I passed the Boxleys’ and saw two men, one on the ground, face up,
the second leaning over him. If I had not known better I would have thought
they were lovers the way the second man pulled away as though he had been in an
embrace with the prostrate form. Though the moon was high, twas dark under the
canopy of trees and it took a moment for me to see that the man on the ground
was Boxley. I crept forward, I did not want to be heard, and saw Boxley, his
eyes open, staring at the stars twinkling overhead as though all were well.
There was a bite mark on his neck and blood on his skin. The second man pressed
his dark cloak aside and I recognized him, the man with the silvery red-brown
hair and the long face. He wiped red from his lips with the back of his hand.
Had the man with the wicked grin been drinking Boxley’s blood?
The man turned as though he felt my presence. Quick as you like,
he stood near me. I must be imagining this, I thought. I felt the exhaustion
behind my foggy eyes. I must have been hallucinating the shadow shape drinking
Boxley’s blood. The moonlight disappeared behind incoming clouds and the night
grew darker whilst a summer storm blew in over the bay.
“Aye,” the man said.
“Aye?” I responded.
“You’re doing the right thing, leaving this. Even dogs aren’t safe
from the hangman’s noose. Salem is no place for a mortal man like you.”
“We are all mortal men.”
“Are we?” He laughed and stepped closer.
I looked at Boxley, unmoving on the ground. “Is he dead?”
“Oh, aye. His wife has been a naughty girl.”
“How did you know?”
“I know everything, young man. You’ll learn that soon enough.”
He inspected me until I shuddered. His closeness left me cold
though twas a heavy summer night. The man’s almond-shaped eyes were slits
whilst his lips pulled back into a snarl. I looked again at Boxley, felt the
fear of God, and ran as fast as I could. I was certain the long-faced man would
bring me to the same end he had Boxley.
Once I was back inside I felt better. Again, I thought I must have
imagined the whole thing. How can one man kill another by biting his neck? Tis
ridiculous, I know. Even as I write this I’m embarrassed by such thoughts. I’m
sure twas brought on by my fears for Lizzie. But she shall be safe. We shall
leave here, and we shall be together always.
Down
Salem Way
Prequel
to Loving Husband Trilogy
Meredith
Allard
Genre:
historical/paranormal/sweet romance
Publisher: Copperfield Press
Date of Publication: 6/25/2019
ISBN: paperback 978-0578500645
ASIN: B07QPBFYRP
Number of pages: 336
Word Count: 93,000
Cover Artist: LFD Designs
Book Description:
How would you deal with the
madness of the Salem witch hunts?
In 1690, James Wentworth arrives
in Salem in the Massachusetts Bay Colony with his father, John, hoping to
continue the success of John’s mercantile business. While in Salem, James falls
in love with Elizabeth Jones, a farmer’s daughter. Though they are virtually
strangers when they marry, the love between James and Elizabeth grows quickly
into a passion that will transcend time.
But something evil lurks down
Salem way. Soon many in Salem, town and village, are accused of practicing
witchcraft and sending their shapes to harm others. Despite the madness
surrounding them, James and Elizabeth are determined to continue the peaceful,
loving life they have created together. Will their love for one another carry
them through the most difficult challenge of all?
Down Salem Way is the
long-awaited prequel to the bestselling paranormal historical Loving Husband
Trilogy.
Meredith Allard is the author of
the bestselling paranormal historical love story The Loving Husband Trilogy and
the sweet Victorian romance When It Rained at Hembry Castle, named a best
historical novel of 2016 by IndieReader. Meredith's latest release is Down
Salem Way, the long-awaited prequel to The Loving Husband Trilogy set around
the Salem witch hunts. She lives in Las Vegas, Nevada.
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