. I know what we should do—let’s you and me drive up to Knoxville and catch a Vaudeville revue at the Bijou. We can have dinner at the new French restaurant.”

  Daniel rubbed his eyes. “That’s a little out of my budget right now.”

  “Not mine. With what Daddy left me.”

  “Adelynn . . .”

  She hastened to add, “Or we could just stay here. You can come over, and I’ll cook a nice French meal for you.”

  “You can cook?” He blinked at her. Cephea knew he was probably thinking of those awful apple stack cakes of hers, the ones she liked to make him that he hated so much.

  “Well, I can have Sissy cook it. Why don’t we make it tomorrow night, at eight?”

  “Adelynn . . .”

  “Then it’s all settled. I’ll give Sissy a list of what to buy. Maybe some vichyssoise and escargot.”

  Adelynn whirled out of her seat so fast, it reminded Cephea of the leaves at her cabin earlier. Then she stalked up to Daniel and kissed him, not on the cheek, but on his lips, making Cephea avert her eyes.

  After Adelynn left, there was an awkward pause between Daniel and Cephea. Finally, Cephea said, “She’s like a living doll, that Adelynn. Painted and pretty.”

  “Copperheads are pretty, too. But you’re better off if you keep your distance.” Daniel rescued his hat from his desk, adding, “Know what? I’ll check on the missing person reports later. Let’s head on over to Doc Baile’s.”

  They climbed into the Model T and had just pulled out into the street, when Daniel had to swerve suddenly to avoid hitting a man and woman who appeared out of nowhere. Cephea bit back a scream, and Daniel stopped the car.

  He hopped out and went over to help the man up, while Cephea made her way over to the woman. Both of them appeared to be unhurt, with just a little dust on their clothing. Daniel apologized, then said, “You must have been in a big hurry.”

  The man introduced himself and his companion as Greg Lewison and his wife, Gertrude. “We’re searching for a man who was heading this way. But we never heard back from him.”

  Cephea looked at Daniel, and it didn’t take any mind-reading to know what he was thinking. He asked, “Can you tell me more about this man?”

  Lewison proceeded to describe someone who sounded a lot like the mystery man patient, a man he called Carl Hamlen—Mr. CH. Lewison’s wife said to Cephea, “He’s a scoundrel, that man is. He’s a thief who stole our gold coins. Although he’s probably long gone by now. And spent the gold or stashed it away somewhere.”

  Daniel replied, “This Hamlen fellow was injured, but he had the gold with him when found.”

  Gertude hugged her husband. “This is wonderful news. But Sheriff, you must arrest Hamlen right away.”

  “I’m afraid I can’t do that. The man’s ill and questioning will have to wait. But don’t worry, he’s not going anywhere.”

  Lewison asked, “Can’t you at least return the gold to us? It’s very important, you see. It’s not for us . . . it’s for someone else.”

  Daniel shook his head. “Not until the man wakes up, and I have more info. Are you going to be staying in town a while?”

  “Why yes, we’re staying in the small motel down the street, the Winchester. If we can be of help—”

  “I’ll come find you. Can I give you a lift?”

  The Lewisons politely declined, saying they thought the walk would do them so good after their little “incident,” and Daniel and Cephea continued their interrupted journey to the clinic. Cephea asked, “What if Mr. Hamlen dies, Daniel? Will the Lewisons get their gold then?”

  “If it’s their gold, you mean. Right now, all I have is their word. And the timing of their visit is a bit suspicious. But if they check out, then yes. I’ll return the gold to them.”

  “Whether this Mr. Hamlen is a thief makes no never mind to me. I be a healer, no matter who needs the healing.”

  Daniel smiled at her. “And that’s what sets you apart from all those judgmental townsfolk I’ve run into. And all the pretty copperheads.”

  She laughed, and he joined right in.

  * * *

  After Cephea took her balm to Doc Baile and showed him how she used it, Daniel suggested they let the good doctor handle it from there. Then he decided they should go over to the Winchester Motel to check on the Lewisons.

 

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